He arrived there at 4 A.M. on the 13th.  Finding no boats to transport his command, he placed his guns on the American shore, under the direction of Captains Towson and Barker.  Seeing that a small portion of the troops had crossed over, and knowing the peril of Van Rensselaer’s little force, he took one piece of artillery into a boat, and, accompanied by his adjutant, Lieutenant Isaac Roach, Jr., he crossedt to the Canada shore.  Wadsworth at once relinquished the command of the troops to him, and he soon animated every one with courage and resolution.

Six feet five inches in height, clad in a new uniform, he became a conspicuous mark for the enemy.  The re-enforcements which had now crossed over increased the force to about six hundred, of which more than half were regulars.  These were placed under Colonel Scott’s directions in the most commanding positions, where they awaited further re-enforcements.  About this time a body of five hundred Indians joined the British troops.  The British with their Indian allies moved forward to the assault, but were speedily driven back.  A second time they moved forward, but with the same result.  They kept up a desultory firing, during which a body of Indians moved suddenly out and surprised an outpost of militia.  Scott, who was at this moment engaged in unspiking a gun, rushed to the front, and, rallying his men, sent the dusky warriors rapidly in retreat.  The British general Sheaffe, who held the command at Fort George, having heard the firing, at once put his troops in motion and marched for the scene of the conflict.  Sheaffe’s command consisted of eight hundred and fifty men.  These, added to the garrison which the Americans were attacking, was a formidable force to be met by three hundred men.  In the meantime the American troops had refused to cross the river and were in a state of mutiny.  No entreaties, orders, or threats of Van Rensselaer could avail to move them.  But the three hundred brave fellows, with only one piece of artillery, stood their ground.  General Van Rensselaer, from the American shore, sent word to Wadsworth to retreat.  Colonels John Chrystie and Scott, of the regulars, and Captains James Mead, Strahan, and Allen, of the militia, and Captains Ogilvei, Wool, Joseph Gilbert, Totten, and McChesney, took council of their desperate situation.  Colonel Scott told them that their condition was desperate, but that the stain of Hull’s surrender must be wiped out.  “Let us die,” he said, “arms in hand.  Our country demands the sacrifice.  The example will not be lost.  The blood of the slain will make heroes of the living.  Those who follow will avenge our fall and our country’s wrongs.  Who dare to stand?” he exclaimed.  A loud ringing shout “All!” came from the whole line.

General Sheaffe did not move to immediate attack on his arrival.  He marched his troops slowly the entire length of the American line, and then countermarched.