Niagara, Fort

During the French War, in the summer of 1759, the English under Prideaux laid siege to Fort Niagara, which was defended by a garrison of 600. Prideaux was reinforced by Johnson with 2,300, partly Indians. After a few weeks an attempt was made to succor the French. This party was beaten off and no alternative ‘was left but to surrender. This the garrison did with honors of war on July 24. By the capture of Niagara, the English cut off the French from all their posts in the interior.—In the War of 1812, on November 21, 1812, a severe bombardment was opened against this fort from the British fortifications on the Canadian side. The artillery duel lasted all day, resulting in slight damage to the fort and the lo of four killed and five wounded. Later, in retaliation for the burning of Newark by the Americans, Colonel Murray, with about 1,000 British and Indians, cro ed over from Canada, December 19, 1813, and made a night attack upon the fort. The main gate, through gro negligence, was found wide open, the commander was away and the men asleep! The fort was captured without much difficulty, but some slight resistance aroused the pa ions of the British and a number of Americans were ma acred. From this point as a center the whole Niagara frontier was ravaged and made desolate. With the fort were captured 344 men and immense stores of arms, ammunition and military supplies. 35