1312.]

BATTLE OF QUEF.N'STOX.

513

Colonel's hand. The blades of Totten and Gibson instantly-leaped from their scabbards, and the Indians were raising their hatchets when a British Serjeant rushed forward, hoarsely exclaiming   " Honor!" " Honor!"   and having a guard with him, the combatants were separated, and Colonel Scott was conducted to the presence of General Sheaffe. to whom he proposed a surrender, and with whom terms of capitulation were speedily arranged   the General at once saying that they should be treated with all the honors of war. Orders were immediately given that the firing should cease ; but these orders were not promptly obeyed, which caused a remonstrance from Colonel Scott, and finally a peremptory demand to be conducted back to his troops. This prolonged fire was from the Indians, whom General Sheaffe admitted he could not control, as they were exceedingly exasperated at the amount of their loss. Scott passed a rather severe rebuke upon an enemy who avowed allies of such a character ; but officers being ordered among them in all directions, they were presently compelled to desist.

The prisoners surrendered by Scott numbered one hundred and thirty-nine regular troops, and one hundred and fifty-four volunteers, just   the Colonel accurately counting them o f himself.* They were all marched down to Newark, (now Niagara,) the same evening, where the Colonel and his two principal officers were quartered in a small tavern, having invitations the first evening to dine with General Sheaffe. While waiting for the arrival of an officer to cenduct them to the General's quarters, another incident occurred, equally spirited, and even morestart-

* When, shortly afterward, the general order of Sheaffe appeared, it was announced that two hundred of the Americans were drowned and nine hundred taken prisoners. Colonel Scott immediately called upon General Sheaffe, and remonstrated against such an exaggeration; since he had himself counted his own men, and knew that the number was less than three hundred, all told. Sheaffe replied that the numbers he had announced had been reported to him, and he felt strong confidence in the accuracy of the statement. In conclusion, he invited Scott to go to the barracks and see for himself. He did so ; and to his deep mortification found that the statement of the general order was true I On an investigation of the discrepancy, itappearcd that the number of prisoners had been swollen to that amount by several hundred cowardly rascals of the militia, who, upon landing on the Canadian shore, had availed themselves of the darkness and other facilities, to hide themselves away among tlie clefts of the rocks ; where they had remained in concealment during the day, and were only dragged by the legs from their lurking-places by the British troops after tlie surrender.   So much for militia.