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Washington 19th Dec. 1812 Dear Governor. I have just time to tell you that Smythe has gone into winter quarters after making some parade. 200 sailors and soldiers crossed the Niagara-- attacked and carried at the point of the bayonet every battery within their reach-- 1200 more men on board of boats and other vessels, but after waiting some time were ordered to debark-- the officers broke their swords and the men their guns from vexation-- The 200 men not being supported, spiked the cannon which they had taken and brought off 40 or 50 prisoners-- Captain King and about 10 men were taken on the bank by the British. They might have been returned safe if they had abandoned a part of their prisoners-- but they sent them over and waited the return