On October 16 1815, Catherine Lyon is at Chippewa Creek, on the Niagara frontier, in Upper Canada so that she can be near her husband, Lieutenant George Lyon, who was seriously wounded at the Battle of Chippawa. Catherine writes on this day a letter to her aunt. The full letter can be found in the interesting site of RICHMOND HERITAGE and reads:
Oct 16th – 1814
My dear aunt
I have wrote several letters but has not been able to get them sent off. We are all alarmed here, the Americans are on the other side of the Chipawa Creek, I am in my old quarters, the Wednesday after we arrived here, the 100th Regt. was ordered up to Queenston, Lyon’s leg became so bad that he has not been able to walk for two or three days, it broke out below the wound, the Doctor says it was healed up to quick that it wanted more drawing, he will not recover the entire use of it for two years, he came down yesterday to remain with me a few days, but about 1 o’clock, the alarm guns fired at Lundys lane and he set off as the Regt was to join the main army at Chipawa with all the troops that could be spared from below, last night 4 Company of the 41, – two of 78th and three of deWatervilles Regt marched up out of the Forts – the Yankees received last week a reinforcement of 4000 – 500, and 100 Rifle men it is said by the Deserters that has been coming in every day, they now have between nine and eleven thousand. We have not more than 3000 regulars, it is thought our people will have to retreat, they have prepared for it, sent all their stores and baggage into the Fort, is moving the Hospital to the 40 Mile Creek, General Drummond intended to retreat a fortnight ago for want of provision, it was impossible for the poor soldiers to stand it, they had suffered so much from the last wet weather, and getting no fresh supplies, until the other day, there arrived some, appearances are very much against us here, if the Fleet does not come there is not a man to defend this place, should the enemy attempt to cross, at the same time they make an attack above, which is not unlikely, and is expected every moment, perhaps as soon as you receive this, you may hear of a dreadful battle, for dreadful it must be if our army stands it out, I cannot get even a place to put my things in near the Forts every one is so full, if the enemy is successful, I shall lose every thing.
I hope Mrs. McCauley delivered your counters _____ clean, remember me to Mr. Rid-_out and love to all my cousins – I remain my dear aunt, yours truly
Cathe Lyon
Excuse the scrawl, I don’t think you will make it out.
pastnow 