But this plan failed disastrously.

On the 15th of August the British charged in three columns the bastions and batteries only to be savagely repulsed at every point with a loss of nine hundred men killed, wounded, or prisoners, while the defenders had only eighty-five casualties.

Then Drummond settled down to besiege the place and succeeded in making it so uncomfortable that Jacob Brown, now recovered from his wound, organized a sortie in force which was made on the 17th of September.

In the action which followed, the British batteries were overwhelmed and the American militia displayed magnificent steadiness and valor.

Jacob Brown proudly informed the Governor of New York that "the militia of New York have redeemed their character--they behaved gallantly.