Star. — London, England, 1814-10-10 00:00:00

ante he received from Captain Parker, of the Royal Navy, and the naval forces employed under him ; and says,• that the conduct of the troops is deserving of great praise. I have great pleasure in congratulating your Lord ship upon the whole of the country between Penobs cot River and Passamaquaddy Bay now being in our possession. (Signed) J. C. SHERBROOKE. ( Enclosure, No. 1.) Bangor, on the Penobscot River, Sept. 3, 1814. SIR,—In compliance with your Excellency's orders of the Ist instant, I sailed from Castine with the de tachment of royal artillery, the flank companies of the 29th, 62d, and 9Sth regiments, and one rifle company of the 7th battalion 60th regiment, which composed the force yrair Excellency did me the honour to place under my command, for the purpose of co-operating with Captain Barrie, of the Royal Navy, in an expe dition up this river. On the morning of the 2d, having proceeded above the town of Frankfort, we discovered some of the ene my on their march towards Hamden, by the eastern shore, which induced me to order Brevet Major Cros. daile, with a detachment of the 99th, and some rifle men t f the tiOth regiment, under Lieutenant Wallace, to land and intercept them, which was accomplished, and that detachment of the enemy (as I have since learned) were prevented from joining the main body assembled at.Hamden. On this occasion the enemy had one man killed, and some wounded. Major Crosdaile re-embarked without any loss. We ar rived off Bald Head Cove, three miles distant from Hamden, about five o'clock that evening, when Ca ptain Barrie agreed with-me in dearmining to land the troops immediately. Having discovered that the enemy's piquets were advantageously posted on the north side of the Cove, I directed Brevet-Major Rid dle, with the grenadiers of the 62d, and Capt. Ward, with the rifle company of the 60th, to dislodge them, and take up that ground, which duty was performed antler Major Riddle's directions, in a most complete and satisfactory manner, by about seven o'clock ; and before ten at night, the whole of the troops, including $0 marines, under Captain Carter, (whom Captain Barrie had done me the honour to attach to my com mand), were landed and bivouacked for the night, during which it rained incessantly. We got under arms at five o'clock this morning, the rifle company forming the advance under Captain Ward ; Brevet- Major Keith, with the light company of the 62d, bringing up the rein-, and the detachment of ma rines, tinder Captain Carter, moving upon my flanks, while Captain Barrie, with the ships and gun-boats under his command, advanced at the same time up the river. on my right, towards Hamden. In addi tion to the detachment of royal artillery under Lieu tenant Garston, Captain Barrie had landed one six pounder, a six and half inch howitzer, and a rocket apparatus, with a detachment of sailors under Lieu tenants Symonds, Botely, and Slade, and Mr. Sper ling, master of his nijesty's ship Bulwark. The tog was so thick, it was impossible to form a correct idea of the features of the country, or to recon noitre the enemy, whose number was reported to be fourteen hundred, under the command of Brigadier- General Blake. Between seven and eight o'clock, our skirmishers in advance, were so sharply engaged with ' the enemy, as to induce me to send forward one-half of the light company of the '29th regiment, under Captain Coaker, to their support. The column had not advanced much further, before I discovered the enemy drawn out in line, occupying a very strong and advantageous position in front of the town of Hamden, his left flanked by a high hill commanding the road and river, on which were mounted several heavy pieces of cannon ; his right extending conside rably beyond our left, resting upon a strong point d'appui, with an IS-pounder and some light.field pieces, in advance of his centre, so pointed as complete. ly to rake the road, and a narrow bridge at the foot of a hill, by which we were obliged to advance upon his position. As soon as he perceived our column approaching he opened a very heavy and continued fire of grape and musquetry upon us ; we however soon crossed the bridge, deployed, and charged up the hill to get possession of his guns, one of which we found had al ready !alien into the hands of Captain Ward's rifle men in advance. • The enemy's fire now began to slacken, and we pushed on rapidly, and succeeded in driving him at all points from his position ; while Captain Coaker, with the light company of the 29th, had gained pos session of the hill on his left, from whence it was dis covered that the Adams frigate was on fire, and that the enemy had deserted the battery which defended her. We were now in complete possession of the enemy's position above, and Captain Barrie with the gun-boats, had secured that below the hill. Upon this occasion twenty piece* of cannon fell into our handi, of the naval and military force, the return of which I enclose ; after which Captain Barrie and myself determined on pursuing the enemy towards Bangor, which place we reached without opposition, and here two brass three pounders, and three stand of colours, 11,, into our possession. Brigadier. General Blake, also in this town, sur rendered himself prisoner, and with outer prisoners, to the amount of one hundred and twenty-one, were admitted to their paroles. Eighty prisoners taken at . Li A m.!en are in our custody. The loss sustained by tbq enemy I have not had it in my power correctly to ascertain ; report states it ro be from thirty to forty in killed, wounded, and misstrii . .;. Our own loss, I am happy to add, is but small, viz. nne rank and file killed: one Captain. seven rank and tile, wounded ; one rank and file missing. Captain Gell, of the €.9th, was wounded when leading the co. Bunn, which dept ived me of his active and useful as sistance; but, 1 am happy to add, he is recovering. I cannot rinse this dispatch without mentioning in the 'higbest terms all the troops placed under my com mand. They have merited my highest praise for their aepl and gallantry, which were conspicuous in the estivate. I ieel most particularly indebted to Brevet-Major Riddle, of the 62d regiment, second in commadd ; to Brevet-Major Keith, of the same regiment; Brevet-Major Croscladr, and Captain M*Pherson, of the §Stat ; Captains Gell and Calker, of the `22th ; and Captain Ward, of the 7th battalion, &Rh regiment. The royal artillery was directed in t'ac most judicious manner by Lieutenant Garston, from whom 1 derived the ablest support. 1 cannot steak too highly of Captain Carter and the Officers pnd marines under his diretaions. lie moved tilt ni in the ablest manner to the annoyance of the enemy, and so as to meet my fullest approval. • Nothing could exceed the zeal and perseverance of Lieutenants Symonds, Botely, and Slade, and Mr. Sparling, of the royal navy, with the detachment of seamen under their command. From Captain Barrie I have received the ablest assistance and support, and it is to his masterly ar rangement of the plan that I feel indebted for its suc cess. Nothing could be more cordial than the co operation of the naval and military forces en this ser vice in every instance. Captain Carnegie, of the royal navy, who most handsomely volunteered his services with this expedi tion, was in action with the troops at Hamden, and I feel most particularly indebted to him for his exer tions and the assistance he afforded me on this occasion. I am also greatly indebted to Lieutenant Du Cha telet of the 7th battalion 60th regiment, who acted as Major of Brigade to the troops, in which capacity he rendered me very essential service.—l have, &c. (Signed) HENRY Joux, Lieut.-Col. (Inclosure No. 2.) RETURN OF ORDNANCE AND STORES TAKEN. Casting, September 10, 1814. Guns-4 iron 24-pounders, 27 iron (ship) 18-pounders, four 12- pounders, four brass 3-pounders. Carriages-4 traversing ?4-pounders, s standing 18-pounders, I travelling 11.-pounders wias limbers, 4 travelling 3-pounders with limbers. Sponges—Eight 24-pounders, twenty 18-pounders, two le-poun den, four 3-pounders. Ladles—Two 24. pounders, three II pounders, one 3-pounder. Wadhooks —Two 24-pounder., three 12-pounders, 1 3-pounder. Shut-236 round 24-pounders, 500 round 18-pounders. One ammunition-waggon, one ammunition-cart. Twelve common handspikes. Forty barrels of powder. Wads—Twenty 24-pounders, seventy IE-pounders. N.B. The magazine in Fort Canine was blown up by the enemy. The vessel on board of which the powder was, ran on shore, and the whole destroyed. Eleven of the 18-pounders were destroyed by order of Lieute nant Colonel John, not having time to bring them off. (Signed) GROROZ CRAWIORD, Major, Corn. Royal Artillery. To Lieutenant-General Sir John C. Sherbrooke. (Inclosure No. S. RITURN of KILLED, WOUNDED, anti fifteens ci, in the affair at Hamden, on the 3d September, 1814, with the force under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Jinn, 60th Regiment : KILIAD-29t11 Regiment, 1 rank and file. WOUNDED-29th Regiment, 1 Captain, 2 rank and Ale; 112 d Regiment, 1 rank and file; 98th Regiment, 4 rank and Me. MISSING-694 Regiment, 1 rank and file. NAME OF OFFICER WOUNDED. 29th Regiment—Captain Gell, severely (not dangerously). (Signed) A. PILICINGTON, Dep. Adj. Gen. (For %doom No. 4, vide "Capitulation," is the Admiralty Dispatches). ADMIRALTY OFFICE, OCTOBER 8, 1814. Captain Senhouse, of his Majesty's sloop the Martin, has arrived this afternoon at this Office, bringing a dispatch from Rear- Admiral Griffith, addressed to John Wilson Croker, FRI. of which, and of its inclosures, the fillowing are copies: His Majesty's ship Endymion, off Castine, Sept. 11. Sin—l beg leave to transmit, for the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a du plicate of my letter, of yesterday's date, to Sir Alex. Cochrane, K.B. Commander in Chief, reporting my proceedings since I quitted Halifax in his Majesty's ship Dragon, on the V6th ultimo. EDW.GRIFFITII. September 13. P. S. I open my dispatches to acquaint you, for their Lordships' information, that since closing it I have received a private letter from Captain Parker, of the Tenedos, informing me that he got off Machias on the 10th instant, where the troops sere landed without opposition, and after a most fatiguing night. march; took possession of the fort of Machias without loss. He has sent me the capitulation which the offi cer commanding the militia has entered into, atid and which I transmit herewith. Sir John Sherbrooke not wishing the Martin to be detained. I dispatch her without waiting for Captain Parker's official letter. The ships and vessels under Captain Parker's orders will be sent to their respec tive stations, as soon as the guns taken at the fort are embarked, and the works destroyed. ROW. GRIFFITH. His Majesty's ship Endytnion, off Castine, entrance of the Penobscot River, Sept. 9. SIR—My letter of the 23d of August, from Ha lifax, by the Rover, will have made you acqaainted with my intention of accompanying the expedition then about to proceed under the command of his Ex cellency Sir John Sherbrooke, K.B. for this place. I have now the honour to inform you, that I put to sea on the 26th ultimo, with the ships and sloop named in the margin*, and 10 sail of transports having the troops on board, and arrived off the Metinicus Islands on the morning of the 31st, where I was joined by the Bulwark, Tenedos, Rifleman, Peruvian and Picton. From Captain Pearce, of the Rifleman, I learned that the United States frigate, Adams, had a few days before got into Penobscot, but not consi dering herself in safety there, had gone on to Ham den, a place twenty-seven miles higher up the river, where her guns had been landed, and a position was fortifying for her protection. Towards evening, the wind being fair and the weather favourable, the fleet made sail up the Pe nobscot Bay, Captain Parker, in the Tenedos, lead ing. We passed between the Metinicus and Green Wands about midnight, `and steering through the channel formed by the Fox Islands and Owl's Head, ran up to the Eastward of Long Island, and found ourselves at daylight in the morning in sight of the fort and town of Castine. As we approached, some, shew of resistance was made, and a few shot were fired ; but the fort was soon after abandoned and blown up. At about eight, a.m. the men of war and transports were anchored a little to the northward of the Peniusula of Castine, and the smaller vessels tak ing a station nearer in for covering the landing, the troops were put on shore and took possession of the town and works without opposition. The General wishing to occupy a post at Belfast, on the western side of the bay (through which the high road from Boston runs), for the purpose of cut ting off ell communication with that side of the country, the Bacchante and Rifleman were detached with the troops destined for this service, and quiet possession was taken, and held, of that town, as long as %as thought necessary. Arrangements were immediately made for attack ing the frigate at Hamden, and the General having proffered every military assistance, six hundred pick. ed men, tinder the comnrand of Lieutenant-Colonel John, of the 60th reginient, were embarked the same afternoon, on board h s Majesty's sloops Peruvian and Sylph, and a small transport. To this force were added the marines of the Dragon, and as many arm ed boats Ilona the squadron as was thought necessary • Draion,Endynaton, Bacchante, and Sylph. for disembarking the troops and covering their 'mill ing : and the whole placed under the command of Captain Barrie, of the Dragon ; and the Lieutenant- Colonel made sail up the river at :is o'clock that evening. I have the honour to enclose Captain Barrie's ac count of his proceedings ; and taking into considera tion the enemy's force, and the formidable strength of his position, too much praise cannot be given bin, the officers and men under his command. for the judg ment, decision, and gallantry with which this little en terprise has been achieved. So soon as accounts were received from Captain Barrie that the Adams was destroyed, and the force assembled for her protection dispersed, the troops sta tioned at Belfast, were embarked, and arrangements made for sending them to take possession of Machias, the only place occupied by the enemy's troops, be tween this and Passamaquaddy Bay. I directed Cap. tain Parker, of his Majesty's ship Tenedos, to receive on board Lieutenant-Colonel Pilkington, Deputy Adjutant General, who is appointed to command, and a small detachment of artillery and riflemen, and to take under his command the Bacchante, Rifleman, and Picton schooner, and proceed to the attack of that place. He sailed on the 6th instant, and most likely, by this time the troops are in possession of it. After destroying the defences they are directed to return here. • The inhabitants of several townships east of this have sent deputations here to tender their submission to the British authority ; and such of them as could give reasonable security that their arms would be used only for the protection of their persons and pro: perty, have been allowed to retain them. This in dulgence was absolutely necessary, in order to secure the quiet and unotranding against violence and out rage from their less peaceable neighbours, and for the maintenance of the peace and tranquillity of the country. All property on shore has fide belonging to the inhabitants of the country in our possession, has been respected. AB public property, and all pro ' perty afloat, has been confiscated. Sir John Sherbrooke conceiving it to. be of impor tance that the Government should be informed, with out delay, of our successes here, has requested that a vessel of war may take his dispatches to England. I have, in compliance with his wishes, appropriated the Marten for that service, and Captain Senhouse will take a copy of this letter to the Secretary of the Admiralty.—l have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) ICDW. GRIFFITH. To Vice-Admiral the Hon. Sir Alexander Cochrane, K. B. &c &e. &c. His Majesty's Sloop Sylph, off langor, in the Penobscot, Sept. 3, 1814. Sin—Having received on board theships named in the margin .j- a detachment of 20 men, of the royal artillery, with one 51-inch howitzer, commanded by Lieutenant Garston ; a party of 80 marines, com manded by Captain Carter, of the Dragon ; the flank companies of the 29th, 62d, and 98th regiments, under the command. of Captains G:11 and Coaker, Majors Riddle, Keith, and Crosdaile, and Captain M'Pherson; also a rifle company of the 7th battalion of the 60th regiment, commanded by Captain Ward; and the whole under the orders of Lieutenant-Colonel John, of the 60th regiment ; I proceeded agreeably to your order, with the utmost dispatch up the Penob scot. Light vai iable winds, a most intricate chan nel, of which we were perfectly ignorant, and thick foggy weather,- prevented my arriving off Fianktort before two e. st. cf the 2d instant. Here Colonel John and myself thought it advisable to send a mes sage to the inhabitants ; and having received their answer, we pushed on towards Hamden, where we received intelligence that the enemy had strongly for tified himself. On our way up several troops were observed on the east side of the river making for Brewer ; these were driven into the woods without Any loss on our side, by a party under the orders of Major Crosdaile, and the guns from the boats. The enemy had one killed and several wounded. At five P. M. of the 2d inst. we arrived off Ball's Head Cove, distant three miles from Hamden. Colonel John and myself landed on the south side of the Cove, to reconnoitre the ground and obtain in telligence. Having gained the hills, we discoveted the enemy's picquets advantageously posted near the highway leading to Hamden, on the north side of the Cove. We immediately determined topand one hun dred and fifty men, under Major Riddle, to drive in the picquets and take up their ground. This object was obtained by seven o'clock, and notwithstanding every difficulty, the whole of the troops were landed on the north side of the Cove by ten o'clock ; but it was found impossible to land the artillery at the same place. The troops biveuaqued on the ground taken possession of by Major Riddle. It rained incessantly during the night. At day-break this morning, the fog cleared away for about a quarter of an hour, which enabled me to reconnoitre the enemy by water ; and i I found a landing place for the artillery about two thirds of a mile from Ball's Head. Off - this place the troops halted till the artillery were mounted, and by six the whole advanced towards Hamden. The boats under the immediate command of Lieu tenant Pedler, the First of the Dragon, agreeable to a previous arrangement with Colonel John, advanced in a line with the right flank of the army. The Pe ruvian, Sylph, Dragon's tender, and Harmony trans port, were kept a little in the rear in reserve. Our information stated the enemy's force at four. teen hundred men, and he had chosen a most excel lent position on a high hill. About a quarter of a mile to the southward of the Adams frigate, he had mounted eight 18-pounders. This fort was calcu lated to command both the highway by which our troops had to advance and the river. On a wharf close to the Adams, he had mounted fifteen eighteen pounders, which completely command4l the river, which at this place is not above three cables' lengths wide, and the land on each side is high and well whoded. A rocket-boat under my immediate direc tion, but maneeuvred by Mr. Ginton, Gunner, and Mr. Small, Midshipman of the Dragon, was advanced about a quarter of a mile a-head of the line of boats. So soon as the boats got within gun-shot, the enemy opened his fire upon them from the hill and wharf, which was warmly returned. Our rockets were ge nerally well directed, and evidently threw the enemy into confusion. Meantime our troops stormed the hill with the utmost gallantry. Before the boats got within good gr ipe-shot of the wharf-battery, the ene j Majesty's ships Peruvian and Sylph, Dragon'. tender, and to Harmony transport. of let fire to the Adam, eftd be raft from his gun: the moment our troops carried the hill. I joined the army about ten minutes after this ever Colonel John and myself immediately determined Is leave a sufficient force in possession of the hill, and is pursue the enemy, who was then in sight on the B an . gor road, flying at full speed. The boats and s hip s pushed the army. edupth The erilver' en em y sp"e rvtng their original positi on with was too nimble fo r u s , and most of them escaped into the woods on our left. On approaching Bangor, the inhabitants who had op. posed us at Hamden, threw off their military cha. ratter, and as magistrates, select men, &c. made as unconditional surrender of the town. Here the pa t . suit stopped. About two hours afterwards, Brigadier-General Blake came into the town, to deliver himself as a pri. soner. The General, and other prisrners, amounting to 1:11, were admitted to their parole. Enclosed I have the honour to forward you lists of the vessels we have captured or destroyed, and other necessary reports. lam happy to inform you our loss consists of only one seaman, belonging to the Dragon, killed ; Captain Gell, of the 29th, and sever' privates wounded, one rank and file missing. I cannot close my report without expres s ing my highest admiration of the very gallant conduct of Co. lona John, the officers and soldiers under his cons. mand,•for, exclusive of the battery before mentioned, they had difficulties to contend with on their left, which did not fall under my observation, as the ene. my's field pieces in that direction were masked ; the utmost cordiality existed between the two services, and I shall ever feel obliged to Colonel John, for his ready co-operation in every thing that was proposed. The officers and men bore the privations inseparable from our confined means of accommodation with a cheerfulness that entitles them to my warmest thanks. Though the enemy abandoned his batteries before the ships could be brought to act against them, yet I am not the less obliged to Captains Kippen and Dicke; ; of the Peruvian and Sylph; Acting Lieu. tenant Pearson, who commanded the Dragon's ten. dcr ; Lieutenant :Wra►din, of the Dragon ; and Mr. Barnett, Master of the Harmony ; their zeal and in*. fatigable exertions in bringing up their vessels through the most intricate navigation, were eminently conspi cuous. Colonel John speaks highly in praise of Cap tain Carter and the detachment of royal marines, un. der his orders; and also of the seamen attached to the artillery, under the command of Lieutenants Sim. monds, Motley, L. State s and Mr. Spurling, Master of the Bulwark. I have on other occasions of service found it a pleasing part of my duty to commend the services of Lieutenant /Wier, First of the Drarn i in this in stance he commanded the boat part of the expedition most fully to my satisfaction ; 'he was ably seconded by Lieutenants Percatal, of the Tenedos, and Or. mond, of the Endymion ; and Mr. Ansel!, Master's. Mate of the Dragon ; this last Gentleman has passed his examination nearly five years, and is an active officer, well worthy of your patronage ; but in par. ticularizing him I do not mean to detract from the other petty officers and seamen employed in the boats, for they all most zealously performed their duty, and are equally entitled to my warmest acknowledgments. I am also most particularly indebted to the active and zealous exertion of Lieutenant Carnegie, who was a volunteer on this occasion. I can form no estimate of the enemy's absolute loss. From different stragglers I learn that, exclusive of killed and missing, upwards of thirty lay wounded in he woods. (Signed) ROBERT BARRIE, Captain of his Majesty's Ship Dragon. (CAfITULATION.) To Captain Hyde Parker, commanding the Naval Force, and 1 .ieu• enant-Colonel Andrew Pilkington, commanding the Land Force of his Britannic Majesty, now at Machias. GENTLEMEN—The forces under your command having captured the forts in the neighbourhood of Machias, and taloa possession of the territory adja cent within the county of Washia&ton, and the situa. tion of the country being such between the Penobscot River and the Passamaquaddy Bay, es to preclude the hope that an adequate force can be furnished by the United States IT its protection; we propose a capitulation, and offer for ourselves, apd in behalf of the officers and soldiers of the Brigade within the county of Washington, to give our parol et honour, that we will not, directly or indirectly, bear arms, or in any way serve, against his Britannic Majesty King George the Third, King of the United Kingd im of Great Britain and Ireland, his Successors and Allies, during the present war between Great Britain and the United States, upon condition we have your assurance, that while we remain in this situation, and consider ourselves under the British Government un til further orders, we shall have the safe and full en joymeot of our private property, and be protected in the exercise of our usual occupations. JOHN BAEWER, Brigadier-General 2d brigade, 10th division, for the Officers and Soldiers of the 3d Regiment in the said Brigade. .JAMBS AMPBELL, Lieutenant-Colonel, commanding Ist Regiment, 2d brigade, loch division, fur laims4.4f, Officers an 4 B;idieis in the said These terms have been granted and approved of by us. HYDE PARKER, Captain of his hiajosty's ship Tenedos. A. PILKINOTON, Lieutenant• Colonel Commanding. Mathias. Sept. 13, 1814. • List of Vessels captured and destroyed in the Penobscot, and of those left on the Stocks, as near as I am able to ascertain Captured and brought away-2 skips, I brig, 6 schooners, and !I sloops. Destroyed at Hamden—The Adams frigate, of 26 guns, eighteen pounders, and two ships, one of them armed ;—burnt by the enemy. At Bangor—l ship, 1 brig, schooners.and 1 sloop; burnt by us. Lost since In our possession—A copper bottomed hrig, pierced foe is guns, and the Decatur privateer, pierced "for 16 guns.— Note—The powder and wiuc captured at Hamden were put on hoard those vessels. l.cft on the Stocks at Bangor-2 ships, 2 brigs, and 2 schooners. At Brewsr--1 ship, I brig, and I schooner. At Arrington-4 ship, I schooner, on the stocks. Left at Hamden-1 ship, 1 hermaphrodite brig, and !schooners; also 1 brig and I schooner on the stocks: Lett at Fremlord on the stocks—l schooner acid some small craft. To Rear-Admiral Griffith. R. BARRIS. to rUIN OS ORDNANCE TAKEN FROI4 THE ENEMY ON TUE 35 DAY Of SEPTEMBER, ISA 4. Taken at Hamden-33 iron itt-pounders, 3 Iron 12-pounders; It Is-pounders de-troyed, 14 brought away. Taken at Bangor and brought away-2 3-pounder brass guns, iron 3-pounder. Final brought away—l 7. Embarked—l ammunition cart, SOO I S-pound shot, about 40 barrels of powder, and a gummy of wads, etc. &c. (Signed) ROBLIIT GAITIM, Lieut. R. A. (A copy) kUltglli BARRI!. Rsturu of small arms not collected, supposed about Ica. (Signed) kiVI Mtn Unruh,. II