Star. — London, England, 1814-11-02 00:00:00

AMERICAN PAPERS. 'EXTRACTS OF A LETTER FROM COMMODORE T!NGfY TO TUB SECRETARY OF THE NAVY, DATED " Navy-Yard, Washington, August 27,1814.. N SlR—After receiving your orders of the 24th, dintting the public shipping, stores, &c, at this esta ba, ,mert, to be destroyed, in case of the success of the ellesny over our army, no time was lost in making the nec.Aary arrangements for firing the whole, and p.tri , .g hlats for departing from the yard, as you had s:.4gested. " About tour P. M. I received a message by an officer from the Secretary of War, with information that he g g could protect me no loogfr." " Saint after t!is, I was informed that the confla gration of the Eastern Branch bridge had com menced, and in a few minutes the explosion announced the blowing up of that part near the draw, as had been arranged in the morning. The intended fate of the yard had before been publicly announced to the neighbours, in order that they might take every possible precaution for the safety of themselves, families, and property. g , Immediately several individuals came in sue cess'on, endeavouring to prevail on me to deviate from my instructions, which they were invariably in. f..rnied was unavailing, unless they could bring me your instructions in writing, countermanding those previously given. ". A deyutation, also, of the most respectable wo men came on the same errand—when I found myself . painfully necessitated to inform them, that any far ther importunities would cause the matches to be in stantly applied to the trains—with assurance, how ever, th it, if left at peace, I would delay the men t:on Of. the orders as long-as I could feel the least hadmw of justification. 44 C tptain Creighton's arrival at the Yard, with The men who had been with him at the bridge, (pro bably about five o'clock - ) would have justified me in instant operation, but he also was strenuous in the desire to obviate the intended destruction, and vo lunteered to ride out and gain me positive informa ti in as to the position of the enemy, under the hope that our army might have rallied and repulsed them. I was myself indeed desirous of delay, for the reason that the wind was then blowing fresh from S.S.W. which would most probably have caused the destruc tion of all the private property north and east of the yard, in its neighbourhood ; being of opinion ills% that the close of the evening would bring with it a calm, in which, happily, we were not disappointed. (Mkt gentlemen, well mounted, volunteered, as Cap tain Creighton had done, to go out and bring me positive intelligence of the enemy's situation, if pos sible to obtain it. The evening came, and I waited with much anxiety the return of Captain Creighton, having al.' most continued information, that the enemy were in the neighbourhood of the. Marine Barracks, at the Capitol Hill, and that their " advance" was near George Town; I therefore determined to wait only until half-past eight o'clock, to commence the exe cution of my orders, becoming apprehensive that Captain Creighton had, from his long stay, fallen into the hands of the enemy. " During this delay, I ordered a few marines, and other persons who were then near me, to go off in one of the small gallies, which was done, and that boat is saved. 44 Colonel Wharton had been furnished with a light boat, with which he left the yard, probably between sev,:n and eight o'clock. " At twenty minutes past eight, Captain Creigh- ton returned : he was still extremely adverse to the destruction of the property, but having informed him that your orders to me were imperative, the proper disposition of the Wats being made, the matches were applied, and in a few moments the whole was in a state of irretrievable conflagration. ig When about leaving the wharf, I observed the fire had also commenced at the works at Greenleaf's koiut, and in the way out of the Branch, we ob. so-ved the Capitol on fire. is It had been any intention not to leave the vicinity of the yard with my boat, during the night, but bay i Captain Creighton and other gentlemen with me, she waeteta much incumbercd and over-laden.to ma,- - der that determination proper. We therefore pro ceeded to. Alexandria, in the vicinity of which I test ei till the inornhlg of the 25th, when we left Alex andria, at half past seven o'clock, and , proceeded again up to the yard, where I landed, unmolested, Atom a quarter before nine. " The schooner Lynx had laid alongside of the burning wharf, still unhurt; hoping therefore to save her, we hauled•her to the quarter of the hulk of the New York, which had also escaped the ravages of the fbtmes. 44 The Detail issuing Store of the Navy Store keeper, had remained safe from the fire during the night, which the enemy (being in force in the yard) about eight o'clock set fire to, and it was speedily consumed. •d It'apPeared that they bad left the yard about half an hour when, we arrived. • dd From the number and movements of the enemy, it would haVe appeared rash temerity to have at tempted returning again that day, though my lack nation strongly urged it ; therefore reconnoitering thpir motions, as well as could be effected, at a con• 16 Ao venient distance in the gig, until evening, I again proceeded to Alexandria for the night. ceYesterday morning, the 26th, it was impossible to form, from the various and contradictory reports at Alexandria, any sort of probable conjecture either of the proceedings and situation of our army or that of the enemy. Determining therefore to have a posi tive knowledge of some part thereof from ocular de monstration, I again embarked in the gig, proceed ing with dug caution to the yard, where I learned with chagrin devastation and pillage had commenced, and found also to my surprise that the old gun-boat, which had been loaded with provisions, and had grounded in endeavouring to get out of the Branch, on the evening of the 24th was nearly discharged of her cargo by a number of our people, without con nexion with each other. Havinglanded in the yard, I soon ascertained that the enemy had left the city, excepting only a serjeant's guard, for the security of the sick and wounded. Finding it impracticable to stop the scene of plundei that had commenced, I determined in stantly on repossessing the yard with all the force at my command. Repairing therefore immediately to Alexandria, Lieutenant Haraden, the ordinary men, and the few marines there were ordered directly up, following myself, and got full possession again at evening. 4 , I am now collecting the scattered purloined pro. visions ready for your orders, presuming they will now become very scarce indeed ; the quantity saved you shall be informed of when known to me. " The Lynx is safe, except her foremast being carried away in the storm of the 25th, about four P. ht. We have also another of the gun-boats, with about one hundred barrels of powder ; and one of the large yard cutters nearly full with the filled cylin ders for our different guns previously mounted ; the powder of those, however, is probably much wetted by the storm. .g I have the honour to be, very.respectfully, Sir, your obdient servant, (Signed) "T. TINGEV. " Hon. Wm. Jones, Secretary of the Navy." COPY OF A LETTER FROM CAPTAIN PERRY TO THE, SE CRETARY OF TIIE NAVY, DATED " Georgetown, September 9, 1811. SlR—The battery under my direction at the In dian-head was of too small calibre to make much im pression on the enemy as they descended the Poto mac on the,fith instant. A single 18-pounder, which arrived only thirty minutes before the firing began, ill supplied with ammunition, was the only gun that could be of much service. 66 The field-pieces (six -pounders) under the direc tion of that excellent offider, Major Peter, of the Georgetown, and Captain Birch, of the Washington, volunteers, and Captain Lewis, of General Stew art's Brigade, kep: up a very spirited fire. These Offi cers, together with Captains Stull and Davidson, and their brave men, behaved in the handsomest manner, and rendered all the assistance-their limited means afforded. The ammunition of the 18-pounder and of seve ral of the sixes being expended; and the fire of the enemy from two frigate; two sloops of war, two bombs, one rocket ship, and several smaller vessels, being very heavy, it was thought advisable by Gene ral Stewart, Major Peter, and myself, to retire a short d:stance in the rear. This was done in good order, after sustaining their fire for more than an hour.— General Stewart and Colonel Beall were much ex posed during the whole time of the cannonading. It would be presumption in me to speak in commenda tion of these veterans ; I cannot, however, avoid ex pressing my admiration of their conduct. " The few seamen (of the Guerriere) under the immediate command of Lieutenant Read, of the Ja- va, exhibited their usual bravery. Indeed, in the whole of this affair, every officer and man did his duty. Major Stewart, of the 36th regiment of infan try, was constantly with me, and rendered all the as sistance in his power. 41 The advantageous situation we occupied pre vented the enemy from doing us much injury; only one man was wounded. 46 I have the honour to be very respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed) " o. it. mum " Hon. Wm. Jones, Secretary of the Navy." CAPTAIN PORTER'S LETTER. The Intelli,gencer gives a long letter from Captain Porter be the Secretary of the Navy, dated the 7th September, presenting a minute account of the pre parations made by him at the White-house, on the west bank of the Potovrmac, to destroy the British squadron .in their passage down the river. The most interesting part will be found in the following extracts: After giving the previous operations both of bis and the enemy's force, for three or four days, and stating the force of the enemy to be two frigates car rying 96 guns ; three bomb-ships, 30; one sloop of war, rocket ship, 26; a brig, 18 ; a schooner and two barges, 3; making a total of 173 guns—Captain Por ter proceeds: 4 , The guns mounted in the battery were three 18-pounders, two twelve-pounders, six six-pounders, and two fours. My two mortars were without car riages, as were all my thirty-twos ; for notwithstand ing every effort was made by the Government at Wa shington to have them made there, as by myself on the spot, they could not be completed in time. (t,Dp the morning of the 6th the enemy :hewed a disposition to move. I advised General Hungerford, . . of the Virginia militia, of the same, and prepared to meet them with hot shot. 0 , About twelve o'clock the two frigates got under weigh with a (air wind and tide, and stood down for us. The rocket sloop, bomb vessels, brig, schooner and prizes following in succession, the gun-boats en deavouring to flank us on our tight. I immediately dispatched an officer to General Hungerford, to re quest him to take the position agreed upon in the woods on the heights, but from the distance of his camp, and the quick approach of the enemy, he was unable to march before the firing commenced, and, after that period almost impossible, , as I have.ander stood, from the vast quantities of shot, shells, and rockets, which were showered over the hills, and fell among his troops. 44 As the enemy approached, a well-directed fire was kept up from the battery, with hot and cold shot, and my brave officers and men stood the broadsides of the ships with unparalleled firmness. I anxiously expected the militia would open their fire of musketry but was disappointed—the cause was not explained until after the firing ceased. it Finding that the whole of the enemy's fire was directed at my force, and that in a few minutes all hii force would be brought to bear on me, and, enter- taining no hopes of preventing his passing, as some of my men had already been killed and wounded, I determined not to make an useless sacrifice ; and. when the enemy was on the point of anchoring abreast the battery, after sustaining his fire one hour and a quarter, I directed the officers and men to retire be hind a hill on our left, and be in readiness to charge. the enemy if he should land to spike our guns. " The two frigates anchored abreast, the bombs, sloops, and smaller vessels passed outside them, all pouring into the battery and neighhouring woods a tremendous fire of every description of missive. [Then follow eulogiums on various officers, volun teers, and corps ; who all behaved with great gallan. try.—The letter concludes thus :] " The number we have had killed and wounded on this occasion I cannot ascertain exactly. lam induced to believe, however, it does not exceed thirty, and when we consider the constant fire which had been kept up by the enemy for the four days preced ing their passage by the fort, we should esteem our selves very fortunate—his damage can never be known by us—some of his ships were much crippled, and I should suppose his loss considerable. 46 I have understood, that in order to bring their guns to bear on our battery, they cut away the upper part of their ports, and took the inner trucks from their gun carriages. When they had passed down I sent a torpedo after them—it was heard to explode about nine at night, but I have not learnt the effect it produced... 4 have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) 41 D. PORTER. " Hon. W. /once, secretary or the Navy" NEW-YORK, SEPTEMBER 12. Advices received at St. Bans from Bourdeaux state, that the French civil and military officers. for M.rtinique and Guadalou pe; had embarked nn board a French squadron, commanded by Admiral Linois, and were to sail shortly. FROM TILE BOSTON CENTINEL Or SEPTEMBER 10. THE CRISIS. "He that bath can to hear let him hear." BIBLC. The present aspect of the war in which we have been so inconsiderately and wickedly plunged by our profligate rulers, is indeed appalling to every man who values the security and even the liberty of his country, for even that is brought into jeopardy by a war begun with the hope and expectation of conquest. The indignation of HEAVEN, it is apparent, has now visited our country for placing its confidence in men who have uniformly set at defiance the common rules of just policy and public morality. Our capital has been conquered by a brigade of the enemy, and every sea-port in the United States is now trembling for 'its safety. The President is now moaning over the ashes of that proud capitol whence issued the decree of vengeance against Bri tain, which is likely to terminate in ruin—utter ruin to those who promulgated it, and those who are un happily politically connected with them. Where is our Navy, the only defence against a powerful maritime nation with whom we chose to make war ? It is destroyed, or, we fear, to be de stroyed in our very harbours—being incapable of going to sea. Where are our Armies ? Waiting with trembling the approach of a superior enemy. Where is our Money, our Credit ? Blasted and de stroyed upon the most miserable projects which mad men ever devised—or to effect electioneering pur poses.—What, then, is our hope and resource in this hour of difficulty and danger ? Are we to submit to be subjugated, revolutionised ? GOD forbid I And yet the prospect is dismal ; even in 1775 or 76 we were scarcely as near Being conquered as we are at this moment. Then we had nerve, a heart, and a :ood cause. Now we have neither; as we are humiliated and discouraged, and the war we have waged is wicked and wanton. Then we had a Congress, com posed of enlightened patriots and true friends to their country. Now we have a President and his Minis. ters, in whom nobody has confidence, nor have they confidence among themselves. Then we had a Wash. ington, given to us by HEAVEN, to raise our drooping spirits—to heal our divisions—and excite our energy. Now we have Madisons, Armstrongs, Monroes, and others, blind and obstinate creatures of party, without any love of country, or regard for its interests. What, then, shall we do to be saved; One thins , only. The people must rise in their majesty, protect themselves, and compel their unworthy servants to obey their will. Love to the Constitution which has been so shamefully abused will preserve Mr. Madison in his chair until his term expires; but he ought to be compelled to use his power to save the country from utter destruction. He ought to be compelled to dismiss his whole corps of incompetent or corrupt Ministers, and replace them with men of fortitude and love of country. In any other country but this, the state of things which exists here would dethron ,, the author of the mischief, or disgrace his advisers. In England, in much less perilous times, the King has been obliged to dismiss his favourite Ministers, and appoint others more agreeable to his people.— And shall we, in a free government, submit to accu mulating wretchedness two years more, because Mr. Madison is to be so long President ? GOD fotbid.— The subjects of despotic governments, in which the head of the despot must expiate his criminal aban donment of his country's interest, would wag their heads at us. But let us not lose our invaluable Con stitution, because our present rulers are not fit to exe cute it. Let us officer and man the ship anew, and then see whether she will weather the storm. HoW shall this be done ? is the question.—Let oar Legislature, when assembled, choose Commissioners, and invite the neighbouring States to do the same. Let these Delegates proceed to Washington, or where. ever else Mr. titi.liSbri . be found—and tell hins, that he ought to change his Ministers and Hs mea sures ;—that he must abandon the invasion of Canada. —to say conquest would be ridiculous ;—that he ought to she w to the nation with whom weave at war, that those men who made that war when Bonaparte was making his last attempt to subjugate England through Russia, are not in power ;—that he must, if necessary, recall some of his present obnoxious En voys, and appoint others ;—and that he must make one fair and honest attempt to obtain Peace without cunning or equivocation. If he will do this, Peace will be had, my life for it ;—if not, the country will rise, as one man, to finish a war, then, and not till then, just and necessary. If he will not do this, but will continue to prefer his party to his country, these Delegates should be empowered to adjust terms of union with other States, and to make a Peace for themselves. Self-preservation, the great law of na ture, requires this, and it is worse than idle to expect any other course. The union is already dissolved, practically--The Government now cannot protect the several States, if it would. Massachusetts has already lost its wood country, and its million of acres of land. It has lost Nan tucket--its fisheries—its commerce—its ships—its sailors What has it left ? Nothing but the property it acquired under the principles of Washington, and its courage and spirit to defend the remnant of its tights, if unshackled by a palsied and nerveless Go. vernment. Men of Massachusetts !—I say, then, arise ! Shake off your slumbers—act for yourselves, for if you de. pend longer upon the wretched Rulers who have ruined you, you will indeed be restored to the rank of subjects, and your proud Common-wealth will again cake the humiliating name of the « Province of Massachusett's Bay !" The Spirit of 1775. B3STON, SEPTEMBER I. The British expedition against Baltimore has corn. plet:•ly failed by flood and field, and they have re. treated from the Petapsco. BUMMAEY OF THE EXPEDITION. On the 12th, the British landed 4 or 5000 troops about 12 miles below the city; who were at first op posed by a brigade of militia. The militia being com pelled to retreat, the enemy advanced to within four. or five miles of the city, in the afternoon of the 13th ; and in the night of the 13th or morning of the 14th, without being attacked, retreated to their shipping, embarked about noon, and on the same day, or Cie next, left the Petapsca. During these land operations, the English light fleet sailed up the river ; bombarded fort *Henry for about twenty hours ; met a forcible resistance : then retired from the conflict—sailed down the river; took their troops on board, and left the Petapsco, 'without, as reported, having landed at Colegztes• creek. We believe this outline to be con ect ; but no official accounts have yet been received. The loss on both sides, as usual, is varioucly state.' and estimated. There was no great fighting on land ; and our killed is stated at eleven, of which Adjutant Donaldson is the only person of name reported ; the wounded at 28—of which Mr. *Collodi, the Collector, and Messrs. Amos A. and Nathawel Wil liams, are the only persons named ; and they well sll wounded in the thigh. In the attack on fart Military, only siz men are stated to have been kJ...1. The British loss is estimated, in round numbrr.i 400 ; but this could only be guessed at. EXTRACT OP A LET T= DATED SALT! Vulllt, &EFT. Ij. 66 I embrace the earliest opportunity of giviug yo 3 an account of the action of yesterday, beteeee our troops and thc. British. The alarm was fired on SL,r.• day, at 3 P.N. and the Baltimore brigade, commin by General Stricker, took up the line of abontiner. We proceeded that eveaiug doom to 1 0' Menintbouse, about 'even miles from town, who krt arms all night, Ia a wouw; ". 7 - Ils •