The National Register.
London, England, 1814-10-02 00:00:00

TIM, NATIONAL REGISTER.

TUESDAY'S LONDON GAZETTE.

ThiA Gazette contains a copy of a letter from Vice Admiral Si►'
Alexander Cochrane, to Mr. Croker, dated on board his Majeitty's
ship Tennant, in the Patuxent, the 3d instant, enclosing the fol-
lowing letter :

Sin,

His Majesty's ship, Menelaus, off Pool's Island,
Chesapeake, Sept. 1, 1814,

With grief the deepest it becomes my duty to communicate the
death of Sir Peter Parker, Bart late Commander of his Majesty's
ship Menelaus, and tne occurrences attending an attack on the
enemy's •4roops- on the night of the 80th ult. encamped at Nell:sir.
The previous and accompanying letters of Sir Peter Parker will, I
presume, folly point nut the respect the enemy on all occasions
evince at the approach of our arms, retreating at every attack.
though possessing a 4nperiority of numbers of five to one. An in-
telligent black man gave us information of two hundred militia be-
ing encamped behind a wood, distant half a mile from the beach,
and described their situation, so as to give us the strongest hopes of
cutting off and securing the largest part as our prisoners, destroying
the camp, field-pieces; &c. and possessing also certain information
that one man out of every five bad been levied as wrequisition on the
eastern shore, for the purpose of being sent over for the protection
of Baltimore, and who are-only-prevented crossing the bay by the
activity and vigilance of the tender and ship's boats. One hundred
and four bayonets, with twenty pikes were landed at eleven o'clock
at night, under the immediate directions of Capt. Sir Peter Par ker,
Bart. ; the first division headed by myself, the second division by
Lieutenant Pearce. On arriving at the ground, we discovered the
enemy had shifted his position, as we were then jaunted, to the
distance of a mile farther ; having taken the look-out picket imme-
diately on our landing, we were in assurance our motions had not
been discovered, and with the deepest silence followed on for the
coup. Atter a march of between four and five miles in the country,
we found the enemy po,ted on a plain, surrounded by woods, with
the camp in their rear ; they were drawn op in a line, and per-
fectly ready to receive us ; a single moment was not to be lost : by
a smart fire, and instant charge, we commenced the attack, forced
them from their position, putting them before us, in full retreat to
the rear of their artillery, where they again made a stand, shewing a
disposition to outflank us on the right ; a movonsent was instantly
made by Lient. Pearee's division to force them from that quarter ;
and it was at this time, while animating his men in the most heroic
manner, that Sir Peter Parker received his mortal wound, which
obliged him to quit the field, and he expired in a few minntss.
Licit% Pearce, with his division, soon routed the enemy, while that
under my command gamed and passed the camp. One of the field
pieces W 44 momentarily in our possession, but obliged to quit it from
superior numbs rs.
The marines, under Lieutenants Beynon and Poe, formed our
centre, and never was bravery more conspicuous. Finding it im-
possible to close en the enemy, from tho rapidity of their retreat,
Laving mimed them upwards Gra mile I deemed it prudent to re
tire towards the beach, which was mule,
in the best possible
order, taking with us from the field twenty five of our wounded, the
whole we could end, the enemy not even attempting to regain the
gronnd they had lost ; from three prisoners (cavalry) taken by us,
we learnt their • force amounted to five hundred militia, a troop of
horse, and five pieces of artillery ; and since by flags of truce, I um
Ic.d to believe their number much greater. •

Repelling a force of surli magnitude, with so small a body as we
opposed to them, Alin, I trust, speak for itself ; and although our
Isms has been severe; I hope the lustre aoquired to our arm2l will
compensate for it. Permit me. Sir, to offer to your notice the con-
duct of Mr. James Stopfcnd Fiore, master's mates of this alt;p, who
on this as well as on other trying occasions evinced the grenteit
steal and gallantry. In justice to Sub• Lieut. Johnion, cointroinfling
the Jane tender, I must hc: •to notice the liprvlsome manner in
which he has at all times-volunteered his tervices.
Herewith I beg leave to enclose you a list' of the killed, wounded
and missing in this aflidr.

I have the honour to he, &c.
(Signed) HEN. CREASE, Act. COM.
• This list contains the names of 14 killed, and t 7 avonwied,

[This Gazette contains a list of 24 Aim and vends captured yr
Ettßineil by his maje,ty,A ships.and vc•ar{s on the Leeward lstatidt
between the 2d of February and the 13th of June, 1814.]