The National Register.
London, England, 1814-10-16 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

GENERAL WINDER'S OFFICIAL LETTER.

COPY OF A LETTER F110:11 lIRIGADIER•GENERAL WINDER TO THE
SECRETARY AT WAR, D %TN)

ifaltinioui: Aug. '27, 1814.

SlR—When ex enemy arrived at the mouth of the Potomac, of
all the militia which I had been authorised to as*emble, tiieve
about 1703 in the fiehl—from thirteen to f.airtecii hundred mulct.
General'Strukdritry, near this place ; about v.:O at Illaden.burg,
wier Lieutenant-Colonel KrillWl% The slow prO4ECSS of di alt. and
the imperfect oraaniz:ition, with the ineffectiveness Of the taus to
compel them to turn cut, rendered it impos.ible to have procured
more. The mi!itia of tills state, and of the coutignoms parts'of
Viraisda and Pensylvania, were called on en masse Wit the t'ortner
militia law of Pennsylvania had expire d the Ist of June or Jolv,
and the mie adopted in its place is not to 'ake a fleet iii organizing
the militia before October. No aid, t. eret r has been received
fi-om that State _ _ _

After all the force that could be put at my disposal ;V* .""
time had an iva, and making such dispositions as I deemed best cal•
enhted to present the must respeetanie etree at galas ... • I* ,:sa
enemy might strike, I. was enabled, by the most active and harassing
movement of the troops, to interpose ()wore the enemy at Itiadens-
burg, about 59(10 men, including 3 regulars, and Commodore
Barney'3 committal. INlnch the largest portion of this force arrived
on the ground when the enemy were in sight, and wee disposed of
to support, in the best manner, the position which belieral
bury had taken. They had barely reached the ,round before the
action commenced, .which was about one o'clock p.
in.rt:id, and continued about an hour.
Tile contest was not as obstietately.maintained as eraild have been
clasired ; but was, by parts of the troops, sit t eitied win* great Npirit
and prodigious effect ; anti had the whole of 0 a to ce been equally
firm. I am induced to believe the enemy wind I !rive been repel-e
withstanding all the eltsadvantaf,es under hich we tOnglit.
The artillery from Ba!timare, supported ley Major Pieektaya
ri:le battalion, and a part of Captaiu Daughty's the Nay.•
yard, were in advance to command the Inver of the bridge at Bla-
den-bm.g., and played upon the enemy, as I have since leareed, with
very destructive eifeet. Btu the rift& troops were onliged tutee smite
time to retire, and 4 f conrst• the artillery. Superior numbe:s rosiled
upon them, and made their retreat necessary' ; hot, however, with-
out great loss on the part of the enemy. illainr i'inkocy received a
severe wound in Iris right aim, after he had retired to the left Bank
of Stansbury's brigade. The right and centte 01)titanbury's brigale,
eousisting of Lieutenant-Colonels Ragan and; Stititer's reg anew.,
generally gave way very MIMI afterwaids, with the exception of
about fiaty, rallied by Colonel Ragan, after having lost his It, rse.
and the vc hole or a part of Captain Shower's company, both of whom
General Stanshury represeuts to have made, even thus deserted, A
gallant stand.
. 'non fall which Lieutenant-Colonel Ragan reeeivrd from his horse,
together with his great (-flails to snstain Ills pesit Om, tendered bun
unable to fol!aw the ; we have therefore to lament that this
gallant and excellent otlicer has bet n tal.en pi isuner ; be has, how-
ever, been paroled, and I met him here recovering from the hi nisei
occasioned uy his fall. The lusts ut has Servi: es at this monteett ii
serious.
The sth Baltimore reoiment, under Lieutenant Colonel Sterrett,
being the left ot lirigadier-General Stausiair.)'s brigath., stilt, 110'.1
ever, stood their graudd, :end except tor a moaßait, %.i.a a part a
'them recoiled a few r tops, remained firm,
al .1 stood wail
t retreat, with a view to prevent them limn not•ilviked.
.
The reserve, motet. licit adier General 'nail to, of the t;is tr:o of CO"
Innthia, with the militia ot the city anti Ge-rguittwa, wchtVe reale-
lars anti some detachments of MArvl•oid alliked on the right
by Cooli*tlore Barney awl his brave fe;l44‘vs and Lien: cyan t -Celoy
gel
Real, Trails, were•to the rivltt on the
fors ame thpe ‘‘ th great effect. bill, and maintained the contest
It is not with me to report the eNnalnet ot Comntralore Carney and
his command), nor can 1 speak Isom observation. being too re mote ;
but the eoneturent testinmay of al: that did onserke them, d es
rest.,iaure and the destruct %c
enfreehtigtilliecsytiitrlel,sellice
t7er outthletti•reit:,4::3,? ...A—
in' host his horse, took post mar one t•t hoc :ant there tree: Ittl
a severe wohnst it, the thi,m, and he also into the hawk of 11.0
Captain at; marine., tewt wunnced in the two
fighting britve; iron' the hot intell•i;coce) there mita= but