Star.
London, England, 1814-11-24 00:00:00

AMERICAN PAPERS.

COPY OF A LETTER FROM BRIGADIER GENERAL MACOMB
TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR, DATED HEADQUARTERS,
PLATTSBURGH, SEPTEMBER 15, 1814.
•4 Sin-I have the honour to communicate, for the
information of the war department, the particulars of
the advance of the enemy into the territory of the
United States, the circumstances attending die siege
of Plattsburgh, and the defence of the posts entrust-
ed to my charge.
41 The Governor-General of the Canadas, Sir
George Prevost, having collected the disposable
force to Lower Canada, with a view of conquering
the country as far as Crown Point and Ticonderog♦,
entered the territories of the United States on the Lit
of the month, and occupied the village of Chs.tn-
plain ; there he avowed his intentions, and iriued
orders and proclamations, tending to dissuade the
people from their allegiance, and inviting them to.
furnish his army with provisions. He immediately
began to impress the waggons and teams in the vici-
nity, and loaded them with his heavy baggage and
stores. From this I was persuaded he intended to
attack this place. I had but just returned from the
lines, where I had commanded a fine brigade, which
was broken up to form the division under Major-Ge-
neral Izard, and ordered to the westward. Being
senior Officer, he left me in command ; and, except
the four companies of the Gilt regiment, I had not
an organized battalion :among those remaining. The
garrison was compelsed of convalescents and recruits
of the new regiments, all in the greatest confusion,
as well as the: ordnance and stores, and the works ist
no state of defence.
" To create an emulation and zeal among the offi-
cers and men in completing the works, I divided
thrm into detachments, and placed them near the
several forts; declaring in orders, that each detach-
ment was the garrison of its own work, and bound
to defend icto the last extremity.
44 The enemy advanced cautjously and by short
marches, and our soldiers worked day and night ; so
that by the time he made his appearance before the
place, we were prepared to receive him.
" General Izard named the principal work Fort
Moreau : a,ld to remind the troops of the actions of
their brave countrymen, I called the redoubt on the
right Fort Brown, and that on the left Fort Scott.—
Besides these three works, .we have t.vo blockhouses
strougly fortified.
46 Finding, on examining the returns of the garei.
son, that our force did not exceed 1500 effective men'
for duty, and well informed that the enemy had as
many thousands, I called on General Mooers, of the
New Yot k militia, and arranged with him plans for.
brir•.ginif forth the militia en matte. The inhabitants
of the village fled with their families and effects, ex-
cept a few worthy citizens and some boys, who form-
ed themselves into a party, received rifles, and wens
exceedingly useful.
" By the 4th of the month, General Mooers
col-
lected about 700 militia, and advanced seven miles
on the Beekman Town road, to watch the motions
of the enemy, and to skirmish with him as he ad-
vanced ; also to obstruct the roads with fallen trees,
and to break up the bridges.
'6 On the Lake road, at Dead Creek Bridge, I
posted 200 men, under Captain Sproul of the 130 re-
githent, with orders to abbatis the woods, to place
obstructions in the road, and to fortify himselt to
this party I added two field pieces. In advance of
that position was Lieutenant• Colonel Appling, with
110 riflemen, watching the movements of the enemy,
and procuring intelligence.
66 It was ascertained, that before day-light on the
6th, the enemy would advance in two columns. on the
two roads before mentioned, dividing at Sempson's,
a little below Chazy village. The column on the
Beekman town road proceeded most rapidly ; the
militia skirmished with his advanced parties, and,
except a few brave men, fell back most precipitately
in the greatest disorder, notwithstanding the British
troops did not deign to fire on them, except by their
Bankers and advanced patroles.
66 The night previous, I ordered Major Wool to
advance with a detachment of 250 men to support
the militia, and set them an example of firmness.—
Also Captain Leonard, of the light artillery, was di-
rected to proceed with two pieces to be On the ground
before day; yet he did not make his appearance until
eight o'clock, when the enemy had approached within
two miles of the village. With ' his conduct, there-
fore, I am not well pleased. Major Wool, with his
party, disputed the road with great obstinacy, but
\!he militia could not be prevailed nn to stand, not-
withstanding the exertions of their General and Staff
C'fficers ; although the fields were divided by strong
stone walls, and they were told that the enemy could
not possibly cut them off. The state dragoons of
New York wear red coats, and they being on the
heights to watch the enemy, gave constant alarm to
Olt: militia, who mistook 'them for the enemy, and
fused his getting in their rear.
46 Finding the enemy's columns had penetrated
within a mile of Plattsburgh, I dispatched my Aide-
de-Camp, Lieutenant Root, to bring off the detach-
ment at Dead Creek, and to inform Lieutenant-Co.
lane' Appling that I wished him to fall on the enemy's
riglit flank. The Colonel fortunately arrived just in
time to save his retreat, and to fall in with the head
of a column debauching from the woods. I-lere he
poured in a destructive fire from his riflemen 4 rest,
and continued to annoy the enemy until he formed a
junction with Major Wool. The field-pieces Sid con-
siderable execution among the enemy's cnljmns. So
undaunted, however, was the enemy, that he nev tr
deployed in his whole march, always pressing on i

cohtmo. Finding that every toad was fall dE trool.
crowding on us on all sides, I ordered the 6eld-piecr.
to retire across the bridge and form battery for it
protection, and to cover the retreat of dae infantri,
`which was accordingly done, and the pa r t ies of Ap.
pling and Wool, as well as chat of Sproul, retinal
alternately, keeping up a brisk &re 144 they go:
under cover of the works.

44 The enemy's light troops occupied the hoeus
near the bridge, and kept up a constant firing hot;
the windows and balconies, aryl annoyed .ds much.
I ordered them to be driven ont with hot shot,
soon put the hou.es in Hones, and obliged thew
sharp-shooters to retire. The whole day, until it was
too late to see, the enemy's light troops endeavoured to
drive our guards from. the bridge, but they suffer,:
dearly for their perseverance. An attempt was
wade to cross the upper bridge, where the militia i,a,.
handsomely drove tloem back.
44 The column which marched by the Lake road
was much impeded by the obstructions, and the re.
moral of the bridges at. Dead Creek, and, as it passed
the creek and beach, the gallies kept up a lively arc
galling fire.
44 Our uoops being now all on tle south side o:
the Saranac, I directed the planks to be takea off the
bridges and piled up in the form of breast-works to
cover 'our parties intended for disputing the passage,
whicti afterwards enabled us to hold the bridges
aga.Mst very superior numbers.
u From the 7th to the 14th, the enemy was ens-
coloyed in getting on his battering train, and erecting
his batteries and approaches, and constantly skirmi.h.
ing at the bridges and fords. By this time the mill.
tia of Ncw York, and the volunteers of Vermont were
pouring in from all quarters. I advised General
Mooers to keep his force along the Saranac to pre.
vent the enemy's crossing the river and to send a
strong body in his rear to harass him day and night,
and keep him in continual :.farm.
44 The militia behaved with great spirit after the
first day, and the volunteers of Vermont were es-
ceedingly serviceable. Our regular trolps, notwith.
standing the constant skirmishing, and repeated en-
deavours of the enemy to cross the giver, kept at
their work day and night strengthening the defences,
and evinced a determination to hold out to the last
extremity.

64 It V; as reported that the enemy only waited the
arrival of his fl ailla to make a general attack. About
eight in the evening of the 11th, as was expected, the
flotilla appeared in sight round Cumberland Head,
and at nine bore down and engaged at anchor in the,
Bay off the town. At the same instant the batteries
were opened on us, and continued throwing bomb.
shells, sharpnells, balis, and Congreve rockets, until
sun-set, when the bombardment ceased, every battery
of the enemy being silenced by the superiority of our
fire. The naval engagement lasted but two hours in
full view of both armies. Three efforts were made
by the enemy to pass the river at the commencement
of the cannonade and bombardment, with a view of
assaulting the works, and had prepared for that One
an immense number of scaling ladders. One
attempt to cross was made at the village bridge, ano-
ther at the tipper bridge, and a third at a ford about
three miles from the works. At the two first he was ,
repul-ed by the regulars—at the bird by the brava
volunteers and militia, where he suffered severely in
killed, wounded and prisoners : a considerable body
baying crossed the stream, but were either killed.
taken or Driven back. The woods at this place were
very favourable to the operations of the militia.
whole company of th... 76th regiment was here de,
strayed, the three Lieutenants and twenty-seven men
prisoners, the Captain and the rest killed.
44 I cannot forego the pleasure of here stating the
gallant conduct of Captain IstGlassin, of the 15th
regiment, who was ordered to ford the river, and at-
tack a party constructing a battery on the right of the
enemy's line, within five hundred yards of Fort
Brown, which he handsomely executed at midnight
with 50 men ; drove off the working party, consist.
ingot one hundred and fifty. and defeated a coverieg
party of the same number—killing one officer aal
:six men in the charge and wounding many.
" At dusk the enemy withdrew his artillery from
the batteries, and raised the siege ; and at nine, ue-
der cover of the night, sent off, in a great hurry, all,
the baggage he could find transport for. and also ha
artilles y. At two the next morning the whole army
precipitately retreated, leaving the sick and wounded
to our generosity—and the Governor left a note with
a surgeon, requesting the humane attentron of th:
Commanding General.
4. Vast quantities of provision were left behind and
destroyed, also an immense quantity of bomb-shells,
cannon-balls, grape-shot, ammunition, flints, :tc.lo.
trenching tools of all sorts, also tents and marquees.
A great deal has been found concealed in ponds and
creeks, and buried in the ground, and a vast quantity
carried off by the inhaoitants. Such was the preci-
pitance of his retreat, that he arrived at Cttazy, a dis-
tance cf eight miles, before we discovered he hail
gone. The light troops, volunteers, and militia, pur-
sued immediately on learning of his flight, and some.
of the mounted men made prisoners five di agoons ot
the 19th regiment, and several others of the rear-
guard. A continual fall of rain and a violent storm
prevented further pursuit. Upwards of three hundred
deserters have come in, and many arc hourly arriving.
46 We have buried the British officers of the army
and navy, with the honours of war, and shewn every'
attention and kindness to those who have fallen lute
our hands.
44 The conduct of the officers, non-commissictia
officers, and soldiers of my command, during th:
trying occasion cannot be represented in too hit's
terms, and I feel it my duty to recommend to de
particular notice of Government, Lieutenant-Color3
App,ing of the Ist Rifle corps, Majur Wool of I 1
29th, Major Totten or the corps of eligineers, Caro
Brook-sof the artillery, Captain M.Glasen of the 15rnt.
Lieutenants de. Russy and 'nese t: ot the c-rps
d
engineers, Lieutenants Smyth, Mounriord, and Corn-
well of the artillery ; also my Aid-de-Camp, Lieute-
nant Root, who have all distinguished themselves by
their uncommon zeal and activity, and have berg
greatly instrumental in producing the happy 4.1
glorious result of the siege.
" 1 nave the i:puour to be, with sentiments of pm
found respect, Sir, your most obedient humbi. servant,
(Signed) 4! ALEX. MACO)IS°
44 The loss of the enemy in killed, *Condole Pri-
soners, and deserters, since his first appearanat cal 120:
, fall short of two thousand five hundred."

~ +~ 7,
i ~

LON DON.

NEXT WEDNESDAY THE STATE LOTTERY BEGINS
,Dtt AWING-THE WHOLE IS TO BE DRAWN ON
IHA D Y.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1814.
TRh I'OCRB ('HIS DAY Al TWELVE O'CLOCK:
Reduced 631 64-4 per Cent. 844-5 per Cent. 96 95(
Consols 6413—for amount, 641)—Omnions
Jiant Long Anns :6—indla Bonds 14s. 1.55. pre.
Eachequer Bills ts. fits. to 4s. prem.
This was settling-day in Consols.

We have this day laid before our Readers the Ame-
rican General MACOMB'S account of the attack upon
PLLtsburgh, as is is of importance that every thing
relative to that unfortunate affair should be well un-
derstood.

Another article from the American Papers, con-
taining an account of the cruise of the privateer Prince
of Neufchatel, from the day of her sailing from Cher-
bourg, on the 4th of July, till she entered the harbour
of Boston, on the 15th of October, will be perused
With lively interest; particularly by our commercial
readers. It was known at the time of her sailing that
this vessel, formerly a French privateer, was not bona
e, an American, but by some gran:muting elixir,
`sitiaistered through American agency, she acquired
44eseiabilt, and has done our trade much mischief.
.. As might have been expected, this and similar
itensactions of oar honed enemy caused some remon-
stritncei to be made on the part of our Government,
and 'We have reason to believe that Mr. CROKER'S
visit to Paris had relation to this disguised war, thus
earned on against us in the French ports. The result
his been creditable to the French Government—and
their proceedings, in consequence, •furnish a pledge
cif the sincerity with which it is disposed to cultivate
the relations of amity hisivrese the two countries.—
The general principles of the Law of Nations is com-
pletely recognised in the orders acted upon in the
French ports.
Di addition to the circumstances which we yester.
Any- communicated respecting the system now pur-
sed. in France in relation to American vessels, we
hive to add the following :—The Decator, from the
finked States, laden with cottons, was refused entrance
Into Bourdeaux, and was ordered round to Brest. The
ground alleged for not receiving her at the port of her
destination was, that she had some guns on board.

Reference wai had to the Duke of WELLINGTON to
obtain a pass through the'blockade of the ports of
America, to a French ship which has been some time
in readiness to take her departure from Havre-de.
Grace. This application has been ineffectual ; and
the cause of its ill success may be easily explained, as
there are about 300 French Officers who have taken
their passage by this vessel, and who had applied to
Caarnruan, the Republica* Minister at Paris, to
*now whether they could acquire rank in the array of
theUnited.tates ?
As illustrative of the above we state, from a pti-
Irate letter now before us, from a well-informed indi-
vidual in Paris, that many French Officers hAving
applied for leave of absence from France, they have
of late uniformly received. the same answer,
that the reoccupation of the French Colonies will
regime the services of so many Officers, that permis-
sion to quit France cannot be allowed ; and that if,
without leave, they shall presume to go abroad,
their names will be struck out of the list of French
Pfficers."
That this decision and firmness was loudly called
for, and that even a considerable degree of vigilance
will be necessary on the part of the French Govern-
ment to prevent its orders from being disregarded or
evaded, will be rendered abundantly apparent from
the following Copy of a Letter from the Agent to
La.oyo's, at Torbay, dated November 22d :
" Last evening landed at this pl ace Captain War.
Otani,' of tishopsgate.street, London, late master
and owner of the brig Alexander, from Leghorn to
London, reports being taken, on the 14th inst. eight
or ten leagues South of the Lizard, by the Ameri-
can schooner privateer Leo, of 275 tons, and only
four guns, nine days from L'Orient : Capt. CRANE
was four days on board the Leo, and was informed
by the Commander that the French Government did
not permit him to have any guns on board at the
time he sailed, and that he paid pilots £lOO to
smuggle them off. Captain CaLwe was put on board
a Spanish ship, and from thence to the fishing sloop
that landed him."
We cannot doubt, that the French Government,
the moment it shall hare learnt the fact communica.
sated in the above letter, will institute proper in-
quiries to bring to punishment the individuals who
have thus dared to violate its commands I

This day Paris Papers of Saturday, Sunday, And
'Monday, reached us. We have selected several of
the articles relative to the negotiations at Vienna.
Our Readers know how little credit we attach to any
of these unauthorised statements. They possess, how.
ever, some interest, in as much as they tend to chew
the feeling of the French Editors on the several points
'which they notice; and some will be inclined to suspect
that exactly in proportion as they boast of all or any of
the Allies being disappointed in the measures resolved
on, the cause of chagrin will be found on the other side.
On one point, however, we wish to find the French
papers correct. Pa/8# ig Igoe to be itvidsd. Austria,
it is said, has beak vat solicitous to obtain a conve.

Indent Ate r 0431611.1..,1/211.4 th*Emferat Att( -
ANDER bid declared that it ehatiot be divided-that
• -' ciUlligand 'and eight hundred

thousand Poles, are teatsir to maibtain its independence!
The Arch Duke CONSTANTINE has suddenly set
out from Vienna for Warsaw—perhaps to take upon
him the Sovereignty bf that kingdom.

We reprobated the former partition of Poland by
the Allies, early in the Revolutionary war, as exhi-
biting a most dangerous example to every flagitious
Power which might aim at the subjugation and in-
corporation of neighbouring States. Our predictions
were too fully verified. Let Poland be again rendered
independent—no matter under what Sovereign, and let
its independence be guaranteed by all the Powers of
Europe. A very few years will annihilate any pri-
mary family-feeling, and produce distinct and sepa-
rate interests, as was the case with the different
BOURBON Sovereigns. _

An article from Naples mentions, that King JOA-
CHIM (MURAT) has received from the Emperor of
AUSTRIA a formal ratification of the Treaty by which
his Sovereignty is recognized. If so, we may soon
expect to hear that his rights have also been confirmed
by this country and the other Allies.
It may be recollected, that when the general alliance
was formed for the subversion of NAPOLEON'S domi-
nion, stipulations to the above effect were entered into
with the present King of NAPLES—onIy, it was at the
same time stipulated, that some equivalent should be
provided for the former reigning family, the present
King of SictLy. On the whole, we doubt not that it
will be for the benefit of the Neapolitans themselves
that no change in the present Sovereignty should oc-
cur; but it is much to be wished that no injustice may
be done to others by any arrangement that may be
adopted.
A letter in these Papers from Havre, hails, as an
instance of liberality on the part of the Allies towards
France, the arrival there of an English ship, direct
from the Brazils, laden with cotton and sugars, with-
out having previously entered, as formerly, any Eng-
lish or Portuguese port.