Star.
London, England, 1814-09-22 00:00:00

41111ERICAN P.sfiERS.
...• .

WAR IN THE CHESAPEAKE.-(OFFICIAL)

RICHMOND. VIRGINIA, JULY 27, 1514.
The Adjutant. General has received the following
dispatch from Colonel `e'arker, i a Westmoreland, detcd
" Camp, Clifton Cross Rna.l4, Jaly
44 The catastrophe which I anticipated in my lest
to you, and which all the refleceing inhabitants of the
Northern Neck have expected far some time, has at
length fallen upon a•pert of this conntry. On the
h inst. I was Informed by my videttes stationed on
the Heighil above Nomony, that the enemy's ships
had edfteil off from the Maryland shore and fallen into
the Potomac Channel neatly opposite the Nomony.—
At: the saints time indications of an attempt to land
• somewhere 'acceme more and morejtpparent, which
were =vetted into certainty about ten o'clock r.
for by that time eight of the enemy's tenders and a
brig of 14 or 48 guns, accompanied by a great num-
ber of barges, were iii the mouth of the Nomony, and
immediately after, about 40 barges advanced slowly
up the river towards the ferry.
a I had at this time, in consequence of the detach-
ments I was obliged to send out as boat-guards. &c.
about 75 or 80 iiientry.(ificluding artillerists under
Captain Marmaduke), and 18 or 20 cavalry, badly
. equipped. The lower battalion were guarding their
own shores. The point where my company then was
was about six
.miles to Nomony ferry, which I was
satisfied would be the• first object of the enemy's at-
ten don ; and I therefore wished to attack them as they
were going up, but upon viewing the ground, found
- it would be impossible without exposing my two six-
pounders, and probably the whole detachment to the
imminent danger, nay. certainty of captures, the eonn.
try there being vet y flat, liable of course to the rake
of cannon for some distance, and penetrated by seve-
ral small creeks, at whose herd a landing might have
been effected, so as to gain the rear of any force sta-
tioned nn or ucar the bank of the main stream. I
was therefore obliged to decide en attempting to gain
the trry ; yet anxious to retard their movements, by
occupying their -attention for a few moments, I direct-
el Captain Monroe, with SO men, to descend into the
plain, and approaching the narrow river, to give them
ii few fires, it he found it possible to do so. This, as
I feared, ma impracticable, and he very narrowly
escaped capture by two parties of the enemy, who
landed and were gaining his rear. I hastened on to
the ferry with my very small and reduced force, and
arrived there myself azcompanied by General Hnn-
gerford (who remained constantly with me and
rendered every assistance it was possible to give),
and a few troepers, just in time to witness the ap-
eroach and lending of the enemy, and to receive some
ineffectual fires from their advance. In a very few
moments 12 or MOO mess were thrown ashore, and
began to advance on the road to Westmoreland Court
House. I gave orders to retreat slowly and delibe-
rately, which was effected in trod order, and with
tittle or no confusion.
4‘ Several times I halted, with the dou'ele view of
inspiring the men rekh confidence so as to prevent a
too precipitate retreat, and to enable the women and
children to save themselves from a merciless enemy.
t one time I den mined to wait their approach,
halted, unlimbered the guns, and formed my srnal:
parry of about 30 infantry in a skirt of wino's, but
cfsccverieg that their flanking parties would pro-
• b tbly cut of cur retreat if we waited to fire on those
advaricing along the toad, I reluctantly continued
try retreat.' The flanking parties of the enemy at
this time were not SW yards from us, but not in a
situation to be reached by our cannon. Yet the party
under my command, with tweaty or thirty times their
number in front, evinced generally a firmness which
under more favourable ci:eurnstences, and with the
advantages of discipline, would prove them to be
real Virginians.
" I am certain that the deliberation of onr retreat
rendered the enemy more cautious in advancing, and
consequently alloned mare time to the affrighted in-
hahitants to save themselves. They advanced n 6
further than Templernen's cross roads, about three
miles. from their landing-place, and I retired a little
above the Court-House, to a position entirely secure,
about three miles and a half from the enemy, leaving
tt party of cavalry within a mile and a halt of them,
and a small piquet guard at the Coen House.
" On the retreat I dispatched messengers to the
neighbouring Counties for assistance, and early yes-
terday, finding that the enemy had not advanced, I
approached to Westmoreland Court House, and 1 e'ng
joined here by two companies of infantry from le;ch-
mond County, under Major lielfield, 1 had giveli
orders to advance again to Templernan's cress roads,
when I learnt the enemy had embarked.
" My object was to occupy this last position im-
usediately in his neighbourhood, to restrain his m:i.
rauding parties, and attack him as soon as my rein-
forcements offered me any possibility of success.
" In the mean tune a small party, under Captain
Millleton, in the lower battalion, bad several sick-
mishes with them, with what success I know note—
He was unfortunately unable to transport his artil-
lery across the Maehodick, or I should have expected
from him every thing that a Aidicious officer could
effect, which, in fact, under circumstances, could
sibs very little. .
" It was reported by my videttes, that the enemy
Wed a party of cavalry, and there are various reports
on the subject. It is certain some of their officers
were mounted, and when I ascertain the truth of the
case, it shall be communicated to yen.
a Yesterday evening some of their parties were on
both sides the Nomony, and I learnt have not to this
moment quitted Mrs. Buckner on the lower side.—
They have entirely interrupted my communications
with that part of the county except very circuitously,
and as the force there is inconsiderable, I expect the
whole neck will be elundered.
ss Ott the Nomony every thing is destroyed. The
aegroes and stocks of cattle carried off, and every
nousidcrable house burnt—among the latter are all
Mrs. Thompson's, at Nomony Ferry, Bushheld the
seat of Mr. Lewis, and Walnut 'Farm, of Lieutenant
Jett. Other houses are plundered of every thing, and
the extept of the injury is yet unknown.
44 I .expect today, two companies from King
George and one from Essex. Until I hear from the
: Eiecutive I shall' continue to organize the assemb-
ling force, and afford all the assistance iu my power
:o wetly place attacked in or out of the-county,
P. 5.—1 omitted to state that the Vra;c4ouse was