Star.
London, England, 1813-12-25 00:00:00

still _...e tight
ever, with the great body of the Ikdians.
68 At Bowle s faun?, fotic miles from the bridge,
[e halted for, the night, fpund two other vessels, and
large distillery, filled with ordnan,ce.atjd' other va.
uable stores' to an immense ansouPt, in flames-it
as impossible to put ent the fire. Two 24-pounders,
with their carriages, were taken, and a large quantity
of ball and shells of various sizes. .
" The army was put in motion early on the morn.
i!ng of the sth. I pushed on in advance with the
mounted regiment; and requested Governor Shelby
0 follow as expeditiously as possible with the in-
fantry : the Governor's zeal, and that of his men,
,enabled him to keep up with the cavalry, and, by
'pine' o'clock, we were at Arnold's Mills, having
taken, in the couhe of the morning, two gun-boats
Snd several batteaux, loaded with provisions end

jtannunition. , •
" A rapid at the river at Arnold's Mills, of ords
the only fording to be met with foi a very consider-
able distance, but upoo examination it was found- t so
deep for the infantry. Having, however, fortunately
taken two or three boats and some Indian canoes on
the spot, and obliging the horsemen to take a foot-
nun behind each—the whole army were safely trot,
sed by twelve o'clock.
" Eight miles from the crossing we passed a farm
where a part of the British troops had encamped the
nigh before, under the command of Colonel War-
burton. The detachment with General Proctor had
arrived the day before at the Moravian towns, four
nide% higher up.
41 Being now certainly near the enemy, I directed
the advance of Johnson's regiment to accelerate their
march for the purpose of procuring intelligence. The
officer commanding it, in a short time, sent to in-
form me that his progress was stopped by the enemy,
who were formed across our Hoe of march. One, of
the enemy's waggoners being also taken prisoner,
from the information received from him, and my own
observation, assisted by some of my officers,' I soon
ascertained enough of their position and order of bat-
tie to determine that, which it was proper for me to
adopt.
I hive the honour herewith to enclose you my
general order of the 27th ultimo, prescribing the order
of marc.b, and of battle, when the whole army should
tact together, but as the number and description of the
4 hoofs had been essentially changed since the issuing
bf the order, it became necessary to make a cores-
' ponding alteration in their disposition. From the
I place where our army was last halted 'to the Mora-
-1 vian towns, a distance of about three and a 'half
' miles, the road passes through a beech forest without
any clearing, and for the first two miles near to the
.1
bank of the river. _ _

" At from two to three hundred yards from the
river, a swamp extends parallel to it, throughout
the %%hole distance. The intermediate gronnd isdry,
and although the trees are tolerably thick, it is in
Many places clear of underbrush. Across this strip
of land, i:s left arpuyed upon the river, supported by
artillery placed it, the wood, their right in the swamp
covered by the whole of their Indian force, the Bri-
tish troops were drann up.
" The troops at my disposal consisted of about
1`2() regulars of the 27th regiment, five brigades of
li.,2ntucky volunteer militia infantry, under his Excel-
lency Governor Shelby, averaging less than five
hundred men, and Colonel Johnson's regimirnt of
mounted infantry, making in the whole an aggregate
something above three thousand.
" No disposition of an army opposed to an Indian
force can be safe, Unless it is secnred on the Hanks
and in the rear. I had therefore no difficulty in
ar-
ranging the infantry conformably to my general order
of battle.

" General Trotter's brigade of 500 men formed
the front line, his right upon the road and his left
upon the swamp. Colonel King's brigade as a second
line, 150 yards in the rear of Trotter's, and Ckilds' as
a corps of reserve in the rear of it. These three bri-
gades formed the command of Major-General Henry
—die whole of General Desha's division consisting,
of two brigades, -were formed en potence upon the lett
cl Trotter.
Whilst I was engaged in forming the infantry,
I had directed Colonel Johnson's regiment, s‘hicYl
was still in front, to be formed in two lines opposite
to the enemy, and upon the advance of the infantry,
to take ground to the left, and, forming upon that
flank, to endeavour to turn the right of the Indians.
A moment's reflection, however, convinced me thatl
from the thickness of the woods and swampness. of
the ground they'would be unable to do any thing on
horseback, and there was no time to dismount them
and place their horses in security: I therefore deter-
mined to refuse my left to the Indians, and to break:
the British lines at once by a charge of the mounted
infantry :—the measure was not sanctioned by any
thing that I had seen or heard of, but I was fully
convinced that it would succeed.
" The American back-woodsmen ride better in
the woods than any other. people. A musket or rifle
is no impediment to them, being accustomed to carry
them on horseback from their earliest youth. I was
persuaded, too, that the enemy would be quite un-
prepared for tLe shock, and that they could not toff
'list it.

" Conformably to this idea, Idirected the regiment
to be drawn up in. close column, with its right at the
distance of fifty yards from the road (that it might
be in some measure protected by the trees from the
artillery), its left upon the swamp, and to charge at
full speed as soon as the enemy delivered their fire.
The few regular troops of the 27tk regiment, under
their Colonel (Paul), occupied, in columns .of sec-
tions of four, the small space between the road and
river, for the purpose of seizing the enemy's artillery,
and some tenor twelve friendly Indians were direct-
ed to move under the bank.
" The Crotchet, formed by the front line and Ge-
neral Desha's division, was an important point :—at
that place the venerable Governor of Kentucky was

who at the age of 66 preserves all•the vigor
the ardent zeal which distinguished him is
revolutionary war, and the undaunted bravery
_ manifested at King's mountain.
`With my Aides-de-camp, the Acting Assistant-
General Butler, my gallant friend Corn.
I)erryl—who,did the the honour ICI serve as
tunteer Aid-de.eamp, and Brigadier-General
rho, having no command, tendered me La
.:; rplaced myself at the head of the front
of infantry-, to direct the movements of the ca-
.
/airy, and give them the negceltstry support.
a' The army had.moved on this order lint a short
distance, when the mounted men received the Ere
from the British line, and were ordered to charge ;
the horses in front of the column recoiled from the
fire ; another was given by the enemy, and our en:
lumn, at length getting in motion, brLite Cirough the
enemy with irresistible force.
" In one minute the contest lu fro^t was overt the
British Officers seeing no bores of reidnciig their dis-
ordated ranks to order, and our motnund men wheel-
ing upon them, and inuring in i'llesweetive9r6, im-
inediately surrendered. .. : •
" It certain that three orgrof oir troops were
wounded in this cbarge. Upon .the kft the center.
was more severe with the Indiana Ccioael.Joheson,
who,commanded on that flank of Jait reg.isnspt. re-
*rived a most galling fire limn them, wineh was r 4 e-
eprned with great effect.
lg. The Indians still further to the • . vatieed
ind fell in tith our front lice of its
pinction with Dr'sha's division-, and
elude an impression ern it. 'I-iis EX ency Go •
vernor Shelby, however,. brought up a regiment t i
its support, and the enemy receiving a very severe
fire in front, and a part ofJnlinson's regiment having
gained their rear, retreated with precipitation. Tina;
loss was very crinsiderabk in the action, and many
'were killed in their retreat.
" I can gire no sari factory information of rho
number of Indians that were in the action, but they
'must have been considerably upwards of one thou-
' sand. From the documents in my possession (Gen.
Proctor's official letters, all .it which were taken),
and from information of respectable inhabitants of
this territory, the Indians kept in pay by the British
were much more numerous than has been generally
supposed.
44 In a letter to General De Rottenburgh, of the
97th inst. General Proctor speaks of having prevailed
upon most of the hrdians to accqmpany him. Of
these it is certain that fifty or siztyWyandot warriors
abandoned him.*
a The number of our troops was certainly greater
than that of the enemy, but when it is recollected that
they had c hdsen a position that effectually secured
their flack, which it was impossible for us to turn,
and that we could not present to them a line of more
erztent than their own, tt will not be considered arro-
gant to claim for my IrOops, the Noll of superior
bravery. . ...
. ..
" In communicatingtn. the Presidentthrougfi you,
Sir, my opinion of the conduct .or the officers who
served under my command, I am at a. tots how to
mention that of Governor Shelby.; tieing convinced
that no eulogium of mine can reach his merits. The
Governor of an independent State, greatly my supe-
rior in years, in experience and in military character,
he placed himself under my command, and was not
more remarkable for his zeal and activity, than for
the promptitude and cheerfulness with which ho
obeyed my orders. -
The Major-Generals Henry and Desha, and the
Brigadiers Allen, Campbell, King, Chiles, and Trot-
ter, all of the Kentucky iulnnteers, manifested great
zeal and activity. Of Governor Shelby's staff, hit
Adjutant-General. Colonel MiDowell, and his Quar-
ter-master General, Colonel Walker, rendered great
service, as did his Aide-de-camp, General Adair.
and Majors Barry and Crittenden.
44 The military skill of the former was of great set-
ii.ce to us, and the activity of the two latter gentle.
men could not be suspassed. Illness deprived me of
the talents of my Adjutant-General, Colonel paine',
who was left at Sandwich. His duties were, however,
ably performed by the Acting Assistant-Adjutant-
General Captain Butler. My Aide...de-Camp, Lieu-
tenant 0. Fallon and Captain Todd, of the line, and
my volunter aids John Speed Smith, and Jahn Cham-
bers, Esq. have rendered me the most important ter,
vices from the opening of the campaign. I have al-
ready stated that General Cass and Commodore Petry
assisted me in forming the troops far action. The
former is an officer of the highest merit, and the ap-
. pearance of the brave Commodore cheered and ani.
mated every breast.
" It would be useless, Sir, after stating the cir-
cumstances of the action, to pass encomiums upon
Colonel Johnson and his regiment. Veterans could
not have manifested more firmness. The Colonel's
numerous wounds prove that be was in the post of
danger. Li,:ut-Colonel James Johnson and the Ma-
jors Payne and Thompson, were equally active,
though more fortunate. Major Wood, of the Engi-
steers, already distinguished by his conduct at Fort
two :Meigs. attended the army with two siz
Itaving .o .use for them in .:le ace
the pursuit of the enemy, and with f
the mounted regiment, two of my -cans
'Todd and Chambers, and three privatise; ontinued
It for Several miles after the rest of the troops had
halted, and made many prisoners.
" 1 left the army before an official return of the
prisoners, or that of the killed and manacled, wet
made out. It was, however, ascertained that the for
crier amounts to six hundred and one regular% in
eluding twenty-five Officers. Our loss is seven kilted
and twenty-two wounded, five of whom have sir:.
.died. . Of the British troops twelve were killed, an•
twenty-two wounded. The Indians suffered most—
thirty-three of them having been found upon thi
ground besides those killed on the retreat.
46 On the day of the aetinii, sin pieces of brass at
1 riflery were taken, and two iron ',:f -pounders the day
before. Several others were discovered in the rive;
and can be easily procured.
64 Of the brass pieces, three are the trophies of cut
revolutionary war, and were takp at Saratoga anti
York, and surrendered by General Hull. The num-
ber of small arms taken by us and destroyed by the
enemy must amount to upwards of five thousand--
most of them had been ours and taken by the enemy
at the surrender of Detroit, at the river Raisin, anif
Colonel' Dudley's defeat.
" I believe that the enemy retain no other roil:' .• '

\ J.l. 0,
.. ....
Mott bey bawsprk4 hag hit stertiodurbiltd Were*. 4• I lithe mills, under •s be*y tie tow tile In.. posted, *1
; brig Grace lost her foremast, bowsprit, sad ru , (..111ur loss uiloa this ooeastpe was aw)olcilled) of youth,
her stern much injured. Two shallops sunk avti= ,• . t or four wounded ohat of tlree'ote y ins the revolu
own's Wharf, a detained Swedish brig,
om Fairbanks' Wharf, lost bey bowsprit, as& had „ 'nod to be considers' bly greet.- - which he
vi
re; also, a neutralseisoner very much injured li ti qk w." A house near the ,bri*e, tblitaining-la very "'With
irks. - 71. 'considerable number Of mustets; had tiput: set 03P Adjutant.
ylor, Yeoman, and Dolby's Wharf, !chooses' Thorns's, fire,. bqs.it was.extinguished by our. asuLths. -snodore_P
we; and Spanish schooner Ferdinand ditto. •
iry's Wharf, schooner Porcupine, stern store. ?rms saved., ,•r.„,..- 1,, , „ • my volun
,ams's What!, a shallop, kdea with•dry Bettina. •l 44 At.the Mot firmoabove the bridge, we found Cis, whc
lajesty's ships Poictiers, Victorious, Nymph*, Tema«. brie of the enemy's vessels on fire, loaded witkaiins assistance
Dia&m, Success, Nemesia, Romulus, and Arab, And Mud ordnance stores, and leveed that they were a line of inl
• Shelburne, rode out the Ole, but several if atestWe4 • .
lured by other vessels running foul of theit '''• ' . ew miles ahead of us, still on the right blalrof the; vary,' aill
-1 I Pa V V'