The Statesman.
London, England, 1814-09-28 00:00:00

1

04Z1 TTE EXTIt
TUESDAY, Starr. 27.
COLONIAL DEPARTSIENt.
• ; Doraning-street, Sept.V.
Capt. Smith, Assistant-Adjutant-General to the
troops under the command of Major-General Roe.,
arrived this morning with a dispatch from that Offi-
cer, idelcessed to Earl Bathurst, one of his Majes-
ty's Principal Secretaries of State, of which the fol-
lowing is a copy :
Tonwint, in tha Patexentviaa. 30.
LORD,—I have the honour to colinaunicate
toy our Lordship, that on the night of the 2lth
Instant, after defeating the army of the United
States on that day, the troops under enj command
. entered and towl. possession of amity of Wash-
.,
. t •

beton.
It was determined between Sir A. Cochrane and
myself, to diaesnbark the army at the eillage of Be-
nedict, on the right hank of the Patuxent, with the
Intention of co-operating with Rear-Admiral Cock-
burn, in an attack upon a flotilla of the enemy's
gnu-heats, under the command of Commodore Bar-
ney. On the Roth' instant, the army commenced its
march, having lauded the previous day without op.
position : on the 21st it reached Nottingham, and on
ttbt Vitd moved on to Upper Marlborough, a few
miles distant from Pig Point, on the Patuxent, where
Admiral Cockburn fell in with and defeated the
gorilla, taking and deattoying the whole. Having
advanced to . within sixteen miles of 'Washington
end ascertaining the force of the enemy to be such
as might aotherise •as attempt at' easirying-hie tepi4
tal, 1 deteimined to make it, eud accordingly put
the troops in movement on the evening of the 93d.—
A corps of about 1200 men appeared to opposelts,
but retired after firing a few shots. On the t4th, this
troops resumed their march, and reached Bladens-
burg, a ',Hine situated on theleft bank Of the eastern
branch of the Potowmao, about five miles from
11Vashington.
On the opposite side of that river the enemy was
discovered strongly posted on very commanding
heights. formed in two lines, his whence occupying
• fortified house which, with artillery, covered the
bridge over the : eastern branch, across which the
British troops had to pass. A. brood and straight
read, !toadies from the bridge to Washington, Ten
through the position, whiciswu carefully defended
by artillery and riflemen.
• The disposition for the attack being made, it was
commenced with so evach impacosity by the light
brigade, consisting of the Ssth light infantry, aed
the light infantry companies of the army',..ander the
command of Colonel Thornton, that thp':,fortificd
house was shortly carried, the enemy retiring to the
higher grounds.
In support of the light brigade I orderel up a
brigade under the command of Colonel Brooke,who,
with the 44th regiment, attacked the enemy's
kit, the 4th regiment pressing his right with such
effect as to•cause him to abandon his guns. Ills first
line giving way, was driven on the second, which,
yielding to the irresistible attack of the bayonet, and.
the well-directed discharge of rockets, got into con-
fusioe aad lea, leasing the British masters of the
field. The rapid flight of the enemy, and his know
. ledge of the country, precluded the possibility of
many prisoncrs being taken, more particularly as•
the troops had, during the day, undergone consider-
'hie beige,.
• The enemy's army, amounting to 8 or 9000 mew,'
with 3or 400 cavalry, as under the command of
bei::g fornied of troops drawn from
BAl'imore and Pennsylvania. Ills artillery, ten
piece% of Which MI into our hands, was commanded.
Cooinse'dote Barney, who was wounded and
taken-prisoner. The artillery I directed to be de-
• flaying I tilted the army for a short time, I deter-
Spiel d to wait+ upon Wa•bington, and 'Niched that
tit at eight (Mock that night. Judging it of con.
eminence to complete the tit...traction of I(se public
buildings with Ma least possible delay, .the
gran IMAM Mitre without loss rit lime, Thwiellowing
buiftliog.'wcre act fire to and coesunted—the Capi-
tol, inriutliagthe Seliare-house and Heusi' of IRtepre.
htuttution, Aro *vireos I, the•do k-yard, treasur.y,Nlar..l
ofilietrresid;nt's police, rolie-v• zilk, asd thrgiveii
bridelarree. the Potewreack ; the dock-yard
fripte iseaily.recd'y be launched, and';! glt,tt fOf
War, acre toesusw-d. The two bridge., lesding to-
Wodbloeton. user the eastern branch hatli.beee
,trosrt ft) the roienr, who apprehend. d an 'attack
from .Orst. quarter. The object of the expedition.
being geriinsi.ii.cett, I determineti„ before iiny kreateci
force of the etient c0..1d be assembled, to withdraw
the troops, cud arctritliogly commenced retiring o&
the night of thr2slll. On the evening of the 29th We
reached Beeedict and re-embarked the following
day. In the performance of the operation I have
detailed, it is with the utmost satisfaction I ebserve
to your Lordship, that cheerfulness in undergoing
fatigue, zed ansiety for the accomplishment of the
bbject, wire conspicuous in all ranks.
. To Sir Alexander Cochrane my thanks are due,
for his ready compliance with every wish connected
with the welfare of ,the troops, and the success of
the expedition.
. To Rear-Admiral Cockburn, who suggested the
attack upon Washington, and Mho accompanied the
army, I confess the greatest obligation for his cordial
ev-operation and' advice.
Colonel Thornton, who led the attack, is entitled
to every praise for the noble example he set, which
bas so well followed by Lieutesant-Colonel Wood
and the 85th Light Infantry, and by Major Jones,
of the 4th Foot, with the light companies attached to
the light brigade. I have to express my approbation
of the spirited conduct of Colonel Brooke, and of
his brigade, the 44th regiment, which he led, dis-
tinguished itself, under the command of Lieut.-Col.
Mullens ; the gallantry of the Foot, under the com-
command of Major Faunae, being equally conspl-

cu ans.
The exertions of Captain Mitchell, of the Royal
Artillery, in bringing the guns into action, were un-
remitting ; to him, and to the detachment under his
command, including Captain Deacon's rocket bri-
gade, and the marine rocket corps, I feel every obli-
gation. Captain Lempriere, of the royal artillery,
mounted a small detachment of the artillery drivers,
which proved of great utility.
The assistance afforded by Captain Blanchard, of

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