The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-07-05

Capt. StNcs, sustained by capt. SlOrrlS,
instantly landed and were formed threat
siii'6 tSfut on the rifiemen from the gun !;
the Landing being effected. it appeared
TO be tn intention of the whole force to
occupy tat place !; and as front no grea-
ter thanIhe head of column could be pre-
sented, ;fer the landing; it was determin-
ed to talS position on the ferry, and defend
it; an culinary retreat was made, and the
ferry crSsed under sharp fire on both
sides.
Information was now communicated, that
the mainbody had actually landed ABOVE the
creek, am that the force which landed below
consistently OF the reserve. who had made
a feint To cover the more effective landing
of the main body and that they were in full
march ulpn the rear of the second army /; it
became, D this EFFICIENCY, necessary to send
forward astrong guard in advance; the de-
fence OF tie ferry was committed to capts.
Boyle and Uhle, and guns of the horse ar
tillery under capt. Hill. placed in battery !;
while the six FOUNDER, under capt. Filter,
was detached by col. Thompson, with the
corps OF cipt. Walters, to defend hand
some position on the left of the high road
lndicationi being made of an attempt to oc-
cupy a dele on the rear, the front of the Sc
ct'ld division was now changed, so that the
communication with the reserve was open
by covering at once the road to Frank ford
in tue rear and the road to the rocks on the
lett, wherctoo there was a spacious plain
OF thirteen d fourteen acres, thanked BY copse
and with water in the rear. Secure of this
position the corps under capt. Graves had
disappeared, and was supposed to have re-
embarked to join The main body of the first
army the ferry was therefore abandoned.
and capt. Boyle's corps resumed its position
III tie line, while capt. Uhlc's was thrown
forward to support the advance, and to &C.
cupy some woods on the flank of the positi-
on where the artilleryof the advance was
posted here 1t was discovered that the corps
OF capt. Graves and Morris, instead of en-
barking to join the main bsdy, had taken a
circuitous course upon an artificial embank-
ment, and made Judgment in the woods,
having sent out advice to the main BODY, it
was expected shat this corps would make
an attack /; but instead of that, after coming
nearly to the muzzle OF the guns, made a
sudden and unacCountable retreat, under
cover OF the woods, and seemed to have
gone OFT; the ri1emen of the second army
were now thrown forward and the cavalry
were occupied in traversing and beating
up the brush on the TANKS, when firing
was opened in flank by Graves corps. brisk.
iy answered, and in an inimitable manner
oViitihcted by 'Uhie's rifle corps ;,Walter's
corps maintained their ground but the
main body of the first army coming I'M in
force under its chief, they took the piece
OF artillery, and immediately turned it upon
the Inc, while the detachment of rifiemen
on the left, made retreating fire through
sae woods aud occupied the same ground
with the cavalry. After the loss Of the gun
the second division was under the necessity
OF retreatlng to the deile, and sending new
orders to ITS reserve not to advance, but as
Don as the first troops shouldhave complete
ly entered the deSle, to take them briskIv
ted
The second division Immediately occu-
pied the plain, with both its TANKS covered
by deep woods, narrow road i'm the rear
OF Its centre, its cavalry on the right, and a
held piece on each flank, the rifle corps ex-
tended IN advance, and the horse artillery
in the rear.
he line had here some respite, which
was necessary as the day, having commen-
ced with sprinkiing rain, had now cleared
up and become intensely hot.
A proposition was made by flag to sus-
pend the action for half an hour, but the re-
ply was, surrender OF fight; and
lhe flrst corps Immediately entered in
elose column, inclining with its front towards
the centre of the opposite line, the right of
which was ordered to advance, so as to force
the first into a disposition different from
what appeared to be medtated the caval-
ny OF the second were directed to attract the
attention o. the first on their lett, and keen
open the communication with the reserve,
whose appearance was to be the signal for
general action.
As soon as the reserve of the second di-
vision appeared, the reserve of the first fac
ed about; and a severe and handsome acti-
on was maintained by both reserves. the
one under major Duncan, the other under
captain Graves.
The first division, now findinn itself ia
ken In the rear, with a strong line in front
somewhat refreshed, threw it's main BODY
into cchellons of platoons with a view to gaiii,
the right; advancing its light corps, and
keeping up heavy fire to cover this bold
maDeuvre, which would have given them
a line flanked by close copse, and retreat
by the rear, through woods, to their first
place OF landing; at this time it was that
the Importance of horse artillery, and the
power of :. kcs were exhibited--tbe lansor1e-
nets were directed to force the left flank of the
second army by a charge upon it's line, and
covered by its artillery, in order to afford an
for the main body to display in
a position which would have turned the flank
OF the second army, and give the first choice
OF routes to force march in advance if sue
cessful, or retreat if frustrated.
Two pieces of horse artillery werr brought