Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-12-24
NEw-YoRK, December 10.
HEAD QUARTERS.


Your letter of the Cd Dec. is before me:
and answer it in the following manner:
On the 26th October, ordered that 40
scows should DC prepared for the transpor-
tation of artillery and cavalry, and put the
Sarpen ers oi the army upon that deity.
by the 26tn OF November, ten scows were
completed, aud by bringing some boats from
Lake Ontario above the falls of Niagara,
the number was increased to seventy.
had on the 18th November issued an
address TO the men of New York, and per-
haps SEQ had arrived at Buffalo. Ipresum-
ed that the regular troops, aud the vo!un
teers under co.'s. Swift and Mcclure, would
t0rnish 1850 men for duty; and IF Gen.
IAnnehiiPs brigade (from Pennsylvania re-
porting total of 1850, as many as Ais had
volunteered to cross into Canada. My or
ders were TO "cross with 5000 men at once"
deemed myselfready to fulfil them.
Preparatory thereto, on the night of the
27lh OF November. sent over two parties,
one under tieut. col. Boerstler, the otherun-
der capt. King, with whom lieut. Angus, of
the navy, at the head of body of seamen,
united. The FIRST was to capture the guard,
and destroy bridge about five miles below
Fort Erie; the second party we're to take
aud render useless the cannon of the enc
my's batteries. and some pieces of light ar
iiilery. The first party failed TO destroy
the bridge; the second, after rendering unt
serviceaDie the light artillery, separated by
some misapprehensicn. Lieut.. Angus, the
seamen, and q part of the troops, returned,
with all the boats; while capt. King, capt.
Morgan, capt Sproul, lieut.. Houston. and
about sixty men, remained. The party,
thus reduced, attacked, took, and rendered
unserviceabic, two Of the encmy's batteries,
captured tuirty-four prisoners, found two
boats, in which capt King sent the prisoners
and about half his party with the other Off
Gers; he himself remaining with so men,
whom he could not abandon.
Orders had been given, that all the troops
III the neighbourhood should march, at re-
, yeillee, 10 the place of embarkation. A part
CEthe detachment sent in the night having
returned and excited apprehensons for the
residue, about $50 men, under the command
OF col. Winder, suddenly put otTin boats for
the opposite Shore part OF this force had
landed, when force deemed superior, with
one piece of artillery, was dscoye cred
retreat was ordered and col. Winder's de-
tachmcnt suffered 4 loss of six killed and
nine;een wounded, besides some officers.
rhc general emberkation commenced as
tie troops arrived but this being first
emoat ka;ion the whole Of the scows were
occupied By about cne-third OF the artillery,
While about 800 regular infantry, about 200
twelve months volunteers, under col. Swift,
and abnut 200 of the militia who had volun-
teered their services tor few days, occupi-
ell all the boats that were ready. The
troopS then embarked, moved up the stream
u Black Rock without loss, they were or
dered to disembark and dine.
1 had received from my commanding ge-
neral an ms ruction in the following words
a. In all important movements you will, |
" presume, consider it advisable to consult
IS some of your principal officers" deem
ed this equivalent to an order, and the
movement important. / called for the field
officers ofthe regulars, and twelve-months
volunteers embarked. Col. Porter was not
found at the moment. Those questions
were put. Is it erfedisns NOW TO cross O.
yer? Is The force ne haze sufficient to con-
saer the oitfiOsite coast?
The first question was decided in the ne
gatiye by col. Parker, col SCHUYLER, col.
Winder, Lieut.. Col. Boerstcr, Lieut.. Col
Coles, and Maj. Campbell. Col Swift of
volunteers alone gave an opinion for then
crossing over.
The second question was not decided.
Colonel Parker, Col. Schuyler, Lieut.. Col
Coles, and Major Campbell were decidedly
e opinion that the force was insufficient
Y Col. Wiuder, Col Swift, Lieut.. Col. Boerst-
Ner, and Captain Gilman, deemed the force
Aaiiicient.
de ermined TO postpone crossing over
until more complete preparation would en-
able kpc to embark the whoie force at once,
the C ,nsei prescribed by my orders. The
next .Yta6.-spent in such preparation
and 5ortlered TO be again at
the p o'clock on the
NOR On their
arriv ,.Siacont
wood hNlti1
o'ci
err
ur