Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-11-02

ter this both parties were considerably re-
and tue conflict was renewed in
various placess-many ofthe enemy took shell.
ter behind a stone guard-house, where a piece
OF ordnance was now 5riskly served. l or
dered the FIRE Of our battery directed upon
the guartl-house and it was So effectually
done, that with or 10 shot the fire was ST.
fenced The enemy then retreated behind
Large store-house but in short time the
route became general, and the enemy's fire
was silenced except from a one gun battery,
so tar down the river as to be out of the
reach OF our heavy ordnance, and our light
pieces could not silence it. A number of
noats now passed over unannoyed, except
| from the one unsilenced gun. For some
time after had passed over, the victory
appeared complete but in the expectation
of further attacks, l WAS taking measures
for terrifying my camp immediattly-the di-
rection OF this service committed to lieut..
I'otten, of the engineers. But very soon the
enemy were reinforced by detachment of
several hundred Indians from Chipawa-
| they commenced a furious attack but were
promptly met and routed by the rifle and
bayonet. BY this time, Iperceivedmy troops
were embarking very slowly. passed i'm
mediatcly over to accelerate their move
ments butte my utter astonishment, found
that at the very moment when complete vic
! tory was in our hands, the ardor of the un.
engaged troops had entirely subsidized. /
rode IN all directions-urged men by every
consideration to pass over-but in VAIN
Lieut.. col. Bloom, who had been wounded in
| action, returned, mounted his horse and
rode through the camp as did also Judge
Peck, who happened tobe here, exhorting the
Companies to proceed-5ut all in vain
| At this time large reinforcement from
| Fort George were discovered Coming up the
river. AS the battery on the hill was con-
sidered an important check against their as
| cendIng the heights, measures were immedi-
ately taken to send them a fresh supply OF
ammunition. as had learnt there were left
onlv 20 shot for the 10 Founders. The re-
Enforcement, however, obliqued to the RICH;
from the road. and formed junction with
the Indians in The rear of the heights Find
ing to my infinite modification, that no rein
torcement would pass over seeing that an
o lie severe conf c mas so Comm nee &
knowing that the brave men OIL the heights
were quite exhausted and nearly out of am
| Tuniticn, all could do was To send them a
| fresh supply of cartridges At this critical
| nofuenJ despatched a note 10 gen. Wads-
oTt'l, acquainting him with our situation
leaving the course to be pursued much to his
own Judgment-with assurance that if he
| thought best to retreat, would endeavor to
! SEM as nnay boats as could command, and
cover MS retreat by every fire could safe
| iy make. But theboats were Dispersed
| many of the boatmen had fed, panic struck
and but few got off But nv note could
but. little more than have reached Gen. w
about O'CLOCK, when most severe and OBJ
| stinate contbct commenced and continued a.
bout hal! an hour, with Il tremendous fire of
cannon, flying artillery and musketS. The
enemy succeeded i'll re possessing their bat
terry and gaining advantage on every side,
Inc brave men who had gained the victory,
exhausted OF strength and ammunition, and
| gricved at the unpartlonab,e neglect of their
| tellow-soldiers, gave up the conflict.
| can only add that the victory was real
| ly Won but lost for the want of small re ..
Enforcement. One third Part Of the Idle
men might haze 8aVed all.
have been so pressed with the various
duties OF burying the dead, providing for the
wounded, collecting the public property, ne
gociating an exchange of prisoners, and all
| the Concerns consequent Of such battle,
| that have not been able to forward this
| despatch at as early an hour as could have
wished. l shall soon forward you another
| despatch IN which shall endeavour to point
| out to you the conduct of some most gallant
and deserving officers. But cannot in JUS
tlce close this without expressing the very
great obligation 1 am under to brigadier &c
neral Wadsworth. Colonel Van Rensselaer,,
Col. Scott, 1t. Coils. Christie and Fenwick,
and Captain Gibson. Many others have al
SO behaved most CALAMITY. A have rea-
! son to believe that many of our troops fed
| to the woods, with the hope of crossing the
river, l have not been able to learn the pro-
| babenumber of killed, wounded or prisoners
The slaughter of our troops must have been
very considerable. And the enemy have
suffered severely.
| GENERAL BROCK is among their slain,
and his aid de-can1n mortally wounded,
Ihave the honor TO be. sir. with great res
pect and consideration, your most obedient
servant.
(Signed)
SIN. VAN RENSSELAER,.
Major General
| Motor General Dearbora