Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-12-28

Il.
WASHINGTON CITY, Dec. "a.
CShy q ais!dfch from Byigadier General
"t.fcd TO the Secretary at Har.
CAMPNEAR BUFFALoE,
Dec. 18th, 1912.
o!R-ihe troopsunder my command hav-
ing been ordered to hut themselves for the
winter, it becomes my duty to report TO VOL,
the proceedings had here since / tool the
the command on this frontier.
On or about the 2oih Oct, / ordered that 20
scows should be prepared for the transpor-
sation OF artillery and cavalry, and put the
carpenters OF the army upon that duty.
by the Goth OF November, ten sccws were
completed, and by bringing beat, from
Lake Ontario, the number was increased TO
seventy.
had issued an address TO the men of New
York, and perhaps 500 volunteers had arriy-
ed at buifaioe. presumed thatthc regular
troops, and the volunteers Under cogs. Swift g.
M 1lure, would Furnish 2,SCO men for du-
w and OF Gen. Tannehill's brigade re-
porting total or 1850, as many as z1s had
volunteered TO cross into Canada deem
ed myself ready to cross with 5000 men 81
once according to your orders.
Preparatory thereto, on the night of the
S'tn OF November, sent over two parties.
one under lieut.. col, Boerstler, the other nm.
der capt. King, with whom lieut.. Angus. of
TIE navy, At tine he'd of body of sear,en.
united. The first mentioned party wa. To-
capture guard, and destroy a bridge about
I'VE miles below Fort Erie; the second par
~ were TO take snd render useless the csp-
non OF the enemy's batteries, and sume
pieces OF hsht artillery. The first party
made some prisoners but failed 60 destroy the
bridge ;the second party, after rendering un.
serviceaole the light artillery, separated by
soIec misspprehenson. Lieut.. Angus. the
seaInen, and part of the troops. retur,,sS
llh-aii the boats; while capt, King csot.
Morgan, capt. Sproul, lieut. Houston, ,nd
ABOUT sixty men, remained. Cant. kim
notwithstanding, with those under his com,
mand, advanced to the enemy's batteries
attacked ard touk two of them in snec-s.;'
on, rendered unserviceable the cannon
and took number OF prisoners. In de-,
seendDs the Niagara some distance. two
Doats were found, on board of which cant.
blng sent his prisoners, all his officers. aud
nan ms men. F2is high sense of honor wonld
nos allow him TO quit the remainder. He
was captured with them.
Orders had been given, that all the troons
VI the neighbourhood should march, at re-
Veiiiee, 70 the place Of embsrkation. A part
OF the detachment cent in the night HAVING
returned q having excited approximations for
me residue, about $50 men, undercol. VVinder.
put on IN boats for the opposite shore:
part of their force had landed, when force
with piece of artillery appeared A re
treat was ordered and col Winder's de-
tachment suffered a loss of six killed and
twenty wounded, Of whom six were Off
GERS.
The general embarkatlon commenced as
the troops arrived; but this being tile first
time the troops had embarked, the whole Of
the Scows were occupied by about one-third
Pars OF the artillery, while about 800 regu-
lar infantry, somewhat upwards of 9oo
volunteers, and perhans oeo
OF those militia who had volunteered Their
services for few days, occupied all the
boats that were ready. The troops then
embarked, meved up the stream to Black |
ROCK, without sustaining loss from the enc. |
my's hire, were ordered to disembark and !
dine. : Gnu
The enemy showed force estimated at |
, or 500 men, drawn up in field at some |
distance from the river; aud had one piece |
Of artillery, said to be opounder, ready TO |
hre on our troops.
There remained unembarked, a part of |
the artillery; few cavalry; the volun- |
.SSiS uiIutI Col. VI Clurc, amOuuting3Un that |
day to three hundred and forty men; a de-
,,achment from gen. Tannehiil's brigade
humber unknown and little relied op5 -
There were also sundry crowds who might
perhaps, have followed the arny--if il was
successful.
kecollecting Jour Instructions "to cross
%ith 5000 men at onee," and to consult some
d my principal officers in all important
Movements" called for the field officers
IT the regular and twelve-months' volun
GERS embarked. Colonel Porter not being
ound at the moment, Capt. Gibson was cal
ed as the next senior officer of artillery.
Thessquestions were put. IL IL erhedi- /.
nj NOW 10 crosse ooer IL me force -
aye Su6feteHtfo conquer Me otshosfIe coase
The first question was decided in the y
alive by colonies Parker, Schuyler, WI
er, Lieut. Coils Boerstlsr, and Coles,
iajor Campbell Colonel swift Of -.
49,
Six hundred men ofthis brigade arc
? have deserted in "a hours. A
iartial of this brigade fncd void
welVe and a half renfe Cos, destrt.s.,.