Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-06-09
CHARLESTON, MAY so.
FROM EHST-FLCRIDI


A letter from al Officer in Florida. dated 81
the Camp before St Augustine, the 18th
inst. received at the office Of the NauQanaE
Republican, OH THURSDAY evening last, aud
SOW copied from that paper. contains tie fol.
lowing information concerning late skirmish
in Florida -
:" / arrived before Augustine On Tuesday
last. An afoir took pace Oh HAT morning
between the Spaniards and the picket guard Of
the Patriots but the Dons would not 20 be.
yond the cover Of their line.
Con Thursday boat was reported going
up the creek on which our advanced Guard
was posted. Il seemed, from her ulanuutres,
that she wished to ascertain whether we would
perini; her to pass by unmolested, by which
she could have got into the rear of the PATTI
ots' picket. Our guard vas reinforced, and
disposition manifested to dispute tbe pass. Size
had siX-pounder mounted il her bow On
arriving within about FIVE hundred yards Of
Moosa, "a house 6uRt Of a hecular kind Of
rock } she retreated and fred. The centinel
returned the fire.
Yesterday morning an armed schooner
was soon under way, making for the North
River. At the same time, four launches, Eli.
cd with men, and mounting six pounders, were
discovered going up the creek, towards Moo
sa. The schooner opened her FIRE upon our
advanced guard, which bad been reinforced
by q detachment Of riAemen, uRder the COM
mand OF Captains Woodruff and Massias, ard
Lieutenant Appling. Colonel SIith gave OF.
ders that they should maintain their post IN.
til the eneny's fire should penetr.te the walls
of Moosa, and then retreat, leaving a detach.
meDt OF fifteen men concealed in tie house.
"lhe tw nty-second shot Ca 24-poundef)
passed through both walls, covering the mea
with dirt. The grape Was distinctly heard
rafting against the walls The detachment
retreated, agreeablY to orders, LEAVING the
party Of fifteen. 1t was expected that the
opanlards, seeing the retreat, would i!nmedl-
ately, under cover Of the FIRE from the schoon-
er, advance in their launches, when our con.
cea!cd men might pour in deadly FIRE. The
stratagem would have taken effect; but, IN
fortunately the sergeant left in command fred
too soon, and the object Of the ambuscada
failed.
AS soon as possession was bad of Moosa,
they (the Spaniards) set fire to it, and retreat
ed with their boats to the schooner. Their
twenty tours were then opened upon our lines,
directed against the hae flying ON our parade
The shot fell In every direction around US,
passing through our tents, and roofing up TIC
parade ground. Fortunately no injury has
been received, with the exception of few
tents damaged.
"After sustaining their fire from eleven
O'Clock until -four, without the possibility OF
doing them the least injury, it was Judged ad'
viseable to retire beyond the reach OF their
cannon.
owe anxiously expect their Donships in
the field, where their gun-boats can afford tEen
no assistance: We then will give you good
account Of them. From the skill displayed
in the direction Of their guns or this occison'
and their bad shooting on others, we are IN
duced to believe, that artiilerstswere sent from
on board British brig of war now lying at
Amelia.
"Their boats and schooner retreated before
we Left the ground, & cur fay remained lying