Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-11-02
NEW-YORK, Oct. 81.
Further particulars Of the Battle q

aUCCfsCto's'
Cant. OgiIvie, Of the 18th Regi-
ment. who was Mt the battle OF
Oueeaston. and who led the.detach-
ments that succeeded in taking the
reJoubt upon the heights there, az.
rived this morning in the Stean Boat
from albany. and gives the following
particulars A detachment from tue
18th Rest. consisting of 500 men,
undsr the command ofLt. Col. Chris
tie. and about 500 militia command,
ed bv Col. Van RENSSELAER,. rcce''eu
order, from the General to cross
Niagara river on the morning OF tue
18Th inst. which was in part effected
before day. undera very heavy anu
destructive fire of grape and mus
ket shot from the British. who II APP
pears. were appraised of the attack.
In crossing the river three boats
with troops ono of which contained
Lieut.. Col. Christie. were 'arris'
by the rapid current OF the i'ef' i"t
below the point Of landing: AND as
| sooa as Col. Chrislie's boats touch,
ed shore the only guide to tie ground
left the Col. In consequence vi
this disaster not More than 700 men
| II first effected landing. Those
few, however, marched on under a
heavy fire, and formed a liue on the
front of the battery, where they
were sheltered by a bank, upon the
summit Of which there was battery
which had proved very destructive
f. officers and men. From the fire
| of this battery. and that ola house
/ on their right bank. Col. Van Rens-
sclaer was wounded. ond likewise
| capt. Armstrong. cant: Lawrence
| capt. Wool ana Lit. Kent. killed 1t:
yalleau. and ensign Morris. al OF
the 18Th. Col Van Rensselaer,, at
ter he was wounded. urged the troops
to storm the heights
Sixty determined men lei BY capt.
| Ocilyir. seconded by capt Wool,
i Though wounded) and 1t. kearney,
t. Carr, 1t. Hussinan, and 1t.
Summons. Ensign ReuNe, oithe 18Th
1t. Randolph anil LIT. Gansev'ort,
circuitousIy mounted the heights,
gave three cheers, and immediately
charged. and after the third charge
| gained complete possession, which
! they kept about 6 hours. Among
those sixty. were ten Of the militia.
During tie time they had possession
of The heights. they received some
reinforcement. Lieut.. Col. Christie
effected his land. and a body of mill
tia amounting in the whole to about
| 500. Col. Scott superseded capt.
| Oeilyie in the command. soon after
which the British received a rein
farnament frnrl Forts George and
Chippawa, amounting TO about 100.
including Indians. The Indians were
soon repuIsed and drivca to the
| wood.
The attack OF tao Indians AID
their war-whoop had such an effect
upon their militia, that when the
troops had formed lire in three
divisions, and were counted OF, only
! 2iO me,, 40 Of which werO militia,
remained. Previous to this howe
YER. a column ofnritish regulars all
vaneed. com liandcd by Gen. Brock.
The British Generals horse WAS Kill
| led by aprivate ofthe marie Of WIKI
low. who was enlisted in Orange
! county. shortly afte" which. the
General Linself fell within pis.
toll shot of the American troops.
] The superiority in numbers Of the
British AMI their Indian allies in
! duced the American officers to hold
a consultation. at which they were
disposed TO dispute the ground they
held, hu, a note from Gen. Van
Rensselaer, informing them that he
| mould afford them no assistance, and
that he WouId cover their retreat at
the battery at Fort Grey, and furnish
boats TO re cross the river; and
tinding ~ Col. Stranahan that Tic
militia weuld no longer act. re-
treat Was resolved upsn. They re-
treated in good order without the
loss Of man to the margin Of the
| river; but to their extreme NORTH
cation not a boat was there to receive
them. nor did any arrive.
After remaining in this extremely
painful situation about a quarter Of
an hour, this little band surrendered
To about FIVE times their Number.
During this long and severe con-
faict, about fl or 1900 militia re-
manned idle spectators on this side
tie river.
The enemy consisted Of a part of