Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-08-14


On MONDAY, the 9th July last, was invited
-, M Hanson to his house, and in the even
ing about twilight, went there and iounu
from Is to 90 gentlemen IN his hoLse' 'n0a'
ofthun known to him. was told that an at
tack upon the house was threatened that nlgnt
which they had made preparations to resist q
defeat. | saw some muskets, plStois' ana
swords in the house, Tor the purposes oi oe-
fence. After being there sometime, under
stood an arrangement had been made, thar
in case of an attack, the direction oil the
defence was appointed toGen. Les. About
o'clock a number OF persons we're collecting
at the frnnto of the house, who were very mol
sy ard began to throw stones at the windows
ard ,bey broke several of them. The house
was in front completely closed, the door and
inside window shutters being smut, al the
stones broke tie glass, and burst open the
sLutters.-Mr Hansen spoke from the second
story To the mob. and told them II they did
not desist they would Gre upon them, and he
warped the spectators TO SC away General
Iee.in the house told them not to hre qa!eSs II
should be absolutely necessary, and the doors
were forced. The mob continued to encrease
and To throw stones more violently, which
s broke the windows of the hrst and second
stories. Gen. Lee directed yolley to be
fred from the upper story over the heads Of
the people in the street to frighten them away
without iniuring them. tbs was executed
and nobody was hurt. The mob hazZaed,
were still more violent, and broke open the
lower door.-They were then fired upon, and
man fell al the door upon the inside thereof,
who was in, nediately taken up and removed
o1iIc hq han
nened about ten o'clock, or after Judge
3 Scott made his appearance and came ioto the
5 house, the door having remained open after Il
was broken, and requested US to leave the
bouse-he was told ne should do no such
thing, that we could rot be secure unless the
civil authority interlered, that we were lawfully
emoloyed with MIR. Hsnson In protecting HIM
and his house against violence, and whenever
the mob would disperse, or the civil authority
interfere, we would retire to our homes, and
not before.-During the night, we continued
20 defend ourselves, and never fired but alter
soale new and violent attack. balleve II
nrabable several we're wounded. The mob
dnring the night retired and gathered again
end attempted some fresh damage. Just a
baut. or before day light, the mob brought .
Eeld piece, which was planted near the house
and in front Of it. but it was prevented from
beinq discharged by the arrival OF capt. Bar
news troop of horse, some OF whom were sta
Toned rouna the house, and six OF item having
dismounted, took possession OF the front room
on the first loor, and OF the back yard-Han-
son and his friends occupied the same places
which they had done during the night; so
things remained. until Edward johnson, the
Msyor. Gen. Stricker, john Montgomery, the
Attorney General, James Calhoun, LemueI
TavIor and several others, arrived and pro-
posed that VIC should leave the house. we
answered We had no objections to leave
the house, provided the mobwouid retire,
or we could get home with safety. lhe
Mavcr said the mob could not be DIS
persed, nor would they be satisfied without
we went TO gaol, and that We should be pro
teeted from them in gong 10 gael, aud while
mir. To this proposal most ot us expressly
objected. Gen. Lee principally Carried Oh
the conversation on our part with the Aiayar
and Gen Sticker The MAyer, Gen. SIR ck-
er. and Astornev-G General, seyeraily declared
and assured Us, that we should be protected
{ rs well in going to the goal, as II II and the
Mavor pledgsd his life AMI honor that W.
should be safe, and that he wouid die with Us,
if we should be hurt Gen SfcNer express
sed himself in similar terms. Also Mon:go
merry, TAYLOR, Calnoun and their companions
gave Us assurance of safety ifwe went to gael
After these assurances sasi 6adiag the CT
vii authority would not maze any exertton to
disperse the mob, We consented with the adj
vice of Gen. Lee, 10 deliver ourselves up to
the civil authority. The Mayor declared his
opinion that we would MOI b. safe in the gaoi
without guard, AID he and Gen. Stricken
promised there should be one. About or 9
O'Clock on Tuesday forenoon, we lef the house
and went under the care and custody OF the
naayor who preceded rs, and we were placed
between tive lines of infantry, consisting as ii
appeared Of about Fifty militia; about 20 dra-
poons mounted advanced before as to the