Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-08-25

side of the river, together with aoout oo ~
ouyars INFANTRY about 25 dragons ana l3o
militia. The ship of war Queen Charlotte OF
% GUNS was anchored in Detroit rIyer, oppo-
cite the mouth of Canard's river, and gun
boat cruizing about her. | first left my rnaln
marty some distance back, and went forward
with adjutant Puthuff and a few OF the RI
eemen to reconnoitre Our riilemen COM
menced a FIRE across Canard's river, at those
about the battery, and the Indians and British
fired On then in return, which firing lasted a
bout "a of an hour, during which time Pu-
thuff and Inyselfleft them and proceeded down
Ito the mouth of Canard's river to examine the
Charlotte With spy glass we were hfed Oh,
by the gun boat whilst within few teet OF
each other, and the ball passed within ieet
of PuthuH's head. We then returned tothe
party Of rihcmen which we lett near the
BRIDGE. and ordered them back with us to the
main detachment; we then halted a while and
concluded to return home, as the enemy who
were not behind the battery slept so lar from
the river that 1t WAS almost IN vain to shoot at
them. I, however, concluded to ride down
near the bridge and take another look with the
spy glass at the enemy--Dr. M:Anaw rode with
me- we alghted from our horses, and cXa-
mined the bridge and battery, and found that
the enemy had principally left 1t: there was
a thicket of small bushes about 100 yards from
where we stood, in which there were about SO
Indians concealed; whilst we were thus en-
gagged, colonel Puthuff came down from the
detachment to inform me that some Indians
were seen passing towards the road IN our
rear, we then mounted our horses and prepar
ed to return with PuthuH 20 the detachment
on turning our horses up the road, the Indians
who we're concealed in the brush, fired at US
from 20 to 80 guns, at the distance of from
100 to 80 yards, yet all three of US made our
escape without being hurt The detachment
who were about ga of mile up the Prairie,
on hearing the guns and seeing the Indians,
advanced Immediately to US we returnd with
them and drove the Indians across the river
Canards, who took their station in the battery,
and they together with the regulars and Cana
dian militia, commenced general firing on
us, and we returned the compliment, and con
tinucd the firing from both sides, at long shot,
for near S hours---two of my men were wound
ed, one SHOT through the thigh, and the other
shot in the check both are likely to recover.
NV horse was shot in the head, Immediately
under the browband, & the ball lodged against
the skull, the bali did almost knock him down,
but he recovered without falling to the ground;
his head is yet very sore, but think he will
recover
We fought about three hours, as before
stated, at so great distance, and the river be-
tween US, that there could be but little injury
done on either side. We saw several, both
of the Indians and British fall and we hear
that several Of them were wounded, but tie
precise loss they sustained, we cannot fairly
ascertain. Tecumseh was in the battle, if a
battle it may be called. I encamped with my
so men, about one and a half mile from Aux
Canards, .nd was joined next day by colonel
Cass, and about 100 men-we all Immediately
repaired to the neighborhood Of the bridge,
for the purpose of taking view CT our neigh
bors-their first salute was a discharge of
couple of six pounders-they fired about ten
shots at US. The cannon balls play a very un-
pleasant tune; they were landed In the midst
of us-no man was hurt, but some little
scared
We could not have crossed the river or
broken bridge, with our men to take pos
session of the British artillery we therefore
thought proper to move off. The Queen
Charlotte fired several broudsides at us on
Sunday bnt did US 30 damage The men
which had with me may be said to be brave,
but very hard to keep in good order in time of
battle. trust, however, that they will do ho-
nor to themselves and country should they
have an opportunity of displaying their valor,
but this could not be done fairly, across small
deep river.
We are daily preparing for the attack on
Maiden, snd these at that place are preparing
to receive US hope, however, that we shall
be able TO accomplish the object of our mis-
Sion. Our men are sickly and some of them
have died, From the 5th to the 18th Of this
month, the weather was as hot as ever knew
it in Ross, but of late we have had cold storms
of rain and hail, and very cold nights.