The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-09-25

fore the 18th of August
DOMESTIC.
Dreadful Hurricane.-The following
letters present an account of the ravages
lot one of those terrific storms to which the
Southern extreme of our contne at is so sub
jcct. A supplement to ain Orleans newspa-
per presents particular account of damaec
done in the town; but we wait with painful
anxiety for more detailed statement than
any We have seen. The letter of the 9th
uit. is the latest authentic account which
has reached this city-and that is written
in great haste, and apparently without pre-
else information as to some of the circum-
stances. No information has been received
from New-Orleans at the Navy Depart
ment since the 18th, and of course no Off
cial information has reached this city as to
the injury said to have been done to the
public vessels. Nat. Int.
Extract. Of a letter from Gen. Wilkinson,
dateted Nezv- Orleans, august %.
"On the 18th and Goth inst. we were vi
sited at this place by hurricane, which
has left behind it a scene of desolation, com.
pretending trees, fences, crops, houses,
shipping and water craft of every species !;
millions will not repair the damages our
)oPitoIs otOIC louSCS anu maya
zines, have been unroofed, the walls of our
barrack-yard FRUSTRATED, and our boats all
destroyed. But the loss to our navy is more
considerable indeed, fear, under exist
ing circumstances, it cannot be seasonably
repaired the Enterprize is on shore be-
ing driven from one side of the river to the
other in spite of all her anchors. The vi
per has lest her main-mast, & is otherwise
greatly damaged. The sheer hulk with
the Viper's guns and ammunition, and other
property, has gone down; and the only
gun boat we have heard of is on shore in
Lake Pontchartrain. We have no news
OF the Syren or the gun-boats to the east
ward. or those in the river nor have a
word from Fort ST. Philip (Placquemines) /;
but tremble for the consequences"
Ertracf tom young gentlemen, in New-
Orleans 10 his brother, dated dug. 23d.
We have had a gale here which has
blown alfthe shipping out ofthe water.-
The U. S. brig Enterprise is high and dry
on shore, and the Viper is almost to pieces.
The market-house has blown down. also
the barracks for the soldiers. Fort St. Phi
lip was entirely swampt, & almost all the
men drowned. In this condition, the Bri-
fish trigate 5. Hampton arrived off the bar !:
and hearing of the destruction of che Fort,
dispatched her boats up, and took possessi-
on, and now there are 24O men well armed
in the Fort. We are raising volunteers to
so down and dispossess them. ! am one of
them. We have had ali instruction Of
the Negroes ; but all the heads are taken"
Ertract Of letter from a gentleman at
Nezo Orleans, to his friend in this city
dated Aug. ~.
All is hustle here in the military way
since the morning, report has reached
town that the British have taken pos
session OF our block house and fort St. Phi
lip, near the mouth of this river. The
Southampton ship of war Tor frigate) was
cast away at the Balize, and the Brazen
sloop OF war weathered the storm on the
18th inst. and it is believed with their boats
they have taken the above mentioned posi-
tons which were rendered entirely de-
tenceless by the hurricane. 1t would be
Impossible to give you just description of
the dreadful havoc and melancholy aspect
OF TINS Inflated city. The hurricane far
surpassed any thing Of the kind ever wit
messed here before, for violence and conse-
quent destruction Of property. Every
house in the city is more or less iniured--
many were dashed to oms-hundreds of
lives were lost on the river, and cut OF 90
vessels scarcely six are worth repairing. -
You can form no idea of the dreadful havoc
and OF the horror that pervaded the CITY on
'"a' "SianChoiJ nlSnt. ada TO the DIS
tresseS OF the inhabitants a report was put
INTO circulation that the negroes were to fire
the city u murder its white Inhabitants
This report seems not TO have been withot
some foundation. Many persons-some
whites as well as blacks--are in con6ae-
ment upon ssupicion, & their diabolical de
signs have for the present, Mt least been frus-
uated but God only knows where the
mlsfoftunes OF this seemingly devoted city
will end.
"Our old military chief Gen. WIS
as usual, up to his eyes in hustle and bust
ness, but fear he is not without his per
piexities. With an enemy at our door--fo-
reign and dOmestic-- without enough of the
necessary means Of defence, and with the
Vaccinations Of certain choice spirits Of
and about this place, how can he be other
wise than pcrp!exed ; Yet trust Ms ta-
lents viii rise superior to every difficulty"
Wherein have we shewn disposition
unn 'ccssarfly to criminate or prematurely
10 condemn Gen. Hull ? We defy maligni-
~ Itself to produce proof of the assertion
''hich has siVen rise TO- this question. We
iver that we have published every docn-
gut, re:ating To the transactions az De-
iroit, which has reached us in an arsthcn;ic
shape. Ii ta(.tS hay.9 IN the onini,, of o,,,