The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-01-05
POR7ER S1.iTEdfI5.NI.
10 IUE PUBLIC.

ders and Instructions iron, the Secretary at War, &
gem Eearborn,'' this communication will assume
character quite different from the the I,-
ted. am pledged hDweser,to the pubic to give facts,
which shall proceed To do without comment lea
wing it TO time to develope the object of militia
ny movements which have appeared to and
others not only extraordinary but inexplicabe.
Ga the e7th az November til ere collected at
this point military force OF about 4.5oD effective
men, Consisting OF regular troops, New-York, Penn
sylvania and baltimore Volunteers, all ul.der tie
commando! Gen. Sinyil. ,
y fhere were lying at the Navy Yard near Black
Rock, which had been previously prepared tor
the purpose OF transporting the troops the
yer,
20 public boats calculated to carry 40
men each. CSo9
Long boats belonging tn individuals
but which had been taken intothe public se;Ii>c,
calculated to carry 100 men each, SOC
10 seows for artillery, and 25 men each, 2oc
Besides a number OF small boats,
$3.50
At O'Clock or that day reccivsd n copy OF
Gen. Sny tbs order for the march Of NIL the troogs
the succeeding morning ut reycie, to the navy yard
10 embark ior Canada. L immediately gave orders
for the New-York volunteers who had hecn placed
under my command, to parade at ! o clock in the
morning at their encampment about one and an half
miles from The navy yard. In the evening learnt
that the parties mentioned in Gen. Smyths dispatch
were TO cross the river at II O'Clock at night
tack the enemy's batteries opposite Black Rock
Gen. S. not being here, waited on Lieut. Angus,
ami suggested to him the propriety Git within the
scope OF 'js orders of Iostponiug the enterprize
until hearty ncrninS, to give rs little time poss-
bic, before The sage OF the army, for the encrJ
troops to collect from their station down the river.
They landed at three in the morning under a severe
ire OF musketry and grape shot from two pieces of
Artillery. Lieut. Angus with his little band of sail
ors, assisted by capt. King and few of Lis party,
attacked the principal force CT The enemy consisting
OF about ESQ at the Red House (thc seamen charg-
ing with their pixies and swords against muskets and
bayoncts) and routed them in all directions Cap
tain Dox who took dstins uished part in this al
fair was severely wounded. After hard ans. dc s.
trnctiyc engage ment, the enemy were completely
dispersed, tle two field pieces spiked, and ;he house
III wlirh the enemy chartered fired, the seamen re-
turned TO our shore, bringing OF their wounded and
several prisoners. Out of . naval officers v no
bafSed IN ms enterprze, nine OF them with more
than half their men, wore killed or wounded. II
bravery be virtue--itthe gratitude of a country
be due 20 those who galtany and desperately assert
its rights, the government will make ample and hoh
ors6c provision for the heirs or those brave tars
who Tell on this OCCASION, well for those Who
survive. Capt King proceeded to spike and dis
mount the guns in the batteries. 1t. Col. Boerster
dispersed the encmy lower down the river, taking
number al prisoners.
BY sun rise in the morning, most of the troops
had arrived at the place OF emharkaton and The day
WAS me marched SO al the volunteers who
had rallied under Gen. Smyth's Invitation, W ell
armed and provided and iii high spirits about so
more who canein the evening before ut Buff
fsloe drawing their arms and ammunition with or
ders 20 join us soon possible. 1 station ed my
raen as instructed by Gen. Smyth in field at the
navy yard, with directions to ait for further orders
HE parties who had crossed in the night aided by
oos batteries, which, at day light opened powerful
ana ve directed fire, and piece of fyin; artillery
ON the island under charge o! capt. Gibson, had Gr
ven every thing from the opposite shore Col.
Nindcr, an officer great intelligence, zeal and
bravery, under the mistaken appre,e nson that the
party under 1t Col. Bocrslier, were in danger Of
BENG cut or, made unsuccessful attempt (altho'
his own boat lanled) TO land $50 at a difficult
point down the river and had as stated BY
Cen Smyth. The general enbarka,ion now COM
menced, but 1T went on so tardiiy tlat, ut twelve
o'clock, the whole OF the regular troops and Col.
SwI!ts regiment not in the boats. II consd-
cradle number OF boats were lying the shores Of
the river and creek, having been thrown up by the
iish wafer OF the preceding day. Several were in
The creek hat filled with water and ice. i called on
Gen Smyth and proposed to occupy part OK those
boats With my volunteers, many OF whom i'm.
patient to embark Being however ut this moment
informed by Colonel Porter, that the boats which
had been used by Col. Winder were lying about
mile below, Maj. Chaplin and myself, with about
80 men, went down the Shore brought M FIVE
boats, filled them with men, and arrived at Black
Rock, the point from which i, proposed to pu,
oil, MS soon many Of the regular troops. At about
two o'clock oil the troops which it appeared we're
intended to he crossed at first were collected in "a
group al h1ats at Biacls Rock under the Cover OF
car batteries. lusa seen unofficial account of the
iu;nber OF men in thc boats My opinion was that
the number exceeded 5000. Most OF obser-
walton who were present estimated it at 1900. The
men were IN fnc spirits and DESTROYS of crossing
lIen Ia1ncihlFs volunteers Colonel Z. McCiure's
regiment, some riHcinen, cavalry, &C. amounting TO
about 1000, were still paraded on the shore, and
as I'm informed, were ready to cross. Several
boats OF sufficient capacity to carry about 1000 men
were stu lying 1T the navy yard unoccupied. l
have not been able learn that any order request
was made for the embarkation Of any of the troops
other than the regulars and Col. Swift's regiment.
Inc enemy estimated ut about 500. drawn up
IN line about half mile from the river.
Ater REMAINING in the boats till late in the after.
noon, an order Was received to disembark.it pro-
diced among the officers aud men generally great
discomfort aud ,nurmurng, which was, however, in
sone degree aisycd by assurances that the expedi-
boats could be better prepared.
On Sunday another order was issued by General
Snyt for the march or the troops the navy yard,
10 embark q. O'clock. on Monday morning. was
at B"ffa.o when ii received, and found that il
vas generally. TO time and manner, disappeared
by the oicsrsOl the Won lteers. saw G3n. Snyt!,
~ The evening" 1t Blaze; Rock viii, CDi. Wndcr, *
stated my Objections To his plan. The enemy had
reinOunted lbs gins the batteries, TO render
l. ineNpedicnt ut the favorable ppit which
Lad been taken n.t Saturday, 06JOe the stand that
covers the nayy ya,d. Immediately bsIo7v the Is
land, tie enemy las in force, much augmented H.
consequence Of The affair ot Saturday, occupying
lac ~ slore q! about u.Ic, where the is
iRpd;ind the banks sbrapt. did not believe IL po5-
sios, q effect landing with troops, in ANY to-
Jafab!e order IL At al, in te fdec O tie lyig arle-
~ and infantry, WI ,nn view o: oAr lnt, emets
in tie day tiinc NoHd eua.s Them 20 Oppose 10 u,
proposed % pos, Dme tie expedition 70 nj hi-io
W%rCh aud embark tite ftGuus si'entiy--to pat OF