Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-07-21
RICHMOND July l6.

Capture OF British Barge x Crew.
Extract Of letter, dated Norfolk, July
IA lslS-haVhast o'clock, p. M.
81 have to announce the capture of
British barge and crew belonging to the
Plan,agenet "a, this morning, by de-
tachment of the Princess Anne militia,
commanded by Capt. Richard Lawson,
near the light house on Cape Henry.
"The enemy had been in the practice
of landing frequently at that place to wa
ter, where he had sunk wells This
morning, before day fight the militia had
concealed themselves bahlnd the sand
hills; about o'clock, barge with
brass piece and Is men landed the can.
non was got on shore, but sunk so deep
in the sand, they could not convey it to
the watering place, and was left on the
beach-the militia permitted them to
proceed to obtain water, when they cut
them off from the boat and gave fire,
which killed one marine, wounded two
and tue lieutenant; the remainder were
made prisoners, % in number, and are
How on their march to this place. The
enemy did not discharge their muskets.
The tenders and other boats were I'M
mediateb dispatched from the ships to
their relief, when the militia after injnr
ing the boat as much as they could, re-
treated witt, their prisoners, leaving the
cannon on the beach,
Gen Wilkinson arrived in Ni!ledge-
Vile co. on the evening of the 6lh, OH
his way to the headquarters oil the N.
a-,-y. He passed through the Greek
Nation, without interruption.
Another express to the Governor has
just srrived-the following is an extract
from the dispatch
Westmoreiand Connty. Mattor Bridge,
I5h Juiu, about 10 a'cioct.
Col Richard Parker Of this county,
beiug absent, | conceive it becomes py
duty to make known to you the follow
ing communication Major John Tar.
berville of the I'd battalion, residing in
the lower part Of this eneu,y, Inform
ed me very ta,ly this morning that
about i British ships Of war were seen
Yesterday from place near yeocomuco
River, which is branch of the Potomac,
pass up the Potomac with crowded sail,
and supposed to be in pursuit OF the
Scorpion sloop of war then flying before
her. Major TurberviiIe also mentions
that on the evening of Yesterday the
enemy's barges entered Yeocomoco in
pursuit Of an armed schooner belonging
to the gun-boat squadron which was at
anchor in that river; that an action took
place between the barges and schooner,
and the schooner was captured.
"MaJor I. mentions that capt. Lig-
gany, the commander Of the schooner,
was basely murdered, after the enemy
boarded, when there were but three
men on the deck, one of whom asked for
quarters, which was refused! And Mr..
McClintic the midshipman and the other
man Jumped overheard and succeeded
with several others in making their es-
cape through a shower OF balls from
their musketry. The body OF Liggany
was found on board, and was to be burr.
ed yesterday with the honors OF war
The schooner was left on fire but thro'
the vigilance of some of our men who
repaired to her, it was cxtinguishcd, and
exertions are making to save the guns,
&c. There are at this moment four
frigates with their tenders, under croud.
ed sail, just off White.poin which is
three miles above Mattox Creek. They
are supposed to be about S miles be-
low Hooes Ferry"
(Sgned) WILLIAM NELSON,
Major Of the lst Battalion Of Afiiitia
in The County Of Westmoreland.