Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-03-18
Fran Ms Aancnai Intel geneer.
Cehy ola letter from Brig. Gen. Winehes-
Ter, 30 Me Secretary at Har.
Fort George. Upper Canada,
18th Feb. 1913.

4Atu 7 Gu. 40 -.
SIR.
On the 22d ult. had the honor of commu.
ricating to your Excellcncy the result of the
action al Frenchtown, on the river Raisin,
OF the preceding day. have it now in my
power To transmit TO you more detailed
account of that transaction. together with
more minute statement os our loss. A list
OF the killed wounded and missing, is here
with enclosed
= The attack upon our camp was CONF
menced about six o'clock in the morning by
heavy FIRE ofsmall arms, together with the
discharge Of six pieces of artillery, direct
ed immediately at our lines, and the houses
and temporary breast work, from behind
which portion of our troops were engaged
with the enemy. Early in the action a
charge was made by the assailants but the
fire from our lines was so intense that they
were quickly compelled to retire.
In this charge the 4lst regiment OF British
regulars principally sutfen63 their loss du
ring the charge. and in thI ibsequent en-
gagement, being very o4R} erable. Out Of
three hundred of then tt00ps ab6ht thirty
fell dead upon the field, and ninety or an
hundred wounded were removed from the
ground
IL is impossible to state. with any degree
OF accuracy. the number of Canadian militi-
and Indians. which was either killed or
wounded during the engagement it could,
however, not have been small, having re-
ceived for three or four hours the constant
nre OF our musquetry and rif1emen, from
the breast-work, under which they were
formed. The action had endureduabou
quarter Of an hour, when the right division
OF our troops, who were less secured by
oreast-work and exposed to heavy fire
from body of lndians and militia, who had
possessed themselves of some out houses
within the @rach, were obliged to retreat
from the mes in the encampment, for the
purpose pi occupying ground less exposed.
ihis retreat being discovered by the enc
my, the whole Indian force, together with
portion OF the militia, bore down upon them
with redoubied violence, and prevented by
tneir superiority OF numbers and the severi-
" oil their hire the practicability of ever a
gam forming this portion Of our troops i'm
order Of battle. 1t was from this division
that cur principal loss was sustained, few
indeed having escaped. Every effort was
IN VAN employed to form them into some
order OF action, as affording the only means
OF either repelling the pursuers, OF regain :
ing the temporary breast work from behind
which the remaining part of our troops still
Saiantly defended themselves; but every
exertion was in vain employed, and the ve-
ny few who survived the party surrendered
as prisoners To the enemy.
Our loss In this action will be ascertained
oy the list herewith enclosed Among the
Killed have to lament several brave and
valuable officers, some of whom had distin
Suished themSetses,ip the action of the e.
Hening offfhe -1stiI, spd fell en- the 22d
Whlls(enay ailingly engaged in raiying the
troops who reireated in disorder from the
Akwes, Among Those, the loss. of COL John
1Ya.Alteh and Maj. ElijahsNi 'Claniiahan, is to
4 4epartcplariy. regrcttedsas also capt. John
III. Voolfolk, ohsQf my Adsde camp their
ekertlons @sgeodnsuec NtwitAstand
/ TINY bravely fell jhfiie EischarfA ofItheir
Z RESPECTIVE duties. kyhile4 regrSk the fate
OF those who fell upoIfk n slipuld
Ado Injustice to pass 0ksf AwithoH nokce,
Fhe feApartakers in their danger, 81 o
were foftepate to survive them.
10 1t. eel William LewisS&ho com
manGed on tieslsth, and to capt. Jamss .
sertoh, my AiddeDeamT,,' Who attended, my
person Oh the field, my thanks are ,partcu-
Larry due, for their prompt and willing ex-
sertlon during every. period Of the conflict.
10 the officers aud soldiers who brayely
maintained their ground i'll the temporary
fortihcations, too much praise cannot be
SNS " ~ @hSsaiSu ny HuinDeTS greatly
superior, supported by six pieces of artil
lery constantly employed, they gailantly
defended with small arms alone, for near
hours OF constant battle
No troops ever behaved with more cool
and determined bravery: from the COM
Inanding officer down to- the private sol.
dicr there was scarce single abandonment
OF duty; and at the last, when their ammu-
nition was nearly exhausted, and surround
eddy the enemy, greatly superior in num-
Der and in the means OF war, surrendered
with reluctance rarely tn be found upon al
milar occasions. The officers Commanding
IN the breast-work and who deserve parti-
cular notice, if distinction could easily be
drawn, were majolSnB benjamin Graves anG
George Madison; capts. ilightower, Hart
Williams, Cholier, Sebree, Hamilton. Keie.
by, Bledsoe, Ballard, and James Brigade
Major James Garrard, Adj John M'Caila
and Quarter Master Pollard Keen: the,
defended themselves to the last with erea
gallantry, and merit my warmest gratitude
as well astlie highest praise of their coun
Try
With sentiments OF the highest respect,
am, sir, your ob't tervant.
]. WINCHESTER,
Brig. Gen. u. S. Army
The hon. the Secretary at War,
Washington city, Y. S.
Abstract Of the killed. and wounded, AM
missing in the action at Frenchtown. o
D..,.. Il.