Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-05-22

your brigade, who will land a. ; poist j
will shew about one or one AID hall
miles above the fort, and will coDduct
them TO the British batteries On the left
bank of the river. They musttaks pos
session of the enemy's cannon, spike
them, cut down the carriages, and return,
to their boats.
Observing that he British force at
their large batteries was uncomfortable,
hut that their main force was at the old
garrison about one and ;, half miles be-
low ON the same side OF the river; that
the Indian forces were chiefly on the.
right bank Of the river: TIE balance
OF the men under your command must
land on the right bank opposite the first
landing, aud will fight their way through
tbs Indians u the For,," observing that
The route thus to be taken would be
sbewn by subalte,n officer there, 10 com.
PAW with capiaia Hamilton, who would
land the perogue at the point on the
isht bank, al which the boats would
land.
The order Of descending the river in
bosts was the ST me as the order OF march
in line of battle in solid column, each
officer taking position according to MS
rank. C'lonel Dudley, the tides, CO.
lionel, led the van, and III this order the
river had been descended, As soon as
capt. Hamilton had delivered these orr
dcrs, being in the 18Th boa, from the front,
directed HIM 10 proceed Immediately
10 colonel dudley and order him to tako
the men in the 3 front brats, and exc
cute general Eafrison's orders on the
left bank oil the river; and post his (c,p-
tain Hamilton'si subai,ern Cd the right
bank To conduck myself with the men in
TIE six rear boats 70 the fort. ordered
the hre boats in tie rear to fal! in line
and follow me. High winds anti the ra-
pilitysef the cnrrcnt drove four oil the
rears boats ashore in the attempt to fnl-
lovnf According to order, where they
remained short time, sufficient howe
yer To detsin them halso three quarters
of :. mile in the rear. To land accord.
ing to order kept close along the right
bank until opposite colonel Dudicy'sa
landing. There / found no g,fGc Left
TO conduct me- to the fort, as captain aa-
milton had promised. then made an
attempt to cross the river and Join colo
nel Dudley, but from the rapid current
on the falls Was unable to land on the
poin, wits him. Being nearly half way
across the river, and the wave. running
too nigh to risk the boat then driving
down the current sidewise--veered a.
boat the ,ai aud rowed the best Way
we could to save our boat. My attempt
to Cross The river to colonel Dudley oc-
casioned all ihe boats Il presume in the
rear OF me) AID which were then GA, al
mailing distance, to cress OYER and land
with colonel Dudley. Having beende-
feaied in iandiDg on the left, we ,thcn
endsayeied fleet one on the III h, C.
ven without guide: bot before lend
isg could bc elected We receiveda brisk
tire from the enemy on shore, which
was returned and kept up Oh both sides
Aud was in this unavoidable situation
compelled 10 make 10 Fort Meigs With
no other force lhsn about 50 men OF
board Che ether boats baing still in he
lear) aud to receive the erenty's FIRE an
Ill we arrived under the protection of
the fort CoioDel Bosweli's command,
Except tie men in my boat HAVING
landed to join colonel Dudley, vert, as
have been informed, ordered by cap.
tain Hamilton immediately To embark s
land on the right hand shore about mile
above the Tort and prepare to fight his
way through to the garrison
The colonel embarked, landed as he
conceived TT the proper point, pursuant
Ia capt, HamiIton's order, aDt. vas loim-
ing his uien in order of battle, when be
Was met BY capt. Shaw, and ordered to
march ipto the garrison al open order,
the safest route.
When my own boat landed we were
met by two men who took charge OF the
boat, as We understood to bring her IN.
derths protection of the fort batteries.
Believing our baggage to be thus made
sale, we forbid our servants to carry any
portion oil it, bat loaded them with cam
non ball, which they bore to the fort
Onr baggage was however taken by the
Indians la very short time after We
lett the boat. Upon receiving the orr
ders Of captain Hamilton, ] asked If he
had brough, spikeSto spike the eneny's
Cannon. To which be replied he had
plenty.
/ am, Sit, respectfully,
Your Obsdicnt servant,
GREEN CLAY, Brig. Gen.
Ills E2cehency
MAJ Gen. Harrison.
P. Captain Hamilton on delivering