Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-05-20

Mai. Gen. HAMPTON, who commands
at Norfolk, and who had been day or
two in this city, departed on Sunday
morning to resume his station at Nor
folk.
We have the pleasure to state, that eff
fectmal measures are in progress tor the
relief of our unfortunate countymen,i
in captivity with the enemy. A cartei,by
which all the system for the proper treat
ment, release & exchange of prisoners
ha. been fixed, was agreed on and sign
ed some days since, between Gen. Ma
son, Commis.ary General OF prisoners,
on the part Of the L ,.ited States, and CO.
lionel Barclay. General Agen. for prison.
crs on the part Of Great Britain. BY
this, arn2ag other things, II is stipulated
that two cartel vessels Of the bnrthen
of FIVE h.ndrcd tons together, shalt be
constantly kept by each gorcrument IN
the service of removing prisoners OF
the two nations. to be released on ac-
count or exchanged. On our part, the
two vessels have been already p4rcaas-
ed. fitted and dispatched, 20 bring home
our prisoners suffering tn the West In
dies. The u. States cartel Analostan,
-cattain Smith, left this place Tor Jamaica
, on the Sd instant TO touch III Hampton
Roads, and take off British prisoners,
end on the l5th inst. the United States
cartel ship perseverance,, captain Di!!.
s.;led tom Philadelphia for Barbados,
tn touch at New York to take m British
prisoners in like manner. Both vessels
are to return with American prisoners
70 Providence ia Rhode islani--one OF
the stations agreed OF ior>the exchange
Of prisoners of war.
Extract Of letter from Msj2r General
Dearborn 10 the Secretary Of Var,
dated Niagara, May S.
&" As nearly as have been able to as
certain, the loss of toe enemy IN the al
fair of York amounted TO some hundred
killed, two hundred prisoners and three
hundred wounded ! have not been a.
bic to ascertain precisely the amount OF
the militia put on their parole--l pre-.
sumo it could not be less thaa live hun-
drel. There was an immense depot OF
naval aud military stores. York was
magazine for Niagara, Detroit, sc. and
Notwithstanding the Immense ainemt
which was destroyed bY them, we found
more than we could bring off. General
Sheaffe's baggage and papers fell Iato
nv hands the papers are valuable &C
| QUESTION. A SCALP was found IN the
Executive & Legislative Council Cham
Der, suspended near the Spsaker's chair
in company with the mace, Sc"
Extract Of letter .tfon Field 0.f5cer
| in the fsrce schich hnacd al York,
| TO tie Dttarfment Of Mar.
"The column of attack consisted OF
| the 9th, 18th, 18th and 2lst Regiments
| of infantry, and detachment OF The
| LIGHT and heavy artillery Major For
sy,h's corps of riiiemen, and lieut.. col
nj Clurc's corps Of volunteers acted on
| the tanks There was a long piece OF
woods to GO through, which offered ma
nv ob.tructions 10 eur heavy ordnance
| As we expected, we were there annoy
| cd on our tanks by a part or the British
| and Indians. With six FOUNDER ana tive
hnwitztrs. One of the cnemy's bate.
ries accidentally blew up, by which they
lost so men of the 9Th regiment: A
! pat of our force was detached from
our column, as it came into the open
! ground, Who carried the second battery
by. storm. The troops were halted
few minutes to bring up the heavy artn-
lery to play on the blsck house. Gen.
Sheaffe, despairing of holding the town
ordered Ere to be put 10 the magazine,
in which there were FIVE hundred bar.
,els OF powder, many cart loads OF stone,
and an imrensc quantity of iron, shells
and shot. The column was raked from
front to rear. Gen. Pike and his three
! aids, and $50 officers and men were kill
led or wounded in the column. Not
wi,hstsnding this Calamity and the dis
comfture that might be expected to toll
low it, the troops gaze three cheers, m
| staHrlv formed the csiamn and marched
on towards the town Gen. Sheaffe fled
and left his papers and baggage beAind
him. Abou sixty regulars accompanied
him, leaving their wounded in every
farm house. They acknowledge the loss
Of three hundred killed and woundod'
Their force, regulars and militia, c"n-
sisted of 1000 men. We took between
four and FIVE hundred prisoners.