Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-05-31
HENRY RRUSII, II. q
THE LATE BATTLE.

On Sunday last, number of the Kentuc-
ky troops taken in the action of the 4,h Ia
slant, passed through this town on their way
home They. were taken bv the British to
Cleveland at the mouth of Huron, whence
they were permitted 10 return home on con
dition of not serving against the British and
Msir aides until regularly exchanged = The
following particulars of the late action have
been related to us by one of the Kentucky
troops attached to Colonel DUDLEY's reei-
ment and We have every reason to believe
that his statement is entitled to full credit
Our inform'ut states, that the detachment
ordered to attack the enemy's batteries on
the other side Of the river, consisting of
Col. DUDLEY's regiment, ard Company
from Bos landed about two miles
or two miles and halt above the batteries,
that they were formed in three lires the
first line at the distance of half mile from
the riyer-the second quarter of a mile
beyond the first--and the third "A quarter of
a mile beyond the second that their orders
were to proceed as silently az possible, in
the order in which they were formed, until
they should come opposite the Qualifications,
when the first line were TO attack and carry
the batteries, and spike the cannon-the Sc
cond line were to supper; the irst-aRd the
third were 10 act as corIiS de reSerUe and
ing carried, and the cannon spiked, The de-
tachment were TO retreat Immediately to
their boats. embark, and cross over towards
Fort Meigs, when General HARRISON was
to make sally in order to cover their land
ing and enable them To enter the Fort.--
Unfortunately, when the detachment began
its march towards the batteries the orders
to keep profound silence wee not strictly
obeycd: several guns we're fred, and the
enemy were thus apprised of theirapproach.
A large body Of Indians Immediately raised
the veil, and attacked our troops, but were
met with firmncss, and driven back. The
first line of our troops then attacked the
batteries, carried them and spiked the can
non, the enemy making bat slight resist
ance but the second line, instead of sup
porting the first, fell a considerable distance
on their left, and. as well as the third line,
were amused by the Indians. and drawn into
the woods Meanwhile, some boats were
seen by those of our men who were OH the
beach, coming up the river, and supposng
them to be renfOrcements sent by General
Harrison to their assistance, they received
them with " Hnz=a for Harrison !" and did
not perceive that they were British troops
till they were landed, and began to fire on
them. The Indians, by this time, having
been considerably reinforced, began to har
ass our troops, VINO soon perceived the dan
ger Of their situation, and commenced their
retreat towards the place were they were
first formed, the Indians following close at
their heels, and killing or taking those who
Jagged behind, as well as the wounded. It
appears that the retreat was made in con-
siderable confusion, the troops being scat
tered in different directions when the order
was given. Upon the arrival of cur troops
at the place where they we're FIRST formed,
they found the ground occupied by the BIi
tish, who were arrayed in two lines, in an
angular form. The British being concealed
by the thick foliage, were not perceived by
our troops until they had reached the mid
die of the angle, when the enemy advanced
upon them with fixed bayOnets. Finding
il impossible to make good their retreat, OF
escape the fury Of the Indians, who where
harassing their rear, oar Little band surren-
dcred To the British, who formed circle
round them in order to protect them against
the vengeance Of the sayages, who were
highly exasperated on account of the loss
1hey had sustained Our informant further
states, that after the surrender, several Of
our men were murdered, and a great mum
Der wounded by the Indians, notwitbstand-
ing the British did ali in their power - pre-.
vent them. Among those thus baTbarously