Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1813-01-08

Angus with his little band OF sailors. as.
sisted by Captaia King and a few of his
party, attacked the principals force OF the
enc any, consisting of about $50 at the
Red House (the seamen charging with
their pixies and swords against muskets
and bayonets) and routed them 10 all d.
recrions : Captain Dox. who took a dis
tinguished part in this affair was severe
ly wounded-After a hard and destruc-
tive engagement the enemy were COM
pletely dispersed. the 2 field pieces spsk-
ed, and the house in which the eaemy
ouartered fred the seamen returned to
our shore, bringing off their wounded
and several prisoners. Out OF II naval
officers who embarked in this enterprise,
nine of them with more than half their
men, were killed or wounded. 1t brave.
nv be a %virtue--if the gratitude of a COUP
try be due to those who gallaatly and
desperately assert its rights, the govern
ment will make ample and honorable
provision for the heirs of those brave
tars who fell on this occasion, as well as
for those who survived. Capt. King
proceeded t o spike aud dismount the
guns in the batteries. Lieut.. Colonel
Boerstler dispersed the enemy lower
down the river, taking a number OF pfi-
soners.
by sun rise in the morning, most Of
the troops had arrived at the place of n.
barkasion, and the day was fine. |
marched $40 of the volunteers who had
rallied uader Gen. Smy tbs invitation
well armed and provided and in high
spirits ; about $50 more who came in
the evening before were at Buffalo draw
ing their arms and ammunition, with or.
ders to join US as soon as possible.
stationed nv men as instructed by Gen.
Smythi in a field at the navy yard, with
directions to wait for further orders
The parties who had crossed in the
night aided by our batteries, which at
day light opened a powerful and we'll di,
rected fire, and a piece of fiving artillery
on the Island under charge of Capt .Gib-
SOD, had driven every thing from the op-
posite shore : Col. Winder, AT officer
of great intelligence, zeal and bravery,
under the mistaken apprehension that
the party under 1t. Col. Boers,ler, were
in danger Of being cut off, made an un.
successful attempt (although his own
boat landed) to land $50 men at the dii-
hcalt point down the river, and had re.
turned as stated by Gen. Smyth. The
osuera enharkotio ncy commonwealth nf
1t went on so tardily, that, at IL o'clock.
the whole of the regular troops and Cox.
Swift's regiment were not in the boats.
A considerable number OF boats were ly-
ing on the shores Of the river and creek
been thrown up by the high water
ofthe preceding day. Several were in
creek half filled with water and ice.
1 called on General Smyth and proposed
to occupy part of these boats with my
volunteers, many OF whom were impa.
tent to embark. Being however at this
moment informed by Col. Porter, that
the boats which had been used by Col.
Winder, were lying about a mile below,
Major Chaplin and myself, with about
so men, went down the shore, brought
up five boats, filled them with men, and
arrived at Black Rock, the point from
which it was proposed to put eff, as soon
as any of the regular troops. At about
2 O'Clock all the troops which it appeared
were intended to be crossed at first, were
collected in a group of boats at Black
Rock, under cover of our batteries. l
have seen no official account of the num-
Der of men in the boats. MY opinion
was that the number exceeded 2,OOO.-
Most men of observation who were pre-
sent, estimated it at $500. The men
were in hne spirits and DESTROYS of eros.
sing.
Gen. Tanuehilrs volunteers, colonel
+. M'Clure's regiment, some riHemen,
cavalry &c. amounting to about 1000
were still paraded on the shore, and, as
| am informed were ready to cross. Sc
veral boats of sufficient capacity t carry