Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-05-17

| SIR, o'clock p NJ
! We are in full possession of this place af
| ter a sharp conflict, in which we lost some
brave Off ters and soldiers.
Gen. Shcaiie commanded the British troops
militia and Indians in person.
We shall be prepared to sail for the ncx
object of the expedition the first favorable
J wind.
have TO lament the loss of the brave and
active brigadier general Pike.
am with the highest respect, Sc.s
II. DEARBORN.
The Hon. Gen. JonN ARMSTRONG;,
| Secretary Of Var, Washiagton.
Head Quarters, York, capital Of Upper Canada,
| April 28th, 1915.
SIR,
! After detention OF some days by adverse
winds, we arrived ut this place Yesterday NOR
ming, & at eight O'Clock commenced landing
| the troops about three miles westward from the
town, and one and half from the enemy's
works. Tie wind was high and in an unf;.vor-
able direction for the boats, which prevented
| The landing OF the troops at clear field, the
scite OF the ancient French fort Tarento. 1t
! prevented also many OF the armed vessels from
| taking positions, which would havslnost efiec
tuslly covered our landing-but every thing
| that could be done was effected
The rihenen under major Forsyth first land
| ed, under a heavy fire from indians and Other
Troops. General Sheaffe commanded in per-
| son. He had collected his whole force in Tic
( woods near the point where.tae wind compel
| led our troops to land. His force consisted of
seven hundred regulars and militia, end one
| hundred indians. Major Forsyth wbsso pport-
ed as promptly as possible; but the sSontest
was sharp and severe for nearly half 81 hour,
/ and the enemy were repuised by number far
| inferior to theirs. AS soon as general Pike
\ landed with seven or eight hundred men, ans.
! the remainder OF the troops were pushing for
| the shore, the enemy retreated to their works.
! Our troops were now formed on the ground o..
\ rignally intended for their landing, advanced
| through a thick wood, and after carrying one
| battery by assault, were moving in columns to-
| wards the main work when within sixty rods
| of this, = tremendous explosion took place
| from u magazine previously prepared, and
which threw out such immense quantities of
stone as most seriously to injure our troops.
| 1 have not yet been able to collect the returns
OF the killed and wounded; but our loss will, L
/ fear exceed one hundreds and among these I
| have to lament the loss of that brave and ex-
ceient officer Brig Gen Pike, who received
| confusion from large stone, which terminated
his valuable life within few hours. His loss
| Will be severely felt. ~
| Previously to this explosion the enemy had
retired into the town, excepting party of re-
| gulars, to the number of fortyswho did not es
| cape the effects of the shock, and We're destroy.
| ed $3.50
General SheafFe moved off with the regular
troops and left direction with the commanding
| officer of the militia to make the bespaterms
| he could. In thc mean time all further resist
ance on the part of the enemy ceased, aridsthe
| outlines of equalization were agrcedo on.
| AS soon as learned chat c.. neral Pike had
] been wounded. went On shore. To the gene-
| pai had been induced to coniide the immedi,
| ate attack, from knowledge that twas his
wish and that he would have felt mortified had
\ it not been given 10 him.
Every movement was under myivfcw. The
| troops behave5fwith very great fFniness, and
| deserve much applause, Particularly those first
engaged, & undcr circumstances which would
! have tried the steaainess of veterans.
| Our loss in the morning and carrying the l5t
battery WIS not great, perhaps forty or fifty kii-
led and wounded, and of them fall propor,i-
/ on ofbfficers.
Notwithstanding the eneny's advantage in
1 position and numbers in the commencement oil
the action, their loss was greater than ours, es-
] pcCisl.y in officers II was with great excrtion
| that the small vessels of the flect could work
into the harbour against gale Of wind, but as
| soon as they got into a proper position, tre-
| mendous cannonade opened upon the enemy
batteries and was kept up against them, until
| they were carried or blown up, and had, no
doub., powerful effect upon the enemy.
Unfortunately the enemy's armed ship Prince
| Regent, left this place for Kingston few days
before we arrived. A large ship on tire stocks
and nearly pIanked up, and much naval stores
! were set fire to by the enemy soon after the
| explosion of the magazine. considerable
quantity Of military stores and provisions re-
main but no vessels it for use.
We have NOT the meanseof transporting the
prisoners, and must OF course leave them on
parole.
| hope VIC shall so far complete what is ne.
cessary to be dOGe here, as to be able to sail o
morrow for Niagara, WHITTIER send this 10y 9
small vessel, with notice to general Lewis oil
our approach.
have the honor 10 be, &c.
HENRY DEAR BORN.
Hon. Gen. JoHN ARifsTHowo,
Secretary Of War, Washington.
Copies Of letters from Com. Chauncey, tc
the Secretary of the Navy.
u. S. Shjt Madison at anchor Oft York, o.
clock, p. MI 27M Afrik, 1918.
SIR,
have the satisfaction to inform you
shat the American Aag is flying upon the
fort at York. The town capitulated this af-
ternoon at 4 O'Clock. Brigadier general
Pike was killed.
have the honor 70 be,
Very respectfully, sir,
Your most obdt. sevt.
ISAAC CHAUNCEY.
Hon. WILLIAM JONES,
| Secretdry 0ftke Manu-, Washupton.