Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1813-12-09

therefore we fell down about two miles and
came to for the night. Early the next
morning every thing was In readiness for
motion but having received no intelligence
from Gen. Brown, | was still delayed, as
sound ca1tion prescribed should learn the
| result of his affair before l committed the
flotiila to the Saul.
At half past ten o'clock, A. NJ. an officer
Of dragons arrived with letter, in which
the General informed me he had forced the
enemy, and would reach the foot of the
Saut early in the day Orders were imme-
dately given for the flotilla TO sail, at which
instant the enemy'S gun boats appeared
and began to throw shot among U.s. lnfor-
nation was brought me at the same time,
from Brig. Gen. Boyd, that the enemy's
troops were advancing in column. Iimme-
diately sent orders to him to attack them
this report was soon contradieted Their
gun-boats continued to scratch us, and a
variety of reports of their movements and
counter-movements were brought to me in
succe ssion which convinced me of their
determination to hazard an attack, when it
could be done to the greatest advantage,
and therefore | resolved to anticipate them.
Directions were accordingly sent by that
distinguished officer. Col Swift, Of the en-
gineers, to brigadier- general Boyd, to
throw the detachment of his command,
assigned to him in the order of the preced-
ing day, and composed ofm of his own,
4 ovington's and Swartwouts brigades, in
to three columns, to march upon the enc
my, outfianl them if possible; and to take
ho, Ne
menced with the advanced body of the enc.
my, and became extremely sharp and gall
ing, and, with occasional pauses, sustained
with great vivacity, in open space and fair
combat, for upwards of two and half
hours the adverse lines alternately Weld
ing and advancing 1t is impossible to say
with accuracy what was our number on the
tield--because it consisted of Indefinite de.
tachments taken from the boats in order
to render safe the passage OF the Saul
Generals Gown gton aud Swarwout volunta-
rIly took part in thetaction, at the head of de-
tachmcnts from their res pective brigades
and exhibited the same courage that was
displayed by brigader general Boyd, who
happened to be the senior o.sror on the
ground. Our force engaged might have
reached 10 or 100 men, but actually did
not exceed 1900 that of the enemy was
estimated from 1900 to 1000, but did not
probably amount to more than Is or 1900
consisting as lam informed of detach
the 49th, saith and 10th regi.
ments of the line; with three companies
of the Votigeur and Gtengary corps, and
the militia OF the country, who are not in |
cIuded in the estimate.
1t would be presumptuous in me to at |
tempt to give you detailed account of this |
affair, which certainly reflects high honor
On the valor of the American soldier, as
no example can be produced of undisciplin.
ed men, with inexperienced officers, Drawing |
4 fire of two hours and half, without cult
ing the field or yielding to their antago-
mist. But, sir, the information now give
YOU is derived from officers of my conf |
-ence, who took active parts in this con.
Rict for though was enabled to border the
attack, it was my hard fortune not to be able
10 lead the troops commanded The dis
ease with which was assailed on the Cd
of September, on my journey to Fort
George, having with few short intervals
of conyalescenee, preycd on me ever since,
and at the moment OF this actien | was
contined to nay bed, and emaciated almost
to skeleton, unable to set on my horse,
or to move ten PAGES without assistance
must however, be pardoned for tres
passing on Your time few remarks in re.
lation 70 the affair, The objects of the
British and American commanders were
precisely oPposed-the last being bound by
the instructions of government and the
most solemn obligations of duty, to preci
plate his descent OF the st. Lawrence by
every practicable means-because this be-
ing effected, one of the greatest difficulties
opposed to the American arms would be
surmounted < the first, by duties equally
imper.ous, to retard and if possible prevent
such descent. He is to be accounted VIC
torious who effected his purpose The Bsi.
fish commander having failed to gain Ell
Their OF his objects, can lay no claim to the
honor of the day. The battle tluctuated
and triumph seemed at different times. in
clined to the contending corps. The front