Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-08-16
ALEXANDRIA.
MONDAY, August 10.
{" 70 sHEv
EXTRACT or A LETTER
FRoM MARYLAND.

le,rn how the eneay behaved vi hen they
landed in Saint Mary's. have convers-
cd with on officer Of cavalry, who has
i.,st returned from the country which
they possessed themselves of Whate-
ycr NAV have been the atrocities COM
nirted az Hampton, there were none re-
acted there--aad every respect, consist.
ept with their object of foraging, was
shcwn to the Inhabitants. Cockburn
vas ashore. General Beckwith COM
uant, ~ the whole force, said to be about
,lif,y.lSree hundred. Nothing was ia
ken without pay being offered, and then
celv provisions. The Families were
treated with every mark of attention and
c;vi;ity. Mr.. Armstrong and MIR Elvs-
~ Saith had the mos, Of their company.
Fsnm the first, they took number OF
cattle and sheep, and thir,y-seven cats!
He is an old bafchet0r. MIR. Smith con.
yersed much with Cockburn who ask
cd il he had not heard much of him, as
being al EaVre de Grace & Frenchtewn;
that he understood that in Maryland he
bad acquired distinguished name -
That be cared not what unsruths were
circulated; that he had broad back and
could bear all thar was said of him.
II is surprising whaeerrors will be COM
pdttcd from the want of experience by
the best disposed and men really jealous
in the discharge of their official duties.
General Beckwith took with him on
board only two ofthe captured citizens,
Mr.. Kirk md MIR Hall and those on
the Ground that they were under IS and
subject TO militia duty. Mr.. Smith was
selcett d by colonel Fcnwick, command
ing the detachment of militia then on
service in the neie hborhood of the enc
nv, to sail with flag bearing despatch
relatiug to the release of thee two per-
sons. The communication Was signed BY
him as lieut., colonel-Whcn 1t was pre-
scented, the admiral remarked he could
not receive il unless Mr.. Smith gave
the most positive assurances that 1t was
frou the officer commanding the detach-
meut, as DO body else would be antho.
ris, d TO enter into any dcGnitlve arrange
ment upon the subject Of an exchange.
afr. Smith had no difficulty in giving
the asked for assurance. When the let
ter was read, 4" Why" SAYS Cockburn
smiling. 4" YOU have aiieutenant colonel
on duty, and, of course, regiment OF
militia out" AS soon as Smith ascend
cd the admirai's ship, some officers de-
seendeG into his boat and held coHver-
sation with the oarsmcn (ucgroes) Tor
some time. Smith saw Hall and Kirk
the poor fellows Nete solicitous TO re.
turn to their families, and begg' that
every exertion' night be made fer their
exchange and stated that they were
sell treated. The admiral replied, th2t
" he had sill &C he was Oh the station fire.
eneRtly con n, unicated with thes exs-
ru,ivc of the United States upen the
subject of exchanging prisoners that
these communications had been treated
With disrcspect, and that unless ttose
perscos. were exchanged shortly they
would be sent to Halifax, that he could
paroic no more; but that every thing
necessary for their convenience which
their families might send, would be
faithfully applied to their comfort. -
Mr.. Kirk is man Of considerable for
tune.
eonverscd with two deserters from,
the Sceptre, Cockburn's ship. They
speak OF him as man passiQnately be-
loved by his men. They were with him
at the taking OF the Anaconda and Atlas. |
He has set Of Players on board, and
auu.es his crew twice week with a
pay. understand that other desertcrs
also speak in high terms of him, as be-
ing beloved sy bis crew; they say he
was not at Hampton; & that the FRENCH
who landed there have been sent to Ber-
muGa, as general Bccswith declared he
would not command them again. This
would shew that excuses had been
Committed by them, and that they were