Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-08-30
P.BENSON, d.
TO TIE EDITOR THE ST

LEAR DIR,
i avail myself of leisure momeat
20 give YOU tor The Information of ycur
neighbours, sketch of the attack upon
Queens Town on yesterday morning.
About 10 minutes before 8 O'Clock, A. M.
we received inte hgcnce from our troopers.
stationed as t-post videl;es, that the Bri
fish in considerable force were on their
march from Kent Island towards Queens
Town. A full company of infantry having
oeeH pushed into Piney Neck the evening
before, Tor the purpose of securing the Neck
aud interceptiEg all communication with
the enemy, our force now consisted at
Queens Town ofabout 200 infantry, lOocav-
airy under my command, company of ar.
tliery about 40 strong, under the command
ot capt. Gustavus Wright--The whole un~
der the command of Mai Nicholson, the
senior officer (Col. Wright being then sick J
Our arrangements and positions for defence
having been previously agreed OH, about IS
minutes after o'clock every company was
m place and ready for action--soon after
winch we observed by signal rockets which
were fired from the mouth of Queens Town
creek as well as from the Column advkn-
eng from the ferry, that we were to have
an attack from tue water as well as he
land side About 10 minutes before A ~
clock, not yet light, the enemy from his line
upon The land side, which was then dis
played, and also from the water, commenc
ed hre CT rockets and round shot. anon
which, Nicholson then hearing thata land
ing was effected at Hali's, where we had
posted no men, fr0m tie barees. and anti
cipatlng an immediate attack in the PEAR
| ordered he artillery and infantry without
firing to retreat, which was done in good or,
der and without any loss. With the cavak
| ~ was posted IN very advantageous pS
sition to Charge upon the right wing of tho
enemy, as SOON as the action should com
mence in the centre. By some neglect. did
not receive orders toretreat until some mi
! nutes had elapsed after the retreat of the
infantry, &c. which the night, and observing
the approaches of the enemy, prevented m
| from seeing. During this tine we were ex
posed 10 the whole and undivided firine of
the enemy's artillery, who were not more
than zoo yards from us, when we comnenc
ed retreat which we maintained in eaod
order without any loss. until we overlook
tie infantry and artillery. The uneveneess
| OF the ground upon which the enemy work
ed his artillery alone prevented him from
making sad havoc among us They foak
possession OF the town, and held il but a ~
minutes, doing little or no iaiurv there HI =
taking OFF part of our stores of bread u
bacon. AT Halls the force that IsndA
there under Cockburn, Injured his ho,,x
and furniture, l understand, that wal I'm
good deal.
The force that advanced by land we su,,s
posed to be about 6C0 men, under Sir sd
ney Beckwith ; those tina; landed from he
barses, As in number under the 01aenq,ie,o,,e
Ceckburn, we estima ed at about eO0--ma-
king, IN the whole, about 1850 menl Ike i,
terday deserter came in who stated the
force that advanced by land TO be 1000
This statement has been strengtheoIl bv
the opinion Of our men, who saw them re-
turning to the ferry.
We expect an at ack at this place every
night Our forceis augmenting but slowly,
but hope when we have ano,her reneontrr.
to give an account of more impressio8 made
upon them. An out guard about one and
IA half miles from Queen's Town, asxacked
them in the defie, as they advanced, and
exchanged several rounds with them. and
afterwards retreated and joined their com,
Pany: Since, the hogs have rooted up one
that was buried, and horse was left dead
IN the road.
The company that had advanced into,
Plney Neck, crossed Wye yesterday mod
ming, and is now here.
Yours respectfully,
THO: EMORY.
Centervilie, Aug. n 1913