Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1813-12-23

p. BOYD, zcho commanded in the bat
tie of WiUiamsburgh, to Major Gen;
JAMES WILKINSON Commander
in Chief
Camp near CornuaN,
NoU. l2, 1915.
SIR-I have the honour to report to you,
that yesterday while the rear division OF
| the army, consisting of detachments from
the lat, Sd, and 4th, brigades, and placed
under my command to protect the hotilla
from the enemy that hung on our rear,
was under armsIn order to move, agreeably
| TO your orders, down the bank of the St.
Lawrence, report was brought to inc from
the rear guard, that body Of about 200
British and Indians had advanced into the
woods that skirted our rear, Gen. Swart-
wout with the 9Th brigade was Immediately
ordered to'dislodge them; Gen. Covington,
with the Sd brigade. being at the same time
directed to be within supporting distance.
Gen. Swartwout dashed into the woods, and
with the 2lst Infantry, Ia part of his brigade)
after short skirmish, drove them back to
the position of their main body Here he
was joined by Gen. Covington. The enemy
had judciously chose his ground among
sected the extensive plain, and discharged
a heavy and CALLING fire upon our advancing
columns. No opposition or obstacle, how
ever checked their ardour. The enemy re.
tired for more than asmile before their reso.
lutte and repeated. charges. During. this
time, the detachment of the lst brigade un-
der Col. Coles, whose greater distance from
the scene of action retarded its arrival, rapid
ly entered the field. Being directed to at
tack the eneuy's left flank, this movement
was promptly and bravely executed amid
shower of musquetry and shrapnel shells
The fight now became more stationary,
until the brigade first engaged, having ex-
pended all their ammunition, we're directed
to retire to more defencible position, to
wait for resupply. This movement SO
disconnected the line, sto render it expe-
dent for the lst brigade likewise to retire.
1t should be remarked, that the artillery,
excepting two pieces under Captain Irvine,
attached to the rear division (which from
the nature of the ground, and the circuitous
route they had to take, were likewise much
retarded in their arrival) did not reach the
ground until the line, for want of ammuni-
ton, had already bsganto fall back. When
they were arranged lin doing which was
assisted by the skill of Colonel Swift of the
engineers) their fire was sure and destrus-
tive. When the artillery was finally direct
ed to retire, having to cross deep, and
excepting in one place Ito artillery i'm
passable ravine, one piece was unfortunate
" lost: The fall OF its gallant commander,
Et. Smith, and most of his men, may
account for this accident. In the death of
this Young man, the army has lost one of
Its most promising officers The squadron
OF the Cd regiment of dragons, under mai
Woodford, was early on the field, and
much exposed to the enemy's fire, but the
nature OF the ground, and the position of
his line, did not admit of those successful
charges, which their discipline and ardour,
under more favorable circumstances, ara
calculated to make. The reserve, under
Col. Upham and Maj. Malcolm, did not
arrive, from the boats in time to partici-
pate in but small part of the action; but
the activity and zeal they displayed while
engaged, evinced the benefit that m;oht
have been derived from their early assist
ance.
The whole line was now reformed, a.,
the borders of those woods from which the
! enemy had first been driven; when, night
coming or, and the storm returning, and
conceiving that the object you had in view.
which was to beat back the enemy that
would retard- our junction with the main
| body below, to have been ACCOMPLISHED
the troops were directed to return to the
| ground near the fiotila which movement
was executed in good order, and without
any molestation from the enemy
cannot close my representation of this
battle, without indulging in few remarks
upon the merits of those officers, whose
conduct will give a character to the conflict
of this day. General CoyiDgtOn, whose