Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-06-07

to Rms on Harris crssk K, totake view OFT
cnerhy-when we got within 2,miles ofthe pIac
we met an express, who stated that the barge
were coming up, we rode briskly down ant
discovered -four. barges At the mouth of Bscl
River-we remaine thee sbprt time, anc
| were joined by about twenty militia m N, a
'noug the foremost of whom was old MIR. Phil
| 'ps and his sons, and truly brave young man
by the name of Stokely Croswell. After We
| remained under cover Ofthe woods about All
| hour (the barges all this time approaching
these few militia men chose Capt. Sam' Shields
to lead them on to battle; they formed and
marched in Indian file close to the water; after
they got down, the barges approached about
two hundred and fifty yards fiom Maj Crutch-
teld and Lieut. Armistesd .they commenced
a fire on them from their caf,ncnatIeA "a twelvs
FOUNDER, believe, by tn; size of one of the
balls which WAS found by oneaof the men) as
soon as they fired the said gun two or three
times, our little band not being guided by capt.
Shields and M,jor Cru,chGeld's joint requests,
commenced a fire also, which WAS kept up on
both sides for about an hour must again,
cali your attention 10 Major Crutchneld, who,
during the sction, If one it Can b., called, rode
about with that cool and deliberate conduct
the true prognosic of bravc man untortu
nately for us, tie militia would not attend to-
his repe atcd requests; If they had, believe We
should have dcccl ed the n IN Shore, and hope,
crowned ourselves with never-f Fading laurels -
Could my pen do justice to Maj. Crutchieid,
with pleasure would undertake TO enumerAte
and lay before you III itslproper colours, his
inestimabe worth. Never before had 1 such
feelings rs when those unprincpled wretches
were deliberately aiming and firing on him aud
Lieut.. Armistead. II was thrlthen first wish
believe of the heart OF every man of our squad,
to be with them, to arret their attention the
enemy'sJ so that they might pass few of their
shot at US ; we believed by doing this, to save
At least the lives, or the life, Of one OF our Off
GERS. 1t was asked, but we were denied, and
very prudently too; but the consequence at
that time was not thought Otto a valued
and beloved officer (such is the MOTOR here)
exposed and we his guard not to be ,ear him,
as well in the hour of danger as in security
can any man Of ceiling calmly say that he would
not wish to be with him and even at the mouth
OF the cannon If any man says this, I'say
ne has not soul and deserves to be entirely
eXterninated from the societyeof men ;-then
let him traverse the wild forests and make the
BrGites his companionss for he neither de
serves Heaven nor a Hell! Let me not
forget Captain Shields & lieut.. Armistead,
both of whom. were lhebest part of the skir-
mish very much exposed, and proved that
they are not to be frightened at the 7vhiz
ztng ot balls 1t is unnecessary to state the
CohuuCt Oh the OtnefScWno were engaged,
for you know them TO be hearts of Oak The
SAIrmish lasted about anlhour, without in
Jurng any person on, either side. Young
Iopin who had teen onethe beach firing at
them expended all his ammunitoa and was
making retreat. Cor the House when a
Grape shot took Cffsone0 side of the brim OF
his hat. The British officer commanding
the expedition had musket ball put through
leather cap which he had on and which it
is more than probablesaved his lite, for the
ball grazed his forehead. They fired seve-
raj times on the House Ola Mr.. Ironmonger
(who is now prisoner ON board of some Of
them) whose wife is in ia6our; the balls
passed through the room that she was con
fined in; she was carriedaway BY her friends
i'll that condition. They have net done any
| injury except parity destroying boat the
property of Mr., Mefrecks. They tried We
| ny much indeed to rake the detachment of
| Cavalry, but we dispersed as much as pos
| sible and therefore believe are now in the
land of the living !, they fred great guam
| tity Of grape and cannistereshot, which few
about us in almost every direction. Excuse
| tins unconnected jargon, for / am now so
much fatigued that Can hardly set mp.
+. ). fUrgot to state that We succeeded in beat
| ing them off There about so men in the
| barges.--Maj. Crulchield ordered two compa
MES from this pla-e TO Join us, but they got down
foo iate.--We expect another trial TO day at the
| same place"