Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-08-16


States Schooner Laurence, at anchor
outside Of Eric Bar, august 4. 1913, 9
p NJ
Ihave pleasure in informing YOU that
have succeeded in getting over the Bar the
United States vessels, the Lawrence, Mag
aria, Caledonia, Ariel, Scorpion, Somers,
Tigress and Porcupine. The enemy have
been in sight all day and are now about four
leagues from us. We shall sail in pursuit
of them at three tomorrow morning."
Cohy ofa letter from Major General Harri-
son, 20 the Secretary Of War.
H. Quarters, Seneca Town, Aug. 4, 1918.
SIR
In my letter of the 1st instant, I did
myself the honor to inform you that one of
my scouting parties had just returned from
the Lake shore, and had discovered, the
day before, the enemy in force near the
mouth OF the Sandusky bay. The party
hadsaot passed Lower Sandusky two hours
before the advance. consisting of Indians, ap
Beaeefl before the Fort, and in AN half hour
after large detachment of British troops !;
and in the course of the night they com
six Founders and two howitzers the latter
from gun boats. The firing was pal sally
answered by Major Croghan, having six
FOUNDER, the only piece of artillery.
The fire of the enemy was continued at
intervals, during the second instant, until a.
bout half after FIVE, p. NJ. when, finding that
their cannon made little impression upon
the works, and having discovered my posi-,
ton here, and experimenting an attack, an
attempt was made to carry the place by
storm. Their troops were formed in two
columns, lieut.. colonel Short headed the
principal one composed Of the light and bat
talon companies of the 4lst regiment. This
gallant officer conducted his men to the
brink of the ditch, under the most CALLING x
destructive fire from the garrison, and leap
ing into it was followed by a considerable
part of his own and the light company !; at
this moment a masked port hole was sud
denly opened and six FOUNDER with an half
load of powder and double charge of leaden
slugs, at the distance of 80 feet poured de-
structonuponthem * killedor wouHded near
ly every man who had entered the ditch -
In vain did the British officers exert them
selves to lead on the balance of the CO.
lumn it retired in disorder under a show
er of shot from the Fort, and sought safety
in the adjoining woods. The other column
headed by the grenadiers had also retired,
after having suffered from the muskets of
our men, to an adjacent ravine. In the
course of the night, the enemy. with the aid
of their Indianss drew off the greater part
of the wounded and dead, and embarking
them in boats descended the river with the
utmost precipitation. In the Course of the
ID inst. having heard the canuonading, /
made several attempts TO ascertain the force
and situation of the enemy; our scouts were
unable to get near the Fort, from the Indi-
ans which surrounded it. Finding however,
that the enemy had only light artillery, and
being well convinced that it could make lit
tie impression upon the works, and that
any attempt to storms it would be resisted
with effect, ] waited for the arrival Of 250
mounted volunteers, which on the evening
before had left Upper Sandusky. But as
soon as / was informed that the enemy were
retreating, ! set out with the dragons to en-
deavor to overtake them, leaving Generals
M'Arthur and Cass to follow with all the
infantry (about 70O) that could be spared
from the protection of the stores and sick at
this place. found it impossible to come up
with them. Upon my arrival at Sandus
ky, was Informed by the prisoners that the
enemy's force Consisted OF 400 regular troops,
and 500 of Dixon's Indians, Commanded by
general Proctor ~ person, aud that Tecum
sch, with about 1000 warriors, was SONG
where in tire Swamps, between this and
Fort Meigs, expecting my advancing, or
that Of convoy of provisions. As there
was no prospect of doing any thing in front.
and being apprChensive that Tecumseh
might destroy the stores and small detach
nents in my rear, sent orders to general
Cass, who commanded the reserve, to fall
back to this place, and To geAeral M'Arthur
with the front line to follow and support
him. j remained at Sandusky until the par
ties that were sent out ia every direction re-
turaed--not an enemy was to be seen.