The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-10-13
WAsEING TON, Oct. 8.
Cofsy ola Letter. from Lfaj. Cen Brown 10
me Secretary Of Har, dated
HO. Camp Fort Erie,

-. ~. >>Dh'P AVN i&iaS,
Sept. 80, 1914
SIR-In my letter of the 18th inst | briet-
ly informed you of the rtunate issue of the
sortie which took place the day preceding
But it is due to the gallant officers q men, to
whose bravery we are indebted for our sue
Cs< on this occasion, that | should give you a
more circumstantial and detailed account of
this affair
The cnemy's camp lhad ascertained to be
situated in u field, surrounded by woods. near
" two miles distant from their batteries ana
entertainments, the object of which was to
keep that part OF their force which was not
upon duty, ont of the range of Cur fire from
Fort Erie and Black Rock. Their infantry
was formed into three 6rigades, estimated at
- or Is hundred men each. One Of these
brgadcs, with q detail from their artillery,
was Stationed az their works, (thcse being
but 500 yards distant from Old Fort Ere,
aud the right OF our lire) We had already
suffered much from the fire Of two of their
batteries, and were aware thai third vas.
ahoutto open upon US. Under these circ,,m-
stances. resolved to storm The batteries, tles-
troy the Cannon, and roughly handle the bri
gade upon duty, before those in reserve could
be brought into action.
On the morning of the 18th, the i,ffantry
and rifemen, regulars and militia, were or
dered to be paraded arr put in readiness to
march precisely at 12 o'cl eck. General Por-
rifiemen, aud Maj. Brooks with the Esd and
lst infantry, and few dragons acting as
infantry, were ordered to move from the ex-
treIne lett of our position upon the enemv's
right, by passage opened through the woods
tor the occasion. Cen. Miller was directed
to station his command in the ravine, which
lies between Fort Erie and the enemv's bat
teries, by passing them by detachments
through the skirts of the woodland the
2ist Infantry under Ger. Ripley was posted
rs corps of reserve between the new bas-
tons OF Fort Erie all under cover, and out
OF the view of the enemy.
About 20 minutes before 5, p. NJ. l found
the lett columns, under the command of Gen.
Porter, which were destined TO turn the enc
my's right, within few rods of the British
Entertainments. They were ordered to adj
vance and commence the action Passing
down tn raYine, judged from the report Of
ZnusAet'y taat the action had commenced on
our left; | now fastened TO Gen. Miller and
directed him to seize the moment and pierce
the eneny0s entertainments between bate
rieS No. and g. MY orders were promptlv
and ably executed Within so minutes af-
ter the first gun was fred, batteries No s
and 2, the enemy's line of intrenchments,
and his two block houses, were in our posses
sion.
Soon after, battery No. was abandoned by
the British. The guns in each were spiked
ia L.
zine OK No. was blown up
a few minutes before the explosion. 7 had
ordered up the reserve under Gen. Ripley
As he passed me ut the head of his column.
desired him, rs he would be the senior in
advance, to ascertain as near as possible.
the situation cfthe troops in general, and to
have care that not mere was hazarded than
tbs occasion required that, the object of the
sortie effected, the troops would retire in good
order. &c. General Ripley passed RAPIDLY
on--soon after, became alarmed for Gen
erai Miller, and sent an order for the DIST
to hasten 70 his support towards battery No. /
Col. Opham received the order, and advan-
ced TO the aid of Gen. Miller General Rip
ley had inclined TO the left where Major
Brooks command was engaged, with a view
OF making some necessary enquiries of that
officer, and in the act of doing SO was ,Infol.-
tunatcIY wounded BY this time the object
Of the sortie was accomplished beyond NY
most sangIine expectations. General Mi
Ter had consequently ordered the troops on
the light to fall back-Observing this move
ment, sent my staff along the line to call
In the other corps. Within few minutes
they retired from the ravine, and from thence
to camp.
Thus one thousand regulars and on equal
portion of militia, in one hour of close action
blasted the hopes Of the enemy, destroved
the fruits Of fifsy days labor, ana diminished
nus elective force 1000 men at least. ! am
at loss how to express my satisfaction at
The g}llApt conduct Of the officers and men OF
this division, whose valor has shone snperior
to every trial. General Porter in his official
report herein inclosed, has very properly no.
ticed those patriotic citizens who have done
so much honor to themselves, bv freely & vol
datarily offering ,heir services at u dangerous
and critical period.
AS the scene of action was in wood
IN advuce Of the position ! had chosen
for directing the movements Of the whole.
the several reports of the commandments of
corps must gle me in noticing individu-
as.
Co. Miller mentions 1t Col. Aspjnwau
1T Co. Beetle, Mi TrInble, CAPT Hail.
Cap Iagersoii, 1t. Crawford, 1t. zee. and
forJcnlarly Ensign O'Fling as entitled to dis
tiiictiou.
Ii Col M'0onald, upon whom the com
E,2nd of the rifle corps cevolved upon the fall
o. t'ss brave and generous (}fJeon, names Ad-
jntarts Shortridge Of the 1st, and Ballard of
the Attn regiment, deserving the highest
applause for their promptness aud eailantry
i'll communicating orders OF the other OIL
GERS Of the corps. lie reports generally, that
the bravery and good conduct Of all was so
conspicuous, as to render it impossible to dis
cripiuate.
VI jor Brooks, to whom much credit e