Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1814-09-01

-. visit. which | did. Not being relieve,
on the 10th in the morning as was usual,
retained nv position when, a little afte
sun rise, we observed the enemy approach
ING in solid columns, and shortly after
tremendous cannonade commenced from
fr;oate in the North River, and from thre
or four field pieces at about 200 yards il
our front; this continued without intermis
sion until about half after Ill o'clock, an,
was directed entirely at my party in orde
to drive US from our position. BY this time
the main body of the enemy had got neal
our front, and the cannonading ceased ; IL
2 few minutes the heads of their columns
opened their fire upon my detachment a
not more than two rods distance. A close
and hot action Immediately commenced
as soon as Col. Rawlings was apprized By
the firing Of small arms, that the advanc
ed guard was engaged, he came up to our aio
with the remainder of our Regiment, and
some militia, the whole amounting to about
four hundred. During this sanguinary and
unequal conflict of one hour and twenty mi
nutes, the enemy advanced within a few
feet of US, and was repeatedly broken and
driven back by the well directed and de-
structive fire of my brave companions. My
superior officers Rawlings and Williams
being both wounded and carried off the
field in the middle of the action, the com
mand then devolved upon me. | maintain.
ed my original position, until the enemy
exasperated at the greatness of his loss
which amounted TO 500 killed and wound
ed, made a desperate attack, which oul
diminished numbers, being now reduced to
about $50, could no longer withstand.
attempted TO renew the contest at a redoubl
about 900 yards in the rear of our first pc.
sition, and by the exertions of the officers
we had commenced a CALLING fire upon the
advancing enemy, when an explosion of
box of fixed cannon cartridges took place
this explosion was alarming, and several
near it were much burnt this spread a ge
neral panic, which was increased by nutn
bers falling on every side-To retain on,
position now was impossible we then re
treated slowly to the fort, which was about
half a mile from the scene of action. The
lamented Gen. Lingan, the victim of the
Baltimore mob, and the amiable and brave
Lieut.. Hanson, who fell at tie redoubt
were two of the last on the field of action
OF sixteen officers of our regiment, three
were killed and four wounded, one ofthen
MORALLY our men suffered in proportion
by reference to W~ashington's Life, Vol.
page SIG, my statement will be found con.
tirmed. Gen. Findley, Henry B%edinger,
Nathaniel Pendleton, Col Griffith of Frede
rick County, Maryland, and Major Abra
ham Davenport o.. this County, who were
all in action, will likewise attest it. | wa.
detained q prisoner until the last of May
l!'5, more than eighteen months, and We,
my Anonymous slanderers, would infer
from the shortness Of my confinement, a
reasonable devotion to the enemy. In
May l37S a partial exchange took place
about forty officers on Long Island came
out, four | believe were exchanged on pa
role for an equal number of the enemy,
was one of the four there was some mis-
understanding in the morning we left Long
Island, whether | was to come out or not
however my parole was then taken, and
not privately, but in the presence ola mum
Der OF officers VINO then came out every
circumstance relative to this subject is wei
known to all the officers who were ther
prisoners. Returned home and remained
there until February, t779, when Genera
Washington issued orders for all those or
parole TO return within the British lines
and those exchanged to join their respec
tive corps. Gen. George Mathews and my
self proceeded on from Shepherds Towr
to Col Boudinot's. commissary general o.
prisoners in New Jersey, near the British
lines, to get from him passports to go into
New-York. Upon examining his list oftht
names and rank of every prisoner of war
and those or parole, as we'll as exchanged
he informed me ] was exchanged. Genera
Mathews went on to New York. ] repair
ed to the army, and reported myself fol-
service, claiming my rank as senior Cap
tain in the Virginia line. Shortly prior tc
my arrival at camp, there had an arrange
ment taken place, agreeable to a resolve o
Congress, reducing the regiments in tn,
army and establishing the rank of the off
cSrs. The fifteen regiments of the Virgi