The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-07-30

QVkENsTowN, I. Z. July 18th, 1914.
SIR,
BY the general order of the 18th inst. |
methodicsl and detailed report is called for,
designating the names of such persons, who
ther commissioned officers or others, who, in
the action OF the 5th, contributed iii a parti-
cular manner, to the successful result of Il
day.
am not asked for an account of the dis
positions made of the troops under my COM
mand, during the action l will, therefore,
confne myself strictly to the general order.
~ severe action has been fought, and a sly
nal victory gained The general order of the
9th inst. attributes that victory to the LIST bri-
gade of infantry, and Captain Towson's
company OF artillery- under my command. Ii
wasbelicved ut the time, and has since been
c!.'arly aSce,tained, that of the forces enea-
Sed, the enemy were greatly superior III num-
Ders. Under such circumstances, victory
could not have been obtained, without very
generalparticipation ola ranks and grades
III the event.
I have the satisfaction of being assured hy
every commanding officer, (Which is confir-
med by my own personal observations that G.
very man, andof every grade i'll tie action,
evlnced an ability to meet even greater
shock than that encountered, with h6c sue
cess.
The truth Of this observation was most con-
spicuous in the very crisis of the action
Conduct universally good leaves but little
room Ter discrimination. Accordingly but
few names are reported to me by the several
Commandants of Battalons, as entitled 20
select mention, gin respect to their gallant
comradcs) and those cases are noticed princi-
pally from accidental circumstances or good
or bad fortune. AS in the instance Of Capt.
ketchum, or the 18th infantry, whose good
fortune it was 20 be detached with his colnpa-
ny, BY order OF Major Jessup, to attack a
much superior force whilst the battalion was
engaged with another body of the enemy
Captain ketchum CALAMITY sustained himself
in the execution of his orders, till the battali-
on had cleared its own front, III order to marcel
to his support.
The good conduct of Captain Harrison,
commanded by Major Leavensworth, and OBJ
served by myself, was of another kind. A
cannon bah shattered and carried away a
part Of his leg. The Captain preserved
perfect serenity, under the torture Of lib
wound, and utterly refused any assistance
from the ranks, until the enemy should be
beaten. So glorious display Of fortitude had
the happiest effect.
OF the three battalions Of infantry compo-
sing the 1st brigade, the first consisted of the
9th and detachment of the 22d regiment,
under the command of Major Leavenworth.
The 2nd battalion, (or the 18th rcgimcnt)
was gallantly conducted towards its place, IN
the order of battle, by Cox Campbell, who
being early wounded, was succeeded by Ma
jor M'Neil. Major Jessup commanded the
18th regiment, or the remaining battalion of
the brigade. Of these three excellent off,
GERS, it would be difficult to say which was
the most meritoriOus, or most conspcuously
engaged The 18th regiment having been
detached to my left, to turn the enemy's right
wing, which rested in a wood, Major Jessup
was less under my personal observation than
the other commanders; but had every evil
dence of the able dispositions he made of his
corps, as well by the report of my aids as by
the effect he produced on that part of the e.
| nemy's line, Immediately opposed to him: and
which contributed very much to the general
success of the day. Major Jessup had his
horse shot under him,
The other two battalions, with an enlarged
interval between them, received the enemy in
open plain-that under Major Leavenworth,
parallel to the attack-that under Major M
Neil, with its left wing thrown forward to take
the enemy in front, and flank at the same
time Capt. Towson, who commenced the
fire before the troops were in the orderof bat
tie, Immediately afterwards advanced to the
front OF the extreme right, with three pieces
of light artillery, and took post on the river
Majors Leavenworth and M'Neil made
prompt dispositions TO receive the charge
The hre OF these corps, (including the artil-
lery,) produced prodigious effect in the en-
emy's ranks. That of Maj. M'Neil was the
most effective, from the oblique position which
his corps judiciously occupied. The enemy's
batteries we're also admirably served to the
fire OF which all the corps were exposed
that of Major Leavenworth more particular
ly. This cannonade, however, did not pre-
vent the latter from preserving his corps in
the most excellent order, at all times prcpar-
ed to advance or to fire, to give, or to receive,
The charge.
Captain Towson finally silcnced the enc
my's most effective battery, by blowing up an
ammunition Wagon, which produced great
confusion. Turning next a heavy discharge
Of canister on the enemy's infantry now
nearlyin contact with our line, advancing to
tie cfarSe-the enemy could not long sustain
this accumulation of fire--he broke and fed
to his strong works behind the Chippewa
All the corps pursued with promptitudc.
To mention them in the order of their rank
q know of no other i'll this case) Majors Jes-
sup, Leavenworth and Mcneil, and Captain
1owson, deserve, in my humble opinion. every
thing which Conspicuous skill and gallantry
can win from grateful country
] cannot close this account of meritorious
conduct, without mentioning the great servi-
ces rendered me by those two gallant young
soldiers, L,eutcnants Worth and Watts, nv
aids.