The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-09-17
Hon. WM. JoNEs, y
Secretary gf.tAe .N.azp.
OFFICf.aL.
CAPTAIN PORTER'S LETTER

Cofy Gfa tcuer. from CAPT. Porter TO tie Sec
retary cfthe Nary, dated
WASHING TON, Sept. 7, 1914.
silk greeable to your orders of the 31st
ult. | proceeded with the detachment of Sal
Tors and Marines under my command, to the
White-f1ouse on the West bank OF tie Poto-
mac, there to erect batteries and attempt the
destruction ofthe enemy's ships on their pas
sage down the river. Capt Creighton, Lieut.
Ciack' and several other Navy officers, as
well as MIR. Augustus Monroe, Mr.. Ferdinand
Fairfax, and several other citizens and Off
GERS OF the Militia and Volunteer companies,
nearing OF my destination, volunteered their
services on the occasion, and ably supported
me through the arduous and fatiguing enter
prize' BY preceding my men, arrived in
company with the Hon. Secretary of State &
Generals Hungerford and Young, on the e.
Venng OF the st instant, at the spot fixed on,
where J. found a few militia belonging TO Gen
hungertord,s army, clearing away the trees
10 MAKE room TOR mounting our cannon, which
had not yet arrived, but which had been seen
on their way down, consisting of three long
eiShteens aud two twelves. Generals Hun
gerford and Young had received orders to CO.
operate with ME, to detach men on my reuii-
slton, and make such disposition of their for
ces AS would eiIectuaiiy protect me in the rear.
In the event OF the enemy's landing tho DO
sldons they were to occupy were also allotted
TO them by mutual agreement, when the enc
my should attempt TO pass, as it was bcliey-
ca that concealed by the thick woods on the
h'Sh Dank they would be enabled TO clear the
enemy decks with their musuuetrv. and in .
great measure divert his fire from orr bate
~. AT the moment of my arrival, one of the
enemy vessels OF war, a brig OF Is guns, was
seen coming up. Gen. Hupgcrfoyd and his
men took their position III the woods and
two small four Founders that instant arriving.
caused them to be planted on the edge of
the Dank, q OH the enemy arriv Dg abreast of
us we opened brisk FIRE ON hin, having a
hne breeze he was enabled to pass US. but
could fire only one broadsdc as lie crossed the
IRE OF our field pieces and musauetry the
militia continued following him up along the
bank and greatly annoyed him by their well
directed fire. Ia this affair we had only one
man wounded, and we believed our elevated
position rendered tie breast works useless, as
IL was remarked that none but the eneny's
grape passed over us, his round shot went IN
TO the bank below. No men could have
shown more zeal ON tho occasion than those
composing the army, and if they committed
any errors which gave rise to confusion, they
proceeded from an over desire to injurc an en-
envy. vi the conduct the Sailors (, Marines
deem 1t unnecessary to say any thing ;thejr
Conduct Oh all such occasions has ever been
uniform. The evening If our arrival. two
eighteen Founders reached our position. and
next morning one of the eneIny's Bomb Gnius
ara two carges, one earring long tao and
thirty, tic other a mortar, Commenced their
operations upon as, the FIRST throwing shells in
front, beyond the reach Of our shot the 9TH
r. flnking us on cur right; several shells fell
"o''' ana Du's' over ouf BATTER, and although