Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-06-22

L
Judgements for the zeal and ability with which
they have defended the guns and stores for this
| station. 1900 q u Z, "a = ",
Ihave made arrangements for transporting the
guns frem Sandy Creek by land, which is about
10 miles. Ihope to have them all here before
the 10Th.
enclose herewith, for your information,
Capt. Woolsey's report Of his proceedings.
have the honor to be. &c.
ISAAC cHauNcEY.
sseeressry Of me Navy,
Washington
c.ty sfa Letter from NJ. T. Wsssiey 70 Gem.
Chaaneey.
sAcnxTT's Hanson, 1st June.
SIR, f'i,7
have already had the honor to inform you
Of the affair at Sandy Greek on the 30th ult-
but for want Oft time at that juncture had it
not in my power to give you the particulars,
| and as the most of my communications since
measures wers adopted for push from Oswego
Falls to Sandy Greek, with the naval stores.
have been made in great haste, avail myself
OF leisure moment to make report in detail
OF my proceedings since that period. On the
18th, dispatched Mr.. Huginan to Mexico. to
hire number Of OK teams and to engage =
quantity of forage, &c. also sent orders to
oSWCSO AIS 70 udNC All AQultlOHdt uuiHucF VI
large wheels made for transporting the guns
and cables back across the portage, and eau
sed reports to be circulated in every direction
that had received your orders to send all the
naval stores 10 Oneida Lake, with all possible
expedition: On the morning Of the 2S,h. when
these reports were we'll in circulation and when
las have, since heard from good authority
they had been faithfully detailed to Sir James,
had the honor to receive per express your
m cufs IF he mr. mo dss-
cretionary powers. I Immediately dispatched
Mr. Dixon in the long gig, to reconnoilre ths
coast. Iwent with my officers to the Falls, to
run the boats down over the rapids At sunset
we, arrived at Oswego with the boats Cl9 in
number loaded in all with 3 long 80 Founders,
ten 24pounders, three 80 do Cearronsdes and
10 cables. besides some light articles, and dis.
tributed III the battesux guard of about / so
rihemen, under command of Major Appling-
Mr.. Dixon having returned with report of the
coast beng clear, We set off at dark and arrived
at Big Salmon River about sunrise on the 18th,
with the loss of one boat having on board two
"a Founders, and one cable. l cannot account
Tor her having separated from Us, ss every pos
sible exersion was made to keep the brigade as
compact as possible.
At Big Salmon we met the Oneidas, whom l
had dispatched the day previous, under the com.
mand of Lieut.. Hill of the Rifle regt. As soon
as they had taken up their line of march along
the shore to Big Sandy Creek, Istarted with all
the boats and arrived at noon at our place Of
destination about mites up the Creek In
this laborious and hazardous duty l feel much
indebted to Major Appling, his officers aud men
for their exertions, having assisted my officers
and seamen in rowing the boats without mo.
ment's rest, IL hours, and about half the time
inyeloped in darkness and delugea with rain
eiso to some of the principal inhabitants of the
village of Oswego, who volunteered their SER
vices US pilots. At 2 A. M. on the 30th, re-
ceived your letter OF the 29th, 6 p. NJ per ex-
press. and agreeabIy to the order contained
therein, sent Lieut.. Pierce to look out as far as
Stony Point; about S O'Clock he returned, hav.
ing been pursued by giin-boat and 3 barses.
The best possible disposition was made of the
Rifiemen & Indians, about half nile below our
boats About 8 A. NJ. a cannonading at long
shot was commenced by the enemy, and believ
ing Gas did, that no attempt would be made to
land with their small force, ordered Lieute-
nant Pierce to proceed in erecting sheers and
making preparations 10 unload the boats and,
as all the teams had retrog2ded in consequence
Of the cannonsding. sent IN pursuit OF hem to
return. About 9 o'clock Captain Harris with
squadron of Dragons, and Captain Melvin with
company OF Light Artillery and two 6 poun.
ders, arrived.
Capt Harris the commanding officer, "a
greed with me that this reinforcement
should halt, as the troops best calculated
for bush fight were already on the ground,
where they could act to the greatest advan
tage, and that the enemy seeing large re-
enforcement arrive, would most probably rec
treat. About 10, the enemy having landed
and pushed upon the Greek with 3 gun
boats, cutters and one gig-the riflcmcn,
under that excellent officer Maj. Appiug,
rose from their concealment, and after
smart fire of about 10 minutes, succeeded
in capturing all the boats and their crews,
without one having escaped. At about S =
M. having buried. with the honors of war,
Mr.. Hoare "a British midshipman) killed in
the action, was relieved by capt. Ridgley,
whom you did me the honor to send to SAM
dy Creek for that purpose. All the prison
ers, except the wounded, having been re-
moved, and expecting another attack at
night remained to assist Capt. Ridgely
in that eveut--but yesterday morning sees
ing nothing in the citing, availed myself
OF my relief, i returned to this pace. In
performing to the best OF my abilities, the
duty for which was ordered to Oswego
Falls, have great satisfaction in acknow-
lodging the unremittsd excrtions Of Lieut..
Pierce, Sailing master Vaughan and Mid
shipmen Msckey, Hart, and Cation also
to Major Appling, his officers and men, for
their kind assistance in the same duty.
The report of killed, wounded and pr-
soners, and also the number and description
of the captured beats, has been already
RENTED by Capt. RidgIey and myself
have the honor to be, &c.