The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-12-27
Dec. s.
THE INVESTIGATION.
[coNcLUbED.l
THE observation-disclosures

!1E. rsttN DCpARI MF. Mt
AS lt.regares the part taken by the secrc
tary oftac navy, including the destruction of
the navy yard, SIC. the solicitude of the Pres
idcnt in anticipation OF the probable designs
OF tue enemy against this city and the ada
cent cHuhtry, induced the secretary of the ma
Wy to cause three ia;rounders to be mounted
on neicl carriages, and. completely iiu'n he'd
Tor held service. IN the month of Nav last. &
the marines trained to- act as infantry or ar
tlliery. Previous TO the reinforcement of the
enemy IN the PAt,lxent, he caused to be noun
TED two long 18pcnnders, on field carriages,
and prepared for field service, tn be given
TO Com. Barnev. in case of e,nero.,cv n CO.
operate with the land forces: & Con. q. was
instructed 10 prepare for this eyent,st' SER
wee M Case he had to abandon his dotins on
the lHth on Aug. the secretary received me
iirst intelligence Of the reinforcement of tic
cnemy-the day on which they landed at Ben
edict. Com Barney was ordered TO destrov
us totlila wheneverit appeared ccrtaia that
1t would otherwise he captured, and to mite
and cooperate with the forces under com
niand of Gen. Wndcr. Letters were dis
patched TO Commodore Rodgers and Cap
tam Porter, with orders to repair with
their forces towards the city Of Wash
lngton, with the utmost expedition With e
very exertion, Com. Rodgers was unable. to
reach the city by the H4th. The enemy en-
tered cur waters on the 10th it was known
m this city on the 18th marched from Bene
dlct on the 20tR and entered the city ON the
2-th and left it preciDitateIV on the even
ing of the 25th. The secretary e. the navy
called on Gen. Winder On the Goth pointed
ont the volunteer mechanics ut the navy-vard,
then IN has army, who were good axe-men,
and wHuldact with eff ct as pioneers TWAS
understood that large squadron Of the en-
einy's fleet had passed the PRINCIPAL obstacle
m the navigation OF the Potomac, and was as
ocndlng to cooperate with their land forces
oc secretary or the navy expressed solicit
'nie Tor Fort Washington, and proposed 10
threw into that fort the marine, and part of
the Seamen for lis defence the Commanding
general did not think it expedent to lessen
ms force by abstractiHg a part SO efficient as
the marines and scamcn.
L he secretary Of the navy visited the navy
yard ON the 2tSt ; euQuired the means oftrans
Portatlon, and the assistance left IN the ord.
ne mschanics of the yal.i had been with the
arn'y from the first alarm four officers and
&c" OF the ordinary, chiefly blacks, remain
en TWO OF the old Sun-boatS the only craft
f0r transportation. The Wagons of this dis
trict had been pressed for the army and the
blacks usually III the market for hire, were
employed at the works at Biadersburg. Or
derS were gwen tor every means Of transpur-
tftIon 10 TIC used. The pubic vessels ahoat
We're the new sloop of war Argus, the new
schooner Lynx, barges and boats
On the hf, the fiigate Columbia Of the largest
Class, nearly ready for launchng--ier equip
nlehts generally made and ready, or in greet
t"rwardness. Resides the buildings engines.
fixtures, shop furniture, of the several me
chanical branches in the navy-yarl, there
were about 100 tons of cordsge, some canvass,
considerable quantity of salt-petre. copper. i
ron, icac, black tin, naval aud military stores,
Implements and fixed ammunition, with q va
rIcty ct manufactured articles IN all the
branches 1913 barrels of beck and pork,
Nv barrels OF +hisSey, some plank * tim
Der.
The secretary states thu. he hal no means
lett 10 transport the sloop Argus to place
OF safety, IN his opinion, if the emery took
possession - ;1e city. He ordered the barpes
70 the Little Falls. On the informing of the
24th. the secretary visited the headquarters
q Gen. WlndeT, near the Eastern Branch
l'ridge The president and some of the he lis
OF departments were present. The secretary
OF the navy presented to The president the
Consideration ot the navy y@rd IN the presence
"i tue secretaries of war ami treasury. The
pubic vessels and public property were de
strbed the Importance of the supplies and
shipping to the enemy and no doubt seem
- 20 be entertained Of the union Of the squad
ron ans the land forces, should the cHcmy sue
coed in The capture OF the city of Washing
ton, gen. Winter having distinctly stated tn Il
morning that fort Washington could rot te
defended IN this event, nothing could be
more clear than tie plunler and destruction
OF Che public 'uiiduys n.i property Of the ma
| w yard and whether a junction. was form-
es or the lanC forces alcnc took the CITY. tn,
loss OF the naVvyard & pubic property was
4 certain. Upon this representation, the score.