Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1814-09-22
CAPT. PORTER'S LETTER.
Copy of letter from Capt. Porter to the
Secretary of the Navy, dated
Washington, September 4. 1914.

$50 AhSC IL COInIldku.
10 the White House on the west bank of
the fotomac, there to erect batteries and
ae'empt the destruction o. the enemy $ ships
on their passage down the river. Capt.
creighton, Lieut.. Clark and several other
naval officers as well as Mr.. Augustus Mon
roe, Mr.. Ferdinand Fairfax, and several
otner citizens and officers of the militia and
volunteer companies, hearing of my des-
t%lnation, volunteered their services on the
OCCASION, and ably supported me through
the arduous and tatiguing enterprise. BY
preceding my men, | arrived in company
with the Hon. Secretary of State and Gen
erals Hungerford and Young, on the even
ing OF the LIST inst. at the spot fixed on,
where | found a few militia belonging to
Oen. Hungerford's army, clearing away
the trees to make room for mounting our
cannon, which had not yet arrived, but
which had been seen on their way down.
consisting of three long eighteens and two
tweives. Generals Hungerford and Young
had received orders to cooperate with me,
to detach men on my reguisition, and
make such disposition of their forces as
would effectually protect me in the rear in
the event ofthe enemy's landing the posi-
tons they were to occupy were also allot-
ted to them by mutual arrangement, when
the enemy should attempt to pass, as it
was believed that concealed by the thick
woods on the high bank they would be en-
abled to clear the enemy's decks with their
musquetry, and in a great measure divert
his fire from our battery. At the moment
OF my arrival, one of the enemy's vessels
OF War, a bcig of Is guns, was seen com
ing up. General Hungerford and his men
took their position in the woods; and two
small four Founders that instant arriving.
| caused them to be planted on the edge Of
the bank, and on the enemy arriving a.
breast OF US we opened a brisk fire upon
him; having a fine breeze he was enabled
to pass US, but could fire only one broad
side as he crossed the fire of our field pieces
and musquetry the militia continued fol-
lowing him up along the bank and greatly
annoyed him by their we'll directed fire.
In this affair we had only one man wound
ed, and we believed our elevated position
rendered breast works useless, as it was
remarked that none but the enemy's grape
passed over US, his round shot went into
the bank below. No men could have
sbewn more zeal on the occasion than those
composing the army, and if they commit
ted any errors which gave rise to confusion,
they proceeded from an over desire to
injure the enemy. OF the conduct of the
sailors and marines, | deem it unnecessary
TO say any thing; their conduct on all such
occasions has ever been uniform. The
evening of our arrival, two eighteen pound.
ers reached our position, and next morn
ing one of the enemy's bomb ships and two
barges, one carrying a long two and thirty,
the other a mortar, commenced their oper-
atoms upon us, the first throwing shells in
front, beyond the reach of our shot the
other fianking us on our right several
shells fell near and burst over our battery,
and although the firing lasted all day with
out intermission, it had no other effect than
to accpstom the militia to the danger. In
the afternoon took an eighteen FOUNDER
to a more advanced point, about a mile
distant, and commenced a fire on the bomb
ship, which did SO much execution as to
draw on me the fire of all their vessels, in
Guiding a schooner and an eighteen gun
brig which had dropped down that day
On the Sd the enemy was reinforced from
above by another bomb ship and a sloop
of war fitted up as a rocket ship. The
latter anchoring within reach of our bat
terry, we were enabled to play on her with
great effect, and compelled her to change
her position. All this day and the sue
ceeding night the enemy kept up a brisk
fire IN us of shot, shells and rockets. In
the course of the day, their prizes from
Alexandria anchored above them and out
of the reach of our cannon. The work of
our battery went on five light field pieces
from four to six Founders arrived and were
planted, and we had every hope OF soon
receiving some long thirty two Founders
from Washington we built a furnace for
hot shot, and time only appeared necessary
to make ourselves formidable. The whole
of tie 4th and 5th, an incessant fire was
kept up by the enemy night and day; ne
had once attempted landing at night, it is
supposed with an intention of spiking the
guns of our battery, but was repulsed by