The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-09-17

| been again unsuccessful. but,o less courage
Gus: two OF them have fallen.
Capt. Spencer of the u. s. artillery late
second in command IT fort Was,ineton. ans,
now in commend Of the officers aid men sta
toned there, were attached To nv command
by The War Departnient--.hey have gwen
the most unquestionable proof. that I was
not want OF Courage on their part, which
caused the destruction of that fort. Can't.
Spencer, his officers and men, merit the at
tention Of their country, and have incurred
my esteem-three Of them were killed. The
remnant of the crew OF the Essex behaved as
usual. Lit Bamwell received on this day
his third wound. Dr.. Hoffman was also woun-
ded in the head. To particuarize the good
conduct OF each Individual placed under my
orders would swell toe much the bull. of this
letter. Several Lieutenants aud Midshipmen
or the Navy, as well as many young gentle
men OF the neighbol'hood, volunteered ~ serve
under my order and near my person--thev
all conducted themselves with great Courage,
and made themselves of great utility before
and during the battle, and l shall take an
opportunity Of making you more particularly
acquainted with tleirnanies and merits. AZ
ter the bombs. gun vessels and prizes had
all passed, the tiiga,e proceeded down and
anchored abreast Indian Head, where q con-
slant firing was kept up until after sunset
but ] am fearful with but little success on our
part
The number we have had killed & woursl-
ed on this occasion l Caunct ascertain exactly
Il am induced TO believe, however, it does
not exceed thirty, and when we consider the
constant fire which had been kept up by the
enemy for the four days preceding their pas
sage by the fort, we should esteem ourselves
very fortunate. His damage can never be
known by u;. Some of his ships were much
crippled, and should suppose lis loss coasid-
cradle.
have understood, that in order to bring
their guns tobear on our battery, they cut "a
way the upper part of their ports and took
the inner trucks from their gull-carriages.-
When they had passed down, sent a torpedo
after them--it was heard to explode about
nine at night, but have not learnt the effect
it produced.
have the honor to be, with much respect,
your ob't and humble servant
d. PORTER.
Hon. VIM. loNRs,
Secretary q The Nary.
Gerry Of a letter. from CAPT. Perry 10 the Sec
rotary Of the Nary, cared
Georgetown, Sept. 9, 1914.
SlR-The Battery under nv direction at
the. Indian Head was Of too small calibre to
make much impression on the enemy, as they
descended the Potomac on the 5th inst. a
single 10-pounder, which arrived only 80
minutes before the firing began, i'll supplied
with ammunition, was the only gun that could
be OF much service.
The feld-pieces &c pounders) under the
direction of that excellent officer Mai. Peter,
OF the Georgetown, and Capt. Birch of the
Washington Volunteers, and Capt. Lewis of
General Stewards Brigade, kept up a very
ceYrited fire. These officers, together With
Captains Stull and Davidson, and their brave
men, behaved in the handsomest manner, <
rendered all the assistance their limited means
afforded
The ammunition of the is FOUNDER and of
several OF the SKIES, being expended I; and the
TIRE OF the enemy from two frigates, two sloops
OF war, two bombs, one rocket ship, and sew
erai smaller vessels, being very heavy it
was thought advisable BY Gen. Stewart, Mai.
Peter and myself to retire short distance in
the rear. This was done Ill good order, after
sustaining their FIRE for more than an hour
Gen. Stewart and Col. Beal were much ex-
posed during the whole time Of the canncna-
ding. 1t would be presumption in me to
speak in commendation Of these veterans
cannot, however, avoid expressing my adj
miratlon OF their conduct. The few seamcn
(ot the Guerriere) under the immediate com
mand OF Lieutenant Read, Of the Java, exhi-
Si-NN tlSli USUAL bravery. indeed, III the
whole Of this affair." every officer ard man
DID his duty. MAJOR Stewart OF the 35th Re-
giment OF Infantry, was constantly with me,
and rendered all the assistance in his power.
The advantageous situation we occupied,
prevented the enemy from doing Us much in
jury. Only one man was wounded.
have the honor to be, very respectfully,
your obi servant,
0. H. PERRY.
Hon. VIM JONES,
Secretary efhhe Navy.
Mr.. Goilla,d Of S. c. of the Senate MIR
Trout 2f Geo. and MIR Rhea IF Ten. and.
Mr. GToSVenoT, Representatives in Congress,
are already arrived.
1homas Boiling Rebertson, Esq. is re-elect-
ed the Representative to Congress from Lou
isiana, by majority of several thousand votes
over J. b. Provost, the federal candidate.
Projection oftbc District.
We are happy to find that strong defences
are about to be erected for this district,
to supply the place of those which have
been recently destroyed. The President and
acting Secretary of War visited the remains
of Fort Washington, IA or IS miles below
this city, on Saturday last, and it was deter
mined that a strong fort and other works
should be Immediately erected. The early &
vgilant attention Of the government to this Oh
ject is a pledge Of their determination that
hostile tread shall never agein pollute the soil
OF this district.
Many Of our readers will be pleased to
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