Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1814-08-25

ed him on the enemy's right. 1t was with
great pleasure ! saw the good order and
i~ntrepidity of General PoTter's volunteers
from the moment of their arrival, but our.
ing the last charge of the enemy, those
qualities were conspicuous. Stimulated by
the examples set them by their gallant
leader, by Major Wood Of the Pennsylya.
MIA corps, by Colonel Dobbin Of New.
York, and by their officers generally, they
precipitated themselves upon the ensmv;s
line, and made all the prisoners wh;cb
were taken at this point Of the action.
Having been for some time wounded
and being a good deal exhausted BY los
of blood, it became my wish to devolve e.
command on General Scott, and retisa
from the field but on enquiry, had tie
misfortune to learn, that he was Gisab.ed
by wounds: ! therefore kept my post, ana
had the satisfaction to see the enem rs Iast
effort repulsed. Inow consigned tie coa,.
mand to Gen. Ripley.
While retaining from the field, / saw
and felt that the victory was complete on
our part, if proper measures were prompt
ly adopted to secure it. The exhaustion
of the men, was however such as mace
some refreshmeat necessary. They par-
tieularly required water. l was myself
extremely sensible of the want Of this -.
cessary article. therefore believed il BRO.
per that Gen. Ripley and the troops should
return to camp, after bringing off the dead.
the wounded and the artillery ; and in this
] saw no difficulty, a. the enemy had en-.
tirely ceased to act. Within an hoar after
my arrival at camp | was informed thar
Gen. Ripley had returned without annoy.
ance and in good order. ] now sent for
him and after giving him my reasons for
the measure ] was about to adopt, ordered
him to put the troops into the best pos.
sible condition: to give to them the neees-
sary refreshment-to take with him the
~picquets and camp guards, and every other
description Of force ; to put himself on tie
field of battle as the day dawned and there
to meet and beat the enemy, if he again
appeared. 70 this order he made no od-
lection, and ! relied upon it's execution. 1t
was not executed. | feel most sens;b!y
how inadequate are my powers in speaking
of the troops, to do justice either to their
merits or to my W sense OF them. Under
ADLER direction, they might have done more
and better.
From the preceding detail, you have
now evidence of the distinguished gallan-
try of Gems. Scott and Porter, of Col. Mil
Ter and Major Jessup,
OF the LIST brigade, the Chief, with his
Aid-de-camp Worth, his ma jor of brigade
Smith, and every commander of battalion,
| were wounded.
The Cd brigade suffered less but as .
brigade, their conduct entitled them to the
applause of their country. After the enc
my's strong position had been carried by
the 2lst, and the detachment Of the 18th
and 18th, the LIST and Esd assumed q new
character. They could not again be shak-
en-. Maj. MFarland of the latter fell mob
ly at the mead of his battalion.
Under the command of Gen. Porter, the
militia volunteers of Pennsylvania and N.
York stood undismayed amidst, the hottest
fire, and repulsed the veterans opposed to
them. The Canadian Volunteers, CON-
manded by Col. Wilson, are reported by
Gen. Porter as having merited and receiv-
ed his appreciation.
The corps of artillery commanded by
Major Hindman behaved with it's usual gal
lantry. Captain Towson's company, attach
ed to the lst brigade, was the first and
last engaged, and during the whole conflict
m maintained that high character which they
had previously won by their skill and their
valor. Capts. Biddle aad Richie were both
wounded early in the action, but refused
to quit the field. The latter declared that
he never would leave his piece, and,
true to his engagement, fell by its side CO.
vered with wounds.
The staff of the army had its peculiar
merit and distinction. Col. Gardner, Adj.
Gen. though i'll, was on horseback and did
all in his power his assistant, Major Jones
was very active and useful. My gallant
Aids de Camp, Austin and Spencer, had
many and critical duties to perform, in the
discharge of which the latter fell | shall
ever think of this young man with pride
and regret regret, that his career has
been SO short-pride, that it has been hon
orahle and distinpuished This Encineers.