Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1814-09-22

that we should speedily be put in a proper
state for annoying the enemy. In the even
ing two frigates anchored alone above us,
making his whole force
GUNS
Two frigates, carrying 90
Three bomb ships 80
One sloop of war fitted asa os
rocket ship S
One brig 10
One schooner
Two barges 2
Total l73
The guns mounted in the battery were
three Is Founders, two IL Founders. six 6
Founders and two tours. My two NOR
tars were without carriages, as were all
my thirty two's, for notwithstanding every
effort was made by the government at
Washington to have them made there, as
by myself on the spot, they could not be
completed in time.
On the morning of 9th the enemy
Showed a disposition to move. advised
Gen. Hungerford Of the same, and pre-
pared to meet them with hot shot. About
twelve o'clock the two frigates got under
way with a fair wind and tide, and stood
down for us. The rocket sloop, bomb
vessels, brig, schooner and prizes follow
ing in succession, the gun boats endeavour-
ing to flank us on our right. ! immediate
" dispatched an officer to Gen. Hunger
ford, to equest him to take the position
agreed upon in the woods on the heights,
but from the distance of his camp and the
quick approach of the enemy, he was un-
able to march before the firing commenced,
and, after that period, almost impossible,
as | have understood from the vast quanti-
ties of shot, shells and rockets which were
| showered over the hills and fell among his
troops.
AS the enemy approached, a well d.
rected fire was kept up from the battery
with hot and cold shot, and my brave Of
fcers and men stood the broadsides of the
ships with unparalleled firmness. anxious.
ly expected the militia would open their
fire Of musquetry, but was disappointed
the cause was not explained until after the
firing ceased. Finding that the whole of
the enemy's fire was directed at my force,
and that in q few minutes all his force
would be brought to bear on me, and ZEN
tertaining no hopes of preventing his pass
ing) as some of my men had already been
killed and wounded, | determined not to
make an useless sacrifice; and when the
enemy was on the point of anchoring "a
breast the battery, after sustaining his fire
one hour apd a quarter, ! directed the Of
fcers and men to retire behind a hill on
our left. and be in readiness to charge the
enemy il he should land to spike our guns.
ILL., tr,o fr,0ofac ~nohcr01 ahraaEt fhp
bombs, sloops and smaller vessels passed
outside them, all pouring into the battery
and ~neighboring woods q tremendous hre
of every description of missive. In the
woods on the left a company Of rifiemen
from Jefferson county, Virginia, under
Capt. G. w Humphreys, greatly dis
tinguished themselves by a well directed
FIRE on the enemy's decks, as did a COM
pany Of militia under the command of capt.
Gena, who was posted by me on the right.
The first lost one man killed, and one
sergeant and four privates wounded the
latter two ~privates killed. The company
of Artillery which SO much distinguished
itself on a former occasion, behaved with
no less gallantry to-day; and it affords me
much pleasure to observe that the militia
who came under my immediate notice, and
were attached to my command voluntarily
or otherwise, conducted themselves in a
manner which reflects on them and their
country the highest honor. Many before
the battle requested to be posted near me ;
and there was no instance where one offer
ed to retire until ] gave the order to re-
treat-and it was not necessary to repeat
the order to rally. Capt. Grayson OF the
marines is a brave and Jealous otiicer-he
| had volunteered to come with his detach-
| ment under me at Baltimore. Those
veterans who 50 much distinguished them