The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-07-09
E.rtraet ofq ietter from a cOrrestlondent.


WASHINGTON, Jilne so.
had an opportunity of obtaining cor
rect information of all the circumstances of
the engas, ment, which took place on the
Doth inst. at the mouth of St. Leonard's
Greek. On Saturday evening the detachment
of marines, under Captain Miller, with three
twelve pound guns, and Col. Carberry's regi-
ment with two eighteen pound guns and three
twelve pound guns, moved from. their res
pective stations to within a short distance from
the mouth of the Greek Colonel WadSworth
with some men from Commodore Barney's
hotilla, moved down to the extremity of the
north point late in the evening; in order that
they might, undiscovered by the enemy,
raise breastwork and erect furnace to heat
the balls before the morning. The ground
was extremely favorable for our operations,
being considerably elevated above the two
British vessels. In the middle of the night
the detachment of marines and Colonel Car
oerry's regiment commenced their march to
the point and arrived there and formed their
battery before day-break. AS soon as there
was light enough TO enable our troops to
sight their guns, the firing commenced, and
from the length of time which elapsed be-
fore the tre was returned, it was evident the
enemy was taken by surprize. When they
had gotten their men to their quarters and
brought their broadsides TO bear upon the
battery, they commenced a severe cannonad-
ing against it. The attack had continued
nearly As minutes before Com. Barney's flo
tilla was brought into action, and it was then
some time before they were all formed in line
of battle After being half or three quarters
OF an hour engaged, the fiutilla retreated to
the head of the Greek but during the time
they were engaged they did considerable ex-
ecution. The battery OH the shore continued
Its hre above an hour afterwards, having been
engaged nealy three hours, and during that
time sustained the firing from the ships, which
must have thrown at least 600 shots against it
At haltpast 6, two British barges, which had
been sent out against the fotilla, were seen
moving up the PatuXent with view of emf
lacling the battery, and shortly after fired
their grape and canister shot at our troops,
who were completely unprotected on that
side. The detachment of marines having at
this time expended their large shots, made
a movement towards the shore of the Patu3l-
ent, for the purpose of taking position which
would prevent the enemy from landing, and
enable them to employ their grape and can
mister shot against the barges. At the same
time the regulars, who had no particular po-
sition assigned them during the action, and
who could do no execution with their mus
quetry against the barges, from the position
they then held, followed the detachment of
marines. 1t being then the general opinion
that nothing further could be done against the
enemy, from that place, a retreat took place,
which was conducted without precipitation or
irregularity. All the guns were taken off ex-
cept the two eighteen Founders, the horses be-
longing to which had been carried away. Col.
Wadsworth then ordered the large pieces to
be spiked, and retired with the detachment
from the fiotilla. After retrcating about a
mile and half the regulars were halted by
Col. Wadsworth, and small detachment from
Col. Carberry's regiment were sent down IN
der the command of Captain Carberry, who
Nrrlra - n
p Founders which was done with alacrity al
tho it was generally supposed the British
had landed in the interval. A few minutes
afterwards when the two pieces had been re-
covered and the whole force had been march
ed back to repel the enemy in case they had
landed, the British vessels were seen under
way steering down the-river, and by this re-
treat, after all their threats against the 40
tilla it became apparent how severely they
had been CALLED in the action. Several of our
cold as well as red hot shot were seen strik-
ing the hulls of their vessels and sweeping
their decks, and more than once they were on
fire. The mizen topmast of one of the YES
sells was shot down, and one of their boats
cut to pieces. The British force consisted of
the Narcissus and Loire. They must have
suffered considerable injury in their hulls, their
rigging and their crews, as they were not
more than six hundred yards distant from the
battery. On our side Commodore Barney had
five men killed five wounded but not one
man was killed, and only one slightly wound
ed ofour land forces. The twelve pound guns
with the marines and the regulars being very
skillfully served and directed, there can be
no doubt of the efficiency, ofthe land battery
IN driving off and terrifying the enemy.
" "A report has prevailed that the land
troops IAN from the field. A more unjust as
persion could not be uttered. If a retreat
conducted with order, produced by powerful
causes, and after three hours exposure to
severe cannonading, can be denonlinated a
fight, our troops are certainly towards. But
the iudicious will perceive in the action, that
though greater skill in superintendent and
management might have been displayed there
was no deficiency of courage" Nat. Int.
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