Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-02-22

nroceed any further: not necessary, be.
cau.e / had accomplished all could
.xnect to effect by marching to their en-
and because it 1t was pro.
ner to contend with and weaken their
forces still farther, this object would BE
mere certainly attained by commencing
q return, which, having TO them the APP
nearance Of a retreat, would insPifit
then, 10 pursue me. Not prudent, be.
cuss Of the number Of my wounded; OF
,he reisforccnents from below, which
the enemy might be expectsdto receive;
Of the starving condition Of my horses,
they having had neither corn nor cane
for two days s nights; ofthe scarcity OF
supplies for my men, the Indians who
joined me at Tslisdsga having drawn
none, and being wholly destitute /; and
because, if tho enemy pursued me, as 1t
was likely they would, the diversion IN
favor of general Floyd would be tie
more compleat and effcctuaI, Influenced
bythese considerations, Commenced my
return march at half after ten on the aad,
and was fortunate enoughto reach Emo
tachopco before night. having passed
without interruption dangerous dehle,
occasioncd by a hurricane, lagaln tor
tilted my camp, and having another dshie
to pass in the morning, across deep
creek, and between two hills, which J
had viewed with attention as ! passed on,
and where Iexpected | might be attack
ed, determined 10 pass it at another
point, and gave directions to my guide &
fatigue men accordingly. My expecta-
ton of an attack in the morning was IN.
creased by the signs of the night, aDd
with it nay caurion. Before moved the
wounded frnm the interior Of my camp,
| had my front and rear guards formed
AS we'll as my right and left columns, x
moved off ray centre III regular crder,
leading down handsome ridge TO Emo.
t.ehopco creek at point ~here 1t was
clear of reed, except immediately on Its
margin, had previoulv issued gene.
raj order, pointing out the manner IN
which the men should be formed In the
event OF an attack or the front or rear,
or on the tanks, and had particularly
cautioned. the officers TO halt and form
&C oordiagly, TIE instant the word should
be green,
The front guard had passed with
mart ofthe flank columns, the wound
ed were, ard the artillery in the act
of entering the creek, when an a
larm gun was heard in the rear. ]
heard it without surprise, and even
with pleasure, calculating with TIM
utmost confidence on the firmness OF
my troops, from themanner IN "hlch
n had seen them act on the 22d.
had placed Col. Carol at the head
Of the, centre colamn of the rear
guard: its right column was COM
manded by Col. Perkins, and its lett
by Col. Stump, Having chosen the
ground. l expected there TO have en-
iirely cut OF the enemy by wheeling
the right and left columns On their
pivot, reerossing the creek above ard
below, and falling in upon the TANKS
and rear. But TO my establishment
and modification. when the word
was given by Col. Carroll to halt and
form. and few guns had been fired,
] beheId the right and left columns
of the rear guard precipitstely save
way. This shameful retreat was
disastrous in the extreme it drew
along with it the greatsrPart OF the
centre column, leaving not more than
O. men, who being formed by col.
Carol, maintained their ground as
long rs it was possible to maintain it.
and it brought CONSERVATION and
confusion into the centre ofthe army,
a CONSERVATION which was not east
.Iy removed, and a confusion which
could not soon be restored tc order.
There was then left to repulse the
enemy, the few WAC remained of the
rear guard, tho artillery company d
eaDtaia Russelfs company OF spies.
Ti.ey however realized and exceeded
nv highest expectations. Lieut..
Armstrong. who commanded the az
tiIlery company in the absence OF
captain Deadrick. CONFINED BY sick
ness) ordered them TO form and adj
yapced TO the Top Of the hill. whilst
he and a few others dragged up the
six peunder. Never was more brave
~ displayed than on this occasion.
Amidst the most CALLING fire from
the enemy, more than ten times their
number, they assembled the hill and
maintained their position until their
peice was hauled up, when, having
ieyelled it, they poured upon the e.
nemy fire of grape, reloaded and
fred again, charged and repulssd