Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-05-26
REPORT.

Informed you of my arrival at Fort
N,ego on the so,h ult. This post be-
i, but occasionally, and not recently
,.rrpied BY regular troops, was In a bad
tate Of defence. Of cannon we had but
,yc old guns, three of which had lost
&si, trunnions. What could be done in
4, way Of repair was etfected-ncw
patrarms we're land, the gun carriages
ri in order, and decayed pickets re-
Isc:d. Ua the 5th inst. the British ma
v! lorce, consisting Of four large ships.
nee briggs, and number of gun end
der beats were deserted at revielle
bctihe, about seven miles from the fort.
If,rms.icn was immediately given to
E,pt.,O Woslssy OF the navy; (who was
at oSvegO Nlage) aud to the neighbor-
IT, Wlilis. 1t being doubtful on what
shIs OF The river the enemy would at.
t:u,pi 10 land. and my force (29O effec-
t,cs) beng too small TO bear division,
Ic;jer.d The tents in store TO be pitch
a Gu the village side, while | occupied
tie UfCr with my whole force. 1t is
yo5abIe tha, this article had its effect,
and Ge,eruined the enemy to attack
U4Ore from appearances, they expected
Toe lsas, cppositieD. About one O'Clock
be feet approached. Fifteen boats,
hrsc and crowded with troops, at gil
Sa signal, moved slowly 10 the shore.
Tasse were preceded by gun boats, sen,
20 cake tie woods aud cover the landing,
esile he large vessels opened IRE up:
saOpan the tort Capt. Boyle and lieut.
legac is son as the debsrkiag boats
90, %rAjn range IF orr shoAfoPencd
s?Nn lbem a very successful FIRE from
hf shore bsucrJ and compelled them
vice 10 retire. They at length return
ttt0 the ships, and the whole stood oil
fom The shore for better anchorage
CFc Of The enemy's boats which bad been
ttse' sd was taken up by US, and some
ahers by the militia, The first men.
tened was sixty feet long, carried thirty
SIX cars and three sails and coald accom-
NotSte $50 men. She had received a
ia through the bow, and was nearly
Iedwith water.
p'9uet guards were stationed at dill
f'eIt points and we lay on our arms
'u'lns'the night.
Atday break on the 9th, the feet ep.
paredbcaring up under easy sail. The
Ho''e' &c. took position directly "a
ssa'o' the Icrs aud batteries, and fer
''''e hours kept up a heavy FIRE OF
F''spe, &c. Finding thattho enemy had
're'ted a landing, | withdrew my small
lspo;ablc force into the rear OF the
o'' and with two companies, (Ro-
'a'ne's and Melvin's) met their adj
Ishe'pg columns, while the other com
..''e' engaged the TANKS Of the enemy.
"'sa'' Pearce of The navy and some
sahen, joined in the attack and fought
''n Mel' Characteristic bravery. We
"@'n'a'ned cur groand about thirty MI
.,S'' AID as long ss consisted with my
.''aer duty Of defending the public
,orc' d ,nsi,ed at the falls, which no
~" '9,y d the principal object Of the
:. eo'~ on The part Of the enemy.
" " This movement made precipi-
81 | halted within 400 Yards ofthe
! Ispt Ronayne's company form
= &c rear stard, and remaining with
: marcesdte this place in COED or
~ DESTROYING the bridges in my rear
ehemy landed six hundred of Del
I'cslAr's rsginebt, two companies
,cI ~ "'sHsary corps, and three bum
.I ard 6aY .eamen.
'h.fA. Drcmu.una and Commodore |