The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1814-10-12
|. BY MAIL.
WAR EvLNls, &c.
eehy q a letter from Bugadier General Efa-
esnu6, 10 tAe Seeresory as Har, dafed
90 4 M


the War Department., the particulars Of th,
advance Of the enemy into the territory of IN,
United States, the circumstances a,tendin,
the siege Of Plattsburgh, and the defence o
the post entrusted to my charge.
Tho Governor General Of the Cshadas, ST
George Provost, having collected ell the dis
posab'e force in Lower Canada, with view
OF conquering tho country a. Gar 40 Csowr
FONT aud Ticenderoga, entered The territorie,
OF the United States oo the first OF the month
and occupied the yillsys Of Champisin there
avowed his intentions and issued orders and
proclsmaiions tending to disssade the peonle
from their allegiance, and inviting tteur q
!urnlsh his army with provisions. He immed.
aasoly besanto impress the wageons andtaams
an the sinciniiy,. and loaded them xi,h heavv
baggage and stores. From this / wss Der.
suaded he iolended to attack this plscs. I
had but just returned from The lines. where
Dad commanded q fine brigade which wa.
broken up to form the division under Mai.
Gen. lizard, ordered 10 the westward. Bein,
SENIOR ofhcer =. =. ien mo ;s !. eommanay; s;,G,
cxceptths four companies of the 9Th regimen.
had not an organized battalion among those
semaining. The garrison was composed of
convaiescents md recruits Of the new reei.
ments-all In the greatest confusion as we'll
a. the ordnapes and stores, and the works IN
no state Of defence.
TO create an emulation and zeal amcnc the
officers and men, in completing the works, 1
divided them into dclachments, aud placed
them near tho several forts (; declaring in OF.
lers, that each detachment was tho garrison
OF ito own work, and bound to defend i 70 the
last extremity.
The enemy advanced cautiously and by
short marches, and our soldiers worked eiay
and night; 20 that by the time he made his
appearance before the place we were prepar.
ed to receive him.
General lizard named the principal work
-Fors No,ean, and To remind the troop. of the
actions of their brave countrymen called the
rcdoubt on the right Forf Brown, anJ that on
the left Fort Scott Besides these three
works, we have two block houses fortified.
Finding on examining The reiurns Of tas
garrison that our force did not exceed fifteen
hundred effective men for duty, and we'll in.
sornsed that the enemy nauas nnaOy thoussuds.
! called on Gen. Mooers, of the Nsw-York
militia, and arranged with him plans for bring
ing forth tho militia en- mace. The inhabi.
tants of the village Aed with their families and
effects, except few worthy citizens and SOME
boys who formed themselves into party re.
seiyed rifles and were exceedingly useful.
BY the fourth Of tho month, Gen. Mooess
collected about seven hundred militia, and ad-
vanced seven miles on the Bcckman Town
road, to watch the motions Of the enemy, and
60 skirmish with him 40 he advanced; also
60 obstruct the roads with fallen trees, aud to
break up the bridges.
On the Lake Road at Dead Creek Bridge,
I posted two hundred men uncer Cap, Sproul
of the 18th regt. with orders TO a66atis tho
woods, to place obstruetionS IN the road, and
60 fortify himself; 10 this party added two
Geld pieces. In advance Of this position was
Lieut. Col. Appling, with 10 ,iAemen watch.
Ing the movements Of the enemy and rrocur-
ing intelligence.
II was ascertained, that before dAy light on
ehe 9th, the enemy Would advsncs In TWO
columns, on the two roads before mtntioned
dividing at aSampson's, 4 little below Chasy
village. The column on the Beckman Town
road proceeded most rapidly: the militia
skirmishcd with HE advanced parties and,
except few brave msn, fell back most pre-.
cipateiy in tho greatest disorder, notWi,h-
standing the British troops did not deign to
FIRE on them except by their Asnkers and ad-
vanesd pairoIes. The night previous ordered
Maj. Wool TO advance with detachment Of
$50 men TO support the militis and to set them
IN example of 6snness. Also, Capt. leonard
Of the light artillery was directed to proceed
With Two pieces to be on ground before day /;
yet he did not make his appearance until
eight o'clock, when the enemy had approach.
Cd within two miles Of the village. With
bis conduct, therefore, am not we'll pleased.
1iajcs Wool with his party, disputed the road
with great obstinacy, but the mili,ia could not
- prevailed on to stand Notwithstanding tho
exestions Of their general and staff sficsrs
elthough the fields Were divided by strong
stone walls and they were told that the en-.
etny could not possibly cut them of. The
ssats dragons of New.York wore red coats
snd they being on the heights to watch the