The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-08-27
AUTHENTIC ACCOUNT.

~
nmgton.
On Tuesday the 9th instant, at p. NJ. the
Families "a, Pactolus So, a bomb ship, and :
the Dispatch % gnn-brig, arrived off Sto-
nington, and a ilag was sent ON shore with the
following note
On board efH. M Ship Handles, Off
Sfofington, sfng.9
TO THE MAGISTRATES OF SToNTNCrON.
Gentlemen.--One hour is allowed you
from the receipt of this Accommodation for the
removal of the unoaending inhabitants.
-ssl THOS. NJ. HARDY.
This notification was received by two ma
g;strates, aud lieut.. Hough of the drafted mill
tia, who went of 10 meet the flag. The officer
was asledwhet,era flag would not be received
on board. He said no arrangements could be
made. Tney inc aired whether Com. Hardy
had determined to destroy the town. He re-
pied that such were his orders from. the adj
miral, and, that it would be done most efiec-
tually.
When the gentlemen reached the shores,
croud waited with great anxiety for the news
which being stated, CONSERVATION few thro'
the town. An express was dispatched to gee
neral Gushing at New-London. A number of
volunteers hastcned to collect ammunition -
others ran to the battery (Which consisted of
two IS Founders and 4 FOUNDER, on field
carriages, with a slight breast-work, feet
high.) The sic,s and the aged we're removed
with haste the women and children, with
loud cries, were seen running in every direc-
ton. Some Of the most valuable articles were
hastily got off by hand, others placed in the
gardens and lots, or thrown into wells, to save
them from impending conf1agration. The six
ty minutes expired, but the dreaded moment
did not bring the attack. Nelson's favorite
hero & friend, was seized with the Colnpunc-
tons OF Inagvanimity /; hs remembered what
ancient Brtons We're ne remembered that
something was due to the character OF Sir Z.
M. Hardy. Three hours in fact elapsed, when
at i'll the evening the attack was commenced
by the discharge of shells from the bomb-ship
several barges and launches had taken their
stations in different points, from whence they
threw Congreve Rockets, and carcases. This
mode of attack was continued necessarily till
midnght-and the fire was returned OCCASION
ally from the battery as the light of the rock
cts gave oPpor. unity, with any chance OF sue
cess
The few drafted militia, which have been
some time stationed there, under command of
lieutenant Hough, were placed in the best di-
rections to give an alarm in case landing
should be attempted. During tue night the
volunteers and militia had assembled in con-
siderable numbers-and the non-combatant
Inhabitants had generally removed to the
neighboring farm houses, in the momentary
expectation of seeing their abandoned dwell
lings iii flames. 1t was night or inexpressi-
BILE anguish to many widow and orphan, to
many aged and infrn, whole little pittance
they We're now apparently to lose for ever
But Providence directed otherwise. This
compact little village of 100 buildings, had
been for four hours covered with flames of FIRE
and bomb shells, and not a single building was
consumed nor apeison injured.
At the dawn of day on the 10th, the APP
preach of the euemy was announced By dis
charge of Congreve rockets from several bar
ses and a launch which had taken their station
OF the east side OF the town, and ont of reach
OF the battery. Several volunteers, with small
arms and the FOUNDER, hasteIied across the
point sppposing the enemy were attempting a
landing. Col. Randall, of the 18th regiment,
who at the time was moving towards the bat
terry with detachment of militia, ordered
them to assist the volunteers in drawing over
one Of the - Founders TO the extreme end of
the point; The fire of which, in few minutes,
compelled the barges to seek safety IN flight
During this time the brig was working up to-
wards the Point, and soon after sunrise came
TO anchor, short of half a mile from the bate
ry, Tor more correctly the breastwork.) Our
ammunition being soon exhausted, the guns
were spiked, and the men who fought them,
being only about Is OF 90, retired, leaving
them behind for want OF strength to drag them
of.
The brig now continued deliberately to
pour her 80 pound shot and grape into the
village, without our having the power of re-
TURNING 2 shot, for an hour, and the bomb
ketch occasionally threw iii shells. A fresh
supply of ammunition being obtained, the 19
FOUNDER was withdrawn from the breastwork,
the vent drilled and the piece taken back a.
gain when such an animated and well dircc-
ted fire was kept UP, that at 8 O'clock the
brig slipped her cable ard hauled of, with
her pumps going, having received several
shots below her water line and considerable
damage inner spars, &c. During this action
between the 18 FOUNDER & the brig, Mr.. Fred
Denison was slightly wounded III the knee
by fragment ofrock, & Mr.. John Miner bad |
ly burnt in his face by the premature dis
charge of the gun. The flag, which was nail |
ed to the mast, was pierced with seven shot
holes, the breastwork somewhat injured and |
& or Of thc dwelling houses in the vicinity |
essentially injured. At this tune a consdera- |
BILE body of militia had arrived, and brig gen |
Isham had taken the command the inhabi- |
tauts had recovered from the CONSERVATION of |
the FIRST moments; and were deliberately !
moving off their furniture and goods.
At o'c,0ck the Families and Pactolus had |
taken s5ltions about two and an half miles |
from the town; when resistance appearing !
S0peless, the magistrates as last resort app |
piled to the General for permission to send !
a flag off beiRg impressed with the opinion |
that there must exist some latent cause of a |