Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-09-17

tiy proseetrne in the rear in TIL: event of
ne enemy's landing the positions they were
o occupy were also allotted to them ey mu.
ual agreement. when the enemy should at
empt to pass. as it was believed that con
:ealed by the thick woods on the high bank |
hey wou be enabled to clear the enemy's |
tecks with their mu- quetry, and in a great
measure Divert his FIRE from our battery |
AZ the moment Of my arrival, one Of the
nemy's vessels Of war, a brig If Is guns, was
seen coming uo. General Hnngerford and
his mentook their position in the woods ;;
and two small four Founders that instant ar
rlving, Il caused them to be planted on the
edge OF the bank. and on the enemy arriving
abreast OF us We opened brisk FIRE on him !;
having a fine breeze he was enabled to pass
W, but could IRE only one broadside as he
crossed the FIRE of our field pieces & mus
quctry the militia continued following him
up along the bank and greatly annoyed him
oy their well dire cted fire. Inthis affair we
mad only one man wounded. and we believed
our eievatsdposition rendered breast works
useless, as It was remarked that none but
tne ehemy's grape passed oyerus. his round
ehot went into the bank below.
NO men could have shown more zeal on
ne occasion than those composing the army
and II they committed any errors which
gave rise To confusion, they proceeded from
an over desire to injure the enemy. OF the
conduct OF the Sailors & Marines, / deem il
unnecessary to say any thing; their conduct
on all such occasions has ever been uniform
Inc evening Of our arrival two eighteen.
Founders reached our position. and next
morning one of the Fenemy's Bomb ships and
TWO barSes. one carrying a long two and
thirty, the other mortar, commenced their
operations upon US, the FIRST throwing shells
IN front. beyond the reach of our. shot the
other thanking us on our right; several
shells tell near and burst over our battery,
and. although the firing lasted all day with-,
onttntermission, it had no other effect than
TO accustom the militia to the danger. In
the Afternoon ! took an eighteen FOUNDER to
more advanced point, about mile dis
tant, and commenced "A FIRE on the Bomb
snip, which did SO much execution as to
draw me 10 the FIRE at all their vessels, in
S'nding schooner and an eighteen gun brig
which had dropped down that day. Ga the
50 the enemy wasTeinforced from above by
another bomb ship and sloop of war fitte d
up as rocket ship. The latter anchoripe
within reach of our battery, we were ena.
oled to play on her with great effect, and
compelled her to change her position. An
this day and the succeeding night the enc,
my kept up brisk fire on us OF shot. shells
and rockets In the course of the day their
prizes from Alexandria anchored above
them, and our of the reach of our cannon
The work OF our battery went on five high;
held pieces from four to six Founders arri-
we'd and were planted, and we had every
nope OF soon receiving some long thirty two
Founders from Washington we built fuf
mace Tor hot shot, q time pniy appeared ne.
&c sary o make ourselse more formidable.
ne Whole OF the 4.h 4 Il 5tii, an incessant
nre was Kept cp By ',e snemy night and
day; he hs once attempted landing at night,
It Is Supposed with an Intention Of spiklng the
guns u GU battery, put was repulsed by the
picket guard. M farmer plan of ANNOYING
him by advancing guns was adopted to bet
ter eject than before. The Rocket ship
laying close inshoreaRas much cut up by a
twelve FOUNDER and i've SKIES carried to
point ); scarcely sifot missed his hull, and
tor nne hour we drew to this point the FIRE
OF all the enemy,s force The cool iIdffer-
ence OF my salo,s to the danger to which
they were exposed was very remarkable.
and the intrepidlty of captain Griffith Of the
Alexandria hrthlery,- his officers aud men,
merit the highest eulogiums, they fought
their six psunders Until their ammunition
was expended, and ccoily retired with their
guns, when ordered to do SO, under show.
rr ot the eie mics snot
We now, as ifby mutual consent. ceased
all host;lities- Some thirty two Founders
Carpenters were employed to
make carriages, tw mortars, large guam.
'ity Vt ammunition and an abundance of
shot and shells reac' I'd US !; two barges were
rquipping and every thing promised that
we should speedily be put in a proper state
tot annoying the enemy, IN the evening 2
r'eates anchored alone above US, making |
his hole force
guns
, frisates, carrying, 90
Bomb Ships, 80
slcop q War, fitted as Rocket I =.
Ship, 20
Big, 1s /
schooner, 49, "a
B.fges. 2
Total; i73