Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-08-03
The War in Virginia.
.OFEICIAL..

The War in Virginia.
OFFICIAL.
Extract Of dishafch from Colonel Rich
grd &. Parker, { jjcsfn,oretard 70 the
ssdj ufaat- General, dated
Camp Chilton's Cross Roads,
July %. 1914.
s' The catastrophe which ranticipated In
NY last co you. and which all the rejecting
rhabitants Of the Northern Neck have eSs
ected for some time, has at lcngth fallen
pom part Of this county. On the 20tb
slant, / was informed by my videts stati
led on the Heights above Nomisy, that the
Eremy's ships had edged off from the Ma
ryland shore and fallen into the Potomac
Channel nearly opposite the Nominy. AT
the same time indications OF an attempt to
: land souie where became more and more APP
parent which we're converted into certain
ty about 10 o'clock. r. NJ. for by that time
8 of. the enemy's tenders and brig of Is or
18 guns, accompanied by great number of
barges. were in the mouth of the Eaminy,
AID s.s.ts.esSsstSiY afse9, a.st.t - b~ygsf
advanced slowly up the river, towards the
ferry. / had at this time. in consequence of
the dctachmepis was obliged to send GU
as boat guards, &c. about IS or go Infantry
(ncluding artillerists under Captain Mar
maduke.l and IS or 90 cavalry badly e.,
ouipped. TIE lower battalion were guard
ing their own shores The point where my
Conf any then was, was about six miles to
Nonlipy ferry. which was satisfied would
be the first object of the enemy's attertion
andI therefore wished to attack them as
they were going up, bu. UPON viewing the
ground, found it would be impossible w;th-
ont exposing my two s Founders, and pro-
baby the whole detachment to the imElinent
danger, nay certainty OF capture, the coun
try there being very fat. liable of course to
the rake Of cannon for some distance, and
penetrated BY several small creeks. at whose
head landing might have been Effected, so
as to gain the rear of any force stationed
on or near the bank of the man stream
l was therefore obliged to decide ON at
tempting Q pain the terry yet ANXIOUS TO
retard their nrYements by occupying their
attention for :ew moments, directed Cab
tain Monroe with thirty nl-n to descend IN.
TO the pain. ard aproachpg the narrow III
yer, 70 give them a few hses. If he sound it
possible 70 do SO. THIS ssI feared, was i'm,
practicable. and he very narrowly escaned
capture by Two parties Of the enemy, who
landed and were gaining mis- rear. has.
tened en- to she ferry with my very small q
reduced force, and arrived there myself &C.
oompanied ~ General Hdngerford (@hor re
NAMED constantly with me- and rendered
every assistance II was possible TO give
and few troopers, just IN time 10 witness.
the approach and landiug OF the eseny an,
70 resei~e sonle isefectaal FIRES from thei
advance. Ia 4 very .lesy MON erts ~ or 40
hundred men were thrown ashore, and be
gan 70 advance on the road 60 Westfnore
land Court House.---i gave orders To re-
treat slowly and deliberately, which wasef
Il l.tttc
confusion. Several times Ihalted, with the
Souble view of inspiring the men with cnii
csrce 60 as to prevent a too precipita,e re,
tfgat. and TO enable the women End children
- save themselves from ameFciiess enemy.
AT one time determined TO wait their ap-
rroacb, halted, pni;nhered the guns. and
formed my small party Of abCas thirty In
fantcy in shire of wood, but discovering
that their thanking parties WOULD probably
cut off our retreat If we waited 20 fire or
those advancing aicng the road, Irelnctmtlg
CONTINUED my retreat. Ehe Ranking parties
of the eReiHy at this time wers no thee
hundred yards from US, but not in a situation
70 be reached by cur Cannon. Yet the par
Z under my command w,th twenty rthirty
times their number in frcEt, evinced gene
Fatty q frnness which uader more favDra.
BILE circumstances and with the advantages
VI uSCtpibc, Wouiu piUsS tHSH " W iS'i
V.rgidians.
~ am Ger ain that the delibcration of our
retreat rendered The eneuiy more cautious
IN advancing, and consequently, allowes.
more time to the afTrighted inhabitants 20
save themselves. They advanced no fur
Their than Templemsn's = Roads. about ,
miles from their landing place, and retir
ed a little above the Cour. House, TO posisi.
on entirely secure, abeut three miles and .
half from the enemy, leaving party Of ca
valry within mile and q halsof them. and a.
small picket guard at the Court House
On the retreat ] dispatched messengers 10
the naighboripg Counties FOR assistance, and
early yesterday finding shat the enemy had
not advanced, | apProachedto Westmores
ia I'd Court House and beirg joined here by
two companies Of Infanffy from Richmond
Cous'y, under Major BeHficld-i had given
orders to advance again 70 lenplomaU's
Cross Roads, when ! learnt the enemy had
embai ksd.--My OF jet was to occuIY his
last position Immediately in his oeighbor
hood. TO restrain his niarauding parties X 10
attack him as soon as my rel forcements Of.
iered me any possibility Of success.
=" in The mean time small party under
captain Middleton, in he lover Battalion,
had seyeralseiTa ishes with then,. with what
success know not He was Unfortunately
unable 10 tiaHsporthis artillery aceoss Ma
chod elk, or | should have expected from
him every hing that ajod;c'pes oficer could
effec, which IN fact uuder ciTcumstaDces
could b very liisle.
8 IL was reported BY my vidsts. that the
enemy had fary Of cavalry, sod gtert are
various repots Oh the subject. Ii IS oer-