The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-12-20

with several troops of cavalry, he lett or
ders that the advance corps should march
upon the enemy, and annoy him by all pos
sioie means II in march, or, if nor, then in
hrs positions ; and if he advanced upon
Biadensburg, general Smith, with the main
body, should fall upon his funk, or be go
verned by circumstances in othec move
mentS.
Captain Caldwell joined the advance corps
at O'Clock, +. M. An express brought in
tvlnSence that the enemy had lett Upper
Marlborough that our advance had met the
'hemy about SIX miles in advance of our
forces, < after skirrnsli, in which capt Stull's
company nal about cor 5 rounds, WAS COM
PEELED TO relreat, ana that the enc inv was adj
Vahclng. One OF the aids IT general SDIth
was despatched for general Winder the
whole army was placed III favorable atti-
tude OF defence, ia which position IL contn.-
ued until about sunset, when general WIN
Ger, who had arrived some ii,ns previous.
or'icred the army 20 march to the city Of
Washington. The enemy WAS about three
miles distant, and remained there that night
Having renamed till the going down of the
sun, the retreat 10 the city was induced by
several considerations. stated by the Gem
mandins general Isl. 10 effect union Of
hrs whole forces. 2d. The fear Of a night at
tack, from the superiority Of the enemy, and
want o. discipline in his troops. And, Sd. In
night attack his superiority i'll artillery could
not be used. The march Of our army to the
city was extremely rapid and precpitate, K
orders occasionally givea to ,captanis of con-
panieS to hurry on the men, who were ex-
tremeiy fatigued and exhausted before the
camping ground was re ached, near the Eas-
tern branch bridge within the district of Co
lumbia.
Gen. Stanshury had arrived at Biadens urg
on the ED, and the 5th Baltimore regiment,
including the artillery and rife corps, on the
evening of the Esd and ut Il o'clock at
nignt Col. Munroe, in passing through Bla-
depsburg to the City of Washington, advised
Cen. Stansbury to FIJI upon the rear of the
eheny forthwith, as it was understood that
he was in motion for the City. Gen. STAINS
bury having been ordered to take post at Bla-
densbnrg, did not think he was at liberty to
leave i (; but Independent of this consifera-
ton, the fatigue of the troops under Col. Ster-
ret, made it impra cticable.
IL IS here proper to state that on the 22d
the Secretary of War. in letter to General
Winder, which closes their written communi-
cations previous to the 24th, except Short
note OF that morning, states that he had or
dered General Douglass to march with his
command of the District, without seek
ing rendezvous with General Hungerford
that q detachment CT the 18th Infantry had
arrived; that it should be armed, equipped
and marched 70 the Wood Yard that the
Baltimore Brigade would arrive at Bladens-
bnrgh that day and suggests the proprietv
OF throwing Barney's seamen and some other
troops on the right Buckingham. a demon
stration which would menace the rear of the
enemy, and his communication with his ship
ping, which would, if not stop, much retard
the enemy's progress. On the morning of the
Path, in short note to the Secretary of War
Gen. Wiuder says, the information up the III
yer is threatening Barney or some other
force should occupy the batteries at Green
leafs Point, & Navy Yard, & wishes Counsel
frop the Government or Sec of War. Upon
tins note is an endorsement. in the hand writing
OF Gen. Armstrong, to this effect =" went to
Gen. Winder, saw no necessity for ordering
Barney to Greenleaf's Poiut or Navy-Yard
advised the Commodore to join the army at
Bladensburgh, and ordered Minors regiment
to that place.
To be continued1