The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-09-07
ACCOUNT OF TIE Battle At
HLIO%.NSRUnG.

DL.14[ESFN u iItT.
We have received the foiuwinp circumstan-
tial account from an officer who was in the
engagement
On Sunday the troops marched from Bal
tlmore, and halted for the night i Elk Ridge
Lantling-at about IL O'Clock on Monday
morning. an express arrived from Gen. Hin
der, ordering them to prci, ed on their march,
toe enemy having advanced towards Wash
ington-they enCamped for chat right at the
-way-itouse, and on Tuesday proceeded
on their march & encamped at Bladensburg,
where Gen StansbNry was also stationed, on
the right OF the upper road, leading from
Marlboro. Col. 0tcrett'S command, with the
exception OF Capt. 14agruder's artillery, who
were detached TO Stans5urVs eEcampment).
being posted on the left of the same road.
On tuesday night the pickets of General
Stansbury's command fired upon some suspi-
cious men who refused to answer when chal-
lenSed-the camp was alarmed and the whole
force was drawn up to receive the enemy who
were supposed 70 be advancing l ought to
have stated, that Gen. N'inder was in the
early part OF Tuesday stationed with his divi-
sion considerably 10 the right of StauSbury's on
the lower road nom Marlborough to Wash
rgton, which crosses the Bridge over the
Eastern Branch, and that S5tansbury's position
was intended to cover Winder.
boon after the alarm before alluded to- III
formation was received that tie British arn.r
had advanced against NVinGer on Tuesday;
and forced him To fail back that he had
crossed the bridge, DESTROYED it, and reached
Washington THIS left General Stai,sburv in
q perllcus situation, as the enemy might adj
vance by the river road and ret i'll his rear,
at EladensiuIg, where that road fell into the
main one, leading through Bladcnsbufg to
Washington. Orders we're Immediately gwen
IN f.fil HACK Nfaei,it,c..t,r
ding some miles and Discovering tie bridge in
flames, an order was received from VVinder
for :otaDsoGry to fall back on Badensbrc. &
draw up Ii Inc Of battc--that lac would sun
port him, when the attack commenced They
accordingly iell back, and formed as directed.
The Baltimore artillery, Consisting of CAP
tlms dAsTader and BLer8' COMPANIES. be-
hind snItii breast work which commanded
the bridge, the r.i.emen on the tanks Of the
battery, abu thc Infantry in the rear. The
battery was directed TO defend tine bridge Z.
the last extremity and to retreat if the enc
my should succeed in passing il. The nfan-
Try were directed to support Che artillery. A.
bout II or 20 minutes before the enemy came
IN sight, Gen. BeaD With 1000 men, and Gen.
Wlnder with us commend, o1ue upon the
ground-the army gave three cheers and the
enemy advanced upon Che bridge, from the
river road.
The Baltimore Artillery immediately com
menced firing in ali able and gallant manner,
and from me confusion evidently produced, &
several being observed to fail, much execu-
ton IS supposed to have been done. In abou.
I'VE minutes, the enemy who had concealed
themselves IN the houses at the bridge, Jet fy
thclr rockets, which, however were not re-
garded, as they did little or no damage. The
houses were then fired OH by the artillery, and
le rockets ceased for = time.
Tie enemy n ling the houses " ere no pro-
lection, advanced fearlcssiy to the bridge, and,
although necessarily fred on, proceeded at a
qmc& pace. a rcDad o. two of grape we're