The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-09-21

ioiio"nlS outlhie we nope VIII meet Win tlttat
| indulgence which is due to the occasion.
The British force that advanced up The bay
on Saturday last, reached the mouth of the
| river or sunday morning the vessels Contain
| ing the troops proceeded to North Point about
| l. miles South East of Baltimore, and COM
| mcnoed dcbarking during the night /; the fri
gates. bonl1-ketches, ard barges, entered the
! river. and approached the Fort and CITY. e
Between 3 and 1000 OF he etiemy effected
landing at North Point during the night of
Sunday and Monday morning and commenced
their march towards this City. They were
me- about three miles FROM their landing by
Gen. SrRIcKER, having under his command
tue infantry of the al brigade, the York Vo
lunteerS, company of Artillery with some
Cavalry and Riaemeh amounting to $3.50
These troops had arrived the evening before
on the ground, where they prepared to give
| the enemy battle, who advanced slowly under
cover Oh the woods. About noon a small par
ty or about $50 Infantry and Riflemen were
detached from our line to reconnoitre they
provoked an attack from the enemy which
soon after became general along the front line
OF troops composed of the 5th regiment with
the York Volunteers under Col. Sterctt, the
25th Regt under Col. Long, and Capt Mont
gon:ery's Artillery.
From the disposition which il was Judged
proper to make of our troops, not more than
Que hals of them were engaged; these al
though wholly militia, fought with a bravery
and perseverance, highly honorable 20 them
ailc destructive to the enemy The action
continued about an hour and a quarter, and
during the last quarter tie firing of musketry
was rapid and inCessant Severely calling as
1t was, our front line bore it with firnness and
returned 1t with energy, until the enemy by
superior numbers had out ilanked them, when
they were ordered to retreat-and even then
IT was with difficulty that the repeated COM
m slTaflg fNts ln.Aat- .fI,<
nent danger OF their being surrounded, could
intiuce them TO retire.
Cur loss during the action in killed and
wounded although not great in number, was
distressing on account of the value Of the lives
at risk. Every man who fell or was injured,
was respectable citizen, for whom a large
circle OF intimate friends and relatives felt
deeply Interested. The only officer killed on
our side was James l.. Donaldson, ESQ.
Adyutant OF the 9th Regiment, and one of the
Delegates from this city 10 the General AS
seUhDy OF TINS Statc-a number of our oil
Gers were wounded, but we have not suf6ci
ent information to particularize we have,
however, the pleasure to hear that none Of
their wounds are dangerous.
The loss OF the enemy, if we NAV credit
the accounts given by some deserters and pri-
Soners, greatly exceeded ours in number, but
what principally compensated (if any thing
could compensatory for the death of our brave
and respected fellow citizens, was the loss
sustained by the Br fish in the death of their
enterprising, brave, and, we may Justly add,
respectable commander Gen'l. Ross-,i'he he
70 OF Bladehsburg; the captoT and destroyer
| OF our capitol was doomed TO meet his fate
from militia, of whom he had spoke with con-
tempt; and, the citizen soldiers of Baltimore
nave the honor OF retrieving III some decree
our national character from the disgrace sus-
tanned at the seat OF government, by the dis
tructlon CT the successful leader ct that daring
invasion.
Alter the action our troops retired towards
Baltimore, and We're followed slowly and at
distance by the enemy; who approached. =
on tuesday, within two miles Of our entrench-
lnentS. Preparations were making bv our
Major General to cut of their retreat. and
Gcn. Winder with the Virginia militia were
detached for that purpose. But the enemy
discovering or suspecting the design, decamp-
ed suddenly in the night and embarked with
great precipitation, only few OF them being
taken prisoners, although closely pursued, in
! their rapid retreat
Much praise Is due to the Virginia militia
ana indeed to the troops generally called here
TO our aid, for their active vigilance and ma
tilotic endurance of fatigue, which has been
mcessant and extremely harrassing for The
last four days. They enjoy however the era-
| tityln8 consciousness of having Contributed to
protect our homes, every thing dear IN us
| froin the attack OF ruthless invaders
On Tuesday morning,at 6 o'clock, the 1st
| division OF the enemy's feet, Consisting Il 6
Oomb-ketches, some rocket ships and bavqes
with number OF friga.es were formed he
| You'd the reach of the guns Of Fort M'Henrv
! when they commenced the bombardment of
that fortress. The fire Continued "a houre
| without any mternssion; during which time
more than 1000 bombs were thrown. IN
| Wednesday morning from II till after 2 the
| uigates sloops of way and barges. within nun
| shot, Kept up tremendous and ilicessant Toa,
which was answered and repealed with the
| greatest spirit and frmness6 by Major ARMS
tead and his garrison III Forc M'fIenrv. and
the officers and men of the battery at the La
| zaretto, North side of the Bason, the SIX o,,n
battery and Fort COvins.on or Patapsco South
| Branch.
{" During more than ar hotir an incessant
| bl1z1 OF fire was emitted from the naval semi
circle Of several miles, north, east and south
of the Fort. The fire from the orts was -
| qually animated and constant. Atone time
rocket ship and five barges passed tbro,,gb
the shower south of Fort MHenry and checr-
| ed, thinking themselves sure Of reaching the
! cove at the southwest end Of the CITY. whence
| they could, uNannOyed, have burnt Che to,vn
| 5ut as they passed from the <2's of the great
| fortress, the narrow channel brought them
under the 1875 and 24's Of the upper bate