The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-11-19

while the General pursued the rnutc which
he understood the cavalry had taken. In n
short time he met rone OF the horses without
their riders, which caused him to susl 'ect some
disaster had befallen the cavalry, and he soon
learnt that Captain Burd, who commanded
! It, bad charged the enemy ard WAS repuiseti.
ms charge broke up tire whole plan of our
operations, rs il disclosed TO the enemy gviat
We had careiuiy cn,fcauoureG IL conceal, viz
an accession of force TO the local militia, which
| cid not exceed fifty III number.--On tie arr.i-
val CT the artillery and infantry on the 5round,
which was within thirty minutes after the
/, oh'rge-thc latter was ordered to deiile to
the right So as to get within reach of the eli
| cmy, unobServed, then near the ground where
| the charge had been made By the cavalry
btt IN all probability from the notice riven
by the charge, they discovered us, as imme-
dateiy for the hrst time fire was comn,cn-
Gee, by their bargcs, and a schooner from
ther18, II and Founders, in the direction
we were, and those of the enemy On shore
| Instantly took to their barges. All Efforts to
hing them TO action proving alcr,ivc, tie ar
.i'..,g Was ordered to advance, and, 10 use
the Generals term) "to give it TO ,Gcn."
WHEN from the hrst Slot the mas. and CO.
, Tors ot one OF che 0arges were Carried away,
wnich si'encet nsr, and the second stIil
irg the boom OF another targc--IVet o.
| five prisoners.-One by captain Smiths
troop OF cavalry from Orange, who command
ed tho LETT of the squadron on the bay shore
--one By the Light dragons and the other
three by the iiifantry. We could not l.are
failed orendcr good account Utmost, if net
all or the enemy Oh shore, said b. the prison
! CTS to be from leo to 200, if our plan had not
been frustrated by the precipitate and UNI
warranted conduct OF the cavalry Unwar-
ranted, VIII ther we consider the situation
ct the ground or the position of the enemy.
But, Notwithstanding these Interruptions to
our plan OK operations, il is probable that we
should still have been able. mcasurablv to
succeed, bu. from the Counsel Of some unau-
| thorized person.
The vaior and intrcpility exhibited by our
troops, still give rs something to hope. The
| place which first put in view of the enemy,
was but very shcrt distance from where
| they would he forced to enbark-I was IN
advance with the Rife ard Captain Gull
Smiths infantry corps. which had already
surrounded he head of q -:arsh we were o.
biged to pass, when my attention was neces-
sary called TO some other part of the line
when was engaged ordering Capt. Frank
lin, with small party of II. S. light dra-
goons 10 reconroltr0, 70 be followed by capt.
itamitoa's infantry Of the line, to check the
enemy, in the event of his attempting to flank
| us across the marsh, over which gentle
man ct the neishboricod ofhig standing had
AT this time, the advance were unoihci j.
ly ordered TO retrosade ard march down the
/, ives ern side of the marsh, under an assurance
that there was Z bridge below, which, would
! Lot only render my efforts to intercept the
eneny's retreat unavaiiing, but even enxbe
| them 10 outRank us.--W.ii,e Engaged in de-
| taclnng the advanced company Of infantry,
the rifle and Light infantry companies were
| discovered marching down on tha western in
n al no. -ND a L.
! ders were Immediately given to return as be-
| tore 'iireot' d. The zeal and aIacrity exit
| oted by the officers Of the rife and light in
| taIfry corps, withhold every censure.
| he failure Of this enterprise may be more
properly ascriaed II tie waRt of acCnu:liatance
| witat'ie ceuntfy.-Ve were Obliged to depend
entirely upon strangers, for all information,
| whether iccel OF in respect to the situation Of
f, the encny--lnd besides, that opinions were
! too various for the commanding officer to act
upon tiem directly. They were not suffici-
emily cautious in corr mun;catirg them to the
| proper pcrScns---l Will !iere TAKE the pleasure
| O. naming MIR. John <. WeemS, an active and
| Intelligent gentleman from whom | received
every All that his situation would admit of.
having III impo3thunc on his knee, with one
| oPtwo cthers wiicsS names are not vet known
| to ne.
| Oar force insisted Of Mai Yates. Adit.
| Coke, Cart Smiths Cavalry t'om Orange,
exclusive of the u. S. Light Dragons CAP
| tans Skackietord's Rife, Gull nith's and
Huen's Light Infaut-y, together with Hamil-
toms, Ailan's, HardiEg'S Holaday's & Ensign
hlIan's Fantry, and LucAs's Artillery, wha,
VITA the subalterns and privates uader their
command, IT is not more than Just to say, cx-
i6ted the must anxious disposition TO mes
thc enemy.
During every sit.lation in which cur Gcner
al and his I'D Gap. Willis we're paced,
believe speak the language o: the troops in
| saying they acted worthy oi their charac-
| tcrs.
lam, Dear Sir, yours truly,
STA. CRUTCHFIELD.
J-OS. TIE E.N'OFTyREP