Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-10-05
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nA 4


WASHINGTON. Oct. I.
Fopy of a letter from brig. Gen. Maconb,1
to the Secretary Of War. dated
Head Quarters, P~lattsburgh. :
September 18th. 1914.
SIR.
! have the honor to communicate for the
I Information Of the War department., the
S~arricuiars of the advance Of the enemy into
he territory Of the United States, the cir
dmstances attending the siegs Of Platts.
'argh. and the. defence of the posts entrusted
. my charge. az Z
The Governor General of the Canadas,
,r George prevost. having collected all The
iisposable force NIL Canada, with a view
1 conqn. RINK t,e country as far as Grown
Point and Ticonderoga, entered the Terrific
yries of the United States on the Rrsi of the
1~uionth, and occupied The village of Chamy
lain rfhete avpwed his Intentions, and is.
3,ued orders and prociamations tending ID
iissuade the people from their allegiance.
and inviting them to furnish his army with
provisions. He immediately began to i'm
press the Wagons and teams in the vicinity.
and loaded them with his heavy baggage &
s.orcs From this I was persuaded he int
euded to attsck this place. / had but just
returned from he lines, where ] had cons
handed a fine brigade, which was broken
I p to form the division under Major Gene
3ral lizard, ordered to the westward. Be-
ling senior officer, he left me in command-]
aud. except the four companies OF che 6,h|
regiment. / had not an organized bettalionI
among those remaining. The garrison was
1omposed of ~convalescents and recruits of
he new regiments ALI in the greatest Cen.
fusion, as well as the ordnance and Stores
and the works in no state of defence.
To create an emulation and zeal among
he officers and men In completing the
works., I divided, ihem into detachmen,s, and
laced them near the several forts ; de-
a-ins in orders. that each detachment was
r~errison ofits work, and bound to, defend
it to the last extremity. :
The ereiny advanced cautiously and bs
mort marches, and our soldiers worked
'ey and night ; so that by the time he made
as appearance before the place, we were
repaired to receive him,
General Izardnamed the principal work
'ort Moreau. and to remind the troops Of
ne actions OF their brave countrymen, I Gals
I'd the redoubt on the right Fort Brown, 81
hlt on the left Fort Scott. Besides these
aree works, we hava two bleck houses
| trorgly fortified.
Findisg from reforms Of the garrison. thaJ
our force did net exceed fifteen hundredef-l
1 ectiye. men for dn.y, and well informed
hat the enemy had as many thousands II
3-alled on Gen. Mooers, of the N. Y, miitial
\ ,nd arranged with him plans for bringingI
Firth rhe. militia en- fnasse. The inhabitants of.
I he piilage fed with their families e ~effectss
Keep. q few worthy citizens and some boy%J
4 no formed themselves into a party, receiy |
II rih S, and were exceedingly useful ny
The fourth of the month, General Mooers!
1 objected about seven hundred militia andj
vanced seven miles on the Reckmanj
Town road, 70 watch the motions Of the en-I
|emy, and 20 skirmish with him as he adj
danced ; also TO obstruct the roads with faiJ
! I'm trees, and to break up the bridges
1 On the Lake Road az Dead Greek bridge
lf posted tive hundred men under captainI
1Sproul of the 18th regiment with orde 5
gabbatis the weeds. 10 place Instructions i'll
he road, and 20 fortify himself to this par (
lev l added two field pieces. In advance o.
3tha position, was Lieutenant, Colonel APP
splipg, with ITO rifemen, watching the!
movements of the enemy, and procuring in.
)~teilieence. It was ascertain d. that befor,|
siay light on the sixth, the enemy would ado
lance in two columns, on the two roads
before mentioned, dividing at Sampsou's a
little below Chszy village. The column on
Itbe Beckroan Town road proceeded most
rapidly ; the mili-ia skirmished with his
{ .dvsnced parties. and, except q few bI vel
! men, fell back most precipitately in thel
lgrs Attest disortief, notwithstanding the Bri-I
fish troops did nor deign to FIRE on them
Except by their fankers and advasced pau
roles. The night previous, / ordered Maj
Wood to advance with a detachment o.
ESQ men to support the militia, and set an,
|exanpIe of Hrmness. Also, Captain Leon.l
lard OF the light artillery was directed to
proceed with two pieces to be on the & oui.d,
before day ; yet ne did not make his ap.I
loearance until 8 o'clock. WHEN the enemy,
lad approached within two niles of the|
ilage. With his conduct, therefore, I am
hot we'll pleased. Major Wool, with hisl
fDArty disputed the road with great obstinacy,1
,ut the militia could not be prevailed on L
stand, notwithstanding the exertions of then
GENERAL and staff officers; although tai
fields we're divided BY strong stone walls
ind they we're told that the enemy could
] .ot possibly cut them off. The State 6raI
looms OF New York wear red coats, and theyi
being on the hsights to watch the enemy!
|saye constant alarm to the militia, Who
nistcok them tor the enemy, and feared bisI
se,ting in their rear Finding the eDemy's|
columns had penetrated within a mile oil
'Piattsbursh, l dispatched my aid de camp.l
Lieutenant Root. to bring of the detach
|nent at Dead Greek, and 10 inform Lieut.;
'CoIsnei Appling that 1 wished him to fall
|,n the enefDy's right flank. The colonel