The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1814-10-17
BRoWA,s THIRD EXPLOIT.
Coty Of a ieHer from Major Gcnerat 6rogvn
90 he Secretary az War, d7tcd


no Ca,rb, Fort Eric, September 29h, 1914
SIR-lu my letter ol the l8 h-inst. o1ief-
" informed you of the fortunate issue oil the
sortie which took place the day preceding.
But il is due 10 the gallant onicers and men,
20 whose bravery We are indebted ior our sue
cess on this occasion, that | should give yoo
a more circums,antial aud detailed acc cunt ol
this day.
Tue enemy's camp / had asceftained to be
si,uatbd IN field surrounded by woo1s,near-
" Two miles distant from their batteries and
.o,rtnchmeuts, the object of which was TO
keepthat part OF their force whlcA was not
uponaay, out of The fange OF our he trci'
For Erie and Black Rock. Their infantry
was fo,med into three igadrs, estimated at
- Dr 1900 n.en each. Snc Ut these brigades,
,s,tn de,ai, from their artillery, was station
ed al their works, (these being ab III 500
Yards distant from Cd For, Erie, add The
rght of our iine) We had already suffered
nucb from the f of two OF their batteries,
,,d were awafe tha, third was about to op-
hsoon us Under. these circumstances, l
&snived 20 stosrn the batteries, destroy ths
kopon, and royghly handle sthc brigade up
\, dutv before those ia reserve could be
lr0ught into action. a.,
On ,ae morning of the l7h, tbs infantry
nd. rife men, regulars and militia, were or
leped 10 be par AIDED and put IN readiness 70
luarch precisely at IL O'Clock. Zen. Portef
sylth the volunteers, Col. Gibson with the RI
H.men, and Major Brooks with the 23i and
Ist infantry, and few dragons acting as 10
yan,rv. were ordered 10 move from the ex
,reme left Of our position upon the coemys
right, by passage opened through me woo's
foI the occasion. Gen Miller Was directed
70 station his command In the rasine' Woich
lies between Fort>Erie aud the eneiDy's ba'.
tsrt.s, by passing theW oy ds'acomep,s tn'o
the skirts of the wood--aod the zi't inisu'fy
under Gen. Ripley was ppsted as corps OF
reserve between the new bas'ions OF Fort l.
RE : ali under cover, and out OF the view VI
the enemy. .
ph,,, 90 minutes before 3, P ". found
th. left columns, under the command OF Zen
Porter. which we're destined 10 turn the enc
mrs right, within few rods OF the brihsh
enfenchments. They we're ordered to ad'
vance and commence the action Passing
down the ravinc, judged from the tepor
Of ,nusqoetry that the action had commence
on our left now FASTENED TO Geo. Mile r
and directed him TO seize the momeot and
pierce the enemy's 'cn,rchc 1ment between
batteries No. aud 5. My orders were
promptly aud ably executed, Within tbnty
minutes after the first gun was hrcd' batter.
les No. and 8, the eneuiy's ine ot intrench'
snents, and ms two block houses, were IN on
possession-Soon after, bsueiy No was -
bandoned by the Is itish The gons In each
were spiked bSss, OF oiherSise destroyed
and the magazibe of No. @ss blown up
A few minusts before 10, explosion, hsc
ordered Up the reserve under Gen. Ripley
r. As he passed me at the head OF his column
I desired hia, as he wooid be the senior ~
advance, 10 ascertain ss near as possible, tts
situation Of the troops IN general, snd 10 hss'
a cari that no, more was hazardsd Than th
oeeasioo ,eouired that, the object OF TIA
sor,is effec,ed, the troops wou'c retire ~
good order, Sc Gen Ripley passed rspid!y
on-sooo afte,. became alarmed io' Gen
Mille,, and sen, an o,def foe the 2lst I,
hasten TO III, supper, towards battery No ]
Col. Uphsm received the order, son ao'i in'
ed to the aid Of Gen Miller. Gen Ripiei
had inclined 10 the lefi where Maj ooh
command was engsged, with 'i.w 90
making come necessary enqniries ot thit o
fcer. and in tho act Of doing so wss unortu
na,sly wounded. Byihis tine the Object
the sorus was accomplished beyond my mos
sancuise expectations. Gen. Miller bal COT
seauepIly ordered the troops % the gisht 10