The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-09-14

L.VCOUNCU.
September q 1914.
Present-Thos Herbert a1'res,te M, : John (,;,,,
Andrew Fleming Henry N;ehoson,J d. Patton. Ino |
Cohasen, James William, John hunter, Reuben John |
ston, r. L. TAYLOR, Vim. ' citcl, Anthony Rholes
The following narrative OF the occupation OF this |
town by the enemy an, Of the circumstances connected
win that unfortunate Transactions having been sub
mied to Council ami duly considered and ,ya,nned
the CouneI dowariipoos,y concur therein sn, il is
thereupon orered, that il &c published in both of the
papers printed in this town.
AT meeting ofthc Committee Of Vigilance this 7,h of
Sept. 1Sli.
Presens-Chailes Sinuns .lElyor; Joseph Dean
Mathew Robinson. JONAH, Thoa.pson, y ilaun Her
bert, lhoruas Vowel, Edmund l. iee
Tie following lucrative OF s occupation ~ the town
of Alexandria ~ the British Squad0a, subnitte,
to the committees who upon examining the same ma
nGnocsiY concur ia it.
ThoNAs yowx1r, Sec,y
A respect for the opinions ofotlers, an, \ due re-
gard tor the character uf the citizens of Alexandria
have induced the municipal authorities OF the town 10
exhibit to the public faithful OFT the occu,,-
ton OF AeSnndia by the British squadron under the
command OF Captain GoNion together with the c:,s.s
which let. TO tlat distressing event
10 those who are unaequsinte, with the situation 4
ard condition OF Alexandria in regard to i,s means OF
defence, it will be proper 70 state that il il situated in
the District OF Coluntia upon the west bank OF The
river Potomac aont six miles below the CITY OF Wash
20. nl q
come to the very wbarves of the town.
II is totally destitute of Notifications Of any kind
and It's protection against invasion by water, depended
entirely upon atort about six miles below the town.
commonly known by the name Of Fort Wa.huIton
which exclusively under the control q. the 90, ss
Dent ofthe United States.
About the month Of July last, it was announced that
Gep. Wndcr WIS appointed TO the. command of the
tenth military district OF the u. S compreherdins the
District ofColnubia and portion OF the nd oinn, states
o'Nirenia and Marylard Including the city of Bad-
more.
la consequence ofrePorts that the enemy contem-
plated an attack upon the City of Wasiston the mu-
nicipi authority OF A'exanllia thought it advisable
appoint Committee IS Vigilance Tor the purpose OF
procuring hicrmauon OF Le approaches oftlle enemy,
ant OF obtaining assistance aud advice rs 10 the measures
which might be properto pursue for protection and
defence. AS soon as this committee was appointed
rlcy causcd representations to be made to General
Ninder OF the deenceess condition of the town and
earnestly ent'eated that measures should be ia
ken Tor its protection Gcuera Ninaer was called on
because had been distinctly understood that the Sec
retary OF War woud receive our communications
Through hischannel only. From General Wnider
every made that could have been wished
ttat every thing IN his power should be done for the
p.o,eetif, Of IRE His means however were We
~ incons:derap!e--he had money TO expend in for
t!catoas, or ey cn the erection OF bateies and un-
hess some deercc OF This could be obtained the
town would b. exposed 20 the mercy Of the cnenlv
ii he should approach by water and should succeed in
passing the io.t- The Committee fVgilance was l-
y impressed with the necessity OF providing some a,e-
tASlS AL ttsAck by water,
its members, iler the authority cfthe committee, Gd
repeated Interviews wiki. Gen. Winder on THIS sub
jcct; ia ofteTn, Tie President Of tAe United States
YVES present., arC - vas distinctly syer 70 understand
tIat unless there was provided adequate defence
Tor the town, i woid be ~ the rnc!Y ci The enemy
and woud &c compelled make the beet terms in rs
power ihese iepresen': ois and requests produced
other effect than tie repetition Of the assIranc. of
~ earnest desire the part OF Gen VI indr to afford
every ;.ss,starce III Bis power
Tn ;he III o. August levy en- 'nGsse, was made of
TIE IDiltsoi the Gown and county Of AlexandYe and
Oh tie sOt aud 2lst they were ordered tue Po
sorpac, aud stationed between Fiscstsgay ard Fort
W arblTtGn. Iaey took with them ali the artillery
"iicl hsd been mount al II the expepce OF the cu,lo
Eaton except two twelve FOUNDERS, wilel. were left
yitcct aunluou, ant, neari, ali The arms belonging
&c the town. They lfit men bni the exempts from
age and ether causes and few who lad not reported
teinsclves had nd substitueS and il is not be-
lsvec Chat tcitheirdepa.ture, hundred effective
armed men could have been mustered in town. The
two mon twelve pou;deEs remained un;l the 2stt,
when Aexend'ia bciry open TO the enemy, then in
foL Possession OF - ashnston, they removed az
senedstoncc from the town By orders received from
Gen Young.
onth- night the oath, the Alexandra militia were
ordered to the Potomac; they did So x were
marched through town without hating, into tae coln-
try,snd Sho giving information io he an,horities o.
iBiahitants Of the acs ofeir desLiniou, ami OF the
evening III the 9Th, when the feet stuosc'lsd the
Inana5ysl authorities OF tie knew whore they
were. IL las since appeared that they tim,
nd about nineteen miles from by tie ORDERS Of
G. u. iHdeT. IT here proper tostte that GcuctGl
E.Elei t.,c n0roiag ofihe GATH inioigucdthe mem
bers o. tic: rlittce u ,trce who waited on him.
tl lac COLD send part OF the forces y M linn TO A
eanra. but ne Lad ordered Gen. Young 20 cross ever
T. AiCXahia 4 practicable, il mt To ii down the II
Tie eoa5ntieeOf visiisoc.0n receiving ti;s:r-
formation sei boats ,9ine Maryland shore suii-
oi2ui Ia s.uiberto bYg the wltie Of gen. YoGngs
ite Il CO; hot whor the boas reached linn. Be had
>teeei, ed uYcTs from tie Secretary OF War TO retain
disposition, Gen. Young in communication to the
SiayOT, stated.
iIe cOnlmuee ofviglalce, despaiiing Of obtaining
any assistance from tie general goyernml Mt, add ha-
wig information Of the RAPID approach Of the enemy
towards the capital by land and that tier squadron
approaching Alexandria BY water deemed i; thcir
dufy to recommend to the Common Council n r,scll-
tin 20 ie lotto wing fleet" That in casc the Brt sh
vessels Should pass the fort. their forces approach
the town ~ land, ard there saouid be no eLfcieHf
tsce on air part oppose hem wi,i ANY rcagonabc
OK cucccSs. trey soud appoint committee
carr, q sl.. 20 tire officer commanding the euciny's
force about fn attaeS tlc ;oan; ard 20 procure the
hest terms for the safety o. persons houses and proper
ty In u.cr uo@ err - his recommendation WIS nisfle
on the uay u the batc =; Bladesbdrg and OIL lie
same Day Extraordinarily adopted by the Common
Cr1nch
Tic battle Of Badcnsburg having terminated in the
dofcat of our huo,s, and General WinGor having been
Obliged 10 nc red from tie cepia towards Morguine-
r. Court tousgt about tiueen in'es to the west OF
IT, thcc'ty OF Washington wac lcin the entire posses
ZION of tnc enemy 'fhc citizens ct AexandIla saw
roting ~ mrcle the rasfob Of the British g. their
go. .N.sfr .s.s.