The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1814-09-21


CohyoF letter from Lieut Col. Croghan 10.
Byigadier General M Arthur, commanding
Eishfh Military District, dated
Detroit, august %.
DEAR SiR--I communicated in my report
of the 18th Inst. n,y intention of continuing
on Lake Huron with three companies, for the
purpose of breaking up any, depots which the
enemy nigh, haye on the cast SIDE OF the lake,
We were fortunate in learning tha, The on
H nne of communication from IotK an9
Mucsinaw, sc. vas by the way % Lake oitn'
/ coe and N. N..u,auwasaga aver, which cmptIes
into Lake Huron about 100 miles D. f. OF
Cabot's Head To that river, therefore, our
course was directed, in hope OF Ending the
enemy's schr. Nancy, which was thought TO
ne in that qurrier. On the l3th inst. the
flee, anchored off the fnou'h OF that rivcr,and
my troops were quickly disembarked on the
peninsula, formed between the river aud lake
for the purpose Of fixing camp.
On accommodating the position thus taken,
ii was discovered that the schooner Nancy,
was drawn up in the river a few hundred yards
above US, under cover OF block house, erect.
ed or u commanding situation on the opposite
shore.
Having landed with nothing larger than 4
pounders, and it being now too late IN the cv-
ening to establish battery Of heavy guns,
determined on remaining silent until could
be enabled to open with effect.
On the following morning FIRE for few
minntes was kept up by the shipping upon
tho block-housc, but with little effect, as the
direction towards it only could be given,
thin wood intervening 10 obscure the view.
About IL o'clock two iowitzers (an 8 l.2,
and ID lnch) being placed within few
hundred yards Of the block-house, commcDc-
ed FIRE y hich lasted bot few minutes, when
the house blew up at the same time com!
mhnicated the Ere 10 the Nancy, which was
quickly so enVeloped in flames, as to render
any attempts which might have been made 10
save her unavailing. My first imprcssio" on
seeing the explosion was, that the enemy al
ter having spiked his guns, had se' nfe 10 tne
magazine himself but upo0 examination u
was found to have besn occasioneu oy the
bursting of one of Sdr shells which, fling
some conbu,tij-c matter near the magazine,
gave the cp>hy but barely time to escape be.
fore the ,xpiosion took place. The Commt r
dore ,ecured and brought off the guns wsse di
VIE mounted within the block house eeir hl
24-Pound csrronades and one long 6-pounderJ
"gether with some round shot, grape and
canister. The enemy will feel seosiby the
1888 OF the Nancy, her cargo consi upg Cat
'he TIME OF her being on ffe) OF several nun
ired bafrels of provisions, intended as q six
months supply for The garrison a, Mackinac.
Having executed (as far as my force couId
ehecD The orders Of the I'd of June, vivsa |
ne by the Secretary of War, I Jeff Nausiu-
wasags on the 5tb, aud arrived on the 2i,t
Al the mouth of the liver ST. CT iir, with my
vhole force eyceut "a e. 40 solttere ,f m. l1,h
nfantry, who were left as marines on board |
wo small vessels, which still confuse to
uIze on that Lake. I am, sc.
q. CROGHAN, 1t Col I'd rife regf.
7rig Gen u N'.frthar, Ge. Jr.
srfrcet efa letter from Com Csauneey 10