Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-12-31

4. inl.atry, with considerable effect.
The enemy esaiinued nansing to tac
light and pressed upon the command
al .oionels Beall and Hood. which
gave way after ORR rounds OF inef.
f.a,aal Gre, at a considerable distance
fam the caomy. while col. Bcall q
o,s,,r officers attempted I" rally the
men on t!,is higa position. TIE e.
aemy very soon gaiacd the flank, q
even the rear Of the right Of The So.
eoa.i line. Eommodors Barney. cap
trin Miller and some other oiIicers OF
his cnmMaad being Wounded. his am
.nuniiion Wagons having gone Oft in
The disorder, asd that which the ma
|rine . * ilatiila men had being exhaust
ra iu this situation a retreat WAS
|erlercd bv commoAorc Barney. who
|:esl kimsc.finto the hands or theeno.
my.
The second line was not exactly
connected, but posted in advantage
oar positions in connection with ard
supporting, each other. The caa-
| nand Of general Smith. iacluhing the
Georgetown and city militia, sill,
in ..,:!cr un,l firm without,
any part having given away, as wei!
IA tSn command OF lieutenant colonel,
Scott Of the regulars. and some other
l..orps. The epemy's light troops had
liza the mean time advanced on the
left of the road. aud had gained a
lime parable! with Smiths command,
land in endeayoring to Turn the flank,
lrolonei Rrent was placed in posi-
|tion calculated TO prevent ii the e.
Isemy also advanced and came within
lang. shot Of part Of col. Magruders
lcommand, whiei, opened partial
lire, but withou; mueh effect; and at
Ih;s moment and ia this situation
General Winder ordered tho whole
lof the troops, then stationary. TO re-
threat. which WAS effected with as
lmuch order as the nature Of the
iground and the occasion would per-
Init these troops, after retreat;By 5
loco PAGES, were halted and formed.
hut were again ordered 10 retreat by
general Wintler. General Winder
Then gave orders 60 collect and form
l.be troops on the heights west ofthe
turnpike gate, about one mile and 4
half from the capitol, which order
,was in part executed, and the forces
formed by general Smith and the
lather officers, when colonel George
minor came up with his regiment OF
IVirg;aia volunteers. and united his
forces With gea. Smiths command
having heen detained. as before stat
led, in obtaining arms, ammunition.
l&c. bat. while in the act oiforming.
general Windcr gave orders to retire
to the capitol, with an expectation
lof being united with the troops Of
1.-The firs: line. Col. Miner was order
led te,iake a certain position and dis
position, and cover the retreat Of all
1.-The r.rces by remaining until all had
Harchcd for the capitol. The troops
were again halted at the capitol
while general Winder was in confer,
(ence with col. Monroe aad general
Armstrong.
The FIRST line asd the cavalry. ex.
Ieept one treep Of Col. LavaPs. had
taken roate which did net bring
them TO the capitol; tho most OF
them mad proceeded north Of the
district Of Columbia, and others dis
persed and retGrued home, & sought
Ircfreshment in the country. The
commanding seaeral represented the
I,iiminuiion Of his force. the dispcr-
sion Of large portion oft. the vast
|of discipline, the great fatigue oil
the troops. and believed that il weuld
be impossible TO make effeetual re
sistance to the invasion Of the city ;
Inor did he think il would be proper to
a,tampt TO defend the capitol, the
troops being without provisions, and
which would leave every ether part
of the eitr TO the mercy ofthe enemy,
and ,ae prospect sflosing his army.
In this consultation the secretaries oi
state and war. it appears. coneurred
In their views with Gen. Wiader,
advised him TO retire and rally tue
troops upon the heights Of George
Ita~n this prodacea an order for the
whole forces 10 retreat from capitol