Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1814-09-08
Copy Of 7etterJrom Commodore Bcr-
aey, to the Secretary Of the Macy.
FARM, AT ELK RIDGE.

FARM, At ELK RIDGE,
August 90, 1914.
SlR-This is the first moment i have had
1t In my power to make a report of the pro-
ceedings of the forces under my command,
since l had the honor of seeing you on
Tuesday, the Esd instant, at the Camp at
the " Old Fields On the afternoon of that
day we were informed that the enemy was
advancing upon US. Cur army was put in
to order Of Battle and our positions taken :;
my forces were on the right fanked by the
two battalions of the S6th and 38th regts.
where we remained some hours. The enc
my did not however, make his APPROACH
A little before sunset Gen. Winder ca me to
me and recommended that the heavy artil-
lery should be Withdrawn, with the excep-
ton of one twelve-pounder to cover the re.
treat. We took up the line of March, and
in the night entered Washington by the
Eastern Branch Bridge. / marched my
men to the Marine Barracks, and took up
quarters for the night. About two O'Clock
ten. Winder came to my quarters, and we
made some arrangements. In the morning
l received a note from Gen. Winder, and
waited upon him. lie requested me to take
command and place my artillery to defend
the passage of the bridge on the Eastern
Branch, as the enemy was approaching the
City in that direction. | Immediately put
my guns in position, leaving the marines
and the rest of my men at the Barracks, to
wait further orders. was in this situation
when had the honor to meet you with the
President and Heads of Departments, when
1t was determined l should draw off nv
guns and meD, and proceed towards Bla-
densburgh, which was Immediately put in.
to execution, On our way | was informed
the enemy was within a mile of Bladens-
ourgh /; we hurried on, though the day was
very hot, and my men much crippled from
the severe marches we had experienced the
preceding days. Ipreceded the men. and
when | arrived at the line which separates
the District from Maryland, the battle be-
gan. | sent an officer back to hasten on nv
men-they came up in a trot. We took
our position on the rising ground. put the
pieces in battery, posted the marines under
Capt. Miller, and tiotilla men, who were
to act as infantry, under their own ohic ers,
on my right, to support the pieces, and
waited the approach of the enemy. During
this period the engagement continued-the
enemy advancing, ana our army retreating
before them-apparently in much disorder
At length the enemy made his appearance
on the main road in force and in front of INV
battery, and on seeing Us made a halt /
reserved our fire, in a few minutes the ena,
my again advanced, when l ordered an "a
FOUNDER to be fired, which completely clear.
ed the road shortly after, q second and
third attempt was made by the enemy to
come forward, but all who made the at.
tempt were destroyed. The enemy then
crossed over into an open field and att empt.
ed to flank our right. He was there met
oy three l2 FOUNDERS, the marines under
Capt. Miller, and my men acting as infan.
try, and again was totally cut up. BY this
time not a vestige of the American army
remalnsd, except a body of Ave or six hun
dred posted on a height on my right, from
whom / expected much support from their
tine situation. The enemy from this peri.