The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1814-08-24

NEW-LONDON, AuGusT IL, 1914.
Record OF the extraordinary attack on
SIONINGTON.
On Tuesday the 9th inst at 5, p H. the Families,
"a, Pscioius SO, bomb ship, and the Despatch
y sdn-orig, arrived OIL slonington, and flag was
sent on shore with The following Note:
On board IL NJ Ramihes eff SiOaing.on,)
.3uguSs9, 1914.
To THE MAGISTRATES OF SToNiNGToN.
Genhemen-One hour IS allowed YOU from the re-
ceii of has communiratlon for tie removal of the
unotending inhabitants T. M HARDY
This notification was received by two magistrates.
and IL Hough OF the drafted militia, who went of
TO meet the iiag. The officer was asked wheiher
flag would no, be received on bosrd-He SAID no ar.
rangvments could be made They enuured whether
Com Hardy had determined 10 destroy the town.
He replied that such were his orders fiom the Ad-
mlral, aud that 1t would be done most eticctual,y
When the gentlemen reached the shore, a croud
waited with great anxiety for the news which De
ing stated, CONSERVATION flew threw the town.--An
express was despatched 10 General Gushing AT New.
London. number of volunteers hsstened TO col
lect ammunition others ran TO the battery, (Which
consisted of Two 18-pounders and 4pounder. ON
field Carriages with sight breas-wutk feet high
The sick and the aged were removed wIth haste; te
women aud children with loud cres were seen run
ning IN every direction. Some of the most valuable
articles were hastily sot of by hand and others pla
ced IN the gardens and lots OF thrown into wells, TO
Save them from impending conhagration The sixty
minutes expired but The dread moment did no, bring
the attack Nelson's favorite hero and friend. wss
seized with the compunctons Of magnanImity he
remembered wha, ancient Brons were he remem.
bered that something due 10 the character of Sir
Thomas NJ. Hardy. Three hours in fact elapsed,
when ut IN the evening the attack was commenced
by the discharge Of shells from the bomb ship sew.
era. barges aud launches had taken their stations i'm
different points, from whence they threw congrevc
rockets, and carcasses This mode of attack was
continued necessarily ill Midnight, and the fire was
returned occasionally from the battery, the light
of the rockets gave opportunity, with any chance of
success. The few drafted militia, which have been
some time stationed there, under command of 1t.
Hough, were placed ia the best directio to give an
alarm in case landing should be attempted. Dur
ing the night the volunteers and militia had assem-
ced in considerable numbers and the non.coDbat.
ant inhabitants had generally removed 20 the neigh.
boring farm houses in the momentary expectation of
seeing their abandon ed dwellings in flames VT was
a night of inexpgessible anguish To many widow
and orphan, TO many aged and infrm whose little
plttsnce they were now apparently to loose forever
But Providence directed otherwise this compact lii.
tie village of 100 buildings had been hours cover
ed with flames of fire and bomb shells, and not a
single building was consumed nor peIs son injured
At the dawn OF day on the 10Th, the approach of
the enemy was announced by discharge Of ofCongrcve
rockets, from several bargcs and launch which had
taken their station the east side of the town. and
small arms and the 4-pounder, hasteneG across the
point, supposing the enemy were attempting land
ing Col Randall Of the 18th regt who, at the
time moving towards the battery with detach.
ment of Militia, ordered them 70 assist the voiun.
teers in drawing one of the l8pounders to the
extreme end OF The point the fire Of which in few
minutes compelled the barges 10 seek safety in fight
During this time The brig was working up towards
the Point, and soon after sunrise came to anchor
short OF half mile from the battery, (or more cor.
rcctly the breast work) Our ammunition being soon
exhausted the guns were spiked, and the men who
fought them, being only about Is or 20, retired,
leaving them behind for want of strength to drag
them oft-The brig now continued deliberately to
pour her 32-pound shot aud grape into the Village,
without our having the power 20 return shot for an
hours and the Bomb .Ketch occasionally threw in
sheis.-A fresh supply OF ammunition being obtain.
ed the lS-pounder was Withdrawn from the brest
work, the vent drilled, and the piece tsken back a.
gam, when such animated and well directed fire
was KEEP, up, that at o'clock the brig slipped her
cable and hauled Oft, with her pumps going having
received several shots below her water line, and con-
siderable damage in her spsrs, &c-During this ac-
uon between the iSpoundcr and the brig, Mr. Fred
eriek Denison was slightly wounded in the knee. by
fragment of rock, and Mr.. John Miner. badly
burnt IN his face by the premature discharge Of the
gun The fag Which was nailed TO the mast was
pierced with seven shot holes, the breast wo,k some
what injured and or Of the dwelling houses in
the vicinity essentially njured.-At this time
siderable body of milti. had arrived, aud Brig Gen
lshan had taken the command the inhs sbItants had
recovered from the CONSERVATION Of the first mo-
meets and was deliberately moving off their furni-
tuIe and goods. AT o'clock the Families and Pac.
toias bad ,-ken stations about Uvo and half miles
from the towns when resistance appearing hopeless,
the Magistrates as last resort applied TO the Gen.
crai for permission 10 send hsg oft, being impres.
sed with TIC opinion that there must exist some Ia