Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1814-09-08

from Wnom TecclVcu.
am, sir, your most obedient servant,
j. ARMSTRONG.
Capt Dyson, Corps of Artillery.
Comp at Mdson's Island,
august 90, 1914.
SRI had the honor to receive your
communication of the 29th instant. The
orders rec eived from Brig. Gen. Winder,
through Maj Hite, verbally, on the Gath
inst. were, in case / was oppressed by, or
heard of an enemy in my rear, to spike my
guns and make my escape over the river.
The enemy approached by water on the
9th, and we had learnt on that day thro'
several channels, that the enemy had been
reinforced at Benedict, 1000 strong, and
that they were on their march to co operate
with the feet, in addition to the force which
left the city-Under all these circumstances,
the officers under my command were con
suited, and agreed it was best to abandon
the fort and effect a retreat. The force un-
der my command was thought not equal to
a defence of the place.
/ have the honorto be, with great censi-
Iteration. --ebedient servant.
sAML r. DYSON.
Capt. Corps Of artillery.
The Hon. John Armstrong,
Secretary of War, Washington.
Capt. Dyson is, we learn, under arrest,
and the command of his company given to
Lieut.. Spencer.
The officers of government are now all
at this place, about resumipg in their or
binary course all the functions of govern
ment, to which a momentary interruption
has been given by the sudden incursion of
q strong force of the enemy.
From the National MteUigsncer of Au-
gust 81.
Mr.. Secretary Monroe has, in pursuance
of the united requests of the commanders
of the various description oftroops assem-.
bled in this district accepted the command
of the military force now in the vicinity.
General Armstrong having yesterday re
tired from the execution of the duties of
Secretary of War in this district, in conse-
quence probably ofthe prejudice which has
been excited against him among the troops,
the duties of his Office also have been tenn
porarily consigned to the Secretary of
State, who Immediately entered on the
discharge of them. Many measures were
forthwith put in a train of execution,
which it may not now be proper to an
nounce, and the effect of which will be
seen in due time.
The enemy continued last night still at
Alexandria, emptying the warehouses as
agreed on in the capitalization, which will
be found In our columns q capitulation of
such a nature as the citizens of George
town Indignantly repealed an invitation to
enter into. Two of the frigates or vessels
of war are said to have gone down ~yester.
day bat there are doubtless others below
to supply their place.
Night before last, we learn, nine trans
ports of the largest class entered Patuxent
river. Their destination is for the present
only matter of conjecture.
Troops are every hour arriving in the
city, in larger or smaller corps, which it
wosld be difficult, if we wished, to enume-
rate. Among those arrived or expected
are a number of seamen, under their gal.
lam commanders.
When we remarked, in our paper of yes
terday, that private property had in gene
raj been scrupuleusly respected by the
enemy during his late incursion, we spoke
what we believed, from a hasty survey,
and perhaps without sufficient enquiry.-
Greater respect was certainly paid to pri-
waite property than has usually been exhib-
ited by the enemy in his marauding par-
ties. No houses were half as much plum
dcred by the enemy as by the knayish
yvretches about the town who nro6tad oel
the general distress. There were. howev.
er, several private buildings wantonly des-
troyed, and some of those persons who re-
manned in the city were scandaleusly NAL
treated Among the private buildings des-
troyed, was the dwelling house owned and
occupied by Mr.. Robert Sewall formerly
rented by MIR. Gallatin) from behind which
a gun was fired at Gen. Ross, which Kill.
led the horse he rode ; the houses built
for Gen. Washington on the brow of CAPT