Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-09-14

mere proper to state that General WiDder
on the morning Of the 24th informed the
members of the committee of vigilance who
waited on him that be could send no
part of the forces with him to Alexandria,
bui that he had ordered General Young to
cross over to Alexandria if practicable, if
not to falldown the river. The connmittee
OF vigilance on receiving this Information,
sent boats over to the Maryland shore suf
nc'ent in number to bring over the whole of
General Yorng's force at once but when
the boats reached him, he had received or,
ders from the Secretary Of War to retain
his position, as Gen. Young 10 a commrni.
cation to toe Mayor stated.
The committee of vigilance, despairing of
obtaining any assistance fism the general
government, and having information of the
rapid approach Of the enemy eowerds the
CAPITAL by land, an5 sbtir soti; - On Was ap.
preaching iAiexan,ria BY " a,ts dc smed It
their duty TO recommend 70 the CSlnscn
Council aresoiution to the following effect |:
That in case the British vessels should
pass the fort, or their forces approach the
town by land, and there should be no suffi.
Client force on our pareso oppose them, with
any reasonable prospect of success, they
should appoint committee to carry flag
to the officer commanding the enemy s force
about TO attack thetown. ard to procure the
best terms forsthe safety of persons, houses
and property, in their power This recon-
mendation wps made on the day of the bat.
tie at Bladehsburg. and onthe same Gay
was unanimously adopted by the Common
Council
The battle of Bladensburg having tern,i-
mated in the defeat of our troops. and Gen
eral Winder having been obliged to retreat
from the capital towards Montgomery
Court House, about fifteen miles to the west
OF it, the city of Washington was left in the
entire possession of the enemy. The citi-
zens OF Alexandria saw nothing to impede
the march of the British to thsir town I; saw
nothing to restrain them from com uniting
the most brutal outrages upon the female
portion ct the-society, having neither arms
nor men to make defence with the Presi
ceet of the United States and the heads of
departments were absent, and it was not
known wherethey were to be found no mi.
,litary commander or officer of the general
government was present to direct or advise.
In this state of things it was considered
by the Common Council as their duty to send
nag to the British Commander at Wash
ingtcn to know what treatment might be
|expec,e6 from him in case his troops should
approach Alexandria, and should succeed
in obtaining possession of the town Admit
raj Cockburn,to whom the COMMUNICATION
was made, assured hevery respectable gem
tiemsn who bore that nag, Itat pslvats pro,
perry OF all descriptions should bic respect,
ed, that IL was probable that fresh provisions
and some flour might be wanted, but tina,
whatever they did take should be paid for.
While these things were saing on. in the
/ city OF Washington, the British squadron
had been gradually ascending the Potomac
and on the 9th of August, three days after
the battle OF BIadensburg. IL reached Fort
Warburton. No change had taken place in
relation to the means Of the defence of the
town.of Alexandria Upon the Fort did the
safety ofAlexandria now entirely depend
The citizens looked with great anxiety tc
this point for protection. But to their great
surpri2e and modification, and without the
concurrence or wish of the municipal autho
rity CT the town or of any member of it, the
Fort was abandoned and the magazine blown
up by the United States garrison on The c.
vening of the 9Th. without firing a single
gun. The correspondence between the Sc,
cretary of War aud the omg,ander at the
Fort, shews BY what authority he acted.
This accomplishment Of the Fort decided
the fate of Alexandria. Nothing was lett &c
oppose the progress os.she squadron, and OF
the morning Of the 2Sth it passed the rain.
of the Fort on its way to the town; then
bArges had sounded 4. considerable distance
above. About ten o'clock Of the morning Of
the 2Sfh, after the squadron was above the
Fort, the Committee appointed BY the Coun'
Gil to bear'the flag to the enemy, in case
they should pass the Fort, set out upon the il
mission, and proceeded to the ship com.
manded by Captain Gordon. They request
ed to know what his intentions were in re.
gard to the town Of Alexandra. They were
informed by Captain Gordon that he would
communicate his terms when he came op
polite the town. But he assured them, tka
in tie mean time, if the sqpedron was no
moiested by the inhabitants. the persons
houses ard furniture Of the citizens should
not be injured. One of the gentlemen who
attended the flag was the Mayor. Upon
his return from the squadron ne was inform.
ed that'a small detachment of cavalry from
the army of General Hungerford had beer
in town, probably tor the purpose Of recon
noitering the enemy that it had remained
but short time. Upon enquiry it was IN.
derSto0d that the army of Gen. Hupgerford
was at that time about sixteen miles from
Alexandria, on its march TO that place, hav.
ing followed the Bfitish-squadron along the
shores Of Potomac a great part of its way up
The force OF General HuDgerford was com.
posed of infantry and cavalry, with 2 or {
small pieces Of artillery, not calculated tc
afford any protection 10 the iowa.
The municipal authority OF the town had
received no advices of the approach of thi,
army aud alter the return OF the flag, il
was TOO late to enter into any arrangement.
With General Hungerford for defence, he
was too distant to afford relief.
The squadIcn having suspended its APP
| 2roach to the town, did not reach it until tn,