Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1814-09-12
Copy ola letter from Com. Barney
to the Secretary ofthe Navy, d.
ted Farm at Elk. Rrsdge, "a 1

~ TIC tOtCfC u ~ ttt Il, 10"
ted Farm at Elk. Ryidge, "a
Angus 20, 1914,
SIR-This is the first moment |
have mad it in my power to make a
report ofthe proceedings of the force
under my command Since | had the
honour Of seeing you, Tuesday, the
Esd inst. at the camp at the 6 Old
Fields" On the afternoon OF that
day we were informed that the enemy
was advancing upon US. Our army
Nas put in order of battle and our
position taken; my forces were on
,he right flanked by the two battallons
Of the 36th & 38tn regiments, where
We remained some hours. The en-
my did not, however, make his APP
,,earance. A lutte before sunset Gen
Winder came to me and recommend
d that the heavy artillery should be
withdrawn, with the exception OF one
IL FOUNDER to cover the retreat.
We took up the line of march, and
III the night entered Washington by
the Eastern Branch Bridge. l
marched my men, &c. to the Marine
barracks, and took up quarters for
the night. About 2 O'Clock Gen
Winder came to my quarters, and we
made some arrangements. In the
morning | received a note from Gen
Winder, and waited on him. He re-
quested me to take command and
place my artillery to defend the pas
sage fthe bridge on the Eastern
Branch, as the enemy was approach
ing the city in that direction. l i'm.
mediately put my guns In position,
leaving the marines and the rest OF
my men at the Barracks to wait furth.
er orders. | was in this situation
when | had the honour to meet you
with the President and heads of De-
partments, when it was determined |
should draw off my guns and men,
and proceed towards Bladensburg,
which was immediately put into ex-
ecution. On my way was inform
cd the enemy was within mile OF
Bladensburg; we hurried on, tho
the day was very hot, and my men
much crippled from the severe march
es we had experienced the preceding
days. | preceded the men, and
when | arrived at the line which Sc
parates the District from Maryland,
the battle began. ] sent an officer
back TO hasten on my men-they
Came up in hot. We took our
position OH the rising ground, put
the pieces in battery, posted the ma
rines under Capt Miller, and fotilla
men who were to act as infantry un-
der their own officers, on my right,
to support the pieces and waited the
of the enemy.
During this period the engagement
contlnued--the enemy advancing|
and our army retreating before them,
apparently in much disorder. AT
length the enemy made his appear
ance on the main road in force in
front OF my battery, and on seeing US
made halt; | reserved our fire; III
A few minutes the enemy again ad-
when ordered an Is poun-
der to be fired, which completely
cleared the road; shortly after, sc.
cond and third attempt was made
by the enemy to come forward, but
all who made the attempt were de-
stroyed. The enemy then crossed
over into an open field and attempted
to flank our right. He was there
met by three IL Founders, the ma
lines under Capt Miller, and my
men acting as infantry, and again
was totally cut up. BY this time
nota vestige OF the American army
remained except a body of five or
six hundred nosred on a height IN my