The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-10-11

MUS, achieving protiigies of valor--NNe have
seen raw aid iniisci7incd militia driving the
conqoerors OK Portugal OF Spain x of France,
ana wh''sc bmding around their own brow>
initiating aurels throwing an everlasting
! shade on the military character of the cheu,v.
| lhampiain, plat;sburg, Niagara, and Eric,
| nave been the theatres OF our glory and will
| be cherished w every genuine American
! with the fon6est recollections while the
Names OF the heroes by whose v"orous spirit
, these Splendid achievements have beer effect
| Ell, oTS by the common consent ut mankind
/ consccr ted to imperishable Fame. Upon
| these propitious events, beg leave to congra-
tulate you.
IN the interesting period which have been
describing, Virginia has been called to act an
important part. The enemy has continually
carried on war against our Atlantic From
ter marked with circumstances of atloCity
which, while ruineus to Individuals, has been
mos Infamous TO himself. N,heresocver he
mas landed, his foo Sr->os are TO lie traced by
scenes OF rapne asiu conSagratiCn His inva-
SONS were Sudden and BY surprise, while his
retreat WAS precipitate and cCwardly He
was every where met BY the loc,,l militia.
30 socn as Il: great events before alluded
20 nad occurred i'll europe, t'e Executive of
this Conmonweati, expecting 1othing from
the torbearance of England, was apprchen-
become the theatre of her !iostit operations
--Stuasiousy avoiding however On the one
nand either the unnecessary harrassyent Of
our mtita or the premature expenditure of
the small fund appropriated 70 military pur-
poses, We avoided for some time actually en-.
bodying Force for the defence ofthe inter-
or but, on the other hand, feeling TIE neces-
sity of being prepared as we'll as our limited
means would permit, we directed twenty-foui
Regiments OF tn" neigl'boring militia to be
held in readin = omrletely armed and :
quipped to TAXI Tie field at a moments warn
ing. At length appearances became So Men
aclng, that 1t was deemed advisable to aid the
local militia by arepectable detachment from
distance, a measure which rcceiI ed the sane
ton OF the General Government Upon the
entering cur waters OF the last formidable
armament OF tic enemy, tie number of the
troops assembled III thus neighbourhood was
doubled aud after the successful attack on
Washington, with the destruction of property
which attended, L, large masses of militia
were directed To take the field. To this course
we were invited by determination to case
our measures to be equal tn a successful de
fence, and 20 supply the defect of discipline
~ superiority OF numbers. In addition to
which, appealed To the patriotism of my fell
low citizens, and called upon them to rally a.
r1undthe untGrled banners of their Country
Tins appeal was not made in vain.-For the
moment, party distinctions were forgotten
every description of Cit ZenS. the high, and the
low, from the East and the West, and from
the North and he South, animated BY one
sentiment, Cans rushing on they surrounded
their Capitol, the monument of their indepen-
dence, and swore they would defend it, or die
a spectacle was exhibited NEST grateful to
the friends ofrepubiican government. Itpre-
scented the prouacst day which Virginia has
seen since the foundation OF the Common
wealth. a few days only elapsed before it
became DecessaIy to arrest By another pro-
clamatlon TIE influx Of our martial citizens
And indeed upon as = tanning The numbers
already arrived, mutitudes ere disb2ntled-
Nor we're the eZertons OF our fellow-citizens
confined within the limits cf Vircinia.-TVash-
iShton and Baltimore also Witnessed their pat
rlotism and al,ienr and in the defence of the
latter, they acquitted themselves so honora-
bly, as to attract the attention and receive the
appreciation of their commanding General.
As the :tSsemblage of so large a force for
the defence of the state had not been antici-
pated, many of these brave men for weeks to
gether, were deprived GeveIy accomnoda-
ton. With no other shelter than tie caEopv
OF Heaven, they stretched themselves on the
naked. earth encountcring every privation
without a murlnur. 4 d were the records of
time to be explored, I know not the nation of
any age which would bear the palm from Vir-
ginia, for devotion to the laws, subordination to
discipline, acquieScence under privations, and
distinguished proofs of zeal, and patriotism &
courage.
Whilst candor requires we should adj
nit that the conflict in which we are en-
gagged is of the last importance to the
interest and happiness of our Country
and Calls for great sacrifices, both of personal
service and MONEY, yet we may look with CON
tidcnce to the issue, when we reflect on the
character of the American people, who hold
all things worthless, when compared with
their honor, their rights and their indcpen-
dence--that however huiniliating to US the
conflict may be in opposing high-mindcd and
honorable freemen, to the outcasts of every
nation which compose the legions Of the enc
my, yet we are liz some degree consoled by
the reflection that in this very Circumstance
we see the most satisfactory assurances of sue
cess-Ihat il to this be added Union OF Coun-
sci and of effort (Which happily begins to
prevail, through this witlel- extended Coun-
try, we may hope, without the charge of pre-
sumption, that we have under Providence,
the direction of our own destines
Although the state OF things which brought
together the force assembled at Ibis place, las
somewhat changed b, portion Of the enc
my's fleet having left our waters, vet the g-ea-
ter part of the militia are still in service This
course has been dictated by various consid-
eratiOns--via = enemy may be practisinc
g. enf.er,rtcv,