The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1814-09-28

/" u. shif oarafoyc, ~ FlafsburS,
Sctf. II, 1914.
SIR--Tbe Almighty has been pleased to
grant US signal victory on Lake Champlain,
in the capture Of one lriga,e, one brig, and
TWO soops of war of the enewy.-I have the
honor 10 be, yery respectively, Sir, yours, SC.
I. MACDONOUGH, Com.
Hsn Efr Jones, Secretary Of The .'t'ry."
Extract of a letter from one Of The Editofs of
me Baltimore PafrTof,s 10 his friend ia his
tosvn, dated September IL, 1914.
"I will give you an account OF the approach
of the enemy before this place, so far as it
came under my own observation. On Saiur-
day last and the day previous, we had correct
intelligence that the enemy bad collected all
his force, to the amount OF AZ sail, and were
proceeding down the bay, consequently we
were led 10 hope we should have little rest
from our incessant labcrs, in preparing to re-
sst them. On Saturday noon Major Armis-
lead, the COMMANDED of Fort M'Henry, per-
mi,ed Chief Justice Nicholson, who COM
nands our volunteer corps OF 30 men, to
march to town, holding ourselves IN readiness
10 return the inslan, he thought prudent 10
call. AS il turned out, while We were march
ing 10 town, the enemy tackled about, and just
at dusk were seen under press OF sail, with
fair wind, approaching the town. Their
movements were closely watched at the Fort,
and at half past o'clock, Judge Nicholson
received orders TO repair 10 The Fort with his
men. We were all immedia,ly rallied, and
arrived at the Fort before IL, although the
rain poured down in torrents. On our arrival,
we found the matches burning, the furnaces
beaied and vomiting red hot shot, and every
thing ready for gallant defence. AT this
time The enemy had arrived as far upas North
Point, 2 miles below the Fort. We remain.
ed at our posts ill daylight, at which time
the enemy remained at the same place, some
at anchor, and others Under easy sail, laying
of apd on.
They continued this kind of movement all
day on Sunday. During the succeeding night,
and the forepar, oil Monday, they were busily
employed in landing their troops, but all was
quie, n,he part ofthe Naval operation against
the Fort, iil Tuesday morning, at which
time they had advanced 10 WITHIN two and
half mile of the Fort, arranged In most cle-
CANT order, ell al anchor, forming half circle,
with four bomb vessels and rocket ship,
stretched from right to left, in the advance.
The action commenced on their part by the
discharge Of few rockets, which were HARM
less indeed. These, am sure, were not In.
tended as an attack upon Us, but fired as a sig
nal to inform their land troops Of their readi-
ness of cooper ration.
Immediately after these discharges, two Of
the headmost irigates opened upon US, but
finding their shot NOT reac hing VS., they ceased
and advanced up little nearer. The moment
they had taken their position, Major Armis-
a h. ns.1 ,l1 k,at-
tciy OF Is Founders to DC opened upon them;
Immediately after battery of t2's followed,
and then the whole fort let drive at them.
We could see the sho, s,rike the frigates in
several instances, when every heart was glad.
dened, aud We gave three cheers, the music
playing Yankee doodle. Upon this the fri
gates stood off, and in FIVE minutes, all lay
just out of reach Of our shot. The bomb
vessels advanced little, and commenced
tremendous bombardmen,, which lasted all
day and all night, with hardly moments in
termIssIon.
Finding our shot would not now reach them,
the cannonodlng, which was sublime and Gu
liyening, was ordered TO be closed. We then
resoried TO our mortars, and fired six or eight,
bur sorrowfu' to relate, they like our shot fell
short, owing TO their chambers no, being so
deep rs those oi the enemy. Here then We
were again Eoiled. and were reduced to the
dreadfuI alternative, of facing by far the most
tremendous b0mbardment ever known in this
country, without any means Of resisting it
upwards OF 1900 bombs having fallen in and
about the Fort. Fortunately bot little dam
age was done. In oor company We mad six
severely wounded, and two killed. Sereant
Ctenni, young man of most amiablc charac-
ter, gentlemany manners and real courage,
was killed by my side; bomb bursting over
our heads, piece os The size of dollar, two
inches thick, passed through his body in
diagonal direction from his naval, and went
INTO the ground upwards Of two feet. I, was
dug op Immediately after, and is preserved
BY his friends. Instantly before this, a bomb
struck tho bastion, then in charge of Lieut..
Cl0gTeff, our Sd. which killed him uDon the