Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-06-03

being mine to Their boats, the command on
shore dcyO,ved or nc, and that the eueIny's gun
boats and body of troops by Land were APP
preaching oar rear. Arrangements were imme-
datelymsde for their reception.
Early next morning (1GJh) coneormably to the
commander IN CHEF 5 order, Gen. Brown was de-
Gched with strong portion ofthe army and d.
rected 10 pursue his course down the RIVER 10 dis
lodge some militia, supposed TO be intcrcepting
the route 10 Cornwall. Itwas my decided opinion
that the army should not be detached. / did not
express this 10 General Wilkinson, for my coun-
sci was seldom never required.
The rear guard consisting OF parts of the 1st,
2d ana nth brigadeS, squadron of dragons and
Two pisces OF artillery under the command of
Brig. Gen. Boyd, destined to cover the hotilla,
was directed 10 follow as soon as the boats
should put off," should the enemy hang
on the rear advance, beat him back" No
thing was left 20 the discretion OF Gen. lloyd
Gen. WhlSinson's health was suchas to con6ne
nun 70 his cabin, and had not seen him for several
days Yet ambitious TO be FIRST in the service of
mis- country, he tenaciouly held the command.
The column had taken up Che line of march and
proceeded about TWO miles, when Col Bissel. of
the 9Th regiment was detached from tie LIST bril-
SAde and ordered by the commander in chief to
fe-embark and dispense party of the enemy, sup
posed to have made alodgment on one of the is.
lands. Ere this c0u'dbe executed, a vilet from
Capt Selden from the rear, reported column of
15O0 ofthe enemy approaching in that direction.
The detachment was Immediately broughtto the
right about marchedpp the river and formed in
Inc ofhzttle.
Gen. Lewis landed and came to the field, view
cd our position, gave some directions and return
ed 70 his boat. pushed forward with Captain
SeideIs d,agoous to reconnoitre the eneniv--he
opened his artillery, our line advanced skirmish-
ed, and the enemy retired. After long, harras-
sing and stormy day. the troops were directed bv
\ 4
for'the uisht (Which was inclemently stormy so
as 10 cover The hotilla. Late IN the evening
waited on Gen. w. on board his boat, to report
the events osthe day, to receive orders for the
night, and to ascertain who commanded The
general was so indisposed that was not permit
ted TO see him. and was direc ed TO call on Gene
raj Lewis, whose boat boarded and receiv-
el orders to defend nv position and the flo
tilla. Early the next morning (11th) Gen Lewis
sent an aid ordering US to move down the river
The troops were put in motion, the commando e.
in chief arrested their march. 10 the enemy's
gun boats turned point and commenced can
noade on our boats, without any effect on either
SIDE. During the fore part of the dsy variety
OF verbal orders were received, but countermand-
ed before executed, oecasioned, as I understood.
by the want of information from General Brown
At1 - O'Clock, mpat ent for some decisine or dis
cretio'iay orders, the troops having been nearly
4S hours under arms, exposed to incessant rains.
rode to the bank of the river. requested and OBJ
tanned specific order, written by pencil, " that
the fiotilia would put off 90 minutes--4 pieces
OF artillery would be landed to reinforce the rear
guard, which would follow the boats should the
enemy harrass the rear, turn and beat him back"
While expecting the signal for moving, report
rom the rear announced the approach of the enc
my in the woods which ntersccted the fields and
were thanking our right. Gen. Swartwout was
directed TO dispeFse them, Gen Cov'ne-ton to sun,
Il al into a.. !.
drove the advance back to the main bodv-IIere
he was Joined BY Covington. The enemy had iu-
dciousy chosen his ground among deep rayines
Of an extensive plan beyond the woods. and dis
charged heavy and destructive fire on our adj
vance columns. No opposition could check the
invincible ardor OF our troops. BY resolute and
repeated charges, the enemy were driven more
than mile, dIsputing every inch of ground Co
lionel Coles with detachment of Boyd's Brigade
came up and was Immediately directed to turn
the enemy's left flank, which was promptly exc
cuted, amidst shower ofmusketry and shrapncll
shells. Two pieces of artillery under Captain IT.
vine now arrived in the field, which had been de-
layed by crcultous route the four other pieces
which were landed, reached the field soon after.
and had Their effect The squadron of Dragons
under MAJOR Woodford, were early in the field
but the nature oftbe ground did not admit of sue
cessful charges. The enemy had now been dri-
ven under the protection other gun soats, which
supported their Fight, and enhladed bV their nIi-
meIOus and heavy artillery, the field in 'front.'
theirleit rested on the woods, obliquely to the
rear, supported by light artillery, indians, and in
corPoiated militia. Many Of our troops begin
ming TO break, and vanly endeavoured to railv
them, IT became necessary for the whole to fill
back and reform out Of The range of the enemy's
floating batteries, which was executed without
inducing him 10 move from his strong position.
Az this time a reinforcement Of 800 men under
Colonel UphaIn, came mo the field whose activ-
ity while engaged evinced the benefit that MIGHT
have been derived from their more early assis
t, cel
At the troops werere-en enforced, received Or
ders toreturn TO the ground near the boats and to
embark. A valuable part ofthe hotilla and the
two principal artillery officers hal descended the
river and Joined General Brown at Cornwall, du
ring the action, and many ofthe remaining boats
were already in the stream. Had an early and
sufficient renforc en- ent come into the field, as
was expected, the result ofthis day would have
been very different. II is evident, throughout
that the commander in chiefacted with misap-
prehension Of the force and the designs oftbe en-
erny-when the action began, IL is probable he con-
sidered his strength inferior 10 ours, eisehe would
not have retained, in activity, so large force in
ule boats.
The strength ofthe enemy, according to the
calculation ofthe principal officer engaged, could
not have been less than $500 men, pieces artille
r., and 9 gun-boats Unnamed from the feet y the
-,