Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-03-15

4
Of Godfrey, making him compensation for
a barn destroyed by the United States
troops in the battle Of the RIVER Raisin.
! This bill gave rise also 10 considerable
discussion, as many of the various and null
| hilarious claims growing out the late war
often do in both houses of congress. The
discussion turned in this case chiefly on
the propriety of allowing compensation tor
/ damage done by a soldier, when it was not
in evidence that he acted by the command
| of an officer; but this case derived no little
! interest from the great gallantry OF the act
which gave rise to this claim. The aneC-
dote as related by Mr.. Trimble and con-
hrmed by other gentlemen from the west,
was briefly this. In the combined attack
by the British and Indians on General Win
chester's army at the river Rasin, the enc
my derived great advantage from barn
within short rife shot of the picketings of
| the American camp. by means OF which
they were lot only sheltered but eeabled to
FIRE into the pickets, 1t was ali important
that the barn should be destroyed and the
enemy dislodged. The soldier in question,
at the almost certain sacrifice Of his life
rushed from The pickets to the barn with a
torch and set it on fire, and had the good
fortune to escape the bullets that were show
cred at him, though he suffered greatly in
his rigging Itwas this barn, which the SOL
diers torch destroyed. that compensation
was prayed for.
Messrs. Ruggles, Tri mble, Johnson, of
KY. Smith, Logan, Williams, and Morrill,,
took part in the discussion, which ended
(after the failure of motion to postpone the
bill, in ordering it to be engrossed for a
third reading.
The bill for the relief of Joseph Lefebre
was next taken up-to make payment for
property destroyed in the late war, at New
Orleans-a case heretofore noticed more at
large-and after being earnestly contested
between Messrs. johnson of Lou and Brown
for the bill, and Mr.. Roberts against it; it
was also ordered TO be engrossed for third
reading.
Mr.. King, Of N. York, submitted reso-
luton, which has been already noticed and
The Senate adjourned to Monday.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Friday, March 10.
Mr.. Rhea made an unfavorable re-
port on the petition Of Daniel MDaff,
which was read, and ordered to lie on
the table.
On motion Of Mr.. Cannon, it was
Resolved That the committee Of the
whole House who have under conside-
ration the bill making appropriations
for the Military Establishment for the
year $50, be instructed to enquire in
to the expediency of abolishmg the
Military Academy at West Point, in
the State of New York also Of repeal
inc all laws in relation to said Academy
frem and after the first day Of May
next, add exposing to sale to the high
est bidder all the property Of the Uni
ted States, in and about the same, in
such manner as may be directed by the
President of the United States.
The bill from the Senate, for chang
ing the mode Of disposing Of the public
lands from credit to cash and the bill
also from the Senate, for extending the
time for payment for the public lands,
&c. were twice read, and referred TO
the committee on public lands.
The engrossed resolution directing
the publication of the secret journal Of
the Old Congress, from the treaty Of
1885. to the commencement Of the go
yernmept, was read third time, and
passed.
MILITARY APPROPRIATIONS.
The House having again resolved
itsclfinto committee Of the whole, Mr..
Beecher in the chair, on the annual
military appropriation bill
Mr.. Cobb withdrew the motion which
he Yesterday offered TO amend the bill,
under the impression that it had better
be annexed to the bill making the
civil appropriations for the current
year.
Mr.. Cook submitted motion to a.
mend the bill, so as to appropriate 1900
dollars, for survey of the Mississippi
river, from the mouth of the Missouri
river. 10 the mouth OF the Ohm, with