Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-06-08


dismay in, his countenance, and calling a.
loud for surgeon. Every man felt with
in himself that all was not. right, though
none was willing to believe the Whispers
of his own terror. But what at first we
could not guess at, because we dreaoeon
SO much. was soon realized; for the aid
de-camp had scarcely passed, when the
generals horse without its rider, and with
the saddle and housings stained with blood
came plunging EDWARDS. Nor was much
time given for fearful surmise, as to the
extent of our misfortune. In few mo-
ments we reached the ground where the
skirmishing had taken place, and beheid
poor Ross laid by the side OF the road un-
der canopy of blankets, and apparent
ly in the agonies of death. AS soon as the
firing began, he had ridden to the front,
that he mi ht ascertain ffron whence
it originated, and mingling with the sklr-
mishers, was shot in the SIDE by rifle
man. The wound was mortal; he fell in
to the arms of his aid-de-camp, and lived
only long enough to name his wife, and to
commend his family to the protection OF
his country. He was borne towards the
fleet, but expired before his bearers could
reach the boats.
cit is impossible to conceive the effect
which this melancholy spectacle Produc-
ed throughout the army, By the courte-
business and condescension of his man
ners, general Ross had secured the abso-
lutte love of ali who served under him,
from the highest to the lowest; and his
success on a former occasion, as well as
his iudicious arrangements on the present
had inspired every one with the most per-
feet confidence in his abilities. His very
error, iferror it may be called in SO young
a leader mean that diffidence in him
self which had occasioned some loss of
time on the march to Washington-aP-
peared now to have left him. His move
ments were at once rapid and cautious;
nay, his very countenance indicated fix
ed determination ARD perfect securi-
ty of success. Alleges were turned upon
him as we passed, and sort of involun
tary groan ran from rank to rank, from
the front to the rear of the column.
''By the fall of our gallant leader the
command now devolved upon Col. Brook,
of the 44th regiment, an officer of decided
personal courage, but perhaps better cal
culated to lead battalion, than to guide
an army. Being informed of his unex-
pected, and undesired elevation he came
to the front, and we continued 20 move
on; sorrowful indeed, but not detected
The skirmishing had now ceased, for the
American rihemen were now driven in;
and in few minutes we found ourselves
opposite to considerable force, drawn up
with some skill, and occupying strong
position. Judging from appearances, l
should say that the corps now opposed to
n s covered anecx or iand, very much,
resembling that which he had passed; hav-
ing both flanks defended by little inland
lakes; the whole of their position was
well wooded, and in front of their line
was range of palings, similar to those
which intersected the field of Bladens-
burg. About the centre, though some
way advanced, was farm house with its
out-building and stack yard; and near to
the right ran the main road. Their artil-
lery which could not greatly exceed our
own, either in weight of metal, or num-
Der of guns, were scattered along the line
of infantry in nearly the same order as it
had been at Bladensburg, and their re-
serve was partly seen, and partly hid by
a thick wood.
sThe whole of this country is fiat and
unbroken. About half mile in the rear
of where they stood. are some heighths,
but to occupy these as they should be oc-
cupied, would have required much grea-
ter number of men than the American
general could muster Their General,
therefore, exhibited some judgment in
his choice of ground, but perhaps he
would have exhibited more had he declined
a pitch battle altogether Yet to do him
justice, Irepeat that the ground was we'll
chosen for besides the covering of the
wood which he had secured for his own
people, he took care to leave open fields
in front; by which means we were of ne
cessity exposed to a CALLING fire as soon as
we came within range. Either he did
not possess himself of the farm house at
all, or he suffered it to be taken from him
with very little resistance; for on the ar
rival of the column at the ground where it
was to form, it was in possession of our
advanced guard. Hewas likewise to blame
in not filling the wood upon our left with
skirmishers. In short. he acted foolishly
in merely attempting to repel attacks,
without ever dreaming that the most ef-
fectual mode of so doing, is to turn the
tables and attack the assailants.
As our troops came up they filed off to
the right and left, and drew up, just with
in cannon shot, in the following order.