The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-06-20
MISCELLANY.
From the Boston Daily Advertiser.l
Capture Of Washington.

we nave seen at lLsS obSlOn
a work Just published in London, entitled q
narrative of the Campaigns of the British ar
my. at Washington and New-Orleans, in the
wears 1914 and 1915. By an Officer who
served in the Expedition. The narrative be-
gins with some account of events, in the
South of France-some description of the plac-
es occupied by the British army, and the sail
ing of the expedition from the GaTrone, on
the I'd of June.
The force of the expedition is thus
described The land army is COM
posed of three battalions of infantry,
the 4th, 44th and 18th regiments-the
two former mastering each about 800
bayonets, the last not more than 600.
In addition to these, there are two
officers of engineers, a brigade of ar
tillery, a detachment of sappers and
miners, and a party of artillery drivers,
with due proportion of officers, be-
longing to the medical and commisSa-
riat departments. The whole togeth-
er cannot be computed at more than
$500 men,. if indeed it amounts to so
great number; and is under the COM
mand of Maj Gen. Ross, a very gall
liant and experienced leader"
The feet consisted of eleven or twelve
ships of war, with general store-ships and
transports. The squadron touched at st.
Michaels and Bermuda, of each of which
places the author gives some description. At
Bermuda they were. joined by Sir Alexander
Cochrane, in an so gun-ship, who took COM
nand of the feet, and by the 2Ist regiment Of
Fusiliers, of900 men, making their whole force
$500 men, besides a corps Of blacks, and the
marines. On the 14th of August, they arriv-
ed off Cape Charles, and on the 18th at the
mouth of the Pafuxent. On this day they
began TO SAL up the river, the banks of which
are described by the author as extremely
beautiful. After they had proceeded afew
miles up the river, "a telegraph from the Adj
miral gave orders for the troops to be in read
mess TO land at moments notice. Every
thing was prepared; provisions for three days
were cooked and gwen to each man-the
arms and accoutrements were handed out,
and the cartouch-boxes supplied with fresh
ammunition. The feet continued to move
on until 10 leagues from the bay, when the
ships of the line began to touch the ground,
and in little while after the frigates could
proceed no farther. By this time the sun
was set, and it began to grow dark. The
soldiers being shifted to. the smaller vessels,
all remained quiet for the night. As soon as
the dawn began to appear, on the 18th, all
was in motion. A gun-brig had taken her
station within $50 yards of the village of
Benedict, under cover of which the troops were
landed. The whole was completed without
accident, by O'Clock in the afternoon.-
Every preparation was made to resist any at
tack, but none was made. The afternoon
was devoted to- a DISTRIBUTION of the force,
which was divided into three brgades. The
whole number of men landed, including sai-
lors to drag the artillery, and, persons of every
description, amounted TO 4500 men. No ar
tillery was landed, except one six-peunder,
and two small three Founders, for want of
horses to drag them. There was not a horse
IN the army, except those of the general and
the staff officers. Orders, however, were Civ
en- to take all the horses they could find and
during the march, SO or 60 were taken, and
cavalry corps was formed. The army was
posted on height, at distance Of two miles
from the river, and the most cautious arrange
ments were made, to guard against surprise.
The troops were under armson the Goth. an
hour before daylight, but they remained on
the ground until O'Clock in the afternoon.
La The mean time twas rumoured THAT the
Orders were at length given, and the march
began towards Nottingham. The order Of
march was conducted in the most cautious
manner, as well as the bivouac for the night,
after advancing only six miles. This march,
though short, is described as extremely ia
tiguing, from the men having been SO long
cooped up on board ship. The author stats
that greater number Of men dropped out Of
the ranks, and fell behind, than he recollects
to have observed in the Peninsula, in any
march Of three times the distance. The men,
however, carried, besides their arms, sixty
rounds of bal-cartridge, a knspsack with
blanket and change Of clothes, a haycrsack
with provisions for three days, and canteen
Of water Their biyouac was not disturbed
during the night, except by violent and CO.
pious thunder-shower The next day they
marched on to Nottingham, and on their arri-
val found that our hotiIla, which they expect
ed to find there, had moved higher up the
river. There seemed TO be here some hesita-
ton on the part Of the commander, with re-
gard to tie further movements of the army;
but at o'clock, on the Odd, they moved on
towards Marlborough, distant 10 miles,
During the day, they heard several heavy ex-
plpsions, which proceeded from the destruc-