Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-09-28

an officer on the spot: go q. d !
6 I'VE anchored after dark pretty close cif the
town, and the boats were sent away under In.
command of LieM. Quin. Owing to- the dark
ness, and to the boats having taken circtitous
route, they did not reach the town until late. and
then got on board large 10 gun brig of war
they soon set her in blaze At daylight She
had burned 20 the waters edge: soon blew IN,
and sunk in deep water, so that by seven i'm TIC
morning there was no vcstige of her left IN sight
She was strongly noored head and stern with
chains, ut the distance of twenty yards from the
fortress, on which were mounted forty pieces OF
cannon, none which were further than canister
range, and some within her own length. The
garrison consisted of 400 men, who were station
cd with innstSctry at the erDbrsures, which look
cd down on the briggs decks in short the po,i
ton was one Of extraordinary strength. -Nev
crtl,clcss, the good order and regularity of on,
men, and the jutlicous manner in w;,icli the an
proach was made, were such, that they got along
side. or nearly so, uni'erceived; not a whisper
was heard till the enemy IS first discharge of CRANE
shot, which was answered By three cheers. A
terrible fire was from this moment kept up, bul
Lieut.. Quin and his gallant companion, did no,
leave her till she was fairly on fire tnre and aft.
and SD hot, that they were obliged to return IN
the boats. Not one was killed, and only a few
slightly hurt. Strict orders wefc given nv Cant.
Spencer, who suspected her situation 10 be what
II proved, not to attempt bringing cut the vessel
and il was fortunate that his orders on this point
were imperative, since, had anv discretion been
left, an endcavortn cut hcr out would have hecn
made, which, considering the manner in winch
she was secured 10 the walls bv chains mast
have le,l to the useless dcstructon Of many va
iuable lives. The brig was entirely empty and
IN consequence. foated SO high out of the waite,
that she was boarded with difficulty; but ever,
thing was so well arranged previously. that no
confusion took place, and in all its parts no en-
terprise could ever have been more complete
and satisfactory in IFS result"
ts;Es FoRT, June 4.
Although my time is now aud has been mucl.
taken mp in this war, ever since Your derafture,
cannot let the present opportunity for England
pass, without giving You short account of the
charges, state Of affairs, &c.
We were ordered to the ca,nr ifvou rccolIect
early in March, and pushed tho forces on to
The FRA, IN order 10 cross and attack The enen,
but IN consequence Of some palaveriug al EIni-
ma. IN the shape of oveitures, cessatin of hos
t!ities followed for few days, and the morgan
izcd forces crossed without us. In the ,ne,,,,
time the enemy advanced, panic few amongst
our Allies. and at The distance of quarter of
mile from them, without even firing nn,sket,
they took to tho water like ducks, and in one
night every soul rc-crossed. Having no canoes
the whole of their ammunition was DESTROYED and
a considerable number of fireocks lost Somucl,
for their courage in this atiair-Nve had kept
the whole az the 3si,antee army for eight DAYS
previously from crossing with very small force.
(Siz'Tmis'iing daily, and tono cfTcct.l in the ex-
pectaion of tic main body coming up, when we
should have been all ready 10 cross in canoes and
attack them in the rcar.--fFowevcp we were
disappointed.
Some charges have Been brc,,rht against ono
orr typ inf tho f'kipfS \
infamous transaction, they were taken to Cape
Coast To undergo an investigation, when the
whole blame it appears fell upon Joe Aegery
This done, the camp was again formed at
Fettue with all possible dispatch, and -eeteSy
thing passed well for advancing with large bo-
dy Of men [say l000] before toe ensmy could
possibly come upon us; but here again the
Chiefs contrary to orders, thought proper TO
provoke battle CaItfIougb our rei:,forccTents
were pouring in hourly,] and nothing cDuld ss,-
rsfy their folly but dividing themselves Tin ali a.
bout 1900 mcn] into three parties. They com
menccd their march, and, as might be expected,
were defeated in an hour. This was on the Goth
ot April.--Iiere, however, ! must do then, The.
justice to say the enemy suffered dreadfnlrg
rs VIC were Just getting mp to their assistance,
with anout $50 regulars and militia, the Chiefs
were beaten ont the field, and the rush caused
such confusion and disorder, that VIC could not
have done. However, we,covcred a very good
retreat for them, and in fact, our rear was en-
gagged the whole way to the Government Gar
dens.
The nncessi., of kneaing the Asi,zntees from
The waterside, if possible, was obvious and ao-
c0r'ingly we again opened the camp, (thcn AT
the Garden,) and in less than a fortnight $500
armed men were inspected this was about the
i-1th OF Nav, and every arrangement was made
for orr advance TO FCttue, where the enemy
were encamped. We had commenced our
march, AMI our divisions were occupied in cut
'int- tic paths TO pass through, when Colonel
sutherland arrived from Sierra Leone.-IIc
ofcourse assumed the command. Col. S. high
y approved of the proceedings, and all seemed
bursting with desire to get al tle enemy. On the
2Htl, We were Wit int two miles ofthern had excel
len; info; nation 10 their position &C.. and on
the LIST BY noon cur wings were up sufficiently
to engage. AMI at ono p. VI. the battle Became
general. Il lasted till sun set, with the great
est ohsIlaCy, the enemy endeavourng to turn
our right and we their left alternately.
The whole of the Royal African Corps and
militia formed cur centre tseventy Of I'd West
India Regiment tie reserve and we were two
hours ana 4 halbin the valley beating re- will
say fairly tlrashingl about 1000 of Ire cnemy in
q min. isOod upon high bill. at five, Major
G. was ON the point of ordering forward the cen-
tire division, when the Quarter master reported
the ammunition was out. Several of the Chiefs
messengers at this instant were waiting for some
powder, when it was discovered that nearly Ralf
Of the ammunition carriers had deserted with
4..r.,.. l.. 4. Il