Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-11-01
REMINIsCENcE OF THE WAR OF 1912.
rHox rmr MOBILE DAILY Apvxsrrsxn.

FROM THE NOZZLE DAILY ADVERTISER
MAJoR REUBKS CHAnsKnLns.-We recorded briefly
time Of his decease Of the Oldest of Mobile and
in his early life had mportan. and interesting
copnexon with the history Of this portion Of Alabama In
the year lSl3 he officer in the second regiment Of
Wilkinson which, the l3h Of April of that year. seized
Mobile from the SpanaIds, and occupied Fort Charlotte.
Our Government had always claimed the country from the
Perddo to the Mississippi part of the Louisiana pur
chase but Spain had insisted that portion of West
Florida, and refused renqush it. At length Congress,
act directed the President take possession of
the country, which done stated. Fort Charlotte,
originally called Fort Conde, then under commend of
Caycano Perez, who, upon the of the American
commander, capulaed without firing gun. For this tmid
surrender be accused of treason by the Spanish
ment and having gone to Havana, years aner
rested and thrown into the dungeons OF the Moro Castle
where he died.
Leaving Col Constant with suitable garrison in Fort
Charlotte Gen. Wilkinson proceeded erect strong fo
caon at Mobile Point, prevent the entrance Of vessels Of
war into the bay The company 10 which Major Chamber
lain then a lieutenant assisted 10 this work. The fori-
fcaton placed under the command Of Liedt John Bow
yer, and in honor OF him, was subsequently, called Fort
Bowyer."
In the summer of 1914, British officers n Florida had
fomened the hosites of the Indians and, The 18th of
September the notorious Col Nichols and ts still more in
famous Capt. Woodbine, led force Of six hhuded warriors
and small body Of troops to the Investment by land Of Fort
Bowyer. feet Of four vessels, bearing ninety pieces
II.
scion of the iuslrous house Of Northumberan made
assault upon the fortress from tho gulf and bay Gen. Jack
son, then at Mobile and in command of the Southern Mill
tay Division, anticipating attack had caused the deences
to be strengthened and the garrison to be renorcedwh
hundred and thirty men, and twenty Tie whole
placed under the command Of Major Lawrcnc of the
second insny, which Major Chamberain then captain,
had command OF company. ff
The engagement which took place Is of the most
brilliant American history aad, but little is known Of
il, and is intimately connected with the history of No
bile. repubIsh here the scn reports, which will best
present the particulars, credbe to soldiers, and
disastrous to the enemy.
FoRT BowrER SEPTEMBER Is, 18l4-l2oclock at night.
SIR After writing the encloed, was prevented by the
approach Of the enemy from sending by express AT ner
dian they under full SAIL with easy and favorable
breeze standing directly for the ort and p M OPEN
ed battery which returned from ships and two
briggs they approached The aon general about
20 minutes past l. and was continued without ON
either sde until when ship and two briggs cDm
PEELED to retire The leading ship. supposed to be- the
having anchored battery, much disabled
her cable being by shot, that she dritted shore,
got Of reach kept such tremendous fire upo her
that she fire and abandoned by the few OF fhe crew
who survived AT 10P NJ had the pleasure of witress
the explosion OF her magazine The loss OF lives pard
have been immense certain boats left her
three which had previously gone to her assistance,
and OF these believe sunk fact one OF her boats
was burnt alongside of her. r
The brig that followed her uncertain much damaged
both in hull and rigging The ether two did not approach
enough to be much injured; but confident they
did not escape weldreced fire kept them during
the whole time.
opened but without doing execution and
slenced by few shot Our loss four privates killed
and five privates wounded.
Toward the close OF the action the shot away
but the flag wasimmedatey hosted spongesta the
parape While the Gag down the enemy kept up their
and fire the Withdrawn
from the curtains and The northeast bston the
shot completely protected except the position they
had chosen for their battery Where all behaved well it
In Snffc
and did his duty the whole behaved with that cooness
and ntrepdy which characteristic of the Americans
and which could scarcely have been expected from
whom had enemy now for the first
time exposed for nearly three hours force OF nearly
quite four guns to
We fired during the action between four and five hundred
guns them double hoed and after half
but few missed an effect
SEPTEMBER 18TH, IL O'clock A. M.
Upon examination of our battery this morning. find
upwards of three hundred shot holes in Of the north
and curtains and northeast baon, all calbers from
three guns dismounted of which, four pounder
broken off the trunnions by sa-pound shot, and
another much battered regret that both the twcny
four Founders cracked in such render them
unfit for service.
informed by deserers from the land force, who
have just arrived here and whom send for your disposal
that reinforcement expected when they will doubtless en-
deavor to wipe off the stain of yesterday.
II you Will send the Amelia down we may probably save
seven feet water and OF them just covered They
will however, for the fort, they short
the Hermes but her commanders they did
collect 1t the commodore, and he doubtless fell his
quarterback, he had raking fire upon at about
hundred yards distance for time.
To Captain Sands who will have the honor of handing you
this despatc refer you for particular Of the
of the enemy than may be contained letter.
His services both before and during the action great
Importance and consider fully justify in having detained
him. Captain Walsh and several much burnt by
the accidental explosion of two or three cartridges They
not included in the list of wounded heretofore given
The enemy fleet this morning at we're at anchor
the channel about four miles from the fort shortly after
got under way and stood after passing the bar they
hove and boats have been constantly passing between the
disabled brig and the Others the former much
injured as to render it necessary to tighten her.
Fifteen minutes AFTER r. .M-The whole feet have this
moment made sail and are standing to sea.
i have the honor to be, Hc.
WILLIAM LAWRENCE.
Major Gen. ANDREW JACKSON, sc.
HEADaUARrKRs 7TH MILITARY DIsTRIcr,
MOBILE, SErrsMBER IL, 1914.
SIR: With lively emotions of satisfaction communicate
that success has crowned the gallant efforts of brave sol
ders in resisting and repusng combined British naval and
land force on the 5h instant Fort Bowyer on
the point of Mobile.
enclose copy of the official report of Major William
Lawrence OF the I'd Infantry who commanded In addition
to the particulars communicated in his letter. have learned
that the ship which destroyed the Hermes OF from
"a to 2S captain the Hon. Wm H. Percy senior officer
IN the Gull OF Mexico and the brig considerably damaged
the Carron Of from "a guns Capt Spencer, Of
Spencer the other briggs unknown. On board OF
the Carron IS men killed and wounded, among whom
was COL NcoI, of the Royal Marines who lost by
Greek Indians, under the command of Capt Woodbne of
marines, and about go arer with and half inch
howzer from which they discharged shells and
shot They the end retreated by land
wards Pensacola, whence they came
BY the morning report Of the 10th there present the
fort ht for duty, officers and men, 1853.