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About Augusta herald. (Augusta [Ga.]) 1799-1822 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 15, 1814)
augusta Gerald. TH LUIS DAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1814. BY a late arrival at Halifax, it appears that ths British commissioners who were ap pointed to mee! the American ones at Ghent, had not left Loudon on the 13th Ju ly—it is probably intended by this delay that the present campaign shall be consider ably advanced, and some pretty active op erations performed, before any pacific ar rangements can be made. The late unfortunate affairs at Washing ton and Alexandria, will we trust awaken • itch a spirit in our citizens, as will effec tually prevent any future triumphs of the enemy, in his predatory incursions iuto any of our sea port tow ns. TUB National Intelligencer states, that after the taking of the L’ity of Wash ington. one of the British Officers was re cognised, who had been in the City the Saturday before, in the character and dress of a distressed woman. * „ i THE Batiks in Philadelphia and Bal timore, it appears have for the present stop ped making payment in specie, for reasons which we wiil endeavor to publish in our next. Gen. Thomas Flournoy, we are in formed, having resigned his commission in the army, returned home last ■evening. The following extract of a letter Ivrit tCn during the late confusion at Alexandria., by a Lady to her correspondent in this place, contains some interesting particulars -—and though the letter was written exclu sively for the eye of private friendship, yet having fallen into our hands, we have ta ken the liberty to publish this extract, in the belief that from the time and under the cir cumstances in which it was written, it would not be ufeacce.ptable to our readers, most of whom will no doubt consider this produc tion of a lady as a valuable substitute for editorial matter : “Alexanuuia, August 29, ISl4<. “I now write you mv dear friend from a poor! pitiful ! meanly conquered town! My biood as an American citizen boils in my veins, while lacknowledge myself almost a British Prisoner. It is true! still hkve the liberty of leaving town, but. we are certainly prisoners vviiile we have seven ships at. our wharves—with their barges, sea horses, and much to Ini dreaded sailors. The country around rs not safe from their depre dations. Yes it is alas too true Alexandria lias capitulated, and that on the most humil iating terms, fn their treaty they claim all our tobacco, flour, cotton and all bailed goods—every article of exportation, is not only to be tamely given op—but to be deliv ered to them by us—md every thing taken outof town since the 19th to be returned, and nothing more moved out; many of our vessels that were in the stream they have taken, and hoisted their flag on them, they say that they will have all, and these that we have sunk mast be taken up and refitted for them. And they in their turn promise not to burn the town or molest private prop erty such as house furniture or wearing ap parel, or allow their sailors to come ashore, without proper officers to keep them in or der—But on these terms they insist, and have plaeed their fire ships like the rod of cor rection directly opposite to us, and swear on (lie least violation of the treaty, they will reduce the city to ashes—-There is a dreadful aiarm below, all was quiet when l commenced writing, but the inhabi tants here objected to the treaty and the town is threatened with immediate destruc tion, one hour only is given to consider whelher they will sacrifice the place, or meanly see them carry off all its w ealth. Were 1 in Council, I would slay, sacrifice the place ! fall honorably ! not be trampled on ! yes had i twenty houses in this place and they my only support, 1 would rather see them reduced to ashes, than see the country disgrace itself as it has done; but 1 must stop writing, all females are requested to leave town, riongerford’s army is within a few miles, if they enter, dreadful must be the consequeo' ± o'clock—l have heard of eonfnsion and dismay ! and 1 have read much of the horrors of war !—but never did 1 form an idea of it, till 1 witnessed that trying hour, just mentioned—the females that were left in town were all in the streets crying, many of them, and begging that the British might not be provoked, some gentle men advising to try and make gome resis tance, others to sacrifice all, anif others to save the town if possible, by some_wa--Avefe advised to leave town the hour had nearly expired, ment would commence as treaty ted. Again we to that females nd our -nm jjgj m A I & I ft or eart could be hired, and our friend T— had rode oft" our horse. Before tire hour ex pired the Council agreed to their terms, humbly consenting that they might do as they pleased, and make half the inhabitants beggars, provided they saved the empty houses, and kept their sailors within hounds —All valuables had been moved out of town save a tew individuals, who relying on the honor of a brave uation had determined not to be alarmed. Mrs. I). had unfortu nately brought back some of her valuables, when a dilierent alarm look place- uud all ladies w ere advised to return to town Mrs. C s. carriage was coming iu for her to re turn to Hayheld, and her horse was pressed a#d her servant taken by some of Our own men, she borrowed Mrs. - -—, carriage, and Went out accompanied by E and H ? just before the bustle, aftd by this mean? deprived us all of 'a way of getting out. i key- returned litis evening uud in formed us that Hungerfbrd’s army were en camped near liayfield, and w ere plaving tlie mischief with Mr. Pocle’s corn, and Had turned their horses in ihe yard, and seized all the provision they could meet with, and Mr. , says they were raving and swearing, that into town they would come, let the consequences be what it might—and that the Mayor should pay for delivering it up on such terms. All cry shame, shame ! It is true we eould make no defence, we have neither men, arms, or powder, but they say it ought to have been delivered up in a dignified manner, they were actually invi ted ashore by a white hag (put up by some coward) before they tired n, gun or ever sent a message, and Col. Garduer, came ashore in his barge unarmed, and was received With smiles by several of our gentlemen, they escorted him to Col. Sims’s, and back to his vessel, and bad a bear, a lion dr a tyger been brought to town, there eouid not have be cm a greater crowd to view him, 1 am told he behaved with great dignity and politeness—i wish our cringing sycophan tick townsmen had followed his example, but oil the contrary, they behaved to him not as the hitter foe of our country, hut as au imperious master that we were obliged to bend our necks to, and must court the fa vour of, they accepted his invitation, and went aboard, lie invited Mr. , who happened accidently to be present, he refu sed', but Edmund Lee, Jonathan Swift, San dy Moore anil Col. Sms our Mayor, went aboard and drank their wine, and Mr. James Patten and William Welser sup’d with them on aline leg of mutton, presented them by ”r Tom. Diggs, of Warburton, (to brib. i.:em 1 suppose not to burn his house' -tie need not have disgraced him *f by that act, for Jiis house lam told was so much shattered when the fort was blown up, that it is hardly Worth saving. Here again we are disgraced—the English say that an hundred men under a good com mander might have injured them materially, & had it been well manned it would have been impossible for them to pass, that they ap proached with great caution, and certainly calculated on loosing at least an hundred men out of each frigate. They passed without receiving a single fire, they say they had not men enough to work the can non and could get no answer from the Sec retary of war, how they were to aet, and no assistance though they urged their Want of it. Therefore as soon as they heard tlie first peal of ilritish thunder, they put a match to the magaziue and fied—the explosion was sensibly felt in this place—l write you al most in the bustlfe of a camp, fifty reports have reached me since 1 commenced this let- ' ter, J intended as 1 suppose you cannot at j present get correct information or account j of the times, to have given you with their date, the events of each day since they com menced their depredations, but a new alarm lias just occurred, it is certain our army is near at hand, Crossing limitingcreek Bridge, and we are urg’d to leave town, should they enter, a bloody Scene must take place. I must put up my paper and be of!', 1 will finish this letter to-morr<Hv, all is burly burly again, God bless you, if I get out sale 1 will write you to-morrow from wherever I maybe. Alexandria, the 30th. ’Here lam again. We left town in great haste last night, saw Hunge-rford’s army crossing one road as we went out at. the other—the British heard of their coming and regretted it, for they said every fire Which they shot, must reach and fire the houses—and they did not wish to do if, that they did not want to injure private property, that they were not enemies to the American people. On Wednesday the J4fh, a memo rable day indeed 1 fear to American inde pendence, they entered Washington-City, they had a tight with our men near Blsulens burg* and conquered our little fi ?ce, the Alexandria Brigade thank God was not with them, as itis said they made a coward ly retreat. But of this you shall hear more hereafter. They retreated without stopping as far as Georgetown. It is said had they stood they must have conquered, the British were without artillery, much fatigued, and few in number, uud carried their shot on their backs, they entered the eity, burnt the Capitol, the War Office, and the President’s house, taking good care first to examine every apartment, drink a little of the Pres ident’s wine, and 101 l on his lady’s sofa/’ ALEXANDRIA. The enemy continues the work of pillage i at Alexandria, but it will appear by the fol ilowini anecdotes, that although overtaken I by misfortune, the inhabitants of the kui ate town are not debased it. ■ \ la-ly »ho“? husband was alsser., with I|,. vMtirj of the place,- eifyeeuag Ike cus tom&ry visit of search, had provided her self with a brace of pistols, and met the Bri tish oilieer ou his arrival, with the following address—“ Sir, my husband is from home, iu the service of his country. The property you see before you, is all we possess, for the support of our children j he who first at tempts to deprive os of it, shall sutler death from my hand.” The officer viewed the heroine for a moment with amazement, and replied, “Madam, if the rulers of your na tion, possessed half your Spirit, we should not have been litre. 1 admire yottr'firm ness, aud pledge my hoftor that not a penny i of yoiir property shall be removed or in jured.” A number of citizens were solicited by British officers, to point out the property of the advocates of the war, as it was found ■impossible to remove ail the merchandize I w ith which the warehouses were stored, but i noi one could be found base enough to sepa ! *afe his individual interests from those of his suffering towusmeu. Brethrou in mis j fortune, all were determined to share acoui i moa fate. Fed. Republican. | AN ACTION IN THE POTOMAC! I A lady who left Alexandria on Saturday morning states that the enemy attempted on Thursday night to force a bomb vessel past the Itatteries erected by our gallant seamen on each side of the Potomac, but being com pelled to retire they sent up to Alexandria on Friday morning to lire ail the American shipping captur’d there, which was done. The frigates then preceded down the river to make a desperate effirrl to pass our forts, and a constant roar of heavy firing was | kept up from Friday evening till Mufulay ; morning, the interesting result of which is ; not known. The above facts may be relied J ba. Daily Compiler. Washington, Sept. 3. The enemy’s vessels are still in sight I being unable, from head winds, to move I down the river, if they were so disposed, i Meanwhile heavy flatteries have been erecl j ed on both sides of the Potomac some miles ■ below these vessels near which they must | pass to rejoin their squadron. These b<e | lies are posted and manned hy our gal I Cut seamen and flotilla-men, under HcdGers, Po rter, Perry, and other brave spirits and covered on each side hy large bodies of oirr militia and volunteer forces, wdio are detached for the service. From these preparations we hope to see an arrogant foe chastised in his descent with his plunder from Alexandria. This morning a bomb vessel from off’ Alexandria anchored, out of reach of our camion shot, oft" the White House (some miles below Mount Vernon, on the Virginia side) where a body of our men are stationed, and amused them for soifte hours with throwing bomb-shells at them, which how ever had no other effect than to accustom the militia to disregard this sort of annoy ance. The enemy appear* to have burnt two or three.small vessels off' Alexandria in the course of yesterday. From Benedict we leant, that in the course of Thursday night and yesterday j morning all the vessels iu the Patuxent got under way, and proceeded down that river, j destination unknown. ; September 2. We regret to learn that the expedition to Mackinaw, (Marhillim&ekin&e) under I col. Crughan has failed of its ultimate ob ; jecl.—We have received Col. Crogban’s uf j ficial account of it, which we shall publish |in our next. The public will grieve to j learn that an action wilfi the eneihy wks fatal to Maj. A. H. who lately so gallantly distinguished jumself afid many other* of ear brave soluilrl. t •Wan Bogfotr, August 31. LATEST FROM ENGLAND. We have conversed with several gentle men from Halifax, who left there ibd 23d inst. from whom wfe learn the following. The July Packet arrived at Halifax the fist from Falmouth, bringing London dates to the 20th July—Hliey contain very little respecting our affair* and nothing favohible to peace. The paper* state that all the A merican Commissioners, except Mr. Gallatin had arrived at Ghent* Mr. G wa* expected dally. The Britifln Commissioners had not left England, and the Packet brought a port that new ones had been appointed.^ - The paper* state tbal the army in Fra afe was very uneasy, and it was thought, a \&| wait not far distant between that coiinfl and Austria. A great military tpir.itjpj prevailed among the French. collecting their forces, and it was thouflH Louis would be forced into a war yj Austria. The French soldiers speak enthusiasm of their former successes, and consider Austria the cause of their degrada tion. The Allied Sovereigns had left En gland. A new frigate, With 13 sail of transports under her convoy, having on hoard two regts. (2000 strong) from the Mediterra nean, last from Bermuda, arrived about the 13th inst. and were waiting order*. A letter received in town, dated London, July 15th States, that our Commissioners were at Ghent but that the British Commis sioners had ndt left England, and expressed a doubt whether they would immediately or hot. ANOTHER NAVAL SUCCESS. London papers of the 15th July contain the particulars of the capture of the Brit- Tish brig RvinheeX, fated IS guns* Capt. MASsfcp.4, by the United States sloop Wasp, Capt. Blakely, after an action of 25 minute*, off the Land«-End, where the Wasp iuui been cruizing 14 (lays. The Reindeer being to windward, ran down aud engaged yard arm and yard arm; and twice, headed by ('apt. Manners, they attempted to board (he Wasp but were repelled, and c*pt. Manners killed. She lost also 27 killed, and GO wounded. The loss of the Wasp unknown—The Reindeer was so shattered that Capt. Blakeiy blew her up the next day ; and sent her crew to England in a neutral vessel. * A master of a vessel now in this town who was taken by the Reindeer about 10 months since, informs that she was as line a sloop of war as any in the British Navy, was of the first class, and mounted 21 guns, viz. 18 thirty-two pounders, carrouades, ! two long nines and i twelve pounder; and had a large complement of men, (as near as he could recollect about 200) who were all very much attached to their commander. He also states, that Capt. Manners was a very brave and gentlemanly man, and frequently declared he would never be tak en alive by any vessel near an equal force. it vtract of a letter, dated London, June 2* <( The gen. a! opinion here is, that ther© will not be uu . nmediate Peace w ith the U. States, or uot until this campaiu is con cluded. It is certain that if this govern ment chooses to prolong the war upon auy pretext, it w ill be supported to the last by the people—Even the manufacturers who were so inveterate against the Administra tion, and so friendly to America, whilst tho Orders in Council w ere in existence, are, the majority of them, iu favor of a coutiuu&uco of the War. “ 1 called at Mr. Gat.latin’s lodgings yesterday, and was informed, he left town ih the morning for Ghent ; where the rest as the American Plenipotentiaries will soon meet. 1 see no preparation for the depar ture of the British Commissioners—their appointment has not yet been announced in the official Gazelle. “ I*. 8. Since writing the above I have learnt, that the British Commissioners will leave London early in July for Ghent. Mr. Baker, left by Mr. Foster as Charge det •Affaire's at Washington is to be Secretary of Legation.” DIED, at Dungeness, Cumberland Isl and, on the evening of the 3d instant, Mrs. CATHARINE MILLER, relict of the lata Gen. Greene, in the 60tii year of her age. inst. Mrs. Hannah Jaillet , consort of Mr. Peter Jaillett, Merchant of that place. Bunk of Augusta, Tuesday, iilh September 481 j APPLICATIONS lor the appointment of Book Kkkpru, in Said Bank\ta a fill the vacancy, occasioned by the resigna- j tion of Mr. J. les Harrison, will be receiv- ed by the Cashier, until Tuesday moraine » the 20th instant. By order of the Board of Direction. ELKAZAR EARLY, Cashier. ' ■ Attention! THE Officers and Non-ConimisflHHj Officers of the FIRST ( LA J lu rch' emumamled to convene npposM . Moure's, on Grreii-sliret, on SattitfM precisely at 1 0 o'clock, A., \iggk pose of be’ng drilled. B'l Outer o/ / M J M'Tvi v "["*•),• >■ • • Attention I'M (T Th'j First < 'jni'iccci ii to A', * !■{?/,- JS ■ • u Jm ' "M t ** . ■ S' • ;, . ... A Fresh avion I.N v -V it l'. a u.c I'oi 7,,1 win be sale puichasers. jjffl Manaifi cf the . J September 15
