Athens gazette. (Athens, Ga.) 1814-18??, October 06, 1814, Image 2

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‘*jf the* The tvT.bld j cost about 150001. The lire works 1 Cost 40001.. A thanksgiving ‘servir* was performed in St. Paul's Church; where 3eats were provided for 6000 persons. : The celebrated, Gen. Kosciusko has returned to Poland* The Em peror Alexander wishes to revive the Polish throne—one of his brothers to be King. The I'renqh Government has been officially notified by the British of the blockade of the whole coast of the , TJniied States. Cobv r a letter from Captain Perry to the Secretary ,6f the Navy, dated. Gir>rj!jeto\rn, September 9, 1814. SlP—The Battery’ under mv di rection at the Indian Head, was of too small calibre to make much im pression on the enemy as they de <eeende(| the Potomac on the sth inst. A single 19 pounder which arrived only thirty minutes before the firing began, ill supplied with ammunition, xvas the only gun that could be of much service. The field pieces poundersJ tin ker the direction of that excellent Officer Major Peter, of the George town, and capt. Birch of the Wash ington volunteers, and captain Lew is of Geiieral Srewari*s brigade, kept tip a very spirited ‘.ire. These offi cers, ‘together with Captains Smll «nd Davidson* and their brave men, : behaved in the handsomest manner, j <ind rendered all the service their limited means afforded. , v - j The ammunition of the 18- poun der and several of the sixes lacing ex» 1 pend?d ; and the fire of the enemy from two frigates, two sloops of War, two bombs, one rocket ship and sev r em) sin dier vessels, being very hea vy ; it was thought advisable by General Stewart. Major Peter and myself to retire a short distance in the rear. Phis was done in good order, after sustaining their lire for more than hour. General Stew art and Col. Beall, were- much expos* cd during the whole time of the it would be presump tion . in me to speak- in co rumen * daiion of ibyse yeterans—l can not, however, avoid expressing nW admiration oT their conduct. The few seamen (ot the GueriiereJ un der the imrhediate command oP Lt. Head of the Java, exhibited their usual braver)*. Indeed,in the whole of this itff.iir everv officer and man did Ins duiv. Major Stewart of the 3,6 th regiment of infantry was constantly with me and rendered all the assistance in his power.. The advantageous position we oc cupied prevented the enemy from doing ms much »njury. Only one was. wotmded. 1 Ini ye the hpnor to- be, very res ncctfulfv, Vour most ob’t servant. o. H. perky:. JHon. W, Jonks, Secretary oj’ the Navy. &ofy of letter from Com . Rodgers to the Secretary of the Navy, dated Baltimore, §4pu 9. 1814. . SIR-—ln pursuance of your instruc tions, I have to inform you, that on The 3d inst. I proceeded dowu the Potomac with three small fire vessels tinder the protection of 4 barges or cutters, manned with about sixty sea imen, armed with muskets, destined against two of the enemy’s frigates *nd a bomb-ship',- which lay about £ 1-2 m.iles below Alexandria. At 9 A. M. in\«clvance of the fire vessels in my gig, finding no colors displayed at Alexandria, but -a Swe dish Emdgn on board a schooner— 1 being near the wharves, I hailed ahd ordered the American flag to be hoisted ; after seeing the flag hoisted Xdirected the fire vessels (which were conducted by Lieut. Newcomb, U’e'iC. Forrest, and Sailing Master IU <ageJ-to proceed on to fee object sii I have no doubt, would lu.-c succeeded ip destroying two at and of iheKenemy*B ships had not the v u and failed them some time before Sc lculary alter they had reached the uppermost ships within the range of musket shot. At this- time per ceiving the whole of the euemy** barges in motion, I directed Lieut. Newcomb, who commanded the van vyssel, after giving her a proper di rection, to set fire to hep ;.aud after Air. Ramage came up, gave him The. same orders ; the vessel under charge of Rent. Forrest was fired by ihg pilot without orders, some dis- - tnpec above the others* Ot tlie enemy’s boats, some c^nployed in towing oft* the fire-ves sels, and the rest In pursuit of our four cutters, my own gig, and a small boat with thruo.oars without a rud der ; they did not however, venture to come within musket shot, aUho” their force and numbers wtre more rhtoO treble ours, bm continued at a distance, firing their great guns’ for dOor So minutes, and theb retired to their ships again* On the 4th msi I had another fire- J vessel prepli ed, hnt it being culm, I / ordered L cut. New conib and the tear VJLCT&, ( to tvith use of l ‘ £. I the fetflairtiOff of la : yara, • having an 18 poun&ev in ger, to attack the bomb ship, which in the anx ‘etvofthe enemy to get below ihetera ?vira**y forts erecting by my gallant ssociutes Capis. Porter ami Perry had been left exposed to attack. At sun-set, just as I was about to give .orders to attack the bomb, I discov ered one oftbe enemy’s frigates be hind the point forming the entrance of Washington’s reach) which neces sarily obliged me to relinquish this determination* and give orders to proceed across, 16 the Virginia shore to haul up the boats and place the lighter in a situation to be defended against the enemy’s barges. Having reeonnoitered the enemy on returning to the Lighter at <J P. M. seized a man under suspicious circumstances, on the Beach near to a small boat, about a mile above the enemy’s uppermost ship, that again induced me to change my position to the opposite side of the river, where after getting the cutters hauled up, placing the lighter in an advantage ous position,and.my musket men on the top of a cliff overtaking the river, I was at 11 P Ml attacked by all the enemy’s barges, but which, by the cool intrepidity of Lieut. Newcomb, having charge of the lighter, assisted by Lieut. Forrest Sailing Master Rani age, M, Mate Stockton and Midshipman Whitlock and 45 seamen with muskets, the en emy was not only repulsed but in less than 20 minutes thrown into the ut most confusion and driven back to his ships,and I have sufficient reason to believe with great loss, altho’.the only injury sustained on our r part was one man wounded on board the ligh ter. ;( V ‘V ‘ ‘ The enemy thus repulsed and no prospect of doing hint further in jury in this way, as his rearmost ship was not more than a mile dis tant,, I had the lighter shifted further up, and at 7 A. Mr a fire vessel brought down for the purpose af as sailing him in conjuction with the battery at the White House, under the command of captain Porter—.bnt in this I was again disappointed, as that excellent officer, after Using evt ry possible exertion, was not able in so short a time as had been afforded him to erect a work sufficiently strong, ; to check the enemy any length of time ; otherwise, con ceived I should have found no diffi culty* in effecting his distraction. - At the time the enemy silenced the battery, the fire ship, under? full sail was about a mile above his I Uppermost vessels, when I found my self under the necessity ~<>f order- j dering her to be set on fire and at the same time,our boats to retire to prevent their being taken possession of by his numerous barges. 1 Although I did not succeed in the of any of the 1 vessels, I am nevertheless convinced, thar. the expedition • was in many, j pptnts of view attended with good effect, consequently I feel it a duty to recommend to your notice the of ficers and seamen engaged in the same ; as, in two of the fire vessels, lieut, Newc%mb and S. Master Ra vage manifested so much, zeal, as to continue on board, steering them, until they were enveloped in flames’ & obliged to jump ovei board to avoid sharing the fate of th>e vessels them selves. lam also Indebted to the .exertions ot Lt. forrest, who volun teered his services and although ve ry much indisposed at the time af forded all the-assistance in his pow er. ; _ Permit me at the same time to re commend to your attention Mr. Stockton, Masters Mate, who not on ly rendered me essential service as an acting Aid-de-camp, bu'Tin eve- ‘ ry other situatibn manifested a zeal and intrepidity not to be shaken : al so, Midshipman Whitlock, whose 1 conduct in every part of the service 1 highly approve. Mr. Thomas Herbert a young gentleman of Alex andria, and Mr. Perry, Pilot, who volunteered their services, also de serve well of their country., 1 he conduct of the seamen for en ergy and patriotism, was not even excelled by that of their officers. At the time I took possession of Alexandria, there were »500 pounds of fresh btef lying on the wharfs rea dy to be delivered to the boats of the enemy’s ships, which were then only 2 1-2 or 3 miles below the Town, and I mention this to shew the state that place uasiivat the time. In justice to Major Kemper, com. mao ding a detachment of the militia of Ccn Huugerford’s it is but proper I mention, that on taking possession of Alexandria lui immedi ately marched his detachment to my assistance and which at odte secured the town against any force tiie ehemy could send back. The quantity of flour the-enemy was enabled to t ike from Alexandra 1 found mi enquiry to be no! move than between Ujand 16,000 ban v is. As respects the manner of my re ception t,y the cit<z£*ns of AlexanC* , when l luiidv'd and look possessive o‘. vjua place, l sIuJJ, iutgraj yaiu hereafter in a sMfflSfe cfirmmuulo tion. With great respect, I have the honor to be, sir, votir ob*t servant* JOHN RODGERS. The hon. W. J>vs, Secretary of the Navy, CAPTAIN PORTER’S LETTER. Copy of a letter front Capt % Porter to The Secretary of the Navy , dated Washington, Sept, 7, 1814. Slß—Agreeable to jrour orders of the 31st ult. I proceeded with the detachment of Sailors St Marines under my com maud, to the White . House on the west bank of the Poto mac, there to erect batteries and at tempt the destruction of the enemy's ships on their passage down the riv er. Capt. Creighton. Lt. Clack and several other navy officers, as well as Mr. Augustus Monroe, Mr. Ferdi nand Fairfax, and several other citi zens Sc officers of Militia Sc Volun teer companies, hearing of my desti nation, volunteered their services on the occasion, and ably supported me thro* the arduous and fatiguing en terprise. By proceeding my men I arrived in company with the Hon. Secretary of State and Gens. Hun gerford and Young, on the evening of the first instant, on the spot fixed on, where I founds few militia be longing to General liungerford’s ar- < , my, clearing away the trees to make ] roorrt for mountiugouj* cannon, which | had not vet arrived, but which had been seen on their way down, con sisting of three long eighteens and two twelves. Generals liungerford. and Young.had. received orders to with me to detach men on my requisition, and make such dis* position of their forces as would cf lectnally protect me m the rear in the event of the landing ; the positions were to occupy were also allotted to them by mutual agreement, when the enemy sho’d at tempt to pass, as it was believed that concealed by the thick woods on the high bank they would be, enabled to clear the enemy’s decks with their musketry, and in a great measure divert his, fire from our battery.* At the moment of my arrival, one of the enemy’s vessels of war a brig of IS guns wasscen coming up, Gen. Hungerford and his men took their position in the woods ;• and two small four pounders that instant arriving, I cadsed them planted oh the edge of the bank, and on the enemy arriving abreast of us we opened a brisk fire on him; having a fine breeze he was enabled to pass us* but could fire only one broadside as he crossed the fire of our field pie ces and musketry ; the militia con tinued following him up along the bank and greatly annoyed” him by their well directed fire. In this af fair we had only one man wounded, and we belieyed our elevated, posi-: tion rendered breast works useless, as ,it was remarked that none hut the enemy’s grape passed over us, his round shot went into the bank below. No men could have shown more zeal on the occasion than those com posing the army and if they commit ted any errors which) gave rise to confusion, they proceeded from an over desire to injure the enemy. Os the conduct of the sailors and ma rines,, f deem it Unnecessary to say any thing; their conduct on such occasions has ever been uni form. The'evening of our arrival two 18 pounders reached our posi- j tion, and next morning one of the | Bomb Ships and 2 barges, j one carrying a long two and thirtyy| the other a mortar, commenced) their operations upon us, the first i throwing shells- in front, beyond the j reach of our shot; the other flank--j inguson our right ; Several shells j fell near and burst over our battery, j and although the firing lasted all dsy * without intermission, it hadnoothiit* : effect thanfto accustom the militia to . the danger. l(n the afternoon I took an IS pounder to a more advanced point, about a mile distant, and com menced a fire on the Bomb Ship, which did so much execution as to ; draw on me the fiire of all their ves sels, including a schooner and an 18, gun brig which had dropped; down that day* On the 3d the enemy l was rt »nforced from above by ano ther, bomb. ship and a sloop of.war fitted up as a rocket ship. The lat ter anchoring within reach of our bat-4 tery, we,were enabled to play with great effect and compelled her change her position. All this day .and the succeeding night the enemy kept up a brisk* fire on us of shot; sheßs and rorkets, in the course of the day iht ir prizes from Alex andria anchored above them, and out of reach of our cannon, she work of our battery went on ; five light field pieces from four to six •pounders arrived and were planted, J .and we httd every hope of soon re- ‘ jCviving some long thirty two pourp /s from Washington; wc built a furnace for hot shot, and time only ; pea red, necessary to make our dues formidable- ‘1 he while of the 4Ui ti.ti til an intend srt v.a %est tip tiy and dan j he had once attempted landing at j night, it was supposed with an inten- j tion of spiking the guns of our baite- ( ry, but were repulsed by the picket j “guard. My former plan of annoy ing him by advancing guns was adopted to better effect than before. The rocket ship laying'close in shore was much cut up by a twelve pounder and two sixes carried to a point ; scarcely a shot missed his hull ad for one ‘hour we drew to this point. the fire of all the enemy’s Torch. The cool indifference of my sailors to the dangers to which they were exposed was very remarkable, and the intrepidity of Captain Griffith of of the Alexandria Artillery, his offi cers and men merit the highes eulo giums, they fought their six poun ders until their ammunition was ex pended, and coolly retired with their guns, when ordered to do so, under a shower of the enemy’s shot. We now, as - if by mutual consent, were employed to make carriages* two pounders arrived, Carpenters were employed to make carriages^ ; two mortars, a large quantity ot am munition, and an abundance of shot and shells reached us , two barges were equipping and every thing promised that we should be speedily put in a proper state for annoying the enemy. In the evening t.vo fn gates-anr.hored alone above us, mak ing his whole force , ~ ‘ GUN’S. Two Frigates, carrying, 9(S Three Bomb .Ships, 80 One Sloop of. War fitted as ? a Rocket ship* “ One Brig, ■ ,18 One; Schooner, ‘• 1 Two Barges, 2 Total / 173 The guns mounted on the battery, were three 18 pounders, tv/o 12, pounders, six G pounders and two fours. My two mortars were with out carriages, -as were all my thirty two’s, Tqr notwithstanding every ef fort was made by the government at~ Washington to have them made there as by myself on the spot, they could hot be completed in-time. On the morning of the 6th, the enemy showed a disposition to move. I advised General llungerfordoftlie. same, Sc prepared to meet them with hotshot. About 12 o’clock.the two frigates got under way with a fair wind and tide, and stood down torus, The rocket sloop, bomb ship vessels, brig, schooner and prizes in succession, the gun boats endeav oring to flank us on our right, I immediately dispatched an officer*to Gen. Hunger ford, to request him to take the position agreed Upon in the woods on the heights, but from the t distance of his camp and the quick ; approach of the enemy, he was un- ‘ able to march before the tiring com menced, and after that period, almost impossible, as I have understood from the vast quantities of shot, shells and rockets which were show ered over the hills and fell among jus troops. As the enemy approached a well directed fire was kept tip from the battery with hot and cold shot, and my brave officers and men stood the ; broadsides of the ships with unpar- j railed firmness. I anxiously expect* ; ed the militia would open their fire \ of musquetry, but was disappointed \ —the cause was not explained until after the firing ceased. Finding that the whole of the enemy’s fire was directed at my force, and that in a few minutes ail his force would be brought to bear on me, and taining no hopes of preventing his passing ) as same of my men had already been killed and wounded, I determined not to make an useless sacrifice ; and when the enemy was on the point of. anchoring abreast the battery, after sustaining his lire j one hour and a quarter, I directed j the officersarul men to retire behind a hill on our left, and be iff readiness *o charge.the enemy if he should I land to spike our guns The two frigates anchored abreast, the bombs, j sloops and smaller vessels passed I outside them, all pouring into the j battdry and neighboring woods a tremendous fire ofeveiy description of missive.- In the woods on tho left, a company of riflemen Jefferson county, Virginia, under Captain G. W. f Humphreys, greatly distinguished themselves by a bvvll directed fire on the enemyV decks, as did a company of militia, under \ command of Capt. Gena, who was posted by me on the right. The first lost one man killed, and one sergeant and four privates woun ded* [The remainder of Capt. Porter's lelWr is taken up in awarding to the several corps placed under his com- ) mand that tribute of praise to waich their conduct and bravery, both as .officers and men, enCilied ; them—.j Jle concludes with observing that our loss on the occasion, in killed wounded, was about fiu—liiat uIUC that ol the enemy would never be known by us, it must have been con si dualde* and ibatiic- bad a %«r -« f>fcda titter (hts& vv'bicU wjvjl a (for ward s heard to explode* but its ti** feet was not known.] —Ed. Gaz. 1 S ‘ GLORIOUS NEWS* ‘ V* r ASitiXGTTf/> City, Sept. 19* Copy r>f i letter from Com M'DonnrtngU \<f • *l»c Secretary of the* Navy, dated U. S. Ship Saratoga , ojf’ Plattsburgh Sc'ot. 11. Slß—The Almighty has l> v*ik pleased to grant us a signal VIC 1 O RY on Lake Champlain. in the cap ture of OXK. KhIGATK, one Bill Qt and two sloops of war. I havt the honor to be, very rc#* pectiuily, ob*t serv't, i TTMACDONOITGIt, Hon. ir.v Jones* Secretary of the Navy* -ijw >m Copy of a letter from Gen. Macomb to tlj'v Secretary of War, dated at fort Morca.i September 10, 1814. * * Stn—l have the honor to inform* • you that the H: itish army consistin t r «f four brigades, acm of artillery, a squadron of horse, and a strong* light corps, amounting in all to l4.oCoine > n, after investing tills place on the north of Saranac river sino the £th inst, broke up their camp and, raised the siege this morning a t two oMocki i hey arc now retreating precipi • truck, leaving their sick and wound ed behind. The enemy opened his batteries yesterday morning, and cbniinuedf “ the cannonading, bombarding and rocket fuipg until sun set; by this * lie clip batteries had completely tilei'.ced those of, their opponents. *i he light troops and militia aro now m full pursuit of the enemy, mr.- king prisoners in all directions. De seitcrs arc coming in, so that th© loss ol the British army in this en* tei prize* w ill be considerable. / A hioie detailed report will bf> made of the siege and circumstances attending it as early as possible. The officers and men have all done their duty./ The artillery auj eng nice is have performed their’ functions with a zeal and precision ihighiy creditable to themselves, a.id honorable to their country. Our loss is trifling indeed, having one officer and 15 men killed* *n& one officer and 50 men wounded. ‘l iifc militia of New York and the. volunteers of Vermont, have beeib exceeding serviceable, and have c* vinced u degree of patriotism and bravery worthy of themselves and \ the states to which they respective# ly belong. iHe strength of the garrison v% only 15.(X), effective men rank Sc file* I have the honor to be with feci respect, your most obedient sent a v ? nt » > A. MACOMB* ‘a». the Hon Secretary at War. In addition to the above we lcarsji that the naval battle was most sab* gumary ,* that the British lost lo& killed on, board their largest ‘vessel*, and that our total loss was 1 lo killed* and 13v) wounded. Every officer oa board our commodore's Vessel was* or wounded, except himself* The British commodore was killed the first shot. Gloria Deo ! Glorifc Patriae. Minerva Office , Sept* 21st. The following is a copy of a letter this moment received from out? attentive correspondent at VVasii ington City. I Washington City , Sept. 18 th -'Dear Sir—lntelligence has just reached us, that the British army un~ <ler Sir George Prevost, aided by | four major generals of experience ; have- on the llth inst. been*coin* ; pjetely defeated with the loss of be* ; tiveep two ?pd three thousand killed*, wounded and prisoners. fleet attacked ours at the same moment, the action terminated in the surren der of ail their large vessels, some of? their (tallies made their escape—the* British Commodore was killed. Yours faithfully. GEO SVYEENEY. A Lucas,Esq. i he British Generals are Brisbane* Powers, Packingham, De Bottenbui and Robinson. , , ‘ Copy of a letter from the Post Master as Platt s'. Jurg, to the Editor of the Albany Av gus, dated Sunday morning September UiiW II “dock. ■ ~ r SIR—I have the pleasure to an nounce to 3 ou, that after an action af two hours this morning, Commodore M'Dmaugh* our Nasal command task the whole British force on this Lake, with the exception ol 5 or 6- galbes that made, their escape. ‘Th?. * vescK captured are l frigate of 3* guns, 2 sloops of 10 guns each and several gallies—l saw the action which hak just closed; the battle w&5 in Pluttsburg Bay ; 1 wait with u*»y the event of the battle now pen-, (bug <«ii the land, I have strong hopt*. s there likewise ; but it is very . and we have to contend with euttu Stilish regulars, i iVfr shore ofihc River is lined with our militia and about 3 or 4000 volunteers from Ver mont, which the enemy must can