Newspapers / The Weekly Raleigh Register … / Sept. 16, 1814, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The Weekly Raleigh Register (Raleigh, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
. T- ' Ptp by fMtj rt(ftA IHtllk Btlkr ! ' .J '" ' 1 11 J " ' ' ' 1 ' ' i ii i ' '" i ' J ' i" iii'i j 7Z'yT. ! ' FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16,1814. ' . ; ' ?. ; , : - .v ' y;..;,,. . TUB W'Wfl. r.'t nrotn Li O.L yofhun t$ the CU 'f etwy of li , dUcd .TThunJef Hay. ucttit. 1814. cir Wc Irft Fort Ghtiot (had rimJid ihit wcsbou'd arrive ?:ifd.v3at Mlchadash Bay At tXefidofa wcrk, hbwever, the PrmTioanrc, from thd want of piloU -aJ:oud with that antr.qacntcd Jirtcif thr LAe, despaired of being s'j to fiaJ out a pas?-gc through the 5. fCifrJi5,wherc he anchored oo Z soth'dav of July. Affcr'aetting Jesed co: to have bcenjrecemly oc T!j . -rirhment of iofantrv and J:i tiller Aiaior uoimes, was i:v-' crdtrcd op t- iut S'.jMarv's, for , ..u.cSi.nnr at tnat nlace. lCoofthi n!cr, l Degieavi to reicr -ttMaj. Hr sncs Teport herewith iwlwed. Finding, on my arrival at Mi;hJitxickinac,-on the pGth ult. that he ccnv h d strongly jfortihed the rh: overlooking the pld Fort of Mackinac. 1 at 0QCC Jcspured of bc- I . . f . r ic2ab,v.:th ail my force; to carry i t1-- c'icr tv storm, and determiner!, ' the on'v course refna'ming) on lining aud cU.bltsh'ng mysc!l on j soT.e t vo-.tb'e psitino, whence I j ccid be ta.b'.td to aonoy tne coem t ridual :r.d slow spproai hrs, um- izt ccver ot my artillery, in wnicn i should have tie supenonty m point cfm:tL I ra urged to adopt thi crpby anvthsr reason, not a little co pat; cou'-l a position be taken and fcrt;rd on the Mard, I was well a- rc thit i: wou'd either induce the caetEy to attack me in my strong holds, or force his Indians and C?n Cuns (his m -t efHcien Jand only di muMMo.'wc) off the Island, as they vculd be vcr uriwilhng to remain in mvDrighbo'hood after a perm ncnt LxUDghidbten tken. j Oa enquiry, I Itirrt-d trjm individuils who had lived rnmy year on the inland, that a pirion as desirable a3 I might rish,cculJ be found on the trest end, ::d thtrclore imme diately made ar negcxenti for disembarking. A liniias was effected oo (the 4lh inst. cpdsr cover of the guns of the ship r'r,aad the line being Ijuickfy foim ti, tzd advanced to the edge of the -;dspok?n of for a camp, when in ui'gfccc was conveyed to me, that ic enemy was a-hcad, and a few se cccda more brought us a fire from his ca::cry, of four pieces firing shot end s-l s, Aftfr retonnoitering his po cq; which was well elected ; his c rcachicg along ir e edge of the i?,at the funht.r extremity of the j'vi nj covered by t a temporary trriuwork ; I deter mjned jn chang ;5 my position, (which was now two jats.the militia lorming the fron ) sdvacdng iM-j. Holmes' battalion yitguhrs on the rigntof the militia, ioou:fiiuk him, arid by a vior c.!t to gain his rear. I h s "'Vc.Ticn: was immedi.tely ordcied, I befcre it could be executed a fire j 7 cptncj ov some r.vr,an!, nocted -a thick wood near our right, which - - iv. woou near our Pved fatal to iMuj. Hoi c'y wounded Capt. Dc Imcs and si1- esha. Ohe of- bc m rank.) iThis u.du ky depriving us oflthe services of ttou valuable officers, threw that woi the line into confusion, from -a:cnLhe best exertiori of the .. (Beers net allc to recover it. Finding Possible to gain the enemy's lei;, "e woods, a charge Was ordered to nude by the regulars immediately itl . nsomekonlusioj,ser- -Mrcm iv hence an aunoy ioR fire 5.kePP by the Tniians. 'nhC !u.MoTS was ordered uo r: 3 ySb P'ece to. assist the left now cularly pacd . lhcrcxcellc0t SI. lhl P'cce broubht the en-mt f crat ,.n?Cr kjUn- Discov-! uus disposition from whence'! the enemy had just been driven, (and which had been represented to me as so high and commanding) was by no means tenable, from being interspers ed with thickets, anb! intersected in cverv way by ravines ; I determined not longer to expose my force to the fire of an enemy deriving every ad vantage which could be obtained from numbers and a knowledge of the po sition, and therefore ordered ap im mediate retreat toward the f hipping. t This affair, which cost us many va luable lives leaves us to lament the fall of' that gallant officer,' Major Holmes, whose character is so well kn;iwn to the War Depart ment. Cap Vanhorn, of the 19th infantry and Lt. Jackon, of the 24 h infantry both brave .intrepid young men, fell mortally wounded at the head of their respective commands, i The condu t of all mv ffi ers on this occasion merits my approbation. ; C pt. Desha of the 24' h infantry, al-! thougn severely wouidfd. continued ! cvith his command uniil forced to J retire from famtness through loss of; blood. Capt. Saunders, Hawkins and Sturgess with every subaltern of that j battalion acted in the most cx- mpla-1 ry manner. En go Ur an, 2d rifle j r.:ct. ncring adjuunt to thr battalion, j a l 'iv t rwardea the wishes or the ommnding officer. L euts. Hi k-m-n, 28 h infantrv, and Hvde of the U. S. marines, who commanded ths rese ve, claim mv particu ar thanks i For their activity in keeping that com mand in readiness to meet any exi gency. I have before mentioned Lieut. Morgan's activity : his two assistants, Lieut. Pickett' and Mr. Peters conductor of artill . ry, alsj me ritthe name of good offi:cr. The militia, were wanting in no oart ot their duty. Col. Cotgreave, his officers and soldiers deserve the warmet approbation. My Acting Assistant Adjutant Gen. Capt. N. H. Moore, 2Sth infantry : with v lun- teer A jutant M'Comb, were prompt j j in delivering my orders. Capt. Gra tiot of the engineers, who volunteer ed his services s Adjutant on'the oc casion, gave me valuable assistance. Oo the moruing of the 5th I sent a flig to the enemy, to enquire into the j state of the wounded (two in number) j who were lett on the field and to re quest permission to bring away the body of Major Holmes, whxh was also left owing to the unpardonable neglect of the suldiers in whose hands he was placed. Liitn happy in as suring y2, that thr body of Mrijor Holmes is secured and will be buried at Detroit with becoming honors. I shall discharge the miltia to-morrow, and will send them down, to gether with two regular companies, to Detroit. With .the remaining three companies I shall attempt to destroy the enemy's establishment in the head of Naw-tcnu-iva-sa ga river, and if it be thought proper, erect a post at the m uth of that river. . Very respectfu'ly, I hive the honor to remain, sir, your most abedient ser vant, ' i G. CROGIIA.N-, Lt. Col. 2d Uifli Regiment, , ' Hon. John Arras too ; Sec ctary of War. Copy of a letter from Maj. A. H. Holmes, to Lt. CoL Crogban, dated On btard U A". Scorpion, 27th July, 114. Sir Pursuant to your orders of the inst. I left the squadron with L Turncr of the navy, and arrived at trie Sault St. Mufy'sjit noon the clay aPer ; two hours before, the North Western Agent had received notice of our approach and succeeded ' in escaping with a considerable a I mouat of goods after letting fire to the vessels above the falls. The design of this latter mcasu.eAvas frustrated only by the intrepid exertions of Mr. Turner, with his own men and a few of Cant. Saunders company; The vessel was b rough down the falls on the 25h,but having bilged, Mr.Turner. destroyed her Muchjo the goods we have taken were found in the woods, on the American side, and were claimed by the agent of John John 800 an Indian trader. I secured the property because it was good prize by the maritime law of nations, as recognised in the Eng lish courts, (witness the case of Ad miral Rodney adjudged by Lord Mansfield). Further, because John ston had acted the infamous part of a traitor having been a citizen and a magistrate of the Michigan territc ry, before the war and its commence ment, and now discharging the func tions of magistrate under the British government. Because his agent armed the Indians from his store hous,j at our approach : and lastly, because those goods or a considerable part were designed to be taken to Michiiimackioac. Pork, salt and groceries compose the chief part. Johnson himself passed to Michiii mackioac since the squadron arrived at St. Joseph With high respect. A. H. HOLMES, Major 32d Infantry. Lt. Col. CroGHAv, 2nd Kitie, Commanding. A true copj from the original report. N. II. iUOORB, Acting Adj't General Return of the killed, wounded and mining of a detachment camwinded by Uevt. Col. G.Crog han, in the nffuir of the 4th ofiugut 1814. On board U. S. Sloop of War Niagara 11th August, 1814. irtitt;ryt Wounded, 3 privates Inf'mtry. lT'h Regiment K.ll--d, 5 privates, wound ed, 2 siTeantt, 2 corporals, 15 privates, missing 2 privates. Two privates s nce dead. 19th Heg;ment Wounded, 1 capt. 9 pri. va'es. Cap.. J. Vanhorn since dead one p ivate since dead. 24Ah Regiment K'Ued, 5 privates, wound ed 1 captain, 1 li u . 3 sergeants, 1 corporal, 1 musician, 5 privates Capt. Desha severe ly ; Lieut. H. Jackson since dead ; one srrgant since dead. 32d gimentK.Ued, 1 mijor. Major A. M. Holm -a. Umied Statet Marine. ? Wounded 1 sergeant. Ohio Jllilitia. Killed 2 privates, wounded, 6 privates One private since dead of his wound. Grand TttaLl major 12 privates, killed. 2 captains, 1 lieut. 6 sergeants, 3 corpo- 1 muic.an, 33 privates, wounded. 2 privates missing. 4 The aboye return exhibits a, true state ment of the killed, wounded and missing in die afiair of the 4th inst. v N. H. MOORE, Capt. 23th Inft. Acting Assistant Adjutant Cca. i Lopy f a letter from Com, Chauncey to the Secretary of the Navy dated U. S. 8. Superior, ofF Kingston, August 10th, 1814. Srr. Great anxiety of mind ana severe bodily exertions have at length broken down the best constitution and subjected me to a violent fever that confined me for eighteen days. This misfortune was no more to be foreseen than prevented, but was particularly severe at the moment it happened, as it induced a delay of five or six days in the. sailing of the fleet. In the early part of Julv, I expect ed the fleet would be made ready for sailing by the 10th or lth ; but ma ny of the mechanics were taken sick, and amongst them the blockmakers antl blacksmiths, so that the Mohawk could not be furnished with blocks and iron work for her gun and spar decks before! the 24th or 25th ultimo, when she was reported ready by Capt. a 1 li Jones. As consiaeraoie anxiety nau been manifested by the public to have the fleet on the Lake. I : should have asked Capt. j Jones to take charge of it and go out, but I was then recover ing my health, and was conndent I should be able in three or four days to go on board myself. There was an additional reason for submitting to this delay in the difficulty. I found in mAing the changes of comman ders, neither of them being willing to be seperatcd from his officers and men, and a change of crews through the tieet being inadmissible. In the afternoon of the 31st July I was taken on board, but it was calm, and I did not sail before the next morning. To satisfy at once whate ver expectations the public had been led to entertain of the sufficiency of this squadron to take and maintain the ascendancy on this lake, and at the. same time to expose the futility of promises, the fulfilment of which had been rested on our appearance at he head of the lake, I got underway at 4 o'clock in the morning of the I st inst. and steered for the mouth of the Niagara. Owing, to Tight winds; I did not arrive off there before the 5th There we intercepted on e of the ene my's brigs running ovef from York to Niagara with troops, j and ran her on shore about six miles to the west ward of Fort George. I ordered the Sylph in, to anchor as near to the en emy as she could with safety, and to destroy her. Capt. Elliot ran in in a very gallant manner to within from 300 to 500 yards of her and was about anchoring, when the enemy set fire to her and she soon after blew up. This vessel was a schooner the- last year, and called the Beresford since they altered her to a brig they chang ed her name, and Ihavenotbeenajble to ascertain it. She mounted 14 guns, 12 24 pound carronades and 2 long 9 pounders. . Finding the enemy had two other brigs and a schooner in the Niagara river, I determined to leave a force to watch them, and selected the Jeffer son, Sylph and Oneida fpr that pur pose, and p ace V the whule under the orders of Captain Ridgcly. Having lo6ked iuto York withou: discovering any vessel of the enemy, I left Niaga ra with the remaining of the squadron on the evening of the 7th, and arrived here On the 9ih. We found one of 'he eqemy's ships ia the offing, and chased her into Kingston. Mv anxiety to return to this end of the' lake was increased by the know ledge I had of the weakness of Sdck ett'a Harbor, and the apprehension that the enemy might receive large re inforcements at Kingston,; and, em barking some of the troops on board his fleet, make a dash at the Harbor and burn it with all my stores during our absence. When I left the Har bor there weie .but about 700 regular troops fit for duty. It is true a few militia had been called in, but little could be expected rf them should an attack be made. My apprehension, it seems, was groundless the enemy having contented himself with annoy ing in some trifling degree the coast ers between Oswego and the Harbor in his boats. I I cannot forbear expressing the re gret I feel that so much smati n has been exrited in the public mind, be cause th'13 squadron did not sail so soon as the wise-heads -'that conduct our newspapers have presumed to think I outfit. I need not suggest to one of y ur experience, that a man of war may appear to the eye of a landsman perfectly ready for sea when she is deficient in many of tfie most essential points of her armis ment, nor how unworthy I should have proved myself of the high trust reposed in me, had I ventured to sea in the face of an enemy of equal force, without being ready to meet? rum in 1 hour after my anchor wa3 weighed. It ought in justice to be recollect ed, that the building and equipment of vessels on the Atlantic are unat tended by any of the great difficulties which we have to encounter on this Lake ; there every department a bjunds with facilities. A comman der makes a requisition, and ai tides: of every description are furnished in twelve hours ; but this fleet has been built and fitted in the wilderness, where there are no a cents and charicU lers shops and foundering, &c. &c to J supply ouriwants, but every thing is to be created ; and yet I shall not de cline a comparison of what has been done here, with any thing done on the Atlantic, in the building and equip ment of vessels. The Gue riere, for instance has been building and fitting upwards of twelve months in the City of Philadelphia, and is not yet ready. The President frigate went into the Navy Yard at New-York for some partial repairs, a few days after the keel of the SuperiorCwas laid ; since then two frigateof a large class, and two sloops of war oftho largest class, have been built andjfitted here, and have sailed before the President ready for sea, althobgh every article of their armament and rigging has (been transported from New York in despite of obstacle almost msurmoun table.. I will go farther; sir!, for it is due to the unremitted and unsurpass ed exertions of those who have serv ed the public under my command, and will challenge the world to' produce a parallel instance, in which the same number of vessels of such dimensions have been built and fittecfin the same timeby the same number of workmen I confess that I am mortified in not having succeeded in satisfying! the expectations of the public, but it would be infinitely more r painful) cou d I find any want of zeal or exer tion in my endeavors to servc there to which I could in any degree impute, : their disappointment. j ! M' I have he honor to be, i sir, with the utmost respect, bur most obedi ent and very humble servant. ISAAC CHAUNCEY Hon. Wm. Jones, i Secretary of the Navy. j Copy of a letter from Major Generdl &roivny to Commodore Cftauriceg Head Q jarters, Queenstown, . July laib. 1814. My Dear Si r--I arrived at this place on the 10th, as I afeSU'ed you that with the blessing of God I would All accounts agree that! the force . of the enemy in Kingston is( very . light meet ma jon the Lake shore, ' north of Port George with jyour fleet and we will be able, I have no doubt, to settle a plan of operation that will break the power of the enemy in Up per . Canada, and that in the course of a short ti me. At all events let me hear from you ; I have looked for ycur. fleet with the greatest anxiety' since the lOth. I do not doubt my a bility to meet the enemy in the field'; and tojinarch in any direction ovef his ! country j your fleet carrying for me the necessary supplies, j .We can threaten Forts George-and Niagara and carry Burlington Heights ancl York and proceed ",to Kingston and carry that placed ;Fbr pod's sake ' '.' 'et roe see you ; Sir James will not fight, two of his vessels are now ia Niagar a River. :- - , If you conclude to meet me at the' head of the Lake and tfnt immediate- , ly,jhave the goodness to bring ;tffe guns and troops that I have ordered from the Harbor ; at ait- events have the politeness to let me know what aid I am to -expect from the, fleet of of Lae Ontario. . . There is not a doubt resting id my mind, but that we have between us the command of suflicient; means to couquer Upper Canada witttiil two months, if there is a prompt and zeal ous' co-operation and a vigorous ap-: plication of these means , now is out time before the enemy, can be greatly reinforced. Yours truly, (Signed) JACOB BftOWIf. . Commodore Chaunchv. i Copy f of a letter from Com .Chauncey to Jlaj. Gem Brown dated ' ' U. S. SSuperior, off Kingston, August 10, 1814. ; Sir Your letter of the 13th ult. was received by me to a sick bed9 hardly able to hear h readand entire- ' ly unfitted to. reply to it. jI,Howev er,reque ted, Gen. Gaines jto "acquaint . you with my siturdon, trie probable time of the fleets sailing, and my views of the extent of the coopera tion with the army, i From the tenor 'of yoir letter, it wou!d appear that you had calculated muchupon the co operation of the fleet. - Youl, cr.nnot surely - Have for gotten the conversation we field on th'13 subject at Sackett'i Ilarbof, pre vious to ycur departure fpr Niagara. I then professed tcV; feet itjmy dttty a I well as inclination toaffard every as- to co-operate, with it henever it, could be done without losing -sight of th is. great ' ciject,-for the ! attainment of which this fleet hafjeetttbreated t . vft t the,caj t ure or destruction of ' the, enemy's 'fleet f but :I, thch dis, " tinctly.statcd to you, thatj tiis1 was a primary object, and would be firstV tempted j and that you roust not ex ; pect the fleet at the head .of the lake unless that of the enemy j should in duce us to follow him there II 1 1 1 0. p. h' V f ti A: X'S-. "" 1 1 if il : f .-. Xt v ' f 5 T . Iff i U i
The Weekly Raleigh Register (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Sept. 16, 1814, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75