It is proper here to notice, that although but one third of the enemy's force was on duty when his works were carried, the whole we brought into action while we were employed in destroying his cannon. We secured prisoners from seven of his regiments, and know that the 6th and 82d suffered severely in killed and wounded, yet these regiments were not upon duty.

Lieut. Gen. Drummond broke up his camp, during the night of the 21st, and retired to his entrenchments, behind the Chippewa. A party of our men came up with the rear of his army, at Frenchman's Creek; the enemy destroyed part of their stores, by setting fire to the buildings from which they were employed in conveying them. We found, in and about their camp, a considerable quantity of cannon ball, and upwards of one hundred stand of arms.

I send you, enclosed herein, a return of our loss. The return of prisoners enclosed does not include the stragglers that came in after the action.

I have the honor, &c.

Hon. Sec'y War.

JACOB BROWN.

Report of the killed, wounded, and missing, in the above action.-Killed, 79-wounded, 216-missing, 216-total 511.

C. K. GARDNER, Adj. Gen.

Return of prisoners taken in the above action.Two Majors, 4 Captains, 4 Lieutenants, 1 Ensign, 1 Assistant-Surgeon, 4 staff sergeants, 19 sergeants, 17 corporals, 1 drummer, 332 rank and file-total 385. J. SNELLING, Insp. Gen.

During these operation, General Izard arrived with a reinforcement from Plattsburg, of 400 men, to sup

port the garrison at Erie ; but finding the garrison relieved by the retreat of the enemy, he ordered the fort to be destroyed, and retired into winter quarters at Buffalo.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

General Operations at the South.

CAPTURE OF WASHINGTON, &c.

In the spring of 1814, Commodore Barney took the command of a small flotilla of gunboats, to protect the inlets, and small rivers, that fall into the Chesapeake bay. About the 1st of June, the enemy entered the Chesapeake bay, and renewed their ravages, with greater severity than they had done the last year. Sharp and frequent rencounters took place, upon the water and upon the land; but the enemy succeeded in laying waste the country, and carrying off the negroes, through the months of June and July.

About the middle of August, the British entered the Chesapeake with a fleet of about 60 sail, including transports, under Admiral Cockburn, and landed about 6000 men at Benedict, on the Patuxent, under the command of general Ross.

On the 22d, general Ross reached the Wood-yard, (so called) twelve miles from Washington, where commodore Barney caused a large flotilla of gun-boats to be destroyed, to prevent their falling into the hands of the

enemy.

On the 23d, General Ross reached Bladensburg, six miles from Washington, where he dispersed the militia,

after a short resistance, and advanced to the city.Commodore Barney had assembled a small force in defence of the capital, with several eighteen pounders, and made a stand; but he was soon overpowered by numbers, wounded and taken prisoner, and the capital fell into the hands of the enemy. The navy yard was destroyed.

Here stands recorded one more display of British magnanimity. By order of General Ross, the capitol, the President's house, and executive offices were burnt.

The enemy retired on the night of the 25th, by rapid marches; regained their ships and embarked.

A detachment from this fleet visited Alexandria ; plundered the city, and carried off a quantity of flour, &c.

COM. BARNEY'S FLOTILLA.

Copy of a letter from Commodore Barney, to the Secretary of the Navy, dated

SIR,

Sunday, 26th June, 1814--10, A. M.

This morning, at 4, a combined attack of the artillery, marine corps, and flotilla, was made upon the enemy's two frigates, at the mouth of the creek; after two hours engagement, they got under way, and made sail down the river; they are now warping round Point-Patience, and I am moving up the Patuxent, with my flotilla. My loss is acting Midshipman Asquith killed, and ten others, killed and wounded--[3 killed, and 8 wounded.]

Mr. Blake, the bearer of this, was a volunteer in my barge--he will give you every other information.

With respect, &c.

JOSHUA BARNEY.

Hon. W. JONES,

Sec'y of Navy.

CHAPTER XXXV.

General Operations at the North.

MACDONOUGH'S VICTORY.

The darkest period of this ever memorable contest with Britain had now arrived. The storm of war had raged now two years and more, along the Canada frontier, and among the Indians at the south, and at this eventful moment Washington, the capital of the nation had fallen into the hands of the enemy; his ravages had marred the beauty of the city, and the public buildings were smoking in ruins. The storm of war howled along the American seaboard; New York was threatened with a formidable invasion, by a powerful fleet, and Wellington's invincibles were prepared to co-operate by a descent upon Plattsburg, and marching upon Albany. Under this dark and gloomy state of the war, Sir George Prevost, Gov. of Canada, marched upon Plattsburg, with an army of 14,000 men, to dislodge Gen. M'Comb, and ravage the state of New York. Čommodore Downie at the same time, moved with the squadron under his command to co-operate with Gen. Prevost, by destroying the American squadron under the command of Commodore Macdonough.

MACDONOUGH'S VICTORY.

Copy of a letter from Commodore Macdonough, to the Secretary of the Navy, dated

SIR,

U. S. S. Saratoga, off Plattsburg,

September, 11th, 1814.

The Almighty has been pleased to grant us a signal victory, on Lake Champlain, in the capture of one frigate, one brig, and two sloops of war, of the enemy. I have the honor, &c.

T. MACDONOUGH, Comg.

Hon. W. JONES, Sec'y of Navy.

FURTHER OF MACDONOUGH'S VICTORY.

Copy of a letter from Commodore Macdonough, to the Secretary of the Navy, dated

SIR,

U. S. S. Saratoga, Plattsburg Bay,

September, 13, 1814.

I have the honor to give you the particulars of the action, which took place on the 11th instant on this lake.

For several days the enemy were on their way to Plattsburgh, by land and water, and it being well understood, that an attack would be made, at the same time, by their land and naval forces, I determined to await,. at anchor, the approach of the latter.*

*The following list will shew the relative force of the two squad