Gen. Stansbnry had taken. They had barely reached the ground before the action commenced, which was about 1 o'clock P. M. of the 24th inst. and continued about an hour. The artillery from Baltimore supported by Maj. Pinkney's rifle battalion, and a part of Capt. Doughtey's from the navy yard, were in advance to command the pass of the bridge at Bladensburgh, and played upon the enemy, with very destructive effect. But the rifle troops were obliged after some time to retire, and of course the artillery. Superior numbers however rushed upon them and made their retreat necessary, not however without great loss on the part of the enemy. The right and centre of Stansbury's brigade consisting of Lieut. Col. Ragan's and Shuler's regiments, generally gave way very soon afterwards, with the exception of about 40, rallied by Col. Ragan, after having lost his horse, and the whole or a part of Capt. Shower's company, both of whom Gen. Stansbury represents to have made, even thus deserted, a gallant stand. The reserve under Brig. Gen. Smith of the District of Columbia, with the militia of the city and Georgetown, with the regulars and some detachments of Maryland militia, flanked on their right by Com. Barney, and his brave fellows, and Lieut. Col. Beal, still were on the right on the hill, and maintained the contest for some time with great effect. It is not with me to report the conduct of Com. Barney, and his command, nor can I speak from observation, being too remote, but the concurrent testimony of all who did observe them, does them the highest justice for their brave resistance and the destructive effect they produced on the enemy. From the best intelligence, there remains but little doubt that the enemy lost at least four hundred killed and wounded, and of these a very unusual portion killed.. Our loss cannot, I think, be estimated at more than from thirty to forty killed, and fifty to sixty wounded, and one. hundred and twenty prisoners. I am, with very great respect, &c. WILLIAM H. WINDER. Com. Barney to the Secretary of the Navy. Farm, at Elk ridge, Aug. 29, 1814. [Extract.] SIR-This is the first moment I have had it in my power to make a report of the proceedings of the forces under my command since I had the honor of seeing you on Tuesday, the 23d inst. at the camp at the Old Fields.' On the afternoon of that day we were informed that the enemy was advancing upon us. Our army was put into order of battle and our positions taken; my forces were on the right flanked by the two battalions of the 36th and 38th regiments. A little before sunset Gen. Winder came to me and recommended that the heavy artillery should be withdrawn, with the exception of one 12 pounder to cover the retreat. We took up the line of march in the night, and entered Washington by the Eastern Branch bridge. The Gen. requested me to take command and place my artillery to defend the passage of the bridge on the Eastern Branch, as the enemy was approaching the city in that direction. I immediately put my guns in position, leaving the marines and the rest of my men at the barracks, to wait further orders. I was in this situation when I had the honor to meet you, with the President, and heads of Departments, when it was determined I snould draw off my guns and men, and proceed towards Bladensburgh, which was immediately put into execution. On our way I was informed the enemy was within a mile of Bladensburgh; we hurried on, though the day was very hot, and my men much crippled from the severe marches we had experienced the preceding days. I preceded the men, and when I arrived at the line which separates the District from Maryland, the battle began. I sent an officer back to hasten on my men they came up in a trot. We took our position on the rising ground, put the pieces in battery, posted the marines under Capt. Miller, and flotilla men, who were to act as infantry under their own officers, on my right, to support the pieces, and waited the approach of the enemy. During this period the engagement continued-the enemy advancing, and our army retreating before them-appari ently in much disorder. At length the enemy made his appearance on the main road in force and in front of my battery, and on seeing us made a halt; I reserved our fire; and in a few minutes the enemy again advanced, when I ordered an 18 pounder to be fired, which completely cleared the road; shortly after, a second and third attempt was made by the enemy to come forward, but all who made the attempt were destroyed. The enemy then crossed over into an open field and attempted to flank our right. He was there met by three 12 pounders, the marines under Captain Miller, and my men acting as infantry, and again was totally cut up. By this time not a vestige of the American army remained, except a body of five or six hundred posted on a height on my right, from whom I expected much support from their fine situation. The enemy from this period never appeared in front of us. He however pushed forward his sharp shooters, one of whom shot my horse from under me, which fell dead between two of my guns. The enemy, who had been kept in check by our fire nearly half an hour, now began to ont flank us on the right. Our guns were turned that way-he pushed up the hill about two or three hundred men towards the corps of Americans stationed as above described, who, to my great mortification made no resistance, giving a fire or two and retiring. In this situation we had the whole army of the enemy to contend with; our ammunition was expended, and unfortunately the drivers of my ammunition waggons had gone off in the general panic. At this time I received a severe wound in my thigh. Finding the enemy now completely in our rear and no means of defence, I gave orders to my of ficers and men to retire. The great loss of blood occasioned such a weakness that I was compel ed to lie down. I requested my officers to leave me, winen they obstinately refused, but upon being ordered, they obeyed: one only remained. In a short time I observed a British soldier and had him called, and directed him to seek an officer; in a few minutes an officer came, who, on learning who I was, brought Gen. Ross and Admiral Cockburn to me. These officers behaved to me with the most marked attention, respect, and politeness; had a surgeon brought, and my wound dressed immediately. After a few minutes conversation, the General informed (after paying me a handsome compliment,) that I was paroled, and at liberty to proceed to Washingto. or Bladensburgh, offering me every assistance in his power, giving orders for a litter to be brought, in which I was carried to Bladensburgh. My wound is deep, but I flatter myself not dangerous ; the ball is not yet extracted. JOSHUA BARNEY. Com. Macdonough to the Secretary of the Navy. U: S. ship Saratoga, off Plattsburg, Sept. 11, 1814. SIR-The Almighty has been pleased to grant us a sig nal victory on Lake Champlain, in the capture of one frigate, ane brig, and two sloops of war of the enemy. I have the honor to be, &c. T. MACDONOUGH. Com. Macdonough to the Secretary of the Navy. SIR-By Lieut. commandant Cassin, I have the honor to convey to you the flags of his Britannic majesty's late squadron, captured on the 11th inst. by the U. States' squadron under my command, together with the particulars of the action which took place on the 11th inst. on this lake. At 8 A. M. the look-out boat announced the approach of the enemy. At 9, he anchored in a line ahead, at about three hundred yards distance from my line; his ship opposed to the Saratoga, his brig to the Eagle, his gallies, thirteen in number, to the schooner, sloop, and a division of our gailies; one of his sloops assisting their ship and brig, the other assisting their gallies. Our remaining gallies with the Saratoga and Eagle In this situation the whole force on both sides became engaged, the Saratoga suffering much from the heavy fire of the Confiance. I could perceive at the same time, however, that our fire was very destructive to her. The Ticonderoga gallantly sustained her full share of the action. At half past 10 o'clock the Eagle, not being able to bring her guns to bear, cut her cable and anchored in a more eligible position, between my ship and the Ticonderoga, where she very much annoyed the enemy. Our guns on the starboard side bemg nearly all dismounted, or not manageable, a stern anchor was let go, the bower cable cut, and the ship winded with a fresh broadside on the enemy's ship, which soon after surrendered. Our broadside was then sprung to bear on the brig, which surrendered in about 15 minútes after, 85 The sloop that was opposed to the Eagle, had struck some time before and drifted down the line; the sloop which was with their gallies having struck also. Three of their gallies are said to be sunk, the others pulled off. Our gallies were about obeying with alacrity the signal to follow them, when all the vessels were reported to me to be in a sinking state: it then became necessary to annul the signal to the gallies, and order their men to the pumps. I could only look at the enemy's gallies going off in a shattered condition, for there was not a mast in either squadron that could stand to make sail on. The Saratoga had fifty-five round shot in her hull; the Confiance one hundred and five. The enemy's shot passed principally just over our heads, as there were not 20 whole hammocks in the nettings at the close of the action, which lasted without intermission two hours and twenty minutes. The Saratoga was twice set on fire with hot shot from the enemy's ship. I have the honor to be, &c. T. MACDONOUGH. P. S.-Accompanying this is a list of killed and wounded, a list of prisoners-and a precise statement of both forces engaged. AMERICAN FORCE AND LOSS. |