early the next day. At 5 P. M. I went on board, the consul anu some other gentlemen in company. I asked some questions concerning enemy's cruizers, and was told there had been none at these islands for several weeks; when about dusk, while we were examining, the British brig, Carnation, suddenly hove in sight close under the north-east head of the harbor, within gun-shot when first discovered. The idea of getting under weigh was instantly suggested; but finding the enemy's brig had the advantage of a breeze, and but little wind with us, it was thought doubtful if we should be able to get to sea without hazarding an action. I questioned the consul to know if in his opinion the enemy would regard the neutrality of the port? He gave me to understand I might make myself perfectly easy, assuring me at the same time, they would never molest us while at anchor.

But no sooner did

the enemy's brig understand from the pilot boat who we were, than she immediately hauled close in and let go her anchor within pistol shot of us at the same moment the Plantagenet, and frigate Rota, hove in sight, to whom the Carnation instantly made signal, and a constant interchange took place for some time.

The result was, the Carnation proceeded to throw out all her boats; despatched on board the commodore, and appeared otherwise to be making unusual exertions. The moon was near its full, which enabled us to observe them very minutely; and I now determined to haul in nearer the shore. Accordingly, after clearing for action, we got under weigh, aud began to sweep in. The moment this was observed by the enemy's brig, she instantly cut her cable, made sail, and despatched four boats in pursuit of us. Being now about 8 P. M. as soon as we saw the boats approaching, we let go our anchor, got springs on our cable, and prepared to receive them. I hailed them repeatedly as they drew near, but they felt no inclination to reply. Sure of their game, they only pulled up with the greater speed. I observed the boats were all manned, and apparently as well armed; and as soon as they had cleverly got along side, we opened our fire, which was soon returned; but meeting with rather a warmer reception than they had probably been aware of, they very soon cried out for quarters and hauled off. In this skirmish, I had one man killed, and my first lieutenant wounded. The enemy's loss must have been upwards of twenty killed and wounded.

They had now repaired to their ships to prepare for a more formidable attack. We, in the interim, having taken the hint, prepared to haul close into the beach, where we moored head and stern, within half pistol shot of the castle. This done, we again prepared in the best possible manner for their second reception. At 9 P. M. we observed the enemy's brig towing in a fleet of boats. They soon after left the brig and took their station in three divisions, under cover of a small reef of rocks, within about musket shot of us Here they continued manouvring for some

time, the brig still keeping under weigh to act with the boats should we at any time attempt our escape.

The shores were lined with the inhabitants, waiting the expected attack; from the brightness of the moon, they had a most favourable view of the scene. The governor, with most of the first people of the place, stood by and saw the whole affair.

At length, about midnight, we saw the boats in motion, (our crew having laid at their quarters during the whole of this interval.) They came on in one direct line, keeping in close order; and we plainly counted twelve boats. As soon as they came within proper distance we opened our fire, which was warmly returned from the enemy's carronades and small arms. The discharge from our Long Tom rather staggered them; but soon reconnoitering, they gave three cheers, and came on most spiritedly; 'in a moment they succeeded in gaining our bow and starboard quarter, and the word was board. Our great guns now becoming useless, we attacked them sword in hand, together with our pikes, pistols, and musketry, from which our lads poured on them a most destructive fire. The enemy made frequent and repeated attempts to gain our decks, but were repulsed at all times, and at all points, with the greatest slaughter. About the middle of the action I received the intelligence of the death of my second lieutenant; and soon after of the third lieutenant being badly wounded. From this, and other causes, I found our fire had much slackened on the forecastle; and, fearful of the event, I instantly rallied the whole of our after division, who had been bravely defending, and now had succeeded in beating the boats off the quarters. They gave a shout, rushed forward, opened a fresh fire, and soon after decided the conflict, which terminated in the total defeat of the enemy, and the loss of many of their boats; two of which, belonging to the Rota, we took possession of, literally loaded with their own dead. Seventeen only escaped from them both, who swam to the shore. In another boat under our quarter, commanded by one of the lieutenants of the Plantagenet, all were killed saving four. This I have from the lieutenant himself, who further told me that he jumped overboard to save his own life.

The duration of this action was about 40 minutes. Our decks were now found in much confusion, our Long Tom dismounted, and several of our carriages broken; many of our crew having left the vessel, and others disabled. Under these circumstances, however, we succeeded in getting Long Tom in his birth, and the decks cleared in sort for fresh action, should the enemy attack us again before day-light. About 3 A. M. I received a message from the American consul, requesting to see me on shore, where he informed me the governor had sent a note to captain Lloyd, begging him to desist from further hostilities. To which captain Lloyd sent for answer, that he was determined to have the priva

teer at the risk of knocking down the whole town; and that if the governor suffered the Americans to injure the privateer in any manner, he should consider the place an enemy's port, and treat it accordingly. Finding this to be the case, I considered all hopes of saving our vessel to be at an end. I therefore went on board, and ordered all our wounded and dead to be taken on shore, and the crew to save their effects as fast as possible. Soon after this it became day-light, when the enemy's brig stood close in, and commenced a heavy fire on us with all her force. After several broadsides she hauled off, having received a shot in her hull, her rigging much cut, and her fore-top mast wounded; (of this I was informed by the British consul.) She soon after came in again, and anchored close to the privateer. I then ordered the Armstrong to be scuttled, to prevent the enemy from getting her off. She was soon after boarded by the enemy's boats, and set on fire, which soon completed her destruction.

They have destroyed a number of houses in the town, and wounded some of the inhabitants.

By what I have been able to learn from the British consul and officers of the fleet, it appears there were about 400 officers and men in the last attack by the boats, of which 120 were killed and about 150 wounded. Captain Lloyd, I am told by the British consul, is badly wounded in the leg; a jury of surgeons had been held, who gave it as their opinion, that amputation would be necessary to insure his life. 'Tis said, however, that the wound was occasioned by an ox treading on him. The fleet has remained here about a week, during which they have been principally employed in burying their dead and taking care of their wounded.

Three days after the action they were joined by the ship Thais and brig Calypso (two sloops of war;) they were immediately taken into requisition by captain Lloyd, to take home the wounded men. The Calypso sailed for England with part of the wounded on the 2d instant, among whom was the first lieutenant of the Plantagenet. The Thais sails this evening with the remainder. Captain Lloyd's fleet sailed to-day, supposed for the West Indies.

The loss on our part, I am happy to say, is comparatively trifling; two killed and seven wounded. With regard to my officers in general, I feel the greatest satisfaction in saying they one and all fought with the most determined bravery, and to whom I feel highly indebted for their officer-like conduct during the short period we were together; their exertions and bravery deserved a better fate.

I here insert, for your inspection, a list of the killed, and wounded.

KILLED-M. Alexander O. Williams, 2d lieutenant, by a musket ball in the forehead, died instantly; Burton Lloyd, seaman, do. through the heart do.

WOUNDED-Frederick A. Worth, 1st lieutenant, in the right side; Robert Johnson, 3d do. left knee; Razilla Hammond, quarter master, left arm; John Piner, seaman, knee; William Castle, do. arm; Nicholas Scalson, do. arm and leg; John Harrison, do. hand and face by the explosion of a gun.

It gives me much pleasure to announce to you that our wounded are all in a fair way of recovery, through the unremitted care and attention of our worthy surgeon.

Mr. Dabney, our consul, is a gentleman possessing every feeling of humanity, and to whom the utmost gratitude is due from us, for his great care of the sick and wounded, and his polite attention to my officers and myself.

Mr. Williams was a most deserving and promising officer. His country in him has lost one of its brightest ornaments; and his death must be sadly lamented by all who knew his worth.

Accompanied with this you will find a copy of my protest, together with copies of letters written by Mr. Dabney to the governor of Fayal, our minister at Rio Janeiro, and our Secretary of State. These letters will develope more fully the circumstances of this unfortunate affair.

We expect to sail to-morrow in a Portugeuse brig for America Island, who takes the whole of our crew.

To the editor of the

Mercantile Advertiser, New York,

I remain gentlemen, &c.
SAMUEL C. REID,

BRUTALITY OF THE ENEMY.

Messrs Gales & Seaton,

Having seen the following publication in the Alexandria Herald, of the 19th October, with horror, as capping the climax of atrocity

"TO THE EDITORS OF THE HERALD.

"Gentlemen,

"I have no recollection of having seen any account of the conduct of the enemy at Chaptico published in any of the public prints; you are at liberty to publish the following extract of a letter to a friend, written shortly after that affair. It is a very imperfect account written in a hurry amidst the bustle of a camp, but contains most of the facts. My name is enclosed, which you are at liberty to make public, if any respectable person should deny the truth of the following statement.

"A citizen of Maryland.”

"I passed through Chaptico shortly after the enemy left it, and I am sorry to say that their conduct would have disgraced canni

bals; the houses were torn to pieces, the well which afforded water for the inhabitants was filled up, and, what was still worse, the church and the ashes of the dead shared an equally bad or worse fate. Will you believe me when I tell you that the sunken graves were converted into barbacue holes? The remaining glass of the church windows broken, the communion table used as a dinner table, and then broken to pieces. Bad as the above may appear, it dwindles into insignificance, when compared with what follows: the vault was entered and the remains of the dead disturbed. Yes, my friend, the winding sheet was torn from the body of a lady of the first respectability, and the whole contents of the vault entirely deranged! The above facts were witnessed by hundreds as well as myself, and I am happy to say, that bat one sentiment pervaded our army."

I immediately showed it to general Philip Stuart, lately commanding the American troops at that place, who read and declared it strictly true; that Cockburn was at the head of it; that they also destroyed the organs; that judge Key's lady, who had been last put into the vault, was the person alluded to; that her winding sheet was torn in pieces, and her person wantonly exposed; and that his men were exasperated to desperation by this conduct. You will publish this.

Yours, &c.

October 19th, 1814.

ROBERT WRIGHT.

AFFAIR AT LYON'S CREEK.

General Order.

HEAD QUARTERS OF THE NORTHERN ARMY,

Camp near Fort Erie, October 23d, 1814.

The indisposition of brigadier general Bissell has prevented, till this morning, his report of the handsome affair which took place on the 19th, between a detachment of his brigade and a superior force of the enemy.

The object of the expedition, entrusted to the brigadier, was the seizure of some provisions, intended for the British troops. He marched from Black Creek, on the morning of the 18th, with parts of the 5th, 14th, 15th and 16th infantry, a small party of dragoons, and a company of riflemen, the whole 900 men. After driving before them a picket, of which they made the commanding officer prisoner, they encamped for the night, throwing beyond Lyon's Creek two light infantry companies, under captain Dorman, 5th, and lieutenant Horrell, 16th infantry, and the riflemen under captain Irvine; a picket on the Chippewa road, commanded by major Gassaway was attacked by two companies of Glen