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to drive us from our positions, and regain his artillery.Our line was unshaken, and the enemy repulsed. other attempts having the same object, had the same issue. Gen. Scott was again engaged in repelling the former of these; and the last I saw of him on the field of battle, he -was near the head of his column, and giving to its march a direction that would have placed him on the enemy's right. It was with great pleasure I saw the good order and intrepidity of Gen. Porter's volunteers from the moment of their arrival, but during the last charge of the enemy, those qualities were conspicuous. Stimulated by the examples set by their gallant leader, by Maj. Wood, of the Pennsylvania corps, by Col. Dobbin, of New-York, and by their officers generally, they precipitated themselves upon the enemy's line, and made all the prisoners which were taken at this point of the action.

Having been for some time wounded, and been a good deal exhausted by loss of blood, it became my wish to devolve the command on Gen. Scott, and retire from the field; but on enquiry, I had the misfortune to learn, that he was disabled by wounds; I therefore kept my post, and had the satisfaction to see the enemy's last effort repulsed. I now consigned the command to Gen. Ripley.

I saw and felt the victory was complete. The exhaustion of our men was such as made some refreshment necessary. They particularly required water; I therefore ordered Gen. Ripley to return to camp, after bringing off the dead, wounded, and artillery, which was effected in good order. I have the honor to be, &c.

JACOB BROWN.

AMERICAN LOSS.

Killed, 171-Wounded, 572-Missing, 110.

BRITISH LOSS.

Killed, 184-Wounded, 559-Prisoners, 221.

Gen. Gaines to the Secretary of War.

Fort Erie, Aug. 23, 1814. [Extract.] SIR-I have the honor to communicate the particulars of the battle fought at this place, on the 15th inst. I have heretofore omitted stating to you, that during the 13th and 14th, the enemy had kept up a brisk cannonade upon this fort, which was briskly returned from our

batteries, without any considerable loss on our part.

At 6, A. M. of the 15th, one of their shells lodged in a small magazine in Fort Erie, which was fortunately almost empty. It blew up with an explosion more awful in its appearance, than injurious in its effects, as it did not disable a mau, or derange a gun. It occasioned but a momentary cessation of the thunders of the artillery on both sides; it was followed by a loud and joyous shout by the British army, which was immediately answered on our part, and Capt, Williams, amidst the smoke of the explosion, renewed the contest with an animated roar of his heavy cannon. The night was dark and rainy, but the faithful centinel slept not. At half past 2 o'clock, the right column of the enemy approached, and though enveloped in darkness,* black as his designs and principles, was distinctly heard on our left, and promptly marked by our musketry and cannon. Being mounted at the moment, I repaired to the point of attack, where the sheet of fire enabled me to see the enemy's column, about 1500 men, approaching on that point; his advance was not checked until it had approached within ten feet of our infantry. A line of loose brush representing an abettis only intervened; a column of the enemy attempted to pass round the abettis through the water, where it was nearly breast deep. At this moment the enemy were repulsed, but instantly renewed the charge, and were again repulsed. My attention was now called to the right, where our batteries a lines were lighted by a most brilliant fire of cannon and musketry; it announced the approach of the centre and left columns of the enemy, under Cols. Drummond and Scott; they were soon repulsed. That of the centre, led by Col. Drummond was not long kept in check; it approached at once every assailable point of the fort, and with scaling ladders, ascended the parapet, but was repulsed with dreadful carnage.The assault was twice repeated, and as often checked; but the enemy having moved round the ditch, covered with darkness, and the heavy cloud of smoke which rolled from our cannon and musketry, repeated the charge, and re-ascended the ladders, when their pikes, bayonets and spears,

* ' I, with several of my officers, several times, heard orders given, to give the damned Yankee rascals no quarters.'

Our bastion was lost;

fell upon our gallant artillerists. Lieut. M'Donough, being severely wounded demanded quarter-it was refused by Col. Drummond. M‘Donough then seized a handspike, and nobly defended himself until he was shot down with a pistol by the monster who had refused him quarter, who often reiterated the order-give the damned yankee rascals no quarter. This hardened murderer soon met his fate; he was shot through the breast while repeating the order, to give no quarter.

The battle now raged with increased fury on the right, but on the left the enemy was repulsed and put to flight. Thence and from the centre I ordered reinforcements.They were promptly sent by Brig. Gen. Ripley and Brig. Gen. Porter. Capt. Fanning, of the corps of artillery, kept up a spirited and destructive fire with his field pieces on the enemy while attempting to approach the fort. Major Hindman's gallant efforts, aided by Maj. Trimble, having failed to drive the enemy from the bastion with the remaining artillerists and infantry in the fort, Capt. Birdsall of the 4th rifle regiment, with a detachment of riflemen, gallantly rushed in through the gateway to their assistance, and with some infantry charged the enemy; but was repulsed and the Captain severely wounded. A detachment from the 11th, 19th, and 22d infantry, under Capt. Foster of the 11th, were introduced over the interior bastion, for the purpose of charging the enemy. Major Hall, Assist. Ins. Gen. very handsomely tendered his services to lead the charge. The charge was gallantly made by Capt. Foster and Maj. Hall, but owing to the narrowness of the passage up to the bastion admitting only 2 or 3 men abreast, it failed. It was often repeated, and as often checked. The enemy's force in the bastion was, however, much cut to pieces and diminished by our artillery and small arms. At this moment every operation was arrested by the explosion of some cartridges deposited in the end of the stone building adjoining the contested bastion. The explosion was tremendous it was decisive: the bastion was restored. At this moment Capt. Biddle was ordered to cause a field piece to be posted so as to enfilade the exterior plain and salient glacis. Capt. Fanning's battery likewise played

upon them at this time with great effect. The enemy were in a few moments entirely defeated, taken, or put to flight.

I have the honor to be, &c.

EDMUND P. GAINES.

AMERICAN LOSS.

Killed 17-Wounded 56—Missing 11-Total 84.

BRITISH LOSS.

Killed 422-Wounded 354-Prisoners 186-Total 962.

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CHAPTER XII.

CAPTURE OF WASHINGTON AND ALEXANDRIA.

Copy of a letter from the mayor of Alexandria to the mayor of Georgetown.

DEAR SIR-Enclosed is a copy of the terms proposed to the common council of Alexandria, by the commanding officer of the squadron now lying before the town, to which they were compelled to submit.

Very respectfully, &c.

CHARLES SIMMS.

TERMS OF CAPITULATION.
His Majesty's ship Sea Horse,

Off Alexandria, 29th Aug. 1814. GENTLEMEN-In consequence of a deputation yesterday received from the city of Alexandria, requesting favorable terms for the safety of the city, the undermentioned are the only conditions in my power to offer.

The town of Alexandria, with the exception of public, works, shall not be destroyed, unless hostilities are commenced on the part of the Americans, nor shall the inhabitants be molested in any manner whatever, or their dwelling houses entered, if the following, articles are complied with:

Art. 1. All naval and ordnance stores, public or private must be immediately delivered up,

2. Possession will be immediately taken of all the ship- . ping, and their furniture must be sent on board by the owners without delay.

3. The vessels that have been sunk must be delivered up in the state they were, on the 19th of August, the day of the squadron passing the Kettle Bottoms.

4. Merchandize of every description must be instantly delivered up, and to prevent any irregularity, that might be committed in its embarkation, the merchants have it at their option to load the vessels generally employed for that purpose, when they shall be towed off by us.

5. All merchandize that has been removed from Alexandria, since the 19th inst. is to be included in the above articles.

6. Refreshments of every description to be supplied the ships, and paid for at the market price, by bills on the British government.

7. Officers will be appointed to see that articles No. 2, 3, 4 and 5, are strictly complied with, and any deviation or non-compliance, on the part of the inhabitants of Alexandria, will render this treaty null and void.

I have the honor to be, &c.

JOHN A. GORDON, Captain of H. M. ship Sea Horse,

and senior officer of H. M. ships off Alexandria.

To the common council

of the town of Alexandria.

Gen. Winder to the Secretary of War.

Baltimore, August 27, 1814. SIR-When the enemy arrived at the mouth of the Potomac, of all the militia which I had been authorised to assemble, there were but about 1700 in the field, from 13 to 1400 nnder Gen. Stansbury near this place, and about 250 at Bladensburgh, under Lient. Col. Kramer.

After all the force that could be put at my disposal in that short time, and making such dispositions as I deemed best calculated to present the most respectable force at whatever point the enemy might strike, I was enabled by the most active and harrassing movements of the troops to interpose before the enemy at Bladensburgh about 5000 men, including 350 regulars and Commodore Barney's command. Much the largest portion of this force arrived on the ground when the enemy were in sight, and were disposed of to support in the best manner the position which

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