self fortunate in an extraordinary degree.-There my ship was shattered with tempestuous weather, and destitute of every thing; my officers and crew half starved, naked, and worn out with fatigue. Now, sir, my ship is in prime order, abundantly supplied with every thing necessary for her. I have a noble ship for a consort of 20 guns, and well manned, a store ship of 20 guns well supplied with the best of every thing that we may want, and prizes which would be worth in England two millions of dollars; and what renders the comparison more pleasing, the enemy has furnished all.-Excuse me, sir, for not making known my present intentions, as this letter may not reach you. It, however, may be satisfactory to you to know how I intend to dispose of my prizes. Let it suffice to say that I shall endeavour to [cypher.]

British letters of marque are numerous in these seas, and, were it not for my arrival, our whale fisheries would have been much harrassed; but they now find it necessary to keep together for mutual protection. I expect to be [cypher], but shall be [cypher.]

Subjoined is a list of deaths since I left the United States; and I beg you will relieve the anxiety of my family, and all our friends, by communicating as much of this letter as you may think proper.

The times of my best men have expired; but their attachment to the ship, and their zeal for the service we are engaged on, prevent all complaints on that account. It is not probable that you will hear of me for several months to come, unless some disaster happens; but I beg leave to assure you, sir, that I shall not be idle; and I hope before my return to make the services of the Essex as important as those of any other single ship. We may not be individually benefited, but we shall do the enemy much injury, which will be a sufficient compensation to us for all the hardships and privations we must naturally experience, while cut off from all communication with the rest of the world, and are dependent on the precarious supplies the enemy may afford.

I have the honour to be, with great respect, your obedient servant, D. PORTER. Hon. Wm. Jones, Secretary of the Navy, Washington.

List of Deaths since my departure from the United States. 1812, December 3, Levi Holmes, seaman, palsy. 1813, January 24, Edward Sweeny, O. S. old age.

1813, January 24, Samuel Groce, seaman, contusion of the brain by a fall from the main-yard.

ment was then drawn off in good order, and encamped at the place which the enemy had first occupied, being the best for a camp then near us.

The gallant conduct of lieutenant-colonel Allen during every charge of this warmly contested action, has raised for him no ordinary military merit. Majors Graves and Madison deserve high praise for their undeviating attendance to orders, and the energy and despatch with which they executed them-captain Ballard led the van with great skill and bravery; I take this opportunity of tendering my most hearty thanks to brigade-major Garrard, captain Smith, and adjutant M'Goller, who acted as my aids, for the great support they gave me during the whole of the action. The company officers acted with great bravery. It would be an almost endless task to particularise all who distinguished themselves; for as all had an opportunity so to do, there was none but what accepted it; there was not a solitary instance of a retreat on our part: both officers and soldiers supported the double character of Americans and Kentuckians. I have not been able to ascertain the exact force of the enemy, but from the best information, there was between 80 and 100 British troops, and about 400 Indians. Major Reynolds was present, and it is understood, commanded the whole-the number of their killed and wounded is unknown, we having left the woods after dark, so that not only during the battle, but after night, they had an opportunity of bearing off all, except those left on the field where the action first commenced, say about 15; but from the blood, the trails of bodies dragged off, and the reports from the people who live near this place, the slaughter must have been great. One Indian and two of the Canadian militia were taken prisoners. So steady and composed were our men in the assaults, that while the enemy were killed or driven from the houses, not a woman or child was hurt.

Our loss is, 12 killed, and 55 wounded, one has since died; enclosed is a list of their names, also a list of the public stores taken from the enemy.

I have the honour to be, your most obedient servant,

(Signed)

WILL. LEWIS, Commandant of the Detachment.

Graves the left, and major Madison in the centre. Captain Ballard (acting as major) was placed in the advance of the whole, with two companies, one commanded by captain Hickman, subaltern lieutenant Chinn-the other by captain Graves, subaltern lieutenant Comstock, and also captain James with his spies. In this order we proceeded within a quarter of a mile of the enemy, when they commenced a fire on us with a howitzer, from which no injury was received. The line of battle was instantly formed, and the whole detachment ordered to move on the direction of the enemy without delay. The river at this time being between us and the enemy's lines, we succeeded well in crossing it, though the ice in many places was extremely slippery. Having crossed at the instant the long roll beat (the signal for a general charge), when I ordered major Graves and major Madison to possess themselves of the houses and picketing, about which the enemy had collected, and where they had placed their cannon. This order was executed in a few minutes, and both their battalions advanced amidst an incessant shower of bullets; neither the picketing nor the fencing over which they had to pass retarded their progress to success; the enemy were dislodged in that quarter-meantime, colonel Allen fell in with them at a considerable distance to the right, when, after pursuing them to the woods, (a distance of more than a mile) they then made a stand with their howitzer and small arms, covered by a chain of enclosed lots and a groupe of houses; having in their rear a thick brushy wood full of fallen timber. I directed brigade-major Garrard (one of my aids) to instruct majors Graves and Madison to possess themselves of the wood on the left, and to move up towards the main of the enemy as fast as practicable to divert their attention from colonel Allen. At the moment the fire commenced with the battalions, the right wing advanced. The enemy were soon driven from the fences and houses, and our troops began to enter the wood after them. The fight now became close, and extremely hot on the right wing-the enemy concentrating the chief of their forces of both kinds to force the line. They were still kept moving in the retreat, although slowly, our men being much exhausted. My orders to majors Graves and Madison were executed with despatch and success-which, joined with the exertions of colonel Allen's line, completely routed the enemy-the distance they retreated before us was not less than two miles, and every foot of the way under a continual charge -the battle lasted from three o'clock till dark. The detach

ment was then drawn off in good order, and encamped at the place which the enemy had first occupied, being the best for a camp then near us.

The gallant conduct of lieutenant-colonel Allen during every charge of this warmly contested action, has raised for him no ordinary military merit. Majors Graves and Madison deserve high praise for their undeviating attendance to orders, and the energy and despatch with which they execu ted them-captain Ballard led the van with great skill and bravery; I take this opportunity of tendering my most hearty thanks to brigade-major Garrard, captain Smith, and adjutant M'Goller, who acted as my aids, for the great support they gave me during the whole of the action. The company offcers acted with great bravery. It would be an almost endless task to particularise all who distinguished themselves; for as all had an opportunity so to do, there was none but what accepted it; there was not a solitary instance of a retreat on our part: both officers and soldiers supported the double character of Americans and Kentuckians. I have not been able to ascertain the exact force of the enemy, but from the best information, there was between 80 and 100 British troops, and about 400 Indians. Major Reynolds was present, and it is understood, commanded the whole-the number of their killed and wounded is unknown, we having left the woods. after dark, so that not only during the battle, but after night, they had an opportunity of bearing off all, except those left on the field where the action first commenced, say about 15; but from the blood, the trails of bodies dragged off, and the reports from the people who live near this place, the slaughter must have been great. One Indian and two of the Canadian militia were taken prisoners. So steady and composed were our men in the assaults, that while the enemy were killed or driven from the houses, not a woman or child was hurt.

Our loss is, 12 killed, and 55 wounded, one has since died; enclosed is a list of their names, also a list of the public stores taken from the enemy.

I have the honour to be, your most obedient servant,

(Signed)

WILL. LEWIS,

Commandant of the Detachment.

VOL. II.

X X

Copy of a Letter from General William H. Harrison to Governor Meigs, dated

Head-Quarters, Carrying River, 24th Jan. 1813. Dear sir, the event which I expressed so much apprehension in my letter to you, from Lower Sandusky, has happened. The detachment under colonel Lewis was reinforced by general Winchester with 250 men. He attended it, and took the command at the river Raisin on the 20th, and on the 22d, he was attacked at reveille, by a considerable British and Indian force with six pieces of artillery; the troops being surprised, and the ground unfavourable, had but little opportunity of forming to advantage. They were surrounded and broke in 20 or 25 minutes. A major and captain and about twenty-five privates were all that effected their escape.

I had but 360 men with me, about three miles above the Rapids, where the news first reached me. I immediately ordered them to prepare to march, and set out with my staff to overtake a detachment of 300 men that had set out that morning for the river Raisin. I overtook them at the distance of six miles, but before the other troops (colonel Andrews' Ohio regiment) came up, it was ascertained that the defeat was complete, and it was the unanimous opinion of generals Payne and Perkins, and the field officers, that we should return. A detachment, to the amount of 170 of the most active men, was sent forward with directions to proceed as far as possible to assist those who were fortunate enough to escape: there were, however but few; the snow was so deep that the fugitives were entirely exhausted in running a few miles: those that did get off effected it by turning down to the lake and secreting themselves. I believe there were not more than 40 or 50 that got a mile from the scene of action, and the greater part of them were overtaken.

Never were the affairs of any army in a more prosperous situation than ours before the unfortunate step of marching the detachment to the river Raisin; it was made not only without any authority from me, but in opposition to my views. Every thing in my power was, however, done to prevent any disaster, and reinforcements were pushed on with as much rapidity as possible. Major Cotgrove's battalion, the first in the army, was within fourteen miles of the scene of action, when he heard of the defeat, and 300 regular troops were also on their way. I remained at the Rapids with one regiment only. In justice to general Winchester, I must observe, that I have understood that the measure of marching the de