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and 50 rank and file were found in and about the ditch, dead or wounded. Those of the remainder who were not able to escape were taken off during the night by Indians. Seventy stand of arms, and several brace of pistols have been collected near the works. About three in the morning the enemy sailed down the river, leaving behind them a boat, containing clothing and considerable military stores.

Too much praise cannot be bestowed on the officers, noncommissioned officers, and privates under my command, for their gallantry and good conduct during the siege.

Yours, with respect, (Signed)

G. CROGHAN,

Major 17th United States' Inf. com. L. S. Major-General Harrison, commanding N. W. Army.

Copy of a Letter from the British General Proctor to General

Sir,

Harrison.

Amherstburg, August 7th, 1813. The bearer, lieutenant Le Breton, in the service of his Britannic majesty, I send under a flag of truce, with surgical aid, of which you may not have a sufficiency, for the brave soldiers who were too severely wounded to come off, or who may have lost their way after the unsuccessful attack made on the 2d instant, on the fort at Sandusky.

Expecting every consideration from the brave soldier for a wounded enemy, I flatter myself that those prisoners in your possession, and who can be removed without injury, will be permitted to return here on my parole of honour, that they shall not serve until truly and regularly exchanged.

I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient and humble servant,

HENRY PROCTOR.

The Officer commanding the Fort at Sandusky.

Sir,

General Harrison's Reply.

Head-Quarters, 8th Military District of the United States, August 10, 1813. Your letter addressed to the officer commanding at Lower Sandusky, was forwarded from thence to me, and received this moment. Upon my arrival at Fort Sandusky on the morning of the 3d instant, I found that major Croghan, conformably to those principles which are held sacred in the American army, had caused all the care to be taken of the wounded prisoners that his situation would permit. Having with me my hospital surgeon, he was particularly charged to attend to them, and I am

warranted in the belief that every aid that surgical skill could give was afforded. They have been liberally furnished too with every article necessary in their situation which our hospital stores could supply.

Having referred to my government for orders respecting the disposition of the prisoners, I cannot with propriety comply with your request for an immediate exchange.

But I assure you, sir, that as far as it depends upon me, the course of treatment which has been commenced towards them, whilst in my possession, will be continued.

I have the honour to be, sir, your humble servant,

WM. HENRY HARRISON,

Major-General commanding 8th U. S. Military District. Brig.-Gen. Proctor, commanding the British Forces at Amherstburg, &c.

OPERATIONS OF THE BLOCKADING SQUADRON.

Copy of a Letter from Commodore John Cassin to the Secretary of the Navy.

Sir,

Navy Yard, Gosport, June 21, 1813. On Saturday, at 11, P. M., captain Tarbell moved with the flotilla under his command, consisting of 15 gun-boats, in two divisions, lieutenant John M. Gardner 1st division, and lieutenant Robert Henley the 2d, manned from the frigate, and 50 musketeers general Taylor ordered from Craney Island, and proceeded down the river; but adverse winds and squalls prevented his approaching the enemy until Sunday morning at 4, P. M., when the flotilla commenced a heavy galling fire on a frigate, at about three quarters of a mile distance, lying well up the roads, two other frigates lying in sight.

At half past four a breeze sprung up from E. N. E. which enabled the two frigates to get under way, one a razee or very heavy ship, and the other a frigate, to come nearer into action. The boats in consequence of their approach hauled off, though keeping up a well-directed fire on the razee and other ship, which gave us several broadsides. The frigate first engaged, supposed to be the Junon, was certainly very severely handled-had the calm continued one half hour that frigate must have fallen into our hands or been destroyed. She must have slipt her mooring so as to drop nearer the razee, who had all sails set coming up to her with the other

frigate. The action continued one hour and a half with the three ships. Shortly after the action, the razee got along side of the ship, and had her upon a deep careen in a little time, with a number of boats and stages round her. I am satisfied considerable damage was done to her, for she was silenced some time, until the razee opened her fire, when she commenced again.

Our loss is very trifling. Mr. Allinson, master's mate on board No. 139, was killed early in the action by an 18-pound ball, which passed through him and lodged in the mast. No. 154 had a shot between wind and water. No. 67 had her franklin shot away, and several of them had some of their sweeps as well as their stanchion shot away, but two men slightly injured by the splinters from the sweeps; on the flood tide several ships of the line and frigates came into the roads, and we did expect an attack last night. There are now in the roads, 13 ships of the line and frigates, one brig, and several tenders.

I cannot say too much for the officers and crew on this occasion for every man appeared to go into action with so much cheerfulness, apparently, to do their duty, resolved to conquer. I had a better opportunity of discovering their actions than any one else, being in my boat the whole of the action. I have the honour to be, &c.

JOHN CASSIN. The Hon. Wm. Jones, Secretary of the Navy, Washington.

Copy of a Letter from General Taylor to the Secretary at War.
Sir,
Head-Quarters, Norfolk, 4th July.

I have the honour to transmit colonel Beatty's report of the attack on Craney Island, on the 22d of June last. His multiplied and pressing avocations have prevented his completing it till to day.

The whole force on the island at the time of the attack, consisted of 50 riflemen, 446 infantry of the line, 91 state artillery, and 150 seamen and marines, furnished by captain Tarbell. Of these 43 were on the sick list.

The courage and constancy with which this inferior force, in the face of a formidable naval armament, not only sustained a position in which nothing was complete, but repelled the enemy with considerable loss, cannot fail to inspire the approbation of their government and the applause of their country. It has infused into the residue of the army a general spirit of competition, the beneficial effects of which will, I trust, be employed at our future combats.

I cannot withhold my grateful acknowledgments to commodore Cassin, captain Tarbell, and the officers and crews of the Constellation and gun-boats, who have in every instance aided our operations with a cordiality, zeal, and ability not to be surpassed.

I have the honour to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, ROBERT TAYLOR, Brigadier-General commanding.

Hon. John Armstrong, Secretary at War.

Copy of Colonel Beatty's Report to General Taylor. Sir, Craney Island, June 25, 1813. Some movements on the 21st instant, among the British shipping, lying near Newport's Noose, seemed to indicate an early attack on this island, and in the course of the next morning, on the 22d instant, they landed two miles from this, from the best accounts that can be ascertained from deserters, 2500 troops of various descriptions. The object of this movement was, no doubt, with the view to approach this post on the west side of the island, across the water in that direction, which at low water is passable by infantry. Soon after their landing, there approached 45 or 50 boats full of men, which directed their course from the shipping as above stated, to the north side of the island.

The British troops, at the same time (that were previously landed), made their appearance on the main land with a view of attacking the west and north positions of the island at the same moment. Two twenty-four-pounders and four sixpounders were advantageously posted under the direction of major Faulkner of the artillery, which being so well served by captain Emerson, lieutenants Howell and Goodwin, who displayed that cool and deliberate conduct, which will at all times insure success to the cause in which they are engaged. Lieutenant Neale, of the Constellation, during our defence, conducted himself with active zeal and courage, which at all times add a lustre to the name of an American naval officer. Captain Rook, of the ship Manhattan, conducted himself with great activity and judgment in defence of the place, which will no doubt give him a distinguished part in the success of the day. Great praise is also due to the conduct of serjeant Young and corporal Moffit of captain Emerson's company, for the active part they took in the management of two six-pounders.

Much credit is due to captain Tarbell, of the Constellation, for the aid he gave in defence of the island, in forward

ing from his ship 150 sailors and marines, with the officers commanding the same, which no doubt contributed greatly in the successful defence of the island. Indeed, both officers and soldiers of every description showed a degree of zeal for the defence of the place; and when opportunity may offer, we may confidently hope they will not be wanting in duty. The loss of the enemy cannot be less than 200 in the course of the day, a number of which were killed on the land side by our artillery. But it is known that four or five of their barges were sunk, one of which, the Centepiede, said to be 52 feet long, working twenty-four oars, belonging to admiral Warren's ship, was taken and brought in with twenty-two prisoners, and a small brass three-pounder, with a number of small arms, pistols, and cutlasses.

Beside the loss in killed, there must have been at least 40 deserters brought in, in the course of the day, and dispersed through the country.

It is with pleasure I have to state to you that not a man was lost on our part; the only weapon made use of by the enemy in the course of the day were the Congreve rockets, a few of which fell in our encampment, though without injury.

I am, sir, with the greatest respect, your humble servant,

H. BEATTY, Lieut.-Col. com.

Copy of a Letter from Major Crutchfield to his Excellency James Barbour, Governor of Virginia.

Sir,

York County, Half-way House, June 28, 1813. Although I have given you, by two communications, a partial account of the engagement with the enemy at Hampton, on the 25th instant, I will now, having it more in my power, beg leave to communicate to your excellency a detail of the occurrences of the day.

At an early period of the morning on the 25th instant, our Mill-creek patrole gave information that from 30 to 40 British barges filled with men were approaching the mouth of Hampton creek by the inner channel, from the direction of Newport's Noose. Our troops were immediately formed on their encampment, on Little England plantation, south-west of, and divided from Hampton by a narrow creek, over which a slight foot-bridge had been erected. In a short time after, our Celey's patrole reported the landing and approach of a number of the enemy's troops in our rear. A little after five o'clock, several barges were seen approaching Black-beard's Point, the head most of which commenced a firing of round shot, which was immediately returned from our battery of

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