took post on the left of my entrenchments, and a half mile in advance of them. In this affair, the citizen soldiers of Baltimore, with the exception of the 51st regiment, have maintained the reputation they so deservedly acquired at Bladensburgh; and their brave, and skilful leader has confirmed the confidence, which we had all so justly placed in him. I take the liberty of referring you to his letter, for the more particular mention of the individuals, who, new to warfare, have shown the coolness and valor of veterans ; and who, by their conduct on this occasion, have given their country, and their city, an assurance of what may be expected from them, when their services are again required. I cannot dismiss the subject without expressing the heartfelt satisfaction I experience, in thus bearing testimony to the courage and good conduct of my fellow-townsmen. About the time Gen. Stricker had taken the ground just mentioned, he was joined by Brig. Gen. Winder, who had been stationed on the west side of the city; but was now ordered to march with Gen. Douglass' brigade of Virginia militia, and the U. States dragoons, under the command of Captain Bird, and take post on the left of Gen. Stricker. During these movements, the brigades of Generals Stansbury and Foreman, the seamen and marines, under Com. Rodgers, the Pennsylvania volunteers, under Colonels Cobean and Findley, the Baltimore artillery, under Col. Harris, and the marine artillery, under Capt. Stiles, manned the trenches and the batteries, all prepared to receive the enemywe remained in this situation during the night. On Tuesday, the enemy appeared before my entrenchments, at the distance of two miles, on the Philadelphia road, from whence he had a full view of our position. He manœuvred, during the morning, towards our left, as if with intention of making a circuitous march, and coming down on the Harford or York roads. Generals Winder and Stricker were directed to adapt their movements to those of the enemy, so as to baffle this supposed intention; they executed this order with great skill and judgment, by taking an advantageous position, stretching from my left across the country, where the enemy was likely to approach the quarter he seemed to threaten; this movement induced the enemy to concentrate his forces (between 1 and 2 o'clock) in my front, pushing his advance to within a mile of us, driving in our videttes, and showing an intention of attacking us that evening. I immediately drew Generals Winder and Stricker nearer to the left of my intrenchments, and to the right of the enemy, with an intention of their falling on his right, or rear, should he attack me; or, if he declined it, of attacking him in the morning. To this movement, and to the strength of my defences, (which the enemy had the fairest opportunity of observing) I am induced to attribute his retreat, which was commenced at half past 1 o'clock, on Wednesday morning— in this he was so favored, by the extreme darkness and continued rain, that we did not discover it until day-light. I consented to Gen. Winder's pursuing, with the Virginia brigade and the U. States dragoons; at the same time Major Randal was dispatched, with his light corps, in pursuit, on the enemy's right, whilst the whole of the militia cavalry was put in motion for the same object. All the troops were, however, worn out with continued watching, and with being under arms three days and nights, exposed, a greater part of the time, to very inclement weather, that it was found impracticable to do any thing more than pick up a few stragglers. The enemy commenced his embarkation that evening, and completed it the next day at 1 o'clock; it would have been impossible, even had our troops been in a condition to act offensively, to have cut off any part of the enemy's rear guard during the embarkation, as the point where it was effected was defended from our approach by a line of defences, extending from Back-river to Humphy's Creek, on the Patapsco, thrown up by ourselves, previous to their arrival. I have now the pleasure of calling your attention to the brave commander of Fort McHenry, Major Armistead, and to the operations confined to that quarter. The enemy made his approach by water, at the same time he did by land, and commenced a discharge of bombs and rockets at the I i fort, as soon as he came within range of it. The situation of Major Armistead was peculiarly trying, the enemy having taken his position at such a distance as to render offensive operations, on the part of the fort, entirely fruitless, whilst their bombs and rockets were every moment falling in and about it; the officers and men being at the same time entirely exposed. The vessels, however, had the temerity to approach somewhat nearer-they were soon compelled to withdraw. During the night, whilst the enemy on land was retreating, and whilst the bombardment was the most severe, two or three rocket-vessels, and barges, succeeded in getting up the ferry branch; but they were soon compelled to retire, by the forts in that quarter, coinmanded by Lieut. Newcomb, of the navy, and Lieut. Webster, of the flotilla-these boats also destroyed one of the barges, with all on board; the barges and battery, at the Lazaretto, under the command of Lieut. Rutter, of the flotilla, kept up a brisk, and it is believed a successful fire, during the hottest period of the bombardment. Major Armistead being seriously ill, in consequence of his continued exposure to the weather, has rendered it impossible for him to send in his report. It is not, therefore, in my power, to do justice to those gallant individuals who partook with him the danger of a tremendous bombardment, without the ability of retorting, and without the security, which, in more regular fortifications, is provided for such occasions. The loss, in the fort, is 4 killed, and 24 wounded; (the wounded will all recover.) The killed and wounded of Gen. Stricker's brigade, is believed to be about 150-among the former is James Lowry Donaldson, Adjutant of the 27th. I cannot conclude this report without informing you of the great aid I have derived from Com. Rodgers-he was ever present, and ever ready to afford his useful counsel, and to render his important services; his presence, with that of his gallant officers and seamen, gave confidence to every one. The enemy's loss, in his attempt on Baltimore, amounts, as near as we can ascertain, to between 6 and 700 killed, wounded, and missing. General Ross was certainly killed. I have the honor, &c. SAMUEL SMITH, Maj. Gen. Comg. Hon. Sec. War. DEFENCE OF FORT M'HENRY. Copy of a letter from Lieut. Col. Armistead, to the Secretary of Fort McHenry, Sept. 24th, 1814. A severe indisposition, the effect of great fatigue and exposure, has prevented me, heretofore, from presenting you with an account of the attack on this post. On the night of Saturday the 10th inst. the British fleet, consisting of ships of the line, heavy frigates, and bomb vessels, amounting, in the whole, to 30 sail, appeared at the mouth of the river Patapsco, with every indication of an attempt on the city of Baltimore. My own force consisted of one company of United States artillery, under Capt. Evans, and two companies of sea-fencibles, under Captains Bunbury and Addison. Of these three companies, 35 men were unfortunately on the sick list, and unfit for duty. I had been furnished with two companies of volunteer artillery, from the city of Baltimore, under Capt. Berry and Lieut. Commandant Pennington. To these I must add another very fine company of volunteer artillerists, under judge Nicholson, who had proffered their services to aid in the defence of this post, whenever an attack might be apprehended; and also a detachment from Com. Barney's flotilla, under Lieut. Rodman. Brig. Gen. Winder had also furnished me with about six hundred infantry, under the command of Lieut. Col. Steuart and Major Lane, consisting of detachments from the 12th, 14th, 36th, and 38th regiments of United States troops-the total amounting to about 1000 effective men. On Monday morning very early, it was perceived that the enemy was landing troops on the east side of the Patapsco, distant about ten miles. During that day, and the ensuing night, he had brought sixteen ships, (including five bomb ships,) within about two miles and an half of this fort. I had arranged my force as follows: the regular artillerists, under Capt. Evans, and the volunteers, under Capt. Nicholson, manned the bastions in the star fort. Captains Bunbury's, Addison's, Rodman's, Berry's, and Lieut. Commandant Pennington's commands, were stationed on the lower works; and the infantry, under Lieut. Col. Steuart and Major Lane, were in the outer ditch, to meet the enemy at his landing, should he attempt one. On Tuesday morning, about sun-rise, the enemy commenced the attack, from his five bomb vessels, at the distance of about two miles; when, finding that his shells reached us, he anchored, and kept up an incessant and well-directed bombardment. We immediately opened our batteries, and kept a brisk fire from our guns and mortars; but unfortunately our shot and shells all fell considerably short of him. This was, to me, a most distressing circumstance; as it left us exposed to a constant and tremendous shower of shells, without the most remote possibility of our doing him the slightest injury. It affords me the highest gratification to state, that, although we were left thus exposed, and thus inactive, not a man shrunk from the conflict. About 2 o'clock, P. M. one of the 24 pounders, on the south west bastion, under the immediate command of Capt. Nicholson, was dismounted by a shell; the explosion from which killed his 2d Lieutenant, and wounded several of his men ; the bustle necessarily produced, in removing the wounded and re-mounting the gun, probably induced the enemy to suspect that we were in a state of confusion, as he brought in three of his bomb ships to what I believed to be good striking distance. I immediately ordered a fire to be opened, which was obeyed with alacrity through the whole garrison, and in half an hour those intruders again shelter |