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meet him in one hour; that his force consisted of a light company fro'n the Royal Scots, mustering for duty 120 men; light company of the 39th regiment of foot (e ficiency not known,) Caidwell's Indians and M Gregor's militia, amounting in all to about 300 men. My command originally had not exceeded 180 rank and file. Hunger, cold and fatigue, had brought on disease, and

. though none died, all were exceedingly depressed, and sixteen had been ordered home, as unable to continue the march. resolved therefore to avoid the conflict on equal grounds, and immediately retreated five miles, for the sake of a good position on the western bank of the Twenty Mile Creek, leaving captain Gill with twenty rangers to cover the rear, and to watch the enemy's motions. We had encamped but a few minutes, when captain Gill joined, after exchanging shots with the enemy's advance, in vainly attempting to reconnoitre his force. The Twenty Mile Creek runs from north to south, through a deep and wide ravine, and of course is flanked east and west by lofty heights. My camp was formed upon the western heights. The enemy's on the opposite. During the night of the 3d all was quiet. At sun-rise on the 4th, the enemy appeared thinly upon the opposite heights, fired upon us without effect, and vanished. After waiting sometime for their re-appearance, lieutenant Knox of the rangers was sent to reconnoitre. On his return he reported that the enemy had retreated with the utmost precipitation, leaving his baggage scattered upon the road, and that his trail and fires made him out not more than seventy men. Mortified at the supposition of having retrograded from this diminutive force, I instantly commenced the pursuit, with the design of attacking Delaware before the opening of another day. We had not, however, proceeded beyond five miles, when captain Lee, commanding the advance, discovered the enemy in considerable force, arranging himself for battle. The symptoms of fear and flight were now easily traced to the purpose of seducing me from the heights, and so far the plan succeeded. But the enemny failed to improve the advantage. If he had thrown his chief force across the ravine above the road, and occupied our camp when relinquished, thus obstructing my communication to the rear, I should have been driven upon Delaware against a superior force, since found to be stationed there, or forced to take the wilderness for Fort Talbot, without forage or provisions. Heaven averted this calamity. We soon regained the position at Twenty Mile Creek, and though the rangers were greatly disheartened by the retreat, and to a man insisted upon not fighting the enemy, 've decided to exhibit on that spot, the scene of death or victory. I was induced to adopt the order of the hollow square to prevent the necessity of evolution, which I knew all the troops are incompetent to perform in action. The detachments of the 24th and 28th infantry occupied the brow of the heights. The detachment from the garrison of Detroit, formed the north front of the square, the rangers the west, and the militia

the south. Our horses and baggage stood in the centre; the enemy threw his militia and Indians across the ravine above the road, and commenced the action with savage yells, and bugles sounding from the north, west and south. His regulars at the same time charged down the road from the opposite heights, crossed the bridge and charged up the heights we occupied, within twenty steps of the American line, and against the most destructive fire. But his front section was soon shot to pieces. Those who followed were much thined and wounded. His officers were soon cut down, and his antagonists continued to evince a degree of animation, that bespoke at once their boldness and security. He therefore abandoned the charge, and took cover in the woods at diffused order, between fifteen, twenty, and thirty paces of our line, and placed all hopes upon his ammunition.

Our regulars being uncovered, were ordered to kneel, that the brow of the heights might partly screen them from the enemy's view. The firing increased on both sides with great vivacity; but the crisis was over. I knew the enemy dare not uncover, and of course that no second charge would be attempted. On the north, west and south front, the firing had been sustained with much coolness, and with considerable loss to the foe. Our troops on those fionts being protected by logs hastily thrown together, and the enemy not charging, both the rifle and the musket were aimed at leisure, perhaps always told. The enemy at last became persyaded, that providence had sealed the fortune of the day. His cover on the east front was insufficient; for as he had charged in column of sections, and therefore, when dispersing on either side of the road, was unable to extend his flanks, and as our regulars presented an extended front from the beginning, it is evident that a common sized tree could not protect even one man, much less the squads that often stood and breathed their last together; and yet upon his regulars the enemy relied for victory. În concert, therefore, and favoured by the shades of twilight, he commenced a general retreat, after one hour's close and gallant conflict.

I did not pursue for the following reasons. First, we had triumphed against numbers and discipline, and were therefore under no obligation of honour to incur additional hazard. Second, in these requisites (numbers and discipline) the enemy were still superior, and the night would have ensured success to an ambuscade. Third, the enemy's bugle sounded the close

upon posite heights. If then we had pursued, we must have passed over to him, as he did to us, because the creek could be passed on horseback at no other point, and the troops being fatigued and frost-bitten, and their shoes cut to pieces by the frozen ground, it was not possible to pursue on foot. "It follows that the attempt to pursue would have given the enemy the same advantage that produced the defeat

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Our loss in killed and wounded, amounted to a non-commissioned officer and six privates, but the blood of between 80 and 90 brave Englishmen, and among them four officers, avenged their fall. The commander, captain Barden of the 89th, is supposed

. to have been killed at an early stage of the contest. The whole American force in action, consisted of 150 rank and file, of whom 70 were militia, including rangers. The enemy's regulars alone, were from 150 to 180 strong, and his militia and Indians fought upon three fronts of our square.

I am much indebted to all my regular officers, and trust their names will be mentioned to the army and to the War Departient. Without intending a discrimination, it must be acknowledged, that the exertions of lieutenants Kouns and Henry of the 8th, and Jackson and Potter of the 24th, were most conspicuous, because fortune had opposed them to the main strength of the foe. Captain Lee of the Michigan dragoons, was of great assistance before the action, at the head of the advance and spies, and my warmest thanks are due to acting sailing master Darling, oi' the United States' schooner Somers, who had volunteered to command the artillery. Ensign Heard of the 28th, acting as volunteer adjutant, merits my acknowledgments, and especially for his zeal in defending my opinion against a final retreat, when others permitted their hopes to sink beneath the pressure of the moment.

The enemy's wounded and prisoners were treated with the utmost humanity. Though some of our men were marching in thin stocking feet, they were not permitted to take a shoe even from the dead. I have the honour to be, &c.

A. H. HOLMES, Capt. 24th Inft. Lieutenant colonel Butler.

UNITED STATES' SHIP UNITED STATES, NEW LONDON,

March 186, 1814. SIR,

I have the honour to forward to you enclosed, a despatch received by me from captain Capel, the commanding oflicer of the British squadron before this port, written in reply to an application of mine, for the release of an American seaman, detained against his will on board the frigate Statira.

Hiram Thayer, born in the town of Greenwich, in the county of Hampshire, and commonwealth of Massachusetts, was impressed into the naval service of Great Britain, in the month of August, 1803, and detained ever since. About six years ago, when the Statira was put in commission, he was transferred to her; and has been constantly on board her to this day. I am informed, and in fact it was stated by captain Stackpole to lieutenant Hamilton, who was charged with the flag, that the late general Lyman, our

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his son.

consul at London, made application to the Lords Commissioners for the discharge of Thayer, but they were not satisfied with the evidence of his nativity.

John Thayer, the father of Hiram, assures me, that the certificate of the select-men, the town clerk, and the minister of Greenwich, were forwarded some time ago to Mr. Mitchel, the resident agent for American prisoners of war at Halifax, but does not know the reason why he was not released then. The son has written to his father, and informed him that on his representing to captain Stackpole, that he was an American citizen, and would not fight against his country, that captain Stackpole told him" if they fell in with an American man of war, and he did not do his duty, he should be tied to the mast and shot like a dog."

On Monday the 14th instant, John Thayer requested me to allow him a tag to go off to the enemy and ask for the release of

This I granted at once, and addressed a note to captain Capel, stating that I felt pursuaded that the application of the father, furnished as he was with conclusive evidence of the nativi. ty and the identity of his son, would induce an immediate order for his discharge. The reply is enclosed. The son descried his father at a distance in the boat, and told the first lieutenant of the Statira that it was his father, and I understand that the feelings manifested by the old man on receiving the band of his son, proved, beyond all other evidence, the property he had in him. There was no doubt left on the mind of a single British officer of Hiram Thayer's being an American citizen; and yet he is detained, not as a prisoner of war, but compelled, under the most cruel threats, to serve the enemies of his country.

Thaver has so recommended himself by his sobriety, industry and seamanship, as to be appointed a boatswain's mate, and is now serving in that capacity in the Statira : and he says there is due to him from the British government about two hundred and fifty pounds sterling. He has also assured his father, that he has always refused to receive any bounty, or advance, lest it might afford some pretext for denying him his discharge whenever a proper application should be made for it.

I have the honour to be, &c.

STEPHEN DECATUR. Honourable W. Jones, Secretary of the Navy,

SIXTH AND SEVENTH DISTRICTS, FORT HAWKINS,

April 20, 1814. SIR,

I have the honour of enclosing to your excellency the official account of a decisive victory over the hostile Creek Indians, achieved by the military talents and enterprize of general Jackson, supported by the distinguished valor and good conduct of the gallant troops uzder his command. While the sigħ of humanity will escape for this profuse effusion of human blood, which results from the savage principle of our enemy, neither to give nor accept quarter, and while every American will deeply lament the loss of our meritorious fellow soldiers who have fallen in this contest, we have ample cause of gratitude to the giver of all victory for thus continuing his protection to our women and children, who would otherwise be exposed to the indiscriminate havoc of the tomahawk and all the horrors of savage warfare.

I have the honour to be, &c,

THOMAS PINCKNEY,

Mag. Gen. U. S. ariny. His excellency Gov. Early.

(INCLOSURE.) ON THE BATTLE GROUND, IN THE BEND OF TIIE TALAPOOSIE,

March 28th, 1814, SIR,

I feel particularly happy in being able to communicate to you the fortunate eventuation of my expedition to Talapoosie. I reached the head near Emucfau (called by the whites Horse Shoe) about 10 o'clock on the forenoon of yesterday, where I found the strength of the neighboring townst collected"; expecting our approach, they had gathered in from Oakfuskee, Oakehoga, New Yorcau, Hillibees, the Fish Pond, and Eufalee towns, to the number it is said of 1000. It is difficult to conceive a situation more eligible for defence than the one they had chosen, or one rendered more secure by the skill with which they had ereted their breastwork. It was from 5 to 8 feet high, and extended across the point in such a direction, as that a force approaching it would be exposed to a double fire, while they lay in perfect security behind. A cannon planted at one extremity could have raked it to no advantage.

Determined to exterminate them, I detached general Coffee with the mounted, and nearly the whole of the Indian, force, early on the morning of yesterday, to cross the river about two miles below their encampment, and to surround the bend in such a manner, as that none of them should escape by attempting to cross the river. With the infantry I proceeded slowly and in order along the point of land which led to the front of their breastwork; having planted my cannon, (one six and one three pounder) on an eminence at the distance of 150 to 200 yards from it, I opened a very brisk fire, playing upon the enemy with the muskets and rifles whenever they shewd themselves beyond it ; this was kept up, with short interruptions, for about two hours, when a part of the Indian force and captain Russell's, and lieutenant Bean's companies of spies, who had accompanied general Coffee crossed over in canoes to the extremity of the bend, and set fire

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