a

I am much indebted to all my regular officers, and trust their names will be mentioned to the army and to the war department. Without intending a discrimination it must be acknowledged that the exertions of lieutenants Kouns and Henry of the 28th 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 of 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 their stocking feet, they were not permitted to take a shoe even from the dead.

I have the honor, to be with perfect respect, sir, your most obedient servant, (Signed)

A. H. HOLMES,

Captain 24th Infantry. Lieutenant-Colonel Butler, command

ing the Territory of Michigan and its dependencies. Adjutant-General's Office, Quebec, 10th March, 1814.

GENERAL ORDERS. His excellency the commander of the forces has received from lieutenant-general Drummond, the report of captain Stewart, of the Royal Scots, of an affair which took place between the detachment under the orders of that officer, and a body of the enemy, on the 4th instant, at Longwood, in advance of Delaware town.

Captain Stewart reports, that receiving a report late on the night of the 3d instant, from captain Caldwell, that a party of the enemy hil been seen in I.ongwood, he directed the fank companies the Royal Scots and the light company of the 89th regiment, under the immediate command of captain Basden, 89th regiment, to march at day-break to the support of captain Caldwell; and that at 5 o'clock in the evening the enemy was discovered, in very superior force, posted VOL. iv.

[B]

on a commanding eminence, strongly entrenched with log breast-works; this post was instantly attacked in the most gallant manner, by the flank companies in front, while captain Caldwell's company of rangers and a detachment of the royal Kent militia made a flank movement to the right, and a small band of Indians to the left, with a view of gaining the rear of the position; and after repeated efforts to dislodge the enemy, in an arduous and spirited contest of an hour and a half duration, which terminated with the daylight, the troops were reluctantly withdrawn, having suffered severely, principally in officers.

The enemy has since abandoned his position in Longwood.

List of the killed, wounded, and missing.

Royal Scots light company-1 captain, 9 rank and file killed-1 lieutenant, 3 serjeants, 31 rank and file wounded-1 bugler missing.-89th light company-1 lieutenant, 3 rank and file killed-1 captain, 1 serjeant, and 7 rank and file wounded-volunteer Pagoot wounded and taken prisoner.Royal Kent volunteers 1 lieutenant, 1 serjeant, and 5 rank and file wounded.

Names of officers killed and wounded.

Captain D. Johnson, Royal Scots, and lieutenant P. Grame, 89th regiment, killed. Captain Bustle, 89th regiment, and lieutenant A. Macdonald, Royal Scots, wounded.

I have the honour to be, very respectfully, sir, your most obedient servant,

ISAAC CHAUNCEY. Honorable William Jones, Secretary af the Navy, Washington.

From the same to the same.

United States Ship General Pike, Sir,

Sackett's Harbour, April 27, 1814. The night of the 25th instant, two of our guard-boats fell in with three of the enemy's boats in the bay. Lieutenant Dudley (the officer of the guard) hailed, and was answered, “guard boats”this however not being satisfactory, he repeated the hail, but was not answered-finding that the strange boats were attempting to cut him off from the shore, he fired upon

them- the enemy laying upon their oars a short time, pulled in towards Bull Rock Point, without returning the fire. Lieutenant Dudley returned to the fleet and got a reinforcement of boats--but nothing more was seen of the enemy

that night.

Yesterday morning I directed both shores of Shermont Bay to be examined, to see whether the enemy had not secreted himself in some of the small creeks. Nothing however, was discovered, except six barrels of powder, found in the water near the shore, where our gun-boats fired on the enemy; these barrels were all slung in such a manner, that one man could take two across his shoulder and carry them; each barrel had a hole bored in the head of about an inch diameter, with a wooden plug in it; these barrels of powder were evidently fitted for the purpose of blowing our large ship up, if the enemy could have got in undiscovered, by placing them under the ship's bottom, and putting a piece of slow match or port fire to the hole in the head, which would burn a sufficient time to allow the parties to escape before the fire would communicate to the powder; this also accounts for the enemy not returning the fire of our boats, for having so much powder in, he was apprehensive of accidents, which no doubt induced him to heave it overboard, to be p epared to return the fire if he was pursued.

It would have be ich mpossible for the enemy to have succeeded, even if he had eluded our guard-boats (which here are two lines of)-for, independent of all the approaches by water being secured by the booms, the Madison is moored across the large ship's stern, within 20 yards, and her guns loaded with cannister and bags of musket balls, to rake under

a

the bottom, if necessary. A lieutenant, two midshipmen, and ten men are on watch under the ship's bottom every night, besides a marine guard outside of her—with all these precautions, I think that it would be impossible for an enemy to land near the ship-yard unobserved. However, after this discovery of the enemy's intentions, we shall redouble our vigilance and exertions to preserve our fleet, to meet the enemy fairly upon the lake. I have the honor to be, &c.

ISAAC CHAUNCEY.

Copy of a letter from Commodore Chauncey, to the Secretary of

the Navy.

United States ship General Pike, Sir,

Sackett's Harbour, May 1, 1814. I am happy to have it in my power to inform you that the United States ship ‘Superior,' was launched this morning, without accident.

The Superior is an uncommon beautiful, well-built ship, something larger than the President, and could mount 64 guns, if it was thought advisable to put as many upon her. This ship has been built in the short space of eighty days, and when it is taken into view, that the two brigs of 500 tons each have also been built, rigged, and completely fitted for service since the first of February, it will be acknowledged that the mechanics employed on this station have done their duty.

I have the honor to be, &c.

. ISAAC CHAUNCEY. Hon. William Jones, Secretary of the Navy, Washington.

Copy of a letter from Major-general Brown to the Secretary at

war, dated Head Quarters, Sackett's Harbour, May 12,1814. Sir,

Inclosed is an abstract from the report of lieutenant-colonel Mitchell, of the affair it Oswego. Being well satisfied with the manner in which the colonel executed my orders, and with the evidence given of steady discipline and gallant conduct on the part of the troops, I have noticed them in the general order, a copy of which is inclosed.

The enemy's object was the naval and military stores deposited at the Falls, 13 miles in the rear of the fort. These were protected. The stores at the fort and village were not important. I am, &c.

JACOB BROWN,

Major General. Hon. Secretary of War.

REPORT. I informed you of my arrival at Fort Oswego on the 30th ult. This post being but occasionally and not recently oceupied by regular troops, was in a bad state of defence. Of cannon we had but five old guns, three of which had lost their trunnions. What could be done in the way of repair was effected-new platforms were laid, the gun carriages put in order, and decayed pickets replaced. On the 5th instant the British naval force, consisting of four large ships, three brigs, and a number of gun and other boats, were descried at reveille beating about seven miles from the fort. Information was immediately given to captain Woolsey of the navy (who was at Oswego village), and to the neighbouring militia. It be. ing doubtful on what side of the river the enemy would attempt to land, and my force (290 effectives) being too small to bear division, I ordered the tents in store to be pitched on the village side, while I occupied the other with my whole force. It is probable that this artifice had its effect, and determined the enemy to attack, where, from appearances, they expected the least opposition. About one o'clock the fleet approached. Fifteen boats, large and crowded with troops, at a given signal moved slowly to the shore. These were preceded by gun boats sent to rake the woods and cover the landing, while the larger vessels opened a fire upon the fort.

, Captain Boyle and lieutenant Legate (so soon as the debarking boats got within range of our shot) opened upon them a very successful fire from the shore-battery, and compelled them twice to retire. They at length returned to the ships, and the whole stood off from the shore for better anchorage. One of the enemy's boats, which had been deserted, was taken up by us, and some others by the militia. The first mentioned was sixty feet long, carried thirty-six oars and three sails, and could accommodate 150 men. She had received a ball through her bow, and was nearly filled with water.

Piquet guards were stationed at different points, and we lay on our arms during the night.