to, by my desire to have the 6th regiment (whose officers and Inen were eager to share the dangers of their brother soldiers) perfect and in good order to receive the enemy on his nearer approach to the city. All retired as I could wish, and were ready to act as circumstances might require. In this situation you found the brigade on the morning of the 13th, somewhat fatigued, but with increased confidence in ourselves, and renewing our preparations for the annoyance of the enemy, alone, if deemed proper, or in conjunction with any other force.

Í have thought it due to the merits of my brigade, to detail thus fully their whole movement, and I feel a pride in the belief that the stand made on Monday, in no small degree tended to check the temerity of a foe daring to invade a country like ours, and designing the destruction of our city, in whose defence some of the best blood of the country has already been spilt, and for whose safety and protection the citizen-soldiers of the third brigade are ready to suffer every privation, and meet every danger. Should report be true, (and I doubt not the fact) that the enemy's commanding officer, major-general Ross, was killed in this action, and the enemy suffered in proportion to his superior numbers, I shall feel still more the valuable consequences of our fight.

The conduct of many company officers and privates, was such as I calculated on; that of most of my field-officers also merits my particular notice. Major Richard K. Heath of the 5th, who led on the advanced party to bring on the action, behaved as became an officer; the facts of his horse being killed under him, in the first skirmish, his second being badly wounded, and himself receiving a contusion on the head, by a musket-ball in the general action, are ample proofs of his bravery and exposure in discharge of his duty. Lieutenant-colonel Sterrett, and major Barry of the 5th, gained my highest approbation, and they unite with all in praise of captain Spangler and his company of volunteers from York (Pennsylvania), then attached to their conłmand; also of adjutant Cheston, who is slightly wounded. Lieutenant-colonel Long of the 27th, and his field and company officers, did well; this whole regiment were unsurpassed in bravery, resolution, and enthusiasm. My brigade has to bewail the loss of adjutant James Lowry Donaldson, who fell in the hottest of the fight, bravely discharging the duties of his commis. sion. Lieutenant-colonel Fowler and major Steiger of the 39th, did their duty in every respect; they speak highly of the volunteer companies of captain Quantril, from Hagers

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town, and captain Metzgar from Hanover, Pennsylvania. Captain Quantril is wounded. Captain John Montgomery, commanding my artillery, gained for himself and his company lasting honour. Captain Aisquith, and his company of riflemen, merit my thanks. Ensign Wilmot, commanding the company of United Volunteers of the 5th, and many of his men, distinguished themselves. To brigade-majors Calhoun and Frailey, I am under great

I obligations for the prompt and zealous performance of their duty. To my aid-de-camp, major George P. Stevenson, too much praise cannot be given; his industry in every arrangement before the fight, and in animating the whole line, was conspicuous;' his zeal and courage are of the most ardent kind, the sprightliness of his manners, in the most trying scenes, had the happiest effect upon all to whom he had to communicate my orders; and the precision with which he delivered my commands, could be exceeded only by the. coolness with which he always saw them executed. He was animated, brave, and useful. Major William B. Barney, and adjutant Lemuel Taylor, of the cavalry, who, having no opportunity of distinction in their regiment, owing to the grounds, did me great service, the former in aiding captain Montgomery, the latter in conveying my orders through the whole. Mr. Robert Goodloe Harper deserves my thanks. He visited me just before the action; accompanied the advanced party, and aided me much throughout. The brave soldiers under my command have suffered many privations, and I recognize among our killed and wounded many valuable men; of which I will make a report in a few days. I have the honour to be, your obedient servant,

JOHN STRICKER, Brigadier-General, commanding 3d brigade M. M. Copy of a letter from Commodore Rodgers to the Secretary of

the Navy, dated New-Castle, September 13, 1814. Sir,

From the time of my arrival at Baltimore until my departure, the various duties I had to perform, and the differ-' ent situations in which I was placed, must plead my apology for not furnishing a report of the services of the naval force employed there under my command at an earlier period; and more particularly as my situation, a large portion of the time, was such as to deny me the use of pen, ink, or paper.

The advance and retreat of the enemy you have been made acquainted with from other sources, and it now only remains

for me to make known to you the dispositions made of, and the services rendered by the force under my command, and which I feel a pleasure in doing, as the conduct of all was such as to merit my entire approbation.

In the general distribution of the forces employed in the defence of Baltimore, with the concurrence of the commanding general, I stationed lieutenant Gamble, first of the Guerriere, with about 100 seamen, in command of a seven-gun battery, on the line between the roads leading from Philadelphia and Sparrow's Point.

Sailing-master De La Rouch, of the Erie, and midshipman Field, of the Guerriere, with twenty seamen, in command of a two-gun battery, fronting the road leading from Sparrow's Point.

Sailing-master Ramage, of the Guerriere, with twenty seamen, in command of a five-gun battery, to the right of the Sparrow's Point road. • And midshipman Salter, with twelve seamen, in command of a one-gun battery a little to the right of Mr. Ramage.

Lieutenant Kuhn, with the detachment of marines belonging to the Guerriere, was posted in the entrenchment between the batteries occupied by lieutenant Gamble and sailing-master Ramage.

Lieutenant Newcomb, third of the Guerriere, with eighty seamen, occupied Fort Covington, on the Ferry Branch, a little below Spring Gardens.

Sailing-master Webster, of the flotilla, with fifty seamen of that corps, occupied a six-gun battery, on the Ferry Branch, known by the name of Babcock.

Lieutenant Frazier, of the flotilla, with forty-five seamen of the same corps, occupied a three gun battery near the Lazaretto,

And lieutenant Rutter, the senior officer of the flotilla, in command of all the barges, which were moored at the entrance of the

passage between the Lazaretto and Fort M'Henry, in the left wing of the water battery, at which was stationed sailing-master Redman and fifty-four men of the flotilla.

To the officers, seamen, and marines of the Guerriere, considering the privations they experienced, and the cheerfulness and zeal with which they encountered every obstacle, every acknowledgment is due, and it would be as impossible for me to say too much in their praise, as it would be unworthy of the station I hold, not to mention that their discipline and

good conduct is owing in a pre-eminent degree to the indefatigable attention and exertions of that highly estimable officer lieutenant Gamble.

The enemy's repulsion from the Ferry Branch on the night of the 13th instant, after he had passed Fort M'Henry with his barges and some light vessels, was owing to the warm reception he met from Forts Covington and Babcock, commanded by lieutenant Newcomb and sailing-master Webster, who with all under their command performed the duty assigned them to admiration.

To lieutenant Frazier commanding the three-gun battery at the Lazaretto, great praise is due for the constant and animated fire with which he at times assailed the enemy during the whole bombardment, although placed in a very exposed situation to rockets and shells.

Great praise is justly due to lieutenant Rutter for his prompt execution of my orders, as well as the zeal and coolness with which he performed all the duties of his station, although continually exposed for near 24 hours to the enemy's rockets and shells.

Similar praise is due to the officers and men, in the several barges of the flotilla which were immediately under his command, who, without regard to the enemy's rockets and shells, maintained their position with firmness in the passage between Fort M‘Henry and the Lazaretto.

Sailing-master Rodman, stationed in the water-battery of Fort-M'Henry, with sixty seamen of the flotilla, did his duty in a manner worthy of the service to which he belongs.

To master's-mate Stockton, my aid, I am greatly indebted for the zeal and promptitude with which he conveyed my orders from past to post, and wherever I had occasion to communicate, although in some instances he had to pass through showers of shells and rockets.

To Mr. Allen (brother of the late gallant captain Allen of the navy), who acted as my aid and remained near my person, I am much indebted for the essential assistance he rendered in the capacity of secretary, and conveying my orders wherever I found the same necessary.

It now becomes a duty to notice the services of that gallant and meritorious officer, captain Spence of the navy, by whose exertions, assisted by lieutenant Rutter with the barges, the entrance into the bason was so obstructed in the enemy's presence, and that too in a very short time, as to bid defiance to his ships, had he attempted to force that passage. In fine, owing to the emergency of the service, although no definite command could be assigned captain Spence, his services

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were nevertheless of the first order, and where danger was expected there he was to be found, animating with his presence, and encouraging by his conduct, all to do their duty. On my leaving Baltimore, commodore Perry being absent, the command of the naval forces devolved on this excellent officer.

That justly distinguished officer, commodore Perry, I am sorry to say, was so indisposed and worn out with the fatigue he had experienced on the Potomac, and having arrived at Baltimore but a short time before the bombardment commenced, excluded his taking an active command; at the moment, however, when the enemy threatened to attack our lines, I found he was with us, and ready to render every assistance in his power. In a word, every officer, seaman, and marine, belonging as well to the navy as to the flotilla, performed his duty in a manner worthy of the corps to which he belonged.

I feel a delicacy in attempting to express an opinion of the conduct of any other corps than those particularly placed under my command by the navy department, and the more so, as my object is to avoid every cause of being thought presuming. I must in justice, however, be permitted to say that the conduct of colonel Stephen Stone, commanding the first regiment of Maryland militia, which was formed in column in my rear, for the defence of the lines, and whom I considered attached to my command by order of the commanding general, conducted in a manner not only to give me satisfaction, but the most incontestible proof, that that corps would have done its duty, had the enemy attempted to force the entrenchment in its vicinity.

Much praise is also due to major Randall, commanding a battalion of Pennsylvania riflemen, who was also placed under my command, and whom I despatched with my aid, Mr. Stockton, to dislodge a party of men in the enemy's boats, which it was supposed intended landing near the Lazaretto to take possession of our little three-gun battery. Mr. Stockton on his return reported to me in very high terms the zeal

and gallantry displayed by the major and his corps on the | occasion. Indeed it is but justice to say that I have the best

reason to believe, that all the corps stationed in entrenchments, so far as came under my immediate - observation, would have performed their respective duties in a manner honourable to themselves and to their country. With great respect, I have the honour to be, sir, vour obe.

JOHN RODGERS. The honourable William Jones, Secretary of the Navy.