served under me, who were lieutenants M’Intosh, Calhoun, Macfarland, Armstrong, Smith, and ensign Austin.

I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed)

D. APPLING, Brigadier-general Edmund P. Gaines,

commanding at Sackett's Harbour.

GENERAL ORDERS. Head-Quarters, Sackett's Harbour, 1st June, 1814. The brigadier-general has the satisfaction to announce to the troops under his command, the defeat and capture of a British force, consisting of 186 marines and sailors, with two gun-boats and five barges, under the command of captaia Popham, of the royal navy, by a detachment of 120 riflemen and a few Oneida warriors, under the command of major Appling, of the first United States' rifle regiment.

Major Appling had been detached to protect the cannon and naval stores at Oswego, destined for commodore Chauncey's fleet. They were embarked on board a flotilla of boats, in charge of captain Woolsey of the navy, and had arrived safely in Sandy Creek. They were pursued by the enemy, who was gallantly met by the riflemen, and, after an action of a few minutes, beaten, and taken, without the loss of a man on our part-an Indian and one rifleman only wounded. The Oneida warriors were not in the action until the enemy began to retreat.

The riflemen were most judiciously posted along the bank, a short distance below captain Woolsey's boats, where the creek is narrow and shoal. Most of the men having been taken from the boats, and the enemy, amused, perhaps, with the idea, that even the sight of a British force had been sufficient to appal American riflemen, gave three cheers at the prospect of the rich prize before them; his joy was of short duration, for at this moment the riflemen poured forth their deadly fire, which in about ten minutes terminated in his total defeat, leaving an officer and thirteen men killed, two officers and twenty-eight men wounded (the officers and many of the men dangerously), the residue, consisting of ten officers and 133 men, taken prisoners.

The greatest praise is due to major Appling, for the very judicious manner in which his gallant little corps was posted, as well as for the cool, deliberate valour displayed throughout the action, and his prompt exertions in arresting the tragic hand of his warriors, so soon as the enemy had struck.

Major Appling speaks in the highest terms of the courage and good conduct of his officers and men. The officers were lieutenants M’Intosh, Calhoun, M'Farland, Armstrong, and Smith, and ensign Austin. Captain Harris with his troop of dragoons, and captain Melvin with his two field-pieces, had made a rapid march, and would in a few minutes have been ready to participate in the action, had the enemy been able to make a stand. (Signed)

E. P. GAINES, Brigadier-general commanding.

Copy of a letter from commodo e Chauncey, to the Secretary of

the Navy, dated United States ship Superior, Sackett's Har

bor, 2d Fune, 1814. Sir,

Finding it a most difficult task to transport our heavy guns on by land, I determined to get them to Stony Creek by water, when we should have only about three miles land carriage to transport them to Henderson's harbour, from which we could bring them to this place by water. I directed captain Woolsey to send all the stores except the heavy guns up to North Bay, and to place the guns in boats ready to move up or down the river, but to be ready to start at a moment's notice for Sandy Creek, whenever the coast was clear of the enemy's gun-boats, which hovered about the creek in Mexico Bay. On the evening of the 28th, captain Woolsey started from Oswego with 18 boats, containing all our heavy guns, twelve cables, and a quantity of shot. Major Appling and the rifle corps accompanied the boats with about 130 rifle

I had also esgaged 130 Indians to traverse the shores for the purpose of protecting the boats if chased on shore, or into any of the creeks. Captain Woolsey proceeded unmolested to Sandy Creek, where he arrived about noon on Sunday the 29th, with one boat missing, containing one cable and two 24 pounders. As soon as I received information of the arrival of the boats at Sandy Creek, the general at my request dispatched two pieces of artillery and captain Harris's company of dragoons. Yesterday morning I ordered captain Smith with about 120 marines to Sandy Creek, and general Gaines very politely offered an additional force of about 300 artillery and infantry, under the command of that excellent officer colonel Mitchell, to the same place; but before this force could reach the creek, the enemy was discovered in chase of our look-out boats, and entered the creek a little after day-light; they landed and reconnoitred the shore-a

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part of their force marched up on each side of the creek, while their gun-boats ascended cautiously, occasionally firing into the woods. Major Appling disposed of his force in the most judicious manner, and permitted the enemy to approach within a few yards of his ambuscade, when the riflemen and Indians opened a most destructive fire upon the enemy, which obliged them to surrender in about ten minutes, with the loss of a number killed and wounded, and seven boats taken, three of which were gun-boats, mounting 68, 24, 18, and 12-pounders, with some smaller arms.

The number of officers and men which the enemy entered the creek with, were about 200, but the number killed, wounded, and taken prisoners, I am still ignorant of, as no return has been made to me; among the prisoners, however, are two post captains, four lieutenants, and two lieutenants of the marines.

The conduct of major Appling and the troops under his command, has been highly honourable, and they are entitled to my warm acknowledgments for the zeal and ability with which they have defended the guns and stores for this station.

I have made arrangements for transporting the guns from Sandy Creek by land, which is about 16 miles. I hope to have them all here before the 10th.

I inclose herewith, for your information, captain Woolsey's report of his proceedings.

I have the honour to be, &c.

ISAAC CHAUNCEY. Hon. William Jones, Secretary of the Navy, Washington. Copy of a letter from M. T. Woolsey, to Commodore Chauncey, Sir,

Šackett's Harbor, 1st June. I have already had the honour to inform

you

of the affair at Sandy Creek on the 30th instant, but, for want of time at that juncture, I had it not in my power to give you the particulars, and as the most of my communications, since measures were adopted for a push from Oswego Falls to Sandy Creek, with the naval stores, have been made in great haste, I avail myself of a leisure moment to make a report in detail of my proceedings since that period. On the 17th, I dispatched Mr. Huginan to Mexico, to hire a number of ox teams, and to engage a quantity of forage, &c. I also sent orders to Os. , wego Falls to have an additional number of large wheels made, for transporting the guns and cables back across the the portage, and caused reports to be circulated in every di

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rection that I had received your orders to send all the naval stores to Oneida Lake, with all possible expedition. On the morning of the 28th, when these reports were well in circulation, and when (as I have since heard from good authority) they had been faithfully detailed to sir James, I had the honour io receive, per express, your communication of the 27th, vesting in me discretionary powers. I immediately despatched Mr. Dixon in the long gig, to reconnoitre the coast. I went with my officers to the falls, to run the boats down over the rapids. "At sun-set we arrived at Oswego with the boats (19 in number), loaded in all with 21 long 32-pounders, ten 24-pounders, three 42-pounders (carronades), and ten cables, besides some light articles, and distributed in the batteaux a guard of about 150 riflemen, under command of major Appling Mr. Dixon having returned with a report of the coast being clear, we set off at dark, and arrived at Big Salmon River, about sun-rise on the 29th, with the loss of one boat, having on board two 24-pounders and one cable. I cannot account for her hav. ing separated from us, as every possible exertion was made to keep the brigade as compact as possible.

At Big Salmon we met the Oneidas, whom I had dispatched the day previous, under the command of lieutenant Hill of the rifle regiment. As soon as they had taken up their line of march along the shore to Big Sandy Creek, I started with all the boats, and arrived at noon at our place of destination, about 2 miles up the creek. In this laborious and hazardous duty, I feel much indebted to major Appling, his officers, and men, for their exertions, having assisted my officers and seamen in rowing the boats without a moment's rest, twelve hours, and about half the time enveloped in darkness and deluged with rain; also to some of the principal inhabitants of the village of Oswego, who volunteered their services as pilots. At 2 A. M. on the 30th, received your letter of the 29th, 6 P. M., per express, and,

, agreeably to the order contained therein, sent lieutenant Pierce to look out as far as Stoney Point; about 5 o'clock he returned, having been pursued by a gun-boat and 5 barges. The best possible disposition was made of riflemen and Indians, about half a mile below our boats. About 8 A. M. a cannonading at long shot was commenced by the enemy, and believing (as I did) that no attempt would be made to land with their small force, I ordered lieutenant Pierce to proceed in erecting sheers and making preparations to unload the boats; and, as all the teams had retrogaded in conse

quence of the cannonading, I sent in pursuit of them to return. About 8 o'clock captain Harris with a squadron of dragoons, and captain Melvin with a company of light artil·lery, and two 6-pounders, arrived. Captain Harris, the commanding officer, agreed with me, that this reinforcement should halt, as the troops best calculated for a bush-fight were already on the ground where they could act to the greatest advantage, and that the enemy, seeing a large reinforcement arrive, would most probably retreat. About 10, the enemy having landed and pushed up the creek with three gun-boats, three cutters, and one gig; the riftemen, under that excellent officer major Appling, rose from their concealment, and after a smart fire of about 10 minutes, succeeded in capturing all the boats and their crews, without one having escaped. At about 5 P. M., after having buried, with the honours of war, Mr. Hoare (a British midshipman), killed in the action, I was relieved by captain Ridgley, whom you did me the honour to send to Sandy Creek for that purpose. All the prisoners, except the wounded, having been removed, and expecting another attack at night, I remained to assist captain Ridgely in that event; but yesterday morning, seeing nothing in the offing, I availed myself of my relief, and returned to this place. In performing, to the best of my abi- . lities, the duty for which I was ordered to Oswego Falls, I have great satisfaction in acknowledging the unremitted exertions of lieutenant Pierce, sailing-master Vaughan, and midshipman Mackey, Hart, and Caton; also to major Appling, his officers, and men, for their kind assistance in the same duty.

The report of killed, wounded, and prisoners, and also the number and description of the captured boats, has been already remitted by captain Ridgely and myself.

I have the honor to be, &c. (Signed)

M. T. WOOLSEY. Hon. William Jones, Secretary of the Navy, Washington.

FURTHER OPERATIONS ON LAKE ONTARIO.

Copy of a letter from Commodore Chauncey to the Secretary of

the Navy, dated United States ship Superior, Sackett's Har

bour, June 20, 1814. Sir,

Knowing that the enemy was contantly receiving naval and military stores at Kingston, by the St. Lawrence, I thought it