our march. Some of these men I am inform- with his company of artillery, only, had ad opportunity of showing his gallantry and dis tinguishing himself, officers, and soldiers, above others. ed have been in our camp professing friendship. The conduct of every part of my command was such as not only to meet my approbation, but, considering the description of force, to excite my highest admiration. They performed a march of 30 miles, drove in the enemy's piquets, lay for some time under his batteries, retired in good order, and in every movement and labour of the day exhibited examples of order, fortitude and gallantry, which would have been honourable to the oldest troops. 1 bave the honour to be, &c. P. B. PORTER, Agreeably to general orders, I transmit the following repori : At the commencement of the action of the 5th July, Captain Townsend's company of artillery, with the first brigade was solely engaged with the enemy; he maintained his position on the right and kept up a spirited and destructive fire during the advance of the enemy. Amidst the fire and charge of the enemy, the captain and his subalterus, Lieutenants Campbell and Schmuck, and lieutenant Kandolph, of the infantry, commanding the reserve of the artillery, behaved with the greatest gallantry; and I am proud to say. tended greatly to check the impetuosity of the enemy. At an early part of the battle, the captain's piece was thrown out of the action by a 24 pound shot from the enemy; yet his zeal and exertions were given with his characteristic spirit to the remaining picces, and he reports handsomely of the conduct and services of his officers, non-commissioned officers, and men. With due respect, yours, &c. J. HINDMAN Maj. Com. Batt. Artillery. C. K. Gardner, Adjutant General. From the National Intelligencer. WASHINGTON, July 28, 1814 Messrs. Gales & Seaton, Gentlemen-I have read in your Gas zette of the 19th of April, an editorial pas ragraph attached to my report of the affair at La Cole Mill, made on the 31st of March, to the Hon. John Armstrong, secretary of war; which was obviously designed to implicate my veracity, to tarnish my honour, to excite popular odium against me, and prepare the public mind for the favourable reception of the denunciations which were soon to follow. The offensive paragraph alluded to, to which I have just cause of exception, clothed as it was in an almost official garb, is couched in the following language: "We are authorized to state, that General Wilkinson's late movement was not pursuant to the views of the war department: those views, (or orders) advised him to seize and hold a given position on Lake Champlain, and admonished him against an incursion into Canadu." The peculiarity of my situation, and my repugnance to obtrude my personal concerns on the public attention, added to my continued ill health, have induced me hitherto to treat this aspersion with silence; and now, when the prospect of an opportunity to vindicate my character and conduct is very distant, I yield to the solicitations of many respectable friends, and address this note to you for publication, together with the papers which accompa ny it. These documents numbered from 1 to 10 will, I trust, explain satisfactorily About the time the enemy commenced their charge, and at the moment they broke, Captain Kitchie's company of artillery, and one piece (a 12 pounder) of Captain Biddle's company of artillery under Lieutenant Hall, participated in the action. The captains, officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, conducted themselves as brave and faithful soldiers, and the whole artillery then on the field pursued, under the fire of the enemy's batteries, with rapidity and saw them precipi. tate themselves within their works. At this the following points, viz. period of the action, two 18 pounders under 1st. What were the views of the "war Captain Williams, and the remainder of Cap-department," or more properly the secretain Biddle's artillery were brought upon the tary of war, in relation to my movement field, but those officers reluctantly quit the into Lower Canada on the 30th of March ground without being permitted to open bat-last? tery upon the enemy's works. 2nd. Whether the views or orders of To particularize, if all had been engaged the war department," or secretary of from first to last, would be invidious, but, in this case, Captain Towson and company de- war, "advised me to seize and hold a given serve particular mention. The captain, be- position on lake Champlain," or, ing so fortunate as to be ordered in advance 3rd. Whether "the war department, secretary of war, "admonished me against an incursion into Canada.” The same documents will also expose the motives which induced me to enter Lower Canada at the time I did, and on these motives I shall be content to rest my military reputation, so far as it can be affected by that operation; independent of sanction or shelter from the war department, which it was not my intention to seek, by my letter of the 31st of March, as may, I conceive, be fairly inferred from my letter of the 5th of April, which I understand has not been published, although it contained a return of killed and wounded. Respectfully, I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant, JAMES WILKINSON. CHARLES J. NOURSE, A. D. C. Extract of a letter from the secretary of war, dated 31st January, 1814. "The objections which now occur to yourself against the operations suggested in your letter of the 7th, were anticipated Extract of a letter from Maj. Gen. Wilkin-here, as well also the necessity of rein son to the Secretary of War, dated } forcing Sackett's Harbour; considerations connected with this last subject produced my order of the 20th inst. which supercedes your measure of calling out militia, and which will not interfere with any well digested project for attacking the enemy's posts at Kingston, Prescott or elsewhere during the winter or early part of the spring. H. Q. Malone, Military District No. 9, 29th Nov. 1813. "By a confidential intelligencer from Cornwall, I am authorized to inform you that the enemy is making forced marches for Kingston with about 2500 regular troops, including those who descended the river after me; the coast opposite to me is 1st. The force ordered to the Harbour confided to the defence of the militia. I was not from its number calculated to shall advise the commanding officer at produce a counter movement on the part Sackett's Harbour, Commodore Chauncy of the enemy, it being thought barely sufand General Harrison of these move-ficient to protect that place against his atments of the enemy" A true copy. CHARLES J. NOURSE, tacks. 2nd. If it did produce the effect of a counter movement and carried up an equal or greater force of the enemy, his defences below were necessarily much weakened. 66 In the first case General Brown may avail himself of the ice, and with the aid of Commodore Chauncy, carry Kingston by a coup de main. This is Chauncy's opinion. "In the other case you may inflict A true copy, WAR DEPARTMENT, Jan. 1st. 1814. SIR-Your letter of the 29th November was received yesterday. The detachment you mentioned may be destined, in conjunction with the garrison of Kingston, to an attack on Sackett's Harbour; or it may be, that portion of the garrisons of Kingston and Prescott, which followed you re-blows of much importance below." turning to their posts for the winter; or it may be a corps destined to the west, either (by itself) to re-establish the British force on the Thames, or to replace corps at Kingston and York, which they have already moved with a view to that in the above letter, to be clearly underobject. *If it be a positive abstraction stood, must be explained. My letter of from Prevost's force at Montreal, that the 7th Jan. proposed a general attack of the enemy's dispersed cantonments in Here the secretary appears to have front of Montreal, between the rivers Sorquinted a little at "incursions" into Lower rel and St. Lawrence, by a combined opeCanada. ration of 4000 men, marching in two co J. W. CHARLES J. NOURSE, NOTE.-The allusions of the secretary lumns of equal strength from Plattsburgh | tion that there is, about four miles above the Isle aux Noix, on the west bank of the river, a contracted spot of high ground surrounded by swampy low lands, inaccessible to artillery in the vernal and summer seasons, and that from the narrowness of the river at that place, a heavy battery there would effectually command and the Four Corners, and by strict concert to form a junction at St. Pierre, and from thence to attack St. Phillips, L'Acadie and St. Johns and having beaten, routed or captured the decampments at those defenceless cantonments, to occupy their quarters, hold the country, and reduce the Isle aux Noix, or return to our it. The possession and maintenance of cantonments. Simultaneous with these that spot would render the British flotilla movements, a column from the French on the waters of Lake Champlain useless, Mills was sent to cross the St. Lawrence and it would secure to our army and its to Cornwall, to beat and disperse the ene- attirail, a safe landing within sixteen my at that place, and to fortify and hold miles of St. Johns. This would facilitate it, effectually to cut off the intercourse the early invasion of Canada from this. between the two provinces. The objec- quarter, and would oblige the enemy to tions to this enterprise hinted at by the weaken every other point, in order to secretary, arose out of a defect of provi- concentrate his force for the protection of sions, occasioned by an improper interfe- Montreal. I am ready to take the posirence with my requisitions to the contraction and act defensively, or to make an tor. The communication on which the offensive incursion, or at least break up secretary grounds his remarks, but does the enemy's quaters at St. John's, L'Acanot explicitly acknowledge, was written die and Chamble; but I wait orders from the 15th of January, in which I proposed my government, which to be effectual to him, as a substitute to the plan of the must reach me before the ice fails. 7th of Jaunary, to take Prescott by a coup A true copy. de main, which could have been easily affected, as the garrison had been reduced to 250 men; and by this stroke we should have cut off all communication between Montreal and Kingston, and been enabled, with the co-operation of Governor Tompkins, who favoured the enterprise, to have reduced Kingston; but the secretary paid no more attention to my proposition than is to be seen in his letter of the 31st Jan On my part, after a conference with Governor Tompkins, I was so forcibly inpressed with the importance of the plan, that I was determined to make it without waiting for the secretary's answer. Orders had been accordingly issued to General Brown and Colonel Bissel, and I should have marched in two days; when the secretary's order of the 20th Jan. came to hand, peremptorily commanding the aban donment of our quarters at the French Mills, and ordering 2000 men to Sackett's Harbour, and the residue to Plattsburgh. In this letter the secretary's "views" to the posts of the enemy appear manifest, else how was I to "inflict blows of importance below," J. WILKINSON. Extract of a letter from Maj. Gen. Wilkinson to the secretary of war. PLATTSBURG, Feb. 27, 1313. CHARLES J. NOURSE, WAR DEPARTMENT, March 12, 1814. *This is about 10 or 12 miles north of the J. W. "I have received satisfactory informa- line of national demarkation. ter of February, which is not acknowledg- precarious, a sudden thaw may break up ed, and certainly indicates, with all its the ice, the roads may become nearly imcaution, certain "views" of the secretary. J. W. Extract of a letter from Major General PLATTSBURGH, March 25, 1814. ed. passable, and the vessels of the enemy enter the Lake. The position at White "With respect to desultory movements, I beg leave to observe, they can be no further useful than to disconcert the plans of the enemy, or to effect salutary diversions; on these grounds they are not only justifiable but commendable, and for such objects only should they be made." A true copy. CHARLES J. NOURSE, NOTE-In this letter the motives and man's, three or four miles above the Isle aux Noix, is reported to be the best; that at Rouse's point, I have examined in company with Major Totten, and in addition to his letter on the subject heretofore forwarded, I now send you his plan of that sette; my fortifications will be of earth and wood, and the troops employed on this service will be billeted in adjacent "Having received authentic informa-houses, or sheltered with boards, and kept tion from Judge Richards, the collector warm with large fires at their feet. of Oswegatche, and other persons to be relied on, that the enemy continue to reinforce the upper province, and as late as the 12th and 17th inst. marched up at least eleven hundred regular troops, in view of Hamilton, on St. Lawrence, I consider it my indispensable duty to employ all the means in my power to press him in this quarter, and should our comparative strength warrant it, to attack him at St. Johns, and put him in fear for Montreal, in order to compel him to with-objects of my movement into Canada are draw a part of his force from above to give avowed, and it will be found that the ob security to Montreal, and cover his posts jects submitted to the secretary of war, in between the Sorrel and the St. Lawrence. my letter of the 27th February, had beI am the more strongly inclined to this come a secondary consideration with me, measure as one of solemn obligation, by a diversion in favour of one post on Lake the information I have received of the Ontario being the first. Under the informovements of Major General Brown to mation I received from Judge Richards Niagara, and the weak state in which I and others, had I sat still at Plattsburgh, understand Sacket's Harbour has been left; I could not have justified my conduct to should the weather favour me, I shall march to-morrow or the next day, with science. my profession, my country or my conJ. W. my main body, and shall form a junction near the line with the troops now at Chazy PLATTSBURGH, 22d March, 1814. and St. Armands, at which place Briga-form you that two detachments of British DEAR SIR-I think it my duty to indier General Macomb has been on post with Colonel Clark for some days; the morning after I shall drive the enemy from Odelltown and La Cole, and from thence shall endeavour to reconnoitre routs and feel his force in my front, by which my posterior movement will be governed. "It is my intention to seize and hold a position on the Sorrel, effectually to lock up the British squadron at St. Johns, should the ordnance and ammunition required of Major Bomford arrive in season. But pardon me, sir, for observing that this is the only time for executing such a project, the weather being temperate and the ice strong: if we wait until the last moments of the frost, every thing becomes troops have lately passed up the St. Law- ALEX. RICHARDS. CHA'S J. NOURSE, A. D. C. PRIVATE. Dear General—I send internation which may be considered important. La Cole Mill has lately been reinforced by the 13th regiment. As a proof that there are many men there, all the houses up to Brisban's and down below Whiteman's on the lake, and up the road which leads to Odelltown 1 1-2 miles, are occupied. The post at Sqr. Odell's mill has been reinforced. Isle aux Noix. The 49th de Meuron and Voltigeur regiments arrived on Thursday last, one of those regiments only, not known which, was counted and consisted of 400 rank and file. One galley has been up to La Cole, two will be rigged and up to-morrow, two new galleys are building, the ice is good yet, along shore even to St. Johns. on the verbal report of officers commanding corps; but I have the satisfaction of informing you, that the surgeons represent very few of the cases to be dangerous. Neither the real force nor the loss of the enemy can be ascertained; rumours are as usual various but we have ground for belief, that nearly two companies of the marines were cut off, and three officers killed and wounded. I understand that corps made the last gallant charge on our battery, who were met by about 230 men of the right of Brigadier Gen. Bissel, and under his eye repulsed them, after a contest of two or three minutes. Enclosed you have a memorandum* of the enemy's force I expected to meet when St. Johns, only 300 men. I entered Canada, and which, independent Chambly, very few troops, and these in- of the motives heretofore submitted to you, corporated militia. Sir George has not it was my duty to drive back from their yet left Quebec, unless since Thursday. near approach to our settlements. We A Major who was some time at La Cole, could not, from the comparative strength (of the marines) has gone against Macomb, of their walls, and the weight of our artilThe intentions of the enemy to attack |lery, force the fortification-and of consehim were declared and manifest; all the quence the garrison escaped, and ulterior disposable force has been or will be sent objects could not be carried into execution, against him. as it blocked up the only practicable road to St. Johns. I trust a fair interpretation will be put on my motives, while my personal professional conduct, during this little operation, in leading on, in fighting, and bringing off the troops, is open to scrutiny. The foregoing was just now communicated by your agent; and he declares, unless it be true, he can never be able to procure correct intelligence; he reposes perfect trust in the man from whom it was received. But before I dismiss the subject, it is incumbent on me to say, much of our loss was sustained in a rash charge of our advance on the enemy's work, where I have Major Forsyth has given me intelligence, derived from another source, which very nearly confirms what I have written. I shall do myself the honour to see you to-morrow, and communicate other impor-discovered six of our men fell so near to tant information with plans, &c. I have the honour to be, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant. JOSEPH G. TOTTEN. Major Gen. Wilkinson, CHARLES J. NOURSE, Extract of a letter from Major General Wil- it, they could not be brought off. Nothing can test the courage of men more than a stationary position, under a galling fire, which cannot be returned with any prospect of effect; and to cover our battery, which became the indispensable duty of Brig. Gen. Smith's and Brig. Gen. Bissell's corps, for more than two hours— during which time every man stood firm, Force, reported by a confidential agent, and CHAMPLAIN, April 5th, 1814. believed to be in the vicinity of La Cole.-1st SIR-I wrote you on the 31st ult. from battalion royal marines, 550; 13th regt. Odelltown, and have now the honour to 450; 49th regt. 400; regt. of Meuron, 600; transmit a return of our killed and wound-voltigeurs, 400; fencibles, 150-Total 2550, ed in the affair of the 30th, which we have not been able to ascertain with accuracy gooner. You will perceive the number exceeds my estimate, which was founded following estimate of these corps.-1st battalion royal marines, 750; 13th regt, 600; 49th regt. 350; regt. of Meuron, 700; voltigeurs 450; fencibles, 500-Total 3650. The secretary of war transmitted me the |