taken possession of the fort, without loss, early the next morning. Twenty-four pieces of cannon, of different calibres, fell into our hands on this occasion, more than half of which the Enemy had rendered unserviceable. Brigadier-gen. Brewer, who commanded the militia in this district, and some other respectable persons, had sent a letter addressed to Lieut. -col. Pilkington and Capt. Parker, of which the enclosed, No. 4, is a copy; and the next day was appointed to receive these gentlemen, for the purpose of accepting the terms therein offered. Lieut.-col. Pilkington says, that as soon as this is done he shall transmit me his official report, which I will forward to your Lordships by the first opportunity. The Lieut.-colonel further mentions the great assistance he received from Capt. Parker, of the royal navy, and the naval forces employed under him; and says, that the conduct of the troops is deserving of great praise. I have great pleasure in congratulating your Lordships upon the whole of the country between Penobscot river and Passamaquoddy Bay being now in our possession, J. C. SHERBROOKE. (Inclosure No. 1.) Ward, with the rifle company of the 60th, to dislodge them, and take up that ground, which duty was performed, under Major Riddle's directions, in a most complete and satisfactory manner, by about seven o'clock; and before ten at night, the whole of the troops, including eighty marines under Capt. Carter (whom Capt. Barrie had done me the honour to attach to my command), were landed and bivouacked for the night, during which it rained incessantly. We got under arms at five o'clock this morning; the rifle company forming the advance under Captain Ward; Brevet-maj. Keith, with the light company of the 62d, bringing up the rears and the detachment of marines under Capt. Carter moving upon my flanks, while Capt. Barrie, with the ships and gun-boats under his command, advanced at the same time up the river, on my right, towards Hamden. In addition to the detachment of royal artillery under Lieut. Garston, Capt. Barrie had landed one 6-pounder, a six and half-inch howitzer, and a rocket apparatus, with a detachment of sailors under Lieutenants Symonds, Boteley, and Slade, and Mr. Sparling, Master of his Majesty's ship Bulwark. The fog was so thick, it was impossible to form a correct idea of the features of the country, or to reconnoitre the Enemy, whose number were reported to be 1400, under the command of Brigadier-gen. Blake. Between seven and eight o'clock, our skir mishers in advance were so sharply engaged with the Enemy, as to induce me to send forward one half of the light com pany of the 29th regiment, under Capt. Coaker, to their support. The column had not advanced much further, before I discovered the Enemy drawn out in line, Occupying a very strong and advantageous position in front of the town of Hamden, his left flanked by a high hill commanding the road and river, on which were mounted several heavy pieces of cannon; his right extending considerably beyond our left, resting upon a strong point d'appui, with an 18-pounder and some light Bangor, on the Penobscot River, Sept. 3. Sir,-In compliance with your Excellency's orders of the 1st instant, I sailed from Castine with the detachment of royal artillery, the flank companies of the 29th, 62d, and 98th regiments, and one rifle company of the 7th battalion 60th regiment, which composed the force your Excellency did me the honour to place under my command, for the purpose of co-operating with Captain Barrie, of the royal navy, in an expedition up this river. On the morning of the 2d, having proceeded above the town of Frankfort, we discovered some of the Enemy on their march towards Hamden, by the Eastern shore, which induced me to order Brevet maj. Croasdaile, with a detachment of the 98th, and some riflemen of the 60th reg. under Lieut. Wallace, to land and inter-field-pieces in advance of his centre, so cept them, which was accomplished, and that detachment of the Enemy (as I have since learned) were prevented from joining the main body assembled at Hamden. On this occasion the Enemy had one man killed, and some wounded. Major Croasdaile re-embarked without any loss. We arrived off Bald Head Cove, three miles distant from Hamden, about five o'clock that evening, when Capt. Barrie agreed with me in determining to land the troops immediately. Having discovered that the Enemy's picquets were advantageously posted on the North side of the Cove, I directed Brevet-maj. Riddle, with the grenadiers of the 62d, and Captain pointed as completely to rake the road, and a narrow bridge at the foot of a hill, by which we were obliged to advance upon his position. As soon as he perceived our column approaching, he opened a very heavy and continued fire of grape and musketry upon us; we, however, soon crossed the bridge, deployed, and charged up the hill to get possession of his guns, one of which we found had already fallen into the hands of Capt. Ward's riflemen in advance. The Enemy's fire now began to slacken, and we pushed on rapidly, and succeeded in driving him at all points from his position; while Capt. Coaker, with the light company of the 29th, had gained gained possession of the bill on his left, from whence it was discovered that the Adams frigate was on fire, and that the Enemy had deserted the battery which defended her. We were now in complete possession of the Enemy's position above, and Capt. Barrie, with the gun-boats, had secured that below the hill. Upon this occasion twenty pieces of cannon fell into our hands of the naval and military force, the return of which I enclose; after which Capt. Barrie and myself determined on pursuing the Enemy towards Bangor, which place we reached without opposition; and here two brass 3-pounders, and three stand of colours, fell into our possession. Brigadier-gen. Blake, also in this town, surrendered himself prisoner, and with other prisoners, to the amount of 121, were admitted to their paroles. Eighty prisoners taken at Hamden are in our custody. The loss sustained by the Enemy I have not had it in my power correctly to ascertain; report states it to be from 30 to 40 in killed, wounded, and missing. Our own loss, I am happy to add, is but small, viz. one rank and file killed; one captain, seven rank and file wounded; one rank and file missing. Captain Gell, of the 29th, was wounded when leading the column, which deprived me of his active and useful assistance; but I am happy to add, he is recovering. I have, &c. HENRY JOHN, Lieut.-col. (Inclosure, No. 2.) · Return of Ordnance and Stores taken.Shot-236 round 24-pounders, 500 round 18-pounders. 1 ammunition waggon, 1 ammunition cart, 12 common handspikes. 40 barrels of powder. Wads: 20 24pounders, 70 18-pounders. N. B. The magazine in Fort Castine was blown up by the Enemy. The vessel, on board of which the powder was, ran on shore, and the whole destroyed. Eleven of the 18pounders were destroyed by order of Lieutenant-colonel John, not having time to bring them off. Admiralty-office, Oct. 8. Dispatch from Rear-Admiral Griffith, brought by Capt. Senbóuse, of the Martin sloop. Tenedos, informing me that he got off Macchias on the 10th instant, where the troops were landed without opposition, and after a most fatiguing night march, took possession of the fort of Macchias without loss. He has sent me the capitulation which the officer commanding the militia has entered into, and which I transmit herewith. Sir John Sherbrooke not wishing the Martin to be detained, I dispatch her without waiting for Capt. Parker's official letter. The ships and vessels under Capt. Parker's orders will be sent to their respective stations as soon as the guns taken at the fort are embarked, and the works destroyed. EDW. GRIFFITH. Endymion, off Castine, entrance of the Penobscot River, Sept. 9. Sir, My letter of the 23d of August, from Halifax, by the Rover, will have made you acquainted with my intention of accompanying the expedition then about to proceed under the command of his Excellency Sir John Sherbrooke, K. B. for this place. I have now the honour to inform you, that I put to sea on the 26th ultimo, with the ships and sloop named in the margin*, and ten sail of transports, having the troops on board, and arrived off the Metinicus Islands on the morning of the 31st, where I was joined by the Bulwark, Tenedos, Rifleman, Peruvian, and Picton. From Captain Pearce, of the Rifleman, I learned, that the United States frigate Adams had a few days before got into Penobscot, but, not considering herself in safety there, had gone on to Hamden, a place twentyseven miles higher up the river, where her guns had been landed, and a position was fortifying for her protection. Towards evening, the wind being fair and the weather favourable, the fleet made sail up the Penobscot Bay, Capt. Parker, in the Tenedos, leading. We passed be tween the Metinicus and Green Islands about midnight, and steering through the channel formed by the Fox Islands and Owl's Head, ran up to the Eastward of Long Island, and found ourselves at daylight in the morning in sight of the fort and town of Castine. As we approached, some show of resistance was made, and a few shot were fired; but the fort was soon after abandoned and blown up. At about eight a. m. the men of war and transports were anchored a little to the Northward of the peninsula of Castine, and the smaller vessels taking a station nearer in for covering the landing, the troops were put on shore, and took possession of the town and works without opposition. The General wishing to occupy a post at Belfast, on the Western side of the Bay (through * Dragon, Endymion, Bacchante, and Sylph, which the high road from Boston runs), for the purpose of cutting off all communication with that side of the country, the Bacchante and Rifleman were detached with the troops destined for this service; and quiet possession was taken, and held, of that town, as long as was thought necessary. Arrangements were immediately made for attacking the frigate at Hamden; and the General having proffered every military assistance, six hundred picked men under the command of Lieut.-col. John, of the 60th regiment, were embarked the same afternoon, on board his Majesty's sloops Peruvian and Sylph, and a small transport. To this force were added the marines of the Dragon, and as many armed boats from the squadron as was thought necessary for disembarking the troops and covering the landing; and the whole placed under the command of Capt. Barrie, of the Dragon; and the Lieut. colonel made sail up the river at six o'clock that evening. I have the honour to enclose Capt. Barrie's account of his proceedings; and, taking into consideration the Enemy's force, and the formidable strength of his position, too much praise cannot be given him, the officers and men under his command, for the judgment, decision, and gallantry with which this little enterprize has been achieved. So soon as accounts were received from Capt. Barrie that the Adams was destroyed, and the force assembled for her protection dispersed, the troops stationed at Belfast were embarked, and arrangements made for sending them to take possession of Macchias, the only place occupied by the Enemy's troops between this and Passainaquoddy Bay. directed Capt. Parker, of his Majesty's ship Tenedos, to receive on board Lieut.col. Pilkington, Deputy Adjutant-general, who is appointed to command, and a small detachment of artillery and rifle men, and to take under his command the Bacchante, Rifleman, and Picton schooner, and proceed to the attack of that place. He sailed on the 6th instant; and most likely, by this time, the troops are in possession of it. After destroying the defences, they are directed to return here. The inhabitants of several townships East of this have sent deputations here to tender their submission to the British autho rity; and such of them as could give reasonable security that their arms would be used only for the protection of their persons and property, have been allowed to retain them. This indulgence was absolutely necessary, in order to secure the quiet and unoffending against violence and outrage from their less peaceable neighbours, and for the maintenance of the peace and tranquillity of the country. All property on shore, bona fide belonging to the inhabitants of the coun try in our possession has been respected. All public property, and all property afloat, has been confiscated. Sir John Sherbrooke, conceiving it to be of importance that the Government should be informed, without delay, of our successes here, has requested that a vessel of war may take his dispatches to England. I have, in compliance with his wishes, appropriated the Martin for that service; and Capt. Senhouse will take a copy of this letter to the Secretary of the Admiralty. I have, &c. EDW. GRIFFITH, Vice Admiral Hon. Sir A. Cochrane, K. B. &c. Sloop Sylph, off Bangor, in the Sir,-Having received on board the ships named in the margin*, a detachment of twenty men of the royal artillery, with one five-and-half-inch howitzer, commanded by Lieut. Garston; a party of eighty marines, commanded by Capt. Carter, of the Dragon; the flauk companies of the 29th, 62d, and 98th regiments, under the command of Captains Gell and Coaker. Majors Riddel, Keith, and Croasdaile, and Capt. H. M'Pherson; also a rifle coupany of the 7th battalion of the 60th regiment, commanded by Captain Ward; and the whole under the orders of Lieut.colonel John, of the 60th regiment; I proceeded agreeably to your order, with the utmost dispatch, up the Penobscot. Light variable winds, a most intricate channel, of which we were perfectly ignorant, and thick foggy weather, prevented my arriv ing off Frankfort before two p. m. of the 2d inst. Here Colonel John and myself thought it advisable to send a message to the inhabitants; and having received their answer, we pushed on towards Hamden, where we received intelligence that the Enemy had strongly fortified himself. On our way up, several troops were observed on the East side of the river making for Brewer; these were driven into the woods, without any loss on our side, by a party under the orders of Major Croasdaile, and the guns from the boats. The Enemy had one killed, and several wounded. At five p. m. of the 2d inst. we arrived off Ball's Head Cove, distant three miles from Hamden. Colonel John and myself landed on the South side of the Cove, to reconnoitre the ground, and obtain intelligence. Having gained the hills, we discovered the Enemy's picquets advantageously posted near the highway leading to Hamden, on the North side of the Cove. We immediately determined to land one hundred and fifty men, under Major Riddel, to drive in the * His Majesty's ships Peruvian and Sylph, Dragon's tender, and the Harmony transport. picquets, picquets, and take up their ground. This object was obtained by seven o'clock, and notwithstanding every difficulty, the whole of the troops were landed on the North side of the Cove by ten o'clock, but it was found impossible to land the artillery at the same place. The troops bivouacked on the ground taken possession of by Major Riddel. It rained incessantly during the night. At day-break this morning, the fog cleared away for about a quarter of an hour, which enabled me to reconnoitre the Enemy by water; and I found a landing-place for the artillery about two-thirds of a mile from Bull's Head. Off this place the troops halted till the artillery were mounted, and by six the whole advanced towards Hamden. The boats under the immediate command of Lieut. Pedler, the First of the Dragon, agreeable to a previous arrangement with Colonel John, advanced in a line with the right flank of the army. The Peruvian, Sylph, Dragon's tender, and Harmony transport, were kept a little in the rear in reserve. Our information stated the Enemy's force at 1400 men; and he had chosen a most. excellent position on a high hill. About a quarter of a mile to the Southward of the Adams frigate, he had mounted eight 18-pounders. This fort was calculated to command both the highway by which our troops had to advance, and the river. On a wharf close to the Adams, he had mounted fifteen 18-pounders, which completely commanded the river, which at this place is not above three cable's length wide, and the land on each side is high and well wooded. A rocket boat under my immediate direction, but manœuvred by Mr. Ginton, gunner, and Mr. Small, midshipman, of the Dragon, was advanced about a quarter of a mile a-head of the line of boats. So soon as the boats got within gun-shot, the Enemy opened his fire upon them from the hill and wharf, which was warmly returned. Our rockets were generally well-directed, and evidently threw the Enemy into confusion. Meantime our troops stormed the hill with the utmost gallantry. Before the boats got within good grape shot of the wharf battery, the Enemy set fire to the Adams, and he ran from his guns the moment our troops carried the hill. I joined the army about ten minutes after this event. Colonel John and myself immediately determined to leave a sufficient force in possession of the hill, and to pursue the Enemy, who was then in sight on the Bangor road, flying at full speed. The boats and ships pushed up the river, preserving their original position with the army. The Enemy was too nimble for us, and most of them escaped into the woods on our left. On approach ing Bangor, the inhabitants, who had op. posed us at Hamden, threw off their military character, and as magistrates, select men, &c. made an unconditional surrender of the town. Here the pursuit stopped. About two hours afterwards, Brigadier general Blake came into the town, to deliver himself as a prisoner. The General and other prisoners, amounting to one hundred and ninety-one, were admitted to their parole. Enclosed I have the honour to forward you lists of the vessels we have captured or destroyed, and other necessary reports. I am happy to inform you our loss consists of only one seaman, belonging to the Dragon, killed; Captain Gell, of the 29th, and seven privates, wounded; one rank and file missing. I cannot close my report, without expressing my highest admiration of the very gallant conduct of Colonel John, the officers and soldiers under his command; for, exclusive of the battery before mentioned, they had difficulties to contend with on their left which did not fall under my observation, as the Enemy's field. pieces in that direction were masked. The utmost cordiality existed between the two services; and I shall ever feel obliged to Colonel John for his ready co-operation in every thing that was proposed. The officers and men bore the privations inseparable from our confined means of ac commodation with a cheerfulness that entitles them to my warmest thanks. I can form no estimate of the Enemy's absolute loss. From different stragglers I learn, that exclusive of killed and missing, upwards of 30 lay wounded in the roads. I have, &c. ROBERT BARRIE, Capt. of H. M. S. Dragon. (Gapitulation.) To Capt. Hyde Parker, and Lieut.-col. Pilkington, Gentlemen-The forces under your command having captured the forts in the neighbourhood of Macchias, and taken possession of the territory adjacent within the county of Washington, and the situation of the country being such, between the Penobscot River and the Passamaquoddy Bay, as to preclude the hope, that an adequate force can be furnished by the United States for its protection; we propose a capitulation, and offer for ourselves, and in behalf of the officers and soldiers of the brigade within the county of Washington, to give our parole of honour, that we will not, directly or indirectly, bear arms, or in any way serve, against his Britannic Majesty King George the Third, King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, his Successors and Allies, during the present war between Great Britain and the United States; upon condition we have your assurance, that, while we remain in this situation, and con List of Vessels captured and destroyed in the Penobscot, and of those left on the stocks, as near as I am able to ascertain: Captured and brought away: 2 ships, 1 brig, 6 schooners, 3 sloops-Destroyed at Hamden: the Adams frigate, 26 18pounders, and 2 ships, one of them armed; burnt by the Enemy-At Bangor; 1 ship, 1 brig, 3 schooners, and 1 sloop; burnt by us.-Lost since in our possession: a copper-bottomed brig, pierced for 18 guns, and the Decatur privateer, pierced for 16 guns. Note: the powder and wine captured at Hamden were on board those vessels.-Left on the stocks at Bangor: 2 ships, 2 brigs, and 2 schooners-At Brewer: 1 ship, 1 brig, and I schooner.→ At Arrington: 1 ship, 1 schooner, on the stocks.-Left at Hamden : ship, 1 hermaphrodite brig, and 2 schooners; also 1 brig and 1 schooner on the stocks.-Left at Fremkford on the stocks: 1 schooner and some small craft. R. BARRIE. To Rear-Admiral Griffith. Return of Ordnance taken on the 3d day of September. At Hamden: 23 iron 18-pounders, 2 iron 12-pounders; 11 18-pounders der stroyed, 14 brought away.-At Bangor and brought away: 2 3-pounder brass guns, 1 iron 3-pounder-Total brought away, 17. - Embarked: 1 ammunition cart, 500 18-pound shot, about 40 barrels of powder, a quantity of wads, &c.-Return of small arms not collected, supposed about 100. EDW. GRIFFITH. PROCEEDINGS IN THE THIRD SESSION OF THE FIFTH PARLIAMENT OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS, Nov. 8. state to open the present Session of Parliament, when the Speaker and the House of Commons, who had been requested to attend, being present, his Royal Highness delivered the following Speech from the Throne : "My Lords, and Gentlemen-It is with deep regret that I am again obliged to announce the continuance of his Majesty's lamented Indisposition.-It would have given me great satisfaction to have been enabled to communicate to you the termination of the War between this Country and the United States of America. though this War originated in the most unprovoked aggression on the part of the Government of the United States, and was calculated to promote the designs of the common Enemy of Europe against the Rights and Independence of all other nations, I never have ceased to entertain a sincere desire to bring it to a conclusion on just and honourable terms. -I am still engaged in Negociations for this purpose; the success of them must, however, depend on my disposition being met with corresponding sentiments on the part of the Enemy.-The operations of his Majesty's Forces by Sea and Land in the Chesapeake in the course of the present year have been attended with the most brilliant and successful results.The flotilla of the Enemy in the Patuxent has been destroyed. The signal defeat of their land forces enabled a detach GENT. MAG. November, 1814. ment of his Majesty's army to take possession of the City of Washington; and the spirit of enterprize which has characterised all the movements in that quarter, has produced on the inhabitants a deep and sensible impression of the calamities of a war in which they have been so wantonly involved.-The Expedition directed from Halifax to the Northern coast of the United States has terminated in a manner not less satisfactory. The successful course of this operation has been followed by the immediate submission of the extensive and important district, East of the Penobscot River, to his Majesty's Arms. In adverting to these events, I am confident you will be disposed to render full justice to the valour and discipline which have distinguished his Majesty's Land and Sea Forces; and you will regret with me the severe loss the Country has sustained by the fall of the gallant Commander of his Majesty's troops in the advance upon Baltimore. I availed myself of the earliest opportunity afforded by the state of affairs in Europe, to detach a considerable military force to the River Saint Lawrence; but its arrival could not possibly take place till an advanced period of the campaign.-Notwithstanding the reverse which appears to have occurred on Lake Champlain, I entertain the most confident expectation, as well from the amount as from the description of the British force now serving in Canada, that the ascendancy of his Majesty's Arms throughout that part of North America will |
