'An
it
ii
A
J. RHEY.
IlSGELLlBEOUS.
XiieSurprle and Capture of Gen
v men j
We copy the following from "Little's Living
Ace," a periodical of high standing, published
in Boston, and devoted to the publication of
hat ia considered the "cream" of American
and foreign literature.
The surprise and capture of General Valen
cia, the second officer in rank in the Mexican
army, has been most entirely lost sight of,
among the brilliant feats of arma which marked
the late war with Mexico. To say the least,
there was a considerable daring in the enter
prise; and the 6allant officer who planned and
carried it out, together with the men who form
ed his little command, are entitled to some
praise. Here, less than fifty men rode thirty
five miles into the enemy's country captured
a general officer from his own guard, four times
their number, and carried him in triumph to
Lead quarters, without sustaining any loss.
Fit some time previous to the coming in of
the new year, the celebrated Guerilla chief,
Padre Jarcuta, and General Reah, had been in
fe.ting the neighborhood of the city of Mexico,
and the day before had been seen at a Tillage a
tew miles out of town, with a force of near five
hundred men. Colonel Wynkoop, of the 1st
Pennsylvania volunteers, who had gained a
high reputation as a partisan officer, had them
slosely watched by a trusty spy, and determin
ed to attack them. For this purpose he asked
and obtained permission from the commander-in-chief,
to head an expedition to go in pursuit
of them, and had everything in readiness to
leave the city on the evening of the 1st of Jan
uary, 1648, and, under cover of the darkness,
to surprise them while they were asleep. The
force he selected was one company of Hays'
Texan Rangers, thirty-seven strong, and five
efficers accompanied him as volunteers for the
occasion, making the number all told forty-four,
officers and men. I had ridden into the city
from San Angel, where my regiment was quar
tered, in the morning, and, meeting CoL Wyn
koop in the street, was invited to accompany
him in the expedition, which invitation I accept
ed, end prepared myself accordingly. The hour
appointed for meeting was seven o'clock in the
evening; and, on going to the place of rendez
vous at that time, I found the whole party as
sembled, and waiting the arrival of the Colonel.
The whole were mounted and well armed offi
cers and men wearing watch-coats, and twenty
four hours' rations in the haversacks. Each
ene had his blanket strapped to the hind part
of his saddle, and, in every point fully equipped
f.r a night march. . In addition to being armed
with a sabre and rifle, each ranger carried one
of Colt's six-shooters, and tocst of them had
knives ia their belts.
The clock on the Cathedral had just sounded
the hour of eight, and the patrols were begin-
uaiS
to take their rounds, when . we left the
rendezvous ; and, passing out of the city at the
garita of Gaudalupc, struck upon the causeway
which leads to the town of the same name. We
ureed our horses into a brisk trot, and in half
c
an hour reached Gaudalupc, where to shorten
our route, we turned off from the main road,
and followed the course of one of the aqueducts
nhich supplies the ci tj with water, and which
runs through the low, swampy land, bordering
on Lake Tezoco. Our guide, never having
travelled across these swamps before, became
bewildered in the darkness, and following his
directions, wc soon found ourselves floundering
about in the mud and water of the marshes.
Being uncertain which course to take; it was
e.me time before we could extricate ourselves,
and were able to reach the high road leading
towards Queretero, which here runs in a north
west direction. Being once more on firm ground
we urged our horses forward to reach Tlaln
lantla, where we expected to find the enemy,
and hoped to surprise them before they could
hear of our approach. The night was dark,
there being no moon, and the stars were partly
obscured by heavy clouds, which chased each
other across the heavens; the air was cold and
chilly, being loaded with vapor from Lake
Tezcoco, and we shivered, even with our heavy
"atch coats buttoned tight Around us. The
Colonel rode a few yards in advance of his com
mand, which followed by twos, and upon every
one the strictest silence was enjoined no sounds
were heard but the tread of the horses' feet on
the hard road, fcn occasional jingle of a sabre,
or a low whispered command from an officer.
The night was too dark to allow us to see dis
tinctly the nature of the country we were pass
ing through, but, as far as we could discover,
it appeared like a narrow valley, which widened
" we advanced, and bounded on either side by
mountains. We followed the course of the
luedutt for at least ten miles, until we had
reached the fountain-head from which it recei-.
edthe supply 0f water. We saw now and
a low thatched hut on the side of the road,
bat no inhabitants.
A ride of. three hours brought us within a
taile of the vilage of Tlalnepantla, where a halt
was made for a few moments, to rest the horses
"' give instructions to the men. Having made
the ncecfesary arrangements, we again $et cut;
ir muff
"WE CO WHERE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES POINT THE WAY; WHEN THEY CEASE TO LEAD, WE CEASE TO
and rode leisurely along until we arrived with
in a short distance of the village, when a charge
was ordered, and, with sabres , drawn and pis
tols loosened in the holsters, we rode into it at
the top of our epecd. We expected every mo
ment to be challenged by the picket guard, and
fixed upon but ther w signs of an alarm
the whole town appeared buried in sleep.
The road branched off in two directions at the
entrance of the village, and some going each
way, we met in the public square, and drew up
in front of a large establishment which looked
like a posada or inn. Patrols were immediate
ly sent into different parts of the town, witn
instructions to watch the Btreets, and suffer no
one either to come in or go out, while the main
body remained in the Plaza. As yet, our ap
proach had not been discovered everything
was quiet nobody stirring, and, what was
somewhat remarkable, but few dogs barked at
us as we rode in. The very stillness which pre
vailed gave us the impression that the enemy
were not there. Our guide was acquainted with
a trader, who was quickly roused up, and in
formed of the nature of our visit, and also given
to understand it would be much better for him
to tell us the whole truth in answer to such
questions as might be asked him. He seemed
a good deal alarmed, vowed much friendship
for the Americans, and signified his willingness
to give us all the information he possessed.
He told us that Jarouta and Reah, with their
command, had left the afternoon before, and
gone over to the valley of Toluca, some forty
miles to the west, but probably had stopped for
the night at a large hacienda on the road side,
about ten miles beyond. Ihe information was
bv no means welcome, and frustrated an our
plans, and we feared we should be obliged to
return to the army without having accomplish
ed anything. The Mexican was now closely
questioned, as to whether he knew of any other
party of the enemy in that region of country,
whom we might surprise. He seemed reluctant
to give any further information, but after ap-
I pi vins a few threats, and using other means
much more potent in his opinion, he told Col
Wynkoop, that General Valencia was then living
at his country house twenty miles from Tlalne-
pantla, and had a guard of only one hundred
and fifty lancers with Lim. The news more
than compensated fcr the disappointment in
not finding those we were after, and Col. W., at
once determined to make a further search for
Jarouta and Rcab, and, if unsuccessful, to sur
prise Gen. Valencia, and make him prisoner.
We remained a short time at this village, getting
information as to the nature of the country and
the route we should take, and partaking of re
freshments which the friendly Mexican provided
for us, and then mounted again.
It was about one o'clock on Sunday morning,
January 2d, when wc rode out of Tlalnepantla,
and proceeded on our expedition. Wc contin
ued on the Queretero road, which here is very
level and hard, and planted on each side with a
hedge. In less than two hours we reached the
hacienda, which we quickly surrounded, and
woke up the inmates, but, much to our regret,
found that those for whom we were seeking
were not there. Thus far we had been unsuc
cessful, bnt now determined to proceed with
great caution, and capture Valencia, if it was
possible to do so. As soon as the Mexican who
was living in this establishment made his ap
pearance, we ordered him to furnish a guide,
which he refused to do, until we had shown him
a brace of pistols, and gently hinted at the con
sequences; if he did not comply. This seemed
to bring him to his censes, and to make him
aware that he was in the hands of those who
had the power to enforce a compliance, if neces
sary. Seeing no way to avoid it, he consented
to send one of his peons with us, whom he woke
up, and ordered to saddle his horse, and get
ready. From the manntr of thla n&u, wo p-
sure we had a treacherous one to deal with and
who would betray us, if he had an opportunity;
and we, therefore, kept a close watch on him.
The peon was so slow getting ready to accom
pany us, that Col. W., became very impatient;
but the master made many excuses, such as,
that he could not find his saddle and equipment?,
that the horse was difficult to manage, &c He
was evidently detaining us for some particular
purpose; we believed he had secretly sent some
one to warn Valencia of our approach, and, by
delaying us there, give Mm time to escape; and
afterwards all qur suspicions proved true.
After waiting some time the peon made his
appearance, equipped and mounted, when we
again started. The guide was placed between
two officers with pistols in hand, we were order
ed to shoot him if he made any effort to escape.
As it was now verging towards morning, we in
creased our, speed to reach our destination be
fore daylight. We continued on the main road
four or five miles when we turned off towards
the left, and followed our guide across the open
country. Soon after we left the main road, the
bells of the neighboring churches and convents
began to ring, evidently to alarm the country,
and notify Gen. Valencia of the danger. It was
now after three o'clock, and wc had. several
miles to ride over an exceedingly rough coun
try, and in many places dangerous. The whole
i surface, as far as wc could see in the dark, ap
peared to be a bed of rocks, in which paths had
been worn by the animals, which from time to
time journeyed over it, and in these narrow
tracks we had to ride. In the distance, in the
south-west, the direction towards which we
were going, we could faintly discern mountains
when the stars came out from under the clouds.
Sometimes we wound along the edge of deep
ravines, and then, again, up the sids of hills
so steep that ou horses could hardly climb
them, and we found so many difficulties in our
way that it was almost impossible to go faster
than a walk. Poshing on as rapidly as we
could, we arrived in sight of the hacienda
before four o'clock, when we slackened our
speed and approached more cautiously.. The
house is situated on the summit of a hill, and
overlooks the rocky country around for some
miles. Being entirely ignorant of the nature
of its defences, and the manner in which guards
were posted, it was not deemed safe to advance
until we had reconnoitered. For that purpose
a trusty ranger was sent forward on foot, with
rifle" in hand, with directions to approach as
near the house as he should deem safe, and
obtain all the information about its locality and
defence that would be of importance to us.
Minutes seemed lengthened into hours while he
was gone, during which time we sat on our
horses, in a ravine which completely hid us from
view from the house. Our spy soon returned,
and reported that a deep ditch ran in front of
the hacienda, which was crossed by a barrow
bridge, but that he could not discover any sen
tinels on duty. We now. rode forward with
great caution, until we came to the ditch men
tioned by the spy, where another halt was or
dered, and arrangements made for the attack.
The force was now divided into two parties
one half, under Captain Bennet of the 1st Penn
sylvania Volunteers, was ordered to go round
by the left, and the other, under Lieutenant
Davi3 of the Massachusetts Volunteers, were to
go round by the right. These two officers were
completely to encircle the house with their com
mands, so that no one could enter or leave
without being een, and then to import to Cal.
Wynkoop, in front of the main entrance. Every
thing being in readiness, the command was
given to charge, when we dashed up the hill
and over the bridge at full gallop, and surroun
ded the house. One unlucky fellow, in the
charge, missed the bridge; both horEe and rider
went over into the ditch, and were placed horse-du-combat.
They had been taken by surprise;
not a soul was stirring, nor even a faithful dog
on the watch, to give warning to his master of
the danger that was lurking near.
When the men had been judiciously posted,
and every avenue to the building strictly guard
ed, the officers, who were assembled in front,
approaching the main entrance and knocked at
the door for admittance. Under a long porch
or shed, which extended the whole length of
the building, the arrieros or mule drivers were
lying fast asleep, which satisfied us that the
family were at home, and thus far we were un
discovered. In a few minutes some one came
to the door, with a light in his hand, and de
manded who we were, and what we wanted.
Colonel Wynkoop replied, that we were Ameri
cans, and in search of General Valencia, at the
6ame time ordering him to open the door. This
he refused to do, until we made denionbtiations
to break it down, when it was quickly unbarred,
and we rushed in. Th.e room we entered was
large with low ceiling, and from appearance,
was used by the family as a dining room, but
the furniture was tuite ordinary looking. We
found there two gentlemen, one an elderly man,
the other quite young, with his left hand in a
sling ; this latter informed us that ho was
Coloiel Sylva, of the Mexicau army, who was
wounded and captured at Contreras, and then
on, his parole of honor. We asked them for
trencrai Valencia, tmt they denied all knowledge
of him, and said he was not in the house, hav
ing left some days before. Without parleying
with them longer, Colonel Wynkoop made ar
rangements to give the house a thorough search,
and, as preliminary, sentinels were stationed at
the doors, with orders to shoot any one who
should attempt to pass out. By this time some
of the. family and servants had arisen and came
into the room we had taken possession of, and
were placed under safe keeping. To judge from
their behavior, they expected to be eaten alive,
and it was no easy matter to convince them that
we were not a set of barbarians. To the writer
of this article was assigned the duty of search
ing the house and calling to my assistance two
old rangers, who were armed to the teeth, we
commenced operations. From tho large room
already mentioned, we passed into a smaller
chamber, containing one bed, in which was ly
ing a woman, a la night cap, and from appear
ance as crazy as a bedlamite. When we ap
proached her, she exhibited the most frightful
contortions of countenance, and uttered such
horrid noiseB, that we were not disposed to ex
amine her very closely, but passed on to the
next chambers. From what we learned after
wards, there is not much doubt but that this
bedlamitish woman was none other than General
Valencia in disguise. We passed through seve
ral rooms, some ot winch showed evidence ot a
hasty retreat, while in ethers the occupants had
5. 1851.
just risen, and were putttng on their garments,
and much frightened at the abrupt intrusion of
armed men. In one room, nearly the last we
entered, we found three beautiful girls, whose
peaceful sleep and pleasant dreams had been
suddenly disturbed by our knocking with our
sabre scabbards on their door for admittance.
When we went in, they were sitting on the foot
of the bed, en dahabiUe, bathed in tears, and
looking the very pictures of beautiful despair.
At first they could do no more than supplicate
tl3 by eloquent looks and burning tears, but in
a few moments words came to their relief, when
in terms that would have moved sterner hearts
than ours, they begged for their father's life
and their own. Even if we had been blood
thirsty enough to have sought their lives, their
supplications would have surely stayed our
cruel purpose, for no appeal "could go more to
the heart than theirs did. And as I looked upon
the two stern men who stood beside me men
whose hearts and 'nerves had never faltered
amid the leaden hail I saw tears of sympathy
and pity chasing each other down their fur
rowd cheeks.. They called upon us in the name
of tie Virgin Mary and all the kindred saints,
to spare them. After they had ceased speaking
we txplained to them, as well as we could, the
object of oar visit, and assured them that they
need be under no alarm, . as we would neither
hurt nor interfere with them in any manner.
In answer to this, they smiled through their
tears, and invoked a blessing upon us, from
their patron saint of Guadaloupe. We occupied
a few minutes in searching their room, and then
passed on to other parts of the promises. From
thence we passed to the out-buildings, all of
which we searched with care, looking into every
corner that could afford a hiding place for a
man. The building was an old-fashioned Span
ish house, of stone, only one story high, and
6urrounded by a high wall ; and, as it was im
possible for any one to escape, we were sure he
was concealed somewhere within, but were
unable to find him, and so we reported to
ColonclWvnkoop.
White wo were searching the premises, some
one made an attempt to escape over the wall,
but was discovered by one of the sentinels on
duty, and fired at ; he quickly dropped from the
wall inty the yard, and let the sword which he
had in his hand fall on the outside. Who he
was, an! whether wounded or not, we could not
learn. Although we had assured the family
they were in no danger, they were yet in great
alarm the women in tears, and tho men too
much frightened to think of the least resistance.
Having failed in our search, we held a council
of war, to determine what course to take, and
it was unanimously agreed to remain there until
daylight, and then give the place another thor
ough searching. We found several gentlemen
in the house, besides the two already mentioned,
and though none of us had ever seen General
Valencia, we were not willing to take either of
them for him. One proved to be Colonel Aricta,
of Valencia's staff, whom wo made a prisoner
of war; and as the others appeared to be citi
rens, we did not moleat them. When they saw-
that our search had been unsuccessful, they
seemed cheered with a prospect of his escape,
and endeavored by a rute to draw us away from
the house. For this purpose, they told us that
the General was then staying at a nacienda
about three miles off, and one of them offered
to show us the way. Colonel Wynkoop ordered
an office and six u&en to accompany the guide,
the main body remaining until their return.
Seeing this feint had not the desired effect, and
that we" were determined to remain there until
he should be given up, they next began to Eiake
terms for him, wanting to know in what manner
we would treat him if he shoikhl be taken. This
confirmed us more strongly in the belief that he
was in the house, and we felt quit nr of u
priz. ' lntne mi as l oi mis comvrence "o
interrupted by the entrance of a stout good-
looking gentleman, about fifty years of age, who
saluted us, and said, in Spanish, "I am General
Valencia." Colonel Wynkoop told him he was
very happy to have the pleasure of making hi3
acquaintance, and very politely informed him
that he must consider himself a prisoner of
war. The general assumed a great deal of in
dignation at the manner of his capture, and
6aid it was contrary to the rules of war to take
an officer who was not in the army, bnt living
quietly with his family in the country. To this
Colonel Wynkoop replied, that he was very sor
ry to put him. or his family to any inconvenience,
but that as he never gave us an opportunity of
making his acquaintance on the field of battle,
this was th only chance we had to pay our
respects to him.
Wo then informed the general and Colonel
Aricta, that wo wanted the pleasure of their
company to the city of Mexico, and the sooner
they were ready to go, the more agreeable it
would be to us. While the two officers were
preparing for the journey, their family who had
become more assured, and found we were not
the fierce " northern barbarians" they had ta
ken us to be, placed refreshments before us,
which long fasting and hard riding made very
welcome and during this time some of u3
snatched a few momenta of sleep. While wo
were in tho house, the guard of Mexican lan
FOLLOW."
cers, on a hill near by, had discovered us, and
were showing their bravery by blowing their
trnmpets and kindling up their watch-fires.
They made every demonstration of attack, and
we felt almost certain they would not allow us
to leave without giving battle ; and therefore ,
to be able to defend ourselves against such a
superior force, we concluded to remain until
daylight, before we set out on our return. Day
was just beginning to break in the east when
we assembled our men and mounted but alas
for the lelligerent demonstrations of the poor
Mexicans they were all expended in sound,
and they allowed us to carry away their general
without striking a single blow in his defence.
General Valencia and Colonel Arieta were
mounted on their horses, and accompanied by a
servant. Our route, in returning across the
country to the main road, was nearly the same
we had travelled the night before, except now
and then, under the guidance of the general,
wc took a near cut, to avoid some of the deep
ravines. When the day had fully dawned, w e
were enabled to see what a rough and rocky
surface we had ridden over in the night, and
how impossible to have found his place of resi
dence without a guide. Once in the public road,
the face of the country assumed a different ap
pearance ; on either side were well cultivated
fields, and though it was mid-winter, the flowers
and trees were in bloom, and the morning air
was delightfully soft and balmy. The region of
country through which we passed is a very pop
ulous one, and, if the people had possessed the
proper spirit, they would never have allowed so
small a force to carry off one of their most
distinguished generals; but as it was, they
looked upon the affair without any interest, nor
did they know it was their duty to resist. We
rode along at our leisure, without the least mo
lestation stopped at Tlalnepantha to lunch and
rest our horses, and then pushed on to Mexico,
where we arrived at half-past eleven o'clock the
same morning. The prisoners were conducted
into the presence of General Scott, who released
them, oa their paroles of . honor. General
Valencia died soon after.
Only One, and lie was a Pirate!
A writer in the April number of Blackwood's
Magazine, in' speaking of maritime matters,
says: 'The Americans have only produced one
naval hero, and he was a pirate Paul Jones.'
The writer appears to be serious, and, we dare
say, believes the nonsense which he utters ; for
if there is anything that the British public'
arc badly posted up in, it is the history of the
battles which have been fought between the
United States and Great Britain. Not sn
Englishman in a thousand has ever heard of
the battle of New Orleans, although the victory
obtained there by General Jackson, entailed
upon British valor and British discipline one of
the most disgraceful defeats known to civilized
warfare. 'Lundy's Lane,' 'Fort Erie,' and
Plattsburgh,' are also places which the memo
ry of John Bull will very seldom plead guilty
to. Of our naval victories he is still more ob
tuse. The only commodore he seems to have
any knowledge of is, as we said before, Paul
Jones while the only sea fight which figures
conspicuously in his history of the war of
1S12. ia that which took place between the
Chesapeake and the Shannon. To this battle
British historians have devoted not only whole
chapters, but whole books, while the victory of
Perry, on Lake Erie, is boiled down to a para
graph. These facts prove two things. In the
first place, the importance which they attach to
the conquest of the Chesapeake, shows that the
capture of an American frigate was a rarity ;
while the cowardly manner with which they
refer to the victories of Perry and McDonough,
shows that they were more afraid of truth than
they were of an mmy, and that it is. wiser for
Great Britaia to pocket a disgrace than to refer
to it.
To, teach a writer to condense, we know of no
better study than John Bull's history of 'Amer
ican Naval Battles.' The los of a fleet is there
summed up with fewer words than he once re
corded the conquest of a French fishing boat;
while the sinking of a frigate ia- twenty minutes
is so much of a trine iha it is only referred to
in a note.
The writer to- whkh we have ulcoady referred,
says that 'the Americans have only produced
one naval hero, and he was: pirate raul Jones.'
Let us see how this statement tallies with tho
truth :
The war broke out in June, 18r2. Ia Julyv
the Essex, Capt Torter, was attacked by the
British ship Allert. The first broadside from
the Essex frightened the British crew to tho
hold, and in eight minutes her flag was struck.
On the 19th of August, the frigate Constitu
tion, Capt. Hull, in thirty-eight minutes con
quered the British frigate Guerriere, Capt. Da
cres. The loss to the English in killed and
wounded was 114. The Americans were only
injured to the extent of 14.
On the IStib. of October, Capt. Jones, in the
eloop-of-warWasp, captured the Frolic in forty
five minutes. In this action, the Americans had
to contend a trains t a much superior force. The-
result of the battle was SO killed -on. the Frolic,
and only 8 ou tho Wasp.-
win ?miE .
On the 25th of October, the frigate United
States, Capt Decatur, encountered and captured
the finest frigate in the British navy, the Mace
donian, in little over half an hour. English
killed, 104. Americans, 11.
On the 12th of December, the frigate Essex,
Capt. Porter, took the ship Nocton, of 10 guns,
in about five minutes. With the Nocton he
also took $55,000 in specie. Capt Porter af
terwards cruised in the Pacific, where his prizes
averaged about two a day. His last act was to
fight two British frigates of equal size, for
nearly half a day.
On the 20th of December, the Constitution;
Capt Bainbridge, captured the British frigate
Java. The combat continued more than three
hours, at the expiration of which time she was
so knocked to pieces that you could look thro'
her like a piece of gauze. The English lost in
thisbattle 161. The Americans34. J So much
for the year 1812.
On the 23d of February, 1813, the United
States ship Hornet, Capt Lawrence, encoun
tered the British ship Peacock. In less than
fifteen minutes the Peacock struck her colors,
displaying at the same time a signal of distress.
The Hornet, in less than a quarter of an hour,
having not only conquered the Peacock, but
nearly sunk her. In'July, 1813, the American
brig Argus captured the British brig PelicMJ.
A day or two afterwards the American" brig
Enterprise, Lieut Burrows, took the British
brig Boxer, Capt Blythe. These vessels were
of the same class, and showed in a most con
clusive manner, the superiority of American
gunnery over that of any other power.
In August of this year, the American priva
teer Decatur, mounting seven guns, and manned
with one hundred and three men, fell in with
the British schooner Dominica, of sixteen guns
and eighty-three men. For two hours the two
ships continued manoeuvring and firing, the
Decatur seeking to board her antagonist, and
she to escape. At length the former was placed
in such a position, that a part of her crew
passed, upon the bowsprit, into the stern of the
latter. The firing on both sides, from cannon
and musketry, was now terrible. In a short
time the two ships came in contact, broadside
to broadside, and then the remainder of the
Decatur's crew rushed upon her enemy's deck.
Fire arms were thrown aside, and the meu
fought hand to hand, using cutlasses and throw
ing shot Nearly all the officers of the Domin
ica being killed, her flag was hauled down by
the conquerors. Of her crew of eighty-three,
sixty were killed or wounded ; of that of the
Decatur but nineteen. The next day, the hitter
captured a merchantman, laden with with a
valuable cargo, and conducted both prizes into
the harbor of Charleston.
In December, 1814, the United States frigate
Constitution, Capt Stewart, fought two British
frigatea at once, and, what is more, whipped
them. They were the Levant and Cyane. This
naval battle is one of the most glorious on rec
ord. So much for ships let us now come to
squadrons.
On the 10th of September, 1813, the Ameri
can squadron bn Lake Erie, under Commodore
Perry, fought a British squadron under Capt.
Barclay. The battle commenced a little after
noon. At i o ciock ferry transmitted tne loi
lowing laconic epistle to Gen. Harrison: We
have met the enemy and they are ours two
ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop.
On the 6th of September, 1814, the British
squadron, commanded by Commodore Downie,
appeared off the harbor of riattsburg, wherw '
that of the United States, commanded by Com
modore McDonough, lay at anchor, prepared
for battle. The former, consisting of sixteen
vessels, caiiied one hundred and two guns, and,
was manned with eight hundred and fifty men.
The battle commenced about 9 o'clock. In two
hours and a half the British were 'a whipped
community,' every vessel in the squadron hav
ing 'backed down or run away.
27 A London correspondent of the Nation al
Inielligencer says : '-On the platform, beneath
the lofty transept of the Chrystal Palace, was
placed a chair of state, in which the Queen took
her scat with her usual punctuality, at exactly
12 o'clock: The platform soon became studded
with foreigners of every clime, in all sorts of
picturesque dresse?, not the least conspicuous
of whom, waa a Chinese Mandarin, who moved
about with a dignity that showed him to be con
scious that ou his sole shoulders rested the duty
of representing three hundred millions of peo
ple." This Mandarin, by the way, was the"
showman of the Chinese Junk, who passed for
the time, as the Chinese Ambassador !
The Boston Atlas states that a lady dres
sed in Turkish patualoons attracted considerable
notice ia Trcmont row, on Thursday afternoon.
Tho skirt hung as low as the knee.
f&T" The Reading Convention- will number
among its delegates quite a number of editor
Already we have Fcnsr-, of the rennyh-tjutti,
BowM-ty, of the EfJfortl Gazette, Witsos, of th
Allentnirn N'jnbKetn , -.Alexander ef the CU.
rkn Democrat, ani likely torn othi They
will make z"vl delatcs-