Sir,

British Account.

Christler's, Williamsburg, 12th Nov. 1813. I have the heartfelt gratification to report the brilliant and gallant conduct of the detachment from the centre division of the army, as yesterday displayed in repulsing and defeating a division of the enemy's force, consisting of two brigades of infantry, and a regiment of cavalry, amounting to between 3 and 4000 men, who moved forward about 2 o'clock in the afternoon from Christler's point, and attacked our advance, which gradually fell back to the position selected for the detachment to occupy, the right resting on the river, and the left on a pine wood, exhibiting a front of about 700 yards. The ground being open, the troops were thus disposed:

The flank companies 49th regiment, the detachment Canadian regiment, with one field-piece, under lieutenant-colonel Pearson, on the right, a little advanced on the road. Three companies 89th regiment under captain Barnes, with a gun, formed in echellon with the advance, in its left, supporting it. The 49th and 89th thrown more to the rear, with a gun, formed the main body and reserve, extending to the woods on the left, which were occupied by the voltigeurs under major Harriott, and the Indians under lieutenant Anderson. At about half past two, the action became general, when the enemy endeavoured, by moving forward a brigade from his right, to turn our left, but was repulsed by the 89th forming en potence with the 49th, and both corps moving forward, occasionally firing by platoons; his efforts were next directed against our right, and to repulse this movement the 49th took ground in that direction, in echellon, followed by the 89th. When within half musket shot, the line was formed under a heavy but irregular fire from the enemy. The 49th was then directed to charge their guns, posted opposite to ours, but it became necessary, when within a short distance of them, to check this forward movement, in consequence of a charge from their cavalry on the right, lest they should wheel about, and fall upon our rear; but they were received in so gallant a manner by the companies of the 89th under captain Barnes, and the well-directed fire of the artillery, that they quickly retreated, and by a charge from those companies one gun was gained. The enemy immediately concentrated their force to check our advance, but such was the steady countenance and well-directed fire of the troops and artillery, that about half past four they gave way at all points from an exceeding strong position, endeavouring by their

country. About the 23d ult. I received information that 1200 Indians were on the eve of entering the territory, with intention to attack the upper posts on the Tombigbee, that commanded by colonel Carson in the fork of the Tombigbee and Alabama rivers, and the one on Tensaw, commanded by major Beasley. The Indians from the Black Warrior were to attack the upper posts; and those from the Alabama that on Tensaw. This information was immediately communicated to colonel Carson and to major Beasley, and my arrangements made for the defence of the three places threatened, in the best manner of which the limited means I possessed would admit.

With eighty men I went myself to Easley's, and was joined by two detachments of volunteer militia, under the command of colonel Haines, aid-de-camp to governor Holmes, and by a captain Cassity. The place was not attacked at the time expected, and after several unsuccessful attempts to gain intelligence, my scouts fell in with two Chaktaw Indians, from whose information I was induced to believe, that no attack would soon be made. In fact they seemed rather to insinuate that the enemy was rather intimidated, and stated that the Chaktaws in the immediate neighbourhood who had joined them, had, at the instance of Pooshemataha (a medal chief), withdrawn from them, intending to remain neutral; and that they had removed and were removing from the scene of action, to a more secure place for their women and children. This I ascertained to be the fact. Their towns were visited by captain Wells, of dragoons, and found abandoned. Under these circumstances I left Easley's station, and, on my way to this post, learned that major Beasley had been attacked. I reached this place at twelve o'clock last night, having rode seventy miles since morning.

The attack on major Beasley was made at about 11 o'clock, A. M., on the 30th ult. It was unexpected at the moment it occurred, but the whole garrison was immediately under arms. The front gate was open, and the enemy ran in great numbers to possess themselves of it. In the contest for the gate many fell on both sides. Soon, however, the action became general, the enemy fighting on all sides in the open field, and as near the stockade as they could get. The portholes were taken and retaken several times. A block-house was contended for by captain Jack, at the head of his brave riflemen, for the space of an hour after the enemy were in possession of part of it, when finally they succeeded in driving this company into a house in the fort, and having stopped

many of the port-holes with the ends of rails, possessed themselves of the walls. From the houses our troops made a most gallant defence, but the enemy set fire to the roofs, and an attempt to extinguish the flames proved unsuccessful. The few who remained now attempted a retreat under the direction of captain Bayley, of the militia, and ensign Chambliss, of the rifle company, both of whom had been badly wounded. Previously to their retreat, they threw into the flames many of the guns of the dead men. Few of them succeeded in escaping. Both the officers are missing, and supposed to be dead. Nine of the volunteers and three of the volunteer militia have reached this, several of them wounded. A few citizens who fought in the stockade, but not enrolled in any company, also escaped, one of them leaving a wife and six children, who were probably burnt to death.

Major Beasley fell gallantly fighting at the head of his command near the gate, at the commencement of the action. Captain Jack was killed about the close of the scene, having previously received two wounds. Captain Middleton also distinguished himself, having received four or five wounds before he fell. He was active, and fought bravely from the commencement of the action until he died. Lieutenant Spruce M. Osborn, of Wilkinson county, after receiving two wounds, was taken into a house, but requested to die on the ground, that he might as long as possible see the men fight. The other officers fell nobly doing their duty; and the non-commissioned officers and privates deserve equally well. The action continued until five o'clock in the evening.

Our loss is great-sixty-five, including officers and men, were killed belonging to the 1st regiment of Mississippi territory volunteers, and twenty-seven volunteer militia, officers included. Many respectable citizens, with numerous families, who had abandoned their farms for security, were also killed or burnt in the houses into which they had fled. The loss of the enemy must have been from one hundred and fifty to two hundred killed and wounded. Their force is supposed to have been from five to seven hundred.

At the mills of Messrs. I. and W. Pierce, about a mile from the post, is a small guard, commanded by lieutenant Montgomery, which were stationed previous to and at the time of the attack; but it is believed he abandoned his position in time to save his command. He has not yet been heard of, but I hope made good his retreat to Mobile.

country. About the 23d ult. I received information that 1200 Indians were on the eve of entering the territory, with intention to attack the upper posts on the Tombigbee, that commanded by colonel Carson in the fork of the Tombigbee and Alabama rivers, and the one on Tensaw, commanded by major Beasley. The Indians from the Black Warrior were to attack the upper posts; and those from the Alabama that on Tensaw. This information was immediately communicated to colonel Carson and to major Beasley, and my arrangements made for the defence of the three places threatened, in the best manner of which the limited means I possessed would admit.

With eighty men I went myself to Easley's, and was joined by two detachments of volunteer militia, under the command of colonel Haines, aid-de-camp to governor Holmes, and by a captain Cassity. The place was not attacked at the time expected, and after several unsuccessful attempts to gain intelligence, my scouts fell in with two Chaktaw Indians, from whose information I was induced to believe, that no attack would soon be made. In fact they seemed rather to insinuate that the enemy was rather intimidated, and stated that the Chaktaws in the immediate neighbourhood who had joined them, had, at the instance of Pooshemataha (a medal chief), withdrawn from them, intending to remain neutral; and that they had removed and were removing from the scene of action, to a more secure place for their women and children. This I ascertained to be the fact. Their towns were visited by captain Wells, of dragoons, and found abandoned. Under these circumstances I left Easley's station, and, on my way to this post, learned that major Beasley had been attacked. I reached this place at twelve o'clock last night, having rode seventy miles since morning.

The attack on major Beasley was made at about 11 o'clock, A. M., on the 30th ult. It was unexpected at the moment it occurred, but the whole garrison was immediately under arms. The front gate was open, and the enemy ran in great numbers to possess themselves of it. In the contest for the gate many fell on both sides. Soon, however, the action became general, the enemy fighting on all sides in the open field, and as near the stockade as they could get. The portholes were taken and retaken several times. A block-house was contended for by captain Jack, at the head of his brave riflemen, for the space of an hour after the enemy were in possession of part of it, when finally they succeeded in driving this company into a house in the fort, and having stopped

many of the port-holes with the ends of rails, possessed themselves of the walls. From the houses our troops made a most gallant defence, but the enemy set fire to the roofs, and an attempt to extinguish the flames proved unsuccessful. The few who remained now attempted a retreat under the direction of captain Bayley, of the militia, and ensign Chambliss, of the rifle company, both of whom had been badly wounded. Previously to their retreat, they threw into the flames many of the guns of the dead men. Few of them succeeded in escaping. Both the officers are missing, and supposed to be dead. Nine of the volunteers and three of the volunteer militia have reached this, several of them wounded. A few citizens who fought in the stockade, but not enrolled in any company, also escaped, one of them leaving a wife and six children, who were probably burnt to death.

Major Beasley fell gallantly fighting at the head of his command near the gate, at the commencement of the action. Captain Jack was killed about the close of the scene, having previously received two wounds. Captain Middleton also distinguished himself, having received four or five wounds before he fell. He was active, and fought bravely from the commencement of the action until he died. Lieutenant Spruce M. Osborn, of Wilkinson county, after receiving two wounds, was taken into a house, but requested to die on the ground, that he might as long as possible see the men fight. The other officers fell nobly doing their duty; and the non-commissioned officers and privates deserve equally well. The action continued until five o'clock in the evening.

Our loss is great-sixty-five, including officers and men, were killed belonging to the 1st regiment of Mississippi territory volunteers, and twenty-seven volunteer militia, officers included. Many respectable citizens, with numerous families, who had abandoned their farms for security, were also killed or burnt in the houses into which they had fled. The loss of the enemy must have been from one hundred and fifty to two hundred killed and wounded. Their force is supposed to have been from five to seven hundred.

At the mills of Messrs. I. and W. Pierce, about a mile from the post, is a small guard, commanded by lieutenant Montgomery, which were stationed previous to and at the time of the attack; but it is believed he abandoned his position in time to save his command. He has not yet been heard of, but I hope made good his retreat to Mobile.