Colonel commanding Ist (CAPITULATION.) To Captain Hyde Parker, com- 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 consider ourselves under the British Government until further orders, we shall have the safe and full enjoyment of our private property, and be protected in the exercise of our usual occupations. JOHN BREWER, BrigadierGeneral, 2d brigade, 10th division, for the officers and soldiers of the 3d regiment in the said brigade. JAMES CAMPBELL, Lieut regiment, 2d brigade, 1 oth division, for himself, officers, and soldiers in the said regiment. These terms have been granted and approved of by us, HYDE PARKER, Captain of his Majesty's ship Tenedos. A. PILKINGTON, Lieutenant Colonel commanding. Machias, Sept. 13, 1814. COLONIAL DEPARTMENT. Downing-Street, Oct. 24, 1814. A dispatch, of which the following is a copy, addressed to Earl Bathurst by Lieutenant-General Sir J. Sherbrook, K. B. was yesterday received at this office: Halifax, Sept. 28, 1814. . My Lord, Having now. received Lieutenant-Colonel Pilkington's official report of the capture of Machias, I do myself the honour of forwarding it for your Lordship's information. I beg leave to call the attention of your Lordship to the zeal and activity displayed by LieutenantColonel Pilkington on this occasion, as well as the discipline and good conduct evinced by the officers and troops under his command in the execution of this service. I have the honour to be, &c. J. C. SHERBROOKE Machias, September 14, 1814. Sir, I have the honour to acquaint you Excellency, that I sailed from Penobscot Bay with the brigade you was pleased to place under my command, consisting of a detachment of royal artillery, with a howitzer, the battalion companies of the 29th regiment, and a party of the 7th battalion 6oth foot, on the morning of the 9th instant, and arrived at Bucks Harbour, about ten miles from this place, on the following evening. As the enemy fired several alarm guns on our approaching the shore, it was evident he was apprehensive of an attack; I therefore deemed it expedient to disembark the troops with as little delay as possible; and Captain Hyde Parker, commanding the naval force, appointed Captain Stanfell to superintend this duty, and it was executed by that officer with the utmost promptitude and decision. Upon reaching the shore, I ascertained that there was only a pathway through the woods by which we could advance and take Fort O'Brien, and the battery in reverse; and as the guns of these works commanded the passage of the river upon which the town is situated, I decided upon possessing ourselves of them, if practicable, during the night. We moved forward at 10 o'clock p. m. and after a most tedious and harassing march, only arrived near to the fort at break of day, although the distance does not exceed five miles. The advanced guard, which consisted of two companies of the 29th regiment, and a detachment of riflemen of the 60th regiment, under Major Todd, of the former corps, immediately drove in the enemy's picquets, and upon pursuing him closely, found the fort had been evacuated, leaving their colours, about five minutes before we entered it. Within it, and the battery, there are two 24-pounders, three 18-pounders, several dismounted guns, and a blockhouse. The party which escaped amounted to about seventy men of the 40th regiment of American infantry, and thirty of the embodied militia; the retreat was so rapid, that I was not enabled to take any prisoners. I understand there were a few wounded, but they secreted themselves in the woods. Having secured the fort, we lost no time in advancing upon Machias, which was taken without any resistance; and also two fieldpieces. The boats of the squadron under the command of Lieutenant Bouchier of the royal navy, and the royal marines under Lieutenant Welchman, were detached to the eastern side of the river, and were of essential service in taking two field-pieces in that quarter. Notwithstanding that the militia were not assembled to any extent in the vicinity of the town, I was making the necessary arrangements to advance into the interior of the country, when I received a letter from Brigadier-. General Brewer, commanding the district, wherein he engages that the militia forces within the county of Washington shall not bear arms or in any way serve against his Britannic Majesty during the present war. A similar offer having been made by the civil officers and principal citizens of the county, a cessation of arms was agreed upon, and the county of Washington has passed under the dominion of his Britannic Majesty. I beg leave to congratulate you upon the importance of this accession of territory which has been wrested from the enemy: it embraces about one hundred miles of sea sea-coast, and includes that intermediate tract of country which separates the province of New Brunswick from Lower Canada. We have taken twenty-six pieces of ordnance, serviceable and unserviceable, with a proportion of arms and ammunition, returns of which are enclosed; and I have the pleasing satisfaction to add, that this service has been effected without the loss of a man on our part. I cannot refrain from expressing, in the strongest manner, the admirable steadiness and good conduct of the 29th regiment, under Major Hodge. The advance, under Major Todd, are also entitled to my warmest thanks. A detachment of thirty seamen from his Majesty's ship Bacchante, under Mr. Bruce, master's mate, were attached to the royal artillery under the command of Lieutenant Daniell, of that corps, for the purpose of dragging the howitzer, as no other means could be procured to bring it forward; and to their unwearied exertions, and the judicious arrangement of Lieutenant Daniell, I am indebted for having a five and a half inch howitzer conveyed through a country the most difficult of access I ever wit nessed. To Captain Parker, of his Majesty's ship Tenedos, who commanded the squadron, I feel every obligation; and I can assure you the most cordial understanding has subsisted between the two branches of the service. I have the honour to be, &c. A. PILKINGTON, Lieut.-Col. Deputy Adjutant Gen. .To Lieut. Gen. Sir J. C. Sherbrooke, K. B. &c. COLONIAL DEPARTMENT. Downing-street, Nov. 16. Extract of a dispatch from Lieutenant General Sir George Prevost, Bart. to Earl Bathurst, dated head-quarters, Montreal, Sept. 30, 1814. I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship the enclosed copy of a dispatch I have received from Lieut. General Drummond, reporting the result of a sortie made by the enemy, with a large preportion of his force from Fort Erie, on the 17th inst. in which the very superior numbers of the American army were at length repulsed with great loss, by the intrepid valour and determined bravery of the division of troops under the Lientenant General's command. A copy of Major General De Watteville's report, and the return of killed, wounded, and missing, on the occasion, are annexed; and although in this affair we have suffered a considerable loss, it will be satisfactory to your Lordship to learn that Lieutenant Gen. Drummond represents the conduct and spirit displayed by the officers and men engaged as deserving of his highest commendation. position on that day. I have now the honour to transmit a copy of Major General De Watteville's report, together with a return of killed, wounded, and missing, on that occasion. To the information which your Excellency will derive from those documents, I have to add, that as soon as the firing was heard I proceeded towards the advance, and found the troops had moved from camp, and the Royals and 89th had been pushed by Major General De Watteville into the wood on the right towards No. 3 battery, and that the S2d was moving to the support of the batteries on the left. At this moment it was reported to me that the enemy had gained possession of the batteries No. 2 and 3, and that our troops were falling back; a report which the approach of the fire confirmed (your Excellency will have in recollection that the whole line of operations lay in a thick wood); I immediately directed Lieutenant Colonel Campbell to detach one wing of the 6th regiment to support the 82d in an attack which I ordered to be made for the recovery of battery No. 2. I directed Major General De Watteville to superintend this movement; Major General tovin took the direction of the troops and guns left in reserve. I threw forward the Glengarry light infantry into the wood in front of the centre, to check the advance of the enemy and support the troops retiring from that point; both these movements were executed to my entire satisfaction, and being combined with a judicious attack made by Lieutenant Colonel Gordon, with part of the 1st brigade, consisting VOL. LVI. of the 1st battalion of the Royal Scots, supported by the 89th; the enemy was every where driven back, and our batteries and entrenchments regained, not, however, before he had disabled the guns in No. 3 battery and exploded its magazine. The enemy did not again attempt to make a stand, but retreated in great disorder to the fort, and was followed by our troops to the glacis of the place. To Major General De Watte ville's report I must refer your Excellency for the cause of the enemy's success in the first instance, viz. the overwhelming number of the enemy, to which we had only the King's and De Watteville's regiments to oppose. The spirit which the troops displayed in all the subsequent operations deserves the highest commendations, and entitles them to my warmest approbation. I have only to regret that the scene of action (a thick wood) was so unfavourable to the display of the valuable qualities which are inherent in British troops. The charge made by the 82d regiment under Major Proctor, and detachments of the 6th under Major Taylor, led to the recovery of the battery No. 2, and very much decided the precipitate retrograde movement made by the enemy from the different points of our position, of which he had gained a short possession. Major General De Watteville reports most favourably of the steadiness evinced by the 1st Battalion Royal Scots, under Lieutenant Colonel Gordon (commanding 1st brigade), and the remains of the 2d battalion 89th, under Captain Basden. I myself witnessed the good order and spirit with which S the the Glengarry light infantry, under Lieutenant Colonel Battersby, pushed into the wood, and by their superior fire drove back the enemy's light troops. Lieut. Colonel, Pearson, Inspecting Field Officer, accompanied this part of his demibrigade, and I am sorry to say, received a severe, though I hope not a dangerous wound. To Major General De Watteville, who commanded in camp, and by whom the first directions were given and arrangements made, I am under great obligations for the judgment displayed by him, and for his zeal and exertions during the action. My acknowledgments are also due to Major General Stovin, who arrived at my head quarters a few hours before the attack, for the assistance I received from him. I cannot sufficiently appreciate the valuable assistance which I have received from Col. Myers, Deputy Quarter Master General, and Lieutenant Colonel Harvey, Deputy Adjutant General, during the present service, and which have been of the more importance, as, from my own state of health of late (in consequence of my wound), I have not been able to use those active exertions which I otherwise might. I avail myself of this opportunity of again expressing my sincere concern at the loss which this division of the army sustained, by the accident which deprived it of the services of Major General Couran, from whose energy and ability much was justly to be expected. To Major Glegg, Assistant Adjutant General; to Captains Chambers and Powell, Deputy Assistants Quarter Master General; to Captain Foster, Military Secretary; Lieutenant Colonel Hager man, Provincial Aide de Camp, and to Lieutenant Nesfield, 89th regiment, acting Aide de Camp, who have rendered me every assistance in their respective situations, my best acknowledgements are due; they are likewise due to Major D'Alton, Brigade Major, with the right division, for his uniform correctness, zeal, and attention to his duty. To Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, of the 6th regiment, I am also much indebted, as well in his capacity of Commanding Officer of that excellent corps, as in that of senior officer of the reserve of this division. Colonel Fischer, of De Watteville's regiment, and Lieutenant Colonel Ogilvie, of the King's, are entitled to my thanks. The zeal and exertions of Major Phillot, commanding the Royal Artillery; Captains Walker and Sabine, and the officers and men of that corps, have been unremitting, and merit every commendation. I have reason to be pleased with the activity and zeal which Major Lisle, and the officers and men of the squadron of the 19th light dragoons, have uniformly displayed. The enemy, it is now ascertained, made the sortie with his whole force, which, including the militia volunteers by which he has lately been joined, could not consist of less than five thousand. About two hundred prisoners fell into our hands, and I cannot estimate the enemy's loss in killed and wounded at less than that number. The dreadful state of the roads and of the weather, it having poured with rain almost incessantly for the last ten days, renders every move. ment of ordnance or heavy stores exceedingly difficult. By great exertions |