enemy being at a short distance in the rear of their advance. Between two and three o'clock, the enemy's whole force came up and commenced battle by some discharges of rockets, which were succeeded by the cannon from both sides, and soon after the action became general along the line. General Stricker gallantly maintained his ground against a great superiority of numbers during the space of an hour and twenty minutes, when the regiment on his left (the fifty-first) giving way, he was under the necessity of retiring to the ground in his rear, where he had stationed one regiment as a reserve. He here formed his brigade; but the enemy not thinking it advisable to pursue, he, in compliance with previous arrangements, fell back and took post on the left of my intrenchments, and a half mile in advance of them.

"In this affair the citizen soldiers of Baltimore, with the exception of the fifty-first regiment, have maintained the reputation they so deservedly acquired at Bladensburg, and have given their country and their city an assurance of what may be expected from them when their services are again required. 1 cannot dismiss the subject without expressing the heartfelt satisfaction I experience in thus bearing testimony to the courage and good conduct of my fellow townsmen. About the time general Stricker had taken the ground just mentioned, he was joined by brigadier general Winder, who had been stationed. on the west side of the city, but was now ordered to march with general Douglass' brigade of Virginia - militia and the United States dragoons under captain

Bird, and take post on the left of general Stricker. During these movements, the brigades of generals Stansbury and Foreman, the seamen and marines under commodore Rodgers, the Pennsylvania volunteers under colonels Corbeau and Findley, the Baltimore artillery under colonel Harris, and the marine artillery under captain Stiles, manned the trenches and the batteries-all prepared to receive the enemy. We remained in this situation during the night.

"On Tuesday, the enemy appeared in front of my intrenchments, at the distance of two miles, on the Philadelphia road, from whence he had a full view of our position. He manoeuvred during the morning towards our left, as if with the intention of making a circuitous march, and coming down on the Hartford and York roads. Generals Winder and Stricker were ordered to adapt their movements to those of the enemy, so as to baffle this supposed intention. They executed this order with great skill and judgment, by taking an advantageous position, stretching from my left across the country, when the enemy was likely to approach the quarter he seemed to threaten. This movement induced the enemy to concentrate his forces (between one and two o'clock) in my front, pushing his advance to within a mile o us, driving in our videttes, and showing an intention of attacking us that evening. I immediately drew generals Winder and Stricker nearer to the left of my intrenchments, and to the right of the enemy, with the intention of their falling on his right or rear, should he attack me; or if he declined it, of attack

ing him in the morning. To this movement and to the strength of my defences, which the enemy had the fairest opportunity of observing, I am induced to attribute his retreat, which commenced at half past one o'clock on Wednesday morning. In this he was so favoured by the extreme darkness and a continued rain, that we did not discover it until daylight. I consented to general Winder's pursuing with the Virginia brigade and the United States dragoons; at the same time major Randal was despatched with his light corps in pursuit of the enemy's right, whilst the whole of the militia cavalry was put in motion for the same object. All the troops were, however, so worn out with continued watching, and with being under arms during three days and nights, exposed the greater part of the time to very inclement weather, that it was found impracticable to do any thing more than pick up a few stragglers. The enemy commenced his embarkation that evening, and completed it the next day at one o'clock. It would have been impossible, even had our troops been in a condition to act offensively, to have cut off any part of the enemy's rear guard during the embarkation, as the point where it was effected. was defended from our approach by a line of defences extending from Back river to Humphrey's Creek on the Patapsco, thrown up by ourselves previous to their arrival.

"I have now the pleasure of calling your attention to the brave commander of fort M'Henry* major Armstead, and to the operations confined to that * Fort M'Henry is about two miles from the city of Baltimore.

quarter. The enemy made his approach by water at the same time that his army was advancing on the land, and commenced a discharge of bombs and rockets at the fort as soon as he got within range of it. The situation of major Armstead was peculiarly trying the enemy having taken his position at such a distance as to render offensive operations on the part of the fort entirely fruitless, while their bombs and rockets were every moment falling in and about it-the officers and men being at the same time entirely.exposed. The vessels, however, had the temerity to approach somewhat nearer-they were as soon compelled to withdraw. During the night, whilst the enemy on land was retreating, and whilst the bombardment was the most severe, two or three rocket vessels and barges succeeded in getting up the Ferry Branch; but they were soon compelled to retire, by the forts in that quarter, commanded by lieutenant Newcomb of the navy, and lieutenant Webster of the flotilla. These forts also destroyed one of the barges, with all on board. The barges and battery at the Lazaretto, under the command of lieutenant Rutter of the flotilla, kept up a brisk and it is believed a successful fire during the hottest period of the bombardment. The loss in fort M'Henry was four killed and twenty-four wounded, amongst the former I have to lament the fall of lieutenants Clagett and Clamm, who were both estimable citizens and useful officers.

Of general Stricker's brigade, the number of killed and wounded amounts to about one hundred and fifty

among the former this city has to regret the loss of its representative in the state legislature, James Lowry Donaldson, esquire, adjutant of the twentyseventh regiment. This gentleman will ever be remembered by his constituents for his zeal and talents, and by his corps for his bravery and military knowledge.

"I cannot conclude this report without informing you of the great aid I have derived from commodore Rodgers. He was ever present and ever ready to afford his useful counsel, and to render his important services. His presence, with that of his gallant officers and seamen, gave confidence to every one.

"The enemy's loss, in his attempt on Baltimore, amounts, as near as we can ascertain, to between six and seven hundred killed, wounded and missing "

BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS.

On the 27th December 1814, general Jackson ar. rived at New Orleans with his army, where he immediately began the inspection of the different forts and works down the Mississippi river. On the morning of the 1st of January, the enemy had advanced within six hundred yards of our breast-works, under cover of night and a heavy fog, and erected three different batteries, mounting in all fifteen guns,