The Rhode Island American, And General Advertiser

December 15.

The following letter is from a gentleman of the first respectability—and if we did not know the writer personally as well as the gentleman to whom it is addressed, we should be inclined to doubt the statement. But we know we are not deceived. We know that every word in the letter here subjoined, is correct.

Canandaigua, December 5.

Dear Sir—The accounts from the lines are so very extraordinary, that I seize a moment in much haste to give an outline of them.—My information is not only from all the returning volunteers and from universal report, but personally from my friend Captain P.

When Smyth had given up his first attempt to cross (I think on Saturday night last) the army were with difficulty kept quiet on Sunday and Monday; the officers waited on him in a body upon the subject. He swore with tremendous imprecations that he would cross that night—The troops were under arms from 12 to 1 o'clock, all were embarked in good order and silence in boats—the men all emulous to be in the first—the boats pushed off and laying on their oars ready for the word. At the time two guns were heard to go off on our side—soon after the morning signal was heard on the other side—the boats were ordered ashore—a flag of truce sent over—he returned with an officer of General Sheaffe's after a long conference the men were ordered to their quarters, the volunteers dismissed—the officers broke their swords and the men beat their muskets over stumps with rage—General Porter harangued the volunteers, and concluded by calling Smyth a scoundrel and coward, and that he would post him as such. Smyth for safety took lodgings at Buffalo, but the mob becoming dangerous, the landlord desired him to depart—on his way a soldier snapped a pistol at him. He took refuge in his own camp surrounded by guards and sentinels. During Tuesday night different parties who did not know where he was, came to Judge Granger's (where he had lodged) and swore, they would have him dead or alive—1500 dollars are said to be offered for his head—and he is no more to be seen. In the course of Tuesday a council of field officers was called—what passed is not known, but they were all seen to go away very dejected. Such is the end of presumption and folly.