Daily National Intelligencer

WASHINGTON.
TUESDAY, MAY 9.

The following extracts from letters addressed to the Secretary of War, and which we have obtained permission to publish, depict in lively colours traits of individual heroism, which shed a lustre on the national military character.

Extract of a letter from Col. William M'Ree to Major General Winfield Scott, dated New York, 9th April, 1815.

Sir,

If any apology could be thought necessary for this letter, you, I have no doubt, will find one in the subject of it. I am anxious to interest you in behalf of brevet Lieut. O'Fling of the 11th infantry, who wishes to procure a Cadet's warrant for his brother Edmund O'Fling, a lad 14 years old, and now a private of the 23d regiment.

Lieut. O'Fling was wounded by a cannon ball in the battle of the Falls of Niagara, and joined the army during the siege of Fort Erie, immediately on his recovery. In the sortie on the 17th of September, he solicited and obtained the command of the forlorn of the first brigade under Gen. Miller; of 24 men, of which it consisted, 20 were killed and wounded. After receiving the enemy's fire and passing the centre of their entrenchments, he advanced with his little party against a block-house containing 36 men of De Watteville's regiment and captured it. Nearly at the same time his brother, Ensign T. E. O'Fling, of the 23d infantry, with Ensign Brant of the same regiment, stormed and carried a large block-house on the right of the trenches, defended by 60 men. Ensign O'Fling received a wound while standing on the top of the building, of which he died the next day.

That these block-houses were taken at the sortie, has been publicly made known—but the manner of the achievement, and by whom, does not appear—

The youth, Edmund O'Fling, for whom the appointment of Cadet is requested has already proved that he shares with his brothers that gallantness of spirit which seems a family inheritance. On the night of the 25th of July he was so fortunate as to rescue, without assistance, Lieut. Tappan of the 23d regiment from the hands of a British officer. A plain recital of such conduct conveys the best eulogium (within my knowledge) of those who perform it. I have done nothing more,

Extract of a letter from Major General Winfield Scott to the Secretary of War, dated Washington, April 16th, 1815.

Sir,

I have the honor to enclose a letter from Col. M'Ree, of the Engineers, on a subject as highly interesting as any that occurred during the late war. Let me request that you will oblige me by looking over it at a moment of leisure. Most of the facts narrated by the colonel are known to me personally, and I could add many others of the same character.

Lieutenant Patrick O'Fling, his three brothers and father, entered the army on the same day, in 1812, all for five years. In 1813, Maj. Gen. Dearborn recognized in the father (a sentinel before his door) a soldier who had served under him with credit during the revolutionary war.— About the same time Mrs. O'Fling, a most respectable matron, came to Fort George on a visit to her husband and four sons. Patrick, the son, then about eighteen, was sick in the hospital. I prevailed on General Dearborn to discharge him from the service, that he might return with his mother. In April, 1814, Patrick (now Lt. O'Fling) raised a company of volunteers, marched to Buffalo, and requested to be attached to my brigade. The handsome deportment of the young Captain and his little band, induced me to consent; and soon after, I procured him a commission in the 9th regt. belonging to my brigade.

Col. McRee has already narrated some of the enterprizes in which this young hero was engaged; a little volume might be filled with his deeds of chivalry, for such they appear to the whole army, who took an active interest in his career.

I beg leave to make you several little requests in behalf of the survivors of this family. A Cadet's warrant for Edmund O'Fling, mentioned by Col. McRee; an honorable discharge for Patrick O'Fling (the father) and a like discharge for Charles W. House (the half brother) both of the 23d Regiment.

The O'Flings are from Batavia, N. Y. It is unnecessary to add, that every thing which has been asked for this family, that has deserved so well of its country, was promptly granted by the acting Secretary of War.