Martinsburgh Gazette

IMPRISONMENT AND INSULT of an American Officer at Porto Rico.

On this subject, which interests the best feelings of our country, the National Gazette of yesterday, gives the following additional details from a private letter, a portion of which we copied from the same source on Monday.

Extract of a letter dated St. Thomas, November 16.

"The next morning the squadron sailed, and early on the 13th, come to anchor under Snake Island, (uninhabited.) Here the boats were all hoisted out, and a draft of men, to the number of 200, made for an expedition which it now appeared, was destined against Fajardo, in consequence of the representation made to Commodore Porter by Captain Platt of his treatment by the authorities of that place. At 2, A. M., Commodore Porter, and Captain Dallas, having repaired on board the Grampus, Capt. Sloat, she, in company with the Beagle, got under weigh, with the draft of men, having the boats of the John Adams in tow, she remaining behind.

At sun rise the vessels were off the harbor, and at forty minutes past eight, the Grampus anchored within musket shot of a battery of 2 long eighteens advantageously placed upon the top of a rocky bluff." The boats being manned and their flags hoisted, the launch of the Grampus, commanded by Lieutenant Pendegrass, with thirty men, including Lieutenant Barton, and thirteen marines, pulled directly towards the fort. Having effected a landing rather in the rear of the guns, they marched immediately to the fort but the Spaniards did not await their arrival, having fled ere our men could attain the summit of the hill—thus in possession of a battery, which properly managed, should have sufficed to beat off a much larger force, the guns which were found loaded and primed, with matches burning were spiked with files, and the rammers broken.

During this time the other boats, with Commodore Porter and Captain Dallas were not idle, but made good their landing at a beach about a quarter of a mile to the right of the battery, where being joined by the launch of the Grampus, the men were formed on shore. A guard of marines having been detailed to take charge of the boats, the remainder proceeded towards the town of Fajardo, which is situated two miles in the interior, and contains about 100 houses. At the distance of one mile from the shore, two nine pounders had been mounted, where a piece of marshy ground rendered the place in some degree defensible—but as at the fort, our countrymen were not under the necessity of giving any very sanguinary proof of their valour, the Spaniards having deserted their post. The guns were spiked and the troops continued to advance some distance further, when they were halted & a flag of truce dispatched. to demand a suitable apology for the insult offered to the American flag in the person of Capt. Platt, for which hour was given.

The civil and military commandants accompanied the flag in its return, when they were informed by Commodore Porter, of the object which had caused the present rather unceremonious visit, and that a suitable apology for the treatment which Captain Platt and his officers had met with, together with a promise that in future, the American flag should be treated with the utmost respect, was absolutely necessary, or he should instantly proceed to hostilities. These terms being fully acceded to, and Captain Platt having expressed himself satisfied with the concession made, the men were marched back to the beach and re-embarked.

Although no blood was shed, yet our countrymen have fully maintained their character for good conduct and from the ardour and enthusiasm manifested by every one to share the anticipated dangers of the expedition, there is a little reason to doubt, that had they met a worthy foe, new laurels would be added to those which already flourish in perennial verdure, around the brows of the gallant officer who commanded the expedition and shared the fatigue of the march. The landing and re-embarkation of the troops, together with a march of four miles, under a tropical sun, the thermometer standing above 85 in the shade, was performed in the short period of two hours and fifty minutes, the Grampus being under weigh within that period from the time of her having anchored, with her boats hoisted in and stowed. During the whole transaction the greatest propriety of behaviour was observed, no molestation being offered, either to the person or property of any individual.

The Grampus and Beagle were employed under the command of Capt. Sloat to cover the disembarkation, the former being almost immediately under the guns of the battery, and her imposing attitude, no doubt, contributed materially to the prudent resolve of the Spanish, it to be just, when it was dangerous to be otherwise: At the town, they had collected from two to three hundred men, into a field piece."