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Virginia Argus
Richmond, Virginia
What is this article about?
General Orders from Buffalo announce a brilliant defense at Oswego by Lt. Col. Mitchell's detachment of fewer than 300 U.S. troops against 1,800 British soldiers and their Lake Ontario fleet, resulting in heavy enemy losses and evacuation of Oswego.
Merged-components note: Continuation of military general orders across pages 2 and 3; relabel 'notice' to 'domestic_news' as it fits local military reporting.
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Head Quarters, Buffaloe, May 21.
GENERAL ORDERS.
The Brig. Gen. commanding has the high pleasure of announcing to the troops on this frontier, that he has received official intelligence of a most brilliant action fought by a detachment U. S. troops under Lt. Col. Mitchell, of the 3d artillery stationed at Oswego, in which less than three hundred Americans gallantly resisted one thousand eight hundred British land troops aided and covered in their attempts to land by the whole fleet of the enemy on Lake Ontario.
In the action of the first day the enemy's boats were driven back at every point with a prodigious slaughter on his part, proportionate to his excess of numbers. The next day, the British General divided his force into several parts, and thus advanced upon Lieutenant Col Mitchell, in 3 or 4 detachments at once, each of them superior to our little band. Lieutenant Colonel Mitchell, however, retained his position, & did not retreat until he had destroyed the small amount of public property at Oswego; he then fell back 12 miles to the principal deposit, took a new position and put the enemy at defiance. The enemy prudently declined following him; and has since evacuated Oswego; after having sustained a signal defeat in his first attempt to land, and having been totally disappointed in his hopes of plunder.
A national salute will be fired this morning.
Brig, at 10 o'clock, by Captain Towson, in honor of Lieut. Col. Mitchell and his Spartan band. The whole line of troops will be under arms at the same time. By command,
G. D. SMITH, Brigade Major.
W. SCOTT
What sub-type of article is it?
What keywords are associated?
What entities or persons were involved?
Where did it happen?
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Oswego
Key Persons
Outcome
prodigious slaughter among the enemy; americans destroyed public property at oswego and retreated 12 miles; enemy evacuated oswego after defeat and failed plunder attempt.
Event Details
A detachment of fewer than 300 U.S. troops under Lt. Col. Mitchell at Oswego resisted 1,800 British land troops supported by the enemy fleet on Lake Ontario. On the first day, enemy boats were driven back with heavy losses. On the second day, the British advanced in multiple detachments, but Mitchell held position until destroying property, then fell back and defied the enemy, who declined pursuit.