Alexandria Gazette, Commercial And Political

From the Baltimore Telegraph.

Extract of a letter from the commander of fort Montgomery, Mississippi territory, to a gentleman in this city, dated Feb. 22, 1816.

We were so unfortunate as to have one of our officers killed yesterday, by an infernal scoundrel who deserted from the fort. Lieutenant Bridges and Grey, [Bridges formerly of the 10th regiment] went in pursuit of them, and overtook them about 25 miles, on their way to Georgia, in a house at breakfast. They dismounted and rushed in upon them: the deserters being all armed, flew to their pieces, and the moment the officers entered the door, one of the party fired on lieutenant Bridges and killed him on the spot. Afterwards lieut. Grey commanded them to order their arms, and then to ground them, which they had the cowardice to do. Then lieut. Grey, with the assistance of one man tied their hands, and marched them 5 miles. They then met a party which was sent out in pursuit of the deserters -they are now all in irons.

[We give the above extract to shew, as a striking example of that cowardice which always accompanies a guilty action. After the deserters had completed the climax of their crime, by the murder of their officer, they stand like guilty and appalled wretches, only awaiting the signal to march to their execution. Unable to contemplate the bloody act, even their sense of personal security is lost, in their sense of horror for the crime. The surviving officer seizes on the critical moment, on which his own existence is dependent, and before they have recovered from the shock of their own consciences, before the sense of personal security can operate, assumes an authoritative tone, & commands them to ground their arms. Accustomed to move like machines. they involuntarily obey, and before they have recovered from the amazement of guilt, they are deprived of the power of doing injury, and delivered over to the arm of vindictive justice.

It is this self possession in the hour of danger, which, when acted upon a larger scale. has often turned the fate of battles. and caused hovering victory to light upon the standard. It was the same principle that renders the name of Erie so dear to Americans, The surviving lieut. is an hero of the first class, and should fortune allow him a theatre as conspicuous for the exercise of his powers. we venture from such evidence to predict his success.]