The Rhode Island American, And General Advertiser

NEW-YORK, September 9.

By the following letter it appears that our brave tars have not been able to prevent the enemy from carrying off his booty from Alexandria. We hope it is not true that Commodore Porter is either fled or wounded, but that he is still able to annoy the enemy wherever he may appear, either by sea or land.

Extract of a letter to a gentleman in this city, dated Georgetown (Columbia) September 5—10 o'clock, P. M.

"Mr. Hanson and I left Porter yesterday evening in his battery, which was considered by him as competent to prevent the descent of the British fleet, lying about three miles above him, opposite Mount Vernon. We left Major Lewis and John Hanson Thomas behind. They have this moment arrived, and from them I have the ensuing painful relation. At half past two o'clock, P. M. the Admiral got under weigh before a stiff northwester—bore down within musket shot of the battery, and came broadside round. The other vessels came to at the distances of from one fourth of a mile to one and a half miles. They opened a terrific fire of bombs, grape and twenty-four pounders. On both sides the cannonading was continued in all its terrors for about thirty minutes, at which time our battery was completely silenced. The Sea-Horse (Commodore's ship) remained in her original station until the fleet, making about 80 in number, had passed the narrows, when she fired a stern gun and went off under easy sail. Not a single ship was injured. It is believed that Porter has either been killed or severely wounded, and he must have lost most of his men—his complement was 150. Perry is said to have engaged them four miles below, as a cannonading was heard—but, Sir, nothing effective can be expected from him, as his force, in metal, was nothing equal to Porter's.

"I hope you may have this among the first—the mail is just closing."