Daily National Intelligencer

Having seen the following publication in the Alexandria Herald, of the 19th Oct. with horror, as capping the climax of atrocity—

To the Editors of the Herald.

Gentlemen, I have no recollection of having seen any account of the conduct of the enemy at Chaptico published in any of the public prints; you are at liberty to publish the following extract of a letter to a friend, written shortly after that affair. It is a very imperfect account written in a hurry amidst the bustle of a camp, but contains most of the facts. My name is enclosed, which you are at liberty to make public, if any respectable person should deny the truth of the following statement.

A Citizen of Maryland.

I passed through Chaptico shortly after the enemy left it, and I am sorry to say that their conduct would have disgraced Cannibals; the houses were torn to pieces, the well which afforded water for the inhabitants was filled up, and, what is still worse, the Church and the ashes of the dead shared an equally bad or worse fate. Will you believe me, when I tell you, that the sunken graves were converted into barbacue holes! The remaining glass of the Church windows broken, the communion table used as a dinner table and then broken to pieces! Bad as the above may appear, it dwindles into insignificance, when compared with what follows: the vault was entered and the remains of the dead disturbed. Yes my friend the winding sheet was torn from the body of a lady of the first respectability, and the whole contents of the vault entirely deranged! The above acts were witnessed by hundreds as well as myself, and I am happy to say, that but one sentiment pervaded our army.

I immediately shewed it to General Philip Stewart, lately commanding the American troops at that place, who read and declared it strictly true; that Cockburn was at the head of it; that they also destroyed the organs; that Judge Key's lady who had been last put into the vault was the person alluded to that her winding sheet was torn in pieces, and her person wantonly exposed; and that his men were exasperated to desperation by this conduct. You will publish this.

Yours, &c.

ROBERT WRIGHT.

Oct. 19, 1814.

N. B. I hope every American printer will also publish it.

R. W.