May 31, 1814 Accomack - Thos. M. Bayly (Lt Col. 2nd Regiment) to the Govenor
(Battle of Pungoteague or the Battle of Rumley's Gut)
On yesterday morning at half past 7 o'clock a very heavy cannonading was heard at my house, and instantly an express informed me that the enemy in a Tender and seven barges were entering Onancock Creek. I expected his intention was to attack Onancock Town about 8 miles from me, but when I reached that place I found he was in Pungoteague Creek 8 miles further; that he had come close to the mouth of Onancock Creek, caused an alarm to be sounded at that station to draw the Militia there, and then pursued his course down the Pungoteague.
At 9 o'clock I fell in with a part of two companies of Infantry, about fifty, with our elegant brass cannon and about twenty five old men who had joined about one mile and a half from where the enemy were engaged. Here I received the information that the enemy had landed below, a station where I had heretofore had a guard, with five hundred men partly negroes, all in full uniform; that he had captured a cannon and was then formed in line in a large open field, about a mile in advance from his landing place. Believing that he intended to retain his ground during the holly days that the slaves from Accomack and Northampton might join his standard, or that his intention was to obtain livestock, I communicated to the officers and soldiers then present, my plan to attack him in front and retreat, to draw him further from his boats, while detachments from the right and left was to cut off his retreat to his barges. I entertained no doubt, but during the day to have a force amply sufficient to effect my intention (and I should not have been deceived). I then went and joined Major [John] Finney and his detachment about half past 9 o'clock, when the enemy was leaving our shores defeated. The point of land where he landed was on a point of marsh, on the north side of Pungoteague Creek, a quarter of a mile below a station where I had heretofore fixed a guard, but had broken it up about the time of my last communication to your Excellency. Pungoteague and Onancock Creeks are about three miles apart nearly parallel, seven miles in the country; a large road runs down this neck nearly an equal distance from both creeks, with a thick woods on each side. A guard of men was placed on the south side of Pungoteague Creek, but they could render no assistance--the enemy always with out the reach of their musketry. At 7 o'clock the enemy crossed the bar of Pungoteague in eleven barges and launches in two divisions. The center barge wore a large broad Flag, two Tenders, a sloop and a schooner, lay off in the Bay close in. Upon their first fire (an 18-lb. cannon), the Albion 74, Rear Admiral Cockburn's ship, in full view, was decorated with a great number of elegant colours.
Lieutenant Thomas Underhill
(see the Payroll List of Captain John G. Joynes' Company) of the Artillery, who had charge of a cannon at his house (about one mile from the station before mentioned), with it and five men repaired to that place. He was soon afterwards joined by Major John Finney, (see John Finney's Heirs) who lived on Onancock Creek, and with ten men had been watching the enemy from his first appearance. At 1/2 past 7 the enemy commenced his attack upon Major Finney with 18-lb. shot and Congreve Rocketts, which was returned with rapid firing by Lieutenant Underhill. Soon afterwards Captain Isaac Smith (see the payroll) who had been stationed on Onancock Creek about four miles from that place, made his appearance with 20 men, and occupied a pine wood on the right. The enemy then opened his fire upon Captain Smith, and at the same time upon the detachment stationed on the south side of Pungoteauge Creek, and the attack was then general. The enemy used his 18-lb., 12-lb., 4-lb. cannister and grape shot and Congreve Rocketts with great profusion, but without effect. He soon landed from eight barges and Launches one quarter of a mile from Major Finney and Lieutenant Underhill, and gave three cheers; put about 30 negroes in full uniform in front and rushed upon the Major, receiving and giving a continued fire. Major Finney ordered Lieut. Underhill to retreat with his cannon, but the Lieutenant not having enough men to take off his cannon, charged with cannister shot, and when the enemy had reached him in column about 100 yards distant, he gave him a well directed fire, spiked his cannon and effected his retreat. The enemy then advanced with 30 negroes, 400 or 450 sailors and marines, as nearly as I can ascertain, and took possession of a large open field, and with a small party, the house of John Smith, aged 76, near to it, and formed a Battalion about one mile from his landing place. Major Finney with 15 men now occupied a thick skirt of woods on his right, and Captain Smith with his 20 men occupied a thick wood on his left. During the whole of this time a incessant fire of musketery was kept up on both sides, with cannon and Congreve Rocketts from the barges then in the creek, three of which never landed, and had moved up the creek. In a short time the enemy rushed to the woods occupied by Captain Smith, drove him from it and took possession. This woods was nearly united with the woods occupied by Major Finney; between them was an open field nearly in the form of a triangle, with a fence on each side. The enemy had the advantage of Major Finney in having a ditch and bank on which his fence was placed, the ditch next the woods. In this situation each advanced along their fence towards the angle of the field, keeping up an incessant fire, when about one hundred yards apart, the bugle horn sounded from the barges a retreat, which was instantly and cheerfully obeyed. At this place a negro in full uniform was left dead; he was in advance. They were one mile from the barges; half of the distance was marsh. His retreat was rapid and without order except a corps of 80 marines who covered heir retreat. They entered their barges and made all sail to their Fort and Camp on Tangier Island.Six men or dead bodies were seen to be coarried in blankets to their barges, and blood was found in three places. Our loss, one private badly wounded but not dangerously.
In this action, Major Finney has proved himself to be an officer brave and judicious. Capt. Smith honorable discharged his duty. Lieut. Underhill lost his cannon, but I hope the daring courage he displayed will excuse him with your Excellency, and that you confide to him another. The other officers, non-commissioned officers and privates. behaved as they ought to have done, and I cannot understand who discharged his duty best. But I must not omit mentioning old Mr Benjamin Phillips, who now resides near Hampton. He formerly lived in Accomack, where he was born, near the place of this action, and was on a visit to his friends. He joined Major Finney in the action, and continued with him thoughout the whole, and prusued the enemy to their barges.
The excertions made and the desire to meet the enemy by the other officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates of the Second Regiment, must have removed any doubt on my mind, if one ever existed that they will equally distinguish theselves when an opportunity offers.
If the Enemy had continued on shore by 2 o'clock I should have had a force amyply sufficient to effect his capture or destruction. By that time nearly the whole Second Regiment would have reached the field, and we were most mobly joined by a proportion of our old citizens from 45 to 60 years old. I am persuaded the enemy must have observed the militia collecting in every direction, or he would not have sounded a retreat, for he effected nothing.
The encolsed statment will sew you our loss, and give you some information of the loss of Enemy.
I have the honor to bem &c.
Statement of loss sustained by 2nd Regiment Va. Militia at Pungoteague, Whit sunday 1814:
Ezer Kellom, Private, wounded, believed not mortal.
One iron 4lb cannon, made in Virginia manufactory, captured; the ammunition chest saved.
Two barracks, about 20 feet square, each built very rough of Pine plank burnt, 4 pieces of bacon, 1 small hof taken from Mr. Smith. Many articles of his furniture was prepared to be taken off, but was abandoned when the Retreat sounded, and some dressed beef dropped in their way to their boats.
left by the enemy on the field, in the woods on the march, two swords canes, one gilt; near it a boarding pistol, marked W. S. and with blood marks on it; 4 Cartridge boxes, 1 musket, 3 boarding pikes, 3 Cutlassess; 2 Bayonets. 200 Musket Cartridges, several shoes. The dead body of a Negro in full uniform.
Six wounded men or dead bodies were seen to be carried in blankets to their barges, and blood was found at three places. Our loss, one private badly wounded, but not dangerously.
Source:
_____. Calandar of Virginia State Papers and Other Manuscripts From
January 1, 1808 to December 31, 1835. Vol. 10. New York, NY: Kraus Reprint
Corporation, 1968: 334-337.