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Report from Thomas Emery About 10 minutes before 3 o'clock, A. M. we received intelligence from our troopers, stationed at out post videttes, that the British in considerable force were on the march from Kent Island toward Queenstown. A full company of infantry having been pushed into Piney Neck the evening before, for the purpose of scouring the neck and intercepting all communications with the enemy, our force now consisted at Queenstown of about 200 infantry, 100 cavalry under my command, a company of artillery about 40 strong under the command of Capt. Gustavus Wright – the whole under the command of Major Nicholson, the senior officer, Wright being then sick. Our arrangements and positions for defense having been previously agreed on, about 15 minutes after 3 o'clock every company was in place and ready for action – soon after which we observed by signal rockets, which were fired from the mouth of Queen's Town creek as well as from the column advancing from the ferry, that we were to have an attack from the water as well as the land. About 10 minutes before 4 o'clock, nit yet light, the enemy from his line upon the land side, which was then displayed, and also from the water, commenced a fire of rockets and round shot, upon which, Major Nicholson then hearing that a landing was effected at Hall's where he had posted no men, from the barges, and anticipating an immediate attack in the rear, ordered the artillery and infantry, without firing, to retreat, which was done in good order without any loss. With the cavalry I posted in a very advantageous position to charge upon the right wing of the enemy as soon as the action should commence in the centre. By some neglect, I did not receive orders to retreat until some minutes had elapsed after the retreat of the Infantry, &c. which the night, and observing the approaches of the enemy, prevented me from seeing. During this time we were exposed to the whole and undivided firing of the enemy's artillery, who were not more than 200 yards from us, when we commenced a retreat in good order without any loss, until we overtook the infantry and artillery, alone prevented him from making sad havoc among us. They took position of the town, and held it about a few minutes, ding little injury there than taking off a part of our stores of bread and bacon – At hall's the force that landed there under Cockburn, injured his house and furniture, I understand that was left, a good deal. The force that advanced by land was supposed to be about 600 men, under Sir Sydney Beckwith; those that landed from the barges, 45 in number, under the Magnanimous Cockburn, we estimated at about 900 – making in the whole about 1500 men. Yesterday a deserter came in who stated the force that advanced by land to be 2000 – This statement has been strengthened by the opinion of our men, who saw then turning to the ferry.
So here you have the officer's own account of the militia failing to defend anything … even so much as to return fire.
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