The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-09-24
@nllle8ttr.
COURT OF ENQUIRY.
Evidence continued.


Slas Duncan, 11dshihman-Was in
the foretop. Heard Com K. hail. reply.
and second hail /; then two guns in quick
succession, and believes first from the Belt,
but could not swear as he was behind the
.sretopsail. Conhrms the account oi Com.
X.
Johr lNClark. 1hdshihman WAS in
the mizentop. Heard 1st hail, no reply
and second hail. as stated. rhoaght the
Belt fired first, as he felt no Jar at the
first shot. but did at second Confirms Com.
X report.
Thomas Gan,bir, Second Lieutenanf--.
Commanded first division OF guns Com
modore X. hailed ship. ahoy-!' Was an,
s"ered halioo" Asked "Wha, ship is
that !" Received his os n wo, DIS ,epea ed
IN reply. Hailed again, "What ship is
that :" nen gun from the Belt. Heard
no gun or provoCation from Pres,den
swears no gun was fired from his division.
Nothing but round and grape fred alter ac-
Il. "A commenced. Commodore's orders as be-
fore stated. When firing ceased finally
Belt was int favorable position for firing
bui another broadside from President w ould
probably have sunk her. Saw no colors on
,he Belt. and took her tor a frlyate OF SIS
or SO gurs. No IRE ON board or steering
fl by me President Statement of Com.
X. confirmed. s.
alexander 5.pnies Dallas, Sd Lieutenant
Com. Sc division guns. Heard lst hail. and
"a, am question repeated back from l. tile
Belt hen Sd hail and gun. Was look ny
at iht Belt when she fred, when no gun
OF provocation had been given from the
Ptesldent Was IN the bride port, ~hen
the Bel. hrsd, and aiter the shot was re-
ceived got into the port and fired gun in
retnrn. from general orders, without parti-
cular. direction A broad side from the
Belt lmo eSlla,eiy succeeded. None but round
and grape used IN his division and no fire
or sheering IA "a brcadside more lou d pro-
badly have sunk he bel, Commodore r cd
gers was very anxious to stop the firing.
i he Comrno I. 5 a EN-. tcOnfr,ned So
John M. Funk 4ih l. en-. enant-C ON i.
third division gun Geek Heard hail. r.
ply, second hai and gun from BELT,
as before Heard no gun or provoca-
ton from President, and Certainty was none
from, his division. Gun from Belt re ,urued
from President, i'll OF seconds. and broad
side from Belt ensued. Orders of Commo-
Gore Rodgers as be ure. Round and grape
only fired. No FIRE or sheering off. Ano.-
tber oroadside would nave sunk the Bell
Som. II. exerteo himself to stop The firing
Com. RS official accoun, conf lied.
Pefer Gamble, Maah hman-Was oil
{, 'hNSS@ o. SSSCEb Q.NtS.Lhs ntSl
shot iron,. LII ie Bel, ana ielt No Jar OH
b ard the Pres den NJ gun az provocatlon
from Commodore Rogers. Confirms the
pfhcial account
Edzoard Ba66ef. hfidshymnn--IWas
OIL gun deck, Sd division Was looking
at he beit. and Saw and heard the Isl
gun from her. No gun or provoca;tou had
BEN gwen by the President. Commodore
Rodg IS account conf med.
Lieut.. Creighton tesrifed, that lights were
hoiSted OIL board the President the night at
ter the action.
fIr. NUT testified, that I'll damage ON
board the President was, ] BOY wounded, a
shoi IN the nam mas, and another In the
fore-mast, win some OF the backs avs cut
away bui not single shot OF any kind
rom the Little Belt struck the null of the
President.
EdSoard huiedgc Shubrck, Mdshih.
n'an-Was forward On gun deck, at lst al.
vision. was looking at the Bet, ana saw
and heard the first fire from ner, before a
ny gun or provocation from the President,
and confirms the Com odore's account.
PhtAf Ditkefson Spencer. -Ndshi1lman
w as OF gun deck, al Sd division Was
Confident he flrs shot came from the Little
bel,-N gun had fired from his di.
vision, IT provocation had been given by
Com. Rodger,--Heard no hail from the
BELT Confirrs the Commodore's statement
Breasted Barnes, arhenter-Was on
gun deck, TO attend pumps, and looking at
the Belt when she fired he first shot, before
gun or provocaton from Com. Rodgers
ne President d not receive a shot OF a.
ny r. In her null, but in her main-mast
and another in her foremost.
John .Neese, Cant of LIST gun, In the ISL
division on the gun deck, was looking at
the Little Belt, and saw and heard her fire
first.
Ethhaiet Carr, gun No. 2. gun deck,
test'hes exactly the same as Neese.
John Jones Capt abseht) was al gun, No
8, and tesifes the same.
Janes Beach. Capt No. 4, testifes the
same.
Tofhemns Davis. Capt No. s, testifies
the same,
John LaAfeid. Captain No. s, tes.ifes
The same
benjamin Broz0n list and Cd Capts. alb
'ent) was at No. Z, and tsstifies the same.
Edward (.zgeratd, Captain No. s, ties
ines iue same.
James Cornwall, Capt, No. 9. says Little
Belt tired first, 10 the best OF his knowledge. |
John ftteh, Captain No. 10, was looking |
1t the Belt, and saw and heard the first Gun |
;ome from her.
Richard 1homhSsn (Capt absenD was |
It No. ii. and saw the Belt fire FIRST
John Mason, Captain No 10, testfies the !
anne.
James THOMPSON, Captain no. 13. testi.
les the same