The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-10-02

from President would propaby have sunk her'
Saw no colours on the Belt, and took her Tor
o frigate of 36 or 80 guns. No FIRE on board
or sheering off by the President. Statement
of Commodore Rodgers confirmed.
.zlerander j. Dallas, 2d. ienf. Command
ed 2nd. division Of guns. Heard LIST. hail,
and I'd. and question repeated back from Lit
tie Belt I; then Sd hail and gun. Was look
ing at the Belt when she fired, when no gun
or provoca,ion had been given from the Pres
ident. Was in the bridgeport, when the Belt
fred, and after the shot was received gotlnto
the port aud fired gun in return, from gen
eral orders, without particular direction.
broadside from the Belt Immediately succeed
ed. None but round and grape shot used IN
his division and no fire or sheering OH.
broadside more would probably have sunk the
Belt. Com. Rodgers was very anxious to
stop the firing. The Commodore's state
ment confirmed.
John M Funk, 4h Hent.--Commanded Sd
division gun deck. Heard hail, reply, End
hail, and gun from Belt, as before. Heard
no gun or provocation from President, and
certainly was none from his division. Gun
from Belt returned from President, in or
seconds, and broadside from Belt ensued.
Orders from Com. r. as before. Round and
grape only fred No fire or sh.ering OH
Another broadside would have sunk the Belt
Com. r. exerted himself to stop the firing.
Com. RS official account confirmed.
Peter Gamble, Midsh,hman-.Was on gun
deck, at I'd division. Heard FIRST shot from
Little Belt, and felt no jar on board the Pre-
sidcnt. No gun or provocation from Com.
Rodgers Confirms the official account.
Edward Babbet Mdshihman-Wa on
gun deck, at Sd division. Was looking at
the Belt, and saw and heard the lst gun from
her. No gun or provocation had been given
by the President. Commodore Rodgers aC-
count confirmed.
Lieut.. Creighton testified that lights were
hoisted on board the President the night after
the action.
Mr.. MuH testified that the damage on board
the President was, boy wounded, shot IN
the mainmast, and another in the foremast
with some Of the backstsys cut away but
not single shot of any kind from the Little
Belt struck the hull Of the President.
Edward Rutiedge SAR6riek, bsidshihman.-- -
Was forward on gun-dcck, at first division.
Was looking at the Belt, and saw and heard
the first fire from her, before any gun or pro-
vocation from the President, and confirms
the Commodore's account
PhiEh Dickinson Spencer, Midshihman.--
Was on gun-dcck at'3d division. Was con-
fdent the first shot came from the Belt. No
gun had been fired from his division or pro-
vocation. mad been given by Com. Rodgers
Heard no hail from the Belt. Confirms the
Commodore's statement.
Breasted Barnes, Carhen.er.- WAS on gun
deck. tn attend pumps, and looking at the
Belt, when she fired the first shot, before
gun or provocation from Com. Rodgers
The President did not receive q shot OF any
sort in her hull, but in her mainmast and
another in her foremast.
John Fitch, capt No. 10. was looking at
the Little Belt, and saw and heard the first
gun come from her.
John Nesse, captain of lst gun, 10 the first
division ON gun-dock. Was looking at the
Little Belt, and saw and beard her fire first.
There follows ID witnesses, every one Of them
tes.ifes the same as Nesse.1
Edward Walker, capt. ist gun, 4th divi-
sion, torecaatle, from hearing the report and
hearing the Jar believes the first shot came
from tho Belt.
Noses Dunbar, Cd. capt. (lst abs 2d gun,
4th div was looking at the Belt, and saw her
Are first.
George Simmons, Cd. capt. (ist abs) Cd
gun, 4th div. declares precisely the same.
John M'Cormiek, I'd capt. (lst abs.) 4th
gun 4th div. declares the same. tt st
Nm. Banded, capt. Isl gun 4th div. quar-
ter-deck, declares the same.
Thomas Taylor, capt. I'd gun, quarterback
saw Little Belt fire seconds first.
Philip Warner, capt. Sd gun, or. deck, was
looking at Belt, and saw her Are first.
Samuet Brown, Cd capt LIST abs.) 4th gun.
4th div. quarter deck, declares the same.
Richard Cookie, I'd capt, lst abs.) sth gun,
Or deck, saw Belt fire 3 or seconds first
Edward Patterson, capt. 9th gun, quarter
deck, declares the same.
John anderson, capt. 9TH gun, or. deck,
declares the same.
James Weich, capt. sth gun, or. deck, de.