The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-12-14

And, Whereas the United States are at peace W it'll
Great Britain, and wish TO mai: tain the relation 81
peace invioate-Aud whereas this act of Captain
Bhgbans can be- considered in other light than as
an act OF hostility unprovoked, and All Insult offered
to the flag of the u. States
Now, therefore, for the more perfect information
OF the government of the L. States inthe premises,
do hereby authors, and require you to convene a
Court OF Enquiry, to consist of Yourself President
and the members named in the Margin. to hold
their sessions at such time and place may be most
suitable and convenient to call before them all Off
GERS and Others, who's preseuce ma, he deemed ne
cessary, to examine infinitely into every circumstance
stated in the letter of John Rodgers, Esq.
TO take all the testimony that in ANY manner
degree eucidate facts--and to state to me all the
facts that shall he disclosed in order that such pro-
ceedings may thcreupon be had, as may appear to
be right and proper.
Of this Court you will appoint Nathan Sanford,
Esq. the Judge-Advocate.
Given under my hand and the seal of the
Il a.. S. Navy Department of the U. States,
\ this Oath day of July, 1911
(Signed) PAUL HAMILTON,
Seer Of, the Macy q
the u. STATES.
Charles 'Stesvart, Isaac Chauncey, Esquires,
Captains in the Navy of til U. States
Nathan Sanford, Esq. Judge-Advocate
Present Commodore Stephen Decatur, Presi-
Captain. Charles Stewart, Captain Isaac Chaun-
cey, Members
Mr.. Sanford being unable, from the bad state OF
his health, to act as Judge-Advocae, the Court at
the request of the secretary of the navy appointed
William Paulding, ir. Adiutaot cncrai of the state
OF York, their Judge Advocate, who thereup-
on administered to the members thereof the oatl,
prescribed by the articles Of After which the
President OF the Court administered tn the Judge
Advocate the oath by the said articles prescribed
The Court having appoi ted John Heath, Iieute-
nant of Marines their Provost Marshall, adjourned
to meet at the same place tomorrow morning at ele-
ven o'clock.
Saturday, the 31sf .3uPust 1911
The Court met pursuant to adjournment
Present Co'nnrodore Stephen DreGtur, Pres.
dent.
Captain Charles Ste1vart, Captain Isaac Chaua-
cey, Members
The minutes of the proceedings of yesterday were
read and approved of by the Court
Charles Ludlow, Esq. sworn by the Court as
a witness.
Question by the Judge Advocate.
Were you on board the Usite,' States fricate the
President at the time of the acton on the evening of
the 10th of May last, between her and his Britannia
majesty's ship the Lille or Little Belt?
answer. Yes
Qucstion by the Judge-Advocate.
What was your station on board of the said fri
gate, the President, at tn time of the action afore-
sad
A. Acting Captain, with tie rank o, master. com.
mandant.
Question by TIE Judge-Advocate.
When and where did you first discover the Little
Belt and what were the circumstances which &C.
CURED from the time YOU perceived her. until the
termination of the said actioL
a. On the sixteenth day o., May last, at meridian
there were discovered from tie mast head of the
United States frigate the President, several sail in
the East, OF which the Little Belt must have heen
one. We were then in seventeen fathoms water.
Cape Henry, bearing S. W. distant fourteen or ff.
teen leagues.
At half past one, p M from the deck of the
PRESIDENT, we discovered he Little Belt to be
sail We being then upon wind, stand ng to the
southwark anu eastward, and the Little Belt bearing
about east and by sonth. About se minutes she set
tee her royals and Showed signals, which she kept
lying Tor several minutes, when Commodore Rod
gers gave orders to hoist the coors and clear the
deck When the Little Be hauled down her sig
ais, She wore and stood to the southwark. and SET
net iarboaid top gallant, studdng-sails and upper
stdy-saI.s.
About quarter past two p. VI. Commodore
dodgers ordered to beat to quarters--then we kent
the President good full. sc j O'Clock, P NJ the
wind became very light the Little Belt then bear
inS aDo;t SOUTH southeast, thirteen miles from us
ben We set our upper stay-sais and larboard tom
gallant studdng ss-aboui this time the Little Rel,
SET her lower studdng- were then steering a
bout south.
About five, p. NJ. we set our laiboard lower
sudiog saii,thclttle Belt bearing about south south
east, very light sir from north noitl-cast We
were tIIen golng from four to five knots About six
L. w. the Little Belt set her starboard tcpgallant
staddins s;u and hauled up about a point steering
south. At7, p. VI. little AFTER the Little Bell
took in her studding sails, aud ten or fifteen minutes
after, she hove too on TIE starboard tack
At haif-past Z, y. NJ. took In our studdinp sails
royals and stay sails, at which hour, for the first
time, saw coors flying board the Little Belt bot
could not tell to what fation She BELONGED AZ g.
r. NJ we hauled the forcsail up. aud about uuagter
~ an hour afterwards Commodore Rodgers gave Inc
orders 10 take position tic weather quarter of
the LATHE Belt at speaking dstance-whiIe we were
running Gown for her she wore several times
At hdt-paa 3, y *. We rounded too on her wea-
tei@bcam, within speaking distance size then LAYING
with her main-tOpsa td nc mast. While rounding
ton, Commodore Rodgers hailed tie inttc Bclt eoy
rig, what ship is chat J" to which, did nos hear A.
ny answer Some moments aftcr, the Commodore
again Tailed the Little Belt, saving, what si,iD i,
That but previously tOthe second hail. Gnn, mo.
dorc Rodgers observed tn me, the ship was forging
too fast ahead. Willie the Commodore was heiiius-
tpe second time, attending to having the sd and
Inilzen-braied mp. aud backing the mizzen tousail
ad was tlicn standing the grateincs O. The after.
hatch, looking q The Dizzen tonsail with nv Iact
to tie Little Boz. At tie time cf TIE second hail of
JofomoiOro lioigers, gun was fred bat f.om nv
lstop, could not from wiicl, ship the shot was
hreii hot nv oppression from the, rt.,ort of the
snn an,' not feeling any jar, that it came from TIC
iL'iie Belt Immediately, after hcari the report
oi t'c ana gun, sud Will IN the act of ordering ;hc
'nentr"n the braces to their quarters heard some
person So < out " she hes fred INTO Us" and ips;an-
''e nsiy G7'n went off-on the Presidents gun.
deck The Commodore was then standiag in tlte
sas-Tsy. The syn from nac Prcsxlent va scarcely