Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-11-21
AFFAIR OF fHE LITTLE BELT.
BALEMoRE, June 2sth, 1911.

BALTIMORE, June 26th, 1911.
SIR,
have the lonor to enclose the copy of
an official letter addressed to Rear Admiral
Sawyer by Capt. Bingham, commanding his
Majesty's slnop he Little Belt, which con-
tains an account f tae late engagement be-
| tween that ship and tie American frgate the
President.
In thus communicating to you without or
ders from his Majest5s government this do
cument, which in thenost essential fact diff
| fers So materially froh that of Commodore
| Rodgers, trust thatti government willre-
ceive it as proof of tle sincere desire which
exists with me, TO ope tile way to an AMIGA
bic arrangement of tie question which may
arise out of this unfortunate affair, when it
shall be known to is Majesty's govern
ment.
have the honor tobe, with the highest
| respect, s:r, your mostobedicnt humble SER
| want,
/ Up. MoRIER.
The Hon. Jas. Monroe &c. s5c. &c.
He Dlojesty's stooh Ltlc Pelt, May 21st,
1911, Latitude SO, 5Storth Longitude II
40 w. Cane Charles, bearing Vest forty
eight miles.
SIR,
beg leave to acguaintyou, that in pursu-
ance of your orders to join his Majestv's
ship Guerrero, and being,n my return from
the Northward, not having fallen in with
her; that at about II A. VI. May 10th, saw
| strange sail. to which Immediately gave
chace. At p. M. discovered her to be
man OF war, apparentlya frigate standing to
fIaf>E ..cfxn Il 4,
edged away for us and set his royals-madc
the signal, and finding itnot answered., CON
cludsd she was anAmerican frigate, as he
had a Commodores blue pendant flying at
the main--hoisted The colors and made all
sail South, the Course / intended steering
round Cape Hattras-the stranger cdginG
away, but not making any more sail. At s.
SO, he made sail u chase, when | made the.
private signal, Which was not answered. At
$50, finding ho gained so considerably on us,
as not to be able to elude him during the
night, being within gun shot, and clearly dis
Corning the starsn his broad pendant. | ina
gined the most rudent method was to bring
too and hoist tie colors, that no mistake
might arise, andthat he might see what we
were; the ship vas therefore brought too,
colors hoisted, gans double shotted, and e.
very preparation made III case of a surprise
by his manner d steeiing down, he evident
ly wished to iayhis ship in position for rak-
ing, which i frustrated by wearing three
times. About SIS ne came within hail.
hailed and askd what ship it was-he re-
peated nv question, again hailed and ask
ed what ship itwas-he again repeated my
words, and fired a broadside, which instant
ly returned. The action then became gene
raj, and continued so for three quarters Of
an hour, when he ceased firing, and appear
ed to be or freabout the main hatchway-
he then filed II was obliged to desist from
firing, as the slip falling off, no gun would
bear, and had 10 after sail to keep her too,
all the rigging ind sails cut to pieces, no. a
brace or bowlitc ieft--he hailed and asked
what ship this was--I told him--he then
asked me If Ihad struck my colors-my
answer was no and asked what ship it was
AS plainly as could understand, (he hav-
ing shot some distance at this time) he an
swered the Udted States frigate-he- fired
no more guns, but stood from us, giving nc
reason for his most extraordinary conduct
| At day iIghtin the morning, saw ship tc
windward, when having made out well wha,
we were, bore up and passed within hail full
| ly prepared for action about o'cIock--he
hailed and sad if ! pleased, he would send
boat on bad, ] replied IN the affirmative
and boat accordingly came with an Officer
and messge from Commodore Rodger,
OF the President, u. States frigate, to sa,
that he lamehted much the unfortunate af
fair, (as he termed it) that had happened. 8
that had he known our force was so inferior
he should not have fired at me- asked nj
motive for having fired at aII-his reply wa
that we hred the first gun at him, which wa
positively not the case ] cautioned boil
the officers and men to be particularly care
ful and not suffer any more than one man Z
be at the gun, nor is it probable that a slool
OF var within pistol shot of large A gui
| frigatc should commence hCstilitics--h
offered nc Syery assistance stood in nee.
OF, and submit'eI 10 me that had bette
put into one Of the pots Of thc u. States
which Immediately decline. BY the man
ner in which he apologized, !, appeared {
| me evident, that had he fallen in w:,h q Ri
fish frigase, he would Certainly have broagIl
her to action. What further confirms m
~ this opinion is, that his guns were not on
! ly loaded with round and grape shot, BIZ
with every scrap Of iron that could possibl
I be collected. have 20 Lament the loss 4