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

In the position the two ships were Mt the i
time gave orders, a second time to cease
nring, what would, inyour opinion, have been
the effect ct another broadside from the Pre-
sident /?
A. Utter destruction to the Little Belt.
Question by Commodore Rodgers.
"A. AT the time i gave orders To- stop the
fire OF the President the second time, did you
hear hail from the Little Belt, saying "her
Coiors are down ~
A. Iheard three or four halls at that tine
from the Little Belt, which ! understood t.
that effect, and so repeated them to the Com
modore.
Question by Commodore Rodgers.
Has 1T been the invariab!c practice ON
board the President, as well as the usage OF
the service, to prepare for action, before GO
ing alons side Of Il strange vessel of war!
A. Il has.
Question by Commodore Rodgers.
DID l after the fire OF the Little Bel. was
siienced, OF at any other time ask her com
manderif he had struck his co!ors, if not, be
pleased to state to the court hat my cnqui-
ny was.
A. The Commodore did not then or at a.
ny other time. ask the commander of the Lit
tie Belt, ifhe had struck his colors; but the
Commedore's question was, F" did you say
YOU struck your colors %
Question by Commodore Rodgers.
Whatreply did the commander of the Lit
lie Belt make to my question of, I" did yoa
say you had struck your col,rs,"
a. could net distinctly hear the reply
that was made to that question, but heard
at the time, several of our men say he the
commander of the Little Belt says Say, ay,
am in great distress"
q. By Commodore Rodgers.
Nern Iic-htc l,c,,Iound fro l,,
during the night after the action, SO that her
position might have been observedby the Lit
tie Belt |?
A. Yes.
ANDREW L. B. MADISON, 4vas Produced
TO M' Court and suuorn as a zuitness.
q. Were you on board the u S. frigate
the President during the action on the night
of the 10th day of May last, with his Brita an
mic Majesty's ship the Little Belt9
a. Yes.
Q. Do you hold any and what station on
board the U. S. frigate the President
A. Lieut.. of Marines.
.. Where were you quartered, on board
the frigate President at the time of action j.
A. On the gangways.
-. Where were you standing at the time
Commodore Rodgers hailed the Little Belt !?
A. was standing on the combings of the
main hatch on the larboard side
.. Had the Little Belt then hailed the
President A. No, sir
. W1en Commodore Rodgers hailed the
Little Be-, was there any reply from her, &
II SO, what was the nature of it F?
A. heard no reply.
Q. Did Commodore Rodgers hail the Lit
tie Belt second time, and if so, how soon
A. He did in fifteen or eighteen seconds.
.. Was sufficient time given by Commo-
dore Rodgers, for the Little Belt to have an
swered his first hail, before the Commodore
hailed her second time
A. There was.
.. Did Commodore Rodgers receive anv
reply to his second hail, and if any, what was
it's purports
A. He received no reply but the Lite
Belt fired gun from near her gangway.
Q. Were you in position to observe the
Little Belt at the time she fired that gun?
A. Yes; was looking direct at the Lit
tie Belt when she fired; saw the flash and
heard the report.
-. ~ the Little Belt fired the said gun,
had any gnn been previously fired from the
friSate President, or any provocation been gil
ven by Commodore Rodgers to the comman-
der of the Little Belt
A. No gun had then been fired from the
President, norhad any provocation been gil
ven by the Commodore to the commander of
the Ii tie Belt
Q. What time elapsed, before the Presi-
dent returned the fire of the Little Belt. and
how many guns were fired from the Presi-
lent, before the Little Belt commenced a
general fire!
A. The President fred one gun in about
SIX seconds after having received the shot of
the Little Belt, and immediately the latter
ship hred three guns, and instantly after the
rest of her broadside and her musketry.
.. After the President commenced firing
upon the Little Belt, was the latter ship ST.
fenced and in what timer
A. The Little Belt was silenced in six or
seven minutes after that time, when imme-
date orders were passed to cease firing.
.. Did the President cease firing, & did
the Little Belt thereupon renew her fire, &
how soon
Little Belt IN about two or three minutes af-
ter renewed her fire.
Q. Did the President then recommence
her fire, and was the Little Belt again silenc-
ed and how soon
a. The President renewed her fire which
continued four or five minutes, when the guns
OF the Little Belt were silepced, and Or
ders were Immediately passed to me to cease
firing.
Q. At the several times, when the guns
of the Little Belt we're siIenced, did Commo-
dore Rodgers exert himself TO prevent fur
ther injury being done to her /!
A. Yes; orders wcrc4mmediatcly passed
to cease firing.
q. Have you seen Commodore Rodgers