Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-09-23

was on gun deck, at Sd division Was look
ing at the Belt, and saw and heard the first
gun from her. No gun or prsvocation had
been given by the President. Com. RS ac-
count confirmed.
Lieut.. Creighton testified that lights were
hoisted on board the President the night after
| the action.
Mr. Mil testified that the damage on
board the President was, boy wounded, a
shot i'll the main mast, and another in the
torcmast, with some Of the backstavs cut :
way: but not single shot of any kind from
the Little Belt struck the Hull of the Presi-
| dent.
Edzo'd Rutledgc Shu6,ick, ,DLdshihman-
Was forward on gun-dcck at LIST division.
Was looking at the Belt, and saw and heard
| the first Ere from her, before any gun or pro-
vacation from the President, and confirm S
the commodore's account.
Philih Dickerson Shenccr, NIidshihnsa.--
| Was OH gun-tleck, at Sd division. Was cen
| hdcnt the first shot came from the Little
Bclt.--No gun had fred from his division,
or provocation had been given by Commo-
dore Rodgcrs.-Hcard no hail from the Belt
Confirms the commodone's statement.
| Breasted Barnes, Cai1ienter- ON gun
deck, to 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 shot of anv sort
| in her hull, but 1 III her main-mast and ano-
thor in her fore-mast
John Neese, CAPT. Of first gun, in the first
division on the gun-deck, was looking at the
Littie-Beit, and saw and heard her fire first.
Ehlhhalrt Carr, gun No 3, gun deck, tes-
titles exactly the same as Neesc.
John Jones (capt. absent) was at gun No.
5, and testihes the same.
James Beach, captain No. 4, testifes the
same.
Trohhemus Dauis, Captain No. S, testifies
the same.
John Lat!fcld, Captain No 6, testi6es the
same.
benjamin Bro7on, (1st and Cd Captains
absent) was at no z, and testifes the same
Edzcard Fitzgerald, Captain No. s, testi-
hes the same.
James CornzodN, Captain No. 9, saws Little
| Belt fred first TO the best of his knowledge.
John Fitch, Captain No. 10, was looking at
| the Belt, and saw and heard the first gun
| come from her.
Richard Thompson, (capt. absent) was at
No. IL, and saw the Belt FIRE first
John Mason, Captain No. IL, testifes the
same.
James THOMPSON, Captain No. IS, testifics
DavM Larson, Captain No. IA, testifies
| the same.
James Lee, Captain No. Is, declares the
| same.
E9zvard Uaiker, Captain 1st gun, 4th di-
vision, forecastie; from hearing the report,
and feeling no jar, believed the first shot came
| from the Belt
Moses Dunbar, Cd Capt. {1st abs.) Cd gun.
4th division, was looking at the Little Belt.
and saw her fire first.
Geo. Simmons, Cd Capt. list abs) Sd gun,
18th division, declares precisely the same.
John M CofDiiek, Cd Capt. list abs.) 4th
gun, 4th division declares the same.
UHfam Campbell, Capt. 1st gun, 18th divi-
son, or. deck, declares the same
1hos. Taylor, Capt. I'd gun, or. deck. saw
Little-Belt FIRE seconds first.
Philip Warner, Capt Sd gun, ar. deck.
was looking at the Little-Belt and saw her
| fire first.
Samuel Brosvn, Cd captain list absent)
4th gun, 9TH division, or. deck declares the
same.
Richard Cookie, I'd capt Gst abs.) 5th
gun, Or deck, saw the Little-Belt FIRE 5 or 4
seconds first.
EdScard Patterson, Capt 9th gun, Or deck,
declares the same.
'ohn anderson, Capt. 9TH gun, or. deck,
declares the same.
James Wefch, Captain 9Th gun, or. deck,
declares the same.
Lieut.. Creighton testified further. that
when the Belt was silenced the second time.
she lufted up towards the commodore. instead
OF keeping away, as she should have done TO
ire at the President, and would have dore II
her rudder had been free Com. r.. exnres-
Sed much humanity and anxiety to stop the
firing
Mr.. Null, testified that the Commodore
displayed great humanity.
Lieut.. Daihas heard two reporfs. ono The
shot against the Presidents mast, and the
other the report of the gun from the Little
$Ras IL .Strbghan,, l>Edshlamau, sawthe
Belt fire first.
same. % ''ie
DGvid Gclston Iagtadam, uash1man.
saw the same. ''''''''
LieHf. Chrtighfon testified to the offers Of
assistance :, from com. Rodgers to the Little
Belt the next moruihg.
here the examination closed, hav,rS nc
we understand, embraced every deck officer.
as wei rs captains OF guns, now OH board
tho PFpgTrppf xgf.