The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-09-20

or on the deck Another broaaside would
probably have sunk the'Be.t. Commodore's
account CONFIRMED.
Henry Caldwell. Comniandanf Of Marines
Heard the hailing; was looking at the
Little Belt,s and saw the first shot proceed
from her; on which Commodore Rodgers
said, What is that?" and he answered,
" She has hred intous.'' Otders were then
given TO fire. Belt silencedin FIVE minutes.
Com K. was anxious to stop his fire. and
did SO. The Belt renewed the acton, and
in six or seven minutes was silcnced again,
when Com. K. was anxious TO prevent mis-
chief, and stopt his fire. No fire ar sheer
ing off. Commodore's account confirmed.
Raymond II. Y. Perry. Jantor Lieut..
and Signal OGicer--W Was on the quarter
deck, near Com. Rodgers's elbow. The
Commodore hailed, got no reply-haiied a
second time. and got none. Heard gun,
and was looking at the Belt. which hredit
previous to any gun or provoc atom from the
President. The Bell was silenced in i've
minutes, and orders were sent 90 every di-
vision OF guns on board the President, to
cease The Belt renewed the fire, and the
President also. In six minutes the Belt
ceased firing again, and the Commodore
was very anxious to stop the firing on board
the PRESIDENT no fire or sheering oil. -
The Belt was in a very dangerous situation,
and would probably have been sunk by an
other broadside. Heard hailing from the
Belt, and understood they said, their colors
were down, ana so reported Commodore
Rodgers hailed, "Have you struck your
colorss" and was answered. 81 have, and
am in great distress" Lights were up on
board the President during the night. COM
modore's statement confirmed.
.3ndregv l.. q. Madison. Lieut.. IF Ma.
nc he A..
Comnodor hail first then wait Is or IS
seconds. time enough for reply. but got
none, and hailed sgain when he Little
Belt fired : gun from her gang-way. Saw
the flash and heard the report no gun,
nor proyccalion had been offered by Com.
Rodgers. In six seconds a gun was fred
from the President, when instantly the Belt
hred three guns, and then her broadside and
musquetry Belt silenced in or z minutes.
Firing stopped in the President In two or
three minutes Belt renewed the action, and
in or minutes vas again silenced, when
Com. r. ordered his fire to cease, and APP
peared anxious to prevent damage No
FIRE CT sheering offot the President
modore's report onhrmeds
| Cahf. Caldwell confirmed the account Of
the 1st and I'd guns, and bruadside, as gi-
ven by the other witnesses.
Juco6 Null, Sailing -master--Was on the
quarter deck. Com. r. hated, ind got no
answer but 90 haioo." After sufficient time.
hailed again, and got no reply, but a shot,
without provocation In three or four se
conds returned the shot. and got a general
fire from the Little Belt Thought the Belt
heavy frigate until next day Action Con-
tlnued IL or Is minutes, including three
| or q minutes interval Little Belt could
have fired again, but President could have
l Gun hor
true
1t. Creighton thought the Little Belt
frlgate (excepting yer feeble defence) until
mex day Captain Bingham told him the
Presidents Colours we're not hoisted, but re
collected the pendant II is the usage, as
| before stated by another witness, for the
PRESIDENT TO be prepared for action on com
ing along side OF any armed vessel rho't
the Little Belt displayed bad management or
want OF conduct in her defence.
| Josetih Smith, INidShi,amau, acting as
Masters Mate-Commanded 4th division
| OF guns. Heard Com. II. hail, and no re-
! ply for seconds. Heard second hail, aud
was looking at the Lille Bet when the first
gun was fired by her. before shot or any
provocation was given by the President
Then Com. Rodgers fired one gun, then the
Belt 3, and action continued. Thought the
Belt trigate The duration of the action.
and orders to cease, as before stated The
last order 10 stop firing was received by 3
different officers Com. RS. statement con
firmed.
Henry DenniSon. acting Chatham
Was on the quarter deck. Little Belt was
20 or 80 yards distant Heard Commodore
RS hail. and the reply.s and the End hail
then gun. he thinks, from the Belt. as
he felt no jar in the President--and no gun
or provocation had been given by Com. RI
Account of Com r. confirmed
Michael Roberts, Boatszvair-Was on
the forecastle--sawt the fash and he ard the
gun from the Littr Bet, betIre al, shot or
ProVocatlon had been given from the Presi~
dent Had not seen the Commodore's &C
Count
Richard Carson. Alidshihman WAS
on the forecastie and gang ways. Com. X
hailed and was answered by repeating his
words; second hail was answered by shot
Wa looking at the Little Belt, and saw
and heard the guns before any provocation
from Com. R.-Gun from the President was
followed by the Belts broadside, as stated
by others Comnodore's account copfr IN :.
ed.
Matthew Perry, MidShitman--Was on
the quarter deck. Heard nail, reply, Sc
cond hail. and gun from Belt, before any
gun or provocation from President Then
gun from President followed by general
fire from Little Belt. Statement of Com. II.
confirmed.
Some isndmen (like the reporter) might
ia q = va nm s4.aar 8 t.v,l.