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


Belt, III quick successful accompanied with musquet
ny.
The Commodore then gave some orders the pui
port ct which did not distinctly hear, but the Pre-
sident then commenced firing. After firing from h,
abou; two minutes, remarked to Conmodore Rod
gers, tlat we were firing too high The Conmodor,
then directed me to go upon the g,h-deek, ui,, {,
gave orders to fire low, and two round shot.
After giving the said orders, had time stay and
sec one gun pointed and fred, a. tcn returned lo
the hatchaay, aud repeated the order to fire low,
aud Immediately after WAS returning to the quarter
deck, when received order from the Commodore
by the sailing master to firing, which order was
obeyed then gave orders to load the guns anu run
them out, and thcn repaired to the quarter-eck-
IS soon as got the quarterback, the Little Belt
Recommended firing, which was returned immetii-
atey by the President, aud continued few minutes,
when received an order from Commodore Rod
gers to cease firing, rs lie sad accident had
happened to the Lutte Eel,--hcr bow then bearing
directly ON the Presidents broadsisc, and she (the
Little Bclt,) apparently nnsove,naLe. IT WAS q;
,iis time, that Commodore Rodgers remarked, that
she (the Little Belt must have received some uii-
fortunate shot at the of the action,
tat she must be vessel OF force very Inferior to what
W &c mao taken her foi' About this time observed
uie gail OF the Little Belt down-miZzeu-toi,-
sui yard Ola the cap-and, believe, the inain-toI-
sni-yai'i also--I did not then perceive any colours
flying then went forw ard to have the pumps
ded, when heard some hating.
Alter lad attended to my duty, returned ait,
at which time the Little Belt Was steering to The
southwark andeastward, and the President was lying
to- About nine O'Clock, T.. NJ. we took in topsaiiant
s;'is and laid to viii, nzzen-topsas back, ard head
10 the nortlwaIt' and westward. At this tine re-
eeiNed orders to prepare for tacking when replied
t'at the main and crogick braces shot away
tiie Commodore then gave orders to repair damages
About quarter before eleven O'Clock at night iav-
ing lost SIGHT of tie Little Belt wore to :!e south
ward and eastward and filed awsy-the wind being
ABOUT "oth-east and something frcshcr than it HAD
uee ABOUT forty minutes after midnight, we back
ca the mizzen-topsa and laid to during the remain
der OF the night. At rise we discovered the Lit
ue belt on our beam bearing nearly south south
west, distant about eight miies-we set the fore
sails and bore up for her-slortly after bearing
UP Tor her. she took all her sails in, except the MAIN
topsail, and was employed unbending them. At 8
III the morning we hove to under her Ice-beam hail
ca her and sent our boat ON board with Lieutenant
creighton At his RETURN at nine O'Clock, he report
ed her to be the British ship OF Little Belt, COM
mandcd by Captain bingham. We then hoisted our
poat up and stood by the wind to the north ward and
westward, moderate brceZes and clear weather
q. BY member of the Court.
Have you seen Commodore Rodgerss official letter
to the secretary of the navy, dated off Sandy Hook,
with the Little Belt
A. Yes.
@. BY member of the Court
Are there any circum stated in that letter
which you know to be Incorrect
A. There are none.
u by Commodore Rodgers.
How long do you suppose the firing between the
President and the Little Belt continued?
a. Including the interval previously mentioned
from ii to Is minutes.
by Commodore Rodgers.
Was .hc President at amy time during the rencon-
ire on Il e1
a. Not to my knowledge
y q. sr...,,,io,c Rodgers
ibid III, President sheer OFF, with view to avoid
the LATHE Belt, At any time during the action
A. No
q. by Commodore Rodgers
After ths Little Belts fire was sienced, did Com
nodore Rodgers appear anxious to prevent further
INJURY being done to her I?
n Yes, both times.
y. BY commodore Rodgers.
Were there any OIIIeT than round and Crane shot
fred II the Little Belt
\. Tier weI. nore other fircd--we had no other
than round and grape sI,ot OH deck.
Y. by commodore Rodgers.
In the position the two ships were at the time com
modore Rofers gave Orders the second time to cease
firing, what wou'd, III your opinion have been the e-
feet OF another broadside from the President
a. More irp,l1ous than any the Little Belt had re-
Ia would have sunk her
The Court adjourned to meet again at the same
place ON Monday next, at eieye oIlocs u the fore
noon ofthat day.
.Nonday, the cd Sept. 1911
Present. Commodore Stephen Decatur, Prcsi-
Captains Charles Stuart and Isaac Chauucey.
Members.
The proceedings of yesterday were read and APP
proved OF by the court
John ord Creighton, Esq. was produced and sworn
witness.
Q. Were you on board the u S. fripate fine Presi
dent during the engagement on the night of the 10Th
Little Belt!
A. Yes.
Q. Do you hold any, and what, post ON board the
said frigate the President
A. Yes, First Lieutenant.
Y. Where were you chartered or board tle presi
dent, the night Of the action
A ~ the fourth division ON the upper deck.
Q. Az what tim did you discover tic Little Belt,
and how md she bcar9
n. At half past one u. VI. u the day of the action.
discovered the Little Get, she then bearing three
or four points ON weather bow.
.. At what time did you discover the Little Belt
to be man of war, and how we're both ships steering
at that time
A. At half past one p. VI On the day of the action.
was under an impression the LATHE Belt was a man
of war, upon wind standing 10 the south
ward and eastward, and she before the wind standing
forus.
O. At what time did the frigatc the President dis
play her colours, and when the Little Belt slew her
coloursl
A. At two o'clock T. ". when came IN from the
gun deck, saw the colours Of the President flv,ug
but did not observe any colours flying on the Little
Bet then, or at any time during the chase
Q. At What time did The President come within
hai6ng distance ct the Little Bctl
4. AbgEi halt past eight r. ".
q. Nss the FIRST hail from The President or the
Little Belt
a. From the President
q. Was tliat hail answered.
A. Yes, tie Commodore hailed shiD-aIov. f,e Or.
swer from the l.ttc Bclt was baon after which