The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-11-10

1
axes: But on application to general Smith
and Hall oil the regulars and militia, was
! supplied with few arms, and gen. Smith
was SO good on my request as Immediately
20 detach fitty men from the regulars, armed
With muskets.
| by O'Clock in the afternoon, I had my
men selected and stationed in two baa;s,
winch had previously prepared for the
lpurpose.-With these boats, SO men in each
ana under circumstances very disadvanta-
geous, my men having scarcely had time to
refresh themselves after fatiruing march
OF 500 miles, l put off from the mouth OF
bufaio creek at o'clock the following
morning, and at was along sile the yes
sets. III the space of ABOUT o minutes had
inc prisoners all secured, the topsai,s sheet
su home, and the vessels under wav. Un-
fortunately the wind was not sufficiently
strong to get NE up against a ranid current
into the lake, where had understood ano-
'her armed vessel lay at anchor, and was
Obliged to run down the river by the forts
under heary fire of round, grape and ca
n.s,er, from number of pieces of heavy
ordnance and several pieces of flying artile-
ly. was compelled to'anchor at, about 400
yards from two of their batteries!
AFTER the discharge of the first gun, which
was from the flying artillery, l hailed the
more, and observing to the officer, that if
another gun was fired i would bring the pri-
'oners ON deck & eXpase them to the SEINE
ate we should all share-but nutwithstand-
ding, they diSregarded the caution & ,ontin
ued constant & destructive fire. One single
moments reflection determined me not to
commit an act that would subject me to thu
lmputation ofbarbarty. The Caledonia had
beenbeachcd, in as safe position as the cir
cumstances would admit of, under one of our
batteries at Black Rock / now brought ali
ne guns OF the Detroit on one side ne KIT the
enemy, stationed the men at them, and dj
| rected hre which WAS continued as long
AS our ammunition lasted and circumstan-
| 1es permitted. During the contest endea-
vored to get the Detroit on our side by SCUM
ding line, there being no wind on shore
with all the lire l could muster but the
current being so strong, the boat could not
reach the shore. / then hailed our shore
aad requested that warps would be made
tast on land, and sent onboari the at
tempt to. all which again proved useless
As the fire was such as would in all
probability sink the vessel in a sh ri tine.
detei mined to drift down the river out
OF reach OF the batteries, and make q
stand against the flying artillery accor-
lngiy cut the cable, made sail with yer, light
| AIRS, and at that instant discovered that the
nj had abandoned me. / dropped rs, ern
ABOUT 10 minutes when i was brought ND
on On our shore on Squaw Island g tle 3oar-
ding boat ready. had the prisoners put in &
sent on shore with directions for the officer
to return for nee and what property we
;ouid get from he brig. He Id not re :
urn, owing to the difficulty in the boats
| getting on shore.
discovering shiT under the counter. !
nrt the four remaining prisoners in the
BOAT and with my officers Invent on shore
to bring The bout of: | asked for protect.
on to the brig ofLieut. Col. Scott, who rea-
| MY I'VE II. AT this moment discovered
| )oat with about 40 soldiers from the British
'lae' making tor the brig They got on
'oard, but were soon compelled TO abandon
her, with the loss If nearly all their men
| ouring the whole OF this morning both sides
the river keptup alternately continual
| are on the brig, and so much injured her
nat 1t was Impossible to have foated her
betore left she had several heavy shot of
large size in her beads. her sails in ribbons.
and rigging all cut to pieces.
| 10 my officers and men feel under great
obligation. To Captain Towson and Lieu
tenant Roach Of the 2nd regiment OF artil-
| cry, Ensign Freshman Of the Tpfantry, Cap
tam Chaplin, Mr.. John M'Comb, Messr,
John Town, Thomas Daun, Peter Over
stocks and James Sloan, resident gentleman
| va -N'i'', w Ni'Ol' SndlSI ana SuiIDr Ike
conduct. IN word, sir, every man FOUGHT
rs it with their hearts animated only bv
the interest and honor of their Country.
he prisoners | have returned over to
the military. The Detroit mounted six
pound long guns, commanding lieutenant
| marines, boatswain and gunner, and Efty-
| six men--about thirty American prisoners
on board, muskets, pistols, .utlasses. and
battle axes. In boarding her lost one
| man, one officer wounded Mr.. John C..
Cummings, acting midshipman, bavonet
throug'i the leg--his conduct was rect
ana deserves the notice of the department
me Caledonia mounted small guns. blum
deF5usses pistols muskets, cutlasscs and
boarding pixies, twelve men Including off.
GERS, ten prisoners On board The boat
boarding her commanded by sailing master
George Watts, performed his duty in
mastery style. Pa one man killed an
l"or wounded badly, am afraid mortallv
enclose you list Of the officers and mfn
-ugagrd in the enterprizc, AID also view
81 the Lake and River in the different stu
tons OF attack In a day or two shall
lorwrd the names Of TIE prisoners Tho
|ai.donio belongs to he n w. ComDanv
.11ded with fure, worth understand 5000
OOo 1910 '0'00
JESSIE ID. ELLIOTT.
The Honorc bic Paul Hamilton,
Scc'y. u. S. Navy.
Eartracr Of a letter /rom cunt. Heald Lofe
COWg10g0gtjf ,,g Eo,y C'L;r,o.