Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-10-28
WARRINGTON CRY, Oct. b

10 sAe Secretary Of sae Navy.
United States Ship General Pike,
Sacke,ps Haroor, 9Th Oct. 1913.
SIR. -,
As soon as the last OF the flotiIla
with the troops cleared the Niagara,
/ proceeded in quest of the enemy.
On the I'd last. at 10 A. NJ. discovered
him steering course for Niagara
with stn,lliag. sails and al sails set.
wind from the south and westward
we made all sail in chase, but as
soon as we shot out from the land
so that he conld fairly make US out.
he took in studdingsails and hauled
upoa a wind to the westward and
made all sal! from us the vino De-
ing light all day we made but little
progress against the current. and at
ssndown the enemy was OIL the 20
Mile Greek and had evidently gained
considerably from us. During the
night the wind continued so light
that we altered our position but very
little, and at day light on the Sd saw
the enemy at anchor close in with
the land, between 12 and 90 Mile
Greek as soon as be saw us he
weighed and made all sail to the
westward, wind from south TO south
west and squally. ! made all sail In
chase. and continued the chase the
whole day. it Blowing very heavy IN
SQUALLS at sun-down we could bare
ly make him out from the masthead
when he appeared nearly mp to the
head of the lake; it continued squat
ly with rain and the night very dark;
at day light on the 18th hazy, could
see nothing of the encmy-eontinued
working mp for the head OF the
Lake; towards meridian it became
calm. I ordered the Lady OF the
Lake to sweep up TO Burlington Bay
AMI ascertain whether the fleet was
there--at half past 9 p. NJ. she re-
turned with Information that the
feet was not there. Saw but two
boats. 1t struck me at once
that he had awaited himself oil the
darkness of the preceding night and
had either run for Kingston or down
the lake FOR the pur Sc ofintercept-
ing the flotilla with { army, there
fore made all sail md shaped my
course for the Ducks, with view
of intereepting him or his prizes it
he should have made any. he wind
Increased to a strong gale tom the
porihward and westward "a | CONT
nned the whole day on the 9Th, we
therefore made great run, for at 4
p. VI. we passed Long Point; at s
discovered seven sail near the False
Ducks presnaing them to be the
fleet. made sail in chase at made
them out to be sioops and schooners.
I made the signal for the SylDh and
the Lady OF Lake to cast of their
tow. aud chase Y. E. socn after per-
cciving the enemy separating on diff
ferent tacks, cas-, off the Governor
Tomkins from this ship, gave the
squadron in charge of capt. Crane,
and male all sail in chase at 8 the
enemy finding us to gain fast uaon
him, and one ofiis gua vessels sail
ing much worse than the rest, he
took the people out and set her on
fire. At SHUTDOWN, when opposite
the Real Ducks. the Hamilton late
Crowley Confanee Gate Jnlia) and
Mary Ann, strnck to u.s.. The Sylph
soon after brought down the Drum
mud, cutter rugged. The Lady
Gore run into the Ducks, but the
Sylph (Which was left to watch herr
took possession Of her early the next
morning. The Enterprise, small
schooner is the only one that escaped
and she owed her safety 10 the dark
ness Of the night.
Finding much difficulty in shifting
the prisoners, owing 10 the smallness
Of our boats and heavy sea. de-
termined to take the prizes i'm tow
and run for this place and land the
prisoners and TROOPS that I had on
beard. We arrived here at day light.
On the 9th, the Lady OF the Lake
having towed one of the prizes,
dispatched her Immediately to cruise
between the Real and False Ducks.
She returned the same afternoon,
having discovered the eDemy's squad
ron going into Kingston.
have repaired the principal da-
images sustained by this ship in the
action on the 2Sth ult. aud have put
q new foremost into the Governor
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