Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-08-26
WASHINGTON CITY, Aug. -.

Ertrae, of q letter from Com Ghaunefy,
10 the Secretary Of the Navy. dafea
on board she sAit General Pike, a.
Sxeketss Har6or, lstA sdng 1913.
S,n-I arrived here this day with
this ship, the Madison, Oneida Govern
or Tompkins, Conquest, Ontario, Pert
and LADY Of the Lake. The Fair Ame-
rican and Asp 1 left a, Niagara. Since
had the honor OF addressing you last
I have been much distressed and m .rtl-
fed distressed al the loss of part OF
the force entrusted to my command, ana
mortified at not being able to bring the
enemy 10 action. The following move
mep,s and transactions of the squadron,
since the 9Th inst Il give you he best
i,ea of the difficulties and notifications
that have had to encounter
On the 9TH, a, d>y iightH the enemy's
fleet, consulting of two ships, two brfgs
aud two large schooners, were discover
ed bearing w. n w distant about hive
or six miles. wind at west AT weigh
ed Nth the feet and manruvered to gam
the wind. At 9 having passed to lee
ward of the enemy's line and abreast OF
MS van ship. (he Wolte] hoi.ted our
Colors and fired a few guns. to ascertain
whether we could reach him with our
shot: finding they fell short, lwore aud
| hauled upen wind on the starboard
tack; the rear Of our schooners then a.
bou, sin miles a-stein. The enemy wore
in succession and hauled upon wind OH
the same tack but soon finding that We
should be able to weather him upon the
next tack, be tackled and made all sail to
the Northward. As soon as our rear
vessels could fetch his wake. tackled and
made all sail in chase. In the afternoon
The wind became verv light and towards
night quite calm. The schooners used
their sweeps all the aftsrnoon, in order
10 close with the enemy, but without
success. Late Ia the afternoon ! made
the signal of recall, aud farmed IN close
order. Wind during the night irom the
westward and after midnight squally ::
kept all hands at quarters and beat to
windward 10 hopes to gain the wind OF
the enemy. At 9 A. NJ missed two of
our schooners-at day light discovered
the missing schooners to bethe HamIl-
ton and Sccnrge. Soon after spoke the
Governor Tompkins, who informed me
the Hamilton and Scourge both overset
and sunk, in heavy squaii about two
o'clock and, distressing to relate, eve
ry soul persisted, except sixteen. This
fatal accident deprived me at once 81 The
service of two valuable officers, Lieut..
Winter and Sailing Master Osgood, and
two of nv best scho"ners, mounting to
ge,her. is guns, This accident giving
TO the enemy decidedly the superiority.
I thought he would take advantage OF 1t
particularly as by Change OF wind; he
was again brought dead to windward OF
me. Formed the line upon the ia'board
tack and hove to Soon alter NJ
the enemy bore up & set studdng sails,
apparently with an intention to bring us
to action. When he had approached US
within abont tour miles he brought 10 on
starboard tack. | wore and brought to
on same tack. Finding that the eneay
had no intention OF bringing US to action,
edged away TO gain the land. In order
to have the advantage OF tie land breeze
in the afternooh. 1t soon after tell cain
and directed the sChooners To- sweep up
and ENGAGE tho enemy. Abon noon We
got light breeze from the Eastward
| took the Oneida in tow, as she sails
badly, and stood Tor the enemy when
the van Of our schooners was, within a.
bout fl2 or 2 miles Of his rear, the
wind shifted to the westward, which a.
gain brought him to wind" as soon
as the breeze struck him, he bore up tor
the schooners in order to cut them OH
before they could rejoin me: but WI
their sweeps, and the breeze soon reach
ing them also, they were soon IN their
station. The enemy, finding himself
foiled in his attempt upon the schoouers'
hauled his wind and hove to. 1t soon
after became very sqnslly, and the aP-
pe.rance Of its continuing so during TN
nisht: and as we had been at quarters
for nearly forty hours, and being aPpre-
bensive Of separating from some of the
heavy sailing schooners in the squall, IN.
duced me 10 run in towards Niagara, and
anchor outside the bar Gen. Boyd very
handsomely offered any assis:anceln men
that l might require Ireceived $50 sni
diers aud distributed them IN the ditier
ent vessels, to assist in boarding, or re-
polling boarders' as circumstances m'ens
require, 1t blew very heavy N =, sq l
duiing the night. Soon after day Hight
discovered the enemy's fleet bearing
north; weighed and stood after him =
The wind soon became light aud varI
able, and before 10 o'clock quite calm.
AT $ fresh breezes fom north, the ere
my's fee, bearing north, distant about 4
or 5 leagues. Wore the feet IN sue
cession, and hauled upon wind On the
lsrbosrd tack. AT shutdown the enemy