The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-08-27

out their tisposable force about zoe more
The whole intend to continue with the army
during the campaign.
JOHN JOHNSTON.
lRdian Agent
Piqua, Aug. 3, 1913.
Washington. .1ugs,ss 81.
Ertrart Ola letter from Com. Chauncey
10 the Secretary Of IRE Navy. dated or
rft's Ha' Dor, 1871 .6uE. 1918.
SIR arrived here this day with this
ship, the Madison, Oneida. Governor Tomp-
kins, Conquest, Ontario, Pert and the Lads
OF the Lake. The Fair merican and Asp
l left at Niagara. Since had the honor 81.
addressing you last. have been much dis
tressed and mortIhed-dstressed at the los ;
OF part OF the force entru5,sd TO my con,
n2nd. and mortified at not being able to
bring the enemy to action. The following
movements and transactions of the squa
dron, since the 9Th inst. will give you the
best idea OF the diticul les and murtifcsti
ons thai have had TO encounter.
On the 9TH, at day light, the enemy's
fleet, consisting OF two ships, two brigs and
two large schocners, " ere discovered Rear
ing w. N. w. dist ant about FIVE or six
miles. wind at west At weighed with
the fleet and man9uve,ed to gain the wind
a. having passed to leeward OF the enc
my's line and abreast # his van ship, (the
w olfe) hoisted our coiors and fired few
gums, to ascertain W whether We could reach
him with our shot fndiug they fell short
| wore and hauled upon a wind on the star
board tack; the rear of our sch cners then
abnut SIX miles stern. The enemy wore in
succession and hauled upon q wind on the
same tack, but som finding that we should
De abie 10 weather him upon the next tack,
ne tackled and made all sail to the North
ward. AS soon as our rear vessels could
fetch his wske, tucked and made all sail in
chace. In the afternoon the wind became
very light and towards night quite celm..-
lhe scbooners used their sweeps all the
afternoon, in order to close with the enc
my, but without success. Late in the sf
ternoon made he signal CT recall, and for
med IN close order. Wind during the night
from the westward and after midnight
squally--kept all hands at quarters and
beat to windwsrd in hopes to gain the wind
OF the enemy. At.2 A. M. missed two of
our schooners--at daylight discovered the
missing sehooners to be the Hamilton and
Scourge Soon after spoke the Governor
lompkins, who inform ed me tina, the Ha
milton, and Scourge both overset and sunk
in heavy squall about o'clock; and, dis
tressing to relate, every soul persisted, tx
cept sixteen. This fatal accident deprived
me at once Of the services of two valuable
officers, Lieut.. Winter and sailing Master
Osgood, and two of my best schouners
mounting together, 1o guns. This accident
giving TO the enemy decidedly the superiori-
~, thought he would take advantage OF Il.
particularly as by change Of wind, he was
again brought dead to windwgrd Of me-
Formed the line upon the larboard tack and
hove to. Soon after A. NJ. the enemy
bore mp and set studdibg- sails, apparently
with an intention to bring us to action. ----
When he had approached as within abou,
tour miles he brought to on starbosd tack.
wore and Brought 70 on same tack, Fin
ding that the enemy had no intention Of
bringing US TO action, edged away 10 gain
the land, 10 order to have the advantage Of
the land breeze in the afternoon. 1t soon
after fell calm and directed the schooners
to sweep up and engage the enemy. About
noon we got light breeze from the East
ward. took the Oneida in tow. as she
sails badly, and stood for the enemy. When
the van OF our schooners was within about
IL or miles of his rear, the wind shifted
10 the westward, which again brought him
to windward; as soon as the breeze struck
him, he bore up for the schooners in order
to cut them Oft before they could rejoin rue
Out Win their sweeps, and the breeze
soon reaching them also, they were soon in
their station. The enemy, finding himself
foiied in this attempt upon the sehooners.
hauled his wind and hove to, 1t soon after
became very squally, aud the appearance
OF its Continuing so during the highland
as we had been at quarters for nearly bsrty-
hours, and being apprehensive of separating
from some Of the heavy sailing schooners in
the squali, induced me to run in towards
Niagara, and anchor outside the bar, Gen.
Boyd very handsomely offered any assis
lance In men that might require. Ire.
ceived $50 soldiers and distributed the n in
the different vessels, to assist In boarding,
or rcPeiiing boarders, as circumstances
might require. II blew very heavy in
squalls during the night. Soon after dag
light discovered the eocmy's feet bearing
and stood after him. The
~iads soon became light aud variable, and
before IL o'clock, quite calm. A. ) fresl
breeIes from north, the eneny's Acct bear
'1g north, distant about Of 5 ieagucs.--.
Wore the Feet in succession, and bsuIedl
upon wind on tie isrbcard tack At gun.
down the eneiry bore.N w. by -. on the
start o1rt tack. The wind hauling 10 the
ves'va'ti sco& t. the uoT,ligara all