The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-08-26
WAsHINGToN-cITy, August Is.

49,,
WASHINGTON-CITY, August l4.
COM of letter from Commodore Chaunety
TO fhe Secretary Of fhe Navy.
T. S. ship Genera! Pike. at anchor Oft
Niagara, August q, 1878
SIR-Afer leaving Sacketls Harbor
stretched over for the cncmy's shore, and
from thence stood up the Lake the winds
being light cid not arrive of this port un-
iii The evening of the 9Th uit. On the Gath
fell in with the Lady OF the Lake on her
return 10 Sacket,'s Harbor, with prisoners
from Fort George. transferred The pris-
oners 70 The Raven and ordered her 10 Sack
cuts Harbor. The Lady OF the Lake dis.
patched 10 Fort George for guides Tor the
mead of the Lake. Gen. Boyd having inform
cd methat the enemy had considerable Ge-
posi-. of provisions ana stores at BurlIng Bay,
/ was determined to attempt their des,ruc-
,ion. On the 25th was Ioincd by the Pert,
and on the 27th by The Lady OF the Lake,
with guides and captain Cranes company OF
artillery, and colonel Scott, who had very
handsomely volunteered Tor the service
Afcr conversiug with Col. Scott, upon the
subject, ii was thought advisable to take
on board $50 infantry, which by the ex-
tiaordinary cxertlons of that excellent othcer
were embarked before o'clock the next
morning, and the fleet immediately proceed
ed for the head of the Lake, but owning 10
hpht winds and calms we G:d not arrive to
an anchorage before the evening Of the 29,h.
We sent two parties on shore and surprizcd
and took some of the inhsbitants, from
whom we learned that the enemy had recelv-
ed considerable reiniorccmerts within day
or two, and that his force in regulars was from
600 10 800 men. We however landed the
troops aud marines and some sailors the mex,
morning and accommodated the cnemy's po.
stiou, found him posted upon peninsula ol
very nigh ground and strongly cntrenchcd
and his camp defended by aoout eight pieces
of cannon. In this situation II Yas though
not advisable TO attaca him with force scarce
Iy half his numbers, and without artillery; we
were also dehcien, in boats, not having sufh
Gent number 10 cross the Bay with all the
troops at the same time. The men were al
re-cmbarked in the course Of the afternoon
and in The evening we weighed and stood foi
York, arrived and anchored in that harbor, a,
about 8 p NJ on the 3lst, run the schooners
into the upper bar5or, ia0ded the Marines and
soldiers under the command OF col. Scot,
without opposition, found several hundred bar.
rels Of -four and provisions in the public store
house, Eve pieces of cannon. eleven boats5and
a quantity of shot shells and other stores, all
which were either destroyed or brought away
On the lst inst. just after having received on
board all that the vessels could take, direct
cd the barracks and the public store house:
TO be burn, we then re-embarked the men
and proceeded for this place, where arrived
yesterday Between and 500 men lcf, York
for the head OF the Lake two days before we
arrived there. Some few prisoners were tax.
en-, some OF whom were parolee, the Others
have been landed at fort George.
have the honor to be, sir, very respectful
ly, your obedicnt servant,
ISAAC CHACNCEY