The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-08-24
L N O. | r E K FFICE,
AUGUST "a.
VERY JArY'a pESTTnr|

En- Nv ~ n II ) IJNS.
ETfrnets ofa letter from, an officer OF hiph
rank IN or Naval Squadron. on Lake
ontdr'o, 10 his friend in this Gin. daf,E
Sacken's Harbour. dug. 18th, 1878"
On Saturday morning the 9TH inst. at da,
hight the enemy's feet made it's appearance
while we lay at anchor off Niagara River.
consisting OF ships. 9 briggs ard 9 schoon
ers-.monnting IN all los guns.-The signal
was instantly made, and we all pct under
way, standing for the enemy. At 7 A. Nj.
ne wore, and stood Of. The Genera, PIKE.
'eading the van, exchanged broads,des. at s
n. M, with the tag ship leading the van of
me enemy. He having the weather gage,
ana ms force concentrated in SIX vessels. eli
sailing nearly alike, whereas we had thjrfes,,
vessels, with only the General Pike and the
-,1ad'Son sailing decently, he could take his
ohoice 20 engage, ornot. as he pleased He
prouently declined it, altho' he had, in ooirt
OF WIND, decidedly the ADVANTAGE. We
wore snip, and drew our Acct up in close
order both fleets Continuing to nlancenvre.
JUST without gun shot, the whole tiav we
endeavcrinS TO close with him, q he avoiding
the contest. Is
AT dark, he made a crouG of sail. and
ioSt sisht OF us.--We lay at quarters all
"'Sht' much tGtigued. The Sth, at day light,
sa" hiIn AGAIN as Tar 70 windward as we
4,
engage. We Continued mannuviing all thi,
Gay without being able to bring him to bat
ue'-- never have | seen 4 man have so
lnuch LUCK as Sir unrestricted, he is like
S@sar IN TINS respect, for he always tells his
I men that they may rely on his furtune.-
vice IN this day we got the wind of him .
and after bearing down, in line of battls.
nearly within gun shot, with every prospect
Oh compelling him to an engagement, and
the prospect much in our favor. a sudden
charge OF wind would give him the weather
saSo vi u.s. ana oil Course, the choice Ut
nghting or not.
MS nlSht a most melancholy accident
happened. 1t was, from midnight odav-
!.Sht, excessively squally, with thunder and
!ightning-tWo OF our schooners, the Ham,
tHon, OF 3 guns and 90 men, commanded bv
hieut. WsHfeT, and the SCouree, of 10 guns
and IS men, commanded by Sailing Msster
o%Sooa' were both upset, and sunk so imme
diately, that out Of the whole number -,
board only twelve were saved, and thew b,'
accidentally falling in with one of our aer,
! ater swimming one hour and ten minutes
NO oniCer saved, except a masters mate,
| 'luNe worn down WI h fatigue, We went IN
10 an anChor IN the Niagara River, uhich
gave US Ue Choice OF a. oding an action ex
cept we wished 1t, as he could not attach &c
there, and we could, whenever he NH
came off shore, compel linn to il giving onr
selves the weather gage.
| ION. At day light, received from "a,
Army $50 Volunteers, as sharp shooter,
ana immediately cot un Der wav' and e,,oI
CUT wlth every prospect Of compelling him
60 action but, rs usual, when we ear Me-
nm, the wind shifted in his favor and bs
again kept out of gun shot, to windward y
10y four IN the evening, we maneuvred 70
get the wind Of him, and bore down win =
noble breeze; but, wonderful to rslata !.
fell dead calm in an instant. We nov,
sent our schOonefs to row in, and vyi,L 80;
heavy guns, to dismast or disable ore -
their heaviest vesscls.-Just as they cor 80.
,neir distance, fine breeze sprung un srd
ne was very near Cutting them off befora o.
conld cover them.-Night came ON heR,.
my to mndward, and il blowing so hard ,6e
nchoontrs could scarcely carry sail ar ali =
~ ~ o'clock, we saw him BEARING do,g,
under croud Of sail 10 close cor,,.,ct -,
der, ST. James, in the VVoLrE lad me- a. -.
Van'--At H. the Rear Vessels Of our l;ne
commenced the action Two of orr beo,
Sch'oners were just to windward Of tbe
rEFERAL PIKE, in the van, with or,le,s 60
Keep up a lire upon their leading shin and
when hard pressed, 70 run down and shel,er
Iun'ier Der lee. In Consequence Of the srest
advantage the weaIliergase gave him, Blow.