Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-08-26
WAsn1McroM CRY, August "a.

| icduiilo GOWN the pay.
| WAsHINGToN CITY, August "a.
Extract ofa ritter from Com. Chauncey. 10
| the Secretary offhe Wdvy, dated on board
the ship Generai Pike, az SdcketI's H4,-
Dor, 13th .lRsusf, 1915.
SIR,
Iarrived here this day with this ship,
the Madison, Oneida. Governor Tompkins,
Conquest, Ontario, Pert and Lady Of the
| Lake. The Fair American and Asp | left
at Niagara. Since | had the honor of adj
dressing you last. l have been much distress
sed and mortified: distressed at the loss of
part of the force entrusted to my COM
mand, and mortified at not being able to
bring the enemy to action. The following
movements and transactions OF the squad
ron, since the 9th inst, will give you the best
idea of the difficulties and notifications
that have had to encounter.
On the 9TH, at day light. the enemy's feet,
consisting OF two ships, two briggs AID two
large schouners, were discovered bearing
w. n. L. distant about FIVE or six miles,
| wind at west. At weighed with the feet
and Unanswered to gain the wind. At 9
having passed to ieeward Of the enemy's
hne and abreast OF his van ship, (the Wolfe)
hoisted our colors and fired o E->g guns, to
ascertain whether we could re- him with
our shot finding they fell short,1 wore and
hauled upon wind OH the starboard tack !;
the rear OF our schooncrs then about miles
a stern. The enemy wore in succession and
hauicd upon -Jind Oh the same tack, but
soon hndiag We shodlG be able to weather
him upon the next tack, he tackled & made
all sail TO the Northward. AS soon as our
rear vessels could fetch his wake, tackled *
made all sail Ill chace. In the afternoon the
wind became very light and towards night
quite calm. The schooners used their sweeps
all the afternoon, In order to close with the
enemy, but without success Late in the
afternoon lmade the signal of recall, anA
formed i'll close order. Wind during the
night from the westward and after midni sht
>qual y kept all hands at quarters and beat
to windward in hopes to gain the wind OF
the enemy. At 2 \. NJ missed two of o r
: schooners-at day light discovered the mis-
sing schooners to be the Hamilton 4<Scourge.
Soon after spoke the Governor Iompkins.
who informed me that the Hamilton and
Scourge both overset and sunk, in a heavy
squall about 2 O'Clock and, distress ng to
relate, every soul persisted, except sixteen
This fatal accident deprived me at once of
the services Of two valuable officers, Lieu
tenant Winter and Sailing Master Osgood
and two ot my best schooncrs, mounting to-,
ge,her, 10 guns. This accident giving to
the eaemy decidedly the superiority, tho't
he would take advantage of it, particularly
as by achange of wind, he was again bro't
Z dead to wiGdward OF me. Formed the line
upon the larb BARD tack and hove to Soon
alter q. M. ,he enemy bore NJ and Sc
studding sails, apparently with an intention
to bring us TO action. When he had an
preached us within about four miles he brot'
to OIL Starboard tack. / wore and brought
to on same tack. Finding that the enemy had
, no intention OF bringing us to action, edg-
. ed away to gain the land, in order 60 have
the advantage of the land breeze in the at
S ternoon. 1t soon after fell calm and di-
; rected the sChooners to sweep up and ell
| gage the enemy. About noon we got light
: breeze from the Eastward. | took the o
: Media iii tow, as she sails badly, and 5000
: for the enemy. When the van of our S<Shs
was within about or two miles T54is
rear, the wind shifted to the westward,
which again brought him to wndward a.
n soon as the breeze struck him, he bore up
: for the schoCners in order to cut them of be
fore they could rejoin me but with their
- sweeps, and the breeze soon reaching them
I also, they were soon in their station. The
enemy, finding himself foied in his attempt
/ upon the schooners, hauled his wind and
hove to. 1t soon after became very squal
. ly, and the appearance of its continuing
2 so during the night and we had been
. at quarters for nearly 40 hours, * being APP
2 prehensive of separating from some of the
> heavy sailing schooners in the squall, indu.
ced me to run in towards Niagara, & anchor
outside the bar. Gen. Boy d very handsomely
offered any assistance in men that mightre-
& quire. 1 received $50 soldiers and distribut
ed them in the different vessels, to assist in
boarding, or repelling borders, as circum
: stances might require. j. blew very heavy
! is squalls during the night. Soon after day
{ light discovered the enemy's feet bsariag
, north; weighed and stood after him.
The winds soon became light and vari-
able, and before twelve O'clock. quite calm
4 At 5 fresh breezes from north, the enemy.
d Heet bearing north, distant about four or five
, leagues. Wors the feet in succession, and
= hauled upon a wind on the larboard tack -
At shutdown the enemy bore N. w. by n
on the starbcarG tack. The wind hauia|
to the westward, / stood to the north ward al
r. night in order to gain the north shore. A
"a daJ light tackled to the west ward, the winC
? having changed to n. y w. Soon after'dis
= covered the enemy's feet, bearing S. w.
!. took the Asp X the Madison, the Fair Anne
rican in tow, and made oil sail in chace. /
twas at this time we thought Of realism!