Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-10-11


here, we are led to believe we shall in few
days have several hundred of the most
wretched of human beings fleeing from their
country and their homes to save their lives.
Doctor Forsythe is ,afe at Nacogdoclles
VIM. Siocum, th4twp Gormleys & CASTOR,
OF the Mississippi Territory are missing.
How safe we arehereis doubtful; short
time will shew us.
TREMENDOUS BATTLE ON LAKE
ONTARIO
Ertract Of q letter TO tie Secretary ofthe
Navy, dated
Head Quarters, Fort George,
Sep. %, 1915.
enclose you letter from Commodore
Chauncey, which he put into INV hands the
day before yesterday, and beg leave to add
he following brief but interesting detail.
The Commodore entered this port on the
gath inst. with his squadron. On the goth
we received satisfactory information direct
from York, that on tn day of the commo,
dore's arrival here FRIDAY the 24th) the
British squadron was on the opposite coast,
This communication being made to the
Commodore, he promptly ascertained the
fact to his satisfaction, and on the 9th in
the evening left port in quest of his an ago.
MIST. Yesterday morning his squadron was
deserted near mid channel, between this
place and York, standing for the latter
place, and about noon we discovered by tho
smoke in which hsgessels were occasional
ly enveloped, that he was closely engaged
and had the wind of the enemy, who were
scarcely observable. We could, however,
with the aid of our glasses, distinctly per.
ceive that the British squadron was forced
to leeward towards the head of the lake and
the action continued without intermisson
until we lost sight of the sternmost of our
vessels about 3o'clock p. NJ. The issue
must therefore have been decisive, because
the breeze freshened without any change in
its direction, and the narrowpess of the lake
made it impossible for the vanquished party
to escape by any man9uvre.
i have no doubt the victory is ours, but
am apprehensive it has cost Us d ar; since
the batteries of the enemy were superior to
those OF ourSqpadron, and the British COM
mander is anpbcer not only OF desperate
resolution but sfgeat naval skill.
If couu.o aoA Chauncey has survived.
| which impl0re Heaven may be the case,
we shall behold him mantled with glory, as
! his ship was yesterday beheld wrapt in the
| fame and smoke OF ner batteries"
A Postscript to the above letter dated
late in the evening, says A flag was sent
to the British camp sPnqh Lake last even
ing; the receiving HesrS acknowledged
we had the wind aud Observed that YES
sci had been dlsmasted; this was observed
! from the heights of lie wistown also, and it rs
believed it was the Royal George, by the
Pike.-A vessel sysppsed to be the Wolf,
and engaged the "A ,Nnd they went out OF
| liuht tuif H.. NIL IL
about to board" -
Sept 29th, 6 o'clock, p. M. We have
not, as yet heard from Chauncey; the ut
most does NOT exceed So miles to the end OF
the Bay--but the wind is still adverse.-l
begin to fear his victory may have cost toe
| much have sent out several small craft
| 10 look for him but the sea which is ran
| ning has forced them back. Ii was visible
the PIKE bore the brunt OF The engagement
Cory V'c letter from Commodore Chaun
cey 70 the Sec'itury IF tie Navy, dateG
u. 5. ship General, Pike Niagara.
River, 25th September, 1913.
SIR-After had the honor of address,
sing you on the til, continued to block
ade the enemy until me 18th when the vino
| blowing heavy from the westward, the en-
envy having run into Kingston. and know.
ing that he could not move from that place
before change of wind, took the opportu.
tunity of running into Sacket:'s Harb or.
Remained put few hours at the Har
Dor and left it at daylight on the mornin,
of the 18a, but did not arrive here unit
yesterdaysowing to continual head winds
not having laid our course during the pas
sage. On'the 18th saw the enemy's flee
near the False Ducks, but took no notice O
him as / wished him to follow me up thu
Lake.
There is sreport here, and generally be-
lieved, that Capt Perry has captured tn,
whole of the enemy's feet on Lake Erie
If this should prove. true in all its de,ail
(and God grant tha9hsmay) he has immor
taIised himself andno disappointed the higI
expectations form E4h his talents aud bra
very.
have learnt from source which can h
depended upon, that we did the enem
much more injury in our rencounter on TN
18th than ] had eXpected--I find that WI
killed Captain NaIlcaster of the Roya
George and a num of his men and di,
considerable injurytAthat ship, as well a
several of the otheE HbesseIs. 1t was trul-
unfortunate that we-eould not have brough
the enemy to general action OH that day
As am confident that the victory wou
have been as complete as that upon LAX
Erie. however have the consolation {
know that every exertion was used to brn
him 30 close action. If we did not succee.
it was not our fault.
have the honos TO be, &c.
xISAAC CHAUNCEY.
| Tn. H,rrs.af,le NL.lftar,,