Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-09-14
WASHINGTON. september 8.
Copy ola letter from Commodore Chauncey to 81
Secretary Of rhe Navy, dated
Us. S. Saterior, oft Xingssor,
August 10Th 18Iz ~

$50 et2fS " rae StuDy, Q0te0
y. S. S. Suberioy, off Kingston,
August 10th, 1915.
SiR-Great anxiety of mind I'D severe bodily
exertions, have at length broken down, the best
constitution and sub. cted me TO q violent fever
s = connned me tor eighteen days. This mis-.
fortune was no more to be foreseen than rre-
vented, but was particularly severe at the mo.
ment It happened, as it induced delay Of Eve
or six dsys in the sailing of the fiee,.
- tbs early part of July, Iexpecied the AeeS
wonia be made ready Tor ssiiing by the 10th or
suns but many of the mechanics were taken
SICK, and amongst them the blockmskers and
oiacksmites, SO that the Mohawk could not be
FURNISHED With blocks and iron work for her o an
aud spar decks before the oath or 25.h ajt.
when sne was reported ready by Capt. Jones.
As considerable anxiety had been manifested nv
the public to have the fleet on the L. ke I sbould
have asked Capt Jones to take chare Of II and
go oct, but Was then recovering my health.
aud was confident should be able in three or
TOUR Gays 10 so on board myself There was
an additional reason for submitting TO this d,-
lay in in the difficulty found in maxine m.
changes of commanders, neither OF them beinr
Wiling to be separated from his Officers and
men, and change OF crews through the feet
being inadmissible.
In the afternoon Of the 31st July, Twas taken
on board, but 1t was cain, and 1 did not sa,,
before the next morning. To satisfy at dice
whatever expectations the public had been led
to entertain OF the sufficiency of this squadron
10 take and maintain the ascendeney on this
lake, and at the same time To expose the fulfil.
Ivy OF promises, the fulflment of which had
psen rested On our srpearance at the head of
The lake, 1 got under way at 4 O'clock in Tie
morning OF the LIST inst. and steered for th.
mouth OF the Niagara. Owing TO light winds
l did not arrive oil there before the 5th. There
we intercepted one of the enemy's brgs running
over from York to Niagara with troops, and ran
her on shore about miles to the westward of
Fort George. ordered the SyIph in, to ancl.
or IS near TO the enemy as she could with safe
~, and 10 destroy her. Capt Elliot ran il, in .
very gallant manner to within 800 to 500 wards
OF her and was about anchoring, when the am,
envy set flre TO her and she soon after blew M
his vessel was a schooner the last year. and
Called tne Beresford--since they altered her 20
a brig they changed her name, and have not
been able 10 ascertain it She mounted four.
teen guns, twelve 24spound carronades and Two
long o-pounders.
Finding the enemy bad two other bries and
schooner IN the Niagara river 7 determined
TO leave force to watch them, and selected
the Jefferson, the Sylpb ard Oneida for thsf
purpose, and placed the whole under the order,
OF Capt. Ridgely---iiaving los ked into YORK
without discovering an vessel of the enemy. Z
ron on the evening of the 9Th, and arrived here
the 9th. We found one Of the enemy's sbins -,
the offng, and chased her into Kingston.
My anxiety to return TO this end Of the lake
was increased by the knowledge had Of lie
weakness OF Sackett's Harbor, and the appre.
hension that the enemy might receive large re-.
endorsements at Kingston, and, embarkn. some
oi tho troops on board his ieei, make dash AZ
the Harbor and burn ii with all my stores dur.
ing our absence. When ] left the Harbor there
were but about 700 regulsr troops fit for du,v.
1t IS true a few militia had been called in. but
little could De expected Of them should an at
tack be made Ny apprehension, it seems,
was groundless, the enemy having contente
himself with annoying in some trififnr decree
the Coasters between oswego aud the Harbor
| in his boats.
| cannot forbear expressing the regret feel
that SO much sensation has been excited in the
public mind, because this squadron did not sal
so soon as the wiserheads that conduct our
newspapers have presumed TO think it oupht
need not suggest TO one OF your experience.
That a man of war may appear to the eve of the
landsman perfectly ready Cor sea, when she ;s
deficient in many ofthe most essential points III
armament nor hon unworthy should have