Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-05-14

e"~ SM /" cuSSuu8 WHICH he was o0llged TO
cut a Channel tor his boats through several
miles OF ice,-The enemy's troops were in
considerable number in the vicinity of Platts-
burg, but no attempt was made to annoy
our force employed on this occasion. In Up-
per Canada, conjom, attack on Burlington
Heights, planned by major general Harrison
and commodore Chauncey, has been frus>
trated by the lateness OF the season and the
severity Of the weather.
- Ihave the honor, &c.
(Signed)
GEORGE PROVOST.
Head Quarters Montreal, Nov. o5.
My Lord,
i have the honor to transmit to
your lordship copy of a letter from COM
modore Sir James Yeo, together with captain
barclays official account of the q ction on
Lake Erie, referred to in my despatch to
ytur lordship of the 22d September aud 9Th
October last. am happy to5e able to add,
that captain Barclay is recovering of his
wounds. and that there is prospect of his
valuable lie and services being preserved
tor the benefit of his country. have the
honor to be, &c.
GEORGE PROVOST.
The right hon. earl Bathurst, &c.
60
His majesty's ship Wolfe,
SIR, 49, -
l Yesterday received captain Barclays
omciai Stationery of the i'll fated action in
LAKE Erie. and as Your excellency must
wish to be informed az every particular. |
nave the honor to enclose copy of the same.
II appears TO re, that though his maiestv's
IaE FL
weight OF metal. and particularly long guns
yet the greatest misfortune was the loss Of
every officer. particularly captain Finnis.
whose life. had IL been spared. would. in NV
opinion. have saved che squadron. have
The honor to te &c
:, JAMES LUCAS YEO. Com.
Fills exccliency sir George Provost, bart
governor and general in chief
LETTER OF CAPT BARCLAY.
dis maiesty's late ship Detroit, Put-in.r,ay
Lake Erie, Sept. 10.
The last letter I had the honor Of wri /.
ting to You, dated the 9th inst. informed YOU.
that unless certain intimation was received
OF more seamen being on their way 20 Am
herstburg, should be obliged to sail with
the squadron, depiorably manned as it was.
to night the enemy (who biockaded the port)
to enable us to get supplies of provisions and
stores OF every description; so perfectly des-
titute OF provisions was the port, that there
was not days Sour in store and the crews
OF the squadron under my Command were
on ha'f allowance OF many things. and when
that was done there was no more. Such
were the motives which induced major gen.
eral Proctor (whom by your instructions
was directed 10 consult, and whose wishes
was enjoined to execute, as far as related
70 the good OF the country TO concur in the
necessity of battle being risked, under the
many disadvantages which I laboured. and
it nov remains for me, the most melancho,
ly task. to relate to you the unfortuns.e ia
sue OF that battle, as well as the many unto
ward circumstances that led to that event.
No intelligence OF seanien having arrived. /
sailed on the 9th inst. fully expecting to meet
the enemy next morning, as they had been
seen among the islands nor was I mistaken.
Soon after day light they were seen in mo.
ton in Putin Bay, the wind then at south.
west and light, giving us the weather gage.
bore up with them, in hopes of bringing
them TO action among the Islands, but that
intention was soon frustrated by the wind
suddenly shifting to the south east. which
brought the enemy directly to windward -
The line was formed according to given
plan, so that each ship might be supported
against the superior force Of the 2 brips op.
posed to them.--About ten the enemy had
cleared the islands and immediately bore IN.
under easy sail, in line abreast, each brig
being also supported by the small vessels
AT a quarter before IL, commenced the &C
ton by few long guns; about quarter
past IL, the american Commodore, also,
supported by two schooners, one CARRYING
four long IL Founders, the other long 80
and "a FOUNDER, came to close action with
tie Detroit; the other brig of the enemy,
apparently destined to engage the Queen
Charlotte, supported in ike manner by two
schooners. kept so far to windward as to rem
der the Queen Charlotte's 20 FOUNDER car.
ronades useless, while she was, with the La.
ny Provost, exposed to- the heavy and de.
'tructive fire of the Caledonia and four o.
iher schooners, armed with long and heavy
guns, like those have already described.-
l 90 soon, alas was deprived of the SER
vices of the noble and intrepid capt. Finnis.
who soon after the commencement of the ac
ion, fell and with him fell my greatest sup
port; soon after, II. Stokes, of the Queen
Charlotte, WAS struck scnseless by a splin-
er, which deprived the country of Eis SER
'ices at this very critical period. AS per-
;eiyed the Detroit had enough to contend
With, without the prospect of fresh brig,
provincial lieutenant Irvine, who then had
;harge of the Queen Charlotte, behaved
With great courage, but his experience was
much too limited to supply the place of such