The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-05-04


den thaw, to which the Anne Sican army his
been SO long and so much exposed. has
made Ii impossible Tor me to execute any
enterprize against i, without ris king more
than nv means could justify. A division
OF gun boats with a detachment of truu ps.
which had ordered OF the LIST of this month
to advance into Lake Champlain, for the
purpose OF molestins Gen. Eamp,on's divi
sion, succeeded in burning an extensive
building lately erected at Plattsburg, as
depot mag; zine and some bateaux. tcge
Their with the ammunition. provisions, end
stores found in it. were either brought away
or destroyed. The severity Of the weather
Obliged capt. Pring of the royal navy, uuder
whose command had placed the expedi-
ton, TO return 20 the Isle aux Noix on the
5th in effecting which, he was obi
ged to Cut a channel !or his boats thr ough
several III les Of ice. The enemy's troops
were IN considerable numbers in the vicinity
OF Plsttsburg, but no attempt was made to
annoy our force employed on this occasion.
La Upper Canada, conjoint attack on Bur
lington Heights, planned by Major General
Harrison aud Commodore Chauncey, has
been frustrated by the lateuess of the sea-
son and the severity of the weather.
l hsve the honor &c.
lSigned) GEORE PROVOST.
His MqJesty's sdh HoHe, at Kingston,
.WoU IS.
SIR yesterday received Capt Barclays
official statement of the Inflated action on
Lake Erie. and as your exceilency must
wish to be informed of every particular, /
nave the honor 10 enclose a copy q the
same. 1t appears to me that though his Ma
JeSty S squadron were very deficient in sea
men, weight OF III etal, and particularly leug
guns, yet the greatest misfortune was the
'oss OF every officer, particularly capt. Fin
mis-. whose life had it been spared, would in
my opinion, have saved the squadron.
have the honor to be, &c.
JAMES L. YEO, Com.
His e:rceNency Sir George Provost
Bart, GoUernor and general in chit.
HIS naGjeaty's iase shin Detroit. PUTIN, Bay,
Lake Erie, ScEt. IL.
SIR-lh he last letter had the honor OF
writing to you. dated the 9th inst. inform
ed you, that unless certain intimation was
received OF more seamen being on their wsy
to Amherstburg, should be obliged to sail
with the squadron, deplorably manned as il
was, to hight the enemy, (wbo block AIDED
The port) TO enable to get supplies of provi-
sions and stores or every description so
perfectly destitute of provisions wa $ the port,
that there was not days -four in store. and
the crews Of the squadron under nv com
mand were on half allow ance of many things.
aud when tni doHe there was no more
oucn were the motives whck induced Ma
Jor-General Proctor (whoEn by your instruc-
ticns was directed to consult, and whose
wishes was eujoined to execute, as Gar as
related to the good of the countryl to con-
COR n the necessity of battle being risked.
unoer the many disadvantages under which
iabt'ured. and it now remains for me-. the
! 10 M tNat-r L. -
| unfortunate issue OF that battle, as we'll as the
many uhtCward circumstances that led To
that event.
NO intelligence of seamen having ar
rived. sailed, on the 9Th instant fully
expecting to meet the enemy next morn
ing, as they had been seen among the 81.
ands Ror was ! mistaken, soon after
day-lig they were seen in motion in Put
In Bay, the wind then at south and
iSht' giving US the weather gage. l bore
up With them, in hopes Of bringing them 10
action among the islands. but that intestion
was soon frustrated, by the wind suddenly
shifting to the south east, which brough, the
enemy directly to windward. The line was
formed accordingly to given plan, so that
each ship might be supported against the
superior force OF the two briggs opposed TO
! them. About 10 the enemy had cleared
the islands and Immediately bore up, under
easy san, IN line abreast, each brig being
! also supported by the small vessels.
AT quarter before 10, j lkpmnenced the
action, by 5ring few long abou,
quarter past, the American comm cdore,
also supported oy two schooners, one carry
ing four long IL Founders, the other loGg
50 and "a FOUNDER, came to close action
| with the Detroit ; the other brig Of the enc
my. apparently destined to engage the
Queen Charlotte, supported in like manner
by two schooners, kept so far to Wind ward
as to render the Queen Charlotte's 90
pound carronades useless, while she was
with the Lady Provost, exposed to the hea-
| Wy and destructive Ere OF the Caledonian
aud four other schoeners, armed with long
and heavy guns, like those / have already
described. Too soon, alas was deprived
OF the services OF the noble and intrepid
Capt. Finnis, who soon after the commence
meat of the action fell, and with him fell
/ my greatest support /; soon after Lieut.
| Stokes, OF the Queen Charlotte, was struck
senssiess by splinter, which deprived the
Country ut his services at this very critical
period. rs perceived the Detroit had e
nough to contend with, without the prospect
OF a fresh brig. Provincial Lieut.. Irvine,
who then had charge of the Queen Char
lotte, behaved with great courage, but his
experience was much too limited to supply
the place OF such ain officer as Capt. Fin
ms thence she proved of far less assis-
taDce than / expected.