Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-07-20
WASHINGTON Cry, July IS.
Cory ofaiener from Com CAauncey. TO the
Secretary of fhe Na1,,,


Cory ofaiener.t from Com clauncey, to the
Secretary of the Nary.
U. S. Ship Superior. SAcKErr's HAN,
c,p July z, 1874.
power 20 detail toyon another brilliant .
companions.
i received information some .;ne sine.
that the enemy WAS building large scbno.
ner at "Presque Isle" determined ur,on
her destruction. bat deferred ,he execution
until she should be nearly ready for launch
ins- Trading the alarm extensive down the
Of Lawrence In consequence of taking the
guh-ooat Black Snake, thought it fovor-
aoIe opportunity to attempt SQUEEZING a,
" Presque ls'e." On the Doth uit. 7 d;rec,ed
Lieut. Gregory to take with Tim Messrs
vaughan aud Dix n-proceed with fhe two
argest Gigs to Nicholas Island, within o.
bout seven miles Of "presaue Is,e,, harhor,
and there conceal his beats ard UNI, ~
some transports which I had inrormatio,
were expected there to take mn no
Visions and munitions Of war, which had
been sent Us up tie Bay of Quin,u for rho
troops at York and Fort George, bat if these
trasnPores did not make their Appearance
IN three or tour days. then to proceed TO
Fresque isie,' and bum the vessel on the
stocks ;; but with positive orders not TO in,
Jure private building orany private pro
perry. Inc Gay after Lieut.. Gregory arri.
yea on the coast, he discovered vessel beats
iiS up' OUT just as ne showed OFT to board her.
a large Sun~ooat hove in sight little be
low MN ms boat made signal to the
vessel in the ofiing, upon which she tacksd
ana stood Tor the gun boat. Lieut.. Gregg
ry secreted his boats az well as he coota
out was apprehensive that he had been d,s-
covered. The gun-boat and her conway
(Which was full of troops) stood into Presone
Isle. Lieut.. Gregory was determined IN
ascertain whether he had been discovered
accordingly he sent one of his boats in the
mcknight aod took, off one of the jnhabit,
ants VINO informed him that it was known
thae ne was on the coast, and thattwo exr
presses had been sent to Ki;gton in conse
quence. lie therefore determined upoo
executing the latter part of his Instructions
ana indde his arrangements accordingly
landed, placed sentinels at the houses To-
prevent alarm, and Sc; fire to the vessel !,
which was nearly ready 20 launch She
was stout well built vessel to mount ia
guns, and would probably haze been launch.
ed IN about ten days. A small store house
which Contained stores for the vessel was
unaVolda0iy burnt, as it was so near the
vessel that It took fire from her. 1t. Gre.
CORY iearBt from the inhabitants that much
property had been sent up few DAYS pre-
yious, that company of the Glengary rcgi-
ment had been stationed there, but had been
sent to York few days before another
company was on it's way from Kingston To
replace them. The few militia which lad
oeen ieu 70 guard the vessel and property,
RI Tal n
AS soon as the vessel was entirely Consumed.
Lieut.. Gregory re-embarked his mea with
out having permitted one of them TO enter
a house; finding the alarm so general, he
thought It prudent to cross the Lake lmme-
d'atet ne stopped one day at Oswego, for
reireshment. and arrived here last even
ing, having performed most difficult ser
vice with mis- usual galiantry and good con-
duct.
Lieutenant Gregory speaks in the highest
terms Ut commentator. of Sailing Master