Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1814-09-15

this conversation was misunderstood or has
since been forgotten. How tnen snali 1
account for the lntimation thrown Quito
the public in your despatch 10 the oecfe-
tary OF War that you expected the meet 10
cooperate with you. Was it friendly, or
Just, or honorable, not only to iurhish ah
opening for the public, but thus TO asAls.
them, to infer that | had pledged mysell
TO meet you on a particular day' al she
head Of the Lake, for the purpose OF Co
operation? and in case of disaster 10 your
army, thus to turn their resentment from
you, who are alone responsible, upon me,
who could not by any possibility have pre-
vented or retarded even your discontinue.
You we'll know, sir, that the fleet could
not have rendered yon the least service
during your late incursion upon Upper
Canada. You have not been able to APP
proach Lake Ontario on any point nearer
than Queenstown, and the enemy were
then in possession of all the country be
tween that place and the shore of Ontario !;
and that ! could not even communicate
with you without making a circuit of 20 or
so miles. Iwoold ask, of what possible
use the feet could nave been to you either
in threatening or investing Fort George,
when the shallowness of the water alone
would prevent an approach with these ships
within w miles oS that fort or Niagara ?
To pretend that the fleet could render the
least assistance in your projected capture
of Burlington Heights on your rout to
Kingston, Is still more romantic for it IS
well known the fest could not approach
within nine miles of those Heights,
That you might find the feet somewhat
ola convenience in the transportation of
provisions and stores for the use of the
army, and an agreeable appendage to at.
tend its marches and counter marches, l
am ready to believe but, ,ir, the Score.
tary of the Navy has honored US with a
higher d~estiny-we are intended to seek
and to fight the enemy's fleet. This is the
great purpose of the government in Great
ing this fleet and | shall not be diverted
In my efforts to eftectuate it by a sinister
attempt to render US subordinate to or ap-
pendage of the army.
We have one common object in the an
noyance, defeat and destruction ofthe enc.
my and | shall always cheerfully unite
with any military commander in the pro-
motion of that object.
am, sir, with great consideration and
respect, your most obedient servant.
/ CHAUNCEY.
Maj. Gen. Jacob Brown.
Ertract Of a letter from Com. Chaus-
cey to the Secretary Of the Nacy, dated
on board the y. States ship Superior,
eff Kingston, Iugust 10, 1919.
=" | have been duly honored with your let.
ter of the l9th and cath July.
\" do assure you, sir, that | have never
been under any pledge to meet Gen. Brown
at the head of the Lake; but on the con-
trary when we parted at Sacketts Harbor,
| told him distinctly, that | should not Wis
it the head of the lake, unless the enemy's
feet did.
Il can ascribe the intination of Gen.
Brown, that he expected the cooperation
OF the tieet to no other motive, than a
attempt to provide an apology
tor the public, against any contingent dis
aster to which his army might be exposes.
" But, sir, if any one will take the trou-
BILE to examine the topography of the pen
~insula, (the scene of the Generals opera
tions) he will discover that this feet could
be of no more service to General Brown,
or his army, than it could to an army in
Tennessee.
Gen, Brown has never teen able to
penetrate nearer to Lake Ontario than
Queenstown, and the enemy is in possession
OF all the intermediate country so that
4 cOuId NOT auon aaupn,:to x,.2L Al.
army, but by a circuitous route of 20 or so
miles.
Admitting Gen. Brown could have in
vested Fort George, the only service he
could have derived from the fleet would be
our preventing the supplies of the enemy
from entering the Niagara river for the
water is so shallow that the vessels could
not approach within two miles of their
works.
Gen. Brown had therefore two album