Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-04-22


fn;n's name was Pringle. The most surprising
circumstance of all, however, is, that notwith-
xtandinp the vast superiority OF force on the
mart of the British, and the experience and
skiu of naval officer, they still could not gain
= victory over the American squadron, COM
,manded by no less novice in maratime warfare
than Brieadier General Arnold. The reader
must observe that the following iacts are foun-
ded ON Br1rIsH authority, which m those try
ing times was notorious LOT eA"sse'a'oh A"o
l,nisrepre sentation.
{" The force (says the British hstorian) was
very consil rabie with respect to the place and
Service extraordinary in regard to the little
time spent IN its formation, aud such as, We
nv few sres ago, would have been deemed tor
midabie even upon the European seas. The
shin InHexible, which may be considered as
admiral. had been reconstructed at ST. Johns,
from whence she sailed in % days after laying
her keel The strength of the two squadrons
was as follows:
Shin Inflexbie. l8 ,-eive Founders
Schooner, IL six Founders
Schooner, 10 DO.
A Rade ux ~ twenty-iour and twelve poun-
ders, besides howitzsFs
a Goadoa, nine Founders;
90 Gun Boats, 80 nine and twenty-four poun-
ders;
some long Boats, force not specified, tenders,
transports, &c.
- AMERIcAN.
J schooner, (the largest vesseD ~ six and
four Founders.
II smaller vessels, force not specified.
"Our armamen-,' continues the British his
torian "was conducted by captain Pringle, and
the fleet navigated by above 700 prime seamen,
of whom 300 were volunteers from the Il ans.
ports, who after having rivailed those belong
ing 10 the ships of war in all the toll of prepa
ration, now boldly and freely partook with them
in the danger OF the expedI ion. Tn guns
were sirved by detachnents otmen AMI officers
belonging to the corps of artillery. IL word,
no equipment of the sort was ever better 7p-
pointed, or more amply furnished with every
kind OF provision necessary or The intended
service.
The enemv's force was in no degree equal,
either with respect to the goodness OF tho
sells the number of guns, turHiture OF war, or
weight OF metal. Sensible though they were,
of the necessity of preserving the dominion Of
the lakes, and aided in that design by the origi
nal force in their bands, with great advantage
in point of time for its increase, their intenti.
ons in that respect were counteracted by many
essential and some irremediable DEFICIENCIES
They wanted timtSr. artillery, ship.builders
and all the materials necessary for such an e.
auipmeht.- Carpenters snd all others concern
eel i'll the business OF shipping, were fully en-
gagged at the seaports in the erection and fitting
fcuity OF communication rendered the supply
of bulky materials extremely tedious Wter
We consider the difficulties on their part, We
think it not just to deny the Americans The
praise of having combatted, and in part over
eo@e them, with an assiduity, perseverance ant
spirit, which did not in the least fall short n
What had been employed against them. Fo
their fleet amounted to IS vessels of diffcren
Kinds, consisting of two schooners, one sioop
one cutter, thrte galleys, and eight gondolas
The principal schr mounted IL six and fou
Founders They were commanded by Benedic
Arnold, who was now to support on a new els
ment the reDown which he had acquitted on anl
In the Canadian expedition
" On the 1lth of October, our feet h vim!
proceeded up the lake, discovered The enemy
drawn up with great Judgment, being very adj
vantaseousiy posted, and forming strong line
to defend the passage between the island OF Va
icour and the western nam. warm action
ensued, and was vigorously supported on bott
sides for some hours but the wind being IN
favorable, so that the ship InAexibe and som
.i.hcr vessels of forca could not be worked al
u the enemy, the weight Of tho action fell up
ON the schooner Carlton and the gun boats
which they sustained with great frmness, sue
extraordinary efforts of resolution being dis
played both by men and officers, az merited an,
received the highest applause from their com
handlers 1t IS TO be presumed, that when
much praise was due and given to the conduc
t>nd valor of a superior fDrce on our SD, tn
snemy must not have acted their part smiss
the detachment belonging to the corps
artillery were highly distinguished, and di
nost essential service in the gun boats. -
sat the same impediments still continuing
iihich prevented their being seconded by th
taer vessels, captain Pringle, with the appro
alton Of gen Carleton (who was also in TIA
eet thought it necessary for the present {
lthdraw those that we're engaged from III
ton At the approach of night, he brougt
&c whole fleet to anchor in a line, and as nea
possible TO the enemy, in order to proven
heir retrest
Being now fully sensible however Of thei
snferiority, the enemy took the opportunit
o which the darkness ofthe night afforded, of en-
deavoring to escape from their present immi
nent danger hoping to obtain shelter aAd pre-
lection al Crown Point. Arnold concerted an
executed this design with ability, and forum
seemed at first so favorable to his purpose
that they we're out Of sigAt by the next morning
The. chase being however continued, both o
that and the succeeding day without interms
sion, the wind and other circumstances peculi
ar TO the navigation of the Lake, which ha
at first been IN favor of the Americans, beeam
at length otherwise, so that they we're overta
hen and brought to action again few league
short OF Crown Point.
very warm engagement ensUed and con
iinued about two hours, during which, thos