Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-02-06

or wounded,) sacrifice la the enemy.
although ms, The said capiaiu Elliott's
vessel reu,ained prrferily uninintcd, With
not more t..An Que ar two Of his men Of
any wounded. While captain Elliott con
tinued on board Of her
o. II. PERRY.
August 6. 1915.
Copy Of Licntenans Turner'S Affidavit.
In the battle of The 10Th September.
1873. on Lake Erie, between The A meri-
eau squadron commanded by commodore
Perry, aud The British squadron under
commodore Barclay, the aciion began
when the two squadrons were about a
mile apart, by firing commenced by
The euemy; the signal having been made
by Comn,odore Perry, for our vessels To
engege as they came up, each against
the enemy's vessel. as designated in pre-
vious orders, which made The Queen
Charlotte the antagonist oil the Niagara,
commanded by Captain Elliott II was
understood by the American officers be-
lore the fight, tina, il was captain Pefry's
Intention TO bring the enemy 10 close &C.
ton ~ soon as possible.--The Lawrence
accordingly closed with the Detroit very
soon. The Queen Charlotte made sail
lor the purpose Of assisting the Detroit.
Lawrence from The Queen Charlotte's fire,
" she had made proper exertions 10 bring
her 10 close action; but, by keeping her
ma'n'opsail aback and her lib brailed up,
She kept al ino great a distance from the
euemy In do him any material injury, and
sustained scarcely any herself until the
commodore look command Of her, who
immediately bore up aud passed through
me enemy > line, firing both his broad
sides with such tremendous effect, as
competed him Instantly 10 surrender.
IL was the general opinion of the Ame-
| rican officers, and expressed with much
Indignation, that captain Elliott did not
40 his duty in the battle, as a gallant aud
faithful ofhcer: inasmnch as lie did NOT
b.iDg his vessel, rs soon as he nigh, have
| done, INTO close action, which circum-
stance only made the result Of the battle
tor Short time doubtful. Soon after The
victory, captain Ellio,rs coRduct was
spoken o., as well IN general Harrison's
army as III the fleet, with great disappro
oa'ioh ana censnre. Captain Perry heard
OF II, anu spoke To me OF il one evening :;
sara iha' lie vas sorry reports were in
circulation so Tn!nous to captain Eliioit's
repu'ation-wislhed they might be siienc.
ed' AMI desired me to go on shore to The
,''f' ''" ~ "i ehd' cOuIu, Win pro
pHeiy, TO counteract them-I did so ac-
cordicsiy The next morning. He said The
American flag had gained much honor
i'iaf day, and he wished all his compa-
Mons I'D battle 10 share il with him
Several weeks after Ibis, captain Perry
told me thatcaptain Elliott visited him 10
alter that part of his officia! repor, which
stated that the Niagara did not, until a
ia'e period of The engagement, get into
close acnOn-and asked ma whether |
thought that part of his report incorrect.
as II had been agreed 10 leave the cues,
'i0n 10 be decided by two commissioned
ofhcsrs OF the fleet, (Lieutenant Edwards.
VINO was present, aud myself being the
ohcers seiected.) | answered, | thought
,hai part OF his official report was entire
~ correct, 10 Which Lieutenant Edwards
assenied.
Some time after captain Perry left the
rake. >2i'ei wien the rqudtiruu WIS under
captain E!iioiis command, he applied 10
me aud repeatedly urged me 10 give him
certificate respecting his conduct in The
baiIle.
lie said thai liis only reason for wish
ing one, Was 10 have il in his power TO
CAIN bis WIGS uneasiness, who had heard
thai his canduci Lad been questioned :;
ana declared to me, upon his honor, that
he would make no other use OF il than
as means OF relieving her unlappiness.
Thus delIcafely and uupleasamtly situated,
wrote snth certificate AS thought
might, Tor such an OCCASION, venture 10
give captain Elliott.
DAN. TURNER.
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