Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-02-06
Sworn 10 before,
HOLMES WEAVER, Jus. Peace.

iOLn Eo VIA Elk, Jus. Peace.
Copy Of doctor Parsons's a6idcrit.
In me scion OF the 10Th September. 1913
on lake E'ie was stationed in The Ward
room OF he Lawrence, TO act as surgeon. 1
wsi fecollecf, that the wounded, from the frst
OF their coming down, complained that The
Niagara tconmanded by captain Elliott did
not come mp to her station and close with The
'sueen Charlotte although lie had been or.
dered by signal and this complaint was fire.
qu0ntil repeated by ihem) ill the Lawrence
Stuck, and repeatedly by lieuteDaDts Brooks,
fdfnal,. and C!axton. II was at the same
lime observed, that tile Caledonia was i'm
close action, while the Niagara faster ssiler.
was quite out OF the reach OF the enemy. after
me ACTON closed, The CeBsures upon captain
EUiotts conduct We're so general and severe
nol oniy among tue Lawrence's officers bat
tioHe OF the small vessels. that in writing 10
my friends, The day following, did not ,es,.
,ate 10 say, that captain Elliott had disgraced
himself III The action; and tie same sentiment
was expressed IN the letters of every officer
on BOARD who was able 10 write, These let.
lers we're on the point of being sent when
MI HanbleioD, who had inst had a private
interview With commodore Perry told us the
commodore wi'hed us 10 be silent on captain
EIlloit's conduct, that whatever might have
been Tie appearances during the action he
was ihen unwilling, after its happy result 10
deiroy an officer of his rank and that i,ohor
enough had been gained by the action. to
peimii OF It's beng shared by every one eiga.
This request of commodore Perry was COM
pllsu viii as FAR as was practicable one of
Mr.. fafnall s letteIs, however, had slipt from
MS bdUdS before this message was rtceiyed--
and was published.
lie second day after he action I attend
ed tile wounded Of Tie Niagara, (ihe surgeon
0f thai vessel having been sick } and out of
twenty cases not more Than one or two said
they were wounded while captain Elliott was
Oh board The ship. OD board all the small
vessels which captain Elliott brought no TO-
walds Tie close OF The action, the number of
Killed aud wounded did moi exceed two or
Three. The number Killed and wounded on
boAid the Lawrence, before she struck, was
eighty-ihtee.
In conversation with two officers. Of the
Queen Cbail1tte, short time after the ac-
ton asked thrm why the Queen Charlotte
direc ied hef ire wholly upon the Lawrence
snstead OF The Niagara They replied be.
cause the Niagara was so far of we conld
not fnjure her"
FROM all these facts and Others. The off,
cefs OF the Lawrence and some Of Tue other
vessels, felt exceedingly disappointed and
dispIeased with The official report OF commo>
dOre Perry, on account Of the honorable men.
non there made Of capisjn Elliott. We have
nevertheless. been willing TO believe that the
error proceeded from the best motives
MiaSkipnan LeUox, who commanded one
OF The small vessels. has repeat ediy told me
that cap taiu Elliott had said, 10 his presencr
10 Buffalo. that he regretted he did not sacri-
hce tie feet, when IL was IN his power, and
captain Perry with IL.
USHER PARSONS.
Sworn 10 before me,
HOLMES WEAvEG, y.s, Peace