Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-02-06
Tile Hon. Benjamin ~. Crouinshield,
Secretary nl The NAVY Nanarf.nnnt

Inc hon. bfJGnin w. Cr0Uinshietd,
Secretary OF the Navy Department.
SIR-I have the honor to lay before you
copies OF a letter lately received bx me
from Capt. Jesse d. Elliot, OF the Navy,
and of certain certificates inclosed there.
IN, with copies also Of my letter in reply,
aud OF the afidavis OF lieutenaDis Tur-
ner, st, vens and Champlin, and DR.. Par
sons.
The conduct of Capt Elliott partially
presented tn view i'm these papers. and
still more clearly marked by other acts
OF that officer within my knowledge, and
fully susceptible of proof, imposes on me
the duty OF prefeTring against him the
charges which accompany this letter:
and | now accordingly TO prefer said
charges against captain Elicit. and re-
qncsI that court MARTA! may be ordered
Tor his trial thereupnn.
The facts upon which some of these
charges are founded (parlicnlarly those
relating to the behaviour OF tina, officer
during the engagement on Lake Erie)
having bern long in my possession, you
VIII expect me 10 account for nv not
having sooner made them known To The
government, and for having mentioned
lavorabiy, in my official report al that
action, an officer whose conduct had been
so reprehensible.
Al the moment OF writing that report,
did, in my own mind, avoid conf ing to
any conclusion, to what cause The com
duet of Capt. Elliott was 10 be IMPUTED
nor was then lully acquainted with all
the circumstances relating to il. Having
previously 10 the engagement given ali
The orders which thought necessary 10
enable every officer 10 do his duty. and
feeling confidence in them all, was, af.
ter II commenced, necessarily too much
engaged I'D the actual scene before me TO
reflect deliberately upon the cause which
could induce Captain Elliott TO keep his
vessel so distant both tron, me and the
enemy. Aud after the battle was won.
fell no disposition rigidIy 10 examine into
the conduci Of any OF lie officers Of the
feet: and strange az the behavior of capt.
Elliott had been, yet would not allow
myself to come To- decided opinion, That
an otflcer who had so handsomely con.
Quoted himself on former occasion las
iheu IN common with The public had
been led to suppose capt. Elliott hah)
could possibly be guilty OF cowardice or
,reachery. The subsequent conduct ais D
of capt. Elliott; the readiness with which
he undertook The most minute services !;
Stood, which be Iamented TO me, aud
his marked endeavors 10 conciliate pre-
| tectioR--uere all we'll calculated 10 have
their effect. Bat, still more than all, |
was aci,atcd by strong desire that in
| the fleet then had The honor TO com
mand, there should be nothing but bar
| mony after The victory they had gained,
aud that nothing should irauspire which
would bring reproach upon any par, oil
| II, or convert iniO elimination the praises
10 which they were entitled, aud which
| wished them all to share and enjoy.
| The difficulties produced IN my mind by
these considerations, were, al The time,
! fully expressed 10 an officer of The feet
| in whom | bad great confidence. Ii
omitted 10 name captain Elliott, or named
him without credit, | might not oniy
ruin that officer, but, al the same time
give occasions TO animadversious which
al that period, lhoughi would be little
| 10 the honor or advantage of the service
IL my official report of That transact lion
is reverted 10, these embarrassments will
respect TO Capt Elliott, under which
labored in drawing il, viii, | believe, bt
apparent. That report was very diirreD
from what had been expected Dy the OF
ficers OF the fleet; but, having adopiet
tie course whichl thought most prUdeB
TO pursue with r gard to capt. Eliot.
enireaied them 10 acquiesce III IT., auG
made every excriion ~ my power 10 pre-
vent any further remarks III bis couduc
and even furnished Inn with favo a
ble letter or ceriific ale Tor tie same pur
pose. of which lie has since made yer
unjusiifiable use.
These, sir, are The reasons which il
duced me al The time not "a bring on Il
enquiry into his conduct. The cause an
propsieiy OF my doing sowill, trust, r.
, quirc but fe~ explanations. would wi
) lingly, for my o~n sake rs ~eD as lis, G.
} ter iAe course had pursued ior the pu
pose Of shielding lliH) have sill RENAME