Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-02-08

Provost. Chippewa and Little Bell. Our
squadron forming in line o: battle ia The
inii"wiug order SCHOONER Ariel OF four,
and Scorpion ofiwo guns, on The Law
FENCES weather bow, The Lawrence, cart.
Perry, leading the van The Cals,snnia.
The Niagara, The Porcupine, the Somis,
The Tigress, the Trppe; AT "a quarter
before l2 the eBemy's ship Detroit CONF
menced ifring on OUT headmost vessels.
distance computed at one mile and an
hall. Al meridian the a,iiom became
general and closer, The whole of The enc
my's fire being directed the Lawrence.
Caledonia aud Niagara. The Lawrence
iaDorcd nuder very great disadvantage
at Tins time observing her shot 10 tall
short Of tie Detroit, who having long guns,
placed her shot im the Lawrence arhbe-
rdleiy aud at dlscreliou.- in our
opinion, Is one reason Why the renee
became so much shattered. --The Maya.
Ia's position was close sasictn OF ihe
Caledonia, wMrh she maintained, ans.
being little abaft the weather beam OF
the Queen Charlotte, abreast the I.ahy
Provost IL The rest OF The eHemy's squad.
| ron.-The whole of whose fire she sus-
tanned. Al this time the Queen Charlotte
was discovered 10 bear up and stand a. q
way from the Niagaras tire.-Capi. Eii-
OIL ordered the ffre and an mainsal TO
w uoui'u outs anu IHt JlD SHteI ar, III
order to come up with her, she being the
| vessel we meant particularly 10 engage,
| The Queen Charlotte having gained The
DeiroIt's Ie@, anh the Lawrence gained
ahead, captain Elliott ordered the Gale,
donia Ia bear up and leave us rocD. Ia
close with The Lawrence, Nv iiici, was done,
| anu the action carried on it'll great spi.
rlt and viger on both sides.-1I.s most
loiJ our flre was now directed against
| The Queen Charlotte, (slie having r, gam
ed The lise) Lazy Provost anu Linlt Belt.
| We now 'ang.tl ahead, receiving the COM
bined fires OF thu Detroit, Queen Char.
ioi'e and Lady PreVosi.-The Lawrence
some time previous 10 This had dropt
asiern much shattered and useless
! Captain Perry leil her and came on board
| The Niagara lie observed to captain
| Elliott that lie appfebehded the action
was lost, who with that spirit and piomp-
| 'iiure we have ever been accustomed 10
| see him exert, replied, No sir, will yet
'ry and save tie day: he accordingly
repaired on board, and taking The dirrc-
ton OF one OF the small vessels brought
the whole of them into action at close
muskei shot; the consequence was, that
in len minutes The Detroit and Queen
Charlotte, with the Lady Provost, struck
10 us, and soon alter The whole of Inc
|
The Lawrence had som. minutes before
this struck her coIors and hauled Out Of
HE ine.-fou ill pert i've, sir, by This
scrorni, that the Niagara was most use.
fully and eneTge'ically engaged during
The action. and The gallant nianrer, and
the celeriiy with which the small vessels
were brought into acton. and the in Slant
change effected by it, rauk CAPT. Elliott,
10 our opinion as sccond 10 none in The at
iainmeni OF the Ia ie aclion.-We are un-
willing to quit The subject without ex-
r'sslng onresiimaiio Of our noble com
mand'r. We feel it duty 10 him, and
to ourselves III express eur opinion OF his
conduct during The action, which was
manifested by his cool, brave and judi
cious department, and are frml; in
OPINION that his valor could moi be sur
rassed ny any: and thai in him tie A
| merlcan Flag has a most jealous, skilfHI
aud heroic deiender.-We Rave here en-
deavored. sir, TO give you a succiBct and
minute account of the ac,ien tren, COM
menccment 10 close. in doing this we
have been actuaied by unprcjudiced love
and respect for Capt. Elliott.
We have The honor TO be, sir, Your O.
bedient servants,
JOS. f SMITH. Lieut..
JOHN J. EDWARDS, Lieut..
IL. NJ A0KAII1, Purstr,
NELSON WEBSTER, A. Nj.
A. b. BREyOORT, Captain
2d Rrgt. u. S. Infantry.
Hon, w. JONES, Seery. Of the Navy, &c.
Nary Department, Oct. l9th, 1920.
TIE foregoing u true copy OF the
original now on file at this office.
BENJAMIN HOhiANS.
No. q.
| al. 4
the Navy, 10 tie Hon. YIN Loundes,
chairman # the Naval Committee Of ne
House of Representatives. dafed
NAVY DEPARTMENT, Dee. 9th, 1919.
While The heroic commardei Of The
American squadron Justly merits lie high.
est honors, which the expression Of the
national councils can beslow, the second
in command on that eveniul day. ap-
pears 10 merit particular distinction. for
the in poriani and decisive share he had
ia that glorious event /; aud il is grateful,
in The highest degree, to re- feet that every
officer aad man, on that trying occasion,
discharged his duty 10 The Ralion, viii
zeal, fidelity aud honor"
Copy Of Record,
BENJAMIN ROMANS.
no. &.
Copy of a letter from tie iSfcycfa,y of HE
: Nary 10 CommofOye Nmrag.
Navy Department, April goth, 1916.
+ Sill has b'eD sisled to this depart.
meGl, thai by tie proceedings Of a court
; Of enquiry 10 Great Britain. ordered 20
: Investigate Tie Causes OF tile loss Of The
British feet on Lake Erie, on Tie 10Th Of
I September, 1918, the conduct Of captain
9 Jesse d. Elliott of Tie u. S. Navy, sho
$ commanded tie brig Niagara 0n that
n | dav ia ztjsrcprrseu(sd 4. ius,iQe IN lie ~,