Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-06-27
WHOLE No. AL.
From the N. " Commercial Advertiser
COOPER's NAVAL HISTORY.
CONTINUED from our last

we nave aIrcauy feIeTreu, ana WHICH ws
shall now exhibit for the purpose Of sup
pl ing the omissions and correcting the
errors in Mr. Cooper's account of tho
battle Of Lake Erie, as well as for the
exIlanalions and answers which his OBJ
servai ions upon that action may seem TO
require, is contained in pamphlet which
first made its appearance in 1921 under
the circumstances mentioned IN It's pre-
face. "Whcn the late commodore Per-
ry," as his equally gallant and lamented
fiend the editor informs us, "was about
TO sil on the cruise which terminated
his valuable life, he requested commo.
dore Decatur to take charge Of the fol-
lowing documents, TO keep Captain FL
liott," (who had made certain and vim
di,tive administrations against his former
commander,) Gin check during his
absence and if any accident happened
to him during his cruise, that they might
be published, as tie most ellectual means
which wouid then be left Of guarding
his character against the baseness and
lalsehood Of Capt. Elliott The origi-
nal documents, OF which these are cop
les, had all been transmitted To the Navy
Department by Commodore Perry, some
time before but IN consequence OF
great proportion OF the necessary Wit
nesscs being on the Mediterranean sta
tion, a court-martial could not be con-
vencd prior to his sailing"
Tie first of these documents, in the
order of publication, is "A letter, from
Com. Perry to the Secretary OF The Ma
Wy, transmitting copies Of letter receiV-
ed by him from Capt. Elliott, of certain
certificates enclosed therein, and also
of his own letter in reply, accompanied
by the aihdayits Of several officers who
had served under him upon the lake. -
This letter also contained copy OF tho
charges which were then formally pre-
ferred by Com. Perry. against Captain
Elliott, relating principally to the beha-
vior of the latter upon Lake Ere, OH
which it requested that court martial
should be ordered for his trial. The
facts upon which the charges relative 10
The battle of Lake Erie were made, hav-
my been long in the possession OF Com
thodore Perry, he very reasonably sup
posed that the Secretary would expect
him ''to account for not having sooner
made thom known to the government,
and for having mentioned iavorab'y ~
his official report, an officer whose con-
duct had been so reprebensible."
He then proceeds to explain that, cat
the moment Of writing that report, he
did in his own mind avoid coming To any
conclusion 10 what cause the conduct of
Capt. Elliott was TO be imputed nor
was he then fully acquainted with all the
circumstances relating to It," "Havmg
previous TO the engagement" Observes
the commodore, given all the orders
thought necessary, TO enable every OFF,
Ger to do his duty, and feeling confidence
in them all, | was, after II commenced,
necessarily too much engaged IN the ac-
tual scene before me, to reflect del'bor-
ately upon the cause which could induce
Capt Elliott to keep his vessel so dis
tant, both from me and the enemy (; and
allcr the battle was won, | felt no dispo-
sition rigldly TO examine INTO the conduct
of any of the officers of the fleet and
strange as the behavior Of Capt. Elliott
bad been, yet | would not allow myself
TO come to decided opinion that an OF
Gcer who had so handsomely conducted
himself on former occasioDs, (as Then
IN common miM Me public had been led 10
suppose capt. EHioH had,) could possi-
bly, be guilty OF cowardice or trcachery.
The subsequent conduct, also, OF Cap
tain ElIiolt-the readiness with which
he undertook the most minute services
the unfortunate situation in which he
now stood, which he lamentcd to me,
and his marked cndeavOrs TO conci iliate
protection, were all calculated to have
their effect. But still more than all,
was actuated by strong desire tha'J'n
the fleet / then bad the honor to COM
mand, there should be nothing but har-
mony after the victory had been gained,
and that nothing should transpire which
would bring reproach upon any part of
il, or convert into elimination the praises
10 which they were entitled, and which
| wished them all To share and enjoy
The difficulties produced IN my mind by
these considerations, were at The time
fully, expressed to an officer OF the fleet,
in hom | had great confidence. IL l
omitted TO name Captain Elliott, or ma
med him without credit, might noi only
ruin that officer, but, at The same iine
give occasion to anmadyersions, winch,
at that period, thought would be lrtlo
to the honor or advantage ofthe service.
Ii my official report is reverted to, 'neso
cmba,rassmenis, with respect to Cap'Sm
Elliott, under which labored 10 draw
,,g il up, will, Ibclieve, be apparent. -
That report was very different from what
had been expected by the officers Of the
fleet bot having adopted the course
which thought most prudent to pursue
with regard 10 Capt. Elliott, i entreated
them to acqui see in it, and made every
cAetlon in my power to prevent any
further remarks on his conduct, and even
furnished him with a favorable letter, or
certificate, for the same purpose, OF
which hc has since made unlusii6ablo
use. These, sir" continues Commcdore
Perry, "are the reasons hich indu-
ced INC, ut the time, not to bring on
! mn iuuu,ry into his conduct, The cause