Virginia Argus. [volume], February 15, 1815, Image 2

About Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816

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fc{ v •»! xpect, and had no right to coni'
? h in of i». He required the Yeas tc Nays,
that he might at least iccord his vote a
gainst the motion.
Mi. Hall of Geo observed, if the object
of the gentleman v/as, os he had avowed,
to give to the members a C' rr.penration ade
qua’e to their service*, he would rtcunr
trend to him todenreriate their pav instead
of increasing it, for he was corfdtnt the
acts of Congress had depredated as much
us the paper, of which the gentleman had
spoken.
The question on the adoption of the mo.
tion wr.j deeded in the negative, by yeas
and nays as follows :
For i hr rrolit n 8
Against it 99
[Those who voted in the affirmative were
Me- rs. V «vd, Davis of Mass. Fisk of Vt.
Grcsvenor, H pic ins of Ky Shipherd, Stur
ges, I m | s- n 1
T ie engrossed bill making provision for
subs s'ii.ft the armies of the United States
by authorising the appointment of commit,
ki' pers rf subsistence, was read a third
time and parsed.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The H«»uie then, on motion of Mr. T ewis,
resohed itself int-* a committee 'f the
wlHe, Mr Breckenrjde in the chair, on
the bill from the Senate making an appro*
priation of five hundred thousand dollars,
for repairing or rebuilding toe Public Build
ings iu the city of Washington. [ The mo
ney is to be borrowed of B.tnks or mdlvidu
ills within the district, at six per cent, in
t'-rrst, for rebuilding or repairing the Ca
pitol, President’s House, and Public Officer,
o.i u.cir present scites.j
A debate arose on this bill which occu
pied the remainder of the day’s sitting, ar.d
which shall bo sketched off' at some future
day.
*’he advocates of the main object of the
bill cere, Messr . Lewis, Fisk of Vt. Rhea
of Ten Ingersoll, Wt ight, Groaver^p, Du
val, Bowen, Shipherd, Hawkins .V
Pearson, it* opponents Messrs. Alston, Fur
row and Webster. Of those who advoca
ted the bib, there were several (Messrs.
In;-crso!i, Grosvenop, Duval «»d Shipherd)
who have been .» favor of the removal ot
threat of government; but, considering
the question as settled by the votes in both
hcures, di'siied now to see the city rebuilt
ard beautified.
TV.o del*, tc wa® not so much on the ex
pedieiu v ol r • building or repairing the pub
lic buildings as rn the mode of doing it,
Mr. Goldsborough moved to strike out
from the hi!* the * P result m’s house,’ so ns
t« confine the repairs to the Capitol and
J'nhl'r DTives, with a view to leave the re
r a*r of the President’s house to times of
more !ri®ur* and tranquili.V than the pre
sent and also with a view to a future con .
cent ration of the public buildings.
This motion, after debate was negatived
bv a ’aree majority.
Mr Grnsvenor then moved an ame d
Trent the o j et of which, was, to enust t> e
Public Offices to lie removed to the pu lie .
ground on Capitol Hill* near the Capitol— j
This motion, af'e debate, was agreed to, 66
to 56.
The committee th n rose and reported
the amendments to thi house ; and
' The house forthwith adjourned.
Wednesday, l'“bruary 8.
TTIF. RF.WARD OF V VCOHj
Vr. Tr. nn, f,nnj the rn t mittre on Military
Alan’s, de'ivtred the following rcswlu'iins,
t» c adoption of which is recommended by
the »n d committee. viz :
1. Resolved bu the Senate and H»us- of
Representatives of the United States of
Jlmerku in Court*** assembled, That the
President of the United Stares be, and he
is hereby requested to cau«e a monument
to be erected at a suitable place, and with
a suitable inscription, in testimony of the
high sense entertained by Congress of the
military virtues of the late brigadier gene at
Pike, who, callantly leading a column to
the attack of York, in Upper Canada, f II,
in the arms of victory, on the 27th Apri ,
1813. terminating gloriously a life demoted
to his country, anil leaving behind 'inn *n
honorable example of enterprize, persever
ance ard contempt of death, for the imita
tion or the American soldier.
2. TV* Ived I 1 at the thanks of Congres*
be, ar.il they are hereby presented to majn”
general Harrison, and to governor Shelbv,
ard through them to the officers and men
under their command, for their gallantr
ard good conduct in defeating the combined
British and Indian fojr.es under major gene
ral 1‘rortor, on the Thames, in Upper Can
ada, the 5'h of October. 1813, captu inp
the en»: r Hr'tish army, with th ir baggage,
c- rnp «coinage, and artillery ; and that the
I -tHdtn of the United Spates be requested
to cause gold medal* to be sfruck, emhle.
n atical of this triuftiph, and presented to
general Har» ison and governor Shrihy.
3. Resolved fhnt Congress enterain a
high sense of the gallantry and good conduct
of iieu'enant colonel Beatty, and the officers
and men under his cotn~.tand, in repulsing,
with inferior numbe rs, the combined attack
of a British land and naval forct on Craney
Island, on the 2 "l of June, 1313; and that
the Pres dent of the United Sta es be re
quested to present an elegant Sword to
lieutenant colonel Beatty,
A, Resolved. That Congress entertain a
high wnw of the merit of colonel Cfogh/m,
and the officers anti men under his com
mand, for the gallant defence of Fort Ste
phenson, on the Lower S.induskv, oj the
l«t and 2d of August, 1813, repelling with
freat slaughter the assault of a British and
r;:iian arm? much superior in number ; and
that the President be requested to present
an elegant sword to colonel Croghao.
5. Resolved, That the President of the
United States be requested to cause a mo,
r.ument to be erected at a suitable place
and with a suitable inscription to the memo
ry of brigadier general Coring on, who, gal
lantly leading up his troops to a successful
charge, fell in the battle of Williamsburg,
in Upper Canada, on the 11th Norember,
1813.
6. Resolved. That the thanks of Con
gress he, and they are hereby presented to |
major genera] Jackson, and to brigadier ■
generals Floyd and Coffee, and through
them to the officers and men under their
command, for their gallantry and good con
duct in the campaign against the Creek na
ti»n of Indians in the winter of 1813-.14,
defeating humid. !e tribe! ol Savages in
success;#: battles fought with great obstiaa
|cjr anJ finally subdu'r.g them to terms of
peace, and that the President of the United
States be requested to cause gold medals to
be s mck, with suitable cmblaim and da'*i
res, and presented to major general Jack
on, ,a;id brigadiers Floyd and Coffee.
7. Prsr'vrd. That Congress entertain a
high sens** of the merit of lieut. col. Armis*
tead. and the officers and men under hi'
command. in their la*e «*adant and 'success
ful def**noe-nf Fort V,H,,nrv against the at
tack of a formidable British rquadr^n ; and
that the Piv s:dcnt or the IT. Sta es be rt>
qnes»ed to present an elegant sword to lieu
tenant colm**! Armistend.
8. Hi Ji’i.'vrt/. Tha» Congress entertain a
h’gh si*n<c m the merit of major Lswmne*’,
and »h** r Tw ... ,n>d men under his com .
matid, in ih«*:r T»ie ga"ant defence of For*
Biwve*, repelling with inferior numbers and
with gr**:lt s’aoghter the combined attack of
a British lard and naval force, aided by a
body npsavages • and that the President of
the United States be requested to present an
decant sword *o major Iiawrence.
The resolutions were twice read and re
ferred to a committee of the whale.
Mr. Jackson of Va. from the Military
committee, r»r»nrted without amendment a
hid from the Senate concerning field officers
in the mili’l*. [This hid provides that, af
ter the 1st day* of March nexf, ’here shall
to each r» giment. ins’ead of the present
fin'd officers, one colonel, one lieutenant col
one' and two majors.*!
The questi n being stated—“Shall the
bill he rea a third »j-pc ?”
Mr. TayT r ofN, y moved to refer it to
a c wimittee of rhe *».tio'e
^ Mr Smith of N. V, sunnorted the motion
f|" ref»r«».»ce or pnttnnnement with a v>ew
to oposmg nmendmntts for th** he*'er or*
gani^ ition of i'd* mUitia in o»her rosaer-*.
an 1 f. r providing the manner in which fu
ture detachments of the mi'itia shall he re
guls’ed
1 he motion was opposed bv Mr Ta**tc*on
o Va. hut was decided in the affirmative,
51 to 4t.
Jackin, from the sme commit***
r‘ ported a bill *n->kinpj nrmusion forclo*hi >«■
the 'nllitin called into th«» service of »he TT
Spates. [Hie hill proposes to provide, that
in addition to »he nav and emohtTi mts now
provided by law, the non«commiss:oned offi.
cers and privates in the militia, whm called
r.to service for a tour of six months shall
>e entitled tonne suit nf.do hes.] The hill
was twice read and committed.
Mr. Bdtos, from »h» committee nf Wavs
' ' i u*!lnS' reh°rf<*rl sundry amendments
o *h»» hill authorising the issue of Vreasurv
Notes for 181$ » which were referred to a
committee of the whole, 8rc.
Two reports were received from the War
Department on petitions, and were referred
to cnmm:tt»*»s
PUBUC mTILDTWaS.
The house resumed the consideration of
toe reoort of the commi’tce of the whole
on the bill for making appropriation* for re*
oaring or rebuddiot the public buildings in
th- city nf Washington.
Hie amendment b?inrr under cnnsidera,
ti n which requires -he Public Ortices to be
built on Capit ’ Hiil_
Mr. Lewi< of Va. opnosed the concur,
rence in the amendment, nod quoted the
opinion of the late President Washington in
Favor of the existing location «f the Public
Bu’.ldmgs, expressed in v ry decided teems
This amendment was also oonosed -bv
Mr Mason, Mr. Forsvh and others. and
advocated by Mr. Grosvenor and Mr.
Wright.
1 ne question hiving been taken af^r
much debate, by yeas and nays, was deci
ded as foPows;
*he amendment 55
A gainst it 77
Th" effect of this decision is, that the Pub
lic Odices shall be re-built 0:1 their ohl
soites
Mr. Bigelow moved to amend the bill so
i* 'o require the . President, previously to
expending the money to be appropriated, to
,'an«e to be laid before Congress a plan and
"stimates for-the buildings; by which, he
believed, one half of the expense might be
saved
T^'is motion was onnos>*d as unnecessary
''V Mr Lewis, and negatived, ayes 39,
Mr. Farrow assigned the reasons why hr
hon'd vote against the bill ; not because he
/as against rebuilding, but because of the
great scarcity of money in the Treasury.
Mr. Stanford moved to recommit the bill
with instructions to make some reoort as to
concentration, and th* manner and method
of executing the provisions of the bill.
This motion was opposed by Mr- Lewis,
and negatived, ayes 44.
The question on ordering the bill to be
read a third time, was then decided by yeas
07 nays 55.
After the transaction of some other busi
ness—
The house adjourned.
l
Tuesday, Feb .9
M**. Archer obtained leavi of absence for
»he remainder of the session.
Mr. Dsvis or Mass, prevented the prtl
• ion of T'.zekl rjiompsnn. a Collector of the
Uireot Tax and internal Duties in the state
of Massachusetts, praying to he exonera
ted for the payment, to ttie Treasury, of
170 dollars, public money, of which his
deputy was robbed on the hirjh way.
Mr. Ilich presented a petition of Ezekiel
Hubbard, of Vt. praying to he exonerated
from the payment of the bond*. Riven by him
for a license to distil spirituals liquors, as he
was unable to use his stills by reason of the
destruction of his aqueduct.
These petitions were referred to the
committee of Ways anti Means,
On motion of Mr. Eppes, the petition of
Secomh and Williams and John Hunt, jp.
of the Vermont Mineral factory company,
and of the manufacturers of Umbrellas of
Philadelphia, wpre referred to the commit
tee of Commerce and Manufactures ; and
the committee of Wars and Meant were
dischargrd from tho further consideration
of the petition of sundry inhabitants of Mau.
ry county in Ten.
Mr. Easton, from the committee ap
pointed to enquire into the expediency of
repairing and keeping in repair the read
from Nashville to Natchez, as also the
road from Fort Hawkins in Cteorgia, to Rt.
Stephens ms the Mississippi territory deliv*
cred in a report, accompanied by a bill ma*
king an appropriation for repairing the road
from Nashville to Natchez ; which was
twice read and committed.
Mr. Fisk of N. Y. sub rutted for consider.,
ation the f > 1 owing resolution :
Reuol >al. That the rules of the ho»ice
be so amended, that officers who have re
ceived or shall hereafter receive-the thank*
of Congress for their gallantry and good
conduct displayed ;.> the service of th^ir
country, shall be admitted to seats within
the walls of theh««u*e.
On motion „f \fr Johnson of Ky.
/r«o/perf, That the committee of Wavs
an . e.tns be instructed to enquire into the
rxo 'ency of establishing in 'he sta'e of
en uc y a Loan Office, and in such other
I states in which no offi-e is established.
pOBLlc BlTTLniNGS
• he bill from the S<*n >te msltine an an*
pr uination for rebuilding or repiirins[ th^
uolic Buildings in the cify of Washington,
t was read a third time
• Ir. Pickering snoke against the hill, on
the general ((round nf oooosition to the per
manency of the seat of government.
A motion was made bv Mr. Mreb«ter to
recommit the bill, with certain instructions
as fa amendin’' or moditVing rta« hill.
iliis motion was advocated bv the mo
ver and bv Messrs. Grosvenor, Oaston,
v-Vright and Alston.^c ortnosed’hv Messrs.
Fisk of N. Y. Rhea of Ten. and
M’lvini The debate was long and warmly
contested by the affirmative side of the
question.
The vote on this motion bv yeas and
navs, exhibited a majority of 12 votes a
ga'nst it
Mr Tavlor moved to recommit the bill
w th instructions to the committee to report
orovisions for concentrating thennblic bull*
di' ts ; which motion was negatived, yeas
and nays.
A'1?** much and aealoo* debate
fhe question on the passage of the bill
was decided as follows r
YS\S—.Messrs. Alexander, Anderson, Ave
rv. Harbour, Hard, Harnett, Biylv ofVa. Hines,
Ho v n, B’’"ck"nridjfe, Hu'w.-II.C d^niin, Cham '
p on, Gendenin, Crawford, Creighton, Culpup-*
er. CuthSiirt, Duval, Kart®, Ev.ana, Findlpy.
Fisk of V . Fisk or NT Y Fi-svthe, Franklin.
G unison, Gooilwvn. G m/din Hall, Hirri*. Ifas
brouck, Hawes. IIivrkiits, llopkins of Kv Huh .
hard, tfungerfnrd, Ini'—soil, Jackson of Va
.1 ihn«on ofVa. Johnson of Kv. Kennedy, Kent
of Md K rshaw, Kilbourn, King of N C. Lef
ferts. Lewis, Lowndes, Lyle. M icon, M’floy,
M’Kim, M’Lean, Moore, Njlson, NYwtnn.
Fvarson, Pickens, Pleasants, Rh-a of
Ten Rich, Ringgold, Roane, Sage, Sevier, |
Sryhert, Shipherd. Smith of P.;« Smith of Va’ l
Stuart, Sturges, Telfair, Troup, White, Wood,
Vaneev—73.
^ VYS—Messrs. A'ston. BayUes of Mass Bi
gelow, Boyd, Bradbury, Brigham, Brown. Uut
■ **'”, Cannon, Cilley, Goxe, Crouch, Davenport,
Divis of Mass. Dss’ta, Ely, Kppes, Farrow,
Gaston, Goldsborough, Grosveuor, Henderson J
Ifumnhreys, F(ulb»rt, Ingham, Irwin, Jackson
of R I. K-mt of NT. Y K -rr, King of Mass- L’ w,
Lovett, Mosaic/. Murfree, Markell, Oakley,
P* ke ing, Piper, Potter, 1 Reed, W R rd, R [
of F n Ruggles, S -.huretnan, Slavmaker. Sm.tli
afV Y Stanford, Strong, Taggart, Tivlor,
Th impson, U.lree, Vow, War l of Mass. Ward
or N J. Webster, Wheaton, Wilcox, Williams.
Wilson of Mass. Wilson of Pen. Winter
Wright—61
[The bill now oulv wanfs the signature or
the p resident to bee »me a law.]
The engrossed bill in a Hi ion to the act
for regulating the !,ost Orflce Establish neat
(graduating the per centage allowed to
PoVmasters according o the increased
ra es of postage) was read a third time and
(•asset!.
A:ul the Home adjourned*
IN SENATE.
Tuesday. Feb. 7.
The bill from the House, fir he -elief of
the representatives of David Hardin was
read a second time an 1 referred to Messrs.
Barbour, Ehilbot. and Varnu a
The bill for the relief of the Anicoata
Bridge C mpany was also re ul a second
time, a id referred to the same committee to
who n was referred the subject of the peti
tion of the Washington Bridge Company.
The bill concerning the college of George,
town,irt the District of Columbia, wat read
a second time and referred to Messrs Gold*,
borough, Fromcntin and II irsey.
Mr Brown from a committee, reported
a bill for quieting and adjusting claims to
j lands within the Mississippi Territory
()* motion of Mr. Konerts, the military
coiitmittiee were directed to enquire into the
j expediency of providing for the appointment
of a suitable number of veterinary Surgeons
to be attached to the army of the United
States.
I he bill to authorize the purchase for the
use of the United States of a tract of land
near Plattsburg, was read a third time and
passed.
The bill for the relief Benjamin Wells
and others, was ordered to a third reading.
Mr. Kerr presented the petition of Nich
olas Boilvin, praying compensation for pro
perty destroyed by the Indians ; which was
referred to Messrs. Giles and Anderson.
Wednesday, Feb. 8
The bill to incorporate the subscribers to
the Bank of the United S.ates (introduced
hy Mr. Barbour) was reads second time.
ft motion was made by Mr. Giles to re*
fer ‘hobill to a select committee
On this morion a wide debate took place
The argument for reference w.is, the usage
in such cases, where a bill was introduced
by an individual nemlier ; the argu nent a
gafnst it was, that though the bill was re
cently introduced by a* individual member,
the subject was one which had been wide
ly discussed and was well understood by
every member.
1 he motion to commit the bill wan nega
tived, 18 to 16;
The Senate proceeded, as in committee
of the whole. Mr. Anderson in the chair, to
the consideration of the bill.
Mr. Giles moved an amendment, the ob
ject of which was to confine the stock (pay
able on account of subscriptions to the Ca •
pital of the Hank) to such stock as should
be hereafter creited.
After an animated and interesting debate,
this motion was negatived—
For the motion IS
Against it 18
And the Senate adjourned atsundown.
Thursbav, Feb.9.
I he bill for the relief . f Benj. Webb, and
others, as amended, was read a siiird time
and passed.
1 he engrossed bjll to allow a drawback
of duties on spirits distii'ed, and certain
goods, wares, and merchandise, manufac
tured within the United States, was r#ad a
third time and passed.
Mr. King presented thft petition of Gould I
Tolt, of the City of New York, owuer of the
called the American Eagle, praying
indemnification of the loan sustained by him,
m consequence of the iltegal seizure of said
shin bv the Collector of the port of New"
York; which was referred to the Treasury
Department.
Mr. Giles, from the committee on the
subjreported, That it is in~-9ft*d!rnt to
provide for the appointment of veterinary
surgeons, to he attached to the army of the
United States.
Mr. Giles from tha committee on another
subject, reported the following resolution :
i ** Pfoh*^d% That it i« inexpedient at this,
time to "r»’i !“ bv a general law for mak*
iug compensation to individuals wh~se pro
r»e«*tv mav have hem destroved during the
"'s*, bv the constituted authorities of the
•United States, or whose property mav have
been or.r.no’*M for or appropriated to pub
lic purposes.**
The S-o-xte resumed the consideration of
the National Hank K»l| ; n-t whir.' there
to~k place a« on vestetsl.av, much anirna*?!
dehate. Several q testions of amen lmoot
w-re t'ronosed, which were variously ^e
c»dfd. the particulars of which shall be
stated in our nex‘.
The Senate did not get through the bill
before tl\e adjournment, which took place
at a *a‘e hour.
F^pttiorri Intelligence
BY THE PRIVATEER HARPY.
Salem. February, 7.
On Sunday af'enimn an-iv^h here the
nricafe-** brig TIarov, cnofa:o N’chols. of
Balti nn»», from a omise of SJ dav* on tU,n
const of Ireland, in th* BrPi'h -Channel. *fc.
- —From one of the onaes (the Wm
•and A,f*"d') Cant Nichols obtained London
papers to the 2dth of Nove 'niter, wi‘h 'which
he has v^rv nb’iginglv favoured ns, and
from which we have made a nnmSer of se
lections, as below.—This vessel sailed from
London the 1st of December, and from
Portsmouth th* 28*h B" *hs oaoers it an*
o-ars that the CDNG'IF.oo OF VfRN.
N- \ were engaged in arranging stfttas and
‘erritories and settling the neace of Bs.
rone : and that the COMMISSIONERS
ATGHF.VT still continued their negotia
tions for oe n * between England and Ame
rica. On this most interesting subject.
Can*. Dnsd lie (of the Wat. and Alfred)
stated, that petitions had been sent to the
Prince Reprint from fh<* cit~a of Liverpool
and Glasgow. signed l>v thirty tfirmtand
/irrsavs, proving him tnconc’ude a PEACE
WI PH AMRRIC \ ; and that it was the
g *neral expectation that this haopy event
woo’d soan tabs place. C ipt. Nichols
boarded two Portuguese vessels which left
Lisbon th* 6th 0?Jinuary ; and ma le par,
ticu’ar inquiries of them respecting the ne
gotiations at Ghent ?.nd Vienna: of tlie for
mer, tliey could give no infer nation -of
the latter, th~y stated, that the Congress
entinued its sessions, but did oot know
that anything had transpired.
The F.nr’ish paoers contain many ofli
cial American Documents; among them,
the Report of the Committee of Ways and
Means, stating our pecuniary necessities,
and proposing ne v tax's—Dalias's Report,
exposing th** deplOrab'e state of the Trea
sury—Gen Wndcr’s D vision Orders, after
the re'reat of the British from Btit>mnre —
Gov. Chittenden’s proclamation to the Ver.
mont Militia—Commod ire Macd enough's
and General Macomb’s accounts of the de
struction of the British fleit oo lake Cham
piam, and the retreat of their army from
Platrshur-h. Of these hvt the English says
—“ Cando^ obliges its to ain't , that the
despnrchei» of both the American comman
ders are writen in a plain, manly stvlu, wi lt
very little aooe trance of exagger u ion, and
with none of that violent and vuig tr abuse
of the English, bv which many American
officers have not in:Tactually c mrtsd the
favor of t'ne r own govern lunt.” The sa ne
[ paper which contains the despatches of o tr
commanders. has also those of Sir George
Prevolt, and Captain Bring, of the llri ish
! .army and navy. Sir George, after stating
previous movements by land an 1 I ike, till
the battle which ter it mated in their defeat,
says,
“I isnuv, with deep cancer» I inform
your Lordship, that, notwithstanding the
intrepid vuUr with which captain Downie
led his fl®‘itl i in'oacd >n my most sanguine
hopes of comiilete success we-e, not long
afterwards, blasted, by a combination, as
it appeared to us, of unfortunate events, to
which nava’ warfare is peculiarly exposed.
S-. ireely had His M-jestv’s crooks forced
a passage across the Sarnoic, and a see ided
the height on which stao 1 the enemy's
works, when I had the ex reme mortifica
tion lo hear the shout of victory from the
enemy's works, in consequence of the Bri
tish flag being lowered on board the Coofi
ance and Lin mf ; and to see on1* gun boats
seeking their safety in flight. This unlook
ed for event depriving me of the co-opera
tion of the fleet, without which the further
prosecution of the service w is become im
practicable, I did not hesitate to arrest
the course of the troops advancing to toe
attack, bees ise the m >*t complete success
would have been unavailing, and the pos
session of the enemy’s works offervd no
advantage to omoensatc for the loss we
must h ive sus'ained in acquiring possession
of them.”
The fetter of Cnotain Pring is transmit
ted by Sir James Y«>, who expresses his
belief, that Captain Downie was urged, &
hi* ship hurried into action before sho was
in a fit state for it; and his opinion, that
'here was not the least necessity for the
wtiadnih giving the enemy such decided
tdvanta<«s, by going into the buy to engage
them—that even success would not have
as listed the troops in storming the batte •
ries j whereas had the troops taken the
batreri-*s first, it would have obliged the
Americans to quit the bay, end given the
British squadron a fair chance.
We have inserted Captain Print's letter
entpc, among the other articles copied
from the papers, It is extremely interest,
ing, comi 'g from an officer who fought with
great bravery, and giving a detail which
may afford a comparison in m my particu.
lars with the accounts of our own cornman*
ders.
CMPTA’V PRItfG’S DISPATCH.
U S. Ship Saratoga, Plattshurg-Rny, >
Lake Champlain, Sept. 12, 1814 £
1 lie painful taxc of miking you
quainted with the. circumstances attending the
capture of his Majesty’s squadron, yesteH .<•,
hy^ that of the Americans, under Commodore
M’Honnongh, it trrieves me to state, becomes
my duty to perform, from the ever to-h~ la
mented loss of that worthy and gallant officer,
Lapt Dowiiie, who unfortunately tell early in
the action : J
In consequence of the earnest solicitation or
lus Excellency Sir G-orge Premst, for the cos
operat on of the naval force on this Lake to aU
tack that of the enemy, who were placed for
the support of their works at Plattsburgh—
which it proposed should be storme.l bv the
troops, at the same moment thi naval action
s muhl rommence in the bay 5 every possible
exertion was used to uo'cleratc the' armament
of the new ship, that the military movements
might not be postponed at such an advanced
season of the v.-ar, Huger than was absolutely
tvcissarv—On the 3d inst. I was directed .i>
tv ocec.l ir. command of th • flotilla ofgim-hoats
i > protect the left fl r.k of’oup army advancing
towards Plattsburgh • and on the oilowing day,
alter ta -jug po» e*;ion and parol ling the mili
tia of Isle la Molt-, I cstisd a b.att-ry of three
long eighteen ponnder-iri-M to he constructed
for the support of our positi m ahreast of Lit
tle Cbahv, where the supplies for the army
ware ordered to be lande I.
Hi** fl et came up on the 8th instant, hut for
want of stores for the equipment of the gun;,
could not move forward until the lltli; at dav%
light w- Weigne.1,’and at sev n were in full
vie v of th» enemy’s fleet, consisting of a ship
brig, schooner, and on<* sloop, m.oorc 1 i \
line, ah-east of thei~ encampment', with a «Jivi»
sion of five gun- boats on eaMi fl .nk ; at 40 mi
n'd** past 7, after the officers comm main t ves«
s-Is and the flotilla ha l rec-ived their final in,
sanctions as to the p'.aa of attack, ive made
mil iu o.-il-r of battle. Captain IKiwnir ha l de,
termmed on laying his ship athwart •hauae of
the enemy’s, directing Liwt. McGhee, of the
f'hub. to Hupp »rt mi in the Li inut. in engaging
th- brig to the right, and Lieut. Hicks, of the
Eucli, >.v;h th' flotilla of gun boats; to aUactc
the so!ioon -r an l aloop o i the left of enemy’s
line.
M 3 the enemy’s gun boats an 1 smaller ves.
sets coTvn -ncfd ah -avy an I gal'ing fire on onr
line; at P> m'mites after 8, the Ooofiance hav
ing two anchors shot away from her larboard
•Mw, and the wind b a filing, was obliged to an
chor (though not in the situation proposed)
within two eabl is length of h r adversary ; the
Lhn-t and Chub soon aft -r wards t >ok their al
lotted stations, something sho»*t oftliat dis.
| tance, w ion the crews pn both sides cheered
and commenc’d a spirited and close action ; —
[ a short time however, deprived me of th’ vd i.
1 tMeservioes of Lt. M’Ghee, who, fr.,,n
j hit cables bowsprit and main boom shot, away
: drifl-d within the enemy’s line, and was obli j'
• 1 to surrender.
From the l-ght airs an I smoothness of the
water, the fire on each aide prove') very des
t motive fr >m the commencement of the engage!
mint, and with the exception ol'the brig, that
of th-enemy appeared united againsi t!ie ^on«.
fiance. After two hours sev-.re' eonfli.t with
our opponent, she cut her cable, run d own, and
took shel'er between the ship an>l schooner,
which enabled us to direct our fire against the
divaion of the enemy’s gin bo its and ship,
watch hal so long annoyed os during our close*
mgagemrat with the hrig wi (tout any return
on our p irt ; at thistim the fire of the enemy’s
s 11ft slicic laid cxnsi lerj’ilv, having
ventl of her g ins dismounted, when she out hip
Rab'e and w'ruled her 'a -board broadside to
l»ear on *he Confinnc-, who, in vain.endeavour#
ed to f-Vec th'* same operation ; at 3:1 minutes
a^'er 10, 1 was much distressed to observe that
the Confnn-e struck her colour.!. The whole
attention of the enem^’r. force than became di
rected towards t!ie Linnet. the shattered and
disabled s'ate of the masts, sails, rigging and
yst-ds, prec' ided tlie most distant hope of be
ing able to -fi' ct an escape bv cutting the ca
ble ; the result of doing so, must in a few mis
notes have been, lur drifting along -fide the ene
my’* vess-.s, close under our lee ; but in the
hope the '1 »tilK of gun-hoits, woo hal a
bandon d the object assigne 1 then, would per.
csive our wantsfc com'* to our assistance, which
won) 1 afford a reasonable prospect of being
toWcd cle.-.r.l determined to resist the then del
structive cannona ling of the whole of the ene
my’s fie-t, an! at the v. mi time despatched
Lt. I!. Drew to ascertain the s'ate of the Con*,
fiance At forty five niputea after tin, 1 was
aoprisudof the i-repa-able loss she had sustain
ed bv the death of her brave command ir
j (whoso merits it would be presumptuous in
me to ex ol) as well as the ere at slaughter
which had taken place on board ; an I observ
ing fr m the manoeuvres of the flotilla that t
could enjoy no further expectation! of rjlief,
the situation of my gallant comrades who h«l
so noblv fought, and even now fast falling by
mv »i !e, iteminile 1 the surrender of his ma
jesty’s brig entrusted to my command, top*e
vent « useless waste of valuable lives, and, at
the request of the surviving o Titers md men,
I gave the painful orders for the colors to he
struck.
Lieut. II inks, of the Finch, hid the mortifies
tiou tr> strike on a reef ofror.ks, to the eastward
of Crab ishnd about the mid lie of the engage
ment, which prevent" l his rendering that as*
sisUnce t> the scjuidron, that might, from an
officer of such ability, have been expected.
The misfortune which this day befe! ms by
capture, will, sir, I trust apologise for the
lengthy detail which, in justice t» the aufi'erers,
I have deemed n-cessary to give of the particu
lars which led to it; and wiien it is taken into
considera ion tIs .t tlie Gonfiance was 16 d;tvj
before on the stocks, with an organised crew,
composed or several drafts o' men who had re
centiy arrived from differ* u ships at Quebec,
many of whom only join**d the day l> .tore, and
were totally unknown either to the officers or
to each other, with the want of gun tucks, as
well as other necessary appiintments not tube
procured in this country, I trust you will feel
satisfied of the dcci la l advantage the enemy
possessed, exclusive of their great superiority
in point of force, a comparative statement (the
account of the llritish force has not lieen trans
mitted) of which I have the honor to an
nex It now becomes the most phasing
part of my duty to notice to you the determin
ed skdl and bravery of the officers and men in
this unequal contest ; but it grieves me to state
that the loss sustained in maintaining it has
bsen so great i—that of the enemy, I understand,
amounts to something more than the sn;no
number.
Ti.e fine style in which Captain Tlownie con
ducted the squadron into acion, amidst a tre
mendous fife, without returning a shot until
secured, reflects the greatest credit to his me*
mory, for his judgment and coolness, as also,
on Lieutenants M’O hee and Hicks for so
strictly attending to his example and instruc
tions : their own accounts of the capture of
their respective vessels, at well as that of Lieu
tenant Robertson, who mt ceeded to the com
mand of the Confiancr, will, I feel assured, do
ample justice to the merits of the officers and
men serving under their immediate command f
but I cannot omit noticing the individual con