Part 202

SIR: I have great pleasure in informing you that, by a gentleman who arrived here yesterday afternoon, from Buffalo, I learn that Lieutenant Elliott, with about sixty sailors, and a number of volunteer militia, cut out from under the guns of Fort Erie, on the night of the 8th instant, the brig Adams (lately surrendered at Detroit) and the schooner Caledonia, laden with peltry, said to be very valuable; but, in running these vessels for Black Rock, they both grounded, in such a situation that the British fort was firing on them, when my informant left there on Friday morning last. It was, however, believed that, if they could not be got off, they could be destroyed. I, however, hope that Lieutenant Elliott will be able to save both vessels; for, such an addition to our little force on Lake Erie, at this time, would be invaluable. Lieutenant Elliott deserves much praise for the promptness with which he executed this service; as the sailors had only arrived at Black Rock on the 8th, and he had no particular orders from me, except to have boats built and prepared for cutting out the British vessels, which I knew rendezvoused near Fort Erie. If Lieutenant Elliott succeeds in saving the Adams and Caledonia, I think that we shall obtain the command of Lake Erie before December; but, as to this lake, I hardly know what to say, as there has not a single pound of powder, nor a gun, arrived yet, and I can make no calculation when any will arrive. I feel quite discouraged, and shall be tempted to seek the enemy, with the Oneida alone, if the guns do not arrive soon.

The sailors have all arrived at their places of destination; but the marines have not arrived. I, however, hope to see them to-day or to-morrow.

I have the honor to be, &c.

ISAAC CHAUNCEY.

Hon. PAUL HAMILTON, Secretary of the Navy.

SACKETT'S HARBOR, October 27, 1812.

SIR: I have the honor of enclosing you copies of two letters from Lieutenant Elliott, giving an account of his having cut out from under Fort Erie, on Lake Erie, in a most gallant manner, two British brigs, the Detroit (late Adams) and the Caledonia. The Detroit was manned and armed as a man of war; the Caledonia belonged to the Northwest Company, and was loaded with peltry.

Nothing that I can say, more than I have already said in a former communication upon this subject, will add to the credit of Lieutenant Elliott, and the gallant officers and men who accompanied him. The thing speaks for itself, and will, I am sure, be duly appreciated by all who may have any idea of the difficulties that he had to encounter, after getting possession of these vessels. I have the honor to be, &c.

ISAAC CHAUNCEY.

Hon. PAUL HAMILTON, Secretary of the Navy.

WASHINGTON, Jan, 8, 1812.

SIR: In answer to your note, requesting of me "a general description of the armament and stores on board at the time of the capture of the Adams, and the probable number of men," I can state that I sailed from Maiden in the Adams, and arrived at Fort Erie on the morning preceding the night in which you captured that vessel. I left her in the afternoon, and crossed in her boat to Buffalo, with a flag. When I left the Adams, she had on board five guns mounted, (six and four pounders,) and six long twelves in her hold. She had also on board a quantity of powder and ball, and a number of boxes of muskets. I am not able to state, of my own knowledge, the number of stand of arms, but I have been informed that nearly all the arms taken at Detroit were on board; if that was the fact, the number must have been two thousand. The number of the crew that I left on board could not vary much from sixty, and the number of American prisoners about thirty, including three officers. I have the honor to be, &c.

HARRIS H. HICKMAN.

Lieut. D. ELLIOTT, U. S. Navy.

NAVY DEPARTMENT, October 27, 1812.

SIR: I have received, with great satisfaction, your communication of the ninth instant, and have been desired by the President of the United States to return to you, and through you to the officers and men under your command, in the expedition to Fort Erie, which terminated to the glory of the American arms, his particular thanks. I am, with great respect, &c.

PAUL HAMILTON.

P. S. Your having abstained from fulfilling your intimation that you would expose your prisoners to the enemy's fire, is highly approved.

JESSE D. ELLIOTT, Esq., Lieut. Commanding, Black Rock.

TUESDAY, January 26.

Honors to Hull. Decatur, Jones, and Elliott.

The amendment to the joint resolution relative to the brilliant achievements of Captains Hull, Decatur, and Jones, having been reported by the committee correctly engrossed, the resolution was read a third time as amended; and the title thereof was amended, to read as follows: "A resolution relative to the brilliant achievements of Captains Hull, Decatur, Jones, and Lieutenant Elliott."

Resolved, That this resolution pass with amendments.

FRIDAY February 5.

JAMES BROWN, appointed a Senator by the State of Louisiana, in the place of John Noel Detrehan, resigned, produced his credentials, was qualified, and took his seat in the Senate.

TUESDAY, February 9.

The credentials of CHAUNCEY GOODRICH, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of the State of Connecticut for the term of six years, commencing on the 4th day of March next, were read, and laid on file.

WEDNESDAY, February 10.