CHAPTER XXVII.

General Operations Continued.

SIR JAMES YEO'S MODE OF FIGHTING.

Extract of a letter from Com. Isaac Chauncey, to the Secretary of the Navy, dated

On board the U. S. S. Gen. Pike, off Duck Island,

SIR,

Sept. 13, 1813.

On the 7th, at day-light, the enemy's fleet was discovered close in with the Niagara river, wind from the southward--made the signal, weighed with the fleet, (prepared for action) and stood out of the river, after him. He immediately made all sail to the northward; we made sail in chase, with our heavy schooners in tow-and have continued the chase, all round the lake, night and day, until yesterday morning, when he succeeded in getting into Amherst-Bay, which is so little known to our pilots, and said to be so full of shoals, that they are not willing to take me in there. I shall, however, (unless driven from my station by a gale of wind,) endeavor to watch him so close, as to prevent his getting out upon the lake. During our long chase, we frequently got within from one to two miles of the enemy; but our heavy-sailing schooners prevented our closing in with him, until the 11th, off Genesce river; we carried a breeze with us, while he lay becalmed, to within about three-fourths of a mile of him, when he took the breeze, and we had a running-fight of three and a half hours; but, by his superior sailing, he escaped me, and run into Amherst-Bay, yesterday morning. In the course of our chase, on the 11th, I got several broadsides, from this ship, upon the enemy, which must have done him considerable injury, as many of

the shot were seen to strike him, and people were observed, over the side, plugging shot holes; a few shot struck our hull, and a little rigging was cut, but nothing of importance-not a man was hurt.

I was much disappointed, that Sir James refused to fight me, as he was so much superior in point of force, both in guns and men having upwards of 20 guns more than we have, and throws a greater weight of shot.

This ship, the Madison, and Sylph, have each a schr. constantly in tow; yet the others cannot sail as fast as the enemy's squadron, which gives him decidedly the advantage, and puts it in his power to engage me when and how he chooses.

I have the honor, &c.

Hon. W. JONES,

ISAAC CHAUNCEY.

Sec'y Navy.

THE JULIA AND GROWLER RE-CAPTURED.

Copy of a letter from Cominodore Chauncey, to the Secretary of the Navy, dated

SIR,

U. S. S. Gen. Pike, Sackett's Harbor,

October 6th, 1813.

I have the pleasure to inform you, that I arrived here this morning with five of the enemy's vessels, which I fell in with, and captured last evening, off the Ducks; these were part of a fleet of seven sail, which left York, on Sunday, with 234 troops on board, bound to Kings

Of this fleet, five were captured, one burnt, and one escaped. The prisoners, amounting to nearly 300, besides having upwards of 300 of our troops on board, from Niagara, induced me to run into port, for the purpose of landing both..

I have an additional pleasure in informing you, that amongst the captured vessels, are the late U. S. schrs. Julia and Growler; the others are gun-vessels.

I have the honor, &c.

ISAAC CHAUNCEY..

Hon. W. JONES,

Sec'y Navy.

FURTHER PROCEEDINGS.

Copy of a letter from Commodore Chauncey, to the Secretary of the Navy, dated

SIR,

U. S. S. Gen. Pike, off Niagara,

October 1, 1813.

On the 26th ult. it was reported to me, that the enemy's fleet was in York. I immediately despatched the Lady of the Lake to look into York, and ascertain the fact; she returned in the evening with the information, that the enemy was in York bay. I immediately prepared to weigh; but, owing to a strong wind from N. N. E. was not able to get out of the river before the evening of the 27th; and, owing to the extreme darkness of the night, a part of the squadron got separated, and did not join before next morning, at 8. A. M. On the 28th, the Gen. Pike, Madison, and Sylph, each took a schooner in tow, and made all sail for York; soon after, discovered the enemy's flect in York bay, shaped our course for him, and prepared for action;, he perceived our intention of engaging him in his positiontacked and stood out of the bay, wind at east. I formed the line and run down for his centre: when we had approached within about 3 miles, he made all sail to the southward; I wore in succession, and stood on the same tack with him, edging down gradually in order to close. At 10 minutes, past meridian, the enemy, finding we

were closing fast with him, and that he must either risk an action, or suffer his two rear vessels to be cut off, he tacked in succession, beginning at the van, hoisted his colours, and commenced a well directed fire at this ship, for the purpose of covering his rear, and attacking our rear as he passed to leeward. Perceiving his intention, I determined to disappoint him; and, therefore, as soon as the Wolf, (the leading ship,) passed the centre of his line, and a-beam of us, I bore up in succession, (preserving our line, for the enemy's centre ;) this manœuvre not only covered our rear, but hove him in confusion; he immediately bore away.

We had, however, closed so near as to bring our guns to bear with effect; and, in 20 minutes, the main and mizen top-mast, and main yard of the Wolf was shot away; he immediately put before the wind-was enabled to out sail most of our squadron; as it brought all the sail upon one mast, he did not feel the loss of his main and mizen top-mast. I continued the chase until near three o'clock, during which time I was enabled, in this ship, (with the Asp in tow,) to keep in point-blank shot of the enemy, and sustained the whole fire during the chase. Capt. Crane, in the Madison, and Lieut. Brown, in the Oneida, used every exertion to close with the enemy; but the Madison having a heavy schooner in tow, and the Oneida sailing very dull before the wind, prevented those officers from closing near enough to do any execution with their carronades. The Gov. Tompkins kept in her station; until her foremast was so badly wounded, as to oblige her to shorten sail. Lieut. Finch, of the Madison, who commanded her for this cruise, (owing to the indisposition of Lieut. Pettigrew.) behaved with great gallantry, and is an officer of much promise. Capt. Wolsey, of the Sylph, was kept astern by the Ontario, which he had in tow, but did considerable execution with his heavy guns. At 15 minutes before 3, P. M. I very reluctantly relinquished the pursuit of a beaten enemy; the rea

sons which led to this determination, were such as, I flatter myself, you will approve-they were these:

At the time I gave up the chase, this ship was making so much water, that it required all our pumps to heep her free, owing to our receiving several shot so much below the waters edge, that we could not plug the. holes from the outside. The Gov. Tompkins with her foremast gone, and the squadron within about 6 miles of the head of the lake, blowing a gale of wind from the east, and increasing, with a heavy sea on, and every appearance of the equinox.

I considered, that if I chased the enemy to his anchorage, at the head of the lake, I should be obliged to anchor also; and although we might succeed in driving him on shore, the probability was, that we should go on shore also he amongst his friends- -we amongst our enemies; and, after the gale abated, if he could succeed in getting off one or two vessels out of the two fleets, would give him as completely the command of the lake, as if he had 20 vessels; moreover, he was covered, at his anchorage, by a part of his army, and several small batteries thrown up for the purpose; threfore, if we could have rode out the gale, we should have been cut up by their shot from the shore. Under all these circumstance, and taking into view the consequences resulting from the loss of our superiority on the lake, at this time, I, without hesitation, relinquished the opportunity, then presenting itself, of acquiring individual reputation, at the expense of my country. The loss sustained by this ship was considerable, owing to her being so long exposed to the fire of the whole of the enemy's fleet; but our most serious loss was occasioned by the bursting of one of our guns, which killed and wounded 22 men, and tore up the top-gallant forecastle, which rendered the gun, upon that deck, useless. We had 4 other guns cracked in the muzzle, which rendered their use extremely doubtful. Our main top-gallant mast was shot away in the carly