GUN BOAT ACTION

On the 19th of May, commodore Lewis, commanding the United States flotilla on the New York station, discovered the enemy in pursuit of a brig under American colours standing for Sandy Hook; when he ordered a detachment of eleven gun boats to proceed to sea and pass between the chase and the enemy, by which means to bring him to action, and give opportunity to the chase to escape-all which was effected; and the enemy, after receiving the fire of the boats bore away.

On the 23d, commodore Lewis engaged the enemy, before New London, and opened a passage for forty sail of coasting vessels; the action lasted three hours, in which the flotilla suffered very little, and night coming on, the action ceased. The enemy's force consisted of two ships and a sloop of war, and from appearance suffered severely, as he was unwilling to renew the action next morning.

EVENTS ON LAKE ERIE.

On the morning of the 8th of October, 1812, two British vessels, the Detroit and the Caledonia, came down Lake Erie, and anchored under the guns of

the British fort Erie. United States navy, who, at that time superintended the naval affairs on lake Erie, determined to attack, and if possible, to possess himself of them.

Lieutenant Elliot, of the

About this time, a number of seamen were marching from the sea shore to the lake. Early the day before the intended attack, he despatched a messenger to hasten them forward. They arrived about

twelve o'clock; but he discovered that they had only twenty pistols, and neither cutlasses nor battleaxes. On application to general Smyth, he was supplied with a few arms: and about fifty men were detached from the regulars, armed with muskets.

By four o'clock in the afternoon, lieutenant Elliot had his men selected and stationed in two boats, fifty in each. At one o'clock on the following morning, he put off from the mouth of Buffalo creek, under very disadvantageous circumstances, his men having scarcely had time to refresh themselves after a fatiguing march of five hundred miles. At three o'clock he came along side the British vessels. In the space of ten minutes he got possession of them, had secured the crews as prisoners, and had them under way. The wind, unfortunately, was not sufficiently strong to carry them against a rapid current into the lake, where, he was informed, another vessel lay at anchor. He was obliged in running down the river, to pass the British forts, under a heavy fire of round, grape and cannister shot, from a number of pieces of heavy ordnance, and several pieces of flying artillery. Lieutenant Elliot was compelled to anchor at

a distance of about four hundred yards from two of their batteries. After the discharge of the first gun he hailed the British officer, and observed to him, that if another gun were fired he would bring the prisoners on deck and expose them to the same fate with the Americans. But, notwithstanding they continued to keep up a constant and destructive fire a moment's reflection determined him not to commit an act of such barbarity. The Caledonia had been beached in as safe a position as circumstances would admit of, under one of the American batteries at Black Rock.

He

Lieutenant Elliot now brought all the guns of his vessel on her side next the enemy, and a fire was kept up until all his ammunition was expended. During the contest he endeavoured to get the Detroit on the American side, but did not succeed. then determined to drift down the river, out of reach of the British Batteries, and make a stand against their flying artillery. He accordingly ordered the cable to be cut, and made sail with a very light breeze. At this moment he discovered that his pilot had abandoned him. He dropped astern for about ten minutes, when he was brought up on Squaw 'and, near the American shore. A boat with priners was sent on shore; but, owing to the difficulty it met with did not return. He, however, with the remainder of the prisoners and crew, succeeded in getting on shore.

About eleven o'clock next morning, a company of British regulars from fort Erie, boarded the Detroit,

to destroy the military stores with which she was principally laden. But they were dislodged by a detachment of volunteers under the command of major Cyrenus Chapin. About three o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, the British a second time attempted to board the Detroit; but were again repulsed.

long six pounders, and About thirty American She was burnt by the

The Detroit mounted six had a crew of fifty-six men. prisoners were on board her. Americans after they had taken the greater part of the stores out of her. The Caledonia mounted two small guns, and had a crew of twelve men. She had on board a cargo of furs, estimated at about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

In March 1813, captain Perry arrived at the port of Erie, to take command of the fleet there fitting out. During the summer the following American vessels were equipped on lake Erie.

The British fleet under the command of commodore Barclay, consisted of the following vessels.

The

On the morning of the tenth of September the British fleet was discovered by commodore Perry from Put in Bay, where he then lay at anchor. Commodore Perry immediately got under way with his squadron, and stood for the British fleet. wind at that time was light from southwest. At fifteen minutes before twelve, the British commenced firing and at five minutes before twelve, the action commenced on the part of the Americans. As the fire of the British, owing to their long guns, was very severe upon the Americans, and was principally directed at the Lawrence, commodore Perry resolved to close with them: he accordingly made sail, and ordered the other vessels to follow. Every brace and bowline of the Lawrence being shot away, she became unmanageable, notwithstanding the great exertions of the sailing master. In this situation she sustained the action, within cannister distance, upwards of two hours, until every gun was rendered