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said Robert, out of any monies in the treasury, not otherwise ap propriated."

Until the year 1804, Jesse Elliot was engaged in prosecuting his regular studies in a school in Pennsylvania, when he was appointed a midshipman in the navy, and ordered on board the U. S. frigate Essex. The United States being engaged in a war with the Barbary powers, the above mentioned frigate was ordered to cruise in the Mediterranean.

The little force that congress were enabled to detach for that service....their limited means of annoyance....the treachery and ferocity of their barbarous antagonists, created a deep responsibility in the officers, and conspired to introduce a system of masculine intrepidity, severity of discipline, and promptitude of obedience, of which, even to the present hour, we reap the benefits. The treachery of our opponents taught our men to be ever on the alert, and their cruelty made them bold and rasolute to rashness. Knowing how much was expected, and how scanty were their means, they supplied every deficiency by skill and courage. Contempt of danger was so rigidly enforced, that when one of our subordinate officers showed symptoms of fear in an engagement, and was tried by a court-martial, the commodore assigned for his acquittal, a reason no less curious than just, (viz.) that the bare supposition that one coward existed on board of the American fleet, was of itself a greater injury than the condemnation of this man could possibly be a benefit, as it would establish the fact. squadron in the Mediterranean minutely watched the of our little fleet for the purpose of sarcasm and jest. casms were however soon converted into expressions of warm admiration.

The British movements Their sar

Thus does the sturdy son of Vulcan deal,

On the hard anvil he torments his strel.

Drawn from the forge. it glows with angry lights,
And sparkles indignation while he smites
Fast fall the blows. but they new strength afford,
Till chang'd at last, it shines the warrior's sword.

Amidst such a band of kindred spirits, our young midshipman learned to smile at danger while he grew familiar with it, and felt his ideas expanded and enlarged. Returning to the United States in July 1807, and desirous of obtaining a lieutenancy in the navy, he solicited the kind offices of Mr. Robert Serrit Smith, in whose charge he had been placed as well privately as officially, to obtain a station on board the trigate Chesapeake. He remained in this station until June 1810, when he was appointed acting lieutenant on board the schooner Enterprize. This vessel was ordered to cruise on the coast, and to enforce the embargo laws. Lieut. Elliot remained in this service until the year 1810, and was then appointed to carry a despatch to Mr. Pinkney our minister at the court of Great Britain.

On his return to the United States he served in the John Adams until September 1811. From the Adams he was transferred to the Argus, on board of which he acted as first lieutenant, and in which he remained until the following year. He was all this time preparing his mind for the severe duties of his profession; for to shine in gold lace and epaulets, to talk of his own intrepidity, to become the petty hero of a drawing room, constituted no part of his ambition. He left that grovelling pride to those who can condescend to become the heroes of their own fame, and who wear the badges of their country's honour to show how little they deserve them.

The probability that an opportunity would be soon afforded of distinguishing himself in the service of his country, was, in his estimation, becoming every hour more and more remote. He saw no prospect of war, and, fatigued in the chace of glory's brilliant visions that still sparkled over his head, and still eluded his grasp, he resigned his mind to the sway of the more endearing passions. On the 5th of April 1812, he was married to Miss Frances Vaughan, daughter of Mr. William Vaughan, of Norfolk county, Virginia. Fortune, that capricious goddess, as if to try the strength of his attachment to arms, immediately compelled him to relinquish the sweets of domestic intercourse, and the calm delights of conjugal affection, for the hardier scenes of danger and battle: war was declared against England. He immediately and with all speed repaired to New York, to rejoin the vessel whence he had been furloughed, and found, to his mortification, that she had already sailed upon a cruize.

He was nevertheless solicited by Commodore Chauncey to embark with him on a secret and novel expedition, to which he cor dially assented, and the commodore applied to the proper department to receive his instructions. Lieutenant Elliot was honoured by an appointment to the command on Lake Erie, and received orders to repair to that place with all possible despatch, purchase what private vessels he could, build two ships of twenty guns, and as early as possible have his fleet in readiness to meet that of the enemy.

Lieutenant Elliot knew the vast importance of the command of the lakes in our war against Canada and the difficulty and delay which would attend the building of the vessels, to say nothing of the expense. He had indeed, in pursuance of his instructions, purchased some vessels; but here again he was much embarrassed with the difficulty of getting up the Niagara and into the lake. After revolving in his mind all these obstacles, he formed the resolution of boarding and capturing two British brigs of war, called the Detroit and Caledonia, lying under the protection of the batteries on Fort Erie. He accordingly embarked in two boats, with fifty men in each, and put off from the mouth of Buffalo

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creek, and at one o'clock in the morning came along side of the enemy. He boarded and captured the two vessels, and secured all the prisoners in ten minutes. Unfortunately the wind was not strong enough to enable Lieutenant Elliot to make head against the rapid current in the lake, and he was compelled to anchor opposite the enemy's forts, within about four hundred and fifty yards of their batteries, exposed to a heavy and incessant fire of round, grape, and cannister shot from a number of pieces of heavy ordinance and their flying artillery. The Caledonia was however beyond the reach of the enemy's guns, under one of our batteries at Black Rock. Lieut. Elliot ordered all the guns of the Detroit to be mounted on one side, whence he kept up a constant fire against the enemy's batteries as long as his ammunition lasted. ⚫ He determined then to drop down the river out of reach of their cannon, and make a stand against the flying artillery. At this instant he discovered, for the first time, that his pilot had deserted him. He however, cut the cable and falling astern, made good his way to Square Island. He sent the boarding boat on shore with the prisoners, himself and four others only remaining in the Detroit, directing the officer to return for him and what property they might be able to save from the brig. The officer was unable to return on account of the strength of the current. At length discovering a skiff under the stern, he made for the shore in her with the remaining part of the crew.

During all this time an incessant fire was kept up from both sides of the river on the brig. She received twelve shot of large size in her bends, her sails were reduced to ribbands, and her rigging cut to pieces. Finding that all attempts to carry off the Detroit was unavailing, he dismantled her of all her ordinance and stores and set her on fire. The Caledonia was found to be a vessel belonging to the north-west company, loaded with peltry. Lieutenant Elliot's party consisted of one hundred men. He was fortunate enough to capture one hundred and thirty prisoners with their officers, and to release from captivity forty of his own countrymen, belonging to the fourth U. S. regiment. Lieut. Elliot on boarding opposed three of the enemy with no other weapon than his cutlass. During the hottest of the fire from the batteries, a cannon shot passed through, and striking a large silver wedge deposited in a trunk belonging to one of the officers, bent it double. This wedge is still preserved as a curiosity.

So sensible were congress of the gallantry and skill of this young officer, as displayed in this exploit, that they passed the following resolution: "Be it enacted, &c. that the president of the United States be, and he is hereby authorized to have distributed as prize money to Lieut. Elliot, his officers and companions, or to their widows and children, the sum of twelve thousand dollars, for the capture and destruction of the British brig Detroit." "Re

solved, that the president of the United States be, and he is hereby requested to present to Lieut. Elliot of the navy of the United States, an elegant sword with suitable emblems and devices, in testimony of the just sense entertained by congress of his gallantry and good conduct in boarding and capturing the British brigs Detroit and Caledonia, while anchored under the protection of Fort Erie."

Shortly after this brilliant exploit, Lieut. Elliot left Erie and arrived at Sacket's Harbour, where he joined Commodore Chauncey. The commodore sailed on the 8th of November with six schooners in quest of the enemy's fleet, and on the same day fell in with the Royal George. Losing sight of her in the night, he discovered her the next morning riding in Kingston channel, under the protection of the batteries. He immediately followed her into the channel where he engaged her and the batteries for an hour and three quarters, and determined to board her in the night. But as the wind blew directly on shore, and the pilot refused to take charge of the vessels, the commodore was reluctantly compelled to forego his determination. Lieut. Elliot commanded the leading vessel in this engagement.

On the 24th of July Lieut. Elliot was promoted over thirty lieutenants, to the rank of master commandant. Being appointed to command the Madison in Commodore Chauncey's fleet, when that officer sailed for York, on his arrival he discovered that he could not bring his ship into action from the shoaliness of the water..... He then volunteered his services, and asked and obtained the commodore's permission to lead the small vessels employed in covering the troops while they were landing and attacking the batteries. Gen. Dearborn embarked his troops, amounting to seventeen hundred men, on board Com. Chauncey's fleet, and arrived at York, the capital of Upper Canada. The squadron taking a

position to the westward and southward of the fort, covered the debarkation of the troops. The rifleren under Major Forsyth landed under a heavy fire, and seven hundred regulars with one hundred Indians marched to oppose the landing of the American army. Gen. Pike with seven hundred men having effected a landing, routed the enemy and pushed direct for the principal batteries. At this time the enemy blew up his magazine, and precipitately retreated. Thirty-eight of our men were killed by this explosion, amongst whom we have to lament the gallant Pike, and two hundred and thirty-eight were wounded. The town surrendered by capitulation, and Capt. Elliot was appointed by Com. Chauncey to see that the articles were carried into execution on the part of the navy.

After his return to Sacket's Harbour, he found an officer of usual rank in waiting for the Madison, while he himself was ordered by the secretary of the navy to take the command of one

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of the brigs on Lake Erie. He complied with this order, not without regret, desiring as he did to be with Com. Chauncey in the action hourly expected to be fought on Lake Ontario. He volunteered until after the contemplated action to serve on board the General Pike as acting first lieutenant. He made this proposition however with reluctance, as he thought that his rank and services entitled him to a more conspicuous command.

When the squadron was ready for sea and had proceeded to the head of the lake, information was received that the American fleet was blockaded at Erie, that the siege of Fort Meigs was raised, and that the troops were waiting for the navy to cover their crossing to Malden. The commodore communicated this intelligence to Capt. Elliot. He was then under a belief that Sir James Yeo would not venture out of Kingston and give battle to Com. Chauncey for some time, and agreed to leave Ontario for Lake Erie. He accordingly set out with one hundred volunteers, arrived at Erie in five days, and on the sixth sailed for Malden in pursuit of the enemy. On the 10th of September the enemy's fleet were discovered at sun rise from Put-in-bay, where the American squadron, commanded by Commodore Perry, were riding at anchor.

The American commander immediately prepared for action, and gave chase to the enemy. On the flag of the commodore's vessel were inscribed the dying words of the gallant Lawrence.... "Dont give up the ship."

Perry having formed his line, bore down for the enemy's fleet, in order of battle, and outsailing his squadron, pursued his course, with an intention to come to close quarters, and thus received the whole fire of the enemy's line. Being much annoyed by the long guns of the enemy, with all his rigging shot away, and his guns all dismounted, the Lawrence became unmanageable, having sustained the enemy's fire for two hours within cannister distance. At this moment Com. Perry formed the resolution of shifting his flag, and abandoning the ship to the care of Lieut. Yarnall. He repaired in an open boat, exposed to the whole range of the enemy's fire, from his broad-side and small arms, on board the Niagara commanded by Capt. Elliot. He determined now on breaking the enemy's line, and bearing up passed ahead of their two ships, giving them a raking fire from the right and left. While this bold manoeuvre was performing, some circumstances occurred that induced Capt. Elliot to quit his station and proceed to the head of

the line.

Here unfortunately rests the difference between these two gallant officers. Com. Perry states in his official account of this battle, that he made sail and directed the other vessels to follow him, for the purpose of closing with the enemy. He further states, that at half-past two Capt. Elliot was enabled, by the wind spring

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