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I have repaired the principal damages sustained by this ship in the action of the 28th ultimo, and have put a new foremast into the Governor Tompkins. We are now ready and waiting the movements of the army, which it is contemplated will leave here on the 10th.

The vessels captured on the 5th are gun-vessels, mounting from one to three guns each, with troops from the head of the lake (but last from York) bound to Kingston. We learnt from the prisoners that the enemy was very much cut up in their hulls and spars, and a great many men killed and wounded, particularly on board of the Wolfe and Royal George. I enclose herewith a list of the prisoners taken on the 5th.

I have the honour to be, very respectfully, sir, your most obedient servant,

ISAAC CHAUNCEY. Hon. William Jones, Secretary of the Navy, Washington.

Return of British Prisoners of War landed from on board the Squadron under the command of Commodore Isaac Chauncey, October 6th and 7th, 1813.

C. W. Grant, lieutenant-colonel, B. M. L. C.; Charles de Villatte, major, Watteville regiment, lieutenant-colonel by brevet; Frederick Zehinder, captain do. major; Francis Dicenter, lieutenant do. captain; William A. Steele, lieutenant and adjutant, 89th do.; Arthur Carter, lieutenant Royal Artillery, do.; Charles Morris volunteer, do. do.; David Duval, lieutenant, Watteville regiment, do.; Albert Manuel, lieutenant, do. do.; Mort. M'Mahan, lieutenant, 8th or king's do.; Orbi, assistant surgeon, Watteville regiment; Hector M'Lean, lieutenant Royal Navy, commanding sloop Drummond; James Jackson, master's mate, do., commanding schooner Hamilton; David Wingfield, do. do. Confiance; Theophilus Sampson,, late master of the sloop Betsey; Joseph Jillet, sailing-master; Joseph Dennis, John Segarford, pilot.

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Non-commissioned Officers, Musicians, Privates, and Seamen. Royal Artillery 1; 80th regiment 10; Watteville regiment 186; Newfoundland regiment 3; Voltigeurs 1; Royal Navy 38-officers of the army and navy 18-total 252.

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CAPTURE OF THE BRITISH SQUADRON ON LAKE ERIE.

Copy of a Letter from Commodore Perry to the Secretary of the

Navy.

United States Brig Niagara, off the Western Sister, Head Sir, of Lake Erie, September 10th, 1813, 4, P. M.

It has pleased the Almighty to give to the arms of the United States a signal victory over their enemies on this lake. The British squadron, consisting of two ships, two brigs, one schooner, and one sloop, have this moment surrendered to the force under my command, after a sharp conflict.

I have the honour to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

O. H. PERRY.

The Hon. William Jones, Secretary of the Navy.

Copy of a Letter from Commodore Perry to the Secretary of the

Sir,

Navy.

United States Schooner Ariel, Put-in Bay, 13th September, 1813. In my last I informed you that we had captured the enemy's fleet on this lake. I have now the honour to give you the most important particulars of the action. On the morning of the 10th instant, at sun-rise, they were discovered from Put-in-Bay, where I lay at anchor with the squadron under my command. We got under weigh, the wind light at south-west, and stood for them. At 10, A. M., the wind hauled to south-east, and brought us to windward: formed the line and bore up. At fifteen minutes before 12, the enemy commenced firing; at five minutes before 12 the action commenced on our part. Finding their fire very destructive, owing to their long guns, and its being mostly directed at the Lawrence, I made sail, and directed the other vessels to follow, for the purpose of closing with the enemy. Every brace and bowline being soon shot away, she became unmanageable, notwithstanding the great exertions of the sailing-master. In this situation she sustained the action upwards of two hours within canister distance, until every gun was rendered useless and the greater part of her crew either killed or wounded. Finding she could no longer annoy the enemy, I left her in charge of lieutenant Yarnall, who I was convinced, from the bravery already displayed by him, would do what would comport with the honour of the flag. At half past two, the wind springing up, captain Elliot was enabled to bring his vessel, the Niagara, gallantly into close action; I

immediately went on board of her, when he anticipated my wish, by volunteering to bring the schooners, which had been kept ast rn by the lightness of the wind, into close action. It was with unspeakable pain that I saw, soon after I got on board the Niagara, the flag of the Lawrence come down, although I was perfectly sensible that she had been defended to the last, and that to have continued to make a show of resistance would have been a wanton sacrifice of the remains of her brave crew; but the enemy was not able to take possession of her, and circumstances soon permitted her flag again to be hoisted. At forty-five minutes past 2, the signal was made for close action. The Niagara being very little injured, I determined to pass through the enemy's line; bore up, and passed a-head of their two ships and a brig, giving a raking fire to them from the starboard guns, and to a large schooner and sloop from the larboard side, at half pistol shot distance. The smaller vessels at this time having got within grape and canister distance, under the direction of captain Elliot, and keeping up a well-directed fire, the two ships, a brig, and a schooner surrendered, a schooner and sloop making a vain attempt to escape.

Those officers and men who were immediately under my observation evinced the greatest gallantry, and I have no doubt that all the others conducted themselves as became American officers and seamen. Lieutenant Yarnall, first of the Lawrence, although several times wounded, refused to quit the deck. Midshipman Forrest, doing duty as lieutenant, and sailing-master Taylor were of great assistance to me. have great pain in stating to you the death of lieutenant Brook of the marines, and midshipman Laub, both of the Lawrence, and midshipman John Clarke, of the Scorpion: they were valuable and promising officers. Mr. Hambleton, purser, who volunteered his services on deck, was severely wounded late in the action. Midshipmen Claxton and Swartwout, of the Lawrence, were severely wounded. On board of the Niagara, lieutenants Smith and Edwards, and midshipman Webster, doing duty as sailing-master, behaved in a very handsome manner. Captain Brevoort, of the army, who acted as a volunteer, in the capacity of marine officer on board that vessel, is an excellent and brave officer, and with his musketry did great execution. Lieutenant Turner, commanding the Caledonia, brought that vessel into action in the most able manner, and is an officer that in all situations may be relied on. The Ariel, lieutenant Parker, and the Scorpion, sailing-master Champion, were enabled to get early into

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action, and were of great service. Captain Elliott speaks in the highest terms of Mr. Magrath, purser, who had been despatched in a boat on service previous to my getting on board the Niagara, and, being a seaman, since the action has rendered essential service, in taking charge of one of the prizes. Of captain Elliot, already so well known to the go vernment, it would be almost superfluous to speak. In this action he evinced his characteristic bravery and judgment, and, since the close of the action, has given me the most able and essential assistance.

I have the honour to enclose you a return of the killed and wounded, together with a statement of the relative force of the squadrons. The captain and first lieutenant of the Queen Charlotte, and first lieutenant of the Detroit, were killed. Captain Barclay, senior officer, and commander of the Lady Prevost severely wounded. The commander of the Hunter and Chippeway slightly wounded. Their loss in killed and wounded I have not yet been able to ascertain; it must, however, have been very great.

Very respectfully, I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant, O. H. PERRY.

The Hon. William Jones, Secretary of the Navy.

Statement of the Force of the British Squadron. Ship Detroit, 19 guns, one on a pivot, and 2 howitzers; Queen Charlotte, 17 do. 1 do. ; schooner Lady Prevost, 13, do. 1 do.; brig Hunter, 10 do. ; sloop Little Belt, 3; schr. Chippeway, 1 do. and 2 swivels-63 guns.

Note The Detroit is a new ship very strongly built, and mounts long twenty-fours, eighteens, and twelves.

Statement of the Force of the United States Squadron. Brig Lawrence, 20 guns, Niagara, 20 do.; Caledonia, 3 do.; schooner Ariel, 4 do. (one burst early in the action); Scorpion, 2 do. ; Somers, 2 do. and 2 swivels ; sloop Trippe, 1 do.; schooner Tigress, 1 do.; Porcupine, 1 do.-54 guns. The exact number of the enemy's force has not been ascertained; but I have good reason to believe that it exceeded ours by nearly one hundred men.

List of Killed and wounded on board the United States Squadron under command of O. H. Perry, esquire, in the action 10th September, 1813, viz.

of

Lawrence, killed 22, wounded 61, total 83; Niagara, killed 2, wounded 25, total 27; Caledonia, wounded 3; Somers,

wounded 2; Ariel, killed 1, wounded 3, total 4; Trippe, wounded 2; Scorpion, killed 2-killed 27, wounded 96, total 123.

S. HAMBLETON, Purser.
O. H. PERRY, Captain and
Senior Officer.

[On the morning of the action the sick list of the Lawrence contained 31, that of the Niagara 28, unfit for duty. In the small vessels, 51 were unfit for service two days previous to the action.]

CAPTURE OF THE BRITISH ARMY UNDER GENERAL

PROCTOR.

Copy of a Letter from General Harrison to the Department of War. Head-Quarters, near Moravian Town, on the River Thames, 80 miles from Detroit, 5th Oct. 1813.

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I have the honour to inform you, that by the blessing of Providence, the army under my command has this evening obtained a complete victory over the combined Indian and British forces under the command of general Proctor. I believe that nearly the whole of the enemy's regulars are taken or killed. Amongst the former are all the superior officers excepting general Proctor.

My mounted men are in pursuit of him. Our loss is trifling. The brave colonel R. M. Johnson is the only officer whom I have heard of that is wounded, he badly, but I hope not dangerously. I have the honour, &c.

WM. H. HARRISON. Hon. John Armstrong, Secretary of War.

Copy of a Letter from Major general Harrison to the Secretary of War.

Sir,

Head-Quarters, Detroit, 9th Oct. 1813.. In my letter from Sandwich of the 30th ultimo, I did myself the honour to inform you, that I was preparing to pursue the enemy the following day. From various causes, however, I was unable to put the troops in motion until the morning of the 2d instant, and then to take with me only about 140 of the regular troops, Johnson's mounted regiment, and such of governor Shelby's volunteers as were fit for a rapid march, the whole amounting to about 3500 men. To general M'Arthur (with about 700 effectives) the protecting

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