The Message and papers therein referred to were read, and referred
to the committee appointed the 9th November, on so much of the
Message of the President of the United States as relates to the Naval
Establishment, to consider and report thereon.
The documents are as follow:
BLACK ROCK, _October_ 9, 1812.
SIR: I have the honor to inform you that, on the morning of the
8th instant, two British vessels, which I was informed were
His Britannic Majesty's brig Detroit, late the United States'
brig Adams, and the brig Hunter, mounting fourteen guns, but
which afterwards proved to be the brig Caledonia, both said
to be well armed and manned, came down the lake, and anchored
under the protection of Fort Erie. Having been on the lines for
some time, and in a measure inactively employed, I determined
to make an attack, and, if possible, get possession of them; a
strong inducement to this attempt arose from a conviction that,
with those two vessels, added to those which I have purchased
and am fitting out, I should be able to meet the remainder of
the British force on the upper lakes, and save an incalculable
expense and labor to the Government. On the morning of their
arrival, I heard that our seamen were but a short distance
from this place, and immediately despatched an express to
the officers, directing them to use all possible despatch in
getting the men to this place, as I had important service
to perform. On their arrival, which was about 12 o'clock, I
discovered that they had only twenty pistols, and neither
cutlasses nor battle axes; but on application to Generals
Smyth and Hall, of the regulars and militia, I was supplied
with a few arms, and General Smyth was so good, on my request,
as immediately to detach fifty men from the regulars, armed
with muskets; by four o'clock, in the afternoon, I had my men
selected and stationed in two boats which I had previously
prepared for the purpose; with those boats, fifty men in each,
and under circumstances very disadvantageous, my men having
had scarcely time to refresh themselves, after a fatiguing
march of five hundred miles, I put off from the mouth of
Buffalo creek, at one o'clock the following morning; and at
three I was alongside the vessels; in about ten minutes I had
the prisoners all secured, the topsails sheeted home, and the
vessels under way; unfortunately the wind was not sufficiently
strong to get me up against a rapid current into the lake,
where I understood another armed vessel lay at anchor, and I
was obliged to run down the river by the forts, under a heavy
fire of round, grape, and canister, from a number of pieces
of heavy ordnance, and several pieces of flying artillery;
was compelled to anchor at a distance of about four hundred
yards from two of their batteries. After the discharge of the
first gun, which was from the flying artillery, I hauled to
the shore, and observed to the officer that if another gun
was fired, I would bring the prisoners on deck, and expose
them to the fate we should all share; but notwithstanding they
disregarded the caution, continuing a constant and destructive
fire, one single moment's reflection determined me not to
commit an act that would subject me to the imputation of
barbarity. The Caledonia had been beached in as safe a position
as the circumstances would admit of, under one of our batteries
at Black Rock; I now brought all the guns of the Detroit on one
side, next the enemy, stationed the men at them, and directed
a fire, which was continued as long as our ammunition lasted,
and circumstances permitted. During the contest, I endeavored
to get the Detroit on our side, by sending a line (there being
no wind) on shore, with all the line I could muster; but the
current being so strong the boat could not reach the shore. I
then hauled on shore, and requested that warps should be made
fast on the land and sent on board, the attempt to do which
again proved useless. As the fire was such as would, in all
probability, sink the vessel in a short time, I determined to
drop down the river, out of reach of the batteries, and make
a stand against the flying artillery. I accordingly cut the
cable and made sail, with very light airs, and at that instant
discovered that the pilot had abandoned me. I dropped astern,
for about ten minutes, when I was brought up on our shore, on
Squaw Island; got the boarding boat made, had all the prisoners
put in and sent on shore, with directions for the officer to
return for me, and what property we could get from the brig; he
did not return, owing to the difficulty of the boat's getting
ashore. Discovering a skiff under the counter, I sent the four
remaining prisoners in the boat, and, with my officer, I went
on shore to bring the boat off; I asked for protection to the
brig of Lieutenant Colonel Scott, who readily gave it; at this
moment I discovered a boat, with about forty soldiers, from
the British side, making for the brig; they got on board, but
were soon compelled to abandon her, with the loss of nearly all
their men. During the whole of this morning both sides of the
river kept up, alternately, a constant fire on the brig, and so
much injured her that it was impossible to have floated her.
Before I left her, she had received twelve shot, of large size,
in her bends, her sails in ribands, and her rigging all cut to
pieces. To my officers and men, I feel under great obligations;
to Captain Towson, and Lieutenant Roach, of the second regiment
of artillery; Ensign Presstman, of the infantry; to Cornelius
Chapin, Mr. John McComb, Messrs. John Tower, Thomas Davis,
Peter Overtacks, James Sloan, resident gentlemen of Buffalo,
for their soldier and sailor-like conduct; in a word, every
man fought with their hearts animated only by the interest and
honor of their country. The prisoners I have turned over to
the military. The Detroit mounted six six-pound long guns; a
commanding lieutenant, a lieutenant of marines, a boatswain and
gunner, and fifty-six men; about thirty American prisoners on
board; muskets, pistols, and battle-axes; in boarding her, I
lost one man, one officer wounded; Mr. John C. Cummings, acting
midshipman, a bayonet through the leg; his conduct was correct,
and deserves the notice of the Department.
The Caledonia mounted two small guns, blunderbusses, pistols,
muskets, cutlasses, and boarding pistols; twelve men, including
officers; ten prisoners on board; the boat boarding her,
commanded by Sailing-master George Watts, performed his duty in
a masterly style; but one man killed and four wounded badly, I
am afraid mortally.
I enclose you a list of the officers and men engaged in the
enterprise, and also a view of the lake and river in the
different situations of attack; in a day or two I shall forward
the names of the prisoners. The Caledonia belongs to the
Northwest Company, laden with furs, worth, I understood, two
hundred thousand dollars.