Hon. PAUL HAMILTON,
_Secretary of the Navy_.
_Lieutenant Elliott to the Secretary of the Navy._
BLACK ROCK, _October_ 10, 1812.
SIR: In my letter of yesterday's date, I stated my intention
to enclose to you a list of the officers and men engaged with
me in capturing His Britannic Majesty's brig, the Detroit, and
brig Caledonia. The incessant fire of the enemy, and my own
constant engagements for the protection of the vessels, compel
me to postpone sending that list until another opportunity.
Last evening, having observed an intention, on the part of
the enemy, to remove the ordnance and military stores with
which the Detroit was charged, I determined at once to set
her on fire; thereby to prevent her having the aid of masts
and yards in getting her guns into boats, she having five
twelve-pound guns in her hold, and six six-pounders upon her
deck, that I could prepare them, and, with my sailors, remove
the ordnance during the night, when unobserved by the enemy.
These preparations I am now making, and shall, with as much
expedition as possible, continue to get the ordnance, and place
it in our battery, as we are much in want--- not one piece at
Black Rock. The Caledonia I have perfectly recovered from the
enemy.