,IMiilM^.jM.>l|l,iiiiiiii"i>"»WWl^ \ v/ aiefia:. T m ^ I a «5 ti ^ 'I • «» . . - = O^ SI a; I! i§ an to- I n I 1 n CORRESPONDENCE IN RELATION TO THE CAPTURE OF THE BRITISH BRIGS DETROIT AND CALEDONIA, ON THE NIGHT OF OCTOBER 8, 1812. / NOW FIRST f UBLISHED. jjUL^ ^.7s. PHILADELPHIA: UNITED STATES BOOK AND JOB PRINTING OFFICE, LEDGER BUILDING. 184.3. w*>iw»tfaMW— WMMitH-i mnui E3U BMfce «]Uuu>w& M^ilfii^g j^aKiggMaaa aB^tBsawikg. •». ^ PREFATORY REIVIARKS. Tho following corrospondence never having been Inid fully and comj(rtcdly before the public, and the wiiole matter having been of late brought into renewed controversy by recent public "^discussions, I have thought it desirable that the affair should be clearly and definitively understood. No new ground has been tiikeii, nor is any new hostility toward, or fresh imputa- tion upon any person intended by the present publication:* the sole object of which is purely explanatory. It furnishes both the text and the commentary. J. D. ELIIOTT. West Chester, May Gth, 1843. tmm iiiM"iiiil«iii irM MBBti r 1 1 ^' ' " I i '"' ••'' * " "^ "'^'''""■»"«™""" «' \T CORRESPONDENCE. Washinoton Cit», July 0, 1833. To Commoilor* J. D. Elliott ; Sir — My attention was called to the oiiclosrd article, which hud been cut out of the lidstou Courier and Bent to a friend of mine in thin place, with a request that ho would obtain from me a statement of tlie services performed by the artillery under my comnian(i| in the capture of the brit;» Detroit and Cale- donia, and of the circumstaiicea under which the latter was saved from being burnt to prevent recapture. I understood the information was wanted for pub- lication, to correct what was believed to be erroneous in the article that appeared in the Courier, and to claim for the army whatever credit it was entitled to for that aflair. On reflection, I thought that if such publication was made, it should be done by me, and under my name ; and on further consideration, I concluded to make it; but before my statement was prepared, I noticed several paragraphs in the public prints relating to you, altogether of an unfriendly character ; and I thought that a publication, at that time, contradicting the article in the Courier, which was intended to do you honor, would have the appearance of taking an unfair advantage of the feeling produced by these paragraphs. This, together with the important fact that you were then absent from the country, determined me to postpone it. Your return to the United States moves the objection sooner than I anticipated. It occurs to me, however, that it will be most agreeable to you to make the corrections yourself, and to give my command the credit to which it is entitled. The object of this communication is, therefore, to ascer- tain from you which course you would prefer. Your official report, dated October 0th, 1812, the day on which the capture was made, gives but an imperfect account of the boarding of the Caledonia, and says nothing about the subsequent preservation of that vessel under circum- stances similar to those which induced you to cause the Detroit to be burnt. Your report says : " By l o'clock in the afternoon, I had my .. ■ ■ In two boats, which I had pre- viously prepared for the purpose. With ti ;8c boats, fifty men in each, and under circumstances very disadvantageous ; my men having scarcely had time to refresh themselves after a fatiguing march of five hundred miles, I put off from the mouth of Buffalo Creek at 1 o'clock the following morning, and at 3 o'clock I was alongside the vessels. In the space of ten minutes I had the prisoners secured, the topsails sheeted home and the vessels underway." From this, as well as from the statement in the Courier, it would appear that the vessels must have been anchored close together ; that they were boarded at the same time under your superintendence and immediate orders, and that the part performed by the volunteers from the army, was not sufficiently important to be particularly noticed. Whereas, you will recollect that the night was dark, and that the boats separated immediately after leaving Buffalo Creek, and did 2 J not »eo nor ^ommunioalp with enrh othPT aftor that fimc; and you will alio reroilfft tliut the ( nliMl..nii. lay iiPiirt'Ht tho Fi.rt, and to upproiirh h.T, thu Wt .■otimmiMlr.l |,y Mr. Wmt-i niiint puiiN th.- D.'Iroit. As we paucd, we were huil.'d mid (|Ui'itioii.Ml, but not oth.Twii..' intfrriipt.'d. At this timt- wo indii- tinctly saw the Caiedoiiiu, and Mr. VVuUn fxproiiHfd stronn doiil.t,^ ubout cur hpint' abl.> to r.-ach h.T on urcount ol th.- curr.nit, nnil n.rmur.Ml th.> pilot lor haviMu' hroucht tho l)oat nt-arcr in ihom. Thn piUit inxidti-d on the practica- hihty of rt'Ht luiii; the briu, m.twitbstunditm the c-urrent and the timo lout in hfnitutinK oiK.ut iiial4in« thi' att.'ni|)t. It th.'n b.cnmw m'.v.miry, to prevent an abandonment of the enterprizo, so liir uh wp were .wieiTiird, |I,.,| I Hhonid tal«^ tho rfbix)n«ibility nn.l command. We reached the bri({ with (hdl.nlty, and un(U-r .lisadvunlHK.'ouH einumHlances, Alter a sharp coiillict, wo auccceded in carryi m her with a Ion, on our port, of two killed and thirteen wounded. Your oineial report mentions hut one kille.l and four wounded ; but that wiw confined to seamen. Vou had no return of my eonmiand, wliieh oonsisted ol twenty nine artillerists; of whom one was killed and nine wounded ; making the angregate as stated. After mentioninx the circumstances which compelled you to anchor the Detroit under the fire of the enemy, and the impracticability of li-ttinii her into harbor you tiive the imrtic ulars of your landinK ami of th- enemy's boarding with forty soldiers, and then being compelled to leave her " with the low of nearly all his men;" but you do not mention burning the brif,' to prevent »ub- »c(ju.'nt recapture. In .,penking of the other vessel, you say, '■ The Caledonia had been beached in as sale a jiosition as the circumstances would admit of, under one of our bat- teries at Black Rock." There was no selection of place in "beaching" the Caledonia; she grounded in tho Niagara river, opposite two of tho enemy's batteries, which kept up a fire on her at intervals throughout the day. About the time you loft the Detroit, Mr. Watts left the Caledonia, with the prisoners taken in her, and did not return. I remained on board with my command, and notwithstaiuling the fire of the enemy, succeeded in getting the brig afloat by landing jxirt of her cargo. If .Air. Watts, or the seamen, had remained or returned after the cargo was land.'d, we shouhl have been able to have brought the vessel into port; but for want of nautical skill, I could only •uccecd in bringing her nearer the shore, and into a safer position, before she again got aground. About dusk a seaman came on Iwanl with combustibles, and stated that you had sent him with instructions to burn the brig ; that you were informed the enemy had crossed the river below, and was marching to attack Black Rock ; that the troops were leaving the Rock to join the main body, under General Smyth; and that unless the brigs were burnt, they would be recaptured. At this lime the Detroit was on fire. As I did not believe the enemy intended to attack, and that if h.- did, it would be soon enough to burn the brig when it was found he could not be repulsed, I would not permit your order to be executed. Tho report of the enemy's movements proved to be incorrect, and the Caledonia Was saved. You will probably ask why, if your official report was considered incorrect, or not sufficiently particular in its details, it was not mentioned to you at the time, and why it has been permitted to remain thus long without explanaUon or correction ? The answer, so far as I am concerned, is that the day following the date of your report, Mr. Watts called on me, as he said, by your direction, wtfft^'fVi m. I'ljiit'lMi and ynii will aliio imrh hiT, tlio lK)ot |)uupd, we wer* 'u» titin' wp inilii- iltiiiliiA uboiit iiiir •iiri'il thi> pilot lor 'd mi thi- prartica- tha time lo«t in iry, to prt'vi'iit an lliiit I kIioiiIiI tuko Ui diinnilty. uml Wt! KtRl't'odl-d ill hirti't'n wouiidi'd. I'd ; but tliut wiM liii'li coimiitt'd of irotindi'd ; mnkiii|( III to nnclior the it'C'ttiiiK li throu);hotit the Culedoniu, with 11 board with my led in getting the tho m^anii'ii, hiid lavc been able to kill, I could only sition, before she d stated that you ?re informed the ick Black Kock; y, under General recaptured. At leniy intended to brif; when it was r to be executed, nd the Caledonia idered incorrect, led to you at the hout explanation he day following y your direction, to r,q„„t m, to ft,m,.h yoi, nny .tat.ment, which you wi.h«d to have before you .ent y,mr report to VV..,hin,ton I repl Miat I w«. bound to report to Zir"! ' ""T '' * •'"' '*■""• ""•' •*"" ' '•'""•' "'" --omMricate on. ,,|y with you on the .ubject without di.re.p.-ct to him. Having th.m ,l«. cl.ned to fiirn,«h you my .t.itemenf of the factn, ) bad no riul.t to ro,np|.u„ of the omiMion, m your r-.|„,rt; a. y„u ...luld have had no p,.r,on«l kno« ledKe of •ome of the mo«t important circumstance, connected with the capture of the (.nleilonm. I have been fre, ntly «dvi,ed to make a Hfatoment of the circumitanre. in the,ourn«Uol the day; but it appnnred ,o be a Hiiiall niatfnr. not Huffi.-i, ntly rnpor ant to mtere.t th„ public, and ., far a, relate, ...oiirHelvcH, tluit view wa, proUbly correct ; but a« attention hai, recently been called to the .ubject by the •rficle ,n the ( our,, r, I can no longer remain silent, without neKleetinB a '.itv I owe to those who acted with me. I f„el ,he obligation more forcibly Miice the ilenth nl the lamented and callanf Captain Schenck, the only olHcer who •hnred with me the duty of makiuR tlie statement and the responsibility of de- layinif it. ^ You ore uiu,ii..Hfi„nably entitled to nil the credit duo for planiiine the enter- prlie, and for commnndini;. in person, the party that Imar.le.l the Detroit- but in every thins; r,.lntin« to the f'abdonia. the brii? (irst .apture.l, you l,ad no other n«ency than that of siiL'Kesting the plan and furnishinR the boat anil sea- men that lK,ardod her. Although but a merchant vessel, she made a gallant an.l desperate resistance, and it was not until we hod two men killed and thir- teen wounded, (two mortally,) that she was captured, while the Detroit per- nriitted you to get alongside before you were discovered, and to board her almost without resiHtonce. I hove always thought it strange that the Detroit, a llritish vessel of war lay- ing near an enemy, should have been captured by surprise, more especially o. she must have known, from the firing of the Caledonia, the hostile chi-racter of the iKint she had just haile.l. It was certainly fortunate tbr us that the person in command was a rrovi>,rin/, and not a re^M.lar officer of the IJritish Navy as I had, until lately, believed. As to the preservation of the Caledonia after capture, you will reroMect that she, as well as the Detroit, was exposed through the day to the en. , y s fire ■ that about the time you quitted the latter, and the British got temporary possession of her, Mr. Watts left the former, taking with him the seamen ami prisoners, while my detachment remained on board, landed part of the cargo and got the brig near in shore. You will also recollect you determined the Caledonia should be burnt as well as the Detroit, to prevent recapture; but that the p.^rson you sent was not permitted to e.Tecuto your order, and that the brig tlus saved formed part of that gallant fleet that achieved the glorious and important victory on Lake Erie. You will oblige me by letting nie hear from you as soon after the receipt of this as your convenience will permit. Respectfully, your obedient servant, ' N. TOWSON. 2b the Editor of the Courier : The pen qualifies the sword, and the sword protects the pen; whei. both are wisely united, they constitute civilization; when separated, they mark a state I mUk 8 J of savage life. The fame of Washi.-„ton would fade away into fable were it not for the pen. The renown of Moses ami Joshua, ami David and Solomon, would not hf.ve reached us, had it not been borne on the win},'s of literatu/e ; but would have come down to us like the fame of Hercules, and Jason, and Theseus, and the stories of giants. If the sword protects the pen, the pen should, in return, protect the sword. We rarely find them happily united as in a Xenophon and a Julius Caesar. I had been led casually to notice a brave militaiy character of our own coun- try, without knowing any thing of his history, from observing now and then his remarkable deeds : first, in the Mediterranean, se'^ond, on Lake Erie, third- ly, on the coast of Brazil, and lastly, on the seaboard of South Carolina, when Gen. Scott commanded by land, in the unhappy difficulties of nullification ; in all which it appears that Jesse D. Elliott conducted to the entire satisfaction of the Congress of the United States, and its President. His being selected to carry despatches to Mr. F'nckney, our Minister at the Court of Great Britain, is not worth mentioning, were it not to show that there was something about Mr. Elliott that elicited patronage ; for he stood alona in the world, his father, Captain Robert Elliott, having been slain in battle with the Indians, when under the command of Gen. Wayne. He left a widow and nine children. Congress, exactly thirty years ago, when Nathaniel Macon was Speaker, Aaron Burr Vice-President, and Thomas Jefferson President, voted the sum of two thousand dollars to the widow and children of Robert Elliott, our Commodore being then but a school-boy. He was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, (although the Port-Folio, Vol. IV., No. 6, says in Maryland.) Vt'e know not the year of his birth, but guess his age to be about fifty. . Ho was two years at Dickinson College, in Pennsylvania, when Mr. Jefferson gave him a midshipman's commission, under which, it seems, he resolved to carve his way to distinction. He was on board the frigate Chesa- peake when she vtas fired into by the British ship Leopard. . After that dis- graceful affair, he was transfei red to the Essex, and went in her to the Medi- terranean to check the Barbary Powers, who had captured a number of our countrymen, and held them in the bonds of slavery. Deep anxiety on their account pervaded this country, and great responsibility was annexed to this new service. It is a remarkable fact in our history, that the \varlike Washington should be reconciled to pay tribute to those lawless corsairs, while peaceful Jefferson sent them powder and ball. Jefferson may be said to have, in a great measure, conquered the Mediterranean pirates. When he was our minister at the Court of France, he never ceased to denounce our humiliating practice of paying tribute to those buccaneers. It was the topic of many of his letters home. Congress was enabled to send but a small force on this service, and our limited means of annoyance compelled our infant navy to pursue a system of masculine intrepidity, severe discipline, and promptitude of obedience, of which, even to the present hour, we feel the benefits. The ff;rocity and treachery of the enemy taught our ofHcers and crew to be ever on the alert, while their cruelty created a boldness on our side, that partook, at 'times, of rashness. IC was in such a Spartan school of war that our midshipman commenced his salt- water education. On that element he learned to smile at danger, and become familiar with it. He returned to the United States in 1811; and served on board the ship John Adams, whence he was transferred to the Argus, of which he acted as first lieutenant. iiHTiKi'T-' Ti' '"111 •n'-riitTiTi'ii-ii n-iTiMlHiji.Huti.jiM ray into fable were it 1 Uaviii and Holomon, winiis of literutUi'e ; cules, and Jason, and !ct9 the pen, the pen n happily united as iii cter of our own coun- lerving now and then , on Lake Erie, third- iouth Carolina, when es of nullification ; in entire satisfaction of His being selected to uurt of Great Britain, was something about the world, his father, e Indians, when under children. Congress, speaker, Aaron Burr ! sum of two thousand ommodore being then •t-Folio, Vol. IV., No. , but f,uess his age to ri Pennsylvania, when r which, it seems, he ird the frigate Chesa- )ard. . After that dis- t in her to the Medi- :ed a number of our eep anxiety on their IS annexed to this new ! warlike Washington sairs, while peaceful aid to have, in a great ; was our minister at imiliating practice of if many of his letters this service, and our o pursue a system of f obedience, of which, city and treachery of Jie alert, while their mes, of rashness. It commenced his salt- danger, and become 1811; and served on i the Argus, of which After we declared war against England, for impressing our seam?n, and at- tackmg, in time of peace, an unprepared Irigate, it wa.s determined, a.s the best means of drawing a British force offirom the sea-jiorts, to divert their attention to their Canadian possessions ; and Commodore Chauncey was with this view sent to Lake Erie on our part, and Sir James Yeo, on the side of the British, to counteract it. Chauncey was desirous of engaging Elliott in that service ; where- upon. Lieutenant Elliott was honored by an appointment to a command on Lake Erie. This we assert on the authority of the Port-Folio, of December, 1814, which contains his life, with a portrait of him. That account adds, that - he received orders to repair to Lake Erie, with all po.sgible despatch, purchase what private vessels he could, build two ships of twenty guns, and as early as possible hav his fleet in readiness to meet that of the enemy." The same authority, p. 330, adds— " Lieutenant Elliott knew the vast import- _ ance of the command ol the Lakes in our war against Canada, and the difficulty and the delay which would attend the building of the vessels, and the expense. He had, in pursuance of his orders, purchased some vessels, but was embar- rassed with the difficulty of getting them up the Niagara, and into the Lake; and he resolved to obtain them r^ady math. After revolving all the obstacles, he formed the heroic resolution of capturing two BriH«h brigs of war, that lay under the protection of the cannon of Fort Erie (wi fortress we ;ook from them since that period.) Elliot accordingly provided tivo boats with fifty men in each, and at one o'clock in the morning he came alongside of the Detroit and the Caledonia, lying under the protection of the Fort. He boarded, sword in hand, the two vessels of war, and carried them in ten minutes. He made one hundred and thirty prisoners, with their officers, and released forty of his own countrymen from captivity. They belonged to the tth U. S. Regiment. Elliott entered the first man on boarding, and opposed three of the enemy with no other weapon than his cutlass." I think I hear the reader inquire, with surprise— " //«,„ came I not ever to hear of this brilliant deed before?" I answer, because heroic men never brag- modesty and bravery go together, hand in hand. If individuals were silent, Congress were not, who passed the following resolve : '• That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby authorized to have distributed, as pri.-e money, to Lieutenant Elliott, his officers and companions, or to their widows and children, twelve thousand dollars, for the capture and destruction ofthe British brig Detroit r and aLso, "Resolved, that the President of the United States be, and he is hereby recpjested to present to Lieutenant Elliott, of the Navy ofthe United States, an elegent sword, with suitable emblems and devices, m testimony of the just sense entertained by Congress of his gallantry and good conduct in boarding and capturing the British brigs Detroit and Cale- donia, while anchored under the protection of For* Erie." The Hon. Henry Clay, when the new army bill was discussed in the House of Representatives, January, 1813, said-" The capture of the Detroit, and the destruction ofthe Caledonia (whether placed to our maritime or land account) iot judgment, skill and courage on the part of Lieutenant [now Commodore] Elliott, H.^s NKVEtt BEEN SURPASSED " See National Intelligencer, February 6 1813, No. 11132. Shortly after tliis brilliant exploit. Lieutenant Elliot joined Chauncey at Sack- ctt's Harbor, who sailed on the 8th of November, with six schooners, in quest ofthe enemy's fleet, and on the same day fell in with the Royal George, but found her next morning riding in Kingston Channel, under the protection of the J 10 English batteries. He immediately followed her into the Channel, and enframed her for nearly two hours, and determined to board her in the night ; but the wind increasin- and blowing directly on shore, the pilot would not "venture, and the Commodore reluctantly gave up the attempt. On this occasion Lieutenant Elliott commanded the vessel destined to lead in the enterprize. On the 21th of July, Mr. Elliott was promoted over thirty lieutenants to the ra.n\s.o(ma.,tercom,ne made public 11 now. The latter I must decline. What explanations I have to make must be n.a.le to yourself, w.th full permission to use them us you shall think expedient ; 1 do not (eel timt the occasion requires me to volunteer a publication, and it is not my pract.ce, nor wouhl it accord with my feelings to force public attention ITJu ,T '^f '"" '" """ *■"'" '^ '''^"•'"^ '■'•'"" ■"'"«' "«'> «» publication by you Will not be indelicate nor obtrusive. ^ Your letter c^mphun« that in my official report, dated October Oth, 1812, of he capture at Nugara Straits of ,ho British vessels Detroit and Caledonm, by he expedition under my command, justice is not fully rendered to yourself, and ^e services of the party of artillerists, which you accompanied I one o ^e boats . and you request that I will supply the deficiency now. There is no man no J^rt^ "PP-<^iates your high services and reputation than myself, and no man who wouhl more reluctantly withhold from another his just meed of pra.se ; but ,t does not appear thac I can aid you in this case. I cannot, after a lapse of nearly a quarter of a century, undertake, upon the evidence of a single and not uninterested witness, to alter an official re,x,rt, made upon the tea- nmony an under the correction of all the actors in the affair; a'^eport thus made and hat has stood so long unquesfione.l, carries authority that its author cannot shake. It has become history, and nothing that is in my power tdo now could alter it^ Indeed, I could but state what you tell me' a'^d whil I now hear lor the first time, though tv.enty-three years have passed since the oc curronce; and my repetition of your statement would add nothing to its intrin- sic weight Besides, if my intervention had any influence whatever, it might rather tend to dimmish that weight, because I .should feel bound to sp ak as the teachel °^ ' ^'"''"' '''"^' ''^''■•*' ^°"^ ^*'^*^'"'="* i" ««■«<=' ini- The orphan family of the lamented Watts has no dearer inheritance than the lustre of has ac ions, and that must not be tarnished by the hand of his old com- mander; it IS late now for any to tarnish it. It appears then to me, that if you continue to desire the publication of your statement, it will proceed most properly ,rom yourself, and I will cheerfully off^er here such comments as "! cur to me upon its contents. There seems throughout your letter, and especially th latter portion ol it, a disposition to .lopreoiate the merit of the enter'prize re er.ed to and to decry the part taken by its conductor. I am reluctant toTp pose that this IS prompted by any feeling akin to hostility, and I regret to observe it. For my part, I may aver that I never claimed more merit than mt comrades awarded to me, and that I studiously, at all times, have endeavored to render full justice, to them and their gallant services. That I did so in your own case, that official report itself bears witness ^ . J°" Tf !r ^'T "'"""^ ""°"^ '^^ ^"''°^''i"='te officers, whose gallantry is ommended, though you volunteered as a private and had no command asir a I ever knew until now, when you inlbrm me of it. That I did this in he case Roa h P r °, '"f'- , "''"" ■^*'*"' •'^'""'"^"»'y ^« — •>'■ tbe hero Roach Prestman and others, besides that of your commander Mr. Watts whT oon after sacrificed his life in spiking the guns that obstructed the inv ion by General Smyth, who, with his command, then including yourself "ooS on during the unimproved victory. Indeed, though you comjil tha the pa 1 of artillerists had not their sufficient fame, and invL me to'amend t e de J five See "*""' '" ^^''""'^ '"''''' "" ^''"" ^y Po-^'^ imputati of J 12 Ymi say that Mr. Watts, who commamlrd the boat in which you were placed, called oil you for any statoment that you misiht desire to offer, in order that I might embody it in my report ; you dediir ' to maie any except to your supe- rior officer, then Lieutenant Col. Scott, an( flat you have, therefore, no right to complain of the omission of any facts not known to me, and of which I could have had no knowledge. That, sir, is perfectly true, and the facts must defeat any suspicion of injustice on my part. The admission is the more generous— as— you will pardon the observation— it develops, not merely, a misapprehen- sion of your duty, but an act of insubordination, the consequences of which, to yourself and your corps, you are now, after twenty-three years, endeavoring to remedy. Had you reported to me then, there would have been no occasion to report to me now.* A small party of private soldiers, without office].,, were lent to me by the general ; You and Captain Barker volunteered as privates on the expedition; one only was allowed to go, and you won the privilege by lot — you went as a private, and for the occasion, your only superior officer was my- self. You were to obey and to report to me, and your refusal, when the latter was required, was as much a breach of duty as would disobedience have been. Were it not for that step, your present communication would have been un- necessary. It is not apparent, sir, that you ever reported to General Scott ; it is certain, at least, that he has made no statement on the subject ; and it is inconsistent with his high, generous character, and perfect knowledge of all military dutj , to ascribe his silence to any other cause than that he received no report from you, or that he justly considered himself not the quarter to which it should have been sent. I may remark, that tliis omission of your having refused to report to me, while it most completely exonerates me from any cen- sure on account of the omission alledged, does not so clearly effect the object for which it was designed, i'ou offer it as the answer to two questions thus stated by yourself. " You will probably ask why, if your official report was considered incorrect, or not sufficiently particular in its details, it was not mentioned to you at the time, and why it has been permitted to remain thus long without explanation or correction?" It would certainly be very natural to ask those questions, and impartial ob- servers would hardly consider them conclusively answered by a statement, that, though called Ujwn, yon had refused to report to the officer commanding the expedition, and who alone was to make the report which you now seek to correct. Your withholding the report may account well enough for the alledged omission in the official statement ; but it does not explain why that omission was not pointed out at the time, concerning, as it did, an affair so important, that it is a " sacred duty" to your companions to adjust it now. As to the second of the two questions, the answer seems particularly defec- tive ; nor does the further explanation offered appear less so. It seemed a small matter, you say, not worth public attention. Has the death of Captain Schenck increased its intrinsic importance ? Did the publication in the Courier render your duty to your comrades more sacred than it was originally ? The Courier said nothing of the details of the action, nor of the subordinates in the enter- prize. It spoke, and professed to speak, only of the share of the commander. Even of him the writer said nothing new — he merely quoted from an article in a magazine published twenty years ago, statements which have been before the world all that time, and open- all that time to notice and animadversion. * See Major Bankhead's letter in Appendix. 4^ 'Oil were placed, in order that I It to your siipe- fore, no right to f which I could acts must defeat lore generous — a misapprehen- ces of which, to , endeavoring to 1 no occasion to ut officci.-,, were ■d as privates on rivilegc by lot — officer was my- when the latter ■nee have been, d have been un- ^eneral Scott ; it bject; and it is Lnowledge of all it he received no quarter to which of your having le fronn any cen- ;ct the object for itions thus stated iidered incorrect, !d to you at the ut explanation or ind impartial ob- by a statement, icer commanding yrou now seek to 1 for the alledged hy that omission air so important, V. irticularly defec- [t seemed a small Captain Schenck e Courier render ■f ? The Courier ites in the enter- ' the commander, "rom an article in lave been before limadversion. W It The answer to the second question will appear to the reader quite "la unsatis- fiictory as the answer to the first. I have always respectml and Iwrne cheerful testimony to your gallantry and services, and I certainly feel not the slightest inclination to do otherwise now. But your intimation made, as if disparagingly, that tny boat's party hud more luck than fighting, while that to which you were atta':hed met with a desperate resistance, will excuse me for reminding you that an enemy is never surprised, except by thos who exert activity and prompt energy. That the two boats had an equal force of fifty men each. That I assigned to the boat in which you were the ea&ier cask of capturing a trading vessel defended by twelve men, in- cluding officers, with two small guns and small arms only, while I chose for my own object, a public armed brig mounting six guns, with a crew of fifty-six men, directed by naval discipline. How long your boat was occupied by her task you can best tell. That both boats succeeded, the public know. But that our effecting a surprise implies the absence of resistance, is very far from the fact. I was myself assailed by three men, armed with cutlasses, at the moment when I sprung on the deck, and the surprise gained us nothing, except a hand- to-hand fight with an enemy superior in numbers. In the official report equal credit is given to both boats ; or, if there be any difference, yours, which had the easiest task, has the advantage in the report also. I an. not criticising nor attempting to refute your communication, but merely touching here and there upon such points as appear singular or prominent, and i do not, therefore, at- tempt to notice now all your remarks, nor to correct, by my official records, the errors into which you have fallen. I deprecate controversy at all times, and certainly not less with an officer of your standing and character with whom I have been associated in youthful enterprize, and I trust that no real cause will ever occur to cloud the friendly relations which have so long, as 1 flattered ray- self, existed between us. The present is not a subject on which a difference could gracefully arise, nor am I able to perceive how any good can possibly accrue to your bringing it be- fore the public. But of that I am not to be the judge, nor will I obtrude any advice on the subject. As I remarked in the commencement, these observa- tions are entirely at your disposal. 1 have the honor to be, respectfully, Your obedient servant, J. D. ELLIOTT. Wa8kingto», July 18, 1835. jR) Comntodore J. D. Elliott, air — I have received your letter of the 12th, in answer to mine of the 6th instant. I regret that you should have misunderstood my object in addressing you. It was not to complain of your official report, and request you to supply the deficiency now : it was, simply, to offer you the opportunity of correcting, your- self, that part of the publication I enclosed to you, that relates to the capture of the Caledonia, and which ascribes to you acts that, from the circumstances of the case, could not have been, and, as you know, were not performed by you. I referred to your official report to show that it is not alone sufficient to refute the statement; but, by its omissions, rather sustains it. I expressly disclaimed all right to complain of those omissions, as I declined furnishing you 3 / vj il .4 Tld ^y i. r. no. ,», p™«l.c. „o, w„uM i. .c-W.<^.^»; « " . to L, public ..ttntion. unnccmily. to .cl,.i,. .n wh..!. ,ou to.. »u „<^ i„V ..,.i» of yo., country. In thi. .» V™' "■"" '^^ °.i. .n, Ulic "Kntton, un„.,...«ily," to yo„, .«,»., » J ' ''» ~J ' ' ; ''"^'^ L. in.Wi...y in you. "«'W»8''. "■""••"• """'i^, '„-. Son,, un. ble in me to wear your honors, as it would to wear Jo-'J^^l'^^ T Hi.l not ask nor did I expect you to publish my letter. I went somewn into t U imnieatin/facts'that would have been stated in my report U ;tad made one to you; believing you would pre,^r -— 'n • -f ' such of them to the public as you knew to be correct. You knew, lor , hat y u d d not communicate with our boat after we separatea on leavmg Buf^ alo Creek You knew our boat boarded and carried tne Caledonia after a sharp onrttt before yo,. captured the Detroit; and I presume you must have known It S m ts'ef the bris the next morning, w.th the prisoners and seamen 1 aLTonimy comm^enced firingon her; and that the ;r.lle^ ~^^^^ on board 'anded the greater part of the cargo, and brought the vessel i ho^ and yl certainly know that you intended she should be ^"- • - -' Is the Detroit to prevent the enemy's getting possession of her; and that she :::^ W LAurnt . I l^. P^mitted y---^- ^ t tng^^ ^T --'S^^' Wh t "r: mT b^ re^n Mr. Watt, the ;r : ;t. f torthe practicabnity of reaching the Caledonia, on accour.. Tf tli. c r™nt could not have been known to you, unless comm.uucated by tP^^^^^^ the brig could not be approached, and altliou^h Ihe event proved he was wrong, the difficulty in doing it showed that ho had ^t yl't— t?! my letter, you say-" It here seems throughout vour Lt r, and especially the latter portion of (it,] a disposition to depreciate Tmer ts of the euterprL referred to, aitd to decry the part taken by its con- ductor am reluctant to suppose this is prompted by any feehngs akin to ho il ty and I regret to observe it." I will be candid with you on t a as on every other' subject. I do think that you might have ™ « grea e Efforts to have brought the Detroit into harbor before you abandone her tha^ the circumstances under which she was burnt, if such as to justify the act AA Tt mpedously require it, and that it was not in keeping with the chivalrou. ; in7which L.W plan and execute so hazardous an enterprl^e as the boa d^ twiTh an inferior force, and capturing -'a public armed brig mounting six JL with a crew of fifty-six men directed by naval discipline. ' Tom^ X I^alt I was'appUed to, by a personal friend of Commodore Perry. -.*i..WiiiTi«.ii.ani' ifffi II .1111 1 il* lil'ii'fi' iiiW'""'' 15 B uraleMtand, that ttve been no delay any thing on the vith your leclinKs, ^ou have been en- nds have " forced not piTceive any f they claimed lor ' tninc. Some un. in Ohio, in which iring me credit that Id be as dishonora- >arcl. I vk'ent somewhat ;ed in my reiwrt, if iinicating, yourself, knew, for instance, ited on leaving Buf- ledoiiia alter a sharp lu must have known isoners and seamen, e artillery remained It the vessel near in Id be burnt, as well )f her ; and that she je executed- These lence of a single and tveen Mr. Watts, the Caledonia, on accoimt, 3B commimicated by i say any thing about boarders that captur- and not to you ; and A-ish to do Mr. Watts inched, and although t showed that ho had re seems throughout position to depreciate part taken by its con- any feelings akin to did with you on that it have made greater u abandoned her ; that to justify the act, did Z with the chivalrous iterprize as the board- led brig, mounting six ;ipline." of Commodore Perry, for a statement of the facts contained in the last paragraph, to be used to your prejudice, in th'? controversy then pending between you; but I refused to give it; iniurniitig him tiiat I had no «/AW«/ claim on you, as he supposed, for ne- glecting nie in your report ; and tliat the fact of your planning anil undertaking so hazardouH iui ent^rprize removed from my mind all suspicion of what, many of Commodore Perry's friends seemed to 8up|M>»e, hud prevented your aiding him in the action on Lake Krie, as he expected. Candor requires nie to say that I then, and until lately, did believe the Detroit was commanded by a re- gular officer of the British navy. If such was not the fact, as I am informed, and that the commander was your relative, the enterprize, in my judgment, loses much of its daring character. I did not expect, nor did I wish, iuiy thing to be said in correcting the article of which 1 complain, that would detract from the credit the public have award- ed you so far as relates to the Detroit, and planning the cHi>ture of the other brig. My object in submitting to you a comparison of the service performed by the two |)arties, was to show that, although you undertook that which ap- peared to be infniitely the more hazardous, it did not turn out to be so ; and, as the result shows, our boat had its full share of fighting and danger. It was not your fault, but your good fortune, that your adi'ersary was not more vigilant; that he permitted you to make a prize of him at the cost of one man " lost" and " one officer wounded,'' instead of aimihilating you, as he had the power to do with his superior force and advantages, and as I believe would have been - ^^ J;' J^ and of the .listinguished part which you hore in tl'"""' -[V''- , ":,~ you entitle,! to a l.n.t. This was on tho way (ron, Ph.la.lelph.a to Balnm.,r . At Waslunuton, I recalle.l his attention to the subject m a strong w"tten state- ^ent i hivo no .loubt the commission will issue, and I trust w.thout lurther '''TLbrevet he mentions has been conferred; and i, one by which 1 obtained "^ ^;i;r;L;;tl. your attention to tho charge of officer, of the army having served with you as privates. This is not tho f.rst t.me you have s d ha argument, and retracted it in the way 1 shall now state. ou reeo le t that you haud.:.. me the pri.e-tiekets for my comn.an.l at Fort ('-^«;. ''"^ '''^^ Lt I would find mine with the rest ; I put the bundle ,n n.y P"^'^^*- «" j; senarat-.l When I came to examine then,, I foun.l my rank was not recog- „:Sn the ticket. Supposing .t to be a mistake, 1 laid it by u... I s o.jU aeaiu meet with you, or have an opportunity for explanation. ^^ e met, for E fi'r^me affer the receipt of the ticket, at General Scotts marque at Buffalo. Knowing that I was to meet you. I put the t.cket - -n-'^^^ Wh.nwe m..t, I required an explanation, remarkn.g at the same tim ., that ^.hen I embarked n> the expedition, I .lid not .Iream ot pr.z.-money ; am. .the rbTe t in assigning to me tho share of a private was to increase the amount to bo dvide.l among the other captors, I would make you a comp l.meut of the wh riffering you the ticket ; but that before I could h..ld .Viendly mtercourse ^ith Vu I musf know why it was that 1 had been designate as a pr.vate^ Yu then explained, that under the regulations of the navy, at the t.me the ticket was ma.lo out, you were not privileged to g.ve any other; b..t that the gu lation had since blon changed, and youwe.ethenatlibertytodomejUBt.ee, by recognizing my rank in another ticket, which you soon aiterwards sent *° You will recollect, that at a s..bsequent meeting I reft.sed to receive your offered hand, and to hold intercourse with you, ..ntil I ascorta.ned by .nqu.ry at the Navy Dpartment, that there was no established rule for d.stnbut.ng pme- m ney to trorps serving with the navy at the date of the first t.ckot. I ..not Then nor do I now. think this a full justification of your course ; for although you were not expressly directed to give to the officers of the army t.ckots cor responding with their ..nk, you were not prohibit,.! from do.ng so ; an.t, at least, it was due to them, as an act of courtesy, to expla.n why you d.d not. Tyou suppose, sir, that officers of tho army have so l.ttle ..M.re.venth.i theVXl consent to serve as privates in their proper commands, for the honor and advantage of officers of the navy? If there had been mar.nes, whose ser- vices you co^ld .o^W, would you have expected their officers to have served with them as privates ? Or did you expect an officer of the army would consent, or be required, to furnish you his command, without accompany.ng .t on such a service ' As the detachment of artillery required on that occasion was less than a captain's command, General Scott suggested that it should be furn.shed by the two companies, in equal proportions, and the command be given to the adjutan of the detachment, the gallant, and afterwards eminently d.st.ng.nshed,* Major ♦ See letters of Genera! Smyth and Major Bankhead in Appendix. MMMtWMMfy** ) me, »how» that, hat Ipttor in-l'rr- ,ilh the secretary iiidcr Fort Eric, izp. He thought )hia to Baltimore, onu written state- it without further ■ which 1 obtained ■ the army having au have used that Vou reeollcct that Jeorge, remarking ly pocket, and we Ilk was not rccog- l)y until I should ion. We met, for Scotfs marque, at :ket in my l>ocket. i»e same time, that ■-money ; and if tho L-ase the amount to eomplimeiit of the friendly intercourse ;nated as a private. ry, at the time the other; but that the erty to do me justice, DOn alterwards sent sed to receive your rtained by inquiry at "or distributing prize- irst ticket. I did not course; for although the army tickets cor- loingso; and, at least, you did not. ittlc self-respect that mmands, for the honor 1 marines, whose ser- officers to have served e army would consent, impanying it on such a occasion was less than uld be furnished by the e given to the adjutant T distinguished,* Major d in Appendix. 17 Roach, against which Captain Barker and myself remonstrated in the most de- cided terni.H, notwithstanding the entire confiilcnee we Imd in that oineer, and the strong friendship, (not to say broth.rly atfcction,) we entertained for him. Nay, so tenacious were Captain Barker and myself on that point, that had the rank been settled between us, we should have considered it derogatory to have waived the rlnini of seniority ; but as it was nut, we ageed to ilieide it by lot. No officer of the artny, who is worthy to hold a commission, would consent to •erve in the rtiiilx with his own men, for thi- purpose of increasing a naval com- mand; such a proposition is too absurd -to rc(|uire refutation. My understanding was, that the command of the seamen, and every thing relating to the manage- ment of the iMiat, and to the navigation of the brig, alter capture, belongi-il to Mr. Watts; but th.^ entire command of the troops beloiig(-d to me. If you are correct as to the condition.s on which the otiicers of the army, who had com- mands, volunteered, why did you not maintain it when I 8pt)ke to you aliou the prize-ticket ? Why did you change that given to private Towson, for one as " captain?" I do not agree that I was bound to report to you after I landed. My com- mand, it is true, performed a siilnirdinate duty ; but tf it deserved praise or cen- sure, it was to be received from our military superiors. It was proper that our conduct should be ri'presenied to the War Department ; and you were not tho channel of comnnmieation. The rule on this subject, both in the army and navy, is too well settled to be questioned now. I will say one word in relation to your rejiort. Although I had no official claim on you for more notice than you bestowed on my commanhi>(l that, alter ulmiinl ('Uini4 tor iicl WHS proniploJ II piihlio atti-iilioii, ■(■rf urunl oil l>y ittl« iiiiiniriit : in lU (lid not p«riTive 1. I nhowed you, inn you uilvuiui'd Iruvc you Kul'i! iu nprctii-ndiiiii your ive been iiiipi'll''il one who diM'H not nor — tht! tenor of hii li il iiiuy. I am I I judue you by would ever cull I, and i-riiploy no ed what incasurc I' your reply, «ud ic Ironi any t'Hbrt ,n I npuro time to !• principal onen I loiit or Hiiik with lew ; the ciipacity 1 have anserted y atflrin that you riis the disriisKion. ertioii by a direct /en to support it; nsrtclear to Major i-eivo that 1 could ilics, and that the tke the latter, and ; my subordinates, ■al acceded to my /hich were placed annex an extract from the Reneral, id Captain Barker fell on you. You the troops. The establish them all, lion. But it must ; you cannot contra- i)d showinj; beyond d brought me the f .■" After you were ,t records, as well endeavor to prove, that you went ill rommand of the troops— and all for the purpoie of effectinc the |HHir Hilienie, prompted by some ilesiKiiini: knave, or your own vanity, of UettiiiK a dispute with me, or ionic additional credit for yourself Your stuiid, sir, in the iitlitiide ol one who has made a well con.'idered. do- liberate ahHcrtioii, to his own profit and the injury of others, uikI then has th« utter incorrectness of his assertion /imvei/ by the dearest and most diriM't evi- dence. It is an unpleasant attitude for un olHcer and a uentlemaii. I would, if I could, supiHise that you believed your statement yourself, but the facts do not warrant the assumption ; they are not of the kind about which one could mis- take. You complain of my report. If you went as a private, that document gave you even more than your full rhare of praise, if you commanileil the troops, the (piestion will still arise, why have twenty-three years been sutfered to pass without an ed'ort from you to claim what you say was due to you f But you urn- then a private, and your assi'rtion of.the ntrary now is as unworthy and unfortunate, as it is foreign from truth. I must place Ibis ixuiit stronuly, unwilliiiK as I am to see General Townson take such a position, because on this depends really the whole controversy, for it is the foundation of it. If your word is tJood on this point, atjainst the clearest evidence, it is good for all the rest also — fiiil iiul olherwinr. It would have been well, sir, had you comprehended the tenor of my former letter, for it might have saved you. 1 intimated clearly enough, though deli- cately, that my real reason lor declining the step you pro|X)sed was my liiow UiIki- that your statement was not true, and it is unlucky that you did not un- derstand me. Ymi are provi^d now, sir, to have stated deliberately and re|M'at- edly what was untrue. Hut there is more in it— and the di'gree of stolidity e.xhibited in your course is absolutely unexampled. If 1 could be persuaded tliaf you hud, alter sailing, assumed the command of the bout, I should be forced to condemn you even more severely, il that were possible, than I do now. If you are correct on that iioint, you not only broke an engagement to which your honor was pledged, but you were guilty of insubordination and mutiny, lor which you might even now bo brought to a Court Martial. You were accepted only as a private ; by olTering as such you virtually pledged your honor that you would act as such, and would not use your authority with the soldiers to take the command. We were wrong, then, in trusting you, and you broke your word of honor, to your general, to his brigade-major, and to your equally brave, but I hope more trustworthy competitor. Captain Barker. All this re- sults, if we believe your assertion that you a.ssumed the command. But there is more— the terms on which you went made you a private for the time — if you got the command you were guilty of insubordination to the extent that consti- tutes miiiiiiy, and your moral crime was quite us great as though you owned no commission, and cannot be atoned for, if it can even be palliated, by the result of the expedition. You have had the credit, sir, of volunteering on a dangerous enterprize as a private when you could not go as an officer, ajid your vanity, or your managers, have prompted you to reject that, and to claim what did not belong to you, and even is not merit, though you deem it so. You would persuade us that you took advantage of our confidence in your honor to get among us, in a bout in w hich / was nut. and to snatch- then by fraud from the gallant Prestman* tht; honor of commanding a [Kirtion of the victorious party ; and your tale would rob, also, tht- heroic Watts of his honors. But that, sir, it xliall not effect. I * See letters of General Sniylh and Major Bniikhead in Appendix. to xj' •tq «h yoti intn f»i» fepilrhr^, to ili-frnil what yoii would wniirli away, and ii^ft-wd hid rinht* ky pmviiiff your tale imtru* I wvp •ven you, alw), by reM 'ig fl)*- crcHit whi«4i v^t w«ilW cliRoard — of haviiiK vciliiiitiMTi'd nii a pri- vtte uii;(''"r • »itW«linat# ofhvet It ■ » well ilono, lir, unl vull huii it Wen ri'WardmM Another primipal prtint is at to tho p>, s^-rvation of thi" f'alpdnnia, ami the burning of thf Detroit. On Jioth thcte yon are m wid.-ly in error .ih in the formiT, and thi« (in ' may be dinposi-d of in fi-w word* You nii«fBk<> nitirely Kiy roBnoti for biirniui; fh.- Detroit I had, and rould have, no frar that the ene- my would remove, i( th.y retook he- for Hhe wbb riddled with ahot ami iiriuble ^» float; xhe hud already mink, und w iiiriound. full of water, But I burned liM'f to »av» Ihf ffuu) i» hrr hoht. which wire irivniualile tn un. Hud her rnaiitM been lelt, the enemy miuht have raised uml earrieil tliem off; they were pr«- vented. and «ubHci|Uciitly we ererfed Mhears mid not out the ijunH. In relation to the other brii;. nUo, you ar(> entirely wrong, I never hud a thouKht of burnins her There wan no orrnKJon for it, as, at the time of which you speak, she lay in wifety at the Navy Yard, under prot»'ition of our buttery. Besides, iinvnl olRoers do not send a nameless sailor with combustibles and a vfrlml order, as you allege, to burn vessels that are lying in perfect safety. The Drtrnit was burned by Captain Chambers, of the flth Infantry, at my reipiest. Your recollection is ipiife as umortiuiate on this point, as it waa relative to the ca|>acify in which you served in an expedition of which half the merit you claim to yourself I have letter* from offirers, eye witnesses, that contradict fo the letter almost every thing you alledge respecting the closing incidents of the enterprise, but they would occupy uuich N]iuce, and really your personal testimony does not stand in that degree of credit that might require corrolM)ration of my own op- |H>»ing evidence, and of that of circumstances, and we may pass this head ni answered. I will furnish one extiact, hokvever, to show that I had no rea.son for burning the Caledonia, as I did not believe the enemy liad lauded. It is from the letter of Major Myers, then Captain in Ktth Infantry.* I have thus noticed the two principal .subjects at issue between us, and I may presume it is done to your conviction, if not to your satisfaction. Ai I Mid above, I cannot advert to every minute allegation in your unfouunate letter, but a few I may take up to use as specimens of the rest. And first, you state that the bout which contained the party that atfncked the Caleilonia hud no comnnuiicntion with the other after starting. This is incor- rect ; the l)ont» started from the same place, at the same time. The boat in which you were, was steered by mine, and if you did not see our boat, we di»- tinguished yours quite plainly. Sailing Master Watts had his instructions to keep near my boat, to board, curry, and bring over to Buffalo the brig Hunter, which the Caledonia was supposed to be Thus your inexperience in naval proceedings but serves to expose your presumption. You argue, for several pages, that it was imposaible nnd improb 1 th.il you acted as a private, and you declare that "no olRcer of the army \.ai ■. on' ■, s not tion of n)y own op- ' jNiss this head ns at I had MO reaxon had lunded. It is ivnen uk, and I may faetion. As I said untb'.umate letter, y that attacked the ij;. This is incor- ime. The boot in e our I>o«t, we dis- his instructions to lo the bris; Hunter, xperienoe in naval iiproh t)' that you rmy uiic vs orf' / th H- , ', I bi ' ^ro', 1 , r, offered. Hut you while, but it affords J are made to sug- 81 fain your ....ertion tlmt ynu went in command „, the soldier., and to remark Km CO„,pl..,.,,y „ ,,,„„,„ „ .,,.,,,„., ,,y „,^, ^.^_^^^,^, ,,^^^ ^,_^^ ^^.^^ ^^^^ hn. It would seem »Uumt that ym. could n.x l«ve even . h.I that la«t lelier o vvhu.hyo„r..umei,..K„..,|,»„cOraordinHry .he violations .,f „„,h, or the Iu,«,„ .w ,„,,„.„y ^,,,i,,, i, ,,„^,.,,,|,^ „^,^^ .^ ^^ „„.„„rou. one tl^t ,llow. your recul|..,t...n .« not uih,.| eve,, ;,on. tbe 'h to the 18th o/ July-lj days. I nder 11.,. Uu.,,r .,ut,. yuu tell n>e, in order to account for the !..„« „, uh-ct of p.aeh, h«,l ever been nu.de, or you certainly would not 1„ e In-en tuunte.l with wenty years' delay. V.,u had lorm.tten that i„. the lith you wrote that you .«. l«M.n /-./"^"'/y W,.,.W to come out with a .tateme,a or, the suhji-t, h.l hat you ,hou«ht .t « .,„„.// „^uin, net ir„,K,rt«nt enouKh to interest the public. (.ontr«vers.al..ts should have their n.cts HctUcI, .„ «.„„| „.emorics, I,r not « nun){i- till ir ,(/««/;«(•«,„.,, You .rrriW...sir,ins«yinK tlmt a re,K,rt may b. amended by its author, ve. H rent oeco,,,,., history;" but then it n.u.t bo upon ample evulenee, ■ml (Mil ,onv,ct.on of .i. inaccuracy-oud never upon .uch teatimony as your. «• pr.u ed in the case diBcussed. Vonr .lislinction is .p.ite ri^ht, also, l^.twee.. limitations in law and m honor . 'mt you see „ .|.„., „„ „,,,,|y ,.,.,,. ^.,,^, , ^^,,, ^,^_ ^^^^ .^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^, ul er « well proved re|K,rt u,H,n the appeal of "a single and not uninterested witness, who had tacitly confirmed .t at the tim,. ; and the new evidence bear, mo out. These are sliWit |K.ints. «nd yuu will ,..„doi. the desultory character "I my notices— I take up the topics us I turn the leaves. V our complaint about your prize ticket is answered by yourself in the record that when you received the ticket, the reRulation. of the navy allowe.l me to give you only a private's ticket ; but that when those were cluumed, J ^ave you a captain s. By the way, you ajipear lo muke no account of the liivor I nmv ''"'' '"" "'f""^-' '" 'hat case, and it is jH.ssible that in ullowiuK private Tow- son e captain's share, 1 did inj.uitice to Mr. Watts and the rest, who or their rei.reHentatives, may have a claim upon you or me for it. But I miRht plead that 1 admired what I thought your gallantry in waving your rank to seek dnn- ger, and that my ieeli„Ks inlluenced me, as when in my report I named you be- ore even Prestman whom your «eneral made your real commander, and Koach who was in the lH,at with myself, both of ^vhc„■ have been presented warmly to the War Department, who hold a high place m my recollection, whom am proud to claim as my personal friends, and who are now uncoui.led with he service.* You have shown me my error, but tins mi^-ht answer your que.- tion as to my reason for chaiiying your ticket. But I will give you the real explanation. You misunderstood, or nusrepre- sented me as you h«ve done in so maiiy other cases. What I told you was thatvv-heu gave you n pnNato's ticket, I understood the reKuiution.s to allow you no other; but tlmt ,t after. ards occurred to me that a i)art of tm- pri/. money belonee.1 to grades of rank not represented, and I resolved, theroiore, to allow you . , othcer's ticket. \ .,u had no absolute right to it, but I wo^ willing to do you a (avor. That is the real state ol the case, yet from that favor has grown one ol your principal charges against ine. As to your alledged lelusal once to take my hand, I have not the slightest re- collection ol any such occurrence, and there i» the best reason for ulacin" littk confidence in yours , ' * See letters ol Ensign Prwtinan Md Major Koach, in the Appendix. *i- mmmmm ■*1* t i.i 22 I do not believe the assertion. The only conversation between us that I re- member on 8..ch a subject, was in Washingto.., twelve or fifteen year, ago, when you requested a conference, spoke of my recent coldness, asked .1 it wm not on account of a then recent publication in a I'ittsburK paper (stating m gene- ral terms that justice had not been done you) and learning that .t was, yon dm avowed all agency or part in the matter. Fpon that disavowal, I gave yo,. my hand, which you accepted eagerly, and, to n.y k.iowledge, nothing else oJ the kind ever occurred between us. You ask how 1 know that tieneral Scott never re,K)rted coneeviung my expe- dition. In two ways: the report was never seen, and (k-neral Scott would never have done me Rucb discourtesy as to report concernmg my subordinates, except as from me. The point was trivial and incidental, but with the fatality which has marked your every step in this affair, it has flung more suspicion upon you. You say that he wrote a private letter of such a nature as to procure for you the brevet by which you obtained your present rank. 1 am sorry to hear it. There was thrift in view, then, if you withhel.t what you call your report fron. the commander of the expedition! If you had confided your merits to him, they would have been published under the correction of your companions, anri you would have received your exact share of glory, enhanced only by his par- tiality. But you did hetter-you made a private report of your achievements to General Scott that was never published, and which none could contradict; and believing you, as we did when we accepted you as a volunteer private, he so represented it, of course upon y«»r testimony, as to obtain for you the brevet which has made you a general officer ! It looks like a piece of skillful manage- You compare the difficulties encountered by the two boats, and remark that though mine undc; ..lok what seemed to be the more arduous and dangerous task, it did not prove to be so ; and your reasons are, that I carried the Detroit with sUght loss, and speedily, while Mr. Watts had a hard fight, and incurred grea. loss, I had the honor, sir, to explain, in my former letter, why a surprise m such a case may succeed, nr fail, and beg to refer you to the passage. \ ou in- timate that our enemy was commanded by a provincial officer, less skillful than one of the line; trup. but if you measure thus, remember that my fifty men beat fifty-six. and took the heavily armed vessel with little loss, while the fifty, of whom you were one, had but twelve antagonists— rjV/s^«* commanded by a cMztn-in a merchant vessel, to make all the slaughter of which you com- plain, c J On another topic, which you bring in, I can scarcely speak calmly. Sir, do you not perfectly know-have you not ever known— that, until after the cap- ture of the Detroit was completely effected, and the sword of her commander was yielded, both that officer and myself were entirely ignorant of even each other's existence ? and that, despite the distant connection by marriage between my half brothpr and him, we had never met, nor seen each other, nor had the slightest communication ? Sir, you must have known all this well, and the na- ture of y»»r referenc<; to that accidental and unknown connection is one of the Jeaat w«rthy features in your letter. I remember, in a letter of Commodore Perry's, a. remark of this kind : " I would not allow myself to come to a decided opinion that an officer who had on a former occasion so handsomely conducted himself (as I then, in common with the ^blic, lad hemi ltd to nuppoie Captain EUiott had) could possibly be guilty," ■MMM mmm 23 between us that 1 re- 1! or fifteen year* ago, ildncss, asked il' it was : paper (stating in gene- ig that it was, yo" di» avowal, I gave you my »e, nothing else of the d conceiTiing my expe- il (k-neral Scott would ■riling my subordinates, il, but with the fatality s flung more suspicion e as to procure for you 1 am sorry to hear it. )u call your report from d your merits to him, f your companions, and hanced only by his par- of your achievements to B could contradict; and vohinteer private, he so tain for you the brevet piece of skillful manage- I boats, and remark that luous and dangerous task, .•arried the Detroit with fight, and incurred greai letter, why a surprise in to the passage. You in- cial officer, less skillful remember that my fifty vith little loss, while the sts — ntizens commanded lighter of which you com- T speak calmly. Sir, do hat, until after the cap- sword of her commander ly ignorant of even each tion by marriage between 1 each other, nor had the all this well, and the na- connection is one of the , remark of this kind : " I that an officer who had on s 1 then, in common with I could possibly be guilty," &c. It was a singular expression that! H&il •' been ieii to suppose :' Who had flung the )/ouil ? I have never found a clue. Voii tell me that you have been tam- pered with by Commodore Perry's friends — i/ou now (ling an impeachment of my conduit on that •• I'ormer occasion 1" }»« tell me that you ^'alivdyn thought it stninge thut the Detroit should hav;' been captured so quickly," *ic. You kept it well from nie I Were voc, then, the incendiary that kindled dissension between Perry and me >. — that turned our frank friendship into hatred on his part ? Were ytm tlie viper that stung ? — was it you that crept between us. and embittered our kindly feelinirs ? Were you ilms avengins the slight part which only could be assigned you in that enterpri/e. which still haunts you? I can- not believe it — it is impossible that one who jKissessrs your reputation could be guilty of this inconceivable baseness! There was no cause, no sufficient mo- tive, for such tremendous wickedness. We do not expect such things from the frank, gallant soldier, .^nd yet the act was of a class to be done by the creep- ing:, sly, profit-making spirits who hang around commanders, and make private reports of their own brave deeds, and get brevets lor them. But no — it could not be you. Yet I would give much to know who it was. The foul wrong has clung to me to this day, and I am not psitient under it. One point escaped me, in your former communication, which can be here answered. You say that "if Mr. Watts or the seamen had remained, or re- turned after the cargo was landed, we should have been able to have brought the vessel into port." Mr. Watts and his brave companions had a more noble employment than removing furs ; they were at the battery at Black Rock, un- der my immediate direction, in odies there as testimonials of the desperate conflict of that morning. But to have done with this. 1 consider, sir, that you are set on by my ene- mies to bait me, or that your own vanity has instigated you to make yourself gain iit my expense, and that you pursue your rim in a spirit of determined hos- tility. I thought so in reading your first letter; hut the ha7^rd to yourself was so fearful that I presumed you would have prudence enough to desist when that was pointed out to you. I have observed less restraint now, as is natural toward a determined foe, but I still think you will have caution enough to avoid publication. If you have not, I shall simply publish this correspondence. Your obedient servant, J. D. ELLIOTT, On July 2yth a letter was received from (Jenl. Towson, bearing his frank and seal, which evidently was not such as it had been intimated to him would only be received. It was, therefore, returned unopened with the following : U. S. Suit Co.nstititio^, Hahbor or New York, Jlxy 29, 1835, 1 Th General Nathan Towson, .SiV— I informed you in my letter of the 2.3d, that I should with that close the correspondence. The terw of that paper was such, that any further com- munication from you must, to be received, be of that kind that is sent, not through the post-office and sealed, but by a friend. Your letter, mailed on the 27th, is therefore returned unopened. (Signed) J. D, ELLIOTT, ^xiis^s^imi'fi^m>sf^mi»igi^hmffA'>^«if»f^ 24 The following note was delivered on l)oard the Constitution, August 17th, by Dr. Maeauly. with the observation that he wished to inakc some remarks rela- tive to it, and a request that Com. Elliott would appoint a friend with whom he mii;ht confer. To this Com. Elliott replied, by introdurins; him to Col. CanonjtP, who was waiting in his after cabin in readiness for surh an emergency. Com. Elliott had been, at that time, three days under sailing orders, aninion, that political feelings, if not political views, have coutributu'd, with private liostility, to prompt those attacks ; and the I'riends of the administration will. I trust, note with approbation the able defence for wliich personally I feel .so grateful. The numerous quarters whence these arrows were launched, and their simul- taneous appearance, indicate a concert of action, which could only result from some deliberate plan directed by concealed agents, and such I believe to have existed. You w ill perceive from the correspondence, copies of which *re en- closed, that while your press was defending me against those whom my situa- tion precluded my noticing in person, another branch of the scheme was in operation which I could meet myself The application of General Towson was so extraordinary, the claim so unfounded, that I cannot doubt his being instigated by some of those who have banded themselves against me. The strong suspicion that the recent public and private attacks uj)on me were prompted from the same quarter, will probably appear to you to be well nigh justified, if you compare a passage in General Towson's second letter, with a passage in one of the articles of the Courier and Enquirer, I mean that, as- serting that family connections of mine were engaged in that war on the side of the enemy. My reply to General Towson will show you how idle is such an assertion : but the facts, that the alledged connection has, never so far as I know, and I should be likely to know it, been stated or alluded to, in any newspaper or publication whatever — that the empty gossip had probably been hiard by very few only — and that now, for the first time, it should be brought up by General Towson, in a letter to me, almost simultaneously by the Cou- rier and Enquirer in its columns — certainly afford plausihle gromuls for the idea, that on that point at least, if not throughout, the same liand directed the attack in both quarters. As to the officer alluded to, although my enemy, I am bound to s."\ that his conduct, so far from being suspe«ted by his countrymen, was, I have heard, con- sidered by them to deserve the compliment of a sworil and a diinier, which were paid him at Montreal. You are welcome to show the corresjiondence to any of your frieud.s. and in- deed I know no reason on my part, for objecting to its publication, if that be deemed advisable. 1 hiive now allowed tieneral Towson twelve days since my last note to him, for any ulterior steps he might choose to take ; and as he is vi I 26 silent, I presume he intends to go no further. For the rest, he certainly has no ripht to cluiin the suppression of the correspondence, and he distinctly inti- mates in his last, an intention to make a statement on the subject of it ; whe- ther he has thouj^ht better of it, and abandoned his purpose, or whether he withholds it only until 1 shall have sailed, is of course matter for conjecture alone. But, in any case, he certainly ha.s no claims on my forbearance. 1 put the correspondence in your hands, to be used as you shall judj;e proper. With the leiteration of my grateful acknowledgments of your kindness, ac- cept also assurances of the hii;h respect and esteem with which I remain, Yours tridy, (Signed) J. D. ELLIOTT. On Monday, the linh, the day after Commodou KUiotfs sailing for the Me- (!iterranean. the following paragraph appeared in the New York Courier and Enquirer : — " Monday, 1 1, P. M.— We have just been informed, that a friend of General Towson waited upon Elliott, on board the Constitution, yesterday afternoon, and submitted the following proposition ; — '• • General Towson authorizes me to propose, that Commodore Elliott should select an officer or other friend, who with mysell shall decide, imder existing circumstances, which party shall challenge ; and further, should he (General Towson,) be the challenged party, he agrees ,to wave any advantage arising from that position.' " This proposition, after an hour's deliberation, was peremptorily rejected." In consequence of the above paragraph. Col. Canonge called (as Commodore Elliott was subsequently informed,) on the Editor of the New York Courier and Enquirer, and caused the following explanation to be inserted in the same : Copied front the NtfV Yori Anwrieaii. .. Sij, ■_! hasten to correct a statement which appears in the Courier and Enquirer of this morning, which does injustice to Com. Elliott. I bore the propositions from Gen. Towson to Com. Elliott, which, at the request of the Commodore, were reduced to writing; upon a very sho.t consultation with a friend they were returned by the Commodore, who declined receiving them, but expressed his willingness to consider the note 1 had delivered as a challenge; a communication to which effect he made in writing. Having no authority from Gen Towson to proceed further in the matter, in case the propositions were declined an answer was given to the Commodore to that effect. Gen. Towson has desired that the statement should be made, and requests its immediate pub- lication, as an act of justice to Com. Elliott. " Very respectfully, " Your obedient servant, " P. MACAULY. » Friday Mornitifi, Aug. 1«." '• The following are the propositions referred to, in the above letter. " ' Gen Towfon authorizes me to propose, that Com. Elliott should select an officer or other friend, who with myself shall decide, under existing circum- stances which party shall challenge ; and further, should he (Gen. Towson,) be the challenged party, he agrees to wave any advantage arising trom that po- sition.' ' r. 1 1 T'his proposition was delivered, unopened by Commodore Elliott, to Colonel Canonge, who directed the Commodore to reply to it by an unconditional ac- ceptance of it, at a challenge, as shown by the correspondence above. 1r 'I MMWM iitiMiriiiiiiiiinirniiwiiiirirWiiirriifyift he certainly has 10 distinctly inti- jject of it ; whr- !, or whether he M lor conjecture bearance. 1 put proper. 3ur kindness, ac- h I remain, 0. ELLIOTT. liling for the Me- 'ork Courier and friend of General iterday afternoon, ore Elliott should le, under existing lould he (General advantage arising iptorily rejected." !d (as Commodore ew York Courier irted in the same : the Courier and lliott. I bore the the request of the )nsultation with a 1 receiving them, red as a challenge; no authority from propositions were ct. Gen. Towson ts immediate pub- ?. MACAULY. )ve letter. )tt should select an r existing eircum- (Gen. Towson.) be ing from that po- Elliott, to Colonel I (uironditional ac- ;e above. APPENDIX, He.kd Quarters, Lkwistown, Sei"t. 25, 1812. ,"?(>, — 1 have this moment received your letter of yestcrclay, stating Lieut. Elliott has proposed to make an attempt to cut out one of the vessels at Erie, and has requested your assistance by men, &c., for the enterprize. You will please to furnish Lieut. Elliott immediately with men, arms, ammu- nition, boats and implements of every kind to the uttermost of his wishes, and the means you can possibly command to render the enterprize successful. I am, sir, S. VAN RENSSELAER. Major Genl. Hall, Coiitmaru/iiig Bind- Hoei: IFkad Qiaktkrs, Lewistow.n, Sept. 25, 1R12. Sir, — I enclose you a copy of a letter I have this day sent to Major-General Hall, with my best wishes that success may crown your enterprize. I am, sir, with great respect, Your' most obedient servant. Signed, S. VAN RENSSELAER, Major-General. LitiU. Elliott, of the U. S. Navy, BufftUo. KiNDERiiooK, July 1'), 1835. Dear f^ir, — I think it was on the night of the 10th inst., that Col. Schuyler, then commanding the brigade, and Cols. Mead and Stranahan's regiment of the Militia were informed in my presence by the Militia patrols, that the British were crossing the Niagara, both above anil below us, in great numbers. The colonel then requested me to take a few with me, and select a station of the river where I could see all that passed on it. I posted myself on the bank a little to the north of Genl. Porter's house, and immediately sent a man to camp to inform the colonel that there was no movement on the river, in that direc- tion, as far as the eye could see, it being a light night. I continued to despatch a man with the like information every half hour until about 10 o'clock, when I heard the movement of the troops on the road, challenged, and was answered by the adjutant of the 13th infantry, whose voice I well knew, saying "the enemy has landed above and below us in great force, and we are on the retreat." Having left my horse with Genl. Porter's servant the previous day, I hastened there and gave the alarm to you and the general in the very words I had received it from Adjutant Eldridge, and while in conversation with yourself and Genl tatKt iflM 28 J Porter, neither of vou uei.ievino the hki'dkt to be thie, a detachment of my regiment, Capts. Spraul and Martin's Company passing, I was requested to join Ihein, which 1 did. #«*»♦* Signed, M. MYKRS, Ixile Captain VJlh U- ti. Infantry. OcroiiER ftTH. Sir, — Mr. Prestman will brin>; you the aid we can give ; he is a gallant young man, and I request that he may be allowed to accompany you. The God who protects the brave, guard you and give you success 1 Signed, ALKXANUWR SMYTH. UsHt. Elliott. New Port, R. I., Auulst 27, 1831. Sir, — On the morning previous to the expedition, Capt. Elliott called at Head Quarters, and stated to the general that a detachment ol" sailors had arrived at Buffalo on the last evening, and that he thought he could capture the two British vessels, then lying under Fort Erie, if the general would grant him the aid of a small detachment of soldiers, to which the general acceded, and directed me to detail the number of soldiers required. Capt. Elliott jiarticidarbi requested that no officer of the army might be detailed to accompany the soldiers, who would, in virtue of his rank, comm.\nd any naval officer who might have charge of either ol the boats. This request was also acceded to, and in obedi- ence to orders, I selected from the infantry thirty or forty men, (I forget the exact number,) and placed them i;.ndek the co.mmand of Ensicn Pkest.man, of the 5th Regiment of Infantry, who it was intended by me should bo the only com- missioned officer of the army sent with the troops. But on going to the camp of the artillery, under the command of Lieut. Col. Scott, to select a few men more, I then met Captains Towson and Barker, of that corps, who, on hearing the object of my visit, expressed a great desire to go with the expedition, and on my stating to them that their rank necessarily precluded them, they, with their characteristic solicitude to engage in any perilous adventure, volunteered to go in any capacity whatever. Under these circumstances, I consented to take one of them, and decided which of the two should go, by hazard, and it fell to the lot of Towson to go. * * * * * * One of the vessels grounded close on our side and was secured, the other grounded on the side of Squaw Island, next to the enemy. Capt. Elliott caused the detachment and all the prisoners to be landed, and on the following night the vessel which had grounded on Squaw Island, was set on fire by Capt. Ch-iin- bers, of the 5th Infantry, and destroyed. * * * * Respectfully, Your obedient servant, JAMES bankhi:ad. ^1 f-f^ --w . :May >iii i i ii i S..iii'iiiiiiMMfliw; i ir i iiiiii aiimjlfjiw MHBM , II (letaohnieiit of [ was rtHiuesteii to * * . MYKKS, U. S. Infantry. OcrotiKR flTH. if) a gallant young IR'CPSS I UBR SMYTH. ijuusr 27, 18.11. iott called at Head lors had arrived at ire the two British rant him the aid of d, and directed me ■ticnlarly regiiesteU r the soldiers, who I who might have ed to, and in obedi- • men. (I forget the isicN Pkest.man, of Id be the only com- oing to the camp of :t a few men more, ' ho, on hearing the expedition, and on m, they, with their !, volunteered to go nscnted to take one d, and it fell to the * * secured, the other 3apt. Elliott caused the following night firo by C'lipt. Cb'-jii- * « S BANKHEAD. 39 The following letters were written in reply to letters addressed to the authors by Capt. i;lliott :— " Nkw Casti.k, Jine 27, 18.11. " Dear Sir, — I have received your letter under date of the I'Jth of the ])re- sent month, and regret to learn that you have been assailed by the republica- tion of certain offensive charges. The several high commands, and imiiortuiil duties repeatedly assigned to you, are full evidence that tlie goverimii'iit and countay place every confidence in your patriotism, talents and valor; and if I may take the liberty of offering a suggestion, it would be that it best comports with your dignity and self-respect to rest your cause here. You particularly call my attention to the capture of two English vessels under the guns of Fort Erie in 181'.;, and say, ' as yon iivre acting ntuler my immeilinle command at the time, icill you be Unit enonsjh to state to me, us soon as possible, the matters and thinps relative to that affair ?' " The length of time that has elapsed, and the entire change which has taken place in my habits and associations, render such reminiscences difficult. Ire- collect that the attack was made at night, by two Iwats. in one of which I was with you. The British vessels referred to were taken, one of them brought over to the American shore, and the other, grounding on an island in the river, was destroyed. It appears to me that the facts belonging to the affair speak for themselves. The planning and conducting of the enterprise unquestionably pertained to you, and by every rule of military service, the credit of it is your due. " Most respectfully, your ob't serv't, "S. W. PRESTMAN." ■• Pm]i,.m)i.:i,i'ui.\, Jine 27, 18,11. " Capt. J. D. Elliott, U. S. N. "Dear Sir, — I received your letter of the lOth inst. several days since, but have been too much indisposed to reply to it. In allusion to ' lansr"nce used by the late Commodore Perry, in 1818, relative to your conduct in the capture of the British brigs Detroit and Caledonia, from under the guna of Fort Erie in 1812,' yon ask for my impressions of that affair. I never heard that any one but yourself suggested or directed the expedition. It was undoubtedly ex- ecuted with skill and bravery, or it could not have succeeded. As I was acting under your immediate command, and taking the helm from your cockswain, and laying your boat alongside the Detroit, boarding her side by side with you, and during the fight and subsequent cannonade with the British forts, I was con- stantly near you, I am authorized to, and cheerfully testify, sir, to your bra- very on the occasion. " If we had been defeated, the odium would have attached to you alone. We were successful, and you received all the credit, and I regret that any po- litical occurrence of the present day should tend to disparage your exertions in the late war. " With much respect and esteem, '■ I remain, sir, your ob't serv't, " I. ROACH, " Late Major U. S. Artillery." aMAM mtf mmm ..*J- ■J I 1^: aw— wwi mi ii " >' > ' *•* 1^" ' w ' w i< li i iil i 'W ii li i ln ii . i J HJ " | iB qmBBmPRPiPMiH- MMMlliliiil ViliSBSi'SSHJRiJfJ ' ' " f