Captain Lawrence to the Secretary of the Navy.

United States ship Hornet,
Holmes' Hole, March 19th, 1813.
To the Honourable
William Jones,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.

Sir: I have the honour to inform you of the arrival, at this port, of the United States ship Hornet, under my command, from a cruise of 145 days, and to state to you, that after Commodore Bainbridge left the coast of Brazils, (on the 6th of January last,) the Hornet continued off the harbour of St. Salvador, blockading the Bonne Citoyenne until the 24th, when the Montagu 74 hove in sight, and chased me into the harbour; but night coming on, I wore and stood to the southward. Knowing that she had left Rio Janeiro for the express purpose of relieving the Bonne Citoyenne and the packet, (which I had also blockaded for fourteen days, and obliged her to send her mail to Rio in a Portuguese smack,) I judged it most prudent to change my cruising ground, and stood to the eastward, with the view of cruising off Pernambuco; and on the 4th day of February, captured the English brig Resolution, from Rio Janeiro, bound to Maranham, with coffee, jerked beef, flour, fustic and butter, and about 25,000 dollars in specie. As the brig sailed dull, and could ill spare hands to man her, I took out the money and set her on fire. I then ran down the coast for Maranham, and cruised there for a short time; from thence ran off Surinam. After cruising off that coast from the 5th to the 22d of February, without meeting a vessel, I stood for Demarara, with an intention, should I not be fortunate on that station, to run through the West Indies, on my way to the United States. But on the morning of the 24th, I discovered a brig to leeward, to which I gave chase; ran into quarter less four, and not having a pilot, was obliged to haul off; the fort at the entrance of Demarara river at this time bearing south west, distance about 2-1/2 leagues. Previously to giving up the chase, I discovered a vessel at anchor without the bar, with English colours flying, apparently a brig of war. In beating round Corobano bank, in order to get at her, at half past 3 p.m. I discovered another sail on my weather quarter edging down for us. At 4.20 minutes she hoisted English colours, at which time we discovered her to be a large man-of-war brig; beat to quarters, and cleared ship for action; kept close by the wind, in order, if possible, to get to the weather gage. At 5.10 minutes, finding I could weather the enemy, I hoisted American colours, and tacked. At 5.20 minutes, in passing each other, exchanged broadsides within half pistol shot. Observing the enemy in the act of wearing, I bore up, received his starboard broadside, ran him close on board on the starboard quarter, and kept up such a heavy and well directed fire, that in less than fifteen minutes he surrendered, being literally cut to pieces, and hoisted an ensign, union down, from his fore-rigging, as a signal of distress. Shortly after, his main-mast went by the board; dispatched Lieutenant Shubrick on board, who soon returned with her first lieutenant, who reported her to be His Britannic Majesty's late brig Peacock, commanded by Captain William Peake, who fell in the latter part of the action; that a number of her crew were killed and wounded, and that she was sinking fast, having then six feet of water in her hold; dispatched the boats immediately for the wounded, and brought both vessels to anchor. Such shot-holes as could be got at were then plugged, her guns thrown overboard, and every possible exertion used to keep her afloat, until the prisoners could be removed, by pumping and bailing, but without effect, and she unfortunately sunk in five and a half fathoms water, carrying down thirteen of her crew and three of my brave fellows, viz.: John Hart, Joseph Williams, and Hannibal Boyd. Lieutenant Conner, Midshipman Cooper, and the remainder of the Hornet's crew, employed in removing the prisoners, with difficulty saved themselves by jumping in a boat that was lying on her bows as she went down. Four men, of the thirteen mentioned, were so fortunate as to gain the fore-top, and were afterwards taken off by the boats. Previous to her going down, four of her men took to her stern boat, which had been much damaged during the action, which I hope reached the shore in safety; but from the heavy sea running at the time, the shattered state of the boat, and the difficulty of landing on the coast, I much fear they were lost. I have not been able to ascertain from her officers the exact number killed. Captain Peake and four men were found dead on board. The master, one midshipman, carpenter, and captain's clerk, and twenty-nine seamen were wounded, most of them very severely; three of them died of their wounds after being removed, and nine drowned. Our loss was trifling in comparison. John Place, killed; Samuel Coulson and Joseph Dalrymple, slightly wounded; George Coffin and Lewis Todd, severely burnt by the explosion of a cartridge. Todd survived only a few days. Our rigging and sails were much cut; one shot through the foremast, and the bowsprit slightly injured. Our hull received little or no damage. At the time the Peacock was brought to action, the L'Espiègle (the brig mentioned above as being at anchor), mounting sixteen two-and-thirty pound carronades, and two long nines, lay at about six miles in shore, and could plainly see the whole of the action. Apprehensive that she would beat out to the assistance of her consort, such exertions were made by my officers and crew in repairing damages, &c., that by 9 o'clock the boats were stowed, a new set of sails bent, and the ship completely ready for action. At 2 a.m. got under weigh, and stood by the wind to the northward and westward, under easy sail.

On mustering next morning, found we had 277 souls on board, including the crew of the American brig Hunter, of Portland, taken a few days before by the Peacock. And, as we had been on two-thirds allowance of provisions for some time, and had but 3,400 gallons of water on board, I reduced the allowance to three pints a man, and determined to make the best of my way to the United States.

The Peacock was deservedly styled one of the finest vessels of her class in the British navy, probably about the tonnage of the Hornet. Her beam was greater by five inches, but her extreme length not so great by four feet. She mounted sixteen twenty-four pound carronades, two long nines, one twelve-pound carronade on her topgallant-forecastle, as a shifting gun, and one four or six-pounder, and two swivels mounted aft. I find, by her quarter-bill, that her crew consisted of 134 men, four of whom were absent in a prize.

The cool and determined conduct of my officers and crew during the action, and their almost unexampled exertions afterwards, entitled them to my warmest acknowledgments, and I beg leave most earnestly to recommend them to the notice of government.

By the indisposition of Lieutenant Stewart I was deprived of the services of an excellent officer; had he been able to stand the deck I am confident his exertions would not have been surpassed by any one on board. I should be doing injustice to the merits of Lieutenant Shubrick, and of acting-lieutenants Conner and Newton, were I not to recommend them particularly to your notice. Lieutenant Shubrick was in the actions with the Guerrière and Java. Captain Hull and Commodore Bainbridge can bear testimony to his coolness and good conduct on both occasions.

With the greatest respect, I remain, &c.,
James Lawrence.

P.S. At the commencement of the action my sailing master and seven men were absent in a prize, and Lieutenant Stewart and six men on the sick list.

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Resolutions of Congress Voting Medals to Captains Macdonough and Henley, Lieutenant Cassin, etc.

Resolved unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled: That the thanks of Congress be, and the same are hereby, presented to Captain Thomas Macdonough, and through him to the officers, petty officers, seamen, marines, and infantry serving as marines, attached to the squadron under his command, for the decisive and splendid victory gained on Lake Champlain, on the eleventh of September, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fourteen, over a British squadron of superior force.

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause gold medals to be struck, emblematical of the action between the two squadrons, and to present them to Captain Macdonough and Captain Robert Henley, and also to Lieutenant Stephen Cassin, in such a manner as may be most honourable to them; and that the President be further requested to present a silver medal,[90] with suitable emblems and devices, to each of the commissioned officers of the navy and army serving on board, and a sword to each of the midshipmen and sailing-masters, who so nobly distinguished themselves in that memorable conflict.

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to present a silver medal, with like emblems and devices, to the nearest male relative of Lieutenant Peter Gamble, and of Lieutenant John Stansbury, and to communicate to them the deep regret which Congress feel for the loss of those gallant men, whose names ought to live in the recollection and affection of a grateful country.

Resolved, That three months' pay be allowed, exclusively of the common allowance, to all petty officers, seamen, marines, and infantry serving as marines, who so gloriously supported the honour of the American flag on that memorable day.

Approved October 20, 1814.

Resolution of Congress Complimentary to Lieutenant Silas Duncan.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled: That the provisions of the joint resolutions of Congress passed October twentieth, eighteen hundred and fourteen, entitled "Resolution expressive of the sense of Congress of the gallant conduct of Captain Thomas Macdonough, the officers, seamen and marines, and infantry serving as marines on board of the United States squadron on Lake Champlain," be so construed and extended as to include the names of Silas Duncan, a lieutenant in the Navy of the United States, in testimony of the sense which is entertained by both houses of Congress of the distinguished gallantry and good conduct of the said Lieutenant Duncan, in an action with the enemy's forces on the sixth of September, eighteen hundred and fourteen, on the same lake.

Approved May 13th, 1826.

Captain Macdonough to the Secretary of the Navy.

United States Ship Saratoga,
Off Plattsburgh, September 11th, 1814.
To the Honorable
William Jones,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.

Sir: The Almighty has been pleased to grant us a signal victory on Lake Champlain, in the capture of one frigate, one brig, and two sloops-of-war of the enemy.

I have the honor to be, &c.
T. Macdonough.

Captain Macdonough to the Secretary of the Navy.

Ship Saratoga,
Plattsburgh Bay, September 13th, 1814.
To the Honorable
William Jones,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.

Sir: I have the honour to give you the particulars of the action which took place on the 11th instant, on this lake.

For several days the enemy were on their way to Plattsburgh by land and water, and it being well understood that an attack would be made at the same time by their land and naval forces, I determined to await, at anchor, the approach of the latter.

At 8 a.m. the look-out boat announced the approach of the enemy. At 9, he anchored in a line ahead, at about 300 yards distance from my line; his ship was opposed to the Saratoga, his brig to the Eagle, Captain Robert Henley, his gallies, thirteen in number, to the schooner, the sloop, and a division of our gallies, one of his sloops assisting their ship and brig, the other assisting their gallies. Our remaining gallies, with the Saratoga and Eagle.

In this situation, the whole force on both sides became engaged, the Saratoga suffering much, from the heavy fire of the Confiance. I could perceive at the same time, however, that our fire was very destructive to her. The Ticonderoga, Lieutenant Commandant Cassin, gallantly sustained her full share of the action. At half-past 10 o'clock, the Eagle not being able to bring her guns to bear, cut her cable, and anchored in a more eligible position, between my ship and the Ticonderoga, where she very much annoyed the enemy, but unfortunately, leaving me exposed to a galling fire from the enemy's brig. Our guns on the starboard side being nearly all dismounted, or not manageable, a stern anchor was let go, the bower cut, and the ship winded with a fresh broadside on the enemy's ship, which soon after surrendered. Our broadside was then sprung to bear on the brig, which surrendered in about 15 minutes after.

The sloop that was opposed to the Eagle had struck some time before, and drifted down the line; the sloop which was with their gallies having struck also. Three of their gallies are said to be sunk, the others pulled off. Our gallies were about obeying with alacrity the signal to follow them, when all the vessels were reported to me to be in a sinking state. It then became necessary to annul the signal to the gallies, and order their men to the pumps. I could only look at the enemy's gallies going off in a shattered condition, for there was not a mast in either squadron that could stand to make sail on; the lower rigging being nearly shot away, hung down as though it had been just placed over mast heads.

The Saratoga had 55 round shot in her hull, the Confiance 105. The enemy's shot passed principally just over our heads, as there were not 20 whole hammocks in the nettings after the close of the action, which lasted, without intermission, two hours and twenty minutes.

The absence and sickness of Lieutenant Raymond Perry left me without the services of that excellent officer; much ought fairly to be attributed to him for his great care and attention in disciplining the ship's crew, as her first lieutenant. His place was filled by a gallant young officer, Lieutenant Peter Gamble, who, I regret to inform you, was killed early in the action. Acting-lieutenant Vallette worked the first and second division of guns with able effect. Sailing-master Brum's attention to the springs, and in the execution of the order to wind the ship, and occasionally at the guns, met my entire approbation; also Captain Youngs, commanding the acting marines, who took his men to the guns. Mr. Beale, purser, was of great service at the guns, and in carrying my orders throughout the ship, with Midshipman Montgomery. Master's mate Joshua Justin had command of the third division; his conduct during the action was that of a brave officer. Midshipmen Monteath, Graham, Williamson, Platt, Thwing, and Acting-Midshipman Baldwin all behaved well, and gave evidence of their making valuable officers. The Saratoga was twice set on fire by hot shot from the enemy's ship.

I close, Sir, this communication with feelings of gratitude for the able support I received from every officer and man attached to the squadron which I have the honour to command.

I have the honour to be, &c.,
T. Macdonough.

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Resolution of Congress Voting Medals to Captain Warrington, etc.

Resolved unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled: That the President of the United States be requested to present to Captain Lewis Warrington, of the sloop-of-war Peacock, a gold medal, with suitable emblems and devices, and a silver medal,[94] with like emblems and devices, to each of the commissioned officers, and a sword to each of the midshipmen, and to the sailing-master of said vessel, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of the gallantry and good conduct of the officers and crew, in the action with the British brig Épervier, on the 29th day of April, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fourteen, in which action the decisive effect and great superiority of the American gunnery were so signally displayed.

Approved October 21, 1814.

Captain Warrington to the Secretary of the Navy.

United States sloop Peacock, at sea,
Latitude 27° 47´, longitude 89°.
April 29th, 1814.
To the Honourable
William Jones,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.

Sir: I have the honour to inform you that we have this morning captured, after an action of 42 minutes, His Majesty's brig Épervier, Captain Wales, rating and mounting 18 thirty-two pound carronades, with 128 men, of whom 8 were killed and 15 wounded, according to the best information we could obtain. Among the latter is her first lieutenant, who has lost an arm, and received a severe splinter wound in the hip. Not a man in the Peacock was killed, and only two wounded, neither dangerously so. The fate of the Épervier would have been determined in much less time, but for the circumstance of our fore-yard being totally disabled by two round shots in the starboard quarter from her first broadside, which entirely deprived us of the use of our fore and fore-top sails, and compelled us to keep the ship large throughout the remainder of the action. This, with a few top-mast and top-gallant back-stays cut away, a few shots through our sails, is the only injury the Peacock has sustained. Not a round shot touched our hull; our masts and spars are as sound as ever. When the enemy struck he had five feet water in his hold, his main top-mast was over the side, his main-boom shot away, his fore-mast cut nearly in two and tottering, his fore rigging and stays shot away, his bowsprit badly wounded, and forty-five shot holes in his hull, twenty of which were within a foot of his water line. By great exertion we got her in sailing order just as dark came on.

In fifteen minutes after the enemy struck, the Peacock was ready for another action, in every respect but her fore-yard, which was sent down, finished and had the fore-sail set again in forty-five minutes: such was the spirit and activity of our gallant crew. The Épervier had under her convoy an English hermaphrodite brig, a Russian and a Spanish ship, which all hauled their wind, and stood to the east-northeast. I had determined upon pursuing the former, but found that it would not answer to leave our prize in her then crippled state, and the more particularly so, as we found she had in her $120,000 in specie, which we soon transferred to this sloop. Every officer, seaman, and marine did his duty, which is the highest compliment I can pay them.

I am, respectfully,
L. Warrington.

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Resolution of Congress Voting Medals to Captain Blakeley, etc.

Resolved unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled: That the President of the United States be requested to present to Captain Johnston Blakeley, of the sloop Wasp, a gold medal, with suitable devices, and a silver medal,[95] with like devices, to each of the commissioned officers, and also a sword to each of the midshipmen, and the sailing-master of the aforesaid vessel, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of the gallantry and good conduct of the officers and crew, in the action with the British sloop-of-war Reindeer, on the twenty-eighth of June, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fourteen; in which action determined bravery and cool intrepidity, in nineteen minutes, obtained a decisive victory by boarding.

Approved November 3, 1814.

Captain Blakeley to the Secretary of the Navy.

United States ship Wasp,
L'Orient, July 8th, 1814.
To the Honourable
William Jones
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.

Sir: On Tuesday, the 28th instant, being then in latitude 48° 36´, north, and longitude 11° 15´ west, we fell in with, engaged, and after an action of nineteen minutes, captured His Britannic Majesty's sloop-of-war the Reindeer, William Manners, Esquire, commander.

Where all did their duty and each appeared anxious to excel, it is very difficult to discriminate. It is, however, only rendering them their merited due, when it is declared of Lieutenants Reily and Bury, 1st and 3d of this vessel, and whose names will be found among those of the conquerors of the Guerrière and Java; and of Mr. Tillinghast, 2d lieutenant, who was greatly instrumental in the capture of the Boxer; that their conduct and courage on this occasion fulfilled my highest expectations and gratified every wish. Sailing-master Carr is also entitled to great credit for the zeal and ability with which he discharged his various duties.

The cool and patient conduct of every officer and man, while exposed to the fire of the shifting gun of the enemy, and without an opportunity of returning it, could only be equalled by the animation and ardour exhibited when actually engaged, or by the promptitude and firmness with which every attempt of the enemy to board was met and successfully repelled. Such conduct may be seen, but cannot well be described.

The Reindeer mounted sixteen 24 pound carronades, two long 6 or 9 pounders, and a shifting 12 pound carronade, with a complement (on board) of 118 men. Her crew were said to be the pride of Plymouth.

Our loss in men has been severe, owing in part to the proximity of the two vessels and the extreme smoothness of the sea, but chiefly in repelling boarders. That of the enemy, however, was infinitely more so, as will be seen by the list of killed and wounded on both sides.

Six round shot struck our hull, and many grape which did not penetrate far. The fore-mast received a 24 pound shot, which passed through its centre, and our rigging and sails were a good deal injured.

The Reindeer was literally cut to pieces in a line with her ports; her upper works, boats and spare spars, were one complete wreck. A breeze springing up next afternoon, her fore-mast went by the board.

Having received all the prisoners on board, which from the number of wounded occupied much time, together with their baggage, the Reindeer was on the evening of the 29th, set on fire, and in a few hours blew up.

I have the honour to be, etc.,
J. Blakeley.

Killed and Wounded. The loss on board the Reindeer was 25 killed and 42 wounded, total 67. On board the Wasp, 5 killed and 21 wounded, principally in boarding; among the latter, midshipmen Langdon and Toscan, both of whom expired some days after the action.

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Resolutions of Congress Voting Medals to Generals Brown, Scott, Porter, Gaines, Macomb, Ripley, and Miller.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled: That the thanks of Congress be, and they are hereby, presented to Major General Brown, and through him, to the officers and men of the regular army, and of the militia under his command, for their gallantry and good conduct in the successive battles of Chippewa, Niagara, and Erie, in Upper Canada, in which British veteran troops were beaten and repulsed by equal or inferior numbers; and that the President of the United States be requested to cause a gold medal to be struck, emblematical of these triumphs, and presented to Major-General Brown.

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause a gold medal to be struck, with suitable emblems and devices, and presented to Major-General Scott, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of his distinguished services in the successive conflicts of Chippewa and Niagara, and of his uniform gallantry and good conduct in sustaining the reputation of the arms of the United States.

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause gold medals to be struck, with suitable emblems and devices, and presented to Brigadier-General Ripley, Brigadier-General Miller, and Major-General Porter, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of their gallantry and good conduct in the several conflicts of Chippewa, Niagara, and Erie.

Resolved, That the thanks of Congress be, and they are hereby, presented to Major-General Gaines, and through him to the officers and men under his command, for their gallantry and good conduct in defeating the enemy at Erie on the fifteenth of August, repelling with great slaughter the attack of a British veteran army, superior in numbers; and that the President of the United States be requested to cause a gold medal to be struck, emblematical of this triumph, and presented to Major-General Gaines.

Resolved, That the thanks of Congress be, and they are hereby, presented to Major-General Macomb, and through him to the officers and men of the regular army under his command, and to the militia and volunteers of New York and Vermont, for their gallantry and good conduct, in defeating the enemy at Plattsburgh on the eleventh of September, repelling with one thousand five hundred men, aided by a body of militia and volunteers from New York and Vermont, a British veteran army, greatly superior in number; and that the President of the United States be requested to cause a gold medal to be struck, emblematical of this triumph, and presented to Major-General Macomb.

Approved November 3, 1814.

Major-General Brown to the Secretary of War.

Head Quarters, Chippewa Plains,
July 7th, 1814.
To the Honourable
John Armstrong,
Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.

Sir: On the 2d instant I issued my order for crossing the Niagara river, and made the arrangements deemed necessary for securing the garrison of Fort Erie. On the 3d that post surrendered at 5 p.m. Our loss in this affair was four of the 25th regiment, under Major Jessup, of Brigadier-General Scott's brigade, wounded. I have enclosed a return of the prisoners, of the ordnance and ordnance stores captured.

To secure my rear, I have placed a garrison in this fort, and requested Captain Kennedy to station his vessels near the post.

On the morning of the 4th, Brigadier-General Scott, with his brigade and a corps of artillery, was ordered to advance toward Chippewa, and be governed by circumstances; taking care to secure a good military position for the night. After some skirmishing with the enemy, he selected this plain with the eye of a soldier, his right resting on the river, and a ravine being in front. At 11 at night I joined him with the reserve, under General Ripley, our field and battering train, and corps of artillery under Major Hindman. General Porter arrived the next morning with a part of the New York and Pennsylvania volunteers, and some of the warriors of the Six Nations.

Early in the morning of the 5th, the enemy commenced a petty war upon our pickets, and, as he was indulged, his presumption increased; by noon he showed himself on the left of our extensive line, and attacked one of our pickets as it was returning to camp. Captain Treat, who commanded it, retired disgracefully, leaving a wounded man on the ground. Captain Biddle, of the artillery, who was near the scene, impelled by feelings highly honourable to him as a soldier and officer, promptly assumed the command of this picket, led it back to the wounded man and brought him off the field. I ordered Captain Treat, on the post, to retire from the army, as I am anxious that no officer shall remain under my command who can be suspected of cowardice. I advise that Captain Treat[96] be struck from the rolls of the army.

At 4 o'clock in the afternoon, agreeably to a plan I had given General Porter, he advanced from the rear of our camp, with the volunteers and Indians (taking the woods in order to keep out of view of the enemy), with the hope of bringing his pickets and scouting parties between his (Porter's) line of march, and our camp. As Porter moved, I ordered the parties advanced in front of our camp to fall back gradually, under the enemy's fire, in order to draw him, if possible, up to our line. About half past 4, the advance of General Porter's command met the light parties of the enemy in the woods, upon our extreme left. The enemy were driven, and Porter advancing near to Chippewa, met their whole column in order of battle. From the cloud of dust rising, and the heavy firing, I was led to conclude that the entire force of the enemy was in march, and prepared for action. I immediately ordered General Scott to advance with his brigade, and Towson's artillery, and meet them upon the plain in front of our camp. The general did not expect to be gratified with a field engagement. He advanced in the most prompt and officer-like style, and in a few minutes was in close action upon the plain, with a superior force of British regular troops. By this time General Porter's command had given way, and fled in every direction, notwithstanding his personal gallantry, and great exertions to stay their flight. The retreat of the volunteers and Indians caused the left flank of General Scott's brigade to be greatly exposed. Captain Harris, with his dragoons, was directed to stop the fugitives, behind the ravine fronting our camp; and I sent Colonel Gardner to order General Ripley to advance with the 21st regiment which formed part of the reserve, pass to the left of our camp, skirt the woods so as to keep out of view, and fall upon the rear of the enemy's right flank. This order was promptly obeyed, and the greatest exertions were made by the 21st regiment to gain their position, and close with the enemy, but in vain; for such was the zeal and gallantry of the line commanded by General Scott, that its advance upon the enemy was not to be checked. Major Jessup, commanding the left flank battalion, finding himself pressed in front and in flank, and his men falling fast around him, ordered his battalion to "support arms and advance;" the order was promptly obeyed, amidst the most deadly and destructive fire. He gained a more secure position, and returned upon the enemy so galling a discharge, as caused them to retire. By this time, their whole line was falling back, and our gallant soldiers pressing upon them as fast as possible. As soon as the enemy had gained the sloping ground, descending towards Chippewa, and distant a quarter of a mile, he broke and ran to gain his works. In this effort he was too successful, and the guns from his batteries opening immediately upon our line, checked in some degree the pursuit. At this moment I resolved to bring up all my ordnance and force the place by a direct attack, and gave the order accordingly. Major Wood, of the corps of engineers, and my aid, Captain Austin, rode to the bank of the creek towards the right of their line of works, and examined them. I was induced by their report, the lateness of the hour, and the advice of General Scott and Major Wood, to order the forces to retire to camp.

My most difficult duty remains to be performed; I am depressed with the fear of not being able to do justice to my brave companions in arms, and apprehensive, that some who had an opportunity of distinguishing themselves, and promptly embraced it, will escape my notice.

Brigadier-General Scott is entitled to the highest praise our country can bestow: to him, more than any other man, I am indebted for the victory of the 5th of July. His brigade has covered itself with glory. Every officer and every man of the 9th and 22d, 11th and 15th regiments did his duty with a zeal and energy worthy of the American character. When every officer stands so pre-eminently high in the path of his duty and honour, it is impossible to discriminate, but I cannot deprive myself of the pleasure of saying, that Major Leavenworth commanded the 9th and 22d, Major Jessup the 25th, and Major McNeil the 11th. Colonel Campbell was wounded early in the action, gallantly leading on his regiment.

The family of General Scott were conspicuous in the field; Lieutenant Smith of the 6th infantry, major of brigade, and Lieutenants Worth and Watts his aids.

From General Ripley and his brigade, I received every assistance that I gave them an opportunity of rendering. I did not order any part of the reserve into action until General Porter's command had given way, and then General Scott's movements were so rapid and decisive, that General Ripley could not get up in time with the 21st, to the position as directed. The corps of artillery under Major Hindman were not generally in action; this was not their fault. Captain Towson's company was the only one that had a full opportunity of distinguishing itself, and it is believed that no company ever embraced an opportunity with more zeal or more success.

A detachment from the 2d brigade under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel McDonald, penetrated the woods with the Indians and volunteers, and for their support. The conduct of McDonald and his command reflects high honour on the brigade to which they belong.

The conduct of General Porter has been conspicuously gallant. Every assistance in his power to afford, with the description of force under his command, has been rendered. We could not expect him to contend with the British column of regulars which appeared upon the plains of Chippewa. It was no cause of surprise to me to see his command retire before this column.

Justice forbids that I should omit to name my own family. They yield to none in honourable zeal, intelligence, and attention to duty. Colonel Gardner, Major Jones, and my aids, Captains Austin and Spencer, have been as active and as much devoted to the cause as any officers of the army. Their conduct merits my warmest acknowledgments; of Gardner and Jones I shall have occasion again to speak to you.

Major Camp, deputy-quarter-master-general, deserves my particular notice and approbation. By his great exertions, I was enabled to find the means of crossing. Captain Daliba, of the ordnance department, has rendered every service in his power.

The inclosed return will show you our loss, and furnish you with the names of the dead and wounded officers. These gallant men must not be forgotten. Our country will remember them, and do them justice.

With great respect, &c.,
Jacob Brown.