Page images
PDF
EPUB

Little Belt, before any shot or provocation had been given from the President. Had not seen the commodore's account.

Richard Carson, midshipman.-Was on the forecastle and gangways. Commodore R. hailed, and was answered by repeating his words; second hail was answered by a shot. Was looking at the Belt, and saw and heard the gun, before any provocation from Commodore Rodgers. Gun from the President was followed by the Belt's broadside, as stated by others. Commodore's account confirmed.

Matthew C. Perry, Silas Duncan, and John M'Clack, midshipmen, gave their evidence to the same effect.

Thomas Gamble, second lieutenant.-Commanded the first division of guns. Commodore Rodgers hailed, "Ship a-hoy!" Was answered, "halloo." Asked "what ship is that?" Received his own words repeated in reply. Hailed again, "what ship is that?" Then a gun from the Belt. Heard no gun or provocation from the President-swears no gun was fired from his division. Nothing but round and grape shot fired after the action commenced. Commodore's orders as before stated; when firing ceased finally. Belt was in a favorable position for firing, but another broadside from the President probably would have sunk her. Saw no colours on the Belt, and took her for a frigate of thirty-six or thirty-eight guns. No firing on board or sheering off by the President; statement of Commodore Rodgers confirmed.

John Neese, captain of the first gun.-In the first division on the gun-deck, was looking at the Little Belt, and saw and heard her first fire..

Lieutenant Creighton testified farther, that when the Belt was silenced the second time, she luffed up towards the commodore, instead of keeping way, as she should have done, to fire at the President, and would have done if her rudder had been free. Commodore Rodgers expressed much humanity and anxiety to stop the firing. Lieutenant Creighton also testified to the officers of assistance from Commodore Rodgers to the Little Belt the next morning.

Alexander James Dallas, third lieutenant, commanded third division guns; heard first and second hail, and question repeated back from the Little Belt; then third hail and gun; was looking at the Belt when she fired, when no gun or provocation had been given from the President; was in the bridle-port when the Belt fired, and after the shot was received, got into the port and fired a gun in return, from general order, without particular direction. A broadside from the Belt immediately succeeded. None but round and grape used in his division, and no fire or sheering off. A broadside more would probably have sunk the Belt. Commodore Rodgers was very

anxious to stop the firing.-Commodore's state- BOOK XI. ment confirmed.

John M. Funk, fourth lieutenant, commanded third division gun-deck; heard hail, reply; second hail, and gun from Belt, as before; heard no gun or provocation from President, and there certainly was none from his division; gun from Belt returned from President in five or six seconds, and broadside from Belt ensued.-Orders of Commo. dore R. as before. Round and grape only fired. No fire or sheering off. Another broadside would have sunk the Belt. Commodore R. exerted him self to stop the firing.-Official account confirmed Peter Gamble, midshipman, was on gun-deck, at second division; heard first shot from Little Belt, and felt no jar on board the President. No gan or provocation from Commodore Rodgers.Confirmed the official account.

Edward Babbet, midshipman, was on gundeck, at third division; was looking at the Belt, and saw and heard the first gun from her. No gun or provocation had heen given by the President.-Official account confirmed.

Mr. Mull testified that the damage on board the President was one boy wounded; a shot in the mainmast, and another in the foremast, with some of the back-stays cut away; but not a single shot of any kind from the Little Belt struck the hull of the President.

Edward Rutledge Slubrick, midshipman, was forward on gun-deck, at first division; was looking at the Belt, and saw and heard the first fire from her before any gun or provocation from the President.

Philip Dickenson Spencer, midshipman, was confident that the first shot came from the Little Belt.

Breasted Barnes, carpenter, was on gun-deck to attend pumps, and looking at the Belt when she fired the first shot, before gun or provocation from Commodore Rodgers. The President did not receive a shot of any kind in the bull, but one in her main-mast and another in her foremast.

Edward Walker, captain first gun, fourth division forecastle, from hearing the report and feeling no jar, believed the first shot came from the Belt. Moses Dumbar, second captain (first absent) second gun, fourth division, was looking at the Little Belt, and saw her fire first. George Simmons, third captain, (first absent) third gun, fourth division; John M'Cornick, second captain (first absent) fourth gun, fourth division; William Campbell, first gun, fourth division, quarter-deck, all testified the same as Moses Dumbar.

Thomas Taylor, captain second gun, quarterdeck, saw the Little Belt fire six seconds first. Six captains of guns on the quarter-deck said the

same.

Mr. Mull testified that the commodore shewed great hamanity.-Lieutenant Dallas heard two reports,-Midshipman S. H. Stringham, J. H.

CHAP. I.

1811.

BOOK XI. Ludlow, and D. G. Ingraham, saw the Little Belt fire the first shot.

CHAP. I.

1811.

Here the examination closed, and the result of the trial was the acquittal of Commodore Rodgers. The American government, by putting the commodore on his trial, disavowed the act as belonging to themselves, and transferred it to the individual. They divested, therefore, the outrage upon the Little Belt, of a national insult, and rendered it as a private or individual action. But the record of this trial, the evidence, the defence, and the sentence, were not communicated to the British government; and, of course, it was suspected that the whole was an affair of management; that the evidence had been wilfully procured on the part of the government of the country to answer a particular purpose; and that the sentence was unjust; therefore, instead of being a satisfaction, it was by some considered as an aggravation of the injury.

In a court of inquiry held at Halifax, relative to this business, the evidence considerably varied. This court was held before the Right Honorable Lord James Townshend, captain of his majesty's ship Eolus, and senior officer at Halifax, Nova Scotia; Charles John Austen, esq. captain of his majesty's ship Cleopatra; and Alexander Gordon, esq. commander of his majesty's ship Rattler.

Lieutenant Moberty, senior lieutenant, stated, "that on the 16th inst. while cruizing off the coast of America, Cape Charles bearing west fiftyfour miles, at eleven a. m. saw a strange sail, that she was a lugger was reported from the mast-head, on the star-board beam; we then steering SS. W. the wind aft, or a little on the starboard quarter; on which took in our studding sails, and hauled our wind for her on the starboard tack:-shortly after, made her out to be a ship. At thirty past two p.m. having then made out the chace to be a frigate, with a commodore's broad pendant flying, being then about six miles, and not having answered any of our private signals, viz. 275, private signal, and our number, concluded her to be the American frigate United States; showed our colours, and steered our course south. Set studding-sails at five o'clock, -observed the frigate make all sail; and to keep more away from us: at seven found she was gaining on us fast. Captain Bingham then thinking it best to speak her before dark, shortened sail, and hove to, colours up: we then making out her stars in her broad pendant, beat to quarters, and got clear for action, a second time, having beat before at two p. m.; double shotted and double breached the guns. At fifty past seven, observed the frigate to have shortened sails to top-sails, top-gallant-sails, and jib, and standing down as if with an intention of passing under our stern; wore twice to evade this. Captain Bingham

hailed, and was not answered; wore again, to close to us, on larboard beam. Captain Bingham hailed the ship, "a-hoy!" which was repeated word for word by the frigate: Captain Bingham asked what ship that was, which was also repeated as before; and on asking a second time, was answered by a broadside. Captain Bingham was then standing on the midship gun, jumped off, and gave orders to fire, which was done in less than a minute after her first fire, we being quite ready, guns pointed, and continued firing for about an hour, when the frigate ceased firing, and hailed us to know what ship this was. Captain Bingham answered, his majesty's ship Little Belt, several times, before he understood us. He then asked if our colours were down? No! was Captain Bingham's answer. Captain Bingham then hailed to know what ship that was; and was answered the United States frigate,-the name we could not understand. In the mean time the frigate had filled, and was standing from us ;—a short time after lost sight of her,-hove-to for the night, having no sail set. At day-light, saw a sail to windward; made her out to be the same we had engaged;-at six she bore up for us under easy sail; at eight she passed within hail, asked permission to send a boat on board, which was granted: boat came on board, staid ten minutes, then returned; understood the frigate to be the President, belonging to the United States, Commodore Rodgers; observed the President to fill and stand on, on the starboard tack, under her top-sails."

Lieutenant Thomas Leveel, Mr. James Franklin, boatswain, and Mr. Hinshelwood, purser, corroborated the whole of the foregoing statement.

In addition to whom, Mr. William Turner, surgeon, stated, "that at ten minutes past eight o'clock p. m. Captain Bingham hailed the stranger twice, very loudly, but received no answer: about five minutes after, Captain Bingham again hailed, and was answered from the frigate, to what purpose I could not distinctly understand. Captain Bingham again hailed twice, and immediately heard the frigate fire, and the whole passed over us. I then distinctly heard Captain Bingham give orders to fire away: we returned the broadside within the space of twenty seconds; the action continued with great vigour for about forty-five minutes, to the best of my judgment.

"The examination and information of William Burkit, mariner, taken before John Howe and Thomas Boggs, esquires, two of his majesty's justices of the peace for the county of Halifax, this 22d day of June, in the year of our Lord 1811; who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that he was born at Deptford, in England; that he is about twenty-three years of age; that he has reason to think he has a mother still living at

Deptford; that he left home about three years ago, and went to Montego-bay, Jamaica; that he left that place afterwards, and proceeded to New York, in a brig called the Pizarro; that some time in August, 1809, being in a state of intoxication, he was forcibly carried on-board the United States armed schooner Revenge, in which he continued until she was cast away in Long Island Sound; that he was afterwards transferred to the United States' ship the President; that he was entered on-board the Revenge, and afterwards on-board the President, by the name of Elijah Shephardson; that he was on-board the President the first week in May last, when that ship was lying at Annapolis, in Maryland; that Commodore Rodgers suddenly came on-board from Havre-de-Grace, where he had been with his family; that instantly after the arrival of the commodore, all was bustle in the ship; that the sails, some of which were unbent, were immediately bent, and the ship got ready, with all possible expedition, to proceed to sea; that she got under weigh next day, and proceeded down the river; that they spoke a brig, which said they had been boarded the day before by a British cruiser, and that she had taken a man from her, who had been sent back again; that, as they were going down the river, they got up a much larger quantity of shot and wads than had ever been customary on any other occasion, while he was on-board the ship; and that he knows this to have been the case, from having held the station of quarter-gunner; that after proceeding to sea, they cruised off the different parts of the coast without any thing materially happening until the 16th of May; that at twelve o'clock on that day, being below at dinner, word was brought that a frigate, supposed to be British, was in sight; that orders were then given for clearing away the bulk-heads, and preparing for action; that, soon after, all hands were beat to quarters; that every thing was then immediately got ready for action; that at this time it was about two o'clock; that all sails were then set, and they went eagerly in chase of the supposed frigate; that orders were soon after given for pricking and firing the guns; before dark, while they were approaching nearer the chase, orders were given to take the aprons off the guns; and at that time this deponent looked at the ship they were in chase of, through the bridle port, and he saw her colours flying; that he saw red in them, but could not correctly ascertain what colours they were; that at the distance they were, he is satisfied that with glasses they could easily be distinguished; that he heard Lieutenant Belding, who had a glass, and who commanded in his division, say, that her colours were British; that when this deponent looked at her, he could see her hull, and was satisfied that she was a small ship;

1811.

that they continued after this period to approach BOOK XI. her until between eight and nine o'clock, when they were within pistol-shot; that Commodore CHAP. I. Rodgers then gave orders to stand by their guns, and not to fire till orders were given; that the commodore then hailed; and when he was hailing a second time, a gun in the division to which this belongs, being the second division, went off, he thinks by accident; and that there were four or five men leaning on the gun at the time; that he instantly turned, to acquaint the lieutenant that the gun had gone off by accident, the lieutenant then standing only three guns from him; that before he could do this, the whole broadside of the President was discharged; and that immediately after a general order was given, "fire away as quick as possible;" that before the firing of the gun of this division, which he thinks went off by accident, and the broadside which immediately followed, this deponent is satisfied, as he was looking out of the port, and distinctly saw the Little Belt, that not a gun had been fired from her; that the President, he thinks, continued firing about half an hour without cessation; that an order was then given to cease firing; that the President then filled her main-top-sail, and stood from the Little Belt, with her head to the southward, and continued all night on that tack, without heaving to; that the commodore, before he steered from the Little Belt, hailed her to know if she had struck; the only part of the answer given, that he could distinctly hear or understand, was, that she was a British ship.

"This deponent further saith, that the President was wounded in her foremast and mainmast, a 22-pound shot having entered each of them; and the rest of the night, after the engagement, they were employed in repairing the damage sustained in the rigging. This deponent farther saith, that the crew of the President consists of about 500 men, upwards of 300 of which he knew to be British seamen, from having conversed with them, and having heard them declare they were so, and from many of them having designated the place they came from; that the engagement with the Little Belt had excited great disgust in the British seamen on-board the President, who had manifested their reluctance to fight against their country; that one man, in particular, had so plainly expressed this feeling, as to have drawn on him the resentment of Commodore Rodgers, who had put him in irons; in which situation he remained when this deponent left the ship for the aforesaid defence, and for having said the first gun was fired from the President.

"This deponent further saith, that, after the President came into New York, and was lying in the North River, that, by the assistance of his hammock lashings, he got in the night from the

[blocks in formation]

Bristol, July 25, 1811. "John Russell deposes, that he belonged to the President American frigate; that he did his duty in the foretop; was quartered at the aftermost gun on the forecastle, before they fell in with the Little Belt. The commodore informed the ship's company, that he was ordered to demand two American seamen that had been pressed by a British frigate; if they were not given up, he was to take them by force: when they went down to the Little Belt the guns were double-shotted, and loaded with grape; that the first gun was fired from the President, but he believes from accident, as no orders were given from the quarter-deck to fire; the guns had locks, and were all cocked. After the action, he was informed by the men in the waste, that a mau was entangled with the lanyard of the lock, that occasioned the gun to go

off."

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

On the meeting of Congress, this affair was particularly dwelt upon in the president's speech, communicated by Mr. Edward Coles, his private secretary, and which was as follows:

"Fellow-citizens of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives,

"In calling you together sooner than a separation from your homes would otherwise have been required, I yielded to considerations drawn from the posture of our foreign affairs; and in fixing the present for the time of your meeting, regard was had to the probability of farther developements of the policy of the belligerent powers towards this country, which might the more unite the national councils in the measures to be pursued.

"At the close of the last session of congress, it was hoped that the successive confirmations of the extinction of the French decrees, so far as they violated our neutral commerce, would have induced the government of Great Britain to repeal its orders in council; and thereby authorize

a removal of the existing obstructions to her commerce with the United States.

"Instead of this reasonable step towards satisfaction and friendship between the two nations, the orders were, at a moment when least to have been expected, put into more rigorous execution; and it was communicated through the British envoy just arrived, that, whilst the revocation of the edicts of France, as officially made known to the British government, was denied to have taken place, it was an indispensable condition of the repeal of the British orders, that commerce should be restored to a footing that would admit the productions and manufactures of Great Britain, when owned by neutrals, into markets shut against them by her enemy; the United States being given to understand, that, in the mean time, a continuance of their non-importation act would lead to measures of retaliation.

"At a later date it has, indeed, appeared, that a communication to the British government, of fresh evidence of the repeal of the French decrees against our neutral trade, was followed by an intimation, that it had been transmitted to the British plenipotentiary here, in order that it might receive full consideration in the depending discussions. This communication appears not to have been received: but the transmission of it hither, instead of founding on it the actual repeal of the orders, or assurances that the repeal would ensue, will not permit us to rely on any effective change in the British cabinet. To be ready to meet, with cordiality, satisfactory proofs of such a change, and to proceed, in the mean time, in adapting our measures to the views which have been disclosed through that minister, will best consult our whole duty.

"In the unfriendly spirit of those disclosures, indemnity and redress for other wrongs have continued to be withheld; and our coasts and the mouths of our harbours have again witnessed scenes, not less derogatory to the dearest of our national rights than vexatious to the regular course of our trade.

[ocr errors]

Among the occurrences produced by the conduct of British ships of war hovering on our coasts, was an encounter between one of them and the American frigate commanded by Captain Rodgers, rendered unavoidable on the part of the latter, by a fire commenced without cause by the former; whose commander is, therefore, alone chargeable with the blood unfortunately shed in maintaining the honor of the American flag. The proceedings of a court of inquiry, requested by Captain Rodgers, are communicated; together with the correspondence relating to the occurrence between the secretary of state and his Britannic majesty's envoy. To these are added, the several correspondences which have passed on the subject of the British orders in council;

and to both, the correspondence relating to the Floridas, in which congress will be made acquainted with the interposition which the government of Great Britain has thought proper to make against the proceedings of the United States.

"The justness and fairness which have been evinced on the part of the United States towards France, both before and since the revocation of her decrees, authorised an expectation that her government would have followed up that measure by all such others as were due to our reasonable claims, as well as dictated by its amicable professions. No proof, however, is yet given of an intention to repair the other wrongs done to the United States; and, particularly to restore the great amount of American property seized and condemned under edicts, which, though not affecting our neutral relations, and therefore, not entering into questions between the United States and other belligerents, were nevertheless founded in such unjust principles, that the reparation ought to have been prompt and simple.

"In addition to this and other demands of strict right on that nation, the United States have much reason to be dissatisfied with the rigorous and unexpected restrictions to which their trade with the French dominions has been subjected; and which, if not discontinued, will require, at least, corresponding restrictions on importations from France into the United States.

"On all those subjects our minister-plenipotentiary, lately sent to Paris, has carried with him the necessary instructions; the result of which will be communicated to you; and by ascertaining the ulterior policy of the French government towards the United States, will enable you to adapt to it that of the United States towards France.

"Our other foreign relations remain without unfavorable changes. With Russia they are on the best footing of friendship. The ports of Sweden have afforded proofs of friendly dispositions towards our commerce in the councils of that nation also. And the information from our special minister to Denmark, shews, that the mission had been attended with valuable effects to our citizens, whose property had been so extensively violated and endangered by cruisers under the Danish flag.

"Under the ominous indications which commanded attention, it became a duty to exert the means committed to the executive department, in providing for the general security. The works of defence on our maritime frontier have accordingly been prosecuted with an activity leaving little to be added for the completion of the most important ones; and, as particularly suited for cooperation in emergencies, a portion of the gunboats have, in particular harbours, been ordered into use. The ships of war before in commission,

with the addition of a frigate, have been chiefly employed as a cruising guard to the rights of our coast; and such a disposition has been made of our land-forces, as was thought to promise the services most appropriate and important. In this disposition is included a force consisting of regulars and militia, embodied in the Indian territory, and marched towards the north-west frontier. This measure was made requisite by several murders and depredations committed by Indians; but more especially by the menacing preparations and aspect of a combination of them on the Wabash, under the influence and direction of a fanatic of the Schawanese tribe. With these exceptions, the Indian tribes retain their peaceable dispositions towards us, and their usual pursuits.

"I must now add, that the period is arrived, which claims from the legislative guardians of the national rights a system of more ample provisions for maintaining them. Notwithstanding the scrupulous justice, the protracted moderation, and the multiplied efforts on the part of the United States, to substitute, for the accumulating dangers to the peace of the two countries, all the mutual advantages of re-established friendship and confidence; we have seen, that the British cabinet perseveres, not only in withholding a remedy for other wrongs, so long and so loudly calling for it, but in the execution brought home to the threshold of our territory, of measures which, under existing circumstances, have the character as well as the effect of war on our lawful commerce.

"With this evidence of hostile inflexibility, in trampling on rights which no independent nation can relinquish, congress will feel the duty of putting the United States into an armour and an attitude demanded by the crisis, and corresponding with the national spirit and expectations.

"I recommend, accordingly, that adequate provision be made for filling the ranks and prolonging the enlistments of the regular troops; for an auxiliary force, to be engaged for a more limited term; for the acceptance of volunteer corps, whose patriotic ardour may court a participation in urgent services; for detachments, as they may be wanted, of other portions of the militia; and for such a preparation of the great body, as will proportion its usefulness to its intrinsic capacities. Nor can the occasion fail to remind you of the importance of those military seminaries, which, in every event, will form a valuable and frugal part of our military establishment.

"The manufacture of cannon and small arms has proceeded with due success, and the stock and resources of all the necessary munitions are adequate to emergencies. It will not be inexpedient, however, for congress to authorise an enlargement of them.

"Your attention will, of course, be drawn to such provisions, on the subject of our naval force,

BOOK XI.

CHAP. I.

1811.

« PreviousContinue »