for our

might be practicable to surprize and capture a brigade of boats with stores on board, and either destroy or bring them off; for this purpose I directed lieutenant Gregory to take three gigs with only one settee in each boat, and proceed down the St. Lawrence, secrete himself on some of the islands, and watch a favourable opportunity to surprize a brigade of loaded boats, and either bring them off or destroy them, as cir. cumstances would point out.

Lieutenant Gregory left here with his party on the evening of the 15th instant, and proceeded to the “ Thousand Islands," where he hauled his boats on shore and concealed them; saw two brigades of boats pass, one up the river with troops, of course too strong

little
party;

the other down the river, empty, and not worth taking.

Lieutenant Gregory found the enemy had gun-boats stationed between Kingston and Prescott, within about six miles of each other, and that they had a telegraph and look-out in almost every high island, so that they convey intelligence with great expedition.

Yesterday morning between nine and ten o'clock, lieutenant Gregory firding himself discovered and a gun-boat close to him, he instantly formed the bold design to board her, which he did, and carried her without losing a man; one of the enemy was badly wounded; she proved to be the fine gun-boat Black Snake, or No.9, and mounted one 18 pounder, and manned with 18 men, chiefly royal marines (a list of which is inclosed) Lieutenant Gregory manned his prize and proceeded up the St. Lawrence, but was soon discovered and pursued by a very large gun-boat mounting two heavy guns, and rowed with upwards of forty oars, which over-hauled him fast; he kept possession of his prize until the enemy threw their shot over him; he then very reluctantly (but I think properly), took all his prisoners out and scuttled the gun-boat, which sunk instantly, and escaped the enemy, although so heavily loaded. Lieutenant Gregory arrived safe this morning with all his prisoners.

Permit me to recommend this gallant young officer to your notice and patronage; he is not surpassed by any of his grade, in zeal, intelligence, and intrepidity. Sailing master Vaughan, and Mr. Dixson, each commanding a gig under lieutenant Gregory, are entitled to my warm acknowledgements for their zeal and activity on all occasions to render service to their country, more particularly on the last expedition, when, from their knowledge of the river, they ren, dered the most important services by pointing out the proper channels to elude the pursuit of the enemy.

Will you be pleased to direct in what manner the prisoners are to be disposed of? I have the honour to be, &c.

ISAAC CHAUNCEY.

Copy of a letter from Commodore Chauncey, to the Secretary

of the Navy.

United States ship Superior, Sir,

Sackett's Harbour, 7th July, 1814. I am happy that I have it in my power to detail to you another brilliant achievement of lieutenant Gregory with his brave companions.

I received information some time since that the enemy was building a large schooner at “ Presque Isle.” I deter. mined upon her destruction, but deferred the execution until she should be nearly ready for launching. Finding the alarm extensive down the St. Lawrence in consequence of taking the gun-boat Black Snake, I thought it a favourable opportunity to attempt someihing at "Presque Isle.” On the 26th ultimo, I directed lieutenant Gregory to take with him Messrs. Vaughan and Dixon; proceed with the two largest gigs to Nicholas Island (within about seven miles of Presque Isle” harbour), and there conceal his boats, and wait for some transports which I had information were expected to take up provisions and munitions of war, which had been sent up

the bay of Quinte for the troops at York and Fort George, but, if these transports did not make their appearance in three or four days, then to proceed to “ Presque Isle," and burn the vessel on the stocks, but with positive orders not to injure a private building or any private property. The day after lieutenant Gregory arrived on the coast, he discovered a vessel beating up, but just as he shoved off to board her, a large gunboat hove in sight a little below him. This boat made a signal to the vessel in the offing, upon which she tacked and stood for the gun-boat. Lieutenant Gregory secreted his boats as well as he could, but was apprehensive that he had been discovered. The gun-boat and her convoy (which was full of troops) stood into Presque Isle. Lieutenant Gregory was determined to ascertain whether he had been discovered; accordingly he sent one of his boats in the next night and took off one of the inhabitants, who informed him that it was known that he was on the coast, and that two expresses had VOL. IV.

[D]

a

been sent to Kingston in consequence. He therefore determined upon executing the latter part of his instructions, and made his arrangements accordingly, landed, placed sentinels at the houses to prevent alarm, and set fire to the vessel, which was nearly ready to launch; she was a stout well-built vessel to mount 14 guns, and would probably have been launched in about ten days. A small store-house which contained stores for the vessel was unavoidably burnt, as it was so near the vessel that it took fire from her. Lieutenant Gre. gory learnt from the inhabitants, that much property had been sent up a few days previous, that a company of the Glengary regiment had been stationed there, but had been sent to York a few days before; another company was on its way from Kingston to replace them. The few militia which had been left to guard the vessel and property, retreated upon the approach of our boats. As soon as the vessel was entirely consumed, lieutenant Gregory re-embarked his men, without having permitted one of them to enter a house; finding the alarm so general he thought prudent to cross the lake immediately; he stopped one day at Oswego, for refreshment, and arrived here last evening, having performed a most difficult service with his usual gallantry and good conduct.

Lieutenant Gregory speaks in the highest terms of commendation of sailing master Vaughan and Mr. Dixon, as well as the men under his command, for their patient en-' durance of hunger and fatigue, and the zeal with which they performed every part of their duty.

I think, in justice to these brave men, that they ought to be allowed something for the destruction of this vessel; they have, however, every confidence in the justice and liberality of the government, and submit their case most cheerfully to its decision. I have the honour to be, &c.

ISAAC CHAUNCEY. Hon. William Jones, &c.

Copy of a letter from Commodore Chauncey to the Secretary

of the Navy, dated United States ship Superior, off the

Ducks, October 1, 1814. Sir,

On the 28th instant, at day-light, we discovered two of the enemy's ships, standing out of Kingston, under a press of sail. As soon as they discovered us, they hove too. The wind being fresh from the northward and eastward, and fair to leave Kingston, I was impressed with a belief that sir

us.

James had got his large ship ready, and that he was coming out with his whole fleet. I immediately made sail, in order to gain the wind; but as soon as we tacked for them, the enemy's ships filled, made sail on a wind, and soon after tacked from

The weather being hazy, it soon became so thick a fog, that we could not discover objects more than a hundred yards. I, however, continued to beat to windward, and late in the afternoon it cleared up for a short time, when we discovered the enemy's two ships outside of Nine-Mile Point; but as soon as he discovered that we had neared him considerably, and in a situation 10 cut him off from Kingston, if he ventured further out, he immediately made all sail, and beat into his anchorage.

As no other part of the enemy's squadron made their appearance, and these two ships from their manæuvres evidently wished to escape us, it struck me, that the enemy had learnt the movements of general Izard, up the lake, and apprehending an attack upon general Drummond's army (which probably also was distressed for provisions), had induced him to put on board these two ships, troops and provisions, and risque them for the relief of his army upon the Niagara frontier; the wind and thick foggy weather also favoured such a movement. I determined to frustrate his designs if possible. Soon after sun-down, I anchored the fleet between the Galooes and Grenadier Island, for the purpose of keeping them toge her, and put lieutenant Skinner, with an additional number of men, on board of the Lady of the Lake, with orders to anchor between Pigeon and Snake Islands, and, if he discovered any movement of the enemy, to make me a signal with rockets, or guns, of his number, &c. It continued a thick fog during the night-the enemy made no movement, and the next morning, 29th, the weather cleared up, with the wind to the westward-weighed with the feet, and stood in for Kingston, until we opened the town sent the Lady of the Lake close in to reconnoitre, and ascertain the state of forwardness of the new ship. Lieutenant Skinner found her hauled off in the stream, and com. pletely rigged, but sails not bent--four other ships and a large schooner lying also in the stream, and apparently ready to sail.

From present appearances, I have no doubt but the enemy will be on the lake, with his whole force, in the course of a week, and I think his first movement will be to attemp to retrieve, at Sacketi's Harbour, what he lost at Plattsburg, I hope, however, that he will meet with the same gaulant resistance upon this lake, that he experienced on lake Champlain.

I have the honour to be, very respectfully, sir, your obedient humble servant,

ISAAC CHAUNCEY. Hon. William Jones, Washington.

From the same to the same.

United States ship Superior, Sir,

off the Ducks, 2d Oetober, 1814. Having a very commanding breeze yesterday, I sent the Lady of the Lake into Kingston to reconnoitre. She stood close in with the forts and shipping, keeping just without the range of their shot, and had a fair view. The ships lay in the same positions as on the 29th, and the large ship still without her sails bent-no visible preparation to embark troops. I shall watch them in this position as long as possible, without endangering the safety of the fleet.

I have the honour to be, very respectfully, sir, your most obedient humble servant,

ISAAC CHAUNCEY. Hon. William Jones, Secretary of the Navy, Washington.

CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING THE CO-OPERATION OF THE

FLEET ON LAKE ONTARIO, WITH THE ARMY UNDER GENERAL BROWN.

Copy of a letter from Commodore Chauncey, to the Secretary of

the Navy, dated United States ship Superior, off Kingston,

August 10, 1814. Sir,

Great anxiety of mind, and severe bodily exertions, have at length broken down the best constitution, and subjected me to a violent fever that confined me for eighteen days. This misfortune was no more to be foreseen than prevented, but was particularly severe at the moment it happened, as it induced a delay of five or six days in the sailing of the fleet.

In the early part of July, I expected the fleet would be made ready for sailing by the 10th or 15th; but many of the mechanics were taken sick, and amongst them the blockmakers and blacksmiths, so that the Mohawk could not be furnished with blocks and iron work for her gun and spar decks, before