The respective forces engaged were so nearly and forty-five tons, and had on board one equal that it is unnecessary to offer any further remark than the admission that whatever superiority there might have been it was on the side of the British, and that Captain Allen fought his vessel bravely under the slight disadvantage, and on his death, which occurred a short time afterwards, his remains were attended to the grave by all the officers, military or naval, in the port. "Some people excel in powers of endurance, such as the Eng Boxer and Enterprise, lish evinced at the bat tle of Waterloo. Others excel in powers of assault such as the French displayed there. But there is no record of a British vessel enduring the terrible blows inflicted on some of the American vessels before yielding." Thus writes Ingersoll, forgetful of the defence made by the Java, and still more recently, the Dominica, in which last engagement, as we have just seen, the British vessel was not surrendered until her captain and sixty men, out of a crew of sixty-six, lay dead or wounded upon her deck. Mr. Ingersoll, besides these two instances, which we have just cited, might have found a third in the case of the vessel whose capture we are about to relate. At daylight, on the 5th September, the British brig-sloop Boxer, of fourteen guns (twelve eighteen pounder carronades and two sixes) while lying at anchor, near Portland, United States, discovered in the offing a sail, and immediately weighed and stood to sea in pursuit. The strange vessel was soon made out to be an enemy and proved to be the American gunbrig, Enterprise, of sixteen guns (fourteen eighteen pounder carronades and two nines) commanded by Lieutenant Burrows. The American vessel, after her superior powers of sailing had been tested, and it had been sufficiently established that should she get beaten it was easy to escape, bore up to engage. At a quarter past three the action commenced, terminating after a severe and protracted contest in the surrender of the Boxer. The British vessel measured one hundred and eighty-one tons, (her force we have already shewn) and was manned by sixty men, of whom twelve were absent, and six boys. The Enterprise measured two hundred By English we presume, Ingersoll means British. hundred and twenty men and three boys. The officers of the Boxer had the mortification to see four men, during the action, desert their guns, thereby reducing the number of the combatants to forty-four, yet, in spite of all these casualties and the fall of Captain Burrows, early in the action, the vessel was only, yielded after a loss of twenty-one men, nearly half the crew. The loss of the Enterprise was fourteen killed and wounded, her commander being included amongst the killed. Besides the more than two-fold disparity in crews, the Enterprise was altogether a stouter vessel than her antagonist. This will be proved by Commodore Hull's letter* which *Extract of a letter from Commodore Hull to Commodore Bainbridge, dated the 10th inst. "I yesterday visited the two brigs and was astonished to see the difference of injury sustained in the action. The Enterprize has but one 18 pound shot in her hull, one in her mainmast, and one in her foremast; her sails are much cut with grape shot and there are a great number of grape lodged in her sides, but no injury done by them. The Boxer has eighteen or twenty 18 pound shot in her hull, most of them at the water's edgeseveral stands of 18 pound grape stick in her side, and such a quantity of small grape that I did not undertake to count them. Her masts, sails and spars are literally cut to pieces, several of her guns dismounted and unfit for service; her top gallant forecastle nearly taken off by the shot, in proportion. To give you an idea of the quanher boats cut to pieces, and her quarters injured tity of shot about her, I inform you that I counted in her mainmast alone three 18 pound shot holes, and a large number of smaller shot holes, without 18 large grape shot holes, 16 musket ball holes, counting above the cat harpins. "We find it impossible to get at the number killed; no papers are found by which we can ascertain it-I, however, counted upwards of 90 hammocks which were in her netting with beds in them, besides several beds without hammocks; officers below in staterooms, so that I have no and she has excellent accomodations for all her doubt that she had one hundred men on board. We know that she has several of the Rattler's men on board, and a quantity of wads was taken out of with a small hole in the centre to put in a cartridge the Rattler, loaded with four large grape shot that the inside of the wad may take fire when it leaves the gun. In short, she is in every respect completely fitted and her accommodations exceed any thing I have seen in a vessel of her class." Remarks.-There have been various opinions respecting the relative force of the vessels, and diminish the splendour of the victory. The foresome ungenerous attempts have been made to going extracts, we conceive irrefragably settle the question of force and of skill. It appears that in number of men the enemy were equal; in number we give for two reasons. Firstly, to show the difference of execution done in a close action, where the weight of metal being the same on both sides, the respective stoutness of the timbers would be tested, and secondly to prove how ready Commodore Hull was to make statements which he must have seen were untrue. The British brig had upwards of "one hundred men on board, for, "says Captain Hull, I counted upwards of ninety hammocks." Now if the American public did not know, Commodore Hull knew full well that, in the British service, every seaman and marine has two hammocks allowed himt yet he was disingenuous enough to pen a statement which he knew, coming from a sort of pet hero, would produce an effect all over the Union. Brave, Captain Hull may have been-most unprincipled, this circumstance clearly proves him to have been. We close this chapter by giving in our notes Lieutenant McCall's really modest, if not quite correct letter, and with a few observations from James on the difference of the carronades used in the services. "The established armament of the Boxer was ten carronades; and that number, with her two six-pounders, was as many as the brig could mount with effect or carry with ease. But, when the Boxer was refitting at Halifax, Captain Blyth obtained two additional carronades: had he taken on board, instead of them, twenty extra seamen, the Boxer would have been a much more effective vessel. Against the English ordinary carronade, complaints have always been made, for its lightness and unsteadiness in action; but the American carronade of that calibre is much shorter in the breech, and longer in the muzzle: therefore it heats more slowly, recoils less, and carries farther. The same is the case, indeed with all the varieties of the carronade used by the Americans; and they, in consequence derive advantages in the employment of that ordnance not possessed by the English; whose carronades are notoriously the lightest and most inefficient of any in use. If the English carronade, especially of the smaller calibres, had anchor and swept out, and continued our course to the eastward. Having received information of several privateers being off Manhagan, we stood for that place; and on the following morning, in the bay near Penguin Point, discovered a brig getting under way, which appeared to be a vessel of war, and to which we immediately gave chase. She fired several guns and stood for us, having four ensigns hoisted. After reconnoitering and discovering her force, and the nation to which she belonged, we hauled upon a wind to stand out of the bay, and at three o'clock shortened sail, tacked to run down with an intention to bring her to close action. At twenty minutes firing commenced from both, and after being after 3 P. M., when within half pistol shot, the warmly kept up, and with some manoeuvering, the enemy hailed and said they had surrendered, masts, could not be hauled down. She proved to about 4 P.M.-their colors being nailed to the be his B. M. brig Boxer, of 14 guns. Samuel Blythe, Esq., commander, who fell in the early part of the engagement, having received a cannon shot through the body. And I am sorry to add that Lieutenant Burrows, who had gallantly led us into action, fell also about the same time by a musket ball, which terminated his existence in eight hours. The Enterprise suffered much in spars and rigging, and the Boxer in spars, rigging, and hull, having many shots between wind and water. of guns it was well known the enemy were superior; and the vast difference of execution conIt would be doing injustice to the merit of Mr, firms (if confirmance were wanted) the fact of the high degree of superiority of our seamen in the Tillinghast, second lieutenant, were I not to menart of gunnery. And, above all other consideration the able assistance I received from him dutions, it proves that American tars are determined to support their government, in a just war waged in defence of their rights.-Niles Register. +James Naval History. United States Brig "Enterprise," Portland, 7th September, 1813. SIR,-In consequence of the unfortunate death of Lieutenant-Commandant William Burrows, late commander of this vessel, it devolves on me to acquaint you with the result of the cruize. After sailing from Portsmouth on the 1st instant, we steered to the eastward; and on the morning of the 3rd, off Wood Island, discovered a schooner, which we chased into this harbor, where we anchored. On the morning of the 4th, weighed ring the remainder of the engagement, by his strict attention to his own division and other departments. And of the officers and crew generally, I am happy to add, their cool and determined conduct have my warmest approbation and applause. As no muster roll that can be fully relied on has come into my possession, I cannot exactly state the number killed and wounded on board the Boxer, but from information received from the officers of that vessel, it appears there were between twenty and twenty five killed, and fourteen wounded. Enclosed is a list of the killed and wounded on board the Enterprise. I have the honor to be, &c. EDWARD R. M'CALL, displayed its imperfections, as these pages not only stouter, but double, breechings; one have frequently shown that the thirteen-inch of which, in case the ring-bolt should draw, mortar was in the habit of doing, by bursting is made to pass through the timber-head." after an hour or two's firing, the gun must either have been improved in form, or thrown out of the service. While on the subject of carronades, we may remark, that even the few disadvantages in the carronade, which the Americans have not been able entirely to obviate, they have managed to lessen, by using, We may remark, in conclusion, that none of the praises lavished upon the fine brig Boxer, could gain her a place among the national vessels of the United States. She was put up to auction, and sold as a merchant brig; for which service only, and that only in time of peace, she was ever calculated. CHAPTER XIII. LAKE CHAMPLAIN, the scene which our history | the several embargoes that preceded the war now requires us to visit, when the American gun-boats, stationed at the foot of the lake, prevented the rafts of timber from being floated out of the bay, for passage down the river." Capture of the Growler and Eagle, American sloops. This command of the lake, and particularly the point of junction of the lake and river was of material service to the Americans, and a battery at Rouse's point would have effectually prevented the passage of any flotilla that the British might have desired to construct for service on Champlain. The sole military post held by the British in that lies between the northern part of New York State and Vermont. Generally narrow, and only in one place widening out to a breadth of some seventeen or eighteen miles, its mean breadth may be estimated at about six or seven miles, while its length is nearly seventy. The river Richelieu, by which the waters of the lake find an outlet to the St. Lawrence, runs in a northerly direction, and is nearly useless for the general purposes of navigation, as the bed is full of shoals and rapids, which neighbourhood was Isle aux Noix, "a small extend nearly to the embouchure, where it island, containing only eighty-five acres, mingles its waters with those of the St. situate on the Richelieu, and distant about ten Lawrence. This lake belongs to the United miles from the boundary line.” On this island States, as (according to James) "the line of were some small forts and a few block-houses demarcation, owing to the ignorance or at various points. These defences were pusillanimity of the British commissioners garrisoned by detachments from the 13th and employed in 1783, intersected the Richelieu, 101st regiments, under the command of Major at the distance of several miles down its Taylor; a small detachment of artillery was course from the lake. The Canadians are, also stationed there. Three gun-boats, built therefore, not only shut out from the lake, but at Quebec, and transported over land, reprefrom all water communication with their own sented the British naval force in that quarter. territory bordering on Missisquoi bay, formed The Americans with more foresight, and, by a tongue of land to the eastward. This perhaps, from greater facilities, had, soon inconvenience," continues James, "Canadians after the commencement of the war, armed fully experienced, during the continuance of and equipped several vessels in order to ensure the command of Lake Champlain. Desirous, on shore. The alacrity of the garrison on we suppose of reconnoitring, perhaps with a this occasion calls forth my warmest approbaview of demolishing the fortifications at Isle tion. Ensigns Dawson, Gibbons, and Humaux Noix, Lieutenant Sidney Smith with two phreys, and acting Quarter-master Pilkington, sloops, manned by seamen from the Atlantic and men, of the 100th (Prince Regent's) reboard, presented themselves on the 1st June giment, and Lieutenant Lowe of the marine off Isle aux Noix. Col. Taylor immediately department, with three gunners of the artiltook such measures as resulted in the capture lery to each boat, behaved with the greatest of both. Major Taylor's official letter to gallantry; I am particularly indebted to General Stovin is short enough to incorporate Captain Gordon of the royal artillery, and with our text, and, giving a simple unadorned statement, may be relied on. Lieutenant Williams, with the parties of the 100th regiment on shore, who materially contributed to the surrender of the enemy. The Growler has arrived at the garrison in good order, and is apparently a fine vessel, and the boats are employed in getting off the Eagle, which was run aground to prevent her sinking. I have hopes she will be saved, but in her guns and stores brought to the garrison. Ensign Dawson, of the 100th regiment, a most intelligent officer, will have the honor of delivering you this. I have the honor to be, &c., GEORGE TAYLOR, Major, 100th regt. Major-general Stovin, Commanding at Chambly. Isle Aux Noix. SIR, -In the absence of Lieutenant-Colonel Hamilton, I have the honor to acquaint you that one of the enemy's armed vessels was discerned from the garrison, at half-past four o'clock this morning, when I judged it expedient to order the three gun-boats under the meantime have had her dismantled and weigh; and before they reached the point above the garrison, another vessel appeared in sight, when the gnn-boats commenced firing. Observing the vessels to be near enough the shore for musketry, I ordered the crews of the batteaux and row-boats (which I took with me from the garrison to act according to circumstances) to land on each side of the river, and take a position to rake the vessels; A great blow was inflicted by this capture the firing was briskly kept up on both sides; on the enemy, and it did much to check the the enemy, with small arms and grape-shot intention of invasion from that quarter. It occasionally. Near the close of the action, an has been shown that the two American vessels express came off to me in a canoe, with intel- were of considerable tonnage and strength, ligence that more armed vessels were ap- and it was deemed advisable, as their capture proaching, and about three thousand men now afforded an opportunity for immediate from the enemy's line, by land. On this in- effectual operations on Champlain, not to let formation, I returned to put the garrison in the chance pass unprofited by. Whether the best order for their reception, leaving di- venturing so far down a river, where it was rections with the gun boats and parties, not so narrow as scarcely to afford room for manto suffer their retreat to be cut off from it; œuvring (even with the intention we have and before I reached the garrison, the enemy's already alluded to) was strictly prudent, we vessels struck their colours, after a well-con- leave to abler tacticians to decide. We cantested action of three hours and a half. They not, however, but agree with Christie, that proved to be the United States' armed vessels had not the commanders been young and inGrowler and Eagle, burthen from ninety to experienced men, they would scarcely have one hundred tons, and carrying eleven guns undertaken a step which ended so disastrouseach; between them, twelve, eighteen, and six-ly, and has been generally regarded in the teen pounder carronades; completely equip-light of a picce of idle bravado. ped under the orders of the superior officer of Whatever might have been the intentions the Growler, Captain Sidney Smith, with a complement of fifty men each. They had one man killed and eight wounded; we had only three men wounded, one of them severely, from the enemy's grape-shot on the parties of the American commanders, the effect of their capture was to leave the hospitals, stores, and barracks, which they had been at considerable pains in erecting at different points at Burlington, Plattsburg, Champlain, and Swanton, comparatively assailable, and the commander of the forces determined to add to the blow already inflicted, by such a descent as would at once damage the enemy and divert their attention from the Upper Province. Descent on posts on Lake Champlain. British force from effecting the injury they did, and had it not even been possible to prevent all injury, at least the spoiler's return might have been prevented; we give these letters in their regular order, as enumerated above. From Lieutenant-colonel Murray to Majorgeneral Sheaffe. SIR, Isle aux Noix, August 3d, 1813. The land forces of the expedition that left the province on the 29th July, on an enterprise on Lake Champlain, returned this day, after having fully accomplished the objects proposed, and having carried every order into execution. The two captured vessels were named the Broke and Shannon, changed afterwards by Admiralty order to Chubb and Finch, and it was determined to man them-This, however, appeared at first an impossibility, as there were no seamen to be procured at or near Isle aux Noix, and none could be spared from the small Ontario fleet. In this emergeney, the commander of Her Majesty's brig, Wasp, The enemy's arsenal and block-house, comthen lying at Quebec, volunteered for the ex-missary buildings, and stores at the position pedition, which was to deprive commodore of Plattsburgh, together with the extensive McDonough the American Naval Comman- barracks at Saranac, capable of containing der of his supremacy. 4000 troops, were destroyed; some stores were brought off, particularly a quantity of naval stores, shot, and equipments for a large number of batteaux. The barracks and stores at the position of Swanton, on Missisquoi Bay, together with several batteaux at the landing place were destroyed. A detachment has been sent to destroy the public buildings, barracks, block-houses, &c., at Champlaintown. Every assistance was rendered by the co-operation of captains Everard and Pring, Royal Navy, commanding His Majesty's sloops of war, Broke and Shannon. All preparations having been completed, on the 29th July the expedition left Isle aux Noix for Lake Champlain. The force put in motion was about one thousand strong, consisting of detachments from the 13th, 100th, and 103 regiments, commanded respectively by lieutenant colonels Williams, Taylor and Smith. A small artillery force, under Captain Gordon, and a few of the embodied militia were likewise added, and the whole placed under Lieut.-Colonel John Murray. The success of the expedition was complete, and a landing was effected successively at Plattsburgh, Burlington, Swanton, and Champlain, I experienced very great benefit from the several store houses and arsenals, and some military knowledge of lieutenant-colonel Wilvessels being destroyed, while large quan- liams, (13th regiment, second in command.) tities of naval and military stores were cap- I have to report, in the highest terms of aptured and removed. "Ail this, too, was ef- probation, the discipline, regularity, and fected in presence of a very superior force, cheerful conduct of the whole of the troops, and with scarcely a show of resistance, al- and feel fully confident that, had an opportu though the enemy numbered fifteen hundred nity offered, their courage would have been at Plattsburgh, under General Moore, while equally conspicuous. Gen. Hamptton was encamped near Burling- General Hampton has concentrated the ton, with, as it has been estimated, nearly whole of the regular forces in the vicinity of four thousand men. Colonel Murray's letter, Lake Champlain, at Burlington, from the which follows, will show what was accom- best information, said to be about 4500 replished, and the two letters from Captain gular troops, and a large body of militia. Everard, (commander of the Wasp,) and The militia force assembled for the defence Commodore McDonough, will speak for them- of Plattsburgh, disbanded on the appearance selves. Had Commodore McDonough been re- of the armament. The naval part of the exally as anxious as he professed to be, his supe-pedition is still cruising on the lake. For rior force could easily have prevented the small any further information, I beg leave to refer |