sisting of a ship, a brig, 2 sloops and 12 gun boats, (the Confiance 36 guns; Linnet, 18 guns; Broke, 10 guns; Shannon, 10 guns; 12 gun boats, 16 guns), and requested his co-operation; and in the mean time batteries were constructed for the guns brought from the rear.

On the morning of the 11th, our flotilla was seen over the isthmus which joins Cumberland-head with the main land, steering for Platts burg Bay. I immediately ordered that part of the brigade, under Major General Robinson, which had been brought forward, consisting of four light infantry companies, 3d battalion 27th, and 76th regiments; and Major General Powers's brigade, consisting of the 3d, 5th, 1st battalion 27th, and 58th regiments, to force the ford of the Saranac, and advance, provided with scaling ladders, to escalade the enemy's works upon the heights this force was placed under the command of Major General Robinson. The batteries opentheir fire the instant the ships engaged.

It is now, with deep concern, I inform your Lordship, that, notwithstanding the intrepid valour with which Captain Downie led his flotilla into action, my most sanguine hopes of complete success were not long afterwards blasted, by a combination, as it appeared to us, of unfortunate events, to which naval warfare is peculiarly exposed. Scarcely had his Majesty's troops forced a passage across the Saranac, and ascended the height on which stand the enemy's works, when I had the extreme mortification to hear the shout of victory from the enemy's works, in consequence of the

British flag being lowered board the Confiance and Linnet; and to see our gun-boats seeking their safety in flight. This unlooked-for event depriving me of the co-operation of the feet, without which the further prosecution of the service was become impracticable, I did not hesitate to arrest the course of the troops advancing to the attack, because the most complete success would have been unavailing, and the pos session of the enemy's works offered no advantage to compensate for the loss we must have sustained in acquiring possession of them.

I have ordered the batteries to be dismantled, the guns withdrawn, and the baggage, with the wounded men who can be removed, to be sent to the rear, in order that the troops may be sent to Chazy to-morrow, and on the following day to Champlain, where I propose to halt until I have ascertained the use the enemy propose making of the naval ascendancy they have acquired on Lake Champlain. I have the honour to transmit herewith* returns of the loss sustained by the left division of this army in its advance to Plattsburg, and in forcing a passage across the river Saranac. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed)

GEORGE PREVOST. Right Hon. Earl Bathurst, &c. * This Return was published in the Gazette of the 19th inst.

board his Majesty's ship St. Lawence, at Kingston,

September, 24, 1814. Sir, I have the honour to transmit, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a copy of a letter from Captain Pring, late Commander of his Majesty's brig Linnet. It appears to me, and I have good reason to believe, that Capt. Downie was urged, and his ship hurried into action before she was in a fit state to meet the enemy. I am also of opinion that there was not the least necessity for our squadron giving the enemy such decided advantages, by going into their bay to engage them; even had they been successful, it would not in the least have assisted the troops in storming the batteries; whereas, had our troops taken their batteries first, it would have obliged the enemy's squadron to quit the bay, and given'ours a fair chance.

I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) JAMES LUCAS YEO,
Commodore and Commander
in Chief.

United States ship Saratoga, Plattsburgh Bay, Lake Champlain, Sept. 12, 1814. Sir,-The painful task of making you acquainted with the circumstances attending the capture of his Majesty's squadron, yesterday, by that of the Americans, under Commodore M'Donough, it grieves me to state, becomes my duty to perform, from the ever-tobe-lamented loss of that worthy and gallant officer, Captain Downie, who unfortunately fell early in the action.

In consequence of the earnest solicitation of his Excellency Sir George Prevost for the co-operation of the naval force on this Lake to attack that of the enemy, who were placed for the support of their works at Plattsburgh, which it was proposed should be stormed by the troops, at the same moment the naval action should commence in the bay; every possible exertion was used to accelerate the armament of the new ship, that the military movements might not be postponed at such an advanced season of the year, longer than was absolutely necessary.

On the 3d inst. I was directed to proceed in command of the flotilla of gun boats to protect the left flank of our army advancing towards Plattsburgh; and on the following day, after taking possession and paroling the militia of Isle la Motte, I caused a battery of three long eighteen-pounder guns to be constructed for the support of our position abreast of Little Chazy, where the supplies for the army were ordered to be landed.

The fleet came up on the 8th instant, but for want of stores for the equipment of the guns, could not move forward until the 11th; at daylight we weighed, and at seven were in full view of the enemy's fleet, consisting of a ship, brig, schooner, and one sloop, moored in line, abreast of their encampment, with a division of five gun-boats on each flank; at forty minutes past seven, after the officers commanding vessels and the flotilla had received their final instructions as to the plan of attack, we made sail in order of battle.Captain Downie had determined

on

on laying his ship athwart-hause of the enemy, directing Lieutenant M'Ghee, of the Chub, to support me in the Linnet, in engaging the brig to the right, and Lieutenant Hicks, of the Finch, with the flotilla of gun-boats, to attack the schooner and sloop on the left of the enemy's line.

At eight the enemy's gun boats and smaller vessels commenced a heavy and galling fire on our line; at ten minutes after eight, the Confiance having two anchors shot away from her larboard bow, and the wind baffling, was obliged to anchor (though not in the situation proposed) within 2 cables' length of her adversary; the Linnet and Chub soon afterwards took their allotted stations, something short of that distance, when the crews on both sides cheered, and commenced a spirited and close action; a short time, however, deprived me of the valuable services of Lieut. M'Ghee, who, from having his cables, bowsprit, and main boom shot away, drifted within the enemy's line, and was obliged to surrender.

From the light airs and smoothness of the water, the fire on each side proved very destructive from the commencement of the engagement, and with the exception of the brig, that of the enemy appeared united against the Confiance. After two hours severe conflict with our opponent, she cut her cable, ran down, and took shelter between the ship and schooner, which enabled us to direct our fire against the division of the enemy's gun-boats and ship which had so long annoyed us during our close engagement with the brig, without any return on our part; at this

time the fire of the enemy's ship slackened considerably, having se veral of her guns dismounted, when she cut her cable and winded her larboard broadside to bear on the Confiance, who, in vain, endeavoured to effect the same operation; at 33 minutes after 10, I was much distressed to observe the Confiance had struck her colours.

The whole attention of the enemy's force then became directed towards the Linnet; the shattered and disabled state of the masts, sails, rigging, and yards, precluded the most distant hope of being able to effect an escape by cutting the cable; the result of doing so, must in a few minutes have been, her drifting alongside the enemy's vessels, close under our lee; but in the hope that the flotilla of gun-boats, who had abandoned the object assigned them, would perceive our wants and come to our assistance, which would afford a reasonable prospect of being towed clear, I determined to resist the then destructive cannonading of the whole of the ene my's fleet, and at the same time dispatched Lieutenant H. Drew, to ascertain the state of the Confiance. At 45 minutes after ten, I was apprised of the irreparable loss she had sustained by the death of her brave commander (whose merits it would be presumption in me to extol), as well as the great slaughter which had taken place on board; and observing from the manoeuvres of the flotilla, that I could enjoy no further expectations of relief, the situation of tny gallant comrades who had so nobly fought, and even now fast falling by my side, demanded the surrender of his Majesty's brig entrust

ed

ed to my command, to prevent a useless waste of valuable lives, and, at the request of the surviving officers and men, I gave the painful orders for the colours to be struck. Lieutenant Hicks, of the Finch, had the mortification to strike on a reef of rocks, to the eastward of Crab island, about the middle of the engagement, which prevented his rendering that assistance to the squadron, that might, from an officer of such ability, have been expected.

The misfortune which this day befel us by capture will, Sir, I trust, apologize for the lengthy detail which, in justice to the sufferers, I have deemed necessary to give of the particulars which led to it; and when it is taken into consideration that the Confiance was sixteen days before on the stocks, with an unorganized crew, composed of several drafts of men who had recently arrived from different ships at Quebec, many of whom only joined the day before, and were totally unknown either to the officers or to each other, with the want of gunlocks, as well as other necessary appointments not to be procured in this country, I trust you will feel satisfied of the decided advantage the enemy possessed, exclusive of their great superiority in point of force, a comparative statement [the account of the British force has not been transmitted] of which I have the honour to annex. It now becomes the most pleasing part of my present duty to notice to you the determined skill and bravery of the officers and men in this unequal contest; but it grieves me to state, that the loss sustained in maintaining it has been so great;

that of the enemy, I understand, amounts to something more than the same number.

The fine stile in which Captain Downie conducted the squadron into action, amidst a tremendous fire, without returning a shot, until secured, reflects the greatest credit to his memory, for his judgment and coolness, as also on Lieutenants M'Ghee and Hicks for so strictly attending to his example and instructions: their own accounts of the capture of their respective vessels, as well as that of Lieutenant Robertson, who succeeded to the command of the Confiance, will, I feel assured, do ample justice to the merits of the officers and men serving under their immediate command; but I cannot omit noticing the individual conduct of Lieutenants Robertson, Creswick, and Hornby, and Mr. Bryden, master, for their particular exertion in endeavouring to bring the Confiance's starboard side to bear on the enemy, after most of their guns were dismounted on the other.

It is impossible for me to express to you my admiration of the officers and crew serving under my personal orders; their coolness and teadiness, the effect of which was proved by their irresistible fire directed towards the brig opposed to us, claims my warmest acknowledgments, but more particularly for preserving the same so long after the whole strength of the enemy had been directed against the Linnet alone. My First Lieutenant, Mr. Wm. Drew, whose merits I have before had the honour to report to you, behaved on this occa→ sion in the most exemplary manner,

By the death of Mr. Paul, acting second