Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v3p1.djvu/205

  “Sir,– The last letter I had the honor of writing to you, dated the 6th instant, informed you, that unless certain intimation was received of more seamen being on their way to Amherstburg, I should be obliged to sail with the squadron, deplorably manned as it was, to fight the enemy (who blockaded the port) to enable us to get supplies of provisions and stores of every description; so perfectly destitute of provisions was the port, that there was not a day’s flour in store, and the crews of the squadron wore on half allowance of many things. Such were the motives which induced Major-General Proctor (whom by your instructions I was directed to consult, and whose wishes I was enjoined to execute, as far as related to the good of the country) to concur in the necessity of a battle being risked, notwithstanding the many disadvantages under which I laboured; and it now remains for me the most melancholy task to relate to you the unfortunate issue of that battle, as well as the many untoward circumstances which led to that event.

“No intelligence of seamen having arrived, I sailed on the 9th instant, fully expecting to meet the enemy next morning, as they had been seen among the islands; nor was I mistaken. Soon after day-light, they were seen in motion in Put-in-Bay, the wind then at S.W. and light, giving us the weather-gage. I bore up for them, in hopes of bringing them to action among the islands; but that intention was soon frustrated, by the wind suddenly shifting to the S.E., which brought the enemy directly to windward.

“The line was formed according to a given plan, so that each ship might be supported against the superior force of the two brigs opposed to them. About 10, the enemy had cleared the islands, and immediately bore up, in a line abreast, each brig being also supported by small vessels. At a quarter before 12, I commenced the action, by firing a few long guns; about a quarter past, the American commodore, supported by two schooners, one carrying four long 12-pounders, the other a long 32 and a 24-pounder, came to close action with the Detroit; the other brig, apparently destined to engage the Queen Charlotte, kept so far to windward as to render the Queen Charlotte’s carronades useless, while the latter was, with the Lady Prevost, exposed to a heavy and destructive fire of the Caledonia and four schooners, armed with long and heavy guns like those I have already described.

“Too soon, alas! was I deprived of the services of the noble and Intrepid Captain Finnis, who fell soon after the commencement of the action, and with him fell my greatest support. Lieutenant Thomas Stokoe of the same ship, was also struck senseless by a splinter, which deprived the country of his services at this very critical period. Provincial Lieutenant Irvine, who then had charge of the Queen Charlotte, behaved with