Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v3p1.djvu/206

 great courage, but his experience was much too limited to supply the place of such an officer as Captain Finnis; hence she proved of far less assistance than I expected.

“The action continued with great fury until half-past 2, when I perceived my opponent drop astern, and a boat passing from him to the Niagara, which vessel was at this time perfectly fresh. The American commodore seeing that as yet the day was against him (his vessel having struck soon after he left her), also the very defenceless state of the Detroit (now a perfect wreck, principally from the raking fire of the gun-boats), and likewise that the Queen Charlotte was in such a situation that I could receive very little assistance from her, and the Lady Prevost being at this time too far to leeward, from her rudder being injured, made a noble and, alas! too successful an effort, to regain it. He bore up, and, supported by his small vessels, passed within pistol-shot, and took a raking position on our bow; – nor could I prevent it, as the unfortunate situation of the Queen Charlotte hindered us from wearing. My gallant first lieutenant (John) Garland, was now mortally wounded, and myself so severely that I was obliged to quit the deck. Manned as the squadron was, with not more than fifty British seamen, the rest a mixture of Canadians and soldiers, who were totally unacquainted with such service, rendered the loss of officers more sensibly felt, and never in any action was the loss more severe; every officer commanding a vessel, and his second, was either killed, or wounded so severely as to be unable to keep the deck.

“Lieutenant (Edward Wise) Buchan, in the Lady Prevost, behaved most nobly, and did every thing that a brave and experienced officer could do in a vessel armed with 12-pounder carronades, against vessels carrying heavy long guns. I regret to state that he was severely wounded; Lieutenant Bignell, of the Dover, commanding the Hunter, displayed the greatest intrepidity; but his guns being small, he could be of much less service than he wished.

“Every officer in the Detroit behaved in the most exemplary manner. Lieutenant Inglis shewed such calm intrepidity, that I was fully convinced I left the ship in excellent hands, on my quitting the deck; and for an account of the battle after that, I refer you to his letter which he wrote me, for your information.

“Mr. (J. M.) Hoffmeister, purser of the Detroit, nobly volunteered his services on deck, and behaved in a manner that reflects the highest honor on him. I regret to add, that he is very severely wounded in the knee.

“Provincial Lieutenant (Francis) Purvis, and the military officers. Lieutenants Garden, of the Royal Newfoundland Rangers, and O’Keefe, of H.M. 41st regiment, behaved in a manner which excited my warmest admiration: the few British seamen I had, behaved with their usual intrepidity, and as long as I was on deck the troops behaved with a calmness and courage worthy of a more fortunate issue to their exertions.

