the whole force under his command; and on the morning of the 8th August, while at anchor off fort Niagara, he was discovered by Sir James L. Yeo, whose squadron consisted of the Wolfe (launched in May), mounting 23 guns; the Royal George 21; the Melville brig, 14; the Beresford, 8; the Moira schooner, 14; and the Sir Sidney Smith, 12: total 92 guns, of which number only 2 were long 24-pounders, and none of larger calibre. The squadron did not contain more than 717 officers and men.
The Americans were soon under weigh, and came out formed in line of battle; but, on the British approaching nearly within gun-shot, they fired their broadsides, wore, and stood back under their batteries. During the night, two of their schooners upset in a heavy squall, and all on board unfortunately perished. On the 9th, the hostile parties were again in sight of each other; but light airs and calms prevented Sir James L. Yeo from closing with the enemy until the night of the 10th, when, having a fine breeze, he stood for them, and, at eleven o’clock, got within gun-shot of their line of schooners: the General Pike and the Madison kept off the wind to prevent his closing; but, at a little after midnight, the Wolfe arrived within gun-shot of them also, when they immediately bore round-up, fired their stern chasers, and made sail away, leaving two of their schooners far behind, both of which were captured. The prizes proved to be the Growler and the Julia,, of 2 guns and 40 men each.
Shortly after this affair. Commodore Chauncey was reinforced by two schooners, the Elizabeth and Sylph, the latter upwards of 400 tons, mounting 4 long 32-pounders, upon traversing carriages, and 4 long sixes.
On the 11th Sept., while Sir James Yeo lay becalmed off Genessee river, Commodore Chauncey, by the aid of a partial wind, succeeded in getting near enough to fire his 32 and 24-pounders with some effect, while the British had only six guns in all the squadron that could reach him or any of his companions. During the continuance of the calm, a period of five hours, he kept up an incessant cannonade; but when a breeze
