ships.]

SECTION 2. _And be it further resolved_, That the President of
the United States be, and he hereby is, requested to present to
Lieutenant Elliott of the navy of the United States, an elegant
sword, with suitable emblems and devices, in testimony of the
just sense entertained by Congress of his gallantry and good
conduct in boarding and capturing the British brigs Detroit and
Caledonia, while anchored under the protection of Fort Erie.

Approved January 29, 1813.

_____

_Captain Hull to the Secretary of the Navy._ (p. 155)

To the Honourable United States frigate Constitution,
Paul HAMILTON, at Sea, July 21, 1812.
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.

Sir: In pursuance of your orders of the 3d instant, I left
Annapolis on the 5th instant, and the Capes on the 12th, of which
I advised you by the Pilot that brought the ship to sea.

For several days after we got out the wind was light and ahead,
which with a strong southerly current prevented our making much
way to the northward. On the 17th at 2 P.M., being in 22 fathoms
water off Egg Harbour, four sail of ships were discovered from
the mast head to the northward and in shore of us; apparently
ships of war. The wind being very light, all sail was made in
chase of them, to ascertain whether they were enemy's ships or
our squadron having got out of New York waiting the arrival of
the Constitution, the latter of which I had reason to believe was
the case.

At 4 in the afternoon a ship was seen from the mast head bearing
about N. E., standing for us under all sail, which she continued
to do until sundown, at which time she was too far off to
distinguish signals, and the ships in shore were only to be seen
from the tops, they were standing off to the southward, and
eastward. As we could not ascertain before dark what the ship in
the offing was, I determined to stand for her and get near enough
to make the night signal. At 10, in the evening, being within six
or eight miles of the strange sail, the Private Signal was made,
and kept up nearly one hour, but finding she could not answer it,
I concluded she and the ships in shore were enemies. I
immediately hauled off to the southward