JESSE DUNCAN ELLIOT was born in Maryland, on the 14th of July 1780. His father, Robert Elliot, was unfortunately slain by the Indians in the year 1794, near the Muskingum river, while transacting business for the army of the United States. The particular nature of this business may be known by the resolution of congress, passed on this melancholy event: "Be it enacted, &c. that the sum of two thousand dollars be allowed to the widow of Robert Elliot, who was killed by a party of hostile Indians while he was conducting the necessary supplies for the army commanded by major general Wayne in the year 1794, and that the sum be paid to her, to and for the use of herself and the children of the said Robert, out of any monies in the treasury, not otherwise appropriated."

Until the year 1804, Jesse Elliot was engaged in prosecuting his regular studies in a school in Pennsylvania, when he was appointed a midshipman in the navy, and ordered on board the U. S. frigate Essex. The United States being engaged in a war with the Barbary powers, the above mentioned frigate was ordered to cruize in the Mediterranean.

The little force that congress were enabled to detach for that service their limited means of annoyance-the treachery and ferocity of their barbarous antagonists, created a deep responsibility in the officers, and conspired to introduce a system of masculine intrepidity, severity of discipline, and promptitude of obedience, of which, even to the present hour, we reap the benefits. The treachery of our opponents taught our men to be ever on the alert, and their cruelty made them bold and resolute to rashness. Knowing how much was expected, and how scanty were their means, they supplied every deficiency by skill and courage. Contempt of danger was so rigidly enforced, that when one of our subordinate officers showed symptoms of fear in an engagement, and was tried by a court-martial, the commodore assigned for his acquittal, a reason no less curious than just, (viz.) that the bare supposition that one coward existed on board of the American fleet was of itself a greater injury than the condemnation of this man could possibly be a benefit, as it would establish the fact. The British squadron in the Mediterranean minutely watched the movements of our little fleet for the purpose of sarcasm and jest. Their sarcasms were however soon converted into expressions of warm admiration. Thus does the sturdy son of Vulcan deal

On the hard anvil he torments his steel,

Drawn from the forge, it glows with angry lights,

And sparkles indignation while he smites:

Fast fall the blows, but they new strength afford,

Till chang'd at last it shines the warrior's sword.

Amidst such a band of kindred spirits, our young midshipman learned to smile at danger while he grew familiar with it, and felt his ideas expanded and enlarged. Returning to the United States in July 1807, and desirous of obtaining a lieutenancy in the navy, he solicited the kind offices of Mr. Robert Serrit Smith, in whose charge he had been placed as well privately as officially, to obtain a station on board the frigate Chesapeake. He remained in this station until June 1810, when he was appointed acting lieutenant on board the schooner Enterprize. This vessel was ordered to cruize on the coast, and to enforce the embargo laws. Lieutenant Elliot remained in this service until the year 1810, and was then appointed to carry a despatch to Mr. Pinkney our minister at the court of Great Britain.

On his return to the United States he served in the John Adams until September 1811. From the Adams he was transferred to the Argus, on board of which he acted as first lieutenant, and in which he remained until the following year. He was all this time preparing his mind for the severe duties of his profession; for to shine in gold lace and epaulets, to talk of his own intrepidity, to become the petty hero of a drawing-room, constituted no part of his ambition. He left that grovelling pride to those who can condescend to become the heroes of their own fame, and who wear the badges of their country's honour to show how little they deserve them.

The probability that an opportunity would be soon afforded of distinguishing himself in the service of his country, was, in his estimation, becoming every hour more and more remote. He saw no prospect of war, and, fatigued in the chace of glory's brilliant visions that still sparkled over his head, and still eluded his grasp, he resigned his mind to the sway of the more endearing passions. On the 5th of April 1812, he was married to miss Frances Vaughan, daughter of Mr. William Vaughan, of Norfolk county, Virginia. Fortune, that capricious goddess, as if to try the strength of his attachment to arms, immediately compelled him to relinquish the sweets of domestic intercourse, and the calm delights of conjugal affection, for the hardier scenes of danger and battle: war was declared against England. He immediately and with all speed repaired to New-York, to rejoin the vessel whence he had been furloughed, and found, to his mortification, that she had already sailed upon a cruize.

He was nevertheless solicited by commodore Chauncey to embark with him on a secret and novel expedition, to which he cordially assented, and the commodore applied to the proper department to receive his instructions. Lieutenant Elliot was honoured by an appointment to the command on Lake Erie, and received orders to repair to that place with all possible despatch, purchase what private vessels he could, build two ships of twenty guns, and as early as possible have his fleet in readiness to meet that of the enemy.

Lieutenant Elliot knew the vast importance of the command of the lakes in our war against Canada and the difficulty and delay which would attend the building of the vessels, to say noth

ing of the expense. He had indeed, in pursuance of his instruc-tions, purchased some vessels; but here again he was much embarrassed with the difficulty of getting up the Niagara and into the lake. After revolving in his mind all these obstacles, he formed the resolution of boarding and capturing two British brigs of war, called the Detroit and Caledonia, lying under the protection of the batteries on Fort Erie. He accordingly embarked in two boats, with fifty men in each, and put off from the mouth of Buffaloe creek, and at one o'clock in the morning came along side of the enemy. He boarded and captured the two vessels, and secured all the prisoners in ten minutes. Unfortunately the wind was not strong enough to enable lieutenant Elliot to make head against the rapid current in the lake, and he was compelled to anchor opposite the enemy's forts, within about four hundred and fifty yards of their batteries, exposed to a heavy and incessant fire of round, grape, and cannister-shot from a number of pieces of heavy ordinance and their flying artillery. The Caledonia was however beyond the reach of the enemy's guns, under one of our batteries at Black-rock. Lieutenant Elliot ordered all the guns of the Detroit to be mounted on one side, whence he kept up a constant fire against the enemy's batteries as long as his ammunition lasted. He determined then to drop down the river out of reach of their cannon, and make a stand against the flying artillery. At this instant he discovered, for the first time, that his pilot had deserted him. He however, cut the cable and falling astern, made good his way to Square Island. He sent the boarding boat on shore with the prisoners, himself and four others only remaining in the Detroit, directing the officer to return for him and what property they might be able to save from the brig. The officer was unable to return on account of the strength of the current. At length discovering a skiff under the stern, he made for the shore in her with the remaining part of the crew.

During all this time an incessant fire was kept up from both sides of the river on the brig. She received twelve shot of large size in her bends, her sails were reduced to ribbands, and her rigging cut to pieces. Finding that all attempts to carry off the Detroit was unavailing, he dismantled her of all her ordinance and

stores and set her on fire. The Caledonia was found to be a vessel belonging to the north-west company, loaded with peltry. Lieutenant Elliot's party consisted of one hundred men. He was fortunate enough to capture one hundred and thirty prisoners with their officers, and to release from captivity forty of his own countrymen, belonging to the fourth United States' regiment. Lieutenant Elliot on boarding opposed three of the enemy with no other weapon than his cutlass. During the hottest of the fire from the batteries, a cannot shot passed through, and striking a large silver wedge deposited in a trunk belonging to one of the officers, bent it double. This wedge is still preserved as a curiosity.

So sensible were congress of the gallantry and skill of this young officer, as displayed in this exploit, that they passed the following resolution: "Be it enacted, &c. that the president of the United States be, and he is hereby authorized to have distributed as prize money to lieutenant Elliot, his officers and companions, or to their widows and children, the sum of twelve thousand dollars, for the capture and destruction of the British brig Detroit." "Resolved, that the president of the United States be, and he is hereby requested to present to lieutenant Elliot 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."

Shortly after this brilliant exploit lieutenant Elliot left Erie, and arrived at Sackett's Harbour where he joined commodore Chauncey. The commodore sailed on the 8th of November with six schooners in quest of the enemy's fleet, and on the same day fell in with the Royal George. Losing sight of her in the night, he discovered her the next morning riding in Kingston channel under the protection of the batteries. He immediately followed her into the channel where he engaged her and the batteries for an hour and three quarters, and determined to board her in the night. But as the wind blew directly on shore, and the pilot refused to take charge of the vessels, the commodore was reluctantly com