Hon. William Jones, secretary of the navy, Washington
United States’ ship Saratoga,
Plattsburgh Bay, Sept. 14, 1814.

Sir: I have the honor to give you the particulars of the action which took place on the 11^th inst. on this lake.

For several days the enemy were on their way to Plattsburgh, by land and water, and it being understood that an attack would be made at the same time by their land and naval forces; I determined to await at anchor the approach of the latter.

At 8 A. M., the lookout boat announced the approach of the enemy. At 9 he anchored in a line ahead, at about 300n yards distance from my lone; his ship opposed to the Saratoga, his brig to the Eagle, Captain Robert Henley, his galleys, thirteen in number, to the schooner, sloop, and a division of our galleys; one of his sloops assisting their ship and brig, the other assisting their galley. Our remaining galleys with the Saratoga and Eagle. In this situation, the whole force, on both sides, became engaged: the Saratoga suffering much from the heavy fire of the Confiance. I could perceive at the same time, however, that our fire was very destructive to her. The Ticonderoga , Lieut Commandant Cassin,