To James Madison from William Jones, 21 June 1813
From William Jones
June 21, 1813
Sir
I have pleasure in sending the enclosed letters which show that com. Chauncey has determined upon the course which you were so solicitous he should have done, and has thereby in my mind greatly elevated his Character as perhaps there are few Naval officers who would have resisted the temptation to exalt their fame!
Have the goodness when you have perused to send the letters to my Lodgings. With earnest solicitude for the restoration of your health I am very Sincerely and respectfully your obd St
W Jones
RC (DLC). Docketed by JM. Jones probably enclosed Isaac Chauncey’s letter to him of 11 June 1813 reporting the commodore’s decision to stay at Sackets Harbor and “preserve the new ship at all hazards” rather than pursue the British fleet, which had, according to various reports, left the safety of Kingston to attack U.S. posts on the Niagara. Chauncey stated that he had sacrificed the possibility of “immortalizing” himself in an immediate encounter with the British in order to protect the tactical advantage he would gain with the completion of the new ship, and had thereby placed the interests of his country above his own. Jones may also have enclosed Chauncey’s 12 June 1813 letter informing him that the new ship, General Pike, had been launched, and that Chauncey would “use every exertion … to fit her for service as soon as possible” (DNA: RG 45, Captains’ Letters).