To James Madison from William Jones, [ca. 19 September 1814]
From William Jones
[ca. 19 September 1814]
Tis truly glorious news & nothing could have been better timed.
We can now strengthen Chauncy so as to man the 15 Gun Boats and small Vesse[l]s.1
This will tend to diminish the lustre of our blazing Capitol in the eyes of the Cockneys and the ministry may probably take wit in their anger. Yours ever
W J
RC (DLC). Undated; conjectural date assigned here based on evidence in n. 1. Docketed by JM “Sepr. 1814” and so dated in the Index to the James Madison Papers.
1. Jones evidently referred to Capt. Thomas Macdonough’s 11 Sept. 1814 victory over the British squadron on Lake Champlain (see Alexander Macomb to JM, 11 Sept. 1814, and n. 1), which Macdonough reported to Jones the same day. His letter of 13 Sept. provided details of the battle (DNA: RG 45, Captains’ Letters). Jones replied to Macdonough on 19 Sept., congratulating him on “having secured the tranquil and permanent command of the Lake, by the annihilation” of the British force, and instructing him to immediately send “from 250 to 300” of his “best men including … petty officers” to Sackets Harbor (DNA: RG 45, Confidential Letters Sent; printed in Dudley, Naval War of 1812, 3:617). News of the battle was published in the Daily National Intelligencer on 20 Sept. 1814.