ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.
Resolutions of Congress Voting Medals to Captains Hull, Decatur, Jones, etc.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, requested to present to Captain Hull of the frigate Constitution, Captain Decatur of the frigate United States, and Captain Jones of the sloop of war Wasp, each a gold medal, with suitable emblems and devices; and a silver medal, with like emblems and devices, to each commissioned officer of the aforesaid vessels, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of the gallantry, good conduct, and services of the captains, officers, and crews of the aforesaid vessels in their respective conflicts with the British frigates the Guerrière and the Macedonian, and sloop of war Frolic; and the President is also requested to present a silver medal,[77] with like emblems and devices, to the nearest male relative of Lieutenant Bush, and one to the nearest male relative of Lieutenant Funk, in testimony of the gallantry and merit of those deceased officers, in whom their country has sustained a loss much to be regretted.
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.
United States frigate Constitution,
at Sea, July 21, 1812.
To the Honourable
Paul Hamilton,
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.