Documents in Relation to the Differences Which Subsisted Between the Late Commodore O. H. Perry and Captain J. D. Elliott

Documents In Relation To The Differences Which Subsisted Between The Late Commodore O. H. Perry And Captain J. D. Elliott by Matthew Calbraith Perry. This volume compiles the documentary record surrounding Perry's charges against Elliott following the 1813 Lake Erie action. It presents Perry's communications to the Navy Department, the formal charges and specifications accusing Elliott of conduct unbecoming an officer, impugning Perry's official report, and various acts intended to enhance Elliott's reputation at Perry's expense. The compilation includes affidavits and depositions from officers such as Lieutenant Turner, Dr. Parsons, and Captain Champlin, along with supporting statements from other crew and British accounts, illustrating a controversy within the U.S. Navy over bravery, duty, and honor in battle. The documents reflect the political and military stakes of naval leadership on the Great Lakes during the War of 1812 and Perry's effort to defend the fleet's reputation. The work provides historical insight into naval discipline, wartime reporting, and post-battle reputational battles.