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Foreign News
September 6, 1811
Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political
Alexandria, Virginia
What is this article about?
Contradictory claims emerge over who fired the first shot in the naval incident between the British sloop Little Belt and the American frigate President. A Dublin report cites Captain Edgar relaying Commodore Rodgers' assertion that the Little Belt fired first.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
The principal difficulty in unravelling the affair of the Little Belt and the President, arises out of the equally positive and contradictory allegations as to the firing of the first shot. The Americans lay the blame upon the Little Belt; while the officers of that ship are as positive in charging the aggression upon the Americans. The following is extracted from a Dublin newspaper, of the 4th July:
"DUBLIN, July 4.
Captain Edgar, of the Perseverance, just arrived in this harbor from N. York, assures us that commodore Rodgers, of the American frigate President, had solemnly declared to him (captain Edgar) that the Little Belt fired the first shot into the republican frigate, and that not until he received the British fire did he make any hostile attack. We have captain Edgar's permission to use his name, and to make this statement."
"DUBLIN, July 4.
Captain Edgar, of the Perseverance, just arrived in this harbor from N. York, assures us that commodore Rodgers, of the American frigate President, had solemnly declared to him (captain Edgar) that the Little Belt fired the first shot into the republican frigate, and that not until he received the British fire did he make any hostile attack. We have captain Edgar's permission to use his name, and to make this statement."
What sub-type of article is it?
Naval Affairs
War Report
What keywords are associated?
Little Belt
President
Naval Incident
First Shot
Commodore Rodgers
Captain Edgar
What entities or persons were involved?
Commodore Rodgers
Captain Edgar
Where did it happen?
Dublin
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Dublin
Event Date
July 4
Key Persons
Commodore Rodgers
Captain Edgar
Event Details
Contradictory allegations on who fired the first shot in the affair between the Little Belt and the President. Americans blame the Little Belt; British officers blame the Americans. Extract from Dublin newspaper: Captain Edgar reports Commodore Rodgers declared the Little Belt fired first, and the President only responded after receiving British fire.