Connecticut, USA — 15 December 1813
First Congressional Hearings!
This episode took place during the American war against England. When unexplained “blue lights” were seen repeatedly over the harbor, they were interpreted as treacherous signals intended for the British fleet. The lights were “thrown up, like rockets, from Long Point,” and distinctly seen, but never identified. “The gentleman from whom we receive this information plainly saw the lights, and states, that they were answered by three heavy guns from the ships of the enemy (England), at intervals of about ten minutes; that he was further informed, by an officer from Fort Trumbull, that the lights were continued during the whole night.” Considerable emotion was stirred up in the newspapers and in Congress when a letter from Commodore Decatur to the Secretary of the Navy, dated 20 Dec. 1813, confirmed the sightings: “These signals have been REPEATED, and have been seen by twenty persons at least in this squadron, there are men in New London who have the hardihood to affect to disbelieve it, and the effrontery to avow their disbelief.” Fig. 59: Commodore Stephen Decatur A heated debate followed at the House of Representatives: “Mr. Law, of Conn., after some remarks, in too low a voice to be heard by the reporter, called the attention of the House to the story about certain blue lights which had been put in circulation, and had received countenance by the publication of an official letter from one of our naval officers to the head of a department. The motion Mr. Law was about to make, was not, he said, induced by any belief that the report was correct; for he could not believe that his native town contained in its bosom men so abandoned as to light those torches (…) He could not believe, under these circumstances, that these lights were exhibited as represented, but that some delusion must have existed on the subject. It was proper, he conceived, that the fact should be enquired into, and placed on its proper footing, as it had been alluded to frequently in this House. With this view he offered the following resolution: ResolvedThat a committee be appointed to enquire whether any treasonable correspondence has been held, or information by means of blue lights or signals by fire given from the shore at or near the harbor of NewLondon in the state of Connecticut, to the blockading squadron off that harbor, whereby the enemy might learn the state, condition or movements of the American ships under the command of commodore Decatur now in that port: and that the committee be authorised to take evidence by deposition or otherwise as they may deem necessary, and report thereon to this House. Mr. Mosely supported the motion. Mr. Grundy was willing such an enquiry should be made, if the matter were referred to the naval committee. Mr. Fisk said he was sorry to hear a wish expressed by the gentleman from Tennessee for the proposed enquiry. When he looked at the principle of this motion, he trembled at the consequences of its adoption. What was the principle? It was nothing more than a proposition to exercise, through a committee of this House, the inquisitorial power to enquiry whether treason has been committed in a particular instance. He hoped no such precedent would receive the sanction of the House. Mr. Eppes and Mr. Jackson of Virginia opposed it. Mr. Roberts moved to lay it on the table. Mr. Calhoun thought it a matter too diminutive to engage the House.” The unidentified lights were never explained.
Source: Proceedings of Congress, House of Representatives Monday, January 24, 1814. Also Niles’ Weekly Register (Baltimore, MD), Vol. 5:121 (December 25, 1813) and Vol. 6:133 (March 19, 1814). Case: W522