Kingston Gazette, Nov. 7, 1815

p.3 London, Aug. 22nd.

Naval Court Martial - On Monday week a Court Martial was held at Portsmouth, on Capt. Stephen Popham, late acting Capt. of the Montreal, in the Lakes in Canada, for having, contrary to a verbal order of Com. Sir James Lucas Yeo, attacked a flotilla of American boats in a creek on the Lake, which were proceeding from Oswego to Sackett's Harbor, with stores of every description, for the equipment of a large ship that was building in the latter harbour. The court determined that a verbal order had been given to Capt. Popham not to go into any creek, in his endeavour to intercept the expected boats with stores; but having unexpectedly found them in Sandy Creek, and having been greatly reinforced, by taking under his orders a division of armed boats, under Capt. Spilsbury, and in a manner which could not have been contemplated by Sir J.L. Yeo, he was fully justified in making the attack which he did, under the consideration of the infinite importance it was to the service that the boats should not reach Sacket's Harbor, and therefore adjudged him to be acquitted.

The Court could not forbear stating their regret that Sir J.L. Yeo should have used such reproachful expressions in his letter to the Admiralty, which stated Capt. Popham's capture; and also their high disapprobation of the severe imputation contained in Capt. P's defence against his Commanding Officer, for having offered himself as a witness in the support of the charges, which it was his duty to do.