Jenks's Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland [Me.]) 1799-1802, 1800-03-10
VOLUME ILL.,

4
wards &c. to be flung with chains, topfsils, top.
fail iheets &c. foppered, and the hip cleared
! and every thing prepared for action, and haul
ed down the Englih colors. At noon the wind
became light, and | obferved the chace. that
we bad before been gaining faft on, held way
with US. but was determined to continue the
purfuit, tho the .r,,nning to the lceward I was
| convinced would be attended with many ferrous
diiad. antages, Especially if the Object of my
wines was not gratifed.
Paaed TWO fchooners a2rding to The north~
ward, one of them ihewed American colours,
and was merchant, veael, ard the other fup.
pofed TO be of ;he fame defcription.
Feb. I'd, at one P. NJ. the wind being fonne-
what freiLer, than at the noon preceding, and
| an appearance Gifts continuance, our pfofpea
of bringing the enemy to acton began again 10
brighten as perceived we were coming up
with the ohafc fia, and every inch of canvas
being frt that could he of iervice, except the
bog reefs, which kept In the topfails, in cafe
of the chale finding an efeape from our thunder
imprattible, lhoula haul On a wind and give US
fair battle but this did not prove to be her
commanders intention. | however got within
hail of him at s P. NJ. hoiied our enign, and
had The candles in the battle lanthevns all light
ed, and che large trumpet IN the lee gangway
ready to fpeak him, and to demand the furren-
de, of his ihip to the United States of America
but he at that infant commenced fire from
his h.rn and quarter guns direaed at our rig
ging and fpars. No parley being then necel1a-
| ry, TENT my principal aid deeamp, Mr.. Van
dykl, 10 the different officers commanding de
viiions on the main battery, to repeat Rrialy
my orders before given, not to throw away
/, Jingle charge Of powder, but to take good aim
, and fire directly into the hull Of the enemy,
| and load principally with two round ihot and
now and then with round ihot, and ftand
| of grape, &C.; to encourage the men at their
quarters 70 cauie or fuffet no nods or confu-
| lion whatever; but 10 load and FIRE as fat as
pofi,ble when it could Be done with certain eff
fea Thee orders being given, in a Few mo.
| meats | gained a petition on his weather quar-.
ter, that enabled US efeaually to return his
| alu,e and thus cloie and as HARP an action
! as ever was fought between two frigates COM
| menced and continued until within few min'
utes Of 1 A. NJ. when the cnen.y's ERE was COM
| pe,ely fieaced AID he was again hcefing off.
It was at that moment that I conIidered him
as my prize, and was trimming in the BEE
| manner could my much ihattered fails; when
| | found the n,sin-nals was totally unfupported
! by rigging, every ihrond being ihot away, aud
| iomc Of them in ieverai places; that even fop.
pers were ufelefs, and could not be applied with
effect. hen gave orders for the officers TO
| lend the men up from the gun deck to endeav-
our TO fecure it, in order that we might get
along lie of the enemy as foon as poflible Ia
but every effort was in vain. for the main mat
went over the fide in few minutes after, and
carried with it the top men, among whom was
an amiable young gentleman who commanded
the main TOP. Mr. James Jarvis. fon of lanes
Jarvis Eiq. of Newyork, 1t feems this young
gentleman was apprized Of the mat going in
few mi1utes by an old feaman but he had
already 70 much of the principle of An officer
engrafted in his mind, not to leave his quarters
on any account, that he told the man if the
mat went they n:uR go with il, which was the
cafe, and only one of them was fAved.
regret much his lois, as FRONTING officer
and an,iable young man, as we'll as on account
of long intimacy that has fabfiacd between
his father aud mylelf !; but have great fa,i,fac.
ton in finding have no other killed and only
or ) Tightly wounded--foarteen of the for
mer, and twenty five of the latter
As foon as the main mat went, every Effort
was made to clear the wreck from the ihip as
foon as poflihle, which was eT.tled in about
an hour. 1t being impolibe to purdue the
enemy, and as her fecurity was then the great
Object, l immediately bore away for Jamaica
for repairs, &c. finding it inapoflible to reach a
friendly port in any of the illanis to windward.
lhould be wanting in common Juice, was
| to omit here to journalize the ieady after Ton
to order, and the great exerton and bravery
Of all my officers, feamen aud marines, in this
action. many OF whom j I'd IN ,ficientlv tried
before On irnilar location, and all their
names are recorded in the muiter roll fsnr to
the Secrctaryof the Navy, dated the 10Th De-.
csnnber lalt, 6gred by mytelf.
All hands employed at repairing the damages
fitained in the aaon, 70 far as TO get the flip
into Jamaica as foou as pofiibie.
THOMAS TRUXTON.