Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-03-02

'NSh-". "1r "'s"tn mnsket shot indccd he
pursued the enemy ,intilhis boal s.eound.
ed under The batteries; she waa lor,una,e-
" SOON i5ot cd, Tie bon5 vessels kept
Their stations although covered with the
spray OF The sea, occ asionedby the enensy's
snot; they were an conducted by iieu,s.
gent and Robinson, who kspf-ur con-
8 ans hr- Rom The tnortars and threw a
gsetthnm5er Of shells into the town. Five
oil the en-my's gun boats and two eallies
composing toe centre division, and sat-.
"hen w''h'n the rocks as reserve ioined
oy tue boats that had been driven in & sup
phedoy fresh men from the shore 10 re.
place tho'c thew had lost. twice alte.nn,ed
to INV out IN endeavor to surround oar ,r,,,
boats and their prszss, I az often ", ,dr ,i,,.
siyfas IN cnvcr them, which was pron,bt-
" attended to by the briggs and schoorer..
a" o. wh'ch we're gallantly Conducted, and
ANNOYED the enemy exceedingly; but III.
hrs feom this ship kept their flo,illa corn.
p'e'e:y IN check. Oar grape shot Mad.
greet hatoc among their men, not only
cupboard their .i,ipping, but on shore. We
were several tones within two cables
Eng,not the rocks, and within three of
tneir batteries; every che OF which, in sue
cess'on' were s;lenced 80 long as VIC could
briny our brooslsde to bear upon them,
eut The mrmept we plsse.. a battery il
was terminated aud constant heavy FIRE
kcpiap, from. all. that We could not ,,oiot
our gins al, We Suffered most when
wearing or tatking ii was then I mo,l
sensibly felt the wan, of another (rira;e.
Al ha'f past Four the Notwithstanding 10 ,lr.
Dorihwarsl msdr tliss,gaal Tor sll, bomb,
aud Pun boats TO. retire from action.
and immediately after, the signal 10 tow
OF the gun boats and prizes, which was
handsomely cxecutcdby the briggs schoon.
ers' aud boats Of tie squadron, covered by
q heavy fire froE The. Cons ,'uiion. 81
three quarters ps,t PM. tnc light ve,
sells, gun boats and prizes being out Sf
reach OF the enemy 'ssiiu; hauled Off 10
take the bomb vessels in tow, We wer,.
two hours under the Gie uf the eoeniyrs
Z batteries, and.ihs puly ianiaSe fsceived in
this SHIP is.a "a ponadsb5tpearlyt through
the centre OF TIL fna,ri-mesl. 80 feet from
tae deck, main royal yari apd sail shef
away; one OF MIR qiarser-d..ck guns d.
mayed by 80 pouad shit, which at the
same time shattered marine,s arni. Two
lower sl,rouds aud two back SAYS yere
shot away and our sails and running iig-
ging considerably cat; We must irnEute
our getting of r;.ns well, 10 our Keeping
so near thar they overshot us, at:d 10 the
annoyance, cur grape shot gave them !;
:hey are however but wtelch.d eunners.
Gun boat No. S, had Tire main yard shot
away end lie rigging and sails of the
briggs and schooHerswefe coiisidesa5ly cu,.
Lieut.. Decatur WAS The only officer killed,
but IN him the service has los. yalnaBle
os!iCeT: he was a young man who Ca. :
strong promise OF being an ornament TO
his profession his conduSt 10 the aclioh
was highly honorable, and ire dita robiv.
The enemy must have suffered very much
ia killed aud wounded both among their
shipping and-dcn shore. Three 81 their
gun boats 'wefessunk in the farbor, several
of them had their decks nearly cleared
Df men BIZ our shot. arr. no nnhsr Of shells
burst in tue town and batteries, which
rlusl hive donS.great execution. The OF
iicers. seamen aad marines of the SQUAD
ron, behaved IN the raost gallant r.l.nnrr.
The Ncapo'itaus Ia ernc.a,nig the ardor
Of DIR seaIbeB answered my highest ex-
pccaations. lcsnuot bat notice the actYe
exer.ions and officer like conduit or lieu
tenan, Gordon, and the other Hru,enants
Of the Constitution. Mr.. harden, The
master, gave me full satisfaction, as did
all the officers and ships company. Twas
mu7h gra,ified BIZ the conduct Of Captain
Hall. aud lieut.. Greenlsaf, and the ma
rines belonging to his company in the ma
nsgemcnt OF six long &c Founders on the
spare deck, which placed under his -
rcetion. Capt. Decatur spenss in the
highest terms Of The condu6t of lieutenant
Thaip, and midshipnaan MsDonopgh of
10 4, as does captain Somers, Of nsi,..-
shiplnen Ridgeiy and Miller attached 10
No. l. Annexed is list of killed and
wounded, and inclosed q copy OF my &c
neral orders on this occasion.
EiIIed--gun boat, No. ?, Lieut.. James
DsSa.ur.
Wounded---Cops,itusio one marine
Do.--gun boat No. 8. captain Decatur,
slight, one sergeas.. Of marines, and two
: seameD.
Do.--gun boat No. 6, lieut.. Trippe, Sc
vereIy, one bostswain's mate, and two ma
rincs.