Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-11-27

in and from thence to Liverpsol. Hell
here left the brig and shipped on board an !
english Guineaman. He was pressed on |
BOARD the Melampus off Cape Finstere (; |
o better his situation he consented to en-
sr, being determined to make his escape |
when opportunity offered. He served on
BOARD the frigate rwoyears. He is Il white |
man, about five feet seven inches high.
William Ware and John <;trachan have
projections. Daniel Martin says he lost
his after leaving the frigate.
John Little, alias Francis and Ambrose
Watts escaped from the Melampus at the
SINE time, kaown to the above persons to
be Americans, but has not been entered
by my recruiting officer.
William Ware, Daniel Martin, and John
state, that some time in Februa-
ry last, there was an entertainment on
board the Melampus, laying then il Hamp-
ton Roads, that while the officers, sc were
engaged, and all the ships boats, except
the captains gig, being hoisted in-them-
selves and the other men mentioned, a.
vailed themselves of moment to seize the
gig and row off That as soon as they had
got into the boat they. were hailed to know
what they were going to do They replied,
they were going ashore. A brisk fire of
musquetry instantly commenced from the
Shp-That in defiance of balls and the
hazard oftheir lives, they continued to pull,
and finally effected their escape TO land,
namely, Sowel's Poin,-That they then
carefully hauled up the boat on the
beach, rolled up the coat, and placed that
and the oars in the boat, gave three cheers,
and moved up the country.
United Safes Frigatc Chesapeake,
Chesoheake Fay, Jne 23, 1907 s
Satisfactorily at A M.,the wind be-
came favorable, and knowing your anxiety
that the ship should sail with all possible
dispatch, we weighed from our station in
Hampton Roads aud stood TO sea (; in Lin
Haven Bay we passed two British men of
war, one of them the Bellona, the other the
Meiampus, their color. flying and their
appearance friendly. Some time after
wards, we observed one of the two line of
battle ships that lay off Cape Henry to get
under way and stand to sea, at this time
the wind became light, and it was not un-
Ill near four i'll the afternoon, that the ship
under way came within hail, Cape Henry
then bearing n. w by w. distance three
leagues. The communication which APP
peared to be her commanders object for
speaking the Chesapeake, he said he would
send on hoard, IN which j ordered the
Chesapeake to be hove to for his convent
encc. On the arrival of the officer, he
presented me with the enclosed paper No.
l, from the captain of the Leopard, and
copy of an order from Admiral Berkeley,
which another officer afterwards took back,
to which gave the enclosed answer No.
2, and was waiting for reply: about TINS
Il 0N &c
hostile nature, and said TO captain Gordon
that it was possible they were serious, and
requested him TO have his men sent to their
quarters with as little noise as possible,
not using those ceremonies which we shou d
have done with an avowed enemy, as full
ly supposed their arrangements were more
menace than any thing serious. Captain
Gordon Immediately gave the orders 10 the
officers and men to go to quarters and
have all things in readiness, but before
match could be lighted, or the quarter bills
of any division examined, or the lumber
on the gun deck, such as sails, cables, sc.
could be cleared, the commander of the
Leopard hailed, could not hear what he
said and was talking to him as 1 supposed,
when she commenced heavy fire, which
did great execution. 1t is distressing to
me to acknowledge, that found from the
advantage they had gained over our unpre-
pared and unsuspicious state did not war
rant longer opposition, nor should have
exposed this ship and crew TO so CALLING a
fire, had it not been with hope of getting
the gun deck clear so as TO have made a
more formidable defence: Consequently
our resistance was but feeble. In about
twenty minutes after, ordered the colors
be struck, and sent lieut.. Smith on board
the Leopard to inform her commaRder that
considered the Chesapeake her prize.
To this message / received no answer.
The Leopard's boat soon after came on
board, and the officer who came in her tle
handed the muster book. replied the
ship and books were theirs, and If he ex-
pected to see the men, he must find them.
They called on the purser who delivered
his book, and the men were examined,
and the three men demanded at Washing
ton, and one man more were taken away.
On their.departure from the ship, | wrote
the commander Of the Leopard, the enclOs-
ed No 3, to which received the answer
No 4. On finding that the men were his
only object, and that he refused TO consi.
der the ship his prize, and the officers and
crew his prisoners, called a council Of our
officers, and requested their opinion rcla-
tive to the conduct it was now our duty to
pursue. The result was, that the shin
should return to Hampton Roads, andthere
wait your further orders.
Enclosed, you have a list of the unfortu-
nate killed and woundf d, as also state
ment Of the damage sustained in the hull,
spars and rigging Of the ship.
have sent this letter to you by Captain