The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-02-24
WEST-LNDLES.
ST.. PiEanE's, MAwrtNIeyr,

2Sth December.
The brig of his Majesty lie Cygne, commanded
by Monsieur Dxfresne, Lieutenant De Yaisseax,
lett Chcrbourg the 10th OF Nov last. with a car
go OF provisions for this colony, and entered Au
Ceror the l2rh of this month.
The same day, the enemy, TO the number of 2
.trigatcs, a sloop of war and several briggs, made
n, attempt to take a scioo,ier, arrived the even
ing before from Nantes, which, was anchored I'm.
der the battery lie Preehear, where diesnationai
guard was assembled, aud where u detachment
~ ths garrison of ST. Pierre'S was immediately
sent. This attack continued for more than two
hours, within half cannon shot, when at last the
enemy appearing to have been roughly treated *
one of the frigates having received many balls,
and having been covered with grape shot, the Iii
vision put away before the wind and made sail
for lie GeYen, where it directed all its efforts a.
sainst LIE CISRe, and finished by being repulsed
, with a considerable loss.
Our readers will read with the interest il me.
lrits, he extract OF the report of Mr.. Dufresne.
q" AT 4 o'.-ock two English frigates, 3 briggs
and seven pinnaces, having approached wit,in
cannon shot Of the land batteries, I opened INV
ire upon item it was lively and well supported.
Tie iriGates, alter giving me their broadsides,
dispatched three pinnsces filled with men, to
board me, my grspe-shot sunk them before they
Could reach me witnessing this loss, a trigate,
ranging along the Pearl I1oeS, ran her bowsprit
forward OF my foremost, without DOUBT, with an
intention Ut o~,arling me; 1 immediately Or
dered my battery to- Se charged VITA Grape.shot.
ana at hait pistol shot, swept OIL the whole of
aer men onthe tore castle, she iinmedi atcly veer-
ed round and fired a f.w shot in The mean time
the Drugs Gid not cease to cannonade me. and dis
patched tour boats which approached along side
the shot from my tops and the fire of my artil
'iery, destroyed them Immediately all those who
mounted my side were DESTROYED, EXCEPT seven.
teen, which l made prisoners /; every officer was
Killed. This division, after having lost in the
different boats which they had sent out, and of
winch none returned, at least 900 men, made
sail before the wind, and gave to the brave crew
OF TIE CTgne, time to prepare for lie w combats.
ms acton, during which the cry. of vivc Tempe
feur was repeated q thousand times, ended IT s
octock IN the evening. mad but i've men woun-
ded and not u single man killed, five shot went
through my UPPER works, and my rigging suf-
tered greatly. | will MT undertake To make AN
eu!osiuin OF my officers and men, th:ir success
speaks Suiicientiy i'll their favor. l owe much
TO the batteries of the coast thoy covered lie
well"
We should be happy if such complete success
had had 4 more fortunate end. We are sorry To
have 10 announce, that the day after this brilliant
action, lie cjSne, after a night passed in watch
t,s, having found atavorabIc momcut ior procee-
ding to St. picrre's, furnished with a c~oasling
p'iot, weighed anchor and got under wei2h i'm
spite of humber of encmy's vessels, which at.
tempted TO cut her oil the land q detachment
OF the 9Th regiment marched opposite 10 l. C.r-
ne, ana sgery one was al his post iii the batteries
OH thetSest already had she cleared the great
est obstacles, the fire OF her batteries held At a
respectful distance the enemy's briggs, ard every
thing promised a happy arrival, when the pilot.
who. at tue ar. can.:e:: b5.Hs, fred, lost ali pre-.
sence OF mind, not knowing how TO direct tl,c
vessel, ran he's Oh the rocks of Laearcnre, about
4 league and 4 half from St. Pierre's and out of
reach OF the batteries on THIS part OF the coast.
We Will not undertake To Paint the efforts and
the regrets OF Mr.. Dufresne, his officers and
crew we viii c%onfine ourselves to saving, ,hst
al :',at was possible to be done to relieve ihe
vessel WAS done, III spite ofthe hrc of a frirate, :.
Large sioop ofwar and four briss, which came TO
lire on her i'll nearly pistol shot, in such a man
ner that the road to Ls Preehenv and the habita.
tinn oi hdr. Labatut, below which the brig was
wrecked, were covered with balls AMI grape
shot, and II was only after having the magazine
flled with water and the masts cut away, that
tins brave otiicLr al asst resolved to land his
wounded, his crew and mas officers ; and it was
only after every oEe had landed, and Having in
vain endeayortd to set his vessel on fire. that he
took leaye OF her. We have hopes, however.
OF saving her cargo, and At the moment of writ.
,ng this we ave informed, that the greatest
part Oftie Hour has been landed, and we All. in
hopes OF saying some more.
we canno, gave "A more Just idea of the sensa-
sation produced blythe brave defence OF Le Csgse.
and the public spirit which re gus il. the colony.
than by inserting here the letter OF the com.
misSaiies OF St PIeIra to Nj. Dufresne, and IN
trepid comm lnder, III tne name OF the city, IN tie
aeishboriiood of which he found the theatre or
hls glory.