Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-07-18

front 10 inc uTc-SnlpS. Iuey were nauked
BY stoccade, 400 toises in breadth, and SOC
toises long. The north end was cable 3
length and an half from the rocks of the
island. t-h
"At sun down, the wind still blew fresh.
/ permitted each captain to manoeuvre as
he might think best for the safety of his
ship.
made signal for the 4th and 5th di-
visions of the ffotilla to go and m aintain a
lockout, for two hours, at the stoccade but
the wiad was sovo,ept, that few of the ves-
sells coa'd make any way, and the greater
part returned.
s' sent an officer to inform gen. Brou.
ward, who commanded on the isle of AK.
that the enemy, by his manoeuvres, seem.
ed inclined to take advantage of the high
wind and sea to attempt coup-de-main |:
he answered that he would await it firm
ly, and answered for the operations on
land.
''At half past eight, four English YES.
sells were anchored in the current, the
chief point of the wind heading their line.
The Ocean keeping to the north. west.
They had signals, and appeared to be fix
ing marks for the direc, ION of their fire.
ships.
'' 1t blew SO hard, that found itimpossi-
no orders for that purpose.
About so'clock, loud explosion took
place at the stoccade, two others succeeded
it. A brig in flames struck against the
stoccade, and then successfully presented
themselves several briggs and three masted
vessels under all sail, having FIRE in their
bodies and rigging they we're for awhile
stopped, but at last freed themselves, and
succe ssively arrived upon my lines.
I" The first fell aboard the Reguius, and
fastened on the starboard side at the same
time, the second also on fire fell upon the
Ocean.
!" had given orders to be ready to veer
the cables, or to cut them if necessary, as
the only means left to avoid total destruc
ton.
AS this fire-ship came almost across my
bowsprit, gave orders to veer the cable I;
tut as II Came faster than the Ocean made
stern. way (althoush had ordered the miz.
en- top-saJl to be backed to the mast) de-
term,ned to cut the northwest cable, to
come about to the southeast this step sue.
eeeded.
/" The hre-ships succeeding each other,
coming with sans filled with fair wind in
to our squadron, and directed particularly
against the Ocean, which was in the centre
starboard quar,er, notwithstanding all we
did tn avoid it.
Such was the true situation of the yes.
sells OF his majesty, the flames CARRYING
fakes OF fire along its batteries. Happily
tins tireship had great area it warded
of, but only to fasten to the ropes near the
Grains. We yet tried to disengage our.
selves from It, when its bowsprit entered
the fore-catheed I; We could not cut it, and
the heat was so excessive that il was i'm. !,
possible To approach it. Some brave men
then devoted themselves, jumped upon the
spritsaii and then on the ship -head, and
saved the vessels, but five of them lost their
lives.
with difficulty were we then thus de-.
iivered from a danger so imminent, three
times repeated, when other fire ships fell
alongside OF me, but these also | had the
good fortune to disengage myself from.
"thc enemy directed against US three
internal machines and SO fire. ships, as well
brigs, as vessels of three masts, TRANSPORTS.
and two vessels of the line.
"His majesty's ships and frigates were
saved from destruction only by veeriug their
cables.
'''rhe captain of fr;gate, Lissilom,
commanding the Ocean in the absence of
N"P'"i" h"iiahuf anu my adJutantS PerrOn
and Gaspard, behaved with singular sang
frold the officers and cadets behaved in
the best manner, and the crew maintained
excellent order M. Delmas, sub-eommis.
sary OF the forces, did not for moment
leave the deck. l am happy to bestow
praises so well deserved.
Sighed {" AILRMAND.u
Since the receipt of the above letter, the
marat'me project has announced that three
vessels, en- flute, in veering their cables.
were run upon the rocks unable to relieve
tnenl, their crews were landed, and they
were then set on FIRE. The next tide the
enemy began to prepare new fire-ships and
pomo.vessels, and soon made an attack,
but they we're repulsed with considerable
loss, and did not prevent our squadron from
returning to repair.
such, then, are the means, which an
enemy superior in maratime force, is not
ashamed To employ They avoid fighting
ship to ship, or man TO man, but launch a..
gainsE us internal machines They pro.
eiaim themselves conquerprs, but they are
only incendiaries
we know that there have at all times
been hTe-ships, but that cowardice insep.
era9ie IRON their employment IS exploded
oy All nations they form no part ofthe re-.
Bhlar system ct maratime warfare and, IL,
ID zoe ifth century, some desperate adj
ven'urers prohted by them, these men