Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-09-09

asked me II i had struck my eoiofs
answer was-No, and asked what snip II
was? As plainly as could understand
The having shot some distance at tins ume}
he answered, the u. States frigate. lie
fired no more guns, but stood from us
. giving no reason for his most extraordl-
nary conduct. AT daylight in the morn
ing saw ship to windward, which having
made out well what we were, bore up anu
passed within hail, fully prepared for ac
ton. About o'clock he hailed, and sara
if pleased he would send a boat on board
!; / replied in the affirmative, and boat
accordingly came, with an officer, and a
message from commodore Rodgers, OF the
President U. States frigate, to say that ne
! lamented much the unfortunate affair Gas
he termed it, that had happened, and that
had he known our force was so inferior,
he should not have fired at me. l asked
his motive for firing at all /; his reply was,
! that we fired the first gun at him, which
was positively not the case. L cautioned
both the officers and men to be particular
| ly careful, and not suffer any more than
one man to be set at the gun. Nor IS IT
probable that sloop of war, within pistol
Shot of large forty-four gun frigate,
should commence hostilities. He offered
me every assistance stood in need OF, and
submitted to me that had better put in
J to one of the ports Of the U. States, which
Immediately declined. BY the manner
| in which he apologized, it appeared to me
evident, that had he fallen in with Bri-
tish frigate, he would certainly have
brought her to action; and what farther
confirms me lin that opinion is, that ms
guns were not only loaded with round and
grape shot, but with every scrap OF iron
that could possibly be collected.
l have to lament the loss Of thirty two
men killed and wounded. among whom is
the master. His majcsty's sloop is much
dana ged in her masts, sails, rigging and
hull, and as there are many shot through
between wind and water. and many shot
still remaining in her side, and upper
works all shot away, starbOarl pumps al
SO, / have judged it proper to proceed to
Halifax, which will, hope, meet your
appreciation.
| cannot speak in too high terms Of the
officers and men have the honor to COM
mand, for their steady and active conduct
throughout the whole Of this business,
who had much to do, as gale OF wind
came on the second night after the action.
My first lieutenant, Mr.. John Moberly.
who is in every respect most excellent
officer, afforded me very great assistance
| in stopping the leaks himself in the gale.
securing the masts and doing every thing
in his power. 1t would be the greatest
Injustice was l not also to speak most
highly of Lieutenant Lovel, second lieu
tenant, Of MIR. Mcqueen. master, who as
l have before stated, was wounded in the
right arm, in nearly the middle OF the &C
ton, and MIR. Wilson, masters nate
Indeed, the conduct of every officer was
so good, it was impossible for me to dis
criminate.
! beg leave to enclose list of the thir-
| ty two men killed and wounded, most of
them MORALLY fear.
hope, sir, in this affair | shall appear
to have done my duty, and conducted my
self as ought to have done against SO SUI
perior force, and that the honor of the
British colors was we'll supported.
have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed) A. b. BINGHAM,
Captain
To Herbert Sawyer. Esquire,
Rear Admiral, Commander
in Chief, &c.
Return Of officers, petty officers, seamen.
and marines, killed and wounded on
t board his majesty's sloop Little Belt,
Arthur Bait Bingham, esq. commander.
In action with the American frigate
President, the 10th of May, 1911.
| KILLED.
Mr.. Samuel Woodward. midsilipman !;
Christ. Bennett, captain of the foretop ;
Jacob Greaves, carpenters crew; Tho
mas shippard. gunner's mate; George