Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-05-29

Country JI-EELe. LotH'S'
VEDNESDAY, MAY 90.
we Yesterday issued in an extra sheet, the
following official particulars relative to the
unfortunate occurrence between commodore
Rodgers and captain Bingham, and have thus
morning re-published them for the lntor-
nation of our distant subscribers.
Com, Of q letter from, Commodore RODGERS
to the Secretary Of The .ha1y.
United States frisate President, OF
Sandy Hook, 23d May, 1911.
regret extremely being under the neces-
siry Of representing to you an event tha' DC
CURED on the night of 10th instant, between
the shin under nv command and ms Britain
n;c Maiesty's ship of war the Little 6e1,
commanded by Captain Bingham the result
Of which has given mo much pain, as well on
account of the injury she sustained, as that l
should have been compelled to the measure
that produced 1t, BY vessel OIL her INFERIOR
force. The circumstances are as iohows
On the 10th instant, at 25 minutes past Nleri-
dian, in II fathon water, Cape Henry pear
Ing s. w. distant IA or Is leagues, a sail was
discovered from our mast head IN the Last
standing towards US under press OF san. Al
half past one the symmetry OF her upper sails
(which were at this time distlngushaoie from
our deck) and her making signals, showed her
&c be . man of war. At As minutes past one,
p. N. hoisted orr ensignand pendant; when,
finding her signals not answered, She wore
and stood to the Southwark. Beng desroas
Of speaking her, and of ascertalning what she
was, I now made sail in chaec; and oy ha!'
mast three, p. NJ found we were coming up
With her; as by this time the upper part OF
her stern began to shew itself above the hori-
zon. The wind now began, s continued gradu-
allv 10 decrease, 50 as to prevent my being a.
Ria 70 approach her sufficiently before sunset,
:, discover her actual force, (Which the posi-
Non, she preserved, during the chase, was
calculated 20 conceal) or to Judge even to
what nation she belonged as she appeared
studiously to decline showing her colors: AT
fifteen or twenty minutes past seven, r. M.
the chace took in her studding sails, and soon
after hauled up her courses, and hauled by the
wind on the stsrbord tack she at the same
time hoisted an ensign or flag at her mlzen
Peak; but it WAS too dark for me discover
what nation it represented; now tor the hrst
time her broad side was presented to our view;
but night had so tar progressed, that although
her appearance indicated she was trlgate,
was unable to determine her actual force.
At15 minutes before 8 p. NJ. being a.
bout q mile and a half from her, the wind
ut the time very light. directed Capt.
LUDLOW to take position to w:ndward
other aud on the same tack, within short
sncakins distance. This however the
commander of the chase appeared from
ms.nOeuvres to be anxious to prevent, as
he wore and hauled by the wind Oh differ
ent tacks four times successfully between
this period and the time Of our arriving
ut the position, which had ordered 10
Be taken. Ats or 30 minutes past eight
being little forward Of her weather
beam and distant from 20 to a o0yards,
/ hailed :. what ship is that 20 to this en-
quiry no answer was given, but l was
hailed by her commander and asked
" what ship is that? Having asked the
first question, l OF course considered my
sci entitled by the common rules os polite
ness to the first answer; after pause OF
IS or 20 seconds, reiterated my first en-
CURRY of s. what ship is tilat." and before
I had time to take the trumpet from my
E,outh, was answered by a shot, that cut
oifo of our maiatop-mast breast back
STAYS and went into our nainmast-at this
instant Capt. Caldwell (of marines)
who was standing very near to me On
the gangway having observed sir she
has fired at us" caused me to pause for a
moment Just as was in the act of giving
an order to fire shot in return I; and be-
fore had tisne 10 resume the repetition
ofthe intended order. shot was actually
fired from the second division OF this SHIP );
and was scarcely CIT ofthc gun before It
was answered from our assumed enemy By
three others in quick Succession, and soon
alter the rest Of his broadside and musket-
~. When the first shot was fired, being