Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-06-07

non of the intended order, ShUt was a.
,nally fred from the second division OF this
.hip; and was scarcely out of the gun be-
fore il was answered from our assumed ene-
nv by three others in quick succession, and
soon after the rest of his broadside and mus
te,ry. When the first shot was bred, being
under an impression, that it might possibly
have proceeded from accident and without
the orders of the Commander, had deter
mined at the moment to FIRE only single
shot in return, but the immediate repetition
Of the previous unprovoked outrage induced
me to believe that the insult was premedit&-
ted. and that from our adversary being al
the time as ignorant of our real force as
was of his, he thought this, perhaps IA
vorable opportunity of acquiring Promotion'
although at the expense of violating our neu'
ualit, and insulting our flag: accordingly
with that degree of repugnance incident 70
feeling equally determined neither to Dc the
aggressor, or to suffer the flag OF my coun'
nv to be insulted with impunity, gave
general order to FIRE; the effect OF which
10 from four to six minutes, as near as
can Judge, having produced partial ST.
l7nce Of his guns. gave orders 10 ceass
firing, discovering by the feeble oPPosition
that it must be a ship OF very Interiour force
90 what had supposed, or that some unto
ward accident had happened to her.
NV orders in this instance however (ai
though they proceeded alone from motives
of humanity and determination not to sPil
a drop of blood unne ssarily) had IN less
than four minutes some reason to regret, al
he renewed his FIRE, of which two SO pounc
shot cut off one of our foreshrouds and in
jred our Foremost. 1t was now that
ioand my self under the painful pecessity o
giving orders for repetition of our fire a
gainst force which my forbearance alon,
had enabled 20 do US any injury OF moment
our Are was accordingly renewed and con
tinued from three TO FIVE minutes longer
when perceiving our opponents gaf and CO
lors down, his maintop sail yard upon ths
cap and his fire silenced, although it wa
so dark that could not discern any othe
particular injury we had done, or how fa
he was in a situation 10 do us farther harm
nevertheless embraced the earliest mo
ment TO stop our FIRE and prevent the furthe
illusion OF blood Here pause of half
minute or more took place, at the end O
which, our adversary not showing furthe
disposition to fire, hailed and again asked
"What ship is that :" | learned, for tn,
hfst tine, thatit was ship of his Britannia
mejlsty's; but, owing to It's blowing rattle
iresher than it done, was unable to lear,
her name. After having informed her com
gnander OF the name of this ship, gave or
ders to wear, run under his lee and haul b,
the wind on the stagboard tack, and heav
to under topsails and repair what little in
jury we had sustained in our rigging, whicl
vas accordingly executed, and we continu
ed lying too on different tacks with mum
Der of lights displayed, in order that on
adversary might the better discern our DO
sitlon, and command our assistance. i,
case he found it necessary during the night
AT day light on the 18th, he was discoveries
several miles to leeward, when I gave or
ders to bear up, and run down to him un
der easy sail; after hailing him sent boa
on board with Lieut.. Creighton, to learn thu
names of the ship and her Commander, will
directions to ascertain the damage she hat
sustained, and to inform her commander
how much | regretted the necessity on m,
part, which had led to such an unhappy re
suit; at the same time to offer all the assist
snce that the ship under my command af
iorded, in repairing the damages his hae
sustained. At nine A. M. Lieut.. Creigh
ton returned with information, that it wa
his Britannia Majesty's ship Little Belt
commanded by Capt. Bingham; who, in
f'Ate manner declined the acceptance of a
ny assistance saying, at the same time
that he had on board all the necessary re
quisites to repair the damages. sufficient,
to enable him to return to Halifax.
This however was not the most unpleas
ant part of Capt. Bingham's communicate,