The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-05-31

ANOTHER; :
Particulars ct the engagement beeween
. the United States frigase President, Com
modore Rogers and the British sloop Of
war Little Bel. Capt Bingham.
On the night of the 10th inst. about 9 o.
clock. the frigate fell in with the sloop Il
war about 20 miles N. E. of Cape Henry !:
and when within pistol shot of her, Conn
motiore Rogers hailed her--no answer was
g'ven-Commodore Rogers nailed her a sc.
cond time. aud in the act of hailng, a shot
was hred from the sloop of war into the fri {.
gate, which struck her mainnast The
tr'gate immediately fired a shot into the
sioop ct war-she then poured a brnadside
into the frigate. Here the action commen
ced. and continued about IS minutes, when
the sloop OF war ceased firing The frigate
renamed near her all night. The next
morning Commodore Rogers sent an officer
on board, to infer any assistance they might
require and to express mis- regret at the
circumstance that had occurred the proceed
ing evening. The sioop of war proved to be
the Little Belt. Capt. Bingham, who apollo
gzed and gave as a reason for firing into
the frisate that he supposed her to be a
trenchman and politely declined any as.
to reach port in safety.
The Little Belt lost in killed and wound.
ed 80 men, was very much injured, having
had nearly all her masts and spars shot a.
way. besides several shots in her hull.
ms sloop OF war is a D1nish built YES
sci, and was taken at Copenhagen. In
Stcel's List she is rated 20 gun sloop !;
Out carries "a thirty two pound carronadcs.,
The President received some triflng da-
mage IN her rigging. and had one boy slight
~ wounded IN the ARMY. Y. Gag.
From, the ". I: Commercial advertiser.
FRIGATE PRESIDENT.-Just as our pa.
per was prepared for the press, we were favor.
ed with the following extract ola letter, writ
ten by an officer on board the President. and da-
ted !" OF Cape Henry, May 14.h."-The letter
was brought TO Baltimore by a Pilot Boat.
~ Last Friday, we lay safely moored at Anna
poiis-the Commodore was with his wife q.
Havre de- Grace, A5ou, 70 miles from us-nur
Sailing Master wac ut Baltimore, 30 miles dis
tant-our Purser and Chaplain at w ashington
our sails all unbept--and cur Capt dining
on board the Argus, when at O'clock The Gig
was seen about 5 miles . head, sailing at the
rate OF ten miies an hour, q broad pendant hsius,
denoting that the Commodore Was on board, al.
though not expected in fortnight. All the Of
hcers were called on deck to receive him-He
entered the gangway's and passed rapidly down
into his Cabin. The Grst Lieut. was sent for &
remained with the commodore about Ave mi
"utes, when be returned to the deck snd dis
patched Expresses for the sailing master, pur.
ser, Chaplain. &c. TIE Capt was informed that
we were under sailing orders.
he mad Just began fine dinner-ob!iged in.
stantly to quit it-aIf hands went to work, ben.
1ing the sails and preparing for sea-and TO cap
the whole, our Doctor was set to work, max
ing pisisters .splnters rubbing up the tornauets.
Sfr Re- c;orn L. 81
work
On Saturday our officers returned from Wash
iRgton and Baltimore, much faster than thew
went; and on Sunday morning at day light, W.
weighed anchor. and beat until last evening.
when the wind shifted, and we are now before
it.
BY the officers who came from Washington.
we learn that we sent in pursuit of the Bril-
tish Frigate who had impressed passenger
from coaster Yesterday, willie beating down
The bay we spoke brig going up who Inform
ed us that she saw the British Frigate the day
before, off the very place where we now are,
but she1s not now in sight. We have made the
most complete preparation for battle. Every one
wishes it. She is exactly our force, but we have
the Argus with Us, which none of us are pleas
ed with, as we wish fair trial of courage and
skill. Should we see her. have rot the least
doubt ofan engagement The commodore will
demand the Personimpressed the demand will
doubtless bereiusea; and The battle will instant
ly commence Our trigate works well, & com.
pleteiy beats the Argus in sailing.
The commodore has called in the boa!s vain,
gunner and carpenter, informed them of all cir
aud asked if they were ready for
action--READy WAS the reply of eaclo
WASHINGTON, May 90.
Cory Of q letter, from Cenbn2dore Ron.
GERS 20 me Secretary ofMc Mavu.
United STAGES frigate President, off
SIR, i
regret extremely being under the |
necessity of representing to you ar eveni
tn at occurred on the night Of the 18Th in |
slant. between the ship under my command |
and his Britannic majesty's ship of var the
Little Belt. commanded by Capiain Bny
ham; the result of which has given me |
much pain, as we'll on account of the in.
jury she sustained, as that l should have
been compelled to the measure thar produc
ed it, by vessel of her inferior force
Ehe circumstances are as follows:
On the 10th instant, at IS minutes past
Meridian. in seventeen fathom water. Cape |
Henry bearing ). w. distant fourteen or
ffteei1 leagues, sail was discovered from
our mast head in the East, standing to
wards us under a press of sail. At half /
past one, the symmetry of her upper sails
(Which we're at this time distinguishable |
from our deck.) and her making signals |
showed her to be a man OF war. A. forty |