Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-06-29

". LONGITUDE II i9, ". Cape
Charles, bearing Vest forty
eight miles.
SIR,
I beg leave to acquaint you that in
pursuance Of your orders to join Ill. Nj.
shin Gurriere, and being Oh my return
from the northward, not having fallen in
with her-rhat, about IL A. NJ. May i6,
W a strange sail to which l immedi-
ateIy gave chase. Att p. Nj. discovered
her to be man of war. apparently fri
gate, standing to the eastward, who, when
he made us out, edged away for us. and
set his royals. Made the signal 275, and
finding it not answered, concluded she was
an American frisate. as she had a Com
modore's blue pendant flying at the Main.
Hoisted the col0rs and made all Gail south,
the course I intended steering round Cape
Hatteras the stranger edging away but
not making any more sail. AT 5. 80 he
made sail in chase, when L made the pri-
vate signal which was not answered. AT
6. so finding he gained so considerably On
us as not to be able TO elude him during
the night. being 7ritiin gun-stot. e clear
IN Discerning the stars in his broad pen
dant, Imagined the most prudent method
was to bring too, 6 hoist the colOrs that no
mistake might arise, and that he might
see what we were. The ship was there
fore brought too, her eolors hOisted, her
guns double shotted, and every prepare
ton made in case Of surprize. By his
manner Of steering down, he evidently
wished to lay his. ship in position for
raking. which l frustrated by wearing
three times. About s. Is he came with
in hail. hailed. and asked what ship it
was He repeated my question. Iasain
hailed, and asked what ship il was ? He
again repeated my words, and fired
broadside, which I instantly returned.
The action thea bacame general, and
continued so for three quarters ofan hour,
when he ceased firing, and appeared tc
be on fire about the main hatchway. He
then filed was obliged to desist from
firing, as, the ship falling off. no gun
would bear. and had no after sail to keep
her too. All the rigging and sails cut to
pieces; not brace nor a bowline left.
He hailed and asked what ship this was
I told him.-He then asked me if 1 had
struck n,u colors My answer was No,
and asked what ship it was? AS plainly
as 1 conld understand Che having shot
some distance at this time) he answered
The United States Frigate. He fired no
moro guns but stood from us, giving no
reason for his most extraordinary conduct.
At day light in the morning, saw
ship to windward, when having made out
we'll what we were, bore up and passed
within hail fully preparation action. A
bout s o'clock he hailed and said if l
pleased, he would send boat on board
T. aDpI;ed in the Affirmative, and boat
accordingly came with an officer
and a message from Commodore Ro-
gers ofthe President OF the United States
70 say that he lamented much the unfor-
inmate affair Gas he termed it) that had
hammered, anu that had he knOScn our
force 1cas so inferior he should not hcre
1fred at me. asked his motive for hav-
inv fred at all His reply was that " zoe
fred the first gHn at ';im:" rhich 1cds
nositiveig not the case. l cautioned both
fke officers and men to be particularly
s,sn,1rres:,I. and NOT suffer more than one man
a he at the gnn. Nor is ii probable that
: sleop of 7car. witfin pistol shot OF
lsrrs IL snn fYigaie should commence hos
tilsS,s. He offered me every assistance l
stood n need OF, ard, Submitted TO me
that HAD better put into enc of the ports
Of the U, States; which ! Immediately
dscined.
o. the mannss in which he apaiogIzsd
Nesred to me wiacnt thathad ne faA-.