Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-11-30
SAckETT's HARBoR,

IL Nov. 1872.
SIR,
arrived here last evening in gale of
wind, the pilots having refused to keep the
Lake. On the Sth fell in with the ROYAL
Geoge and chased her into the Bay of Guam
ii where lost SIGHT of her in the night. In
the morning of the 9th we again got sight
of her lying in Kingston channel. We gave
chase and followed her in the harbor of
Kingston where we engaged her and the
batteries for one hour and IS minutes Ihad
made up my mind to board her, bat she was
50 well protected BY the batteries and the
wind blowing directly in, it was deemed inn
prudent to make the attempt at that time |:
the pilots also refused 10 take charge of the
vessel. Under these circumstances, and it
being after sundown, / determined to haul
of and renew the attack next morning. We
beat up IN good order under heavy FIRE
from the Royal George and batteries to 4
mile Point where we anchored. 1t blew hea-
Wy in squalls from the westward during the
night, and there was every appearance of a
gale Of wind. The pilots became alarmed
and thought it most prudent to get into
place of more safety. / therefore Ivery
reluctantly deferred renewing the attack
upon the ships and forts until q IN re favor
able opportunity.
At7 A. M. on the 10th, made the signal
to weigh, aud we beat out of very narrow
channel under very heavy press of sail to
the open lake. At ten. we fell in with the
Governor Simcoe running for Kingston, and
chased her into the harbor. She escaped
by running over a reef of rocks under a
heavy fire from the Governor Tompkins,
the Hamilton and the Julia which cut her
very much. All her people ran below while
I'm dar he rs
ton chased her into nine feet water befcr
she hauled of. We tackled to the SOUL.
ward with an intention of running to o.Nsta-
ton at the Ducks but it coming on 30 blow
very heavy, the pilots told me it would be
unsafe to keep the lakes. bore up for this
place where arrived last night.
In our passage through the Bay of Guam
Il, discovered a schooner at the village OF
Armingst wn which we took possession of.
but finding she would detaIn US (being then
in chase of the Royal George ordered
Lieut.. Macpherson to take out her sails and
rigging and burn her, which he did. We
also took the schooner Mary Hall from Mia
CARA at the mouth of Kingston harbor, and
took her with uS to our anchorage. The
next morning, finding that she could not beat
through the channel with us, ordered the
sailing master in the Grower 70 take her
under convoy and run down past Kingston,
anchor on the east end of Long Island and
wait for wind to come mp on the east side.
/ was also in hopes that the Royal George
raight be induced to follow for the purpose
Of re-taking our prize, but her commander
was too we'll aware of the consequences to
leave his moorings.
We lost in this affair one man killed and
three slightly wounded, with a few shot
| through our sails. The other vessels lost no
men and received but LITTLE injury in their
hull and sails, with the exception Of the Pert,
whose gun bnrsted in the early part of the
action and wounded her commander (sail-
ing master Arundel) badly, and a midship-
man and three men slightly. Mr.. Arundel,
who refused TO quit The deck although
wounded, was Knocked over board in beat
ing up to our anchorage, and am sorry to
say was drowned.
The Royal George must have received
very considerable injury in her hull and in
men, as the gun vessels with a long 80 poun-
der we're seen to strike her almost every
shot, and il was observed that she was re-
inforced with troops four different times du-
| ing the action.
] have great pleasure in saying that the
officers and men on board ofevery vessel be-
havcd with the utmost GOODNESS and are ex-
trenely anxious to meet the enemy on the
open lake and as long rs have the honor
to command such ofhcere and such men. /
lean have no DOUBT Of the result.