The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-08-13
FKoA lnL BALTIMORE VIII
14fair al SaGket's Harbor.

<LUuH GE OUCRC( IIWU UOT.
Some particulars of it are contained in the follow
ng letter received by this mornings mail, which may
be interesting, they We're before published. 1t
was written by young man belonging TO Baltimore,
on board the Oneida, his friend here and has
been communicated for the Wing.
"ONEIDA, Sacket's Harbor, July 90.
Ny Friend-Yesterday morning at day
light. while lying at anchor in this hsrbor, 1t
being my lookout al the masthead, l dis
covered two sail standing in, and shortly af-
ter TWO more about 5 O'Clock, A. Nj. we
discovered The first mentioned TO be ships,
(Brilish Of course as we have no ship on the
iake) the others proved 10 be schooners all
The force we had to oppose them was our
brig, and guns mounted on the naked
beach, the best OF which had not been mount
ed mo,e than hours il is long 32-poun-
der, which The British will remember tor
some time we Immediately hove our an
chor short, and hois,ed out topsail yards 10
the mast head, sent our boat on shore, and
obtained twenty FIVE volunteers, who deserve
immortal praise Tor their patriotic and spirit
cd conduct at the critical juncture. The
wind was rather unsavourah.e for the British,
SO that i was O'Clock before we thought
proper To ge, ooter weixsss Z b. Sz-1-Seorge,
ssH~ecc Conimodotc's shiHf beias JonsiJeraby
ahead of the Others, We nh anchor and stood
out of the harbor offering her fair chaI-
lenge, to single out, and give US 6ghr, which
she declined, though considering the number
of her guns, and her superior weight OF met
al, she Is double our force, and In the most
cowardiy manner hove to until her compan-
ions came up. When we saw our enemies
determined 10 take the most unprincipled ad-
vantage Of our little brig, we returned into
tive entrance of the harbor and came TO an
chor with springs determined to sell our lives
at the dearest rate las only the guns OF one
side would be OF use to US In that position,
we landed our starboard guns, in order to
place them on the beaSh we got them out
In very short time, and hauled our broad
side round, in order TO receive them as warm
ly as spossible, as they entered. the harbor at
this time their two ships we're abreast of our
3guns on the beach, our captain went on
shore and took command Of this little battery,
which he himself had erected, and immedi-
ateIy gave them salute from long Tom, our
32-pounder, which struck short distance
head OF the Royal George the next struck
between her main and mizen chains, and
went through her sides she and the other
ship were firing pretty brisky all this time,
levelling some o! their guns at the beach and
some at the brig, but without effect sho,
from long Tom now struck the Royal
George between wind and water, when she
hove in stays and while In the act of putting
about, raking shot from the same gun,
struck her in the stern, and must have done
her great injury, the splntcrs flew as high as
her mizen top sail yard. About the same
time we shot away the Earl OF Moira's (the
other ship) top gallant mast. One OF the
schooners now came up, and commenced fir
ing briskly at the beach, but shot from the
long Tom went very near putting her pipe
out il struck her about midships Of her
7 deck and must have gone out underneath the
water. This put an end to the fray. They
tackled about and stood out Of the harbor,
without daring to come within hearing Of the
briggs guns, amidst the believing OF long
Tom and the huzzas Of the people on shore.
I have skctched this account in q hurried
manner, but you may rely upon its being
correct. | stood in the main top (where am
stationed in action) during the whole time
and saw every shot that struck. , Of the briggs
guns are now stationed On the beach, and il
they attempt to disturb Us again, they viii
not get of as easy as they did before. To
the courage and intrepidi;y of our brave COM
mander Woolsey the United States arc in
dcbted for the preservation Of our brig, and
the Inhabitants Of Sscket's harbor for their
lives, liberties end property our gallant
iicutenant Wells deserves the highest
praise for his cool courage, and spirited con-
duct. They have both given a precedent