Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-08-06

ses sfGtchhoches, June IS.
The Spaniarf1.s have opened the port of
MataSorda. en- the Bay of st. Bernard. rs
miles FROM st Antonio, Capital of the pro-
vince OF Texas. Which is expected to give
employ .nent To- British Merchants, through
Jamaica and Cuba--a prize has been al
rerdy taken by a French Priva,eer-shc
vas gning to Matagorda with Dry Goods.
Don Bernardo, the Revolutionary Ambassa
dor, (who was at Washington) is still here.
together with Mr.. Shaler United States
Agent.
The opening of Matagorda by The Rcvo
lutionists is bad news for us, as the mer-
chants route will be to Matagorda direct,
instead of through this place.
ErtrGct Of a letter from q uou,er gentleman
belonging TO Baltimore, dated on boar, fbe
orig Oneida, Sacket's Har5or, NJ Y. Jli,,
20.
Yesterday morning at day light, while
lying at anchor in this harbor, il being NV
look out at the mast head, discovered two
sail standing in, and shortly after TWO more
about O'Clock A. M. we discovered the
hrst mentioned to be ships, British of course.
as we have no ship on the lake) the others
proved to be schooners; all the force we had
D
mounted on the naked beach, the best Of
which had not been mounted more ,ban 4
hours; 1t is long 80 FOUNDER, which the
British will remember for some time: we
immediately hove our anchor short, and hois-
ted our topsail yards To the mast head, sent
our boat on shore, and obtained Is volunteers.
who deserve immortal praise for their Uatri-
otic and spirited conduct at the critical iunc-
ture. The wind was rather unfavorable for
the British, SO that it was O'Clock before
we Thought proper to get under weigh. The
Royal George, their commudore's ship, be-
ing considerably head of the others, we up
anchor and stood out of the harbor Offering
her fair challenge to single out and give us
night, which she declined, though consider
ing The number of her guns, and her superi
or weight of metal, she is double our force.
and in the most cowardly manner hove too
until her companions came up.
when we saw our enemies, determined
to take the most unprincipled advantage of
our little brig, we returned into the entrance
OF the harbor & came to anchor with springs.
determined to sell our lives at the dearest
rate ;--as 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
beach; we got them out in very short time.
and hauled our broad side round, in order to
receive them as warmly as possible as they
entered the harbor; at this time their two
ships were abreast of our guns on the beach.
our captain went on shore and took command
of this little battery, which he himself had
erected and Immediately gave them salute
from long Tom, our 2pounder, which struck
short distance head of the Royal George ::
the next struck between her main and n;z,
EN- chains and went though her sides she
and the other ship were firing pretty brisk
ly all this time levelling some of their guns at
the beach and some at the brig but without
effect; shot from long Tom now struck the
Royal George between wind and water, she
hove stays, and while in the act of putting A.
bout, raking shot from the same gun, struck
her IN the stern, and must have done her
great injury, the splinters flew as high as her
UIzen top-sail yard. About, the same time
we shot away the Earl of Moira's 1.-THE other
ship) top gallant mast One of the schooners
now came up, and commenced firing briskly
at the beach, but shot from the long Tom
went verynearputtinghe pipe out !; it struck
her about midships of her 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 bearing of the briggs guns a.
midst the believing oflong Tom and huzzas
OF the people on shore.
have sketched this account in hurried
manner, but you may rely OF its acuracy--I
STOOD in the main top, (where am stationed
ia action) during the whole time, and saw G.
very shot that struck; 9 of the briggs guns
are nov mounted on the beach, and if they
attempt to disturb us again, they will not get
Oft as easy as they did. To the courage and
intrepidity ofour brave commander (Wools-
ley the U. States are indebted for the pre-
servation Of our brig, and the inhabitants of
Sacket's harbor for their lives, liberties and
property; our gallant lieutenant (Wells) de-
serves the highest praise for his cool courage
and spirited conduct. They have both given
a precedent worthy Of imitation, and every
man on board seems to have imbbed the
same spirit and patriotic "--Iphig.