The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-12-10

our q uise, waish Terminated ia &c cSptais
OF the Wasp, OH The Sth OF October, " tie
Poi3siers OF 7s guns, bile wreck fron dar'-
agesrsc- lived ir an engagenvnt wilh The brl.-
i,h sloop oil war Frolic OF p guns; l6 ofthem
81 pound carronad,s, and !. !, poundeis, ca
,l.e main deck. aud > IL po;ihdrrs, carron-dcs,
IN the ,op-gaIani fore castle, making her sn-
perior IN force To us Ly l2 poundc's. The
tIniic nad stuck o us sni WAS taken posses
ion ol about hours before our surrendering
% he Poiciers.
We had left The Delaware On The 18th
Ihc l6ta had heavy gale, in which we lost
cur jib-boom and two men.--H lf pas, eleven
pn the nigh, o. The l7,h, in lat. Of 81 deg. n.
and long As deg w We saw several Sail, TWO
of them appearing veiy large we stood from
them fnr some tine, then shortened sail, and
a,eered the remainder oil INC night The same
course we had perceived lhem on. Al day
light, ca sunday the i6lh, W. siw them IL
head--gasc CHASE, and soon dis, oyered them
10 be convey OF six sail, under he protection
Of sloop oil war, four of theia large ships,
moun,ing from l6 10 i8 guns. Al thiriy-lwo
minutes past Il, A. NJ. we engaged the sloop
of war. having first received her fire at the
distance OF SO or 60 yards, which space We
gradully lessened until We laid her ON board
after well supported fire of i3 minutes !;
and although SO near while loading the last
broadside, that our rammers were showed a.
,ainst the side Of the enemy, cur men exhib-
itcd the same a,acri'y which they had done
during the whole OF tile action They imme-
datcly surrendered upon our gaining their
torccas,le, SO that no loss was sustained on
either side after boarding.
Our main top-mast was shot away between
4 and minutes from the commencement Of
the hcing, and falling together with tho main
top sail yard across the larboard fore and fore.
top sail braces, rendered our hcad-yards un-
manageable the remandcr OF the action, Al
cigh; minutes The gaG and inlzcD top gallant
mast came down and at twenty minutes from
the beginning OF the ac'ion every brace and
most OF the rigging was shot away few
minutes after separating from the irohc both
her mas;s fell upon deck, Tie main mast
going close by the deck aud tho lore'mast IL
or Is feet above it,
The courage aud eScs;ions of Tie officers
and crew fully answered my expectations and
wishes. Lieut.. Bidt!c's active ccuducl con-
tributed much TO our success, by the exact
attention paid to every department du,ing the
engagement and the apinaiing example lie
~GofSed the crew by III, i,huepidiiy. I.ieuts
Rodgers, Booth and Mr.. Rapp, shewed by the
inccssan, G,c from their divisions that tncy
were not 10 be surpassed in resolution or skill
Mr.. Knig hl anu every otLer officer, acted with
courage and pvompii.ude highly honorable,
and trust have given assurance lhai they niay
be relied on whichever their services may be
required.
could not ascertain the cxac: loss Of The
enemy, many vi The dead la. buried tiader
The masis and spats that had fallen upon deck,
which two hours exerton had not sufficiently
removed. Mr.. Bidde, who had charge oil
the Frolick, states that from wha, nc saw s0d
from Information from The Officers. The num-
Der OF killed must have been about thirty, and
that of the wounded abou, forty or Gt,y--oi
the killed is her first lieutenant and sa,ine-
master, ofihe wounded captain Whnyaes and
tho second iieutcpnnt.
We had five killed ahd frc wounded us tet
list the wounded arc recovering. Licat.
Chxton, who vas conlocd by sickness, left
his bed little previous to the engage eit,
aud though too weak TO be at his division,
remained upon deck and showed by his con-
posed manner Of noting its incidents, that
we had lost by his illness the services Of a
brave officer.
am respectfully, yours,
JAS. JONES.
The Hon Paul Hamilton, Sec'ru Nary