Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-09-17
to state the result and particulars os our

sailed from Jamaica for England on or about
the 20th of the preceding month, ard on be-
ing informed OF the declaration of war a.
gainst G.. Britain, determined, in the event
OF Commodore Decatur joining me with the |
United States, Congress and Argus, as YOU !
had directed, to so in pursuit of them.
The United States, Congress and Argus,
did join me on the S1st; with which vessels.
this ship and the Hornet, 1 accordingly sailed
III less than an hour after received your or
ders OF the 18th cf June, accompanied by
your official communication of the declarati-
on of war.
On leaving Newly York shaped our course
south easterly, in the expectation of falling
IN with vessels, By which should hear Of
the before mentioned convoy, and the fol-
lowing night met with an American brig
, that gave me the sought-for information:
| the squadron now crowded sail in pursuit,
but the next morning was taken out of its
| course by the pursuit of British frigatc,
| mat since ind was the Belvidere, relative
TO winch beg leave to refer you to the en-
| closed extract from my Journal after re-
pairing as far as possible the injury done by
! The bclviGere to our spars and rigging, we
&, gain crowded all sail and resumed our
Course in pursuit OF the convoy, but did not
receive further intelligence of it until the
"S1h Oh June, on the western edge Of the
banks OF Newfoundland, where we spoke an
American schooner, the master of which re-
ported that he had days before passed
them IN latitude 43, longitude SIS, steering to
the eastward: 1 was surprised to find that
the convoy was still so far to the eastward of
Us, but was urged, however, as well by what
considered my duty as by inclination. to
continue the pursuit.
On the lst uf July, little to the eastward
OF Newfoundland bank, we fell in with
quantities OF cocoa nut shells, orange pecls,
Slc. which indicated that the convoy were
not far distant, and we pursued it with zeal.
although frequently taken out OF our Course
oy vessels 1t was necessary to chace, without
gaming any further intelligence until the 9 h
OF July, III latitude 43 so, longitude %, we
captured the British private armed brig Dol
phin, OF Jersey, and was informed by some
OF her crew that they had seen the convoy
the preceding evening. the weather was not
clear at the time, but that they had counted
50 sail, and that the force charged with its
protection consisted of one two-decter,
trgate, sloop of war, and brig.
| L Ills was the last intelligence / received
oil the before mentioned convoy, although It's
pursuit was continued until the 3th of JULY,
being then within Is or 90 hours sail of the
British channel
From this we steered for the island of
| Madeira, passed close by it OH the 2ist of
July; thence near the Azores, and saw Cor
| v@ and Flores; thence steered for the banks
of Newfoundland and from the latter place
| (by the way or Cape Sable) to this port, it
having become indlspensibly necessary (by
tue time we reached our own coast) to make
the first convenient port in the u States;
| owing, am sorry to say, TO that wretched
4 disease INV 10
ance on board of the vessels, most generally
| to degree seriously alarming.
| From the western part of the banks of
Newfoundland to our making the island of
| Madeira, the weather was such, at least six
| days out of seven, as to obscure from our
discovery, every object that we did not pass
| within four or five miles of, and indeed for
several days together the fog was so thick
as TO prevent onl seeing each other, even at
cables length asunder, more than twice or
thrice in the "a hours.
From the time ofour leaving the u States
until orr arrival here, we chased every YES
sci VIC saw, and you will nor be little asto-
n.shed when inform you that, although we
brouSh; too every thing VIC did chase, with
the exception of four vessels, we only made
seven captures and one re-capture.
1t is truly an unpleasant task to be Obliged
to make communication thus barren of be
neiit to our country: the only con olation I
individually feel on the occasion being dcriy
ed from knowing that our being at sea OBJ
liged the enemy to concentrate consider
able portion Of MS most active force. and
thereby prevented his capturing an incalcu
liable amount of American property that
would otherwise have fallen sacrifice.
lam aware of the anxiety you must have
experienced at not hearing from me for smch
length of time, but this am sure Won will
not attribute i'll any degree to neglect. when
inform you that not single proper oppor-
tunity occurred from the time of leaving the
U.States until our return.
Mr.. Newcomb, who will deliver Won ,hie
you will find an intelligent young man. cana,
bic OF giving such further information as vou
may deem of any moment: He will NJ tbe
same time deliver YOU chart, showing tbe
tractin which we crulsed; Annexed is q list
OF vessels captured, re-captured and burnt
The four vessels we chased and did not
come up with, was the Belvidere. small
pilot boat schooner supposed to be an Anne
rlcan privateer, the hermaDhrodite priva-
teer brig Yankee, which we lost sight Of in
fog, but whose character we af,erwar,Ie
learnt, aud frigate supposed TO be British
that we chased' ON the 18th ult near the
shoal Of Georges Bank, and should Ger
fanny nave come up with, had we have had
the advantage OF two hours more day light
On board Of the several vessels Of the
squadron there are between 80 and 100 pri-
sohers, T. ken from the vessels we Captured
during our late cruize: The government
not having any agent for prisoners here. /
shall send them to Commodore Bainbridee
to be disposed Of in such manner as best ap,
pears with the interest Of the u States. and
which hope may meet your appreciation.
With the greatest respect,
have the honor to be, sir,