Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-08-20
SALEM, August IL.

Arrived, privateers Fame, Upton, and Dart,
Symonds, from d cruise. Capt. Upton has
handed US the following information. Thurs.
day afternoon, Aug. |, the privateers Mars,
capt Brooks, aud Morning Star, Tucker, both
of Portland, were chased into Haycock's har-
Dor by two English frigates, Supposed the
Spartan and Maidstone) who immediately
manned out five launches, with about 200 men,
and sent them in--the prlvateerS Id the mean
time were hauled on shore, and all the people
(2s in number) landed with the small arms,
except enough to work the large guns which
remained on board the privateers. The launch
es, on approaching near the prirateers, dis
charged their cannonades into them, which
was Immediately returned from the priYatcers
and the men ashore, when the launches were
compelled to heave round, and stand out ct
the harbor. Saturday the Sd, In the morning,
three launches, with about $50 or 400 men,
came to the mouth Of the harbor, and landed
them on each side. Capts Tucker and Brooks.
having then only So men in the whole, thought
it best TO retreat into the woods the English
then took possession OF the prlvateers, plum
dered and burnt them. The American party
found in the woods, marine, who was in Ole
of the launches in the first attack, and had de-
serted he informed that 80 men were killed
and wounded on board the launches. Caps.
Tucker and Brooks, had not 9 man injured
The ships had number of coasters III their
possession, Just taken---one, schooner from
Boston, with 4o5 barrals -four, bound TO East
port, cut out from RaiIey's Mistake.
Capt. Elliot Of the Revenue cutter, ana
captain Elwell of the privateer MadlSon'
of Gloucester, while lying in Little RIVER
heard of the destruction Of the two privateerS
Just below, and Of the determination OF inc
English to destroy all the American vessels
on the coast of every description, hauled their
vessels On shore, and erected battery OF cora
wood. My informant says he was close TO the
ships in small fishing boat at ] 2 O'Clock nYe
launches full of men, started from them iof
the harbor in few minutes the firing COM
menced, and continued for nearly two hours
when it ceased. He remained az or near inc
mouth of the harbor, till near sun down, ano
10 boat or vessel had come out, and he had DO
doubt the boats were all taken or Destroyer
There were a considerable number OF coasters
in the harbor, among whom was the Sioop
Henry, Merrirnan, from Boston for EastFor'
with -four, Ssc. Monday afternoon, the s3Ips'
were about four miles under our lee; the VIVA
blowing fresh from the S. w. Saw num-
Der of schooners and sloops running down lot
the ships; stood off for them. and informed
them of their danger; some of them stood III
for the shore, and some went on aud were cap
tured. The brig George Washington has a.
rived safe at Machias with guns and srleu",-
ton for the fort. The captains Of the BRUSH
ships say they shall scour the coast. r
Arrived at Machias, small prlva'eer o.
about 10 tons, belonging to NewburypoT' nay
been to Annapolis, Nova Scotia, and the cap.
and first prize master went Oil shore 10 Pu,
chare some provisions. In their absence ao'u'