Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-12-14

thc secretary ~ tHc .N0T't!, 0Gte0,
.Nese York, .hov. 24, 1912.
SIR.
here avail myself Of the first opportu-
nifty Of informing you of the OK currences Of
our cruize. which terminated in the capture
of the Wasp on the 18th of October BY the
foictiers fseventy four guns, while a wreck
from damages received in an engagement
with the British slcop of war Frolick Of %
guns sixteen of them thirty two pound car
ronades, and four twel, e Founders, CARO-
nades, on the top gallant fore castle, making
her superior in force to US by four twelve
Founders. The Frolick had struck TO us &
sas taken possession of about two hours be-
fore our surrendering to the Poictiers.
We had left the Delaware on the 18Th
The sixteenth had heavy gale, in which
we lost our jibboon and two men. Half
past eleven, on the night of the 18th, in the
latitude of 81 deg. n. and longitude IS deg.
w. we saw several sail, two of them appear
ing very large; we stood from them for
some time. then shortened sail and steered
the remainder of the night the course we
had perceived them on. At day light on
Sunday the 18th we saw them ahead-gave
chase and soon discovered ,hcm to he a Con-
voy fisk sail under the protection of a slcop
of war, fuurof them large ships mounting
two minutes past eleven, a. NJ. we engaged
the sloop of war, having first received her
FIRE at the distance of fifty or sixty yards,
which space we gradually lesscned until we
laid her On board, after well supported
FIRE of forty three minutes /; and although so
near while loading the last broadsidc that
our rammers were showed against the side Of
TIE enemy, our men exhibited the same "a
lacrity which they had done during the whole
of the action. They immediately surrcn-
dered upon our gaining their forecastle, SO
that no loss was sustained on either side af-
ter boarding.
Our main-top mast was shot away be-
tween & 5 minutes from the commence.
ment Of the firing, and falling together with
the maintopsail yard across the larboard
fore and foretop sail braces, rendered our
head yards unmanageabie the remainder of
the action. At eight minutes the gait and
mizen 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. A few minutes after Sc
parating from the Frolick both her masts
fell upon deck, the main mast going close by
the deck and the fore-mast twelve or fifteen
feet above it.
The courage and exertion of the officers
and wishes. Lieut.. Biddle's active conduct
contributed much to our success, by the ex-
act attention paid to every department du-
ring the engagement, and the animating ex-
ample he afforded the crew by his intrepi-
dizzy. Lieuts. Rodgers. Booth and MIR. Ran
showed by the inccssant fire from their divi-
sions that they were not TO be surpassed in
resolution or skill. Mr.. Knight and every
other officer, acted with courage and
promptitude highly honorable, and | trust
have given assurance that they may be re-
lied on whenever their service may be re-
CURED.
could not ascertain the exact loss OF the
enemy, as many of the dead lay buried un.
der the masts and spars that had fallen up-
on deck, which two hours exertion had not
sufficiently removed Mr.. Biddle who had
charge of the Frolick, states that from what
he saw and from information from the off
GERS, the number of killed must have been
about thirty, and that of the wounded a.
bout forty or fifty--of the killed is her first
lieutenant and sailing master, of the wound
ed captain Whinyates and the second lieu
tenant.
We had five killed ard five wounded, as
per list; the wounded are recovering. Lieut.. |
ClsXton, who was confined by sickness, left |
his bed a little previous to the eng agement. |
and though too weak to be at his d. |
vision, remained upon deck and Showed by |
his composed manner of noting its incidents, |
that we had lost by his illness the services
Of a brave officer.
am respectfully, yours.
JAS. JONES.
The Honorable