The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-12-05
Domestic.

Wulcu SppcarS 10 cActte SfSalesk mere,
viz. respecting the disposition To be ale OF the
goods imported from q. Dritaia by rchants IN
various scsports, during the last summer, was,
suggestion OF Ar. Chcves, postponed to Wednes-
day: when it IS expected to give 10 censr!rra
bic debate, it being TOPIC which there exists
not little diversity oil opinion. and involving
property to the amount of tveuty nillions OF dol
lars
Representatives which, il will be remembered, l.as
been amended in that body by striking the Sec
ton authorship the cnIistceut U. all persons, over
lS years oil age, was Yesterday read third time
and passed, after considerable GcbNs.-.Ndt. Lif.
Copy Of a letter from Cdhsa;n Jsres, tate Of fhe
~ s. Scoop Of gear tie Wasp, 10 she Secretary ef
NJ To,k, the 24sh Of Nov. 1919.
SIR.
here avail myself of the 6rst opportunits of in
forming you of the occurrences ofour cruise, which
terminated in the capture OF the Wasp the 18th
Of October by the Poictiers OF seventy four guns,
while wreck from damages received in an engage
inent with the British sioop OF war Frock of twen-
~ two guas sixteen of them thirty -tw pound
ronades, and four twelve Founders the main
desk, and two twelve Founders, earronades, on the
top gallant tore castle, making her superior in force
TO us by four twelve pounders The Frolck had
struck to us aud taken possession OF about two
hours before surrenderins TO the Pcicuers
We had left the Delaware the 18TH The six
teentis had heavy gale, in which we lost our i'b-
boom and two -n Half past eleven, on the night
of the seventeenth, in the latitude OF 81 deg. N.
.s,d Ion. IS deg. w. several sail, two OF
them appearing very large; stood from them
for time then shortened sail and steer ed the
emainder ut the night the course we had percei-
I'D them on. At day light on Sunday the egh-
ssnth we saw them aheaa-gave chase and soon
sseovered them to be convoy of six sail under the
sat-et:ou oi soop Of war; four OF them large ships
mounting from sixteen to eighteen guns At thirty
two minutes past eleven, A. NJ. We engaged the
sloop of war, having frat received her FIRE at dis
lance of fifty or sixty yards, which space we gradu
silly lessened until we laid her board, after well
vui,pofied fire of forty three minutes; and attic
SO near while loading the last broatside that our
rsnrners were showed against the side of the
my, exhibited the alscrity which they
Ind done during the whole Of the action. They
Immediately surrendered upon our gaining their
foreeastle, that loss was sustained OH either
esie after boarding.
Oar msintop mast shot away between and
s minutes from the commencement OF the firing, 4
falling together with the mantopss yard the
larbosrd fore and fore topsal braces, rendered
head-y ards unnanaseable the remainder of the
ton. At eight minutes the gait and miEcntop-
gallant-nast came down and at twenty minutes from
the heginDDg of The action every brace and most
ct the rigging was shot away. Anew minutes after
separating from the Frolics, both her masts fell
upon deck, the main mast going close by the deck
and the foremost twelve or fifteen feet aboseit
The courage and exertons Of the officers b crew
fully answered my expectations and wishes. Lieut.
Biddle's active conduct contributed much to our
success, by the exact attention paid to every de-
psrtment during the engagement, and the animating
example he afforded the crew by his intrepdity:-
Lieuts Rodgers, Booth and Mr. Rspp Showed by
the ineessant fire from their divisions that they
not to be surpassed in resolution skill. Mr..
Knight and every other officer, acted with cour-
age and promptitlde highly honorable, and trust
have given assurance that they may be relied on
whenever their services may he reqaired.
L couid not ascertain the exact loss of the enemy,
as many of the dead lay buried under the mssts u
spsrs that had fallen upon deck, which two hours
Sarftn nod mn faratt,-
r-4sss had charge of the Frock, states that from
that he saw end from information from the officers,
the nuraber of killed have been about thirty,
and thu, of the wounded about forty 6fty-of the
killed is her first lieutenant and sailisS master,
OF the " ounded captain Whinyates and the second
lieutenant .e
We had five killed and five wounded, as per list {;
the wounded are recovering. Lieut.. Claxton, who
was confined by sickness, left his bed little prev
Gus TO the engagement. and though too weak TO he
at s division, remained upon deck and showed by
his composed manner OF noting its incidents, that
had lost by his illness the services of brave Of
Seer.
I am respectfully, yours,
The Honorable
PAuI. HAMILTON,
Secretary Of the Navy.
COPY ofa letter from, Brig. Gen. Tubber, com.
1tanding the Ohio voiunteers in the W ". .9y-
my, to Brigadier Gen. Hayyisos, transmitted to
Camp, near .h'.4rthur'S BLOCK.
house, Nov. Is, 1872
Sir--My letter of the 10th inst. informed YOU of
my preparation to march that day TO the Rapids, in
consequence of the information obtained of the pri
soner capt. Clark. am sorry TO inform you that
have not succeeded to the extent OF my expecta-
tons though am convinced the movement will
prove beneficial to the service.
On the morning of the 10th, about II o'clock, we
moved from this camp with force consisting of 604
men, exclusive of officers with light 6-pounder,
the soldiers carrying in their knaPsacks five days
provision. Owing to the state of the roads, / soon
found the field piece could not be carried forward
without retaEding march, left il at the block
house, Is miles in advance.
On the evening of the 18th, reached Carton
river (about Is miles from the Rspids.) 1 ordered
capt Hinkton Co proceed that night to examine the
si;ua ion OF the epemy capt. Hinkton met me the
next day FIVE miles from the Rapids, with the nfor-
rlatlon that the enemy still occupied the Rapids,
and that the boats and vessels lay little below.
detained the troops till sun-settng, lot to fall
an with their daily scouts and proceeded in the
vening 10 the ford, about I.2 miles above the Rap
ads there again halted while eapts Hinkton and
Wood proceeded down and examined the exact sit.
uation OF the enesmpInent of the enemy. At o.
slack they returned aud gave me the necessary iI-
formation They we're encamped in q body above
Bougron's house engaged in dancing, and
(as they eoneluded) drinking. l Immediately Or
eered the troops 10 prepare to cross the riyer-to
attack the enemy at the a. ST dam OF day. Col SAT-
ford no commanded the second regiment, order
ed TO proceed marching by the lett Hank in single
Ses; col. Miller commanding the Sd regiment
followed in the same order Msjor Galloway, who
commanded battalion of the first regiment, or
dered 20 march 80 PAGES to the lett, 20 act as
sc ervs, as circumstances might require, Tie two
Regiments being sufficient TO form line TO enclose
tlf enemy with tbe river. Every officer had been