Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-08-30
CHARLESTON, August 81.
GALLANT ACTION.

CHARLESTON, August 81.
GALLANT ACTION.
Arrived at this port yesterday afternoon
the prtvateer schooner DECATUR, Capt
DOMINIQUE after a short but successful
cruise, with her two prizes, the British ship
London Trader, mounting several guns
with cargo of sugar, coffee and cotton
and the British government schooner Do
milica, Captain BARRETo. of Is guns, and
81 men; which she captured after n gallant
and hard contested action, which lasted up.
wards of an hour the Decatar carried her
by boarding, and fought IS minutes on her
deck before she struck, which she did not
until compelled by The most dreadful havoc
of her crew, Is of whom were killed, and
a. wounded. Among the killed were all her
officers except one midshipman, named
Lindo. The loss OF the Decatur was cons
ID wounded, one OF ,wl00 has since died.
The Dominica rtuest- ie pound carron-
AIDES, 9 long s., 81 ID asApounder amidr
ship The Decatur mod6A 6ly guns; six
- pound carronades, and a long Is FOUNDER
amidship.
We have not procured minute psrticu-
lars Of the action, but understand that the
Dominica, bore down with the apparent in
tention of boarding, but observing that the
Decatur was prepared to receive them she
sheered away TO continue the action at long
shot ; when the Decatur attacked in turn,
ran her on board, and carried her as above
stated. The musketry did most of the ex>
ecution, and the uldauhted courage and dal-
ing intrepidity Of the officers and crew of the
Decatur, dealt destruction to the foe, and
rendered the victory certain and complete.
The firmness and decision of the commander
of the Decatur, probably preyented mucp
greater cffusion of biooH on Rher part, and
does much honor to his cvAradter.
We have not learnt thd RanSts Of the kill
led and youadsd' but W 9ish them "a a.
soon as procured
Five of the Dominica's wounded haze since
died.
The Dominica had large ship in COM
pany when she attacked the Decatur, which
made her escane.
The London Traderis very valuable her
cargo consisting of upwards of 200 hhds su-
gar, l2o hhds. molasses, 700 bags coffee, Il
quantity of rum, cotton, &c.
They were very fortunate in getting here
without another contest, as several British
crulzers have been off our bar for some time
past, aud were probably little to the South
ward when they came in One of them has
since returned and is now in sight.
City Gazette.
ExrGct iron, the Log BOOK oftke Decatur.
Relation OF the Battle between the American
Privatecr Decatur, armed with six IL Id. ca :
ronaaes, < one Is Founder on 4 pivot, with
I03 men, commanded by Monsieur DoM1N-
ouSpIRoN; and His Britannia Maiesty's
sch0,hcr Dominica, twelve LIB. carrenades.
two long 6's, one brass a ID. and one So h.
carronadc pivot, with 81 men. com.
manded by Lieutenant GEORGE WILMor
BARRFrTE-carrcd hy boarding
On the hof August, 1873, lat %, 4 north
long. =, standing nor,h--at half past 10 in the
morning, the man at the mast head discover.
ed 2 sail to the southward-at II, these YES
sells were ascertained to be ship and a schoo
ner--at half past 1 went about and stood to-
wards them, in order to rtcannutre-at half.
past IL found ourselves abreast OF the schooner,
which hoifted English cnlors; 81 o'clock the
Decatur wore round half an hour after the
schooner fred a shot, without effect; the Cam
tain then gave orders to prepare every thing
for action, 10 load all tue cannon an musket-
ry, to have the grappiings, swords, &c ready
and having previously got up necessary ammu .
milton, water, &c from below, ordered the
matches to be fastened dawn. At O'clock
the Decatur having wore shfhin order to take
the schooner abafi, she fred another shot Which
passed ever us; st a quarter past 2, we fred
our large gun and hoisted American colours at
the peak we fired our piece a second & third
time; which she answered by firing two guns
from her battery, cur distance was now about
half gun shot it was now hall past O'Clock,
the schooner evinced desire to bear away /;
observing this, the Decatur hauled upon the
larboard tack ia order to present her bow TO the
enemy /; 10 minutes after the enemy fred a
whole broadside, which caused no other dam
age to the Decatur, except some trihing iniu.
ry II the rigging.
After having answered her by shot from
our IS FOUNDER, the Captain Of the Decatur or
dered every one TO his post, in order to carry
her by boarding, when the necessary prepare
lions were made for that purpose; it was no "
about three quarters past 2, the distance about
pistol shot-the crew Of the Decatur having
chcered preparatory to boarding, our fire of
musketry commenced and was very we'll kept
up; the enemy bearing away, in order to avoid
the boarding, seized the opportunity TO fire a
broAdside into us, whieh killed two of our men,
and otherwise materially Injured our rigging
and sails. The Decatur continuing to follow
up the maneuvres of the enemy, endeavored a.
gain to board her, which she once more avoided
and FREQ another broadside. The captain of
the Decatur having ordered the drum to beat
the charge, the crew cried out TO board At
that moment endeavored again to board her,
which the enemy could no longer resist, AVID
which was effected by passing into her, stern
over our bawsplit, our jib boom running into
her maimsail. It was now half past 3--the fire
from the artillery and musketry was terrible,
and well supported on both sides the enemy
nat being able TO disengage himself, dropped
along side and il was in this position that
Captain D,ron ordered Isis whole crew to board