The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-06-25
NORFOLK, June 90.


NORFOLK, June %.
On Friday last the eneny's ships got nm
der way and stood ~ towards HAMPTON
Roads. The 74's and one frigate, with
number of smaller vessels csme to, ana an
chored of Wiiioughby's F6iat, and three
trgates proceeded into the Roads. Tile
neadn.qst irigate came up Lsarly as high
asdhe Quarantine Ground, when perceivinp
some vessels coming down James River. she
dispatched couple of barges tn cut them
oil. Fortunately, however, some Of the gun
boats that were ordered down to Craney Is
land, got under way in time 70 defeat their
purpose, ana one throwing a fe " shot at
tae@, they put back to the frigate. --ln the
evening the two sternmost frigateS retrogre
dsd as tar as Old Point, under which they
came to anchor ; the headmost one ancho-
red about Two or three miles higher up
he position of this ship afforded a favorable
opportunity tothe gun boats to prove their
utiiity or useiesSncss. and either to wipe
way the reproach so generally and libera!iv
bestowed on them, or sink into utter iasig
niiiCance and disgrace.
Commodore Cassin, who commen ds the
Navy Yard and FIotilia at this place, deter
mining To avail himself of this opportunity,
mustered all the gun boats that could be
manned, am bunting IN number TO Is and
ordered them down To Craney Island o.,
odturtays-in the afternoon o. that daN. IL
'as pTe'ty generally understand, that an
ack would be mad by the gun boats on
ne enemy uppcrmOst fTigate, in the course
4 the night; and as his was the first time
ney had attempted aay thing, anxiety and
eager curiosity fer the result. was depicted
'n every ccuEtenance every one was irnpa-
tent to know hoy Mr.. Jelfers MS buU does
would acqpit themselves aud whether the
Philosophers system would prove upon tri-
Al, monument Of his wi,drm or his fnIly.
ne ebD tide mating abiut 9 O'Clock on
Sunday morning Capt. Iarbrcuph, to whom
the command was given, waited until then
p$fore he 5otu dor say. There could not have
been more favorable lime for the erter
pr'ze there war not a breath Of arr stirring,
ars the water was perfectly smooth. Under
>urer of night they swept down to within a
mue sud ahalf Of the object Of attack. Az
hrh past they commenced the action, and
mad two good fires at the FrlCste, before she
returned a single shot But after slipping
her cable and setting all saili'sh opened a
lite ON the boats. The cahaonadinc thus
co'nmenced on both sides, wa. kept up with
very little lntcrm;sslou for about an hour &
aquarter, when the frigate ceased firing, &
our any ions tars were cheered with the bril-
tilaVt prospect Of a complete victory. Much,
howevc+, 20 their modification, the two lower
ships, which at he beginning Of the engage
memt had Crouded all sail and seat their
boats ahead 20 tow no 20 the assistance Of
their cnnsort. jIst al this Aattering moment
caught breeze, and in a few minutes were
IN effective gun SHOT of tire boats, and joined
the s'enccd trigate. Al three Of them
pened tremendous ere ppan oar little arfna-
IA whchincy returned in spirited style for
hail an hour, when ihere being ~ further
prospect ct iGjnring the enemy from his
great superiority &C force. and the wind by
'his time having So ing up, which initiated
ETr3 ~ against the gun boats, the C0mmn
dore conceived Il necessary TO iel nquish
the c'ht-st Z fet"rn vi II lie Aoiida 70 Cra-
ncY i>la"i having tor an hour and quar-
ter, fought l5 guns agaius' 80. & for bait an
b 'nr, against $50 'The ioiurY sustained
ON onr siIe was nnusuaiiv anil uncxpecteti,
F"3il {; mere btgoellc On board Of M.
l25, com a'nr1rd W Sailing Master Eorucs
SH'th, o.e ". ball struck he ~ sir mast
! rld Si'lsd ---------- .iisGb, masters mate
NJ. ~, s. VI. lain .Wap.z, csc 81 w. bat
oel wcen wind aad water the aperture wat
nst7r.i piugge'fup, an'i the }at coatinuee
jri1y some qf the other boa.s were 4,
i+tttig dec1Nh 1SC. in their rii sing bnt nor a