Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-10-26
Chauscsy's Running Fight.

The following letter, though oaseu
many GAYS ago, did not, from some &C
cidental ani aaaccolatable delay, reach
this city until yesterday, having been
for saried froa Albany only on the 18th,
a. appears oy the post mark on the en-
veispe Of tas letter.
Coty If q letter from Cons. Chauneey
90 the Secretary Of Navy, dated
United States ship Gen. Pike, of
Niagara, lst. Oct. 1913.
SIR,
On the 2sth ult. il was reported TO
me. s,at the cncny's feet was IN York
ned,ately dispatchedthe Lady 9th
Lake 10 look into York, and ascertain the
fact-,ae returned in the evening with
the ,nfacnation that the enemy was IN
Y.rk bay. I Immediately prepared to
wei IN, but owing t. strong wind from
NNE. vas not able to get out OF the RI
yer before the evening of the a7th, and
owisp 70 the extreme darkness OF the
night, a part of the squadron got sepa.
rated and did not Join before next morn
ing at 8 A. Mon the 2sth, the Gen.
Pike, Madison and Sylph, each took
schooner in tow and made all sail for
York. Soon after discovered the enc
my's fieet under way in York bay, shaped
our course for him and prepared for &C.
tion-he perceiving our intention OF en-.
eaging him in his position. tackled and
stood out of the bay, wind at east: |
formed the line and run down for his
centre. When ~e had approached With.
in about s miles he made all sail to the
soutaward-I wore in succession and
stood on the same tack with his, edg.
ing down gradually 10 order to Jose
at 10 minutes past meridian. the eneRy,
finding that We were closing fast with
him, and Chat he must either risk an &C.
ton or suffer his two rear vessels to be
cut of, he tackled in succession, begin
ming at the van, hoisted his calors and
commenced a well directed FIRE at this
ship, for the purpose Of covering his
rear, and attacking our rear as he pass
ed to leeward perceiving his intention,
Twas determined to disappoint him
therefore, as soon as the Wolf lthe lead
ing ship) passed the centre OF his line
and abeam Of US, bore up in success.
sion preserving our line) for the enc
my's centre this manGuvre not only
covered our rear but hove him in confa-
sion; he Immediately bore away, We
had however closed so near as to bring
our guns to bear with effect and in 20
minutes tho main and mizen top mast
and main yard Of the Wolf was shot a.
way; he Immediately put before the
wind and set ell sail upon his foremost
I made the signal for the fleet to make
eli sail the enemy, however, Keeping
dead before the Wind, was enabled to
out-sail most of our squadron. AS 1t
brought all the sail upon one mast, he
did not feel the less of his main and
misen topmast--I continued the chase
until near 5 o'clock, daring which time
I was enabled 10 this ship with the Asp
in tow) to keep within point blank shot
of the enemy, and sustained the whole
of his FIRE during the chase. Captain
Craze in the Madison, and 1t. Brown In
the Oneida used every exertion to close
with the enemy, but the Madison having
a heavy schr. in tow and the Oneida sail
imp very dull before the wind. prevented
those officers from closing near enough
to do any execution with their CARO-
nades. The Governor Tompkins kept
in her station, until her foremost was so
badly wounded as to oblige her to shor-
ten sail 1t. Finch of the Madison who
commanded her for this cruise lowing
to the indi.position of Lieut.. Pettigrew)
behaved with great gallantry and is an
officer of much promise. Capt. Wool
rev in the Syiph was kept astern by the
Ontario, which he had in tow, but did
considerable execution with his heavy
guns.
At Is minute. before p. NJ. very
reluctantly relinquished the pursuit OF
a beaten encmy-the reasons that led to
this determination were such as l Halter
my.elfthat you will approve-they were
these. At the time | gave up the chases
this ship was making so much water,
that i, required all our pumps to keep
her free lowing to our receiving several
.bot so nuch below the water eGge, that
we could no, plug the holes from the
ou,sidel the Governor Tompkins with
her forema.t gone and the squadrsn
within about miles of the head of the
Lake, blowing gale of wind from East
and increasing with heavy sea on, and
every appearance of the Equinox.
considered that If chased the enemy to
his anchorage at the head of the Lake,
should he obliged to anchor also, and
although we might succeed IN driving
him on shore, the probability was that
we should GO on shore also--he amongst
his friends, we amongsI our enemies,