The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-05-04
THE FIGHT ON RAPPAHANNOCK.
C.7P1.4LW ST4FFORD's JOUHN.JL


Extract of Capt w J. Stafford, Journa, on board
Tue Pi1vateer schooner Dophip. hound on a cruise
Sailed from Baltimore March IS. 1915 IN the pr
va,eer schooner Dolphin, mounting IL guns asd 100
men, bound on ern'ss 1eih anchored in the Pa
tuxent. 2lst, got under way AID anchored in ST
M"rys river, in compa. with schrs Revenge
West Wasp, Hall Lhasscur, Durkee Bor,l.anx
Racket, Fwlong; Dee.tur. Lane and Unted
oiates cutter scorpion, isut Kennedy. employ d
ling water, *. 2sth, in exercise Y big gums John
w OGDEN got his right land blown off and Pei, r
Mstth Tvs 8 fins 70 shot of IN lis II hand-put
then on board the Rev nue. cut T., captain Trayers
TOR bal,imore-s'me day got un way in comma
ny with the above schoonero, and proceeded dow
the l.ay-at 2 VI. near Nv Point, light br.e
zes from the r. sood up the Bay AGAIN 26tb K M
me 5ay, TIE 9TH RS returned 10 ST Marv's 27,h
a. NJ anchored on the'T 'rgiers-st mrr,sian fin.
brcezes from ". n. Z. and thiek weather with
ram and snow-sot uRder way, with every favorable
prospect ut getting to sea at p VI tn plot sum
posed hims" to he AS far down the head If the
Middle-at half past hauled to S. S E. tn pet
sounding on the midde--at z, shoaIed the wat'r
when found the pilot much embar, sssed to know
where ne was; Immediately after seeing lights thro'
the fog On the East I'm shore 81 lie of us told lin
we were ia Cape Charles Channel, which he eontra
dicted; ntinued to run for some minutes s by "
when found We certainly were in Can Charles
Channei, and would soon he ashore tod the n lot
we had better haul to the w. when we would soon
know Ola which siie were, which he constantly
refused to do continued for time to steer his
own course until shoaled the water quarter les.
,, when he found out his mistake, and W thout any
further ceremony, jumped overheard and drowned
himself, every eNeiton OF ours 10 save him PROVING
hu'tless l i'm nedately hsncd my vessel e The
wind tn N. w. in orier if possible 10 clear The Mil
die ; but hntmg the water got more shoal, tackled
10 the y and confined beating about until 80 p NJ
when found four fathoms water, and anchor,,l
very fortunately, it became gu tie moderate, or we
must have loE the vessel, and probably all hands
n nrd great many guns during the night towards
Lynhaven Bay. At lay light, Sunday 18th, wac We
~ much surprized to find myself ne,ween Cane
Charles and Smiths Island, and several men of war
IN sight being nearly calm, got under way and got
the sweeps out. A 6 A. NJ. light breszes from S
w. with food tide-st IL, up with New Point.
three sail in sight coming out Of Mob Jack Bay sup
posed them TO be BritIsl--msde all sail to the heat
advantage up the bay, the strange vessels under a
press OF sail steering up the Bsy-At 5 p. M lost
sight OF two of them the other apparently large
schooner, holding her with US took in sail for
her to come up she likewise took in sail, and an
pesred to be afraid of US made and took in SAT-
she wed colors hoised signals, and made use of eve
ry stratagem to speak her, until Smiths Poin,
bearing N. w. came to anchor in fsihoms water
at b, the above schooner came within hail, and
proved to be the Patspsco, Mortimer, from Bor.
deauS 29th, fre9h bretzes from the w. Al 10 A
VI got under way--at p. NJ. off the Wolf Tran.
and very moderate, hauled by the wind to beat M
the Bay agan-st 4, discovered brig and sch coner
coming out from New Point in chase of us-at 6
calm, with strong ebb tide, came to anchor--at
young food and sill calm, got under way, and swe
up oil Piaukatank, and came again Tor the night
well prepared for an attack. 3)th, at A NJ three
sail in sight to the N. standing down the bay pot
under way at discovered them TO be two sehoo.
Ders and brig; at 9, spoke the sehooners, who
proved to be the Arab, CAPT. FIFTH and LINK, cap
tain Taylor did not board the brig, but twas i .
formed BY captain Fitch she was Spanish, from Raj
timore; WINS being light eopcluied with captains
Fitch and Jaylor to go into Rappai,Gnnock and ac-
ooTdingly ii =. NJ. anchored in the river n achoo
ner then IN sight, standing down the bay, supposed
to lie the Racer Stat. bzbti bre ze FROM The s. Of
NJ. the Racer, captain West, came 20 anchor ina;ls
ths Dolphin, and informed me If Lis having beeu
chased by Brisish brig anti schooner E,nplnysJ
OCCASIONALLY IN Hing water, Until Aprl o. when AZ
u. ~. feet 81 Z sail made a. err appearance nfF
the river hndBg could get out anJ escape an
the hay, wind light from the West1 thought Il
mos' Pruderito ret as far up the river ns DO ri lie
having no pilot ab0nrd, under the nee, ssty Of
keeping close 90 the others IN turning IN wind ward
during the night ~ mi'night al Of us anchored OF
Cawer's creek. 81, att 4. VI discovered acbpo
ner of Musquetoe point Schopuers Racer and
Dolphin got under way and sweptdown towards her
when We discovered tie whole Sect coming ~, the
river with fine Jreszs md IS bargcs ptIii,p for
us; fred two or ihre. shot rom oar long gus 81
The schooner, va Oh Captain Btrricre. nGzs masier
% ti'e DDirhip, knew tn be the Gig6ier-s inn
mcdn'ely came t. anchor aud vs.t,, tor the bsr.
CESS PM about and swept up the iiver.-st q oN|
Cu ttomau creek, 10 bgr.es m scbt con,iup ~,
WITH us vrr' f'st oapains Fitrh and NJ, W. Pc
1'cs'ed uli not leave them, as cauld swc-p
puc 20 e. ~ They c9ui ttat thy mont
De- ~ th'F vHt.is ~ the l,s rloalent: to 4
them war ny intention fn do tho same urs .ni cd.
MOTTO ie'vs thfm, and p-rp.- 4 for,uinf linz n
cross tie f'ver ~ Ia tt,ck vas t-ueroI .fiu k
ing oar vcrsc's gYd .r wy So 81 en- .u.rcra--at ~
o ny great 'TYrjzc, "a iain =. t.h sr,r frng
" gus 70 l3"g shot, waved BE itt n ne. rrY III,
yes. ashor'. 8 deserted heri AS mats, vit,ou'
nak'e cay iuri"cs si;ars' can ainvs s.a..d
II! ca i.rn e9ttely ci.,ngsred "a p.rrrsi ,..,,~a,