Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-04-01

iesty's late Big Peacock, commando
by capt. w, Peake, who fell in The latter
mart of the action; that number OF 'hss
crew were killed and wounded, and that
she was sinking fast, she having then 6
feet water in her hold. Dispatched tbs
ao,,s immediately for the wounded, an9
brought both vcssols to anchor. Such
sbet holes as could be got at were then
rugged, guns thrown overheard and G.
yerT p,.ssible exertien used to keep her
sfcat until the prisoners could be re-
moved, BY pumping and oaillng' eu:
vi,hout effect, as she unfortunately sunk
insI-a fathoms water, carrying down
thirteen Of her crew, aid three OF my
hrave fellows, viz. Jno Hart, JOSEPH
William. and Hannibal Boyd. Lieu
Conner and Miashipmaa Cooper, ana
the remainder Of my men employed "
removing the prisoners, with dithcul'y
saved themselves By jumping into boat
that was lying on the booms a. she wen;
down. Four mea Of the thirteen men
| toned were so fortunate as to gsln the
foretop. and were afterward taksn of by
our boats. Previous to her going down,
four of her men took to her stern Dat
that had been much damaged during
| the action, who sincerely hope reached
| the shore but, from the heavy sea rus
ming at the time, the shattered state OF
the boat and the difficulty OF landlng on
the coast, / am fearful they were lost.
T have not been able to ascertain from
her officers the exact number OF killed
Cant, Peake and four men were tound
dead on board. The Master, enc mid
shipman, Carpenter, * Captains clerk.
and twenty.hine men wounsed, most OF
them very severely, three OF which died
OF their ounds after being removed, and
nine drowned. Our loss was trihlng in
comparison. John Place killed, Samu
ell Coul.on & Joseph Dalrympie, slight.
" wounded; George Coffin asd Lewis
Todd severely burnt by the explosion OF
a cartridge. Todd survived only few
days. Our rigging and sails were much
cut. One shot through the forecast &
the bowsprit slightle injured. Our hull
received little or no damage.
AT the time I brought the Peacock to
action, the Espiegle, (the brig mentlea-
ed as being a.san ansbor) mounting SIX
teen two and thirty pound earronadea,
and two long mines, lay soaut six mrs.
in shore of me, and could plainly see tie
whole Of The action. Apprehensive she
would beat out to the assistance OF her
con.ort, such exertions were used by
nv officers and crew, in repairing da.
images, sc. that by nine o'clock our
boats were slowed, new set of sails
bent, and the ship completely ready for
action. At two A. NJ got under way,
aud stood by the wind 10 the horthward
and westward, under easy sail. On
mastering mex, morning, found we had
two hundred and seventy sevsR souls OH
board (including the crew Of the Ameri-
can brio Hunter, of Portland, taken q
few DAYS before by the Pcacoek) and,
as we had been on two thirds allowance
Of provisions for some time, and had but
S,4oo gallons Of water on board, I redus.
ed the allowance to three pints man,
and determined to make the best Of my
way to the United States.
The Peacock was deservedly styled
one of the finest vessels II her class in
the British navy. should Judge her to
be about the tonnsge of tho Hornet
Her beam was greater by ave inches,
bat her extreme length not so great by
four feet. She mounted Is four and
twenty pounds carronades. 3 long mines,
| one twelve pound caronade on her top
! gallant forecastle US shifting gun, and
one four or six punder, and two swivels
mounted aft. l find by her quarter bllr
that her crew consisted of one hundred
| & thirty.four rsn, four Of whom were
absent in a prize.
The cool and determined conduct Of
my officers and crew during the action;
| and their almost unexampled exertions
| afterwards, eDtitle them TO my warmest
acknowledgements, and beg leave most
earnestly to recommend them to the no.
tice of government.
| By the indispesi,ion OF Lieut.. Stew
art, was deprived Of the services Of an
| excellent sfficer-had he been able to
stand the deck, am confident his exer.
tons vould not have been surpassed by
any one on board. ! should be doing
injustice to the merits Of Lieut.. Shub-
| rick, and acting Lisutcnanss Conner and
| Newton, we're not to recommend them
particularly to your notice. Lieutenant
Sbubriek was in the actions with the
Guerrero and Java-Captain Hull and
Commodore cambridge can bear testi-
msny as to his GOODNESS and good con.
duct on both occasions.
With the greatest respect, / remain
sir, your obedient servant,
JAMES LAWRENCE.
Hon. lillian Jones,
Secretary Of the Nary.
p. 8. At the commencement of the