Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-05-05

reeued tar Q0Wu the FtVer WHICH, '" No
covered 3 row boats under North Point
about Is miles distant, standing, as we
Thought, to the land-immediateiy put
hack again the second time up the river;
after going ON some time, we found the
row boats ceming after Us and gaining
took out our sweeps and manned
them well, and made the best of our
way, sapposing they might be enemy's
bayyes, though there were different
oDinions-some said they were seine
hoats. who had been up the bay-others
that they were major Barney's barges,
sent to keep look out. The wind be-
coming light, they gained OH Us SO fast
that we were all convinced they were
the enemy, bargas; and being apprs-
hensiye we should be taken, waVed a Sig
nal to the gun boat Just ahead Find
ing she took no notice of rs, but still
stood on, exerted every nerve TO prevent
being captured--yain struggle! About
S o'clock thsv fired several shot from
muskctry at us-we now ionnd indeed
that we were gone, though an hour be-
fore we had not the least idea but that
VIC could make the fort with all ease be-
fore they cnuldcome up with rs. A few
minutes after their first fire, the enemy
came along side, boarded from small
bsrges containing so men each, and cap
tured US, within five miles OF the fort of
Baltimore, the gun boat, as NC supposed,
about 3 or 400 yards ahead. She did
not fire till the enemy had boarded Us,
when they appeared to aim their shot
at Us, two % which were very near
striking our mast and stern. 1t appears
to be the opinion Of every passenger on
beard the packet (even the enemy him
self said decidedly that the gun boat
might AID ought TO have pretectsd US.
Immediately after the enemy fred,
the packets boat was got cut, in which
Mr. Paca, his son and servant, the skip
per, (Bateman) and Strawhan and CO.
burn, (sailnrs) with two black men, (also
sailors) abandoned the vessel and escap-
ed 10 the shore ONLY one sailor being
left aboard the packet, and he boy,
tM;chael Tay,pr) who behaved nobly.
The officers who boarded, asked If the
vessel was packet, and upon being an
swcred she was, they said VIC need be
under no apprehension, for that our
persons and private property should be
pectcd-said they took us for gun
boat We were towed down to the
squadron and anchored near the MARI
bore, -, rear admiral Cockburn--con-
linued there Til 10 O'Clock next d.y.
the l7th, during which tine boats @erc
continually passing to and from the ad
niral's ship---we were frcqucntIy visit
"a by the boats. Between 10 aud IL
o'elrck, = was ordered by the admifa!
Eve F5esUme) tbat the na5seGgcrs os the
c9ptufcd vessel SHOULD have the bag.
gage delivered TO them; that they
should have sioop, "a small! bay crafty
to carry them TO Queenstown. but the
ressel and cargo they retained as prize.
Coz under way al II O'Clock, hidsipg
tham good bye and they wishing Us a
good passage-poor comfort to John
Messdith and Wn- Bromwell, who
owned the whole of toe merchandise to
\ large amount. every package of hich
were taken. We we're however very
Giaa We came OF so well, for We were
Gader some apprehension that at least
$ome of us would be detained. They
pas ~ beard OF us several prisoners,
so.'c Of whom had been detained q
month-some not so long, They treat
&c Us poi!teiY-~-were worry communities
use-sPoke highly of our naval officers,
and said that captains Jones and Law
renee ought 20 be admirals.
Arrived at Queens Town about IL
O'CLOCK or SUNDAY evening, the 18th, al
most ready to kiss the ground for joy
that VIC had got ont OF the ensmy's
clutches, and on land once more, safe
and sound.
~ From some Of the prisoners put
on board oi Us, we learned that the enc
my mad. during ;hc time they we're de-
tanned, destroyed upwards of 100 bay
rrat;, some OF which VS. very valuable.
Robert Williams, a prisoner. taken in
tic Lynx, tolae john Meredith, that he
say : pilots aboard the Atimirai's ship;
wheu he got to Baltimore would report
theM.
JOIN I.CpEDJTH