Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-05-17
A SEA FIGHr.

~ oish r11tl L.
(BefT,een British and French Frigate }
From the London Gazette OF March IS, 1918.
Cohy ola litter fi'o0i The non. caH!. Irby, OF
III. M shH -H1neda, 10 John tHSon Gro
ker. Esq. Gated az Shnhead, fhe 22d in
slant.
SIR,
/ beg leave to acqua;nt YOU, for the in
formation Of the right hon. the lords and com
missioners ofthe admiralty, that when was
about to quit Sierra Leone riverfo England,
in II. M. ship under my command, on the
2Sth Jan. Lieut.. Pascoe arrived there with
the chief part OF the crew of II. NJ gun brig
Daring, he having been obliged to run his
vessel on shore, and blow her up at Tamara
Zone OF the Isles de I.oss) in consequence of
having been chased by French frigate. in
CO. with two other ships, apparently f"igates
he reported having left them al anchor off
the islands on the 9th. / immediately dis
patched lett Pascoe in a small sehr. to re.
connoitre the enemy (he having volunteered
his services,) and on the Sd Feb. he return
| ed, having ascertained their free to be 9
frigates OF tie largest class (L'Aretliuse and
lie Ruhis) and Portuguese ship, their prize
they had nearly completed their water
and, after unloading the Portuguese ship,
intended To give her mp to the crew, and
| proceed themselves TO sea to intercept our,
homeward bound trade. Conceiving that If
cruized off the Isles de Loss Gin The event
OF their not having LETT them) might be en-
| abied TO fall in with any OF II. NJ. ships that
might be coming down the coast, and also
protect the vessels bound to Sierra Leone,
of which had received intelligence re-
paired to weigh. when cartel arrived from
the islands with the master and boats crew
OF another vessel they had taken, whose &C.
counts corrohcrat.nS lieut.. Pascoe's report,
lett Sierra Leone river, and worked up to
the islands-s standing in at daylight on the
OH uit. towards the island of ramara, VIC
joined The Princess Charlotte government
sehr. who informed me one of the frigates
was Mt anchor at considerable distance to
| the northwart from the other, which was
apparentlSnnloading the prize dispatch
ed the schr. to Sierra Leone, to leave direc-
tons to any ships that might arrive there to
repair to me. Having neared.the island in
the evening, the %frigate to the northward
weighed and stood ont to sea the other FIJI
gate had signals flying, and being observed
AZ sun set with her topsails hoisted, stood
off for the highland the next morning enc
of ne frigates Il believe L'ArethussJ was
JUST visible from the deck--it was then calm
zen breeze springing UP about noon, She
=
ing her from her consort, We continued
standing out to sea till sun set, when not per-
oeivmg the other ship from the mast head.
and the breeze failing, we shortened sail,
wore andsstood towards her. a little after
z, the enemy observing US near him, tackled
ard hoisted his colors at IS min. past Y
r. VI being within pistol shot of his weather
bow, both ships commenced firing nearly at
the same time, which continued (remaininp
nearly in the same si;uation) until 2l min.
past II, when she bore up, having. die adj
vantage o. being able so to do, leaving us in
an ungovernable state, with our sails, stand
ing and i1nrirg rigging cut to pieces, and
masts Injured. During The action we twice
fell on board the enemy, in attempting to
thwart his hawse, when he attempted to
board, but was repnlsed by the MARINES
(Which were commanded by lieut.. Simpson,
and the boar ders. Though / most sincerely
lament the numerous loss of killed and woun-
ded, which amoonted % III. yet it is the
greatest consolation in rejecting that we
were never once exposed to raking shot, or
the slightest accident Cccurred-all fell by
fair fighting.
It's with the most poignant regret have
10 mention the names of the senior and Sc
cond iieutenants John James Bates and John
NB~t "'i' OF marines,
among the slain; they fell early in action.
Having been more than FIVE years in the
ship, have had ample opportunities of
knowing their inestimaCle characters. and
The consequent loss the service has sustain
Ell by their falling. Il is with equal concern
have to mention lieut.. George Wills, the
unior lieutenant, who fell while CARRYING ON
ne duty ON the quarter deck, when l had
received wound which obliged me to quit |
4 and also that of the good and jealous Of |
1cer, lieut. Pascoe, late of the Daring, who |
commanded the midship guns, on the main |
ieck Mr.. John Bogue, late purser of the |
hetis, Gnvalided) received a mortal wound |
,elow, after having been before wounded ON |
he quarter deck.
When lhave the misfortune to state such
severe loss, trust it will be clear every
person must have done his duty. J feel most
,ratefui TO my gallant officers and crew, as
veil as the supernumeraries late belonging
o the Daring, for their cool, steady and Der.
eVering conduct, which was worthy the Mt
most success; but the superior force ofthe
hemy (she carrying on her main deck bea-
y French N pounders) the considerable
uaniity OF gold dust we have on board. as
veil as the certainty of the other frigate
omlng up, would have prevented me seek
1S renewal OF the action, if it had not been
INN lre sr-a.l III