Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-10-07
October5.
RODGERs's CRUIZE.
GsP1 81 Letter f'ont Commodore Rodgers 10 the
Secretary ofthe Macy, dared
U. 5. Frigate President, Newport,
Sept. 9th, 1915


U. S. Frigate President, Newport,
SIR, p'' - '''
, You having been informed of my leaving
: Boston on the Esd ofApril last, and of my de.
parture from Pres iden, Road, in company with
the Congress, on the S0th of the same month,
It now only remains for me to make you ac-
quainted with my proceedings since the latter
1date.
In a few hours after getting to sea, the wind
which had been light from the westward, shif
ned to the south east and Obliged me To beat
Aconsequently prevented our getting clear of
tib Bay until the Sd of May, wien, in the nj.
| ternoon, while in chase OF a British brig ot war,
| near the Shoal OF Georges Bank, we passed
TO windward of three sail, two of which, from
| their appearance & the information previously
receive ], jugded to be the la Houge, "a, and
" ~ n 'rigate, and the third, merchant brig.
After getting clear of Georges Bank, the
wind vecred to the north-eas ward, and we
continued along east.southcrly; in the direction
| ct the southern edge OF the Gulpb Stream, until
the 9Th of May, in long Ct w. lat 80, so N
! when parted company with the Congress. Afa
ter parting company, shaped acourse, as near
| as the wind would permit, to intercept the enc
| my's West India commerce passing 10 the
southwark OF the Grand Bank not meeting
with any thing in this direction, except Anne.
rican vessels from Lisbon and Cadiz, next
| pursued a route to the northward, IN a parallel
with the eastern edge of the Grand Bank so as
| to cross the tracks of his West india, Halifax,
Quebec and st. Johns trade. In this route ex-
| periencing constant thick fogs, for a number
| OF days, and not meeting any thing after reach.
| ing the latitude of % n. ] steered to the south
east towards the Azores. OFF which, in diff rent
directions, continued until the 9th OF June,
without meeting a single enemy's vessel, or
any others, except two Americans. A. this
| tins, Filling in with an American ship bound TO
CadIz, and receiving information that she had
| four DAYS before, passed an enemy's convoy
| from the w Indies bound to England, I crow
| ded all sail to the N +. and although disap.
fpoiuted in falling in with the convoy, never.
theiess made four captures, between the OH &
| 18th fJune.
| Relng now in the lat of46 and long %.
| w. L determined on going into the North Sea,
and accordingly shaped course that afforded
| a prospect o. falling with vessels bound to
| Ncwtoundland from ST Georges channel, by
| the way OF Cape Clear, as well as others that
| might pass north about 10 the northward OF
! Ireland TO my establishment however, i'm all
| this route did not meet with a single vessel.
| until made the Shetland islands, and even
| on there nothing but Danish vessels trading TO
| England under British licenses At the tine
| cached the Shetlaud Islands, a considerable
| portion otmy provisions and water being ex-
Pended, 1t became necessary to replenish these,
4
next; and accordingly, for this purpose, put
| INTO North Bergen on the eth Of June but
much to my surprise and disappointment, was
not able To obtain any thing but water, there
heing AN unusual scarcity OF bread in ev ~ pr,
OF Norway, and at the time not NOR in Ber
gen than bare sufticiency for its inhabitants
tor four or five weeks. This being the case, at
| ter repterishlng my water departed on the
ID OF July, and stretched over towards the
Orkney Islands, and from thence towards the
| North Cape Tor tie purpose Of Intervening a
convoy of 95 or so sail, (which it was said
would leave Archange absnt the middle of Ju-
/ " under The proteG-ion q two briggs or two
| siooPs of war and which va further confirm.
| cd by two vessels | captured&hp the 18th and
18th of the same month. In Mis object how
| ever the enemy had the good fortune to dis
| appoint me, by line of battle ship and frigate
| making their appearance OFF the North Cape
on the l9tbot July, just as l was IN momentary
| expectation OF meeting the convoy: on first dis
covering the enemS's two ships of war, not be-
| inS able, owing TO the haziness of the weather
| 20 ascertain their character with precision,
| stood toward them until making out what
/ they were, hauled by the wind on the oDposite
| tack to avoid them but owing to faint variable
| winds, Gains, and entire day light the sun i'm
| that lat. at that season, appearing nj midnight
! several degrees above the hurizon) they were
| enabled 10 continue the chase towards of 2O
changes OF the wind in their favor. they were
| brought quite as Desr 10 us was desirable At
| the time ut meeting with the enemy's o ships
the privateer schooner Scourge, OF New York
which had fallen IN with the dav before, was
| in company but their attention was SO much
| engr ssed by the President that thew permitted
| the Scourge to escape without appearing TO
take any notice of her.
Being thus disappointed in meeting with
the convoy, and a still further portion of nv
provisions being expended, determined to
! proceed to more westerly station, and &C
cordingly steered to gain the direction of the
trade passing out of and into the Irish Chan
mel In this position, between the 25th of
July and I'd of August, ! made 9 captures,
when hnding that the enemy had a superior
force in that vicinity, | found it exuedient to
| change my ground and after taking a cir
| cult round Ireland, and getting into the lat
itude OF Cape Clear, steered for the Bank
| on New Foundland, near 10 which I made
| two more captures, and b, the latter one
found that the Belerophon -, and Hyper
| on Frigate were on the eastern part of the
! Bank, and only a few miles TO the westward
| OF me / however did not fall in with them.
From the eastern edge Of the Grand Bank.
to which had beat all the way from the.
| NV. cOastof Ireland (the wind having pre-
| vailed without intermission from the Ist of
| August to,the middle OF September, from
West to South vest l steered for tue Uni
ted States without seeing single vessel of
! any kind, until the 22d of the present month