Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1813-02-26
V"E VFFV 70 F' . y uVVFtHs0fs'
ANOTHER
Splendid Naval Victory
BY THE FRIGATE CONSTITUTION
COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE.


We have been obliginSly favoured By
Major Robert Carr, who has Just returned
from New Castle, with the following in.
teresting account Of another splendid naval
victory.
The account was brought to New Castle
by an officer of the Constitution, who has
Just landed from schooner, prize to the
Hornet, who was in sight at the close of
the action, and from whose journal Major
Carr extracted il. The officer, whose name
is not recollected, has gone on to Wash
ington City with dispatches
December 90, 1912. At meridian, lat
IS, 6, long. So. w 10 leagues from St Sal
vador, deserted sail, which was soon dis
covered to be British frigate We took
in main sail and royals; tackled ship and
stood for her At so minutes past p nj.
the enemy bore down with intention of
raking US, which we avoided by wearing
At 2P NJ enemy within half mile, and
to windward having hauled down his CO.
lours, except Union Jack at mizen mast
head, the Constitution fired a gun ahead
ofthe enemy to make him shew his colours,
on which he gave Us his whole broadside
A general action with round and grape shot
then commenced, the enemy keeping at a
much greater distance than we wished, bat
we could not bring him to close action
without exposing ourselves to severe rak-
ing, Both vessels maneuvred some time
to rake and avoid being raked
At p NJ commenced action within
good grape canister distance. AT 80 mi
nutes past Q our wheel was shot entirely
away. At 40 minutes past determined
his raking fire, set fore and main sail and
fell up close to him. At SO minutes past 9
the enemy's lib boom got foul of our mizen
rigging. At head of the enemys bow
spirit and jib boom shot away by US. AT S
minutes past 8 shot away enemy's bowsprit
by the board At Is IN. past 3 shot away
enemys main top mast just above the cap,
AT 40 minutes past 5 shot away their gaif'
and spanker boom At So minutes past 8
hot away their mizen mast nearly by the
board At minutes past having com
pletely silenced the enemy and his colours
in the main being down, VIE supposed he
had struck, and shot ahead 10 repair our
rigging, which was much cut, leaving the
enemy complete wreck. Soon after we
discovered the enemy's flag was still flying.
AT 20 minutes past 4 the eneny's main.
mast went by the board At SO minutes
past we wore ship and stood for the enemy.
At % minutes past 5 got close to her in
very effectual position for raking, athwart
his bows, and at the very instant of our
preparing to give our broadside the enemy
prudently struck his colors. Lieut. Parker
was sent on board TO take possession of the
prize, which proved to be his Majestyts
ship Java, rating SO but mounting az guns.
commanded by Captain Lambert, dis
tinguished officer, (who was mortaIly
wounded) with crew Of upwards of 400
men besides 100 supernumerary men going
out to the East Indies for different ships
there. There were on board many passen-
gers, among whom are Lit Gen Hislop.
Gov of Bombay, Major Walker and Cap
tain Wood of his staff, captain Marshall.
master and commander in the royal navy.
and several officers appointed to ships in
the East Indies
On board the Java were 60 killed and
40 wounded. The Constitution had kill.
ed and % wounded.
She had on board dispatches for St He
lena, Cape of Good Hope, and the different
establishments in the East Indies and China,
and copper for "a and 2 frigates, building
at Bombay The Java was an elegant ship,
and fitted in the most complete manner for
the purpose of carrying out the Governor
to Bombay. The crew, with the officers
baggage being taken out, the ship was set
fire to, Jan. lst. and blew up, as she was so
crippled as to render it impossible to bring
her into port.
Commodore cambridge was slightly