Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-06-21

pies anti extractS,havco Scn " aIount-
ted to this Office by Lieutenant Chads,
late 6rst lieutenant Of his majesty,s
ship 1asa:
United States Frigafe Constitution,
Of ST.. Salvador, Dec. 81, 1912.
sIR-It is with deep regret that | write
you that his majesty ship Java IS no
more, after sustaining an action on the
goth instant for several hours with the
American frigate Constitution, which re-
suited in the capture and ultimate de-
struction of his majestys ship. Captain
Lambert being dangerously wounded in
the height of the action, the melancholy
task of writing the detail deUlses ON
me.
On the 2sth instant, al A. N. off St.
Salvador coast of Brazil,) the bind at
N. E. we perceived a strange sail; made
all sail in chase, and soon made her out
to be large friga.e; at noon prepared
for action, the Chase not answering our
private signals aud lacking towards us
under easy sail; when about four miles
distant she made signal, and immedi-.
ately tackled and made all sail away upon
the wind. We soon faund we had the
advantage of Der in sailing and came
up with her fast, when she holsted Ame-
rican colors; she then bore about three
points on our Les bow. At fifty minutes
past one p. NJ. the enemy shortened sail
upon which we bore down upon her );
at ten minutes past two, when about halt
mile distant, she opened her IRE by
giving US her larboard broadside, which
was not returned ill we were close on
her weather bow. Both ships now ma
neuvred to obtain advantageous posi-
tions, our opponent evidently avoiding
close action, and firing high to disable
our masts, in which she succeeded too
well, having shot away the head Of ogr
bomsprit with the jib-boom, and our run
ming rigging so much cot as to prevent
our preserving the weather guage.
At FIVE minutes past three, finding the
enemy's raking fire extremely heavy,
captain Lambert ordered the ship to be
laid on board, in which we should have
succeeded, had not our foremost been
shot away at this moment, the remains
of our bowsprit passing over his taffail;
shortly af,er this the maintop mast vent,
leaving the ship totally Interchangeable,
with most of our. starboard guns render
ed useless from the wreck lying over
them.
At half past three our gallant cap::in
reeeived dangerous wound in the breast,
and was carried below; from this time
we could not fire more than tive or three
guns until quarter past four, when our
mizsn mast was shot away; then fell of
little, and brought many Of our star
board guns to bsar: the enemy's rig
ging was so muca cut that he could not
avoid shooting an d, which brought US
fairly bcoadside aud broadside. Our
mainyard now wea, IN .he sings; both
ships continued engaged in this manner
till thirty-h e minutes past four, we FIRE.
quently on fire in consequence of the
wreck lying Oh the side engaged. Our
opponent now made sail ahead out of
gunshot, where he remained an hour
sepairing his damages, leaving US an
unman,geable wreck, with only main
mast ieft, aud that lettering. Every ex
ertion was made by US during this inter-
al to place the ship 10 a state to renew
the action. We succeeded in clearing
the wreck of our masts from our guns,
a sail was set on the stumps OF the fore
mast and bowsprit the weather half of
the main yard remaining aloft, the main
tack was got forward in the hope of get
ting the ship before the wind, our helm
being still perfect; the effort unfo,tu-
nalely proved Intellectual, from the main
mast filling over the side. from the hea-
Wy rolling ofthe ship, which nearly CO.
vered the whole ct our starboard guns.
We still waited the attack of the enemy
he now standing towards as for that pur-
pose on his coming nearly within hail
OF US, and from his maneuvre pereeiy-
ing he intended position ahead, where |
he could rake US without possibility Of !
"oA
the officers, who agreed with myself thar
oar having great part our crew killed !
aud wounded, our bewsprit and mss,s
gone, several guns useless, we should |,
not be justified in wasting the lives of
more of those remaining, who hope |
their lordships and the coun,rp will think |
have bravely defended his ,nsiesty's
ship under these circumstances, how
ever reluctantly, at Fifty minutes p,.st5
our celors were lowered from the stump
of the mizen mast, and we were taken |
possession of little after six, by the
frigste Cons,itution,comnand-
ed by Commodore Bainbridge, who i'm
mediately after asccrtaining the state of
the ship, resolved on burning her, which
We had the satisfaction of seeing done as
soon as the wounded men were rernoy