Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-09-17
R. E. PARKER,
1t. Col. Cong. 18th Regt.
Copy ola letter from Com Rodgers to the
Secretary of the Navy, dated
BALrIMoRE. Sept 8, 1914.

Nopy ora ie1ter from Com Rodgers to the
Secretary of the Navy, dated
BALTIMORE. Sept 9, 1914.
SIR 80,
In pursuance of your Instructions bay.
toinform you. that on the Sd instant. / pro-
ceeded down the Potomac with three small
hrc vessels under the protection IF -FOUR bar
Ses or cutters, manned with bSu, sixty Sea.
men, armed with muskets, destined against
Two OF the enemy's frigates AVID bomb shin.
whfch lay about two and half miles below
Alexandria.
AT Am. in advance of the fire vesseIs
in nay gig, finding no CO ours displayed a. A.
iexandria, but Swedish Ensign on board a
schooner--being near the wharyes. hailed
and ordered the American Rag 70 be boiSt-
ed alter seeing the flag hoissed, directed
me hre vessels (Which were conducted bv
lieutenant Ncwcomb, Lieutenant Forrest
ana SAILING MassSr Ramage) to proceed on
10 tue OBJECTS OF attack, aud have no doubt.
"ooid nave succeeded in destroying two at
sea a: OF the enemy's ships, had not the wind
faiied fssem some time before and ma rt;c,,
iarly after they had reached the upnermos,
ship, within the range of musket shnt A.,
this time perceiving tie whole of tbe enc.
my,s barges in motion. directed 1t. New
comb. who commanded the van vessel. after
giving her proper direction, TO set FIRE to
her-and after Mr.. Ramage came up, gave
MN the same orders ]; the vessel under
charge OF Lieutenant Forrest was fred by
the fbot without orders, some distance Az
bove theothers
VI inc enemy's boats, some were employ.
ca IN towing of the fire vessels, and the res,
IN pursuit OF our four cutters, nv own CHS.
and sma'lboat with three oars without a
ruhder they did NOT, however, venture to
come within musket shot, although their
force and numbers were more than treble
ours, pht continued at a distance, firing their
great guns for thirty or thirty-five minutes.
ana then retired to their ships again
On the 9Th inst. had another fire vessel
prepared. tut il being calm, ordered Lieu
,eha't Newcomb and the four cutters. to
pfoceeo WIN one OF tie remaining lighters
.. .Is yaro, having an q FOUNDER in her, to
as. acc the oomb ~, which in the anxiety
ol tne enemy to get Below the temporary forts
erecting by my gallant associates Cauts;a,
Porter aud Perry, had been left ex :, sod 10
attack. AT sun set, just as / was about TO
give orders to attack the bomb, Ldiscosered
one OF the enemy's frigates behind the point
forming the entrance of Washingtor's reach.
winch necessarily obliged me to relinooish
TINS deter mioation. and give orders to pro,
ceed across to the Virginia shore. to haul
UP the boats and place the lighter IN situ
alton to be defended against the enemv's
barges.
1a'lng reconnotered the enemy, on re-
turning to the Lighter at p. nj. / seized
a man under suspicious circumstances. ON
me beach near to small boat, about a
mie above the eneu.y's uppermost ship. that
again induced me to change my position 10
me opposite side of the river, where after
setting the cutters hauled up, placing the
lghter IN an advantageous position, and INV
husket men upon The top OF a cliff overlook !
ng the river, was at IL p. M. attacked bv |
al the eDeny's barges, but which. bv the |
DOL Intrepidity of Lit. Newcomb. HAVING |
'harge OF the lighter, assisted by Ii. Fos'
est, ,. Master Ramsge, M. Mate Stockton /
ma MidshipmaB Whitlock and As seamen |
WIN mu kets, the enemy was not ONLY re. |
'uised, but IN less than 20 minutes ,h,owp
MO me utmost confusion and driven baak
MS ships, and have sufficient reaso. >,
eheNe with great loss, although the onlv in.
1ry sustained on our part was ore man
founded on board the lighter.
The enemy thus reEulsed, and no prog
ect o. doing him further injury in this way.
S ms rearmost ship was not more than -
ahe distant, had the ,ighter shifted fur
Der ", ard az A. NJ. a FIRE vessel bro't
"wn Tor The purpose of assaiIing him in con.
notion with the battery at the Wbise
louise. ruder the command of Capt. Porter i
-out ~ uis was again disappointed. a.
iat excellent officer, after using every pos
Die exer.ion, was not able in a, shor. =