The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-07-16

rom the COWS ana vas drowned. .trtilw IL.
John q. Sowell had lost a leg Mr.. Edw;.rt
Baihewcii, acting Sailmgnastcr, had beer
carried below, after receiving two SEVER,
wounds, one III the breast and one in the face
and acting 1t. VIM. II. nhci,ner had been
Knocked overheard from the quarter an in
slant before, and did not regain ri ship un-
til alter the surrender. l was Informed that
the cockpit, the Storage, the ward-room aud
the birth deck could Contain no more woan-
dcd that the wounded were killed while the
surgeons we're dressing them, and that, unless
something was speedily done to prevent it,
the ship would soon sink from the number oil
Shot holes in her bottom. And on sending FIR
the Carpenter, he informed me that all his
crew had been Killed or wounded. and thai
he had once been over the sides to stop the
leaks, when his Sings had been shot aH>v,
and il was with difficulty he was save, from
drowning. The enemy, from the smoothncss
OF the water and the impossibility Of our
reaching him with our carr GRADES, * the lit
tie apprehension that was excited by our fire,
which had now become much siaclcncd was
enabled to take aim at us as at target his
shot never missed our hull, and my ship was
cut up In manner which was, perhaps, ne
verbelorc wtnessed-in fine, saw no hopes
OF saving her, and at 20 minutes after 6 p
M gave the painful order to strike the colors
IS men, including officers, were all ffat re-
manned CT my whole crew, aftelsthe action,
Capable CT DONG duty, and many Of them Sc
verely wounded some of when have since di-
Cd The enemy still continued his fire. * nv
brave, though unfortunate companions, were
still falling about me. directed an opposite
gun to be fired, to shew them we intended no
further resistance ; but they did not desist
four men were killed at my side, and others
IN different parts OF the ship. i now believed
he intended to show lis no quarter, and that
1t would be as well to die with nv flag fIyine
AS struck, and was on the point of again
hoistnsit, when about ten minutes after haul
ing the colnrs down he ceased firing
] cannot speak in sufficiently HIGH terms Of
the conduct of those engaged for such an un-
parallellcd length of time (under such circum-
stances) with ME in the arlluous & UNEQUAL
contest. Let it suffice to say that more bra
very, Skill, patriotism and zeal were never
displayed on any occasion. Every one seem
ed determined to die in defence of their much
loved country's cause, and nothing but views
to humanity could ever have reconciled them
to the surrender Of the slip they remember
ed their wounded and helpless shipmates be-
low. To acting Leuts. Midnight and Oden-
heimcr feel much indebted for their great
eXertions and bravery throughout the action
in'fightinS and encouraging the men at their
DIVISIONS, tor the deXterous management of
the long guns, and for their promptness in re-
manning their guns as their crews were
slaughtered. The conduct of that brave & he
roic officer. acting lieut.. John G.. Cowell, who
lost his leg IN the latter part of the action, ex-
cited the admiration of every man in the ship
and after being wounded would not consent To
De taken below until loss of blood rendered
him insensible. Mr. Edward Raf'newal, ac
ting saihng-master, whose activity and cour-
age was equally conspicuous, returned on
deck after his FIRST wound, and remained af-
ter receiving his second until faintin,5 with
loss of blood. Mr.. Samuel B. Johnston who
had joined me the day before, and acted a:
marine officer, conducted himself with great
bravery, and exerted himself in assisting at
the long guns the nusketry after the fret
half hour being useless (from the long dis
tance.)
Mr.. ~. W.eeBostwick, when l had appoin-
ted acting purser of the Essex Junior, and
who was on board my ship, did the duties of
and, IN manner which reflects on him the
highest honor, and Midshipmcn Isaacs, Far
raSut, and Ogden, as well as acting midship-
men James K, Lyman and Samuel DuzcnbuIy,
and masters mate William Pierce, excI.ted
themselves III the performance of their res
pective duties and gave an earnest Of their
value to the service the three first are too
young to recommend for promotion, the latter
beg leave to recommend for confirmation as
well as the acting hcutenants, and Messrs.
Barncwail, Johnson and Bostwick
We have been unfortunate. but not dis
graced-the defence Of the Essex has not
been less honorable to her officers and crew,
than the capture OF all equal force, and now
consider my situation less unpleasant than that
OF Com. Hillyar, WHOM violation of every prin-
cple OF honor & generosity, & regardless of the
rights OF nations, attacked the Essex in her
crippled state, within pistol shot Of neutral
shore when for six weeks l had daily offer
ed him fair and honorable combat on terms
greatly to his advantage the Blood of the
slain must be on his head, and lac has vet to
reconcile his conduct to heaven, to his con-
science, and TO the world. The annexed cy-
tract of a letter from Com. Hillyar, which was
written previous TO his returning me nv
sword, will shew his opinion of our conduct.
My loss has been dreadfully severe, Sc Kill
led or have since died of their wounds, and
among them 1t Cowell 50 were severely
wounded, 81 slightly, and 81 are missing ma
KING in all 154, killed, wounded and missing, a
list OF whose names is annexed.
The professional knowledge of Dr. Richard
Hoffman, acting Surgeon, and DR.. Alexander
Montgomery, acting Surgeons Mate, added
to their aSSduity and the benevolent attentions
and assistance Of Mr.. ID. p. Adams the Chap
lain, saved the lives of many of the wounded ::
those gentlemen have been indefatigable in
their attentions to them the two first | beg
leave to recommend for confirmation, and
the latter to the notice of the Department.
must in justification ofmyseif observe, that