Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-07-19

CALAMITY throughout tne acUcn,tIaQ be En-
knocked overheard by a splinter whl,I
getting the sheet anchor lrs m the bov,|
and was drowned. Acting LIZ. Johs {,
Cowell had lost leg Mr.. Edward
Barnewell, Acting Sailingmaster, b.a|
been carried below, after receiving two
severe wounds, one in the breast aud ore
in the face and Acting 1t. Wm. H. Cd.
euheimer had been knocked OVERLOOKED
from the quater an instant psiore, and
did no, regain the ship until after tie So,
render. ! was informed that the cock
pit, the s.eerage, the ~ard-'oom and,ts
birth.deck could contain no norc
| wounded /; that the wounded were killed
while the surgeons were dressing Their
and that, unless something was spsedily1
done to prevent it, the ship would soon
sink from the number of shot holes hi
her bottom. And va sending for ,bs
Carpenter, he informed me that all hi,
crew had been killed or wounded, apd|
that he had once been over the side al
stop the leaks, when his sings had bee !
shot away, and it was with difficulty bel
was saved from drowning The enemy
from the .moothness Of The water, aid
the impossibihty Of our reaching him|
with our car,onades, and the little ap-I
prehension that was excited BY our FRI, j
which had now become much slackened,
was enable to take aim at US as at a tar.
get: his shot never missed our hull, and|
my ship was cut up in "anner which
was, perhaps, never before Witnessed
in fne, I saw no hopes Of saving her, and
at 2ominutes after P. NJ. gave the pain.
full order to strike the colours. IS men,
including officers, were Ill that remain.
ed of my whole crew, after The action,
capable Of doing duty, and many OF them
severely wounded, some OF whom have
since died. The enemy sill continued
his Gre, and my brave, tho unfortunate
companions, wereSt!ll falling about me.
I directed an opposite gun to be bred,
to shew them we intended no further
resistance !; but they did not desist ; four
men we're killed at my side, and Others
in different parts Of the ship. l now
believed he intended to show Us no guar.
ter, and that it would be as well to disl
with my flag aging as struck, and was
on the point Of again hosting 1t when
about 10 INMATES after hauling the cOlors
down he ceased firing.
I cannot speak in sufficiently high
terms of the conduct of those engaged
for such an unparalleled length OF time
(under such cirenmstances) with me 10 +
the arduous and unequal contest. Let
it suffice to say that more bravery, skill,
patriotism and zeal were never display.
ed on any occasion. Every one seem.
ed determined to die in defence OF their
much loved country's cause, and no.
thing but views to humanity could ever
have reconcilee them to the surrender
of the ship; they remembered their
wounded and helpless shipmates below
To acting lieuls. Midnight and oden'
heimsr / feel much indebted for their
great exe,tions and bravery throughout
the action in Sighting and encouraging
the men at their divisions, tor the usx'
ferrous management OF the long guns
and for their promptness 10 remaining
their guns an their crews were ssugh.
tered. The conduct of that brave ana
heroic officer, acting Lieut.. John IT,
Cowell, who lost his leg in the latter
part of the action, excited the ADMIR-
ton of every man in the ship, and alter
being wounded would not consent to b
taken below until loss of blood render.
ed him insensible. Mr.. Edward Bsrne'
wall, acting sailing master, whose set'
witty and courage was equally consplcc'
Gas, returned on deck after his hrs
wound, and remained after receiving his
second until fainting with loss of blood
Mr.. Samuel B. Johnston who had join
ed me the dsy before, and acted as ms
rine officer, conducted himself win
great bravery, and exerted himself 10
assisting at the long guns; the mtske''
ry after the FIRST half hour being ussls"
(trom our long distance).
Mr.. M. w. Bos,wick, whom ! haa
appointed acting purser OF the E.se'
Junior, and who was on beard my snip
did the duties of aid, in manner wo'ea
reflects on him the highest honor gu"
MidshipmeA Isaacs, Farrsgut ano ~
den, as we'll as acting MidshlPmsn ' ~;
Terry, James r. Lyman and S"mv. .,,; -
zanbury, and Masters mate w 'l'Sn
Pierce exerted themselves IN !"s ~.
formance OF their respective duties CIV
gave an EARNEST of their value 10 'as ''r
vice the three first are tso young
recommend for promotion, the 'a s.m,.
beg leave to recommend tor comm" a.
ton as well as the acting Lleu'e"'" I'd
and Messrs. Barne~ell, Johnston ~
Rostwick.
yWa have heen unfortunate, Out Nv