The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-07-13

sinh Essen JUNIOR.
Yesterday arrived ar this port, the ship Es-
sex Junior, Capt. Downes, i'll 20 days from
Valparaiso, Gas Il cartcl) with most of the
crew of the United States fIigate Essex, Com.
Porter, captured the 2Sth March, in the bay
OF Nalpa also, by the British lrigate Phoebe,
OF So guns, and 500 men and the sloop of war
Cherub, OF % guns and 80 men, after a bloc
dy action of 81 hours. The Essex lost her
first and third heutenants, and 152 men killed,
missing and wounded. The Essex had ON
board only $50 men. The loss of the enemv
could not be ascertaincd. Capt. Porter h2s
arrived at the Navy Yard
he following contains the particulars Of
the action, &c. by which or readers viii per-
ceive that, although VIC have unfortunately
lost ano her frigatc, the naval glory of cur
Country remains unsullied:
United Safes Frigate ESSEX, DAVID
Porter, Esq. coniaaaIer-lIarch %, 1914
Light winds and cloudy; at daylight got
every thing ready to weigh, expecting the en-
emy's ships were to leeward, according TO
the report of lieut. Nlaurav, who was last G.
ven;ng entrusted with an expedition to effect
this ; and we were much surprised, 1T about
hall past six, to see both ships close to the
weather point of the Bay.
They stood within the point, tackled and
stood out again. At noon thc wind freshcned
II $. S. w. and increased TO 4 strong gale
Struck ROYAL yards and mast. At IS minutes
past ,, parted the larboartl cable, which caus-
cd us to drag the starboard anchor. Capt.
pSrter hailed the Essex Junior to send her
boat to take NJ. Poh'stalt on shore.
Immediately after he LETT us, Capt. Porter
gave orders to cat the cable, which was done
and sail made on the ship. The enemy 5 ships
were at this time stanIing in for the port.
On lufhng round the point of Angels heavy
squall struck us, which carried away cur
man-top-lnast by the lower cap. Two men,
Samuel Miller and Thomas Brown, fell over
board & were drowned as we suppose. The
ship was wore and hauled to the wind on the
starbOard tack, and orders given to clear the
wreck.-Ihe mainsal and mantopsail were
cut away from the yards, so as not TO act a.
ganst us in working into the bay. Capt Por-
ter, finding it impossible to gain our former
anchorage, concluded to bear up for small
bay, situated On the western side of the har-
boW.
At IS minutes past s. came too with TIE
best bower in % SlthomS water, and within
half pistol shot of the shore. The Western
Fort Cor Castella Niego) bore +. by y. dis
t.ncc miles. The Eastern Port (or Castel-
10 lei Barren) bore S. w. by w. distance a
bout l J miles. This fort was not in sight, as
we were anchored under high bluff that
screened us from it. There was a long n
pounler detached from it on a rising ground
to the =. Z. distance a mile, and conse-
quently SO much nearer to the place where
we anchored.
In this situation, we considered ourselves
perfectly secure. Capt. Porter gave orders
to clear the ship for action, although he did
not q beGeve) entertain an idea that the enc
nv would attack hin.--At IS minutes past s,
the Phoebe commenced firing on our la.bU,rrtl
quarter; and 1T the CherIb commenced fir
ing ON our starboarJl bow. In about half an
hour, they wore round and stood out to repair
Io
cut in their rigging, their topsa;l sheets flying
away. In this interval, we got the third spring
on the cable, the two first being shot away as
soon as put ON. They soon returned and took
their position out of reach Of our short guns,
AMI opened most CALLING fire upon us. The
wind shifting about tbs time, Capt. p. deter
mined to lay the Phoebe aboard. The cable
was accordingly cut but the only halliarG,
standing were those OF the flying glib. This
sail was partly hoisted, but was not sufficient
to wear the ship OF.
We were now in most dreadful situation,
as the enemy hullcd us every shot, and our
brave fellows were falling in every direction;
but we were all 50 an.MGtcd by the brave,
cocI. and intrepid conduct Of oar heroic com
nandcr that every man appeared determined
IN sacrifice his life IN de.enCc of orr ship, and
1T FREE Iraie GrL Sai15's PipHfs. for
which they we're continually liuz2ainp fore &
aft. hn unluCky accident, however, took
place, which frustrated al our hopes, viz ::
the explosion ofsome loose cartridges in the
mAin-hrtchway, which caused general CON
sternation among the crew, the greatest part
OF whom jumped overheard.
Captain Porter seeing now no hopes left.
We orders to fire the ship, but humanelv con-
sidering that many of his brave companions
were wing wounded bc!ow, he countcrmancled
this order and gave TIC painful one to lower
our ensign which was executed precisely 1T
half pas: SIX, the enemy did not cease firing
for some minutes MISUNDERSTANDING this
Interval some Of our men Hcr, wounded and
four shot dead-tllre fell tie Eek into the
h nds Of the English, after resistance worthy
the Cause which a8.natcaps.
Since the aeon have been informed bv
the Isl Lieut.. of marines Of the Phoebe, (Nr.
BGrows) that th,y passed those two uifol1u-
nate men our Life Buoy, which had been
thrown orsr 20 them and left them TO perish
IN the wives, wit. )Ct endcayouIiug TO afford
them Tic least assistance.
4 return of the killed wounded and miss
ing on board Of the n. S. frigatc Essex, Of 35
guns, 255 men, David Porter, Esq. command
er, in an action fought on the 29th March
1874, in Valparaiso BAY. with the British fri
gate Phoebe, q Is Guns, 32Omcn, james l!;ll-
yer, ESQ. comm1rder, and Tie aiooi, uc war
Cherub, mrrt'p5 ~ guns, 50 men, con-
maudel b. 7. Tucker, EsJ.