Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-03-24
WASHINGTON CITY, March q,

Cohy of letter jrera Lienf' ITeighi0n,
commanding the U. States Brig Rat
flesnske, TO the Secretary Of the Nary,
dared
Wilmington, N. c. March 9Th, 1914. 4
SIR,
I have the hanor TO announce to
you the arrival of the United States
Briggs Rattlesnake and Enterprise, under
my command, after cruise OF eight
weeks. The Enterprise joined me yes
,erday, having separated ON ths 25tb
ult. to ayoid capture. both vessels beirg
closely pursued by frisaie or razse.
By the enclosed report from Lieut.
Renshsw. you will perceive the chase
continued 20 hours, during which time
was under the necessity ofhgftcmn
his vessel by throwing overheard his
guns, cutting away his anchors, * start
ing sis water. This is the third time
we have been chased by superior isrce
and in every instance the good fortune
of the Enterprise has been wonderfully
manifest.
In obedience to your instructions OF
the I'd January, after leaving the uIated
Stttes, passed to the eastward OF bef-
muda, aud having reac ,ed the latitude
Of g deg Sc min. N. and long s deg
2s min w bore up, and on the 29lh
Japusry made the Island Of Anegada and
Virgin Gorda, hence by ST Thomas
down the north sides Of Porto Rico and
! ST. Dsmingo, through the windward
passage, along the north side oil Jamaica,
round the west end of Cuba, through
the Florida passage, ahd SO to this place
IN the wind ward passage we were
chased by lFisate and narrowly es
capped capture. For the pre- eryation
| of one and perhaps both vessels, was
under the necessity of separating, but
was Joined again by the Enterprise OH
! Cape Antonio on the 18th February,
conformsbIy 10 previous arrangement
On the 10th of February we were a.
| gain chased by line of battle ship, but
| outsaiIed her with great ease. The
same vessel, which We learnt to be the
Bedford "a pursued the knterprize,
when on her way to join p,e off Cape
| Antonio, for nine hours the latter es-
capped by nianeuvre at night.
| | should have continued to cruise on
the ground YOU recommended, but va,
continually taken fr"m the station by
vessels it became my duty ia pursue, as
well as the prospect Of falling in vita q
CONVOY that had passed the Havana q,
| bout eight or ten days previous to my
appearing of that place.
| nave the honor to enclose you list
of vessels captured and spoken during
the cruise; among the former you viii
perceive the private armed schooner
| Mars Of ID guns, and rs men. This
capture afford, me The moe satisfaction
as she beioilg s. { ), -,S SGT = TT;
com PONY called Providence priyatcefs
She is 6ne vessel built 10 Baltimore
and well calculated for public serrice,
! should government rsqairs vessel Of
her class. Another prigateer was in
| company with her, but night had so far
advanced it was impossible for me TO
prevent her escape, Tie Mars having
taken US at first fer English briggs, be
tween 30 and 80 o! her mep took 10 her
boats and Landed On TIE Florida shore 10
avoid inpressment notwithstanding
this she ranged mp along side Of the En-
terprizs with tompiens out and training
her g9ns 1t Renshaw ignorant OF the
citcaNstance of any Of her men having
left her, gave Der broadsIde, which
killed TWO and wounded TIVE others Of
her crew. 1t. Renshaw's conduct was
perfectly correct; it was the ipdiscreet
and ride ulous parade Of the commander
of the priyateer that caused this anne-
cessary bEoodshed. At the same time
time the Mars struck, we took possession
of the schooner Eliza, from Nassau ".
Providence, bound TO Pensacola laden
with salt In passing the prize hailed
Lieut.. GasIbie, who had her in charge,
and directed him to scuttle the vessel
and cut away her masts, take to the
boat be had along side end Join the En-
terprize then in pistol SHOT OF him. The
wind and current having set Us close in
with The Florida shore, was under the
necessity of working 10 wlndwsrd, and
directed the Enterprise TO 60 the same
as sooa as possible. A light was shown
from the RattlesBake, rockets throwH
and false fires occasionally burnt during
the night to point out our situation TO
the other vessels. At 3 A. NJ. the En-
terpriEe joined me and at day light the
Mars, but from the extreme darkness of
the night the Eliza was lost sight of a.
bout in the evening and has not been
seen since: all the following day was
Dent 10 search of her, but without sue.
cess. At noon by observation l found
we had drifted degree and half to the
northward of the place where we mads
the capture, From the state Of the wea-
ihcr immediately after | spoke the Eli
"a it became Necessary for all the othc
vessels 20 work off shore, and 1t. Gam