The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-12-13

that can be found IN naval record.
The American Brig cane TO anchor in this
port in the afternoon ot the 26th ct Se,.ten-
ber and 1T sun ser of the same day, tue "A
bove naE.cj ships suddenly appeared in these
roads. 1t bcyng ucarly calm III the port, il
was rather douotfa ifthe privateer could cs-
cape III she got under way, and relying on
the justice and good Faith Of the British ca,,-
tsins, it was deemed most prudent 10 remain
at anchOr--a little after duSH captain Reid
seeing some suspicious movements on the
part VI the British, began To warp his vessel
close under the guns toe Castle, and while
doing SO, he was AZ about 8 o'cocl, T. Vi. APP
proachc BY boats from the ships, filed
with ARMED men--aiter hailing them repeat
e,tly and warming them to keep OF, ne order
ed his men TO fire OIL them, and killed ard
wounded several iaep, the beats returned tic
IKE and killed one man and wounded the lst
lieutenant OF thc priyatecr, and retGrneG, to
their ships. As it wa now moonlight. it was
plainly perceived from the brig, as was from
The shore, that a formidable attack was pre-
C.et,itatins. Soon after midnight, twelve or
more boats crowded with men from thc ships
and armed with carronades, swiveis, hlun.,er-
ousses, small arms, &c. attacked the tr,g--a
severe conflict ens;lei, which lasted about 40
minutes, aad ended il. the total defeat, and
partial destruction of the boats, with "a most
unparalleled carnage on the part of the Bri-
tish.' 1t IS estimated by good Judges that near
800 men were in the boats when the attack
coium need and no doabt exists in tie minds
o. the numerous spectators Of the scene, that
NOR, than half of them wee Killed or woun-
ded, Severai boats We're DESTROYED, two Of
el%ml remained alongside OF the brig literal
iy loaded WI II their wounGe,!--from these 3
boats only II persons reached the shore, a
i've, most OF them were severely woundci.---
lhc whole of the following day the British
werc occupied in buryiiig their dead among
them we're two Geutcnapts and INC tridship-
man of the Rota, the lst lieutenant of the
Pianta3enet, IT IS said, cannot survive his
wounds au;l many OF the scamen who reach
ed their ships were mortalv wounded and
have been dying daily. r,e British mcrtiii-
ed at tAis signal and unexpected defeat, en-
dca7or to Conceal tie extent OF their loss
they admit, however, that they lost in Killed
ana who have died since the engagement up
wards OF 20 OF the flower of their officers
and men. The capt. OF the Roti told ne he
lost 20 aen from his Snip. Two days after
this affair took place, the British sioops or war
Utile, That's and Calypso, came into port,
when captain Lloyd immediately took them
mo reduiSiton to carry home the wounded Of
Ficers and seamen--they have sailed Tor Eng
iand--one on the second and the other on
the fourth instant, each carried twenty-five
badly wounded-thosc who were slightly
woundel TO the number, as am informed,
OF about 20, remained on board OF their
respective ships AMI sailed last evening for
Jamaica. Strict orders were given that the
scops OF war should take no letters wha,soev-
CIR to England and tho.e orders were rigidIy
adhered 60.
In face of testimony Of all Favsl, and
, number OF respectable STRANGERS who happcir-
ed to be in this place at the moment, the
British commander endeayors to throw the o.
dunn of this transaction oathe American cap
tain Reid, alied ging that he sent the boats
merely 10 reconnoitrs the brig aud without a
ny hostile intentions. The plots Of the port had,
informed them CT the privaseer the moment
they entercd.t',c' port To recoanoitrc an
enemy's vessel IN frieadly port at night with
i barges carrying by tie best acccarts 100
mon, IS certainly q strange proceeding -
| The f:sct.i s, they expected as the brig was
warping in, that the Americans would not be
prepared to receive thsIn, & they had hopes
OF carrying her by a coap de MAIN" If any
thug could add to the baseness of this trarisao-
ron IN the part Of tie British commander, II
IS want oi candor, openly and boldly 70 avow
the iacts. In yam can he expect by such sub
teriuge to shield himself from the indignation
| II the world ard the nierited resentment Of
| his own goyernmegt * nation, for thus tram
ping Oh the sovereignty of their most antent
and faithful ally, and 1or the wanton sacrifice
of British hyss. s.s
On the part CT the Americans, The loss was
! comparatively nothing, 2 killed End slightly
| wounded; OF the slain, we nave to lament tue
loss OF the ID lieutenant, MIR. ALEx. .. VIII
LiAMs. of n. York brave and nIertoIious
officer.
Among the wounds are Mcssrs. NORTH
| and JOHNSTON, first and lArd lieutenantS.--
! Captain Reid was thus deprived early III the
action Of the services of al his iieuts. but his
cool and intrepid conduct secured him the
! victory.
On the morning o. the 9th u.. one Of the
| British ships placed herself near the shore
and commenced a heayy cannopade OH the
| priVateer---Enaling further resistance una
vaiiing, captain Heid ordered her 10 be a.
! bandoned, alter being partly destroyed, to
| prev snt her falling into the hands OF the enc
! my, who soon after sent their boats and set
her on FIRE.
At 9 O'Clock in the evening (soon after the
first attack applied to the governor re-
| qucsting his oXcclicncy to protect the priyi,-
| tcer either by force or by ,ilch renonstrances
/ to the commander OF the squadron as would
cause him to desist from any further attempts.
| The governor, indignant at what had passed,
bat feeling himself totally unable with the
| slender means he possessed, to resist such a
! FORCE, prudently took the part of renOnstra-
ting. which he did in fOrci5le, but respectful
terms. His letter to capt. Lloyd had no other
effect than TO produce ii menacing reply, in
y