Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-05-17
I'M s Eurotas.

II s.
II. M S. Eurolas,
Plymsuth Ssnnd, March !.
MY lsrd-Ihaye the honour TO inform
yosr lordship, that H. Nj. S. under my
co mand partedcsmpanywi'htheR ipper
| n Monday night, the 2lst ult. in chase
Of vessel which proved to be Swe.
dish merchant ship; on Friday the 18th
in underwriting to rejoin the Rippon,
being then in lat. 47, 40, N. and lat. 9,
| so, w we perceived sail upon the
lee beam to which we gave chase. We
soon discovered her to be an enemy's
frigate, and that she was epdeavoaring
to out manevre Us in brining her to
action but having much the advan.
tage in sailing (al,hough the wind had
unfortunately died away We were ena-
bled at about O'Clock to pass under
her stern, hal her, and commence close
action.
When receiving her broadsids, and
passing to her bow, our mizen mast
was shot away ! then ordered tse helm
10 be put down to lay her aboard, but
the wreck Of our mizen mast lying on
our quarter, prevented this desirable
object from being accomplished.
The enemy Just passed clear of US,
and both officers and men of the Eurotas
renewed the attack with most determine
ed bravery and resolution, while the
enemy returned our fire in warm and
gallant manner. We sueceededin raking
her again, and then lay broadside to
broadside; at s 20, our mainmast fellby
the board, and the enemy's mizenmast
falling at the same time at 6 so our
foremost fell, and the enemy's mainiaast
Immediately afterwards AtteB minutes
after seven she slaskeEed her Are, but
having her foremast standing, she sue
ceeded with her iorsail in getting out
of range. During the whsle of the
action, we kept up heavy and we'll
directed FIRE (; nor do / know which
most to admire, the seamen at the great
guns or the marines a, small arms,
they vieing with each other who should
mos, annoy the enemy.
! was at this time so much exhausted
by the loss of blood, from the wounds
had received in the early part of the
action from grape shut, that fosnd
it impossible for me to remain, any lon-
ger upon deck. / was, therefore, under
the painful necessity of sdes'ring the
lieutenant Smith LIST liau,enanD, to take
command of the quarterback, and to
clear the wreck of the foremost and
and ,nainmast, which then lay nearly
fore * aft the deck, & 10 make sail alter
the eDsIRy; but at the same time | had
the satisfaction OF rejecting, that I had
left the command in the hands of a most
active jealous officer.
We KEEP. sight Of the enemy during
the night by means of boatsails and a
iieger on the ensign staff, and before 2
o'clock the next day, lieut.. Smith re-
ported to me, that by the great exer-
lions of every officer and man, jury
courses, top:sails, stay sail. and spankei
| were set in chase of the enemy, who
had not even sleared away the wreck,
and that we were coming up with her
| very fast, going at the rate Of six and
| half knots that the decks were perfect
IL clear and that the officers and men
were as eager to renew the action as to
| commence it (: but to the great north.
| cation of every one On board, we per-
ceiyed two sail on the lee bow, which
proved to be the Dryad and Acha'es,
thew having crossed the enemy tive only
four or ave miles dis.ant) before we
could get up to her, deprived US OF the
| qualification Of having her colors hauled
down to US.
The enemy's frieate proved to be the
iCloriade, capt. Dennis Legard, mount
ling - guns, with brass swivels in
each top and compliment of $50 pick
| ed men.
II is with sincere regret, have to
state that our loss is considerable, hav-
ling tweuty killed and forty wounded !;
and I most sincerely lament the loss OF
three fipe young midshipmen, two OF
whom had served the whole OF their
Time with me, and who all promised 10
be ornaments to the service. Among
the wounded is lisas Ferd, of the Royal
| Marines, who received grape shot IN
| his thigh, vhils calamity heading his
party.
| I learn from Monsieur Gerard, one Of
the French officers, they have calculated
their loss on board the Clorinda. at lso
men. It is therefore unnecessary Tor
me to particularize the cxertisns OF G.
very individual on board Of this chip, OF
the prsmptness with which every order
was put into execution by so young
ships company; but must beg leave
. TO mention the able assistance which
received frem lieuts. Smith, Graves