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

teract its eHnct on thelf oWs
The force of the Essex was 46 guns ~
| 81 pound Earronades, and six long l7,s'
and her crew, which had been much
reduced BY prizes, amounted only 20
| ae6 men. The Essex Junior, which
was intended chiefly as store snip
mounted 90 guns, ten Is pound carron'
AIDES, and 10 shert SIS, with only oo men
on board. In reply to their motto, ! wrole
at my mizen, Sc God, our Country ana
Liberty Tyrants offend them" :.
| On getting shei, provisions on board'
they went off the port for the pur-
pose Of blockading me, where they
cruised for near six weeks; during
which time endeavored to provoke
talleage, and frequently, but lnehec'
,ulIy, bring the Phoebe 70 action, hrst
with both my ships, and afterwards with
MY single ship, with both crews on
| board. / was several times urder way,
and ascer,ained that had greatly the adj
vantage in paint Of sailing, aad once
succeeded in closing within gun shot OF
the Phoebe, and commenced tre on
her, when she ran down for the Cheruo,
which vas 2 l-2 miles to leeward this
excited som surprize and expressions OF
indignation, as previous to my getting
under way, she hove too OF the porb
hoisted her motto flag and fred gun
to inward. Com. Hillyar seemed de-
tefmined TO avoid contest with me on
nearly equal terms, & from his extreme
prudence in keeping both his ships ever
after constantly within bail OF each o.
thsr, tbsre were no hopes OF any advan'
tages to my country from longer stay
in port I therefore determined to put
to sea the first opportunity which should
offer; and was the more strongly IN
duced to do so, as bad gained certain
intelligence that the Tagus rated SO,
two other frigates, had sailed for that sea
in pursuit of me and | had reason to
expect the arrival Of the Racoon from
The N W. coast of America, where she
had been sent for the purpose of des.
lreying our Fur establishment on the
Columbia. A rendezvous was appoint
ed for the Essex Junior, and every ar
rangement made for sailing, and in
tended 10 let them chase me off, 10 give
the Essex Junior an opportunity OF es.
Gaping. On the 9sth March, the day
after this determination was formed, the
wind came on to blow fresh from the
southwark when | parted my larboard
cable and dragged my starboard anchor
directly out to sea, Not a moment was
to be lost in getting sail on the ship
The enemy were close in with the point
forming the side Of the bay but on
opening them, saw prospect of pass
ing to windward, when took IN my
top gallant sails, which were set over
single reefed top.sails. and braced up
for this purpose but on rounding the
point, heavy squall struck the ship &
carried away her main-top mast, preeipl'
tating the men who were aloft into the
sea, who were drowned. Both ships
now gave chase to me, and endeavor-
ed in my disabled state to regain the
port; but finding could not recover
the common anchorage, l ran close into
a small bay, about three.quarters of a
mile to ieeward of the battery, on the
east side of the harbor, and let 20 my
anchor within pistol sho, OF the shore,
where intended to repair my damages
as soon as possible. The enemy CONT.
nued to approach, and she wed an evident
Intention of attacking, regardless OF the
neutrality of the place where | was an
lchored and the caution observed in
their approach to the attack ofthe Grip
lpIed Essex was truly ridiculous, as was
their display oftheir motto flags, and the
number Of jacks at all their mast heads.
| |, with as much expedition as circum-
stances would admit OF, got my ship
ready for action, and endeavored to geta
spring on my cable, but had not sue
ceedsd when the enemy, at 81 minutes
after 8 P. NJ. made his attack, the Pho.
be placing herself under my stern, and
the Cherub on my starboard bow but
the Cherub soon finding her situation a
hot one, bore up and ran under my
stern also, where both ships kept up
hot raking FIRE. l had got three long
Ia-pounders ont of the stern ports,
which were worked with SO much bra.
very and skill, that in half an hour we SO
disabled both a. to compel them to haul
of to repair damages. In the course
Of this firing, ! bad by the great ex.
ertions of Mr.. Eward Barnewall, the
Acting Sailing-master, assisted by MIR
l ;occntt the Raats aiD succeeded in
getting springs on our cable three diffe-
rem, times but the fire of the enemy
was so excessive, that before We could
get our broadside to bear. taey were
shot away, and thss rendered useless to
US. My ship had received many inju-
ries, and several had been killed and
wounded, but my brave officers & men,