The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1814-07-20

ready Tor hcuon, end endeayofCd 10 Get
spring on my cable, but had net succeede
wheh The enemy, OF 81 minutes alter s, p Si
made bis attack, The PlGae pIOcing heIsel
under my steiD, AID the Cheiub on o.
rboard bow bat, the Cherub soon fndin,
her situation hot oIe, bore Up and ran dowi
under my stern also, where both ships kep
up ho. rakIng fire. he'd got three lopg II.
pounoers out OF the stein ports, which were
worked with so much bravery aud skill, tha,
in half an hour we so disabled both as 10 com.
pei Them to haul off and repair damages
the course of this firing, ] had by The gIeai
exertiops Of Mr.. Edward BsInewell, the act
ing Sailing Master, assisted ~ Mr.. Linscott,
the bcaiswain, succeeded in getling springs
on our cable three different times but the
hre OF the enemy was so excessive, that be-
lore we could get our broadside 10 bear, The y
were shot awsy,and thus rel endered useless 10 Us.
My ship had received many injuries, and
several had been killed and wounded bu, my
brave officers and men, Notwithstanding the
unfayorablc circum stances under which we
were brought 10 aciion,and the powerful force
opposed 20 Us, were no ways discouraged
all appeared dcte mined to defend their ship
to the last extremity, and 10 die in preference
to a shameful surrender. Our gaf, with the
ensign aud the motto flag at the mizeb, had
been shot away, but FREE TRADE AND SAL
loR's RIGHTS continued to fly at the fore!
Our e0sign was re placed by another; and 10
guard against similar event, an ensign was
made fsst in the mizen rigging, ard several
cks we're hois,ed in different parts Of the
snip The enemy soon repaired his DANA
ees TO- fresh attack he now placed him
self, with beth his ships, on my starboald
quartet, out of the reach of my carronades,
4nt where my s.ern guns could not be bro'e
70 bear he ,here kept upa most CALLING FIRE,
which 1t was ough, OF NY power to return,
when L. Saw no prospect of injuring him with
out getting under way, and becoming the as
sailant. My ,opssil sheets and haliards were
all shot away, as well as the jib and fore-top-
mast slsyssil halards The only rope not cut
wa. he lying jib haiards; and that being
the ony sail could set, caused il to be
hois,ed, my cable TO be cut, and ran down on
both ships, with an intention OF laying the
PbGbe On board. The firing on both sides
was now tremendous had let fall my fore
top.sail and fore. sail, but the want Of tacks
and sheets rendered them almost useless TO
us-yet We were enabled, for short time, to
close with the enemy and although our
decks were now strewed with dead, and cur
cockpit filled with wounded-al,hough our
ship bad been several times on FIRE, end was
rendered perfect wreck, We were still in
hopes to save her, from the circumstance
of the Cherub, from her crippled state, be-
ing comp He'd TO haul off She did not re-
turn TO close action again, although she ap-
pareRtly had i, In her power to do SO, ,, q
kept up distsns firing with her long gun.
The Phoebe, from our disabled state, was en-
ar al byye du;n ,G tn
distance which besi suited her long guns, and
KEEP, up tremendous fire on US, which now
eI down my brave companions by The dozen.
Many of my guns had been rendered useless
by the enemy's shot, and many of them had
had their whole crews destroyed. We man.
ned them again from those which were disa-
blcd, anG one gun in particular was three
tlmes manned--hfteen men were slain at ic
In the course of the action but strange as ir
may appear, the captain of it escaped with
only slight wound.
Finding that the enemy had it in his pow
er TO choose his distance, l now gave up all
hopes of closing With him, and, as the wind,
for the moment, seemed 10 favor the design,
| determined 10 endeavor to run her on shore,
land my men and destroy her. Every thing
seemed TO favor my wishes. We had ap-
preached the shore within musket shot, and l
had no doubt Of eding, when, in an Instant,
the wind shifted from the land Gas is very COM
mon in this port in the latter part Of the day.
and payed our head down on the Phoebe, where
We we're again exposed to a dreadful raking
Ere. My ship was now totally unmanagabe .
yet, as her head was toward the enemy, and
he to leeward of ME, still hoped to be able to
board him. At this moment, 1t. Command
ant Downcs came on board 10 receive my or
dcrs, under the impression that should soor,
be prisoner. He could DC OF no use to me
In the then wretched state Of the Essex ; and
finding (from the enemy's putting his helm
up) that my last attempt q, boarding would not
succeed, directed him, after he had been a
h,arl h;s