Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1814-07-21


lishment on the Columbia. A rendezvous
was appointed for the Essex Junior, and
every arrangement made for sailing, and
| intended to let them chase me off, to
give the Essex Junior an opportunity Of es-
Gaping On the 2Sth of March, the day
after the determination was formed, the
wind came on to blow fresh from the SOUTH
ward, 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
west side OF the bay but on opening them, l
saw a prospect Of passing TO w~indward.
when ! took in my top gallant sails, which
were set over single recfed top-sa,'s, md
braced up for this purpose, but on round.
ing tho point, a heavy squall struck the
ship and carried away her main top mast.
precipitating the men who were aloft into
the sea, who we're drowned. Both ships
now gave chase to me, and | endeavou red
in my disabled state to regain the port;
but finding l codld not recover the COM
mon anchorage, | ran close into a small
bay, about three quarters of a mile to the
leeward Of the battery on the east side
of the harbor, and let so my anchor with
Al piclOt Silot Vi tiG slOIC, WHCIC 4 iuLGnU-
ed to repair my damages as soon as posi-
BILE. The enemy continued to approach,
ard showed an evident intention of at
lacking, regardless of the neutrality of the
place where | was anchored and the eau
ton observed in their approach to the at.
tack of the crippled Essex was truly re-
d%icilous, as was their display of their mot
to flag, and the number of Jacks at all
their mast heads. l, with as much expe-
dition as circumstance would admit of,
got my ship ready for action, and endea-
vored to get a spring on my cable, but
had not succeeded when the enemy, at So
minutes after 5 P. M made his attack, the
Phoebe placing herself under my stern, and
the Cherub on my sta rboard bow but the
Cherub soon finding her situation a hot
one, bore up and ran under my stern also,
where both ships kept up a hot raking
fire. | had got three long l2 Founders out
of the stern ports, which were worked with
so much bravery and skill, that in half an
hour we so disabled both as to compel
them to haul off to repair damages. In the
course of this firing, | had by the great
exertions of Mr.. Edward Barnwell, the act
ing Sailing master, assisted by Mr.. Lins-
colt, the Boatswain, succeeded in getting
springs on our cable three different times;
bat the FIRE of the enemy was SO excess
sive that before we could get our broad.
side to bear, they were shot away and
thus rendered useless to us. My ship had
received many injuries, and several had
been killed and wounded but my brave
officers and men, Notwithstanding the I'M
favorable circumstances under which we
were brought TO action, and the powerful
force opposed to us, were no ways discour-
aged-all appeared determined to defend
their ship to the last extremity, and to
die in preference to a shameful surrender.
Our gaf, with the ensign and the motto
flag at the mizen, had been shot away, but
Free Trade and Sailors Rights c~ontinu-
ed to lily at the fore. Our ensign was re-
placed by another; and to guard against
a similar event, an ensign was made fast
in the mizen rigging, and several jacks
were hoisted in different parts of the ship.
Ihe enemy soon repaired his damages for
a fresh attack !; he now placed himself,
with beth his ships, on my starboard quar-
ter, out of the reach of my carronades, and
when ny stern guns could not be brought to
bear, he there kept up a most calling fire.
which it was out of my power to return,
when | saw no prospect of ~injuring him
without getting under way and becoming
the assailant. My top-sails, sheets and
haliards were all shot away, as well as
the jib and fore top mast stay-sail haIiards.
The only rope not cut was the flying jib-
haliards and that being the only sail /
could set, | caused it to be hoisted, my
cable to be cut, and ran down on both
ships, with an intention of laying the
Phoebe on board. The firing on both sides
was now tremendous | had left fall my FORE
top sail and fore-sail, but the want of tacks
and sheets rendered them almost useless
to us-yes we were enabled, for q short
time. to close with the enemy and al
though our decks were now strewed with
dead, and our cock pit filled with wound
ed-although our ship had been several