Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-07-16

of, to give the Essex Junior an opportunity
of escaping. On the % h March. the day
after this deterS'ioation was formed, the
wind came on to blow fresh from the south
ward. when l parted my larboard cable &
dragged my starboard anchor directly
out to sea. Not moment WAS TO be lost
in getting sail ot the ship. The enemy
were close in with the point forming the
west side Of The bay but on opening them.
! saw prospect of passing to wiudward.
when Look in nIy top ..allantss ails, which
were set over sio-'e ree,ed toi, sails, and
|hraced up for this purpose : but IN rounding
the point, heavy squat struck the ship
and carried away her main top mast, pre-.
cIpitating the IN n who we're aloft into the
sea, who were drowned
Both ships now gave chase to me. and /
endeavored in my disabled state To regainthe
port |; out find ne could net recover the
common anchorage. / ran close into a small
pay, about three quarters of q mile TO the
leeward OF the battery, on the east side of
the harbor, AID let so my anchor within,
istol shot otthe shore, where l intended
% repair my damages as soon as possible,
Inc enemy continued to approach, and
showed an evident intention of attacking,
regardless OF the neutrality of the place
where was anchored; and the caution
observed IN their approach to the attack of
The crippled Essex was truly ridiculous. as
was their display oftheir motto flags, and
the NUMBER OF Jacks al all their mast heads.
|, with as much expedition as circumstan.
ces would admit of. got my ship ready for
action, and endeavored to get a spring ON
my cable, but had not succeeded. when the
enemy, at As minutes after SIP. M. made
his attack, the Phoebe placing herself under
my stern. and the Cherub on my s,arboard
bow but the Cherub Soon finding her situat;:
on hot one, bore up and ran under INV stern
also, where both ships kept up a hot and
raking tre. lhad got three long 12-pouu.
ders OUT OF the stern ports, which were
worried with SO much bravery and skill,
that in half hour we SO disabled bath a
to compel them to haul off to repair dam~
ages. In the course of this firing. I had hv
the great exertions of Mr.. Edward Barne-
wall, he Acting Sailing master, assisted by
| MT L'nscott, the Boatswain, succeeded in
getting springs on our cable three different
ti!nes but the hire of the enemy was so ex>
cessive, that before we could get our broad.
side to bear, they were shot away, and TINS
| rendered useless to us. My ship had re-
ceived many injuries, and several had been
Killed and wounded but my brave officers
and men, notwithstanding The uBfayorable
circumstances under which we were
| Drought to action, and the powerful force
opposed 70 US, were no ways discouraged
| aii appeared determined to defend their
snip to the last extremity, and to die in pre-
ference TO shameful surrender. Our gaff.
w0n the ensign aud motto flag at the mizen,
mad been shot away, but FREE TRADE AND
SAILORS RIGHTS continued to fly atthe fore.
Our essssa was Replaced by another: and
TO guard against a similar event, an ensign
was gade fast to the miztn rigging. and
several Jacks were hoisted in different parts
Oh the snp- The enemy soon repaired mis-
damages Tor fresh attack !; he now placed
himself, W tn both his ships, on nv STAR.
ooafu quartcr, cut of the reach If nv carron
AIDES, and where my stern gu ~ could .,ot he
Drought 20 bear he there kept up a most
sailing hrr, which it was out of my tower
to retuin, when saw no pr, lspect OF iniur.
ing nm without getting under way ynd be.
coming the assaiant. My topssail she,ss
and haliiards were all shot away, as well as
inc Jio and ore'top- mast"stayssa
Inc only rope not cut was the flying lib
haiilards and that being the only sail 1
could set, Caused it to be huisted, INV ca.
DE to be cut, and ran down on both shiDs.
with an intention of laying the Phoebe ON
board. The firing on both sides was now
tremendous had let fall my fore -top-sail
and lore sail, but the want Of tacks and
sheets rendered them almost useless to us
yet We were enabled, for short time. tn
close with the enemy and although our
decks were now strewed with dead. and orr
COCK pit filled with wounded althy our shin
mad beeh several times on FIRE and was rem,
dered a perfect wreck, we were still encour.
aged to hope to save her, from the circum-
stance OF the Cherub. from her crippled
state, being compelled to haul off. She did
not return TO close action again, sltho' she
apparently had it IN her power to do so, but
Kept up distant firing with her long guns.
Inc Phoebe, from Dur disabled state, was
enabled however, by edging off, to choose
the distance which best suited her long guns.
and kept up tremendous fire on us which
moved down my brave companions by the
dozen. Many of my guns had been render.
ed useless by the enemy's shot, and many IF
them had had their whole crews DESTROYED
we manned them again from those which
were disabled, and one gun in particular
was three times manufacturer men were
slain at it in the course Of the action but
strange as it may appear, the captain of it
Escaped with only slight wound Finding
that the enemy had 1t in his power TO choose
his distance, l now gave up all hopes of
closing with him. and, as the wind, for the
moment, seemed to favor the design. de-
terrnined to endeavor to run her on shore. |
land my men and destroy her. Every |
thing seemed to favor my wishes. We had |
approached the shore within musket shot. |
and bad no doubt Of succeeding, when in. |
an instant, the wind shifted from the land |
las Is very common in this port in the lat