The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1814-07-20
BY MAIL.
OFFICIAL ACCOUNT
Ofthe capture OF the u. s tiIgate Essex.
WAR EVENTS. &c.

81, 1914.
THE first section Of the letter contains duplcatt
OF the particulars Of his outward bound cruze hi.
captures, and other cirouu f'ances proceeding the
arrival OF the PhGbe, at Valparaiso, the original q
which had been received and published here
i had done all the injury that could be
done the British commerce In the Pacific and
still hoped TO signalize my cruize by some
thing more splendid before leaving that sea
/ thought 1t not improbable that Com. Hllyar
might have kept his arrival secret, md be rioy
ing that he would seek me at Valparaiso, as
the most likely place to find me. thereto. c
determined 10 cruise about that place, and
should fail OF meeting him, hoped 10 be
compensated by the capture of some merchant
ships, said to be expected from England.
The PhGbc, agreeabIy to my expecta-
lions, came TO seek me at Valparaiso, where
1 was anchored with the Essex, my armed
prize the Essex Junior, under the command
OF Lieut.. Downs, on the look oct of the har-
bor; but contrary TO the course ! thought he
would pursue, Com. Hillyar brought with
him The Cherub sloop ol war, mounting %
guns, eighteen 32-pound carrUnades, cigh.
24's, and TWO long 9's on the quarter deck and
forecastle, and a complement OF l80 men.
The force OF the Phoebe Is as follows ,hirty
long lSpoonders, sixteen se-pound carron-
ades, one howl;zer, and six 3-pounders in The
tops, in all So guns, and complement of
$40 men making force of 8 | guns and 500
men in addition 10 which, they took on board
The crew of an English letter-of-ma que lay
ing IN port. Both ships had picked crew
and were sent into the Pacific, in company
with the Racoon of % guns, for the express
purpose of seeking the Essex, and were pre-
haa .nb
and country Bcitish Sailors best rights
Traitors offend BOTH" This was intended as
reply to my motto, 4" Free Trade and Sal
Tors Rights" under the erroneous impress
sion that my crew were chiefly Englishmen,
or to counteract its effect on their own crew.
The force Of the Essex was 46 guns for
ty 32-poand carronades, and six long l2',,
and her crew, which had been much reduced
by prizes, amounted only to 255 men. The
Essex Junior, which was intended chiefly as
a store-ship, mounted 20 guns, ten lS-pound
carronades, and ten short 6's, with only 60
men OH board. In reply to their motto, l
wrote at my mizen, " God, our Country, axd
Liberty; IyrGnts offend them"
:" On getting their provision on board, they
went off the poft for the potpose of blocka.
ding NE. where they crsized for near six
weeks during which time l endeavored to
provoke challenge, and frequently, but in
eHec,ualiy, TO bring the PnG5e alone to ac-
uon, hist with both my ships, and afterwards
with my single ship,wi,h both crews on board.
was several times under way, and ascertain
ed had greatly the advantage in point of sail
ing, and once succeeded in closing within
gun-shot of the Phoebe, and commenced
fire on her, when she ran down for the Cher
ub, which was | 2 miles to leeward this
excited some surprize and expressions Of IN
digDation, as previous to my getting under
way she hove too of the port, hoisted her
motto flag and fred a gun to windward.-
Con. Hillya: seemed determined 10 avoid a
contest with me on nearly equal terms, and
from his extreme prudence in keeping both
his ships ever after constantly within hail OF
each other, there were no hopes OF any ad
vantages to my country from longer stay in
port. l therefore determined to put to sea
the first opportunity which should offer /; and
was the more strongly induced to do so, as
had gained certain intelligence that the Ia
gus, rated SO, and ;wo other friga'es, had
Sailed for that sea in pursuit. Of ME ; and
had reason TO expect the arrival of the Ra-
COON from the the N. w. coast of America,
where she had been sent for the purpose OF
destroying our Fur establishment on the Co. ).
lumbis A rendezvous was appointed Tor the
Essex Junior, and every arrangement made
for sailing, and Intended to let them chace
me off, to give the Essex Junior an opportun.
ity Of escaping. Ga the 2sth March, the
day after mis- detc, mination was formed, the
wind canfe'6n to blow fresh from the South
ward, when parted my larboard cable and
dragged my star5oard anchor directly out TO
sea. Not moment was To- be lost in getting
sail on the ship. The enemy were close in
with the point forming the West side Of ihc
bay; but on opening them, saw prosper,
of passing to windward, when | took in my
top gallant, sails, which were set over single
reeGed top.sails, and braced up for this pur-
pose but on rounding the point, q heavy
snnan strnck .hc sl,in and carried nMar her