The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1814-03-16

be thought unnecessary by those who heard
its first report, or have heard its mode s.
mention in the official letter of commodore
Rodgers. The vessel which the commo-
dorc pursued, 10 ascertain her character.
is since understood to be the Plonfcgenef
II "a guns, captaia Robert Lloyd. But,
Why she did not bring the President to &C
lion. during the seven hours they were in
sight Of each other, before the tide would
permit the friga,e to come over the bar
or Why she went from the President when
chased, and refused to engage, When it was.
In her power TO bring the frigaie 10 action,
while it was impossible for the commodore
to avoid it if offered, a future development
or better information, must decide To put
1t IN the power Of every cempesepi Judge
to draw his own differences, we have OBJ
tanned copy Of so much from the log book
or Journal of the frigate as will place the
whole transaction in So une quivocal point
'of view, as 10 remove eveiy doubt and sa-
iisfy the most inquisitive on the subject
The direction of the wind the distance and
bearing Of the two vessels, the draught of
water by the President, the depth OH Sandy
Hook bar and time Of high water there,
were all known 10 the enemy as well as to
commodore Rodgers, and (witbout refer
cnce TO advantage Of wind, or nearncss of
position) lead irresis,ibly to the same con-
clusiop. 1t may be proper to add tina, in
the latter part of the time third strange
sail was also discovered to leeward suppos-
ed to DC irigate, the consort Of the "a.
Ertroef from The Log Book of ne u. S..
Jrisafe President, Friday, February Is,
1914. s.
Day light, moderate breezes from S. w.
by w. and cloudy weather; made the high
land OF Nevcrsink, bearing N. w Ia N.
distant leagues tackled ship and made
sail towards it.
AT 80 A. M. discovered n strange sail
on our lee-beam reported from the mast
head, to be topsail schooner, standing by
the wind to the southwark and westward.
AT 6 A. III. moderate and pleasant wea-
Their, wind w. S. w.
At IS A. NJ. sent boat on shore to the
lighthouse for pilot; soundipgs 10 ia
thoms.
At 9 30 A. nj. discovered the second
strange sail bearing S. S. E. standing di.
rectly for us; hauled up the forcsail, back +,
ed the main and mizen topsaiIs beat to |
quarters, and made every preparation for !
battle. /
AT 10 80 A. NJ. hoisted an American en-. !!
sign at each mast head; first strange sail !
bearing S. l-2 E. and the second e large
ship of war, S. by w. distan, miles
wind S. w. by w. |
Meridian Jew York light house bore N. ,
ID w. miles-the strange ship of war
having hauled by the wind on the larboard I
tack, about S miles from us, and we living
to, with our main and mizzen topsails a.
back
AT l p. Nj. took a reef in our topsails,
ana hred gun to windward, supposing the |
strange sail to be an enemy.
At S strange sail bore ND and stood
down for us-we wore and stood to the S. |
10 meet him. Wind w. S. w.
At 80 strange sail wore and stood from
US.
At so discovered our boat returning |
from shore, wore ship and stood towards |
her, strange ship also wore and stood after
US.
AT Q IS took the boat in tow, wore and
stood Tor the strange ship, who also i'm !
mediately wore and made sail from us.-I
AT this time within random shot distance.
AT ] S received pilot from the reve-
nue. cutter; he, together with the officers
who came on board, declared the ship (then |
having made sail away from us) was an en-. |
emy's "a We wore ship and made sail for |
the bar.
At came to anchor inside the bar, the |
light house bearing E. IL S.
Remarks by a Lieufenart.
From the position of the two ships for
seven hours, it is evident the enemy could
have compelled US to action, at any hour
within that interval; for he had the wea-
Their gage, and the water on the bar was
too low for the President 10 get over until