Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-07-19

wh.re INV stern guns could not be bro'i|
70 bear he there kept up most gai']
ling FIRE, which twas out OF my power
TO return, when / saw no prospect OF
ipiuring him without getting under way
and becoming the assaiians. My top.
sails sheets snd ballard. were all shot
away, as we'll as the jib & fore.top-mast-
STAY. sail.baliards. The only rope not
cut was the flying iib haliards !; and that
being the only sail could set, ! caused
it 10 be hoisted, my cable to be cut, and
ran down on both ships, with an lnten-
ton Of laying the Phoebe on board. Inc
firing on both sides was now tremen-
dous; had let fall my tore topssali and
fore sail, bat the want oftacks and sheets
rendered them almost useless 70 us-yet
we were enabled, for short time, to
close with the enemy and although our
decks we're now strewed with dead, and
our cock pit filed with wounded-ol'
though our ship had been several times
on fire, and was rendered perfect
wreck, we we're still encouraged to hope
TO save her, from the circumstance OF
the Cherub, from her crippled state, be-
ing compelled TO haul of. She did not
return to close action again, although
she apprently had it in her power to do
SO, but kept up distant firing with her
long guns. The Phoebe, from our dis
abled state, was enabled however, BY
edging OF. to choose the distance which
best suited her long guns, and kept up
a tremendous are on Us, which moved
down my brave companions by the do
zens. Many Of my guns had been rem.
dered useless by the enemy's shot, and
many Of them had their whole crews.de-
stroyed. We manned them again from
those which were disabled, aad one gun
10 particular was three times manned
fifteen men were slain at it in the course
of the action but, strange as it naay ap-
pear, the captain of it escaped with en-
iy slight wound. Finding that the en-.
envy had IT in his power to choose his
distance, now gave up ali hope OF clos.
ing with him, and, as the wind, for tie
moment, seemed to favor the design, l
determined 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 had no doubt OF sue.
ceeding, when, in an instant, the WIND
shifted from the land (as is very com.
mon in this port in the latter part Ut the
day. and payed our head down on the
Phoebe, where we were again exposed
to a dreadful raking FIRE My ship was
now Totally manageable; yet, as her
head was toward the enemy, and he to
leewsrd of me, I still hoped to be able to
board him. At this monent 1t. Com.
mandant Downes came on board to re.
ceive my orders, under the Impression
that should soon be prisoner. He
could be of no use to me in the then
ure,ehed state of the Essex; and find
ing Qrom the snemy's putting his helm
up) that my last attempt at boarding
would not succeed, / directed him, at.
ter he had been about 10 minutes on
board, to return to his own ship, to be
prepared for defending and destroying
her in case OF attack. He took with him
several of my wounded, leaving three
of his boats crew on Board to make room
for them. The Cherub now had an op.
portunity of distinguishing herself, by
keeping up hot fire on him during bis
return. The slaughter on board my ship
had now become horrible, tho enemy
continuing to rake Us, and we unable to
bring a gun to bear. therefore de
rected hawser to be bent to the sheet
anchor, and the anchor to be cut from
the bows to bring her head round: this
succeeded We again got our broad
side to bear, and as the enemy was
much crippled and unable to hold his
own, l have no doubt he would soon have
drif.ed out Of gun shot before he disco
vered we had anchored, had not the
hawser unfortunately parted. My ship
had taken Are several times during the
action, but alarmingly so forward and
aft at this momest, the flames were
bursting Up each hatchway, and no
hopes were entertained Of saving her
our distance from the shore did not ex.
coed three quarters of mile, and hop.
ed many of my brave crew would be a.
BILE to save themselves, should the ship
blow up, as / was informed the fire was
near the magazine, and the explosion of
large quantity Of powder below served
to increase the horrors of our situation
Our boats were destroyed by the enc.
my shot +; I, therefore, directed those
who could swim to jump overheard, and
endeavor to gain the shore. Some
reached it-some were taken by the en-
envy, and some perished in the attempt;
but most preferred sharing with me the
fate Of the ship. We, who remained,
now turned our attention wholly to sx-