The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-11-17

SIR,
have 90 report 10 vo, the loss of
one of nur tenders (the Frankliu) cn;aman.l-
cd By Mr.. Hameisley, Masters Mate, alter
very gallant defcuce oS an hour and a half,
against tender and fourteen barges and
boats Of the enemy. OF Back River pCint, ca
Sunday lest.
From tin. late depredat;ons of the encmy's
boats upon the bav craft in Back river, and
having also extended their operations into
Hampton Roads for the fr.s time these twelve
months, WAS Induced on Saturday evening
last, to order the two tenders o four cf my
Eoats OFF Back river for the purpose of CON
voying several craft which had been reported
so me in that river and hound to this place,
with positive orders to the officers to avoid =
separation in the night. and retnra to Eamp-
ton Roads with the craft without delay. Un-
fortunately, however, they were unavoilably
separated III the night !; the boats, olrirg to a
rough sea, returned into Hampton, an, tie
Frapklin is reported 60 have separated from
the Despatch at II, p. III.
1t. Sanders. of the Despatch, finding in the
morning, from the ignorance OF his plot and
Il l;s.h' wind that he had drifted near die
encmys ships in Lvnnhaven; and that tiiev
were nlannin, their boats to- attack him, iI,.-
mediatciy manned his sweeps and made a
signal for our beats, who were under Old
Point, & also to the Franiliin, that iav nearly
hccahnea up the bay and considerably 70 the
eastward. The uoa's immediately Joined tie
Despatch, AMI little t,.eeze sErinr;n,r up,
the enefny's boato and tenders, after cxchang,-
ing q few shot, gave over thr chase and d.
rected thei, attention t. the Franks They
Game up N.t spd surrounded hta at about
40, when tac firm Commence, anC! were re
Palsed nnt'Lhah p..St T., whes she was car.i-
ed by Boarding
7, of course, have no report from the Fran
liz, but have sent 1t. f5eaic w;ch a & C To-
ascertain the fate Of her gailmt officers AM,
crew, which consisted OF about .hrty-fve,
and as there is 4 IN stcrs' mate and thrcc
srsmen at present prisoners OF war in Nor
felix, have authorised Ii. Neale to make a
ny feaahorQyy exchange the command;p,, Off
ccr at Iynnhayen may appear disposed 10 &C
ces'e 20 With an assurance that On any p-act;-
rthle arrangement which Nigh. be entered
INTO, such AS paroling Tie wbole until a com
iouincation could be made to the Ccnlrlissary
tIeueral of prisoners i9r Sn exchange, would
3'se no time in makirtg oilc necessary appiica,
ton for that purpnss.
Owing 10 scUlc changes arnorC the boats
and leaders while in the roads, an unable
to ascertain at tins lnoiasrt, the precise ru1n-
aer OF che Franklin's crew, bur udge them u
De about tAiltg-onc men, besides Mr. Ha1neTs-
..'y, her comIhaRder, one tndshiP man (Ntr
Slo3k) AND two acting - Hc3.crs' mates anu
pilots. 80
4 have much sati.f4ction IN p7s;l-iag vow,
es-a5 every exsrtion Was made by Lit Sanders
20 unite his whole {orce, Until the Whole of
the eneiny' sfcrce mad eifrctuaiv cut theu Of
fron- the franklin; ami from the report of
lie Inhabitants who were on the beach and
Witnessed the gallant defence of that vessel
Until completely surrounded, and carried By
the oosi'(ling of five he,ivy E1ats ar the saTos
rricment, and after having beaten az their
tender an(! two heavy launches, az different
periods d the acsicn, ] canna& rcf-ain from
soliciting your attention 10 har. naeritolio9s
thodSh unfortunate command, sho,ild he
IL We survived the action.
have the honor to be, very respectfully,
yoar obetiieAt servant,
CHARLES GORDON.
ccc:c,lry of The: Nary, Washington.