Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-08-05

wasauga river that the Scorpion hadthir-
ty men, including her officers, and mount
ed one "a FOUNDER; and although there
was twelve FOUNDER on board, It's carri-
age had been SO much disabled as to rem
der it useless, and that Lieut.. Turner had
not the means of repairing it. 1t is in eyi-
dence, and is fully proved, that the Scor-
pion, had no boarding netting, and that
she was deficient in spare cordage that
she had no signals, and that her crew was
composed of mea Of the most ordinary
class.
The court find that the Tygress had
twenty-eight men, officers included, and
mounted one "a FOUNDER that she had
neither boarding nettiGss nor signals, and
was deficient IN cortfare. 1t does not :,
however, appear that tiie armament of
these schooners was deficient, except in
pistols.
: IS The court are of opinion, that, mas
much as no anchorage was found in Glou-
cester Bay, and it having become danger
GUS to remain there any longer, from the
severity of the gales, which were daily in
creasing, Lieutenant Turner, was perfect
ly justified in raising the blockade of Nat
tawasauga river and proceeding to St. Jo-
sephs that the position taken by him
while at st. Josephs, and ia. the neighbor-
hood OF French river, were well calculat
ed to annoy tlesenemy in his line of com
munication yyuh Mackinaw.
The court find that, after Lieut.. Turner
had proceeded to cruize OF French river,
o. the nigbtof the Sd of September last.
the Tygress was attacked by the enemy in
five large boats, Zone of them mounting a
FOUNDER, and the. other a 8 pounder,)
and by nineteen canoes, carrying about
three hundred sailors, soldiers, and In
dams, under the command of an English
naval officer that owing to the extreme
darkness of the night, the enemy were not
erceiyed Ia I'll they were close on board
nor we're they then discovered but by the
souEd of their oars.
After they were discovered, every exer-
ton was made by Lieut.. Champlin, his
officers and men, to defend his schooner,
that bravery and skill could suggest and
not until'all the officers were cut down,
did the overwhelming numbers of the enc
my prevail. The enemy having thus cap
tured the Tygress, and having mounted on
her their and s Founders, and placed on
board complement from seventy to one
hundred of picked men, remained at st.
JOseph's until the 5th Of September. On
the evening of that day the court find. that
the Scorpion returned from cruizing off
French river, and came to anchor within
five miles of the Tygress, without any in
formation having been received, or suspi-
cion entertained by Lieut.. Turner, of her
capture. At the dawn of the next day, it
appears that the gunner having charge of
the watch, passed word to the sailing-mas-
ter, that the Tygress was bearing down
under American colours. In few MI
nutesaiter, she ran alongside of the Scor-
'pion, fired, boarded, and carried her.
1t appears to the court, that the loss OF
the Scorpion is, in a great measure, to be
attributed to the want OF signals; and ow-
ing TO this deficiency, no suspicious were
excited as to the real character of the Ty-
gress; and from some of the English Of
ficers and men on board other being dress
ed in the clothes of her former officers and
men, and the residue of the enemy's crew
being concealed, a surprise was effected,
which precluded the possibility of de-
fence.
The court are, therefore, of opinion.
from the whole testimony before them.
that the conduct of Lieut. Turner was
That Of discreet and vigiIant officer.
JOHN SHAW, President.
WIN. G AYwyN.