Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-04-29

exception OF two very young midshpmenl ex-
am,ned every officer belonging to the President.
within the reach of the court, who survived
the late glorious contest between the fripa,e
iesty. -
we cot opinion, that the primary CAUSE of
the loss OF the President, was her running on
the oar as she was leaving tins port. The VIC
ience-and continuance of the shocks she receiv.
ed tor an hour and half or more. considering
that she was laden with stores AMI provisions
lor very long crnze, could not but have i'm
5urea her greatly, and mus have impeded her
saihng. Her begged and twisted appearance
after she arrived at Bermuda, must have been
the effects OF this unfortunate accident. We
are convinced that it was owing to this that the
enemy were able to overtake her
ne striking OF the President on the bar
cannot be imputed to the fault of any officer
wao was attached 10 her on the contrary, we
.nthk every possible precaution was taken. and
tue utmost exertions were used by her COM
mander and officers, 20 ensure her safe PASSAGE
over the bar, and to relieve her after she lad
srucS- ihe accident was occssioned by SOM,
mistake IN placing the boats, which were TO
serve as beacons for the President, through a
channel always dangerous for a vessel OF her
uaraught, out particularly so at such agtime as
she was obliged to select for passing NJ. when
the land mark could not be dis,ingu,sht d.
From the time that the superiority of the
enemy,s force was ascer,aincd, and il became
the duty OF the Presidcnt,i,o evade il. we are
convinced that the most proper measures were
pursued, aud that Sic made every possible eff,
.0s. 20 escape. No means, in our opinion were
SO likely to be attended with sussess. as those
which were adopted by Commodore Decatur
any suggestions that different measures would
nave DeeH more proper or more likely to &C.
conhpiish tue object, we think, are without
iounaation, and may the result OF Ignorance.
esgy.
We consider the management of the Presi.
aeu1 RON tle time the chase comnenccd till
her surrender, as the highest evidence OF the
experience, skill and resources of her coinman.
Der. and OF the ability and Sea,nansi4p Of her
oficers and crew. We fear that we cannot ex
press, IN manner that viii do Justice TO our
ieenngs, our admiration OF The conduct of Com
moaore Decatur and his officers and crew,
nte eng aged with the enemy, threatened
win force so superior, possessing adv antares
which must hare appeared TO render all oRposi.
ti os unayaiing, otherwise than that it might
anect the honor of our navy, and the character
OF our seamen. They fought with spirit which
no prospect of success could have heightened.
and It victory had met its C ommon reward, the
Enoynnon's name would have been added to
our list oil nava! conquest In this unequal con-
met the enemy gained ship, but the victory.
was ours When The President was obliged to
ieate the Ehdymion to avoid The other ships
VIM were last coming up, the Endymion was
snodued and it her friends had not been 1T
irand to rescue her, ske was so entirely disa.
Died that she soon must have struck her flag
PROOF OF this IS, that she made no attempt TO
pursue t.e Piesdent, or to annoy Ter by a SIM
gle snot while the President Was ~ her reach.
WIN the hope of escape from the ovsryyhelIaninr
i"rce winch was nearly upon her, the President
presenter her stern to the Fad ymion'a broad
side. further pfoofthat tie Endymion was
conquered IS, the shattered condi6on in which
she appeared, while The President IN the con
test with her had sustained but litiie injury -
ana the fact thAt the Endymion did not Join the
squadron till many hours after tie President
had been surrounded by the other four enen,y's
sniPs; and bad surrendered TO hem is strong
corroooratiYe evidence of the di4abled state in
which the PresIdeatieft the Endymiou
we thinA II due 10 com. Decatur and his he. \
roic o'1cers and crew, To notice the Proposition
he made TO board the Endymion, when he found
she was coming up, and the manner in which
tins proposition was received by his gallant
crew Such design, at such time, could
only have been conceived by a soul without fear,
and approved with enthusiastic cbeerinps bv
men regardless of danger. Had not the enemy
perceived the attempt, and availed himself of
the power he had in the early part of the action
to shun the approach of tile President. the
Endymion In the subsequent part OF the en-
gagement, the enemy's squadron was too near
20 permit the execution of this design, and the
disabled state of the Endymion would have
frustrated the principal object which com De
catur had IN making so bold an attempt, which
was TO avail himself the Endymion's superior
sailing to escape with his crew from his par.
suers:
We conclude by expressing our opinion; that
com. Decatur, as well during the chase, as
through his contest with the enemy, eyinced
great Judgment and skili, perfect GOODNESS, the
most determined resolution and heroic COURAGE,
That his conduct, and the conduct of his Off
GERS and crew, is highly honorable to them, and
TO the American navy, and deserves the warm
est gratitude ofther country That they did
not give up their ship till she was surrounded
and oyerpowered by force so superior, that
further resistance would have been uniustiha-
ole and useless sacrifice of the lives of brave
men
The order Of the Secretary Of the Navy re-
CURES us to express an opinion as TO the con-
duct OF the officers and crew of the President
after the capture. The testimony of all the wit.
nesses concurs in enabling us to give il our de.
cided appreciation.
BY the court.
ALEX. MURRAY, President.
True copy from the original.
CADwALADER ID GOLDEN,
Judge Allocate.