The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1815-03-08

0ETeiai AeeOunt, Of hAe eapfufe q nc
u. Stases jrigate President.
Ceny Of a letter from Com. DEchrUR 10 the
Secretary Of fhe Nary, dafed

the particular causes which preceded and led
to the capture OF the lalc u. States fsigsie
presiJen,, by a squadron OF His Britannia
Majes,y's ships, (as per margain) has deyol-
we'd Upon me. In my communication of the
l4,h, made known 10 you my Intention of
proceeding TO sea on that evening. g.--Owipg
TO some mistake of the pilot, the ship in go
ing out groundcd on the bar, where she con-
tlnued 10 strike heavily for an hou' and halt;
although she had broken several Of her rud-
der braces, and received such other material
injury as 10 render her return into port desr-
able, was unable 10 do so from the strong
westerly wind which was then blowing II
being now high water, IL became necessary 10
force her over the bar before the tide tell IN
this we succeeded by 10 o'clock, when we
shaped our course along the shore OF Long
Island for SO miles, and then slccrcd S.E. oy
s. At S o'clock, three ships were discover
cd ahead /; we Immediately hauled up the
ship and passed two miles TO the northward d
Of them. At day light we discovered four
ships In chase, one on each quarter and two
aslcrn, The leading ship Of ,be enemy, ra-
aee--she conmenccd fire upon us--bul
without effect. A, meredan, the wind be-
cane light and bsfflog we had increased
our distance from The e,but the ship next
astcsn, which was also Iasgc ship, had gam.
ed and continued to gain upon Us considera-
bly,; we immediately occupied all hands to
lgntsn ship, by starting water, cutting awsy
the anchors, throwing overheard provisions,
cables, spare spars, boats, and every article
that could be got At, Keeping the sails wet
from the royals down. Al 8, we had the
wioJ quite light the enemy, VINO had now
been joined by brig, had strong breeze
nod wcre coming up with 10 rapidly. The
Endymion (movnting so guns, 74pounders
oa ,he main deck) mad now approached US
withn gun-shot, and had commenced he
with her bow guns, which we returned from
our stern. A, o'clock we had obtained
position on our starboard quarter, within half
point blank shot, on which neithcf our sterO
nor quar,cr guns would bear we were now
steeting e.. N. the wind N. w. remain.
ed with her in this position for half an hour,
in he hope that shc would close with Us on
our broadside, in which case had prepared
my crew TO board, bu, from his continuing 10
Wv his ship 10 maintain his position, Il be-
cafnc evidrn, that 10 close was not his intsn-
iioo. Eyesy hrr now Gu, some Of our salts
an rigsiug rohsve continued our course
undo' these circumstances, would have been
placing II IN his power to cripple us, wi hout
being sabjec' to injury himself. and to have
haused up more 10 The Dorthward 10 bfins
oa' ,suin guns 10 bear, would have exposed
Us D his rak,ns 6te.-i, wa. now dusk, when
dc cfmiaed 10 alter my course sonn, for
the he,purposc Of bringing the enemy abeam,
and ,lrhoush their ships astern were drawlns
up fast, fek satisfied should be enabled TO
shrow him on, OF ne combat before they
could come up, and was aot without hopes, II
the nsm proved dsik, of which the'c was
every sppearance) that | might still be cna.
bIcd to effect my escape. Ouc opponent kept
of at the same instant We did, and our fire
commenced at the samc time. We contlnu-
cd engaged steering 5. with steer-sails sc, 2
hours and haI, when we completely succeed.
cd in demanding her.--P, eviously to her
dropping entirely out of the action, there
were intervals Of minutes, when the ships
werc brosdsidc, in which she did not A'e q
gun. AT this pesiod (half.pas, 8 o'clock) al
though dark, the other ships OF tho squad
ron were 10 sight and almos, within gun-shot.
We were of course compelled 10 abandon
her. In resuming our former course for the
purpose OF avoidpg the squsdron, W. were
compelled to present our sicrn To oar sn'sso-'
nisI--bu, such wss his state. though we wste
thus exposed and wilnin range OF his guns
for nall ,n hout, ,hs, he did avail himself Of
thus favorable "ppo',unI,y OF rsklng us. We
con'lnacd this ,uise until II o'clock, when
TWO ste,p ships OF the enemy Ono Pomone
AMI rsnedo,) had comc up. rhe Pomone
had opened her are on the lsrboard bow,
wuhin musket shot; the other about two
cables length, ,akog aNkins position on our
qu"tef ADD the rest, (with the exception oil
tine Endym'oo) wi,hio gun shot. rhus sit.
uated, with about one-6th Of my crew killed
and wounded, my ship crippled. and a more
than fouy-fold force opp,sedto mo, without
achsnce Of escape left, deemed it my duty
10 surrender. t
t's- with emotions Of pride I bear tes,i
mony 'othe gallsn,'y and steadiness OF every
oih'cr sud man had the honor TO command
90 this occasion; and feel satisfied that The
hcs of thcit having beaten force equol TO
Ii H.. -