Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-08-23

any Importance occurred to us until the
9th of April, when at7, A. NJ. in lat. So,
so, 5. and long. SIS, l.. we made strange
sail in the S. e. to which we gave chase
| The wind was from the II. e. by Il. and
light throughout the day, and by shutdown
we had neared the chase considerably. 1t
was calm during the night, and at day
light on tue 98th he was yet in sight. A
breeze Springing up from the n. w. we
crowded sail with steering sails on both
sides (; the chase standing to the north
ward upon wind. At 9 hours IS min
utes, p. NJ. the Pcacoc, was about six
miles ahead of this ship: and observing
that she appeared to be suspicious of the
chase, took in starboard steering sails,
and hauled up fur the Peacock. was
still, however, OF opinion that the chase
was an Indiaman, though, indeed, the at
mospnere was quite smokey and indis-
tinct, and concluded, as she was very
large, that Capt. Warrington was waiting
tor me to join him, that we might toge-
| Their 20 along side of her. At h. % IN.
T. NJ. the Peacock made the signal that
the chase was ship OF The line aud All en-
envy. Immediately took in all steering.
sails, and hauled upon wind the enemy
then upon our lee quarter, distant about
| eight miles. by rundown had perceiv-
| ed that the enemy sailed remarkably fast.
and was very weatherly. At 9 2. rs. as
| the enemy was gaining upon us, and as
there was every appearance that he would
be enabled TO keep sight vi us during the
night, considered it necessary TO tighten
this ship. therefore threw overheard IL
tons OF kentiedse, part of oar shot, some
OF our heavy spars, cut away the sheet an
Choir AMI cable, and started the wedges of
the masts. At Q a. VI. the enemy being
rather before our lee beam, t;Nked to the
westward the enemy also tackled, and
continued in chase of us. At day light. on
| the 29th, he was within gun shot, upon
our lee quarter. At A. NJ. having hois-
! ted English colora, and arear admiral's
flag, he commenced firing from his bow
guns. AS his shot went over us. | cut
away the remaining anchor and cable
| threw overheard the launch. six of our
guns, more of our shot, and every heavy
article that was at hand ; the enemy fired
about thirty shot, not one of which took
effect, though most Of them passed over us
! While he was firing, had the satisfac-
ton to perceive that we slowly dropt him.
and at 9 A. Nj. he ceased his fire.
| At Ii a. ". the enemy was again COM
ing up with US. l now, therefore, threw
overheard all our remaining guns but one
long gun, nearly all cur shot, all our spare
spares, cut away the topgailant forecastle.
and cleared every thing OF deck, as we'll
as from below, top tighten as much as pos
sible. At noon the enemy again com
menced firing. He fired many shot. ONLY
three of which came on board two striE-
ing the hull and one passing through the
lIlb. 1t is, however, extraordinary, that
every shotdid not take effect, for the enc
my the second time he commenced firing
was certainly within three quarters of a
mile of the ship and the sea quite smooth.
| Iperceived from his sails that the effect
of his fire was to deaden his wind, and at
Z. M. he again ceased firing. At Oh.
90 m. Z. M. the wind which had previous
! y and greatly to our disadvantage, backed
to the southeast, hauled to the westward.
and treshened up. At shutdown the enc
my was about four miles astern. The
wind was fresh and we went at the rate of
nine knots throughout the night. We
saw the enemy at intervals through the
Iaquatls during the night, and at day LIGHT
on the seth he was about - miles astern.
still In chase ofus. At On. Som. A. NJ.
the took IN steering sails, reefed his ton
sails and hauled t. the eastward, and at
IL A. NJ he was entirely out Of sight.
During the chace the enemy appeared to-
be very crank, and therefore conclude
ne must have Iightened while in chace Of
us. did not at any time fire our stern
chasers, because il was manifest that the
enemy injured his sailing by his firing.
As we had now no anchor, no cable, no
boat, and but one gun, there was of course
an absolute necessity Tor relinquishing
our intended cruize and as in our then
condition, it would have been extremely
hazardous, on account Of eHemy's crui-
Lers, to approach our own coast. ] consi-
dered it most advisable to proceed for this
port. Iarrived here yesterday and on my
arrival received information OF the peace
between the United States aud Great Er.i
tain. Permit me to state Tat Il was
with the most painful reluctance, and upon
the fullest conviction that ii wa indis en-
sable IN order to prevent greater misfor-
tune, that J could bring my tqind to con-
sent to part with my guns and beg leave
to request, that you will be pleased to
move the Honorable the Secretary Of the
Navy, to call court Of Inquiry to inves-
tilgate the loss Of the armament Of this