Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-05-24

tened sad, and formed on a line OF wind, abeut
half esbls's length from each other AZ 8,
7. NJ having them under command OF our BAT
tcrv, hoisted our colors, which was answered
by both SHIPS hosting English ensigas at 5
minutes past ranged up on the starboard side
of the sternmost ship, about SOD yards distant,
and commenced the action by broadsides, both
ships returning our hre with great spirit for a
bout Is minutes, then the FIRE of the enemy be-
ginning to siackep, and the great column OF
smoke collected under our lee induced us 10
cease our fire 10 ascertain their positions and
conditions in about three minutes, the smoke
cleared away, We found ourselves abreast of tue
headnost ship, the sternmost ship lufiiing up
for eur iarboard quartet, we poured broad,
side into the beadmost ship, and then braced
ed abaok our main and mizen topsails, an;
backed astern. under cover of the smoke, 3.
/. breast the sternmost ship, when the action was
Continued with spirit and considerable eff ct.
until 35 minutes past s, when the enemy's
6se again ssckeneI, and we discovered the
headmost bearing up; filed our topsails. shot
ahead and gave her two stern rakes we then
discovered the sterninost ship wearing also :;
wore ship Immediately after her, and gave her
n stern rake, she luthog 100 on our siarboard
bows. and giving us her larboard hroadside;
we ranged up on her iarboard quarter, within
hail, and was about to give her our starboard
broadsde, when she struck her colors, fred
lee gun aud yielded. At so minutes past 8,
took possession 1T II. VI. s. Cyane, capt Gordon
Falcon, mounting 81 guns. Ats. P. ". flied
away after her consort which was still in sight
u leeward. At hslfpas found her standing
towsds US, with her starboard tscks cioseshau.
with top-gailant sails set and colurs fying-
At SO minutes past 8, ranged close along side to
windward of her, on opposite tacks and ex-
changed brosdsdes-wore Immediately under
her stern and rsked her with a broadside; she
then crowded AL sail, md endeavored to escape
by running-han ed on board OUR tacks, set
spanker, and flying jib in chase. At half past
9, commenced firing on her from orr stsrboard
bow chaser gave her several shot, W hich cut
her spars and rigging considerably At 10 p.
II. finding they could not escape, fired a gun
struck her colors, and yielded. We immedi.
ately took posses sion OH NJ. s Leysnt, Hon.
Capt. Geo Douglass, mounting 81 guns At 1
a. the damages of ar rigging was rep I'D,
asls shifted and the ship in fighting condition.
Minutes of the chace ofthe U. S fripate Con.
stitution, by an English squadron of three
sps, from out the harbor of Porto Praya,
island IF st. Jago
Commences with fresh breezes and thick fog
81 weather AT minutes past 10 discovered
large ship through the fog standing in FOR
Porto Prsva. At minutes past IL discovered
two other large ships sstern OF her, also stand
ing fos the port From their general appear
auce, supposed them to- be one OF the enemy Q
squadron, and from the little respect hitherto
paid by them TO neutral waters, j deemed il
most prudent TO put TO sea, The signal was
M de 10 the CyaDe and Levant to get under
weigh At - after meridian, with orr top
sails set. We cut our cable and got under weigh
CWhen the Portuguese opened a fire on US from
several OF their batteries Oh shore) the prize
shipS following our motions, and stood out OF
the harbor OF Porto Praya, close under East
Point, passing the enemy's squadron about gun
shot tn windward OF them crossed our top.
gallant wards and set foressil, mainsaii, spanker,
dyinS Jib, and topgallant sails The enemy
seeing us under weigh, tackled and made all
sail IN chnse of US. AS far as we could Judge
otrtheir rates, from the thickness of the wee-
thers supposed them two ships of the line and
enc ir'Fate At half past meredian cut away
the boats towing astern, first cutter and gig
AZ FIX found our sailing about equal viii,
the Ships on our lee quarter, but the f:rate
IuihFg up Gaming our wake and rather droP-
ping astern of us, finding the Cvsna dronpng
asterD and to ward and the frjga,e ysining
on her last found it impossible to save her Il
che continued on the same course, without ba"
wig the Constitution brought to action by thrir
whole force. i made TIL signsl at 10 minut.
past ] r. NJ. to her, to tack shiu, which was
complied with Thi- maroeuvre, conceived
would detach one oftha enemy's ships in pur-
SUIT OF her, while at III same time, from her
position, size would he email ed TO reach The
anchorage at Porto prSys, before the detached
snip could come up with her /; hut if they did
not tack sfte her. il uSfA,d afford her an on,
portunit- 10 double their r.ar, and make heI
escspe before the wind They all continued
IN tui' Chase of the Levant aud this ship the
snip on our lee quarter firing, bv divisions
broadsides, her shot falling short OF VS. At {
? NJ by oIir heving dropped tn. Levaut consi-
derably, her situation became from he posi'i
ON OF the enemy irigatei similar IN the Cyane
II became necessary TO sepeRa'e also from the
Levant, or ri this shin being brought to acti
on TO cover her. ! made the signal at S mi
rutes past for herto tack, (which was cnmpli
ed with. At s minutes past 3 the whole o
the enemy's squadron tackled in pursuit ofthc
Levant and gave sp the pursuit Of this ship
This sacrifice Of The Levsnt became necessary
for the preservation Of the Constitution. Sail
ing master Eixos, midsbipman vnrnum, one
bostswans mate and twelve men were absent
on duty IN the 5th cutter to, bring the cartel
brig under our stern
----Sss. ~ :ess
from fLo H7ULee borrh CLEANER