Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1815-03-13

sQuadlo- A4rGin 4H and Amos WITHIN
gun she we uoa ci course compelled
10 abane wv hay a sumlng our former
course for the r-r lgse OF avoiding the
squadron, we were compelled TO present
our stern 10 our ntaSonlst-but such was
his state, though we were thus exposed and
within ran &C of his guns tor Ealf an hour,
that he did not avail himself OF this favour
able opportunity of raking US. we con-
linued this course until III O'Clock, when
two fresh ships OF the enemy (the Pomona
and renedos) had come up. The Pomone
had opened her fire on the larboard bow,
within musket shot, the other about Two ca
bies length astern, taking raklng position
on our Quarter and the rest with the ex-
ception OF the Endymon) wlthin gun shot.
Thus situated, with about one fifth OF my
crew killed and wounded, my ship crippled,
and more than four fold force opposed TO
me, without chance OF escape lett deem
ed II my duty 10 surrender.
Ills with emotions Of pride, | bear testl-
Hony to The gallantry and steadh ess OF ey-
cry officer and man had the honour TO
command on this occasion, and feel salts
fed that the fact of their having beaten a
force equal 10 themselves, in the present
and almost under the guns OF SO vastly
superior force, when, too, il was almost sell
evident, that whatever their eXertlons
might be, they must ultimately be captured,
will be taken a. evidence OF what they
would have performed, had the force oppos-
ed to them been in any degree equal.
1t is with extreme pain | have 10 inform
you that licuts. Rabbit, Hamilton and How.
ell, fell in the action. hey have left no
officers OF supe ior merit behind them.
If sir, the issue Of this affair had been
fortunate, | should have telti my duty
10 have recommended 20 your attention,
leuts. ohubrick and Gallagher. They
maintained throughout tie day the repula-
ton they had acquired in former actions.
Lieut.. Twiggs, Of The marines, displayed
great zeal, bis mem were well supplied, and
theil tlle Incompatible, 50 long as The ent
ny conf nued "; hin muShut range.
Midshipman Randolph, who had charge
OF tie iorecasLle division, managed il 10
my entire satisfaction.
From Mr.. Robinson, who was serving as
a volunteer, | received essential aid, parllc-
ulafy after was deprived OF The services
OF the master, and the 3uverg loss had sus-
tanned III my officers On Tie quarter deck.
OF our loss in killed and wounded | am
unable at present 10 give you a correct
statement--the attention OF the surgeon
being so entirely occupied with the wound
ed, that Rs was unable 10 make out a correct
return when Iiett the President, nor shall
be able to make 1t until our arrival IN port,
We having parted company with the squad
ron yesterday. / he enclosed list, WIN the
exception, 1 fear, of It's being short OF the
number, will be found correct For 40
hours after the action il was nearly calm,
* the squadron were occupied ia repairing
the crippled ships-oech OF The crew Of The
President as We're not badly wounded, were
put on boaId the different ships-mysell
and part Of my Crew were put On board
this SAlp.--On The l7th We had gale
from the eastward, when this ship lost her
CowSprl;, fore and main masts and mizen
top mas, All ot which were badly wound
4
condition obliged to throw overbo ard all Of
her upper dtcA guns /; her loss in KILLED and
wounded must have been very great. | have
not been eblc 20 ascertain HE exient-Tun
were buried aitcrI came on boald[ SO hours
alter tie acunn]-the badly wounded, such
as are Obliged - keep thtir cots, occupy
the sIatdoaru side OF the gun dec~, from lne
cabin bulls head 10 the malnmasl. From
The CRIPPLED state OF The President ) spals, |
tcol satisfied She could not have saved her
masts, and teel serious approximations tor
The safety Of our wounded left on board.
Ii IS doe 70 captain Hope to Stale, that
every attention has been paddy him TO my
sell and officers that have been placed on
board his ship, that delcacy and humanity
could dictate.
L have the honour to be, with much re-
spect, sir, your obedlunt servant,
STEPHEN DECATUR.
The Hon. Bcy, ~. Crown4nshleid,
Secretary Of me Nary.
British squadron referred TO IN the letter.
majestic, razee
Endynon
PomOne
Tenedos
Despatch Orig
Ia" q &"ted and rounded on board lie United
states Frigate President
nj LtD-Lieuts. = IL. Rabbit, A. Hamilton.
Il L. novel; ;-ienry Hill, Samuel Gaines, sam
uel dc Coster, Henry Lamphiere. slichaeI 1ar,op
John Weary, John Briggs, Chas. Conway Wm
smith ID. Wan. Leeler, Janes CHAPMAN ,;earoa
" swift, Francis .sro hdtvora 49,. 80