Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1815-03-09

/ On each quarter, and two astern, the lead
ing ship Of the enemy, razee--she com
! rnefced FIRE upon Us bat without effect
! AT meridian, the wind became light and
bathing, we had increased our distance
| from the razee, but the next ship as
tern, which was also a large ship had gain
ed and continued to gain upon Us considera-
| bly,; we Immediately occupied all hands to
tighten ship, by starting water. cutting a
way the anchors, throwing overheard provi-
sion, cables, spare spars, boats, and every
article that could be got at, keeping the
sails wet from the royals down. At 5, we
had the wind quite light the enemy who
had now been Joined by a brig, had strong
breeze and were coming up with us rapid
ly. The Endymion (mounting so guns, 81
FOUNDERS on the main deck had now APP
preached US within gun shot, and had com
menced fire with her bow guns, which we
returned from cur stern. AT 5 O'Clock, she
had obtained a position on our staFboard
quarter, within half point blank shot, on
which neither our stern nor quarter guns
would bear we were now steering t. by
". the wind n w. remained with her
in this position for half an hour, in the hope
1lfaI BIC WOAiQ EIDse WITH us On pUT DFOau-
side, in which case | had prepared my
crew to board, but from his continuing to
yaw his ship to maintain his position, it be-
came evident that to close was not his in
tention. Every fire now cut some of our
sails or rigging. TO have continued our
course under these circumstances, would
have been placing it in his power to Grip
pie us, without being subject to injury him
self, and to have hauled up more to the
northward to bring our stern to bear, would
have exposed us to his raking fire 1t was
now dusk, when determined to alter my
course south, for the purpose of bringing
the enemy abeam, and although their ships
astern were drawing up fast, felt satisfied
should be enabled to throw hfs.l out of the
combat before they could come up, and
was not without hopes, if the night proved
dark, fof which there was every appear
ance) that might still be enabled to effect
my escape. Our opponent kept off at the
same instant we did, and our fire common
ced at the same time We continued en-
gagged, steering south with steering sails
set, two hours and half, when we com
pletely succeeded in dismanting her. Pre-.
vioasly to her dropping entirely out of the
action, there were intervals of minutes.
when the ships were broadside and broad
side, in which she did not fire gun at
this period (half past eight o'clock altho'
dark, the other ships OF the squadron were
in sight and almost within gun-shot We
were of course compelled to abandon her
In resuming our former course for the pur-
pose Of avoiding the squadron, we were
compelled to present our stern to our anita
gonist--btit such was his state, though we
were thus exposed, and within range of his
guns for half an hour, that he did not avail
himself Of thit favourable opportunity of
raking u.s. We continued this course until
II O'Clock, when two fresh ships of the enc
my (the Pomona and Tenedos) had come
up. The Pomona had opened her fire on
the larboard bow, within musket shot the
ether about two cable lengths astern, TAX
ing raking position on our quarter and
the rest with the exception of the Endy-
mion) within gun shot. Thus situated
with about enc. fifth of my crew killed and
wounded, my ship crippled, and more than
fcre-fold force opposed to me, without
chance of escape left, deemed it my duty
to surrender.
It's with emotions of pride bear testi-
mony to the gallantry and steadiness of e
very officer and man / had the honor to
command ON this OCCASION and feel salts.
fed that the fact Of their having beaten a
force equal to themselves, in the presence
and almost under the guns of SO vastly a
superior force, when, too, it was almost
selfevident, that whatever their exertons
might be, they must ultimately be cap
tured, will be taken as evidence Of what
they would have performed, had the force
opposed to them been in any degree equal
1t is with extreme paia HAYS 10 i,nform
you that Lieuts. 3&dais, Hamilton and
Howell fell in the action. They have left
no officers of superior merit behind them.
| IT, sir, the issue of this affair had been
fortunate, should have felt it my duty to
! have recommended to your attention Lieu
tenants Shubrick and Gallagher. They
| m intoinad throuShout he H.,