Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-03-18

the honor 20 enclosc,) being in lat So Is, mort
long. 50 wes', on the 18th aug, 1915, WI
discovered at o'clock, A VI. large brig o
war standing down under press of sail upor
our qnsrter, the wind Being at soi,th anil III,
| Argus close hauled on the siarbpard tack, W.
! Immediately prepared TO receive her and a. 4
30. being unable to get the weather gage, ",
shortened sail and gave her an opportunity OF
closing. ut o, the brig having displayed En-
| giish eolors, we hoisted our aag, wore round,
and gave her the larboard brosdsidc (beinp-
at his time within crap. dstance) which was
returned, ard the action comnshced within the
range OF inusketry. At Capt Allen was
wounded, an the enemy shot away our main
BRACES, man spring stay, gait, AID trysalmast.
AZ o D, Capt. Allen, being much exhausted by
the loss of blood. was TAKEN below Ate 10.
lost OUR spritsailyard and the principal part OF
the standing rigging on the iarboard side OF
the loremast. At this time received wound
on The head from a grape shot, which for time
rendered me incapable of attending to duty,
and was carried below had, however, the
the satisfaction of recoliecting ON my recov, ry,
that nothing which the most gallant exertions
could effect would be LETT, undone by Lieut. w
IL. Allen, jr. who succeeded 10 the command
o-' ne deck l.. Allen repnrts, a. Ii. the en-
einv, being in our weather quarter, deed off
Tor the purpose ofg-tting daSer our stern. but
me Argus luF-d close to with tia rnaim,opssig
sDacS, and giving him raking brcalside.
frustrated his attempe. At 70, tie enemy shot
away our preventer main braces and maintcn.
sail tire and the Argus having lost the sse Of
her after sails, fell off before the wied, when
the enemy succeeded in passing our stern. and
ranged upon the starboard aide. At6 IS. the.
wheel ropes and running ringing of every de
| scriptIon being shot away, the Argus becam.
unmanageabic and the cnernr, not having sus.
famed any apparent dsmsgs, had i, completely
| IN his power TO cSuse ,8cstion. continued IN
pay upon oar stsrbosrf qaarter, occasionally
shifting his situation until q 30, when return
ell to the deck. the ercmy being uader our
stern, within pistol shot where he continued To
rake us until 80, when We prepared to board,
put IN consequence Of our shattered condition.
were unable to effect it TIE enemy then passed.
our proaaslde and took position on our star.
board bow. From this time until 6 az, we wer.
exposed to cross or rating fire, without be-
ing able to oppos but litt,e more TIL an musket.
ry TO the broadside of the enemy, our guns be-
| ing much disabled and seldom brought TO bear
Inc Argus having now Suffered much, in hull 3.
! rigging, as alsoin killed & wounded, among the
former o. whom (excIusiye Of our gallant Capt.)
VIC nave TO lament the IS of two meritoritis
young officers IN Midshipmen DeIphy and En-
wards and being exposed to CALLING fire,
which from the enemy's ability to manage his
vessel we could not avoid, deemed it neces>
sary TO surrender, and was taken possession OF
| oy u NJ S.oop the Pelican, Of twenty one
carriage guns, viz, sixteen thirty 50 pound car.
ronAdes, four long 6's, sni one I2!b. carronade
lhope th,s measure viii meet your approbSti.
on, and that the result OF this action, when the
superior size and metal sf our opponent and
TIE fatigue which the crew, &c. of the Argus
| underwent from very RAPID succession of cap
lures, IS considered, wilt not be thought un-
worthy of the flag under which we serve
| ihaye the honor to enclose list of killed
| and wounded, and feei great satisfaction in re
porting the general good conduct of the men
and officers engaged on tbs occasion, and par
uGulariy the zeal aDe activity displayed by Lit
Allen, who you vii. observe for time COM
handed on deck.
have the honor to be, sir, with great res
Peot, your obedieat servant,
| WI. WATSON,
| Late 1st 1t. U S. Brig A,gus.
Hon. D. w. CRoWNiNSAIELD,
Secretary eff the Navy:
Copy of return of the Killed and Wound.
ed on board of the United States brig Ar.
gus William H. Allen, Esq. Comman-
der.
| KILLED.
Richard Delphy, Midshipman,
William w. Edwards, do.
Joshua Jones, seaman,
William FinIay, do.
William Knowl,on, do.
George Gardner, do.
DIED OF THEIR WOUNDS.
William IL. Allen, Captain,
James White, Carpenter,
Joseph Jordan, BoatswaiI's Mate,
Francis Eggert. Seaman,
Charles Backster, do.
| WOUNDED.
William II. Watson, LIST Lieutenant,
Colin Mcleod, Boatswain.
John Sniffer, Carpenters Mate,
John Young, Quarter Master,
John Nugent. Seaman,
James Hall, do.
Joseph Allen, do.
John Faddon do.
George Starbuck, do
William Hoventon, do.
John Scott lst. do.
John Scott Sd. do.
DpIUATE nnpDpc