Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1815-03-16
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Copy 81 d ltsfsr from atenaAt val.
s6n, ist of the late o. s. SIoop
Argus, to- the Secretary Of the
Macy, dated.
NoRroLK, March ed, 1916.
RCircumstsnces, during my
residence In England having here
toforc prevented my attention to the
painful duty which deyelyed on me
by the death of my gallant comman-
der, Capt. WIN. III. ALLEN, Of the
late u. 8. brig Argus, I have now
the hoRcr to state for your iiffor-
nation, that, having landed the Mi
MISTER Plenipotentiary (hfr. Craw-
forll and suite at L'Orient. we pro-
ceeded or the cruise which had been
directedby the Department, and af-
ter capturing twenty vessels "a list
of the names and other particulars
of which have the honor TO enclose)
being in laf. SO, IS, north long. s.,
SO west, on the nth Aug. 1913, we
discovered al O'Clock, A. M. alarge
brig OF war standing down under
press of sail upon our weather quar-
ter, the wind being at south, and the
Argus close hauled en- the starboard
tack, we Immediately prepared to re-
ceiye her; and at + so, being unable
to get the weather gage, we short
ened sail and gave her an opportuni
ty of closing. At 6, the brig having
displayed English cclors, we hoisted
our Rag, wore round, and gave her
the larboard troahside (6fiug at this
time within grape dis.a9ce) which
was returned, and tho action com
menced within the range Of musket-
ry. At i, Capt. Allen was wound
ed, and the enemy SHOT away our
smaia braces, main spring stay. gaff,
and trysaiimast.. At 9 8, Capt. AL
len being much exhausted by the loss
Of blood. was taken below. At
70. lost our spritsaiEard and the
principal part Of the standing rigging
on the larboard side OF the foremost.
At this time / received wound on
the head from grape shot, which
for time rendered me incapable Of
attending to duty, and was carried
below. I had, however, the salts
faction of recollectins on my re
covery, that nothing which the most
gallant exertions could effect would
be left undone by Lieutenant W. IL.
Allen, jr. who succeeded to the COM
mand of the deck, 1t. Allen re-
ports, at 6 Ii, the enemy, being in
our weather quarter, edged eff for
the purpose Of getting upder our
stern, but the Argus iuftsd close 70
with the maintopsaii al,auk. & giving
him raking broadsiae. frustrated
his attempt. At is, the enemy
shot away our preveuter main bra
ees & main topsaiitye I; & the Argus
having lost the use of her after sails
fell off before the wind, the enemy
succeeded in passing our stern, and
ranged by on the starboard side. At
6 20, the wheel ropes and running
rigging Of every description being
shot away, the Argus became un-
manageable; and the enemy, not
having sustained any apparent dam
age, had it completely in his power
to chuse position, continued to play
upon our starboard quarter, occa
sionally shifting his situation until
6 SO, when | returned to the Deck,
the enemy being under our stern,
within pistol shot, where he continu
ed to rake US until So, when we
prepared to board, but, la conse-
quence Of our shattered condition,
were unable to effect It's the enemy
then passed our broadside and took
position on our staboard bow. From
this time until 6 II, We we're expos
ed to a cross or rakins fire, without
being able to oppose but little more
than musketry to the broadside Of
the enemy, our guns being much
disabled and seldom brought to bear.
The Argus having now suffered
much, in hull and rigging as also in
killed and wounded, among the for
mer of whom exclusive ofour gal
liant Captain) we have to lamen,
the loss Of twomeritorious,yOuDg off,