The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-05-24

u. S. Frigate Constitution.
May -, 1915.
SIR,
On the Goth of February last, the
Island of Madeira bearing about w. S. w
distant so leagues, we fell in with his Britain
mic Majesty's two ships of War. the .Cyane &
levant, and brought them to action about
ak O'Clock i'll the evening, both of which, af-
ser a spirited engagement of forty minutes,
surrendered to the ship under my COM
mand.
Considering the advantages. derived by the
enemy, from divided and more active force
as also their superiority in the weight & num-
Der of guns, deemthe speedy and decisive
result OF this action the strongest assurance
which can be given to the government, that
I'll under my command did their duty * gal
lantly supported the reputation Of American
Seamen.
Inclosed you will receive the minutes of the
action, and n list of the killed and wounded
on board this ship also inclosed you will re-
ceive for your information a statement of the
actual force of the enemy, and the number
killed and wounded on board their ships as
near as could b. scertaincd.
/ have the honour to remain, very re-
specially, sir, your most obedent ser
want,
CHAs. STEWART.
Hon. g. ". Cro7euinshieid,
Secretary OF the Navy,
Washington.
List ofkiled and 7vounded on board the u
nIted States Ff1gatc Constitution Of a.
guns CmountinS thrty-t7vo 80 FRS and
iyyertY 80 lbs. caTronadcs) IN tie 2Ofh
Fe5. 1915, IN action 7vth his Ernannic
MaJeSEy'S Shifs Cvane ard Levant.
KILLED.
John Fullington, ordinary seaman; Anto-
MO Farrow, marine William Harral, dit
81.
WOUNDED.
David Quill, quarter M. ster Jas. Jackson.
seaman, severely Tobias Fernald, seaman,
(since dead y Benjamin Thomas. do. severe
ly sBenjamin Venderford, do. slightly Vim
cent Marks, do severely } John Lancv. cr-
binary ditto. (since dead y Thomas Fessen-
den, ditto. (since dead y Benjamin Norck-
ross, sergeant marines, severely Patrick
Cain marine, severely; William Holmes,
do severely Andrew Chambers, do. slight
ly.
Killed 3, Wounded 12-Total IS
Statement cfthe actual. force ofAia Brita4-
nic 1lajeStu's ahits LcUant, Cahtain The
hOnonrQ6'e George Douglass commander.
and Cya7le, Cattai1 Gordon Falcon COM
mander, gvith tie Number killed and qvogs7,-
Gsd on board oh ship, on the 2Oth -Fe5ru-
Gry, 1915, as rear as could be oscertaired,
Evhile engaged 7yitt the u. S. ErigQle Con-
sttn'ion.
LE.YANT.
IS thrtytwo- Founders, carronades,
i twelve FOUNDER, do.
nine Founders, long guns.
81 guns, 156 officers, seamen and marines,
Prisoners 1873, officers, seamen and ma
rines.
Killed ss, wounded 16--i'tal killed and
wounded SO.
20 thirty-twO Founders, oRrronades,
10 eighteen prs. do.
twelve prs. long guns:
"a guns, $50 officers, searnen and marines.
brass swivels.
Prisoners 16S, officers, seamen and ma
Tincs.
Killed 10 /; wounded 26-total killed and
wounded SO.
Minutes Of fhs action 6etTyecn tie u. States
fiigate Constitution, and his NIajesfg's
shifts Cyane and LeUa1it, on the 2Oth Fe6.
1915,
Commences with light breezes from the
east, and cloudy wcather--at discoverel
sail two points on the larbcard bow-hauled
up and made sail in chase-At Id past one.
maze the san 10 DC a snip at ) A past one,
discovered another sal ahead made them
out at two p. NJ. to be both ships, standing
close haulcd, with their starboard tacks on
board at 4 p. NJ. the wea.hermost ship
made signals, and bore up for her consort,
then about ten miles to lecwsrd we bore up
after her, and set lower topmast, topg4lant.
and royal studding sails in chase at 1-2
past a, Carried away our main royal mast
took IN the sails and got another prepared
at SIP. M. commenced firing on the chase
from our two larboard bow guns : our shot
falling short, ceased firing at 10 past 5,
finding it impo sible to prevent their junction,
cleorel ship f.r ction, then about 4 miles
from the two ships at 45 minutes after
they p ,ssed within hail Cf each other, and
ued by the wind Oh the starboard tack,
h u'ed up their courses, and prepared to re-
ceive us at As minutes past S, they made
all sail close hauled by the wind, in hopes Of
getting to wndward of us 1t SIS minutes past
s, finding Themselves disappointed in their
object, and we wer. closing with them fast,
they short ened sail and formed on a line of
wind, about half cables length of each o.
thor. At y. N. having them under COM
Iuand Of our battery, hoisted cur col1urs
which was answered by both ships hosting
English eusig;Is at minutes past 6, ranged
~ on the starboard side of the sternmost
snip, about 500 yards distant, and commen-
ced the action by brOAdsdes, both ships re-