The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-03-25
baltimore, March IS.
CIo Be continued.
THE CHASSECR.

y Sss><
baltimore, March Is.
THE CHASSECR.
Catf,xre Of Els B,7fannic llajcsfy's schr
So. laurence, Lieutenant James Il.
Gordon, coRmGuder, by the fs,Tvote arnsed
brig CHAssEuR, Of Baltimore, Thomas
BOYLE, Esq. commander.
Letter from capt. Boyle, TO Mr.. George =.
Stevenson, one OF the owners Of the Chas-
seur, dated
.at sea, March 3, 1915.
DEAR SIR,
have the honor to inform YOU,
that on the 26h Feb. being about six leagues
to %indward of HAVANA and two leagues
from the laud-At IL A. NJ discovered
schr. bearing n. F.. OF us. apparently run
Ming before the wind made every possible
sail in chase. the convoy in sight from the
mast head, to leeward, laying too off Havan-
na !; at meridian, gaining fast on the chase,
that appeared to be large, long. low pilot
built schooner, with yellow sides-she hauled
up more to the northward, and apparently
was endeavorins to escape us. At half past
meridian i fired a gun and hoisted the A
merican flag, to ascertain, il possible, the ma
ton which She belonged to but she showed
no coiors-she was carrying a press.of sail,
and III few minutes carried away her fore
topmast. She was at this time aboct three
miles from us--they cut away the wreck of
he tcpmast Immediately and trimmed her
siils sharp by the wind. AT p. III. drawing
up with him very fast, sic fired a stern chase
gun atus, and hoisted English cclors, shew-
Ing 1T the same time only three ports IN the
side next touS.
Under the impression that she was a run
ming vessel bound to Havana and weakly
armed and manned, tried every effort to
close with him as quick as possible Saw but
VI faNU rNar1f. hiS q, y,
small preparation for action, though my OFF,
GERS, myself and men, did not expect any
hghting, Of course we were not completely
prepared Tor acuCn. At - we were WITH
IN pistol shot OF him when he opened a tier
OF ten ports on a side, and gave us ms broad
side of round, grape and musket balls.
then opened the Chasseur's fire FROM the
great guns and musketry, and endcavored to
c'ose with him for the purpose of boarding
we having quick way at the time, shot a.
head of him under his Ice, he put his
bel up, tor the purpose of wearing across
our stern and to give us raking FIRE, which
prevented by timely taking notic> of his in
tention, and putting our Eeim hard up also.
He Shot quick ahead, and / closed within ten
yards OF him at this time both fires we're
heavy, severe and destructive. now found
his men had been concealed under. his bull
wark, and that had an heavy enemy to con-
tend with, and at 20 gave the order for
boarding, which my brave Ulcers and men
cheerfuily oheyed with unexampled quick
ness, instantly put the helm to st.rbgard to
lay him ON board. and in the act of boarding
her, she surrendered. Mr.. w. N. Christie,
prize-master, from his courage aud activ-
lty, got on board OF her out boat and sent her
on board sne proved to be His Britannia
a5i tGr: 1etieg y H. sa6wEalrcf fotsTerY the
famous pnvateer Atlas of Philadelphia, bui!t
IN the Shesapeake, mounting IS guns, Ii
Twelve pound carroGades. upon an improved
construction, and long line allowed CON
piement of seventy-five men, and lad on
board number of soldiers, marines & SONG
gentlemen of the navy passengers, bound ex
PRESS to the squadron Off New Orleans; ha-
wing by report of her commander, six men
Kileo' and seventeen wounded but by va
nous other reports, IS killed, and % wound
ed, most of them badly, AMI several norfsllv.
She was perfect wreck, cut to pieces in the
hull, and scarcely a rope left standing, and,
oy report OF IL commander, not an officer
on board, but Vas either killed or wounded.
hi oself among the latter.
lhe C's sails and rigging suffered much,
and from the zeal and anxiety OF her brave
crew to do their duty, and thereby exposing
themselves, had FIVE men killed and eight
wounded, myself amongst the latter, though
very SuSntiy. nus ended the action in flF
teen minutes after its commencement, and
about eight minutes close quarters. with a
force IN every respect equal to our own
The Chasseur mounts, six 10 Founders, &
eight short pound carronadeS, (the latter
taken from one of her prizes) ten of cur IL
pound carronades having been thrown over
board while hard G. ased by the Barcssa fri
gate and she had on board 80 men, besides
several boys.
From the number of hammocks, full of
beds, Clothes, &c. found on board of the ST.
Lawrence, it would lead to belief that
many more were Killed than were reported.
The St. Lawrence fred double the weight of
shot that we did from her twelyes, at close
quarters, she fired a stand of grape, and two
bags, containing two hundred and twenty mus
ket balls elch--when from the Chasseur's
nlnes, she fired six and four pound round sho.,
having no o.her, except some few Grape
Was to close this letter, without mention
ing the determined bravery of my first lieut..
MIR. John Dieter, should be acting very un-
justly to my own feelings my other liouten-
ants, Mr.. Moran, and Mr. Hammond y.
Sfansbury, as well as every other officer be-
haved with hrmness seldom if ever eausll-
ed. and, l believe, u. yer surpassed.
Yours, with great respect,
THOS. BOYLE.
Mr.. G.. p, STEvENsoH,
Baltimore.
Z. ), On the night Of the 25th tie naintop-
mast OF the y. Lawrence went by the board