Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-03-29
BALTIMORE, March Is.
THE CHASSEUR.

Capture of His Britannic .HEajesfy's schr.
81. laurence. Lieut.. James f. Gordon,
Commander, by the Private armed brig
ChaSSeur Of Baltimore. Thomas Boyle,
GSq. commander.
Letter from capt. Boyle, to MIR. George P.
Stevenson, one OF the owners of the Chas,
seur, dated
At sea, March 2, 1915.
DEAR SIR,
Ihave the honor to inform YOU, that
on the Goth Feb. being about six leagues TO
windward OF 'Eavanpa and two leagues from
ne iand-At d "A. NJ. discovered schr.
bearing n. E. ofus, apparently running be
ore the wind made every possible sail in
chase, the CONVOY IN sight from the mast
head, to ,eeward, laying too of HAVANA
aemeridian, gaining fast on the chase. that
appeared TO be large, long, low pilot built
schr. with yellow sides-she hauled up
mere 20 the northward, and apparently
en1esvoring to escape us. At half pas,
meridiaR fred gun and floisted the A
merican flag, to ascertain If possible, the
nation which she belonged to but she
shewed no colcrs--she was carrying press
OF sail, and IN few minutes carried away
her fore topmast. She was at this tiIhesa
bout three miles from ns---tney cut away
the wreck of the topmast immediately and
trimmed her sails sharp by the wind, AT
p NJ. drawing up with him very fast, she
fired stern chase gun at US, and hoisted
English colors shelving at the same time
only three ports in the side next &c US.
Under the impression that she was a
running vessel bound 10 Havana & weak
ly armed and manned, l tried every effor.
20 close with her as quick as possible. Saw
but very few men on his deck, ard hastily
10 t,c for
my officers, myself and men. did not ex
pect any fighting of course we were not
completely prepa, ed for action AT 1 25
we were within pistol shot of him when he
opened q tier of ten ports on side, and
gave US his broadside of round, grape and
rnusket balls then opened the Chasseur's
Ere from the great guns and musketry, and
endeavored to close him for the purpose of
boarding, we having quick way at the time,
shot ahead of him under his lee, he put his
helm up, for The purpose of wearing across
oor stern and to give as raking fire. which
I.prevented BY timely taking notice of his
intention, and putting our helm hard up al.
SO. He shot quick ahead, and I closed
within ten yards OF him at this time both
hres were heavy, severe and destructive. /
now found his men had been concealed un-
der his bulwark, and that had heavy
enemy to contend with, and at 40, gave
the order for boarding, which my brave Of |
hcers and men cheerfully obeyed with un
sxami ! d quickness in family put the helm |!
to starboard TO lay him on board, and ID |
the act of boarding her, she surrendered =
Mr. W. N. Christie, prize master, from his !
courage and activity, got on boar5 OF her |
out boat and sent her on board she.pro-
we'd to be His Britannia Majesty's schooner |
81 Lawrence, commanded by Lieutenant |
T.. Gordon, formerly the famous privateer |
Atlas OF Philadelphia, built in the Chesa. |
peake, mounting Is guns, IA twelve pound |
carronades. upon an improved construction,
and long zine allowed complement of |
seyenty 1--WE men, and had on Board num- !,
Der OF soldiers, marines and some gentle |
men OF the navy passengers, bound express |
TO the squadron off New Orleans having
by report of her commander, six men Kill !
led, and seventeen wounded !; but by vari- |
Gus other reports, fifteen killed, ard TWEEN. |
ty-three wounded, most Of them badly, and |
several mortally. She was a perfect wreck, |
cut to pieces in the hull, and scarcely a |
rope lett standing, and, by report OF her !
commander, not an officer on board, bat |
was either killed or wounded, himself among |
the latter,
The C's sails and rigging suffered much, |
and from the zeal and anxiety of her brave |
Wv" W w NutyS duQ thSICuy expo 4
sing themselves. I had FIVE men killed and |
eight wounded. myself amongst the latter. |
though very slightly. Thus ended the ac-
ton in fifteen minutes after its commence. |
ment and abou. eight minutes close quar-
tiers, with force in every respect equal to
sur own.
The Chasseur mounts six 70 Founders, & |
Eight short nine pound carronadts, (the lat |
ter taken from one of her prizes) ten Of |
our twelve pound carronades having been
thrown overheard while hard chased by the |
Barossa frigate and she had on board SO |
men, besides several boys.
From the number Of hammock, full fbeds |
Clothes, &c. found Oh board of the ST. Law |
renee, it wonld lead to belief that many |
more were killed than were reported. The |
st. Lawrence fired double the weight of
shot that we did from her twelves, at |
close quarters, she fred stand Of grape, |
and two bags, containing two hundred and
twenty musket balls eaeh--when from the |
Chasseur's mines, she fred six and four |
pound round shot, having no other, except |
SOME few grape. Was to close this let.
ter, without mentioning the determined
bravery Of my first lieutenant MIR. John Di- |
eter, should be acting very unjustly to my
feelings my other lieutenants, MFR. Nc
ran, and MIR. Hammond Stanbury, as well
as every other officer behaved with a firm-
0rNA H. II a..