The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-02-22

tCrs O q IeSfcsJfODi OGht. IIStAy, CoWHlcN9-
ing i1se u. S.Sschooner taroii7!a, 20 CON-
Puttsrsoa, dated
New-O,esn Dec. 18Th, 1914.
have che honor 20 inform you, that after
you LEFT the 26th inst. in pursuance to your orer,
every po..ibic vxertion was made the Schools
.r C.r M. higher up the RIVER and Gencr al
Jsok scsnp, without success; the wind being ~ n.
n ". and Ming fresh ami too scaht to get u,'er
way, AID thu current too RAPID t. move iier by wa'p
ise,wtjsh 1 had .ntes,ored TODD viii, my crew.
AT ,,y light the morning OF the 9Th, the enemy
svsn. mpon the caroline battery OF hye gc,s from
rh:vh they threw shells and hot siot returned c'eir
fire with the org IL pcrr-irr, the Gully gun On bcari
which uld hch tue river, the reIsrder q
hsr batter, being light i2noh'i csrrcAadcs.
The ar bsims light ARD at nhth, rendered 1t i'm
possible 10 get under way the second shot fired ~
the envy l.,is,. ia the scconer's hold under
her cables an,, il s,tch SITUATION be come
~, snd fired her. which rapidly progressed, iindi1g
that hots passing through her cshi end h'-
INK room, which aned eoHs'ti allie 'iusn;i;y 81
-ewdcr; her bulwsrks ali knocked down by the en-
xy's shot, the vessel In sinking situation and the
fire eneresr,aS, snL exIEctng every moment t.,at
s',e would blow MP; AZ a little after sin-IiSe l re-
iactant|y gave orders for the crew to abandon her.
which ~aseected with the loss o one killed and
wounded; short time after had succeeded in get
Eng the shore, had the extreme ,ncrtifca
koa O. seeing her blow up.
l; ainrris great pleasure to acknowledge the a
Die assistance received .ro- Esutenants Norris ard
Crowley and Sailing Master Latter, and 10 say that
my officers and crew behaved on this OCCASION we'll
the osd when under Your own eye, ia a snust
SsiIsut manner.
almost every article of c,ohing beiou gng to the
officers and crew, fros, the rapid progress ct the Are
was Involved in the obstruction oft,e vessel
have The honor 10 be, very respectfully, your obed
cut SERVANT,
(s;iine,D JOHN d. IIENI.Y.
2. y. rave not msieont a detailed aeeoant OF he
'a,ion the night of the 23d, s,eu were on tcnId
during the whole action.
Captain Daniel r Patterson,
commanding T. States Naval forces
On the New Orleans station.
ctkie. cfiettra from. Comnodore Patterson,
Commanding our .Na1aL force en- the Or
:, Trans station, 70 tke Secretary gf'the macy,
~,s- -, U. g Ship Eoufsia,r.
miles Gelow y Orienn.
99th Dec. 1914.
SIN,
have the honor TO inform You, that ON the
Vornine OF the ssh instant at about half past ., per-
ceyed advanced guard r,trcating toward, our
snes-the enemy pursuing; fired shot. shells and
rockets from field artillery, with which they advanced
tire rria behind the levee; sprung tie ship to brig
the sta beard guns bear upon the enemy; at % mi.
rates rsst 8, a. NJ the enemy opened their fire up
on the slY, with shells, hot shot anti rockets which
ssr sta.tiy returned with great spirit and much an
parent effect, and continued without interrnsSon tin
J, i. NJ when the enemy siackened their fire. and
fttrated with part of their artillery from each of
sempts we're mate to screenone heavy peice of ord.
nsnee mcnnted behind the levee, With w!,icl, tkey
threw hot shot at the ship, and which had been Iory
cme abandoned before they succeeded in RECOVERING i;
aid then must have been with very great loss as
:''7tuetJ 5W, with r si my glass; several shot
sii Ike in tie midst OF the men, lseamen) vino were
'Tp'oy 81 drssgI,ig away. At three T.. NJ the Gu.
syly were sRencet; ~ y. NJ ceased ti.-p finn, ,h
s'p, the enemy having retired beyond the range Of
h=r gins Many their shot passed OYER the shin.
H"l tieirshelts burst over her decks, which were
srewed with their fragments; vet, after m ,ccssant
S-'nncnldns OF upwards Of seven hours during which
500 shot were fired fIum the Ship ore nan 0ry was
,eanted slightly, by the piece ola shell, and one shot
PASSED between the bowsprit end heel Of ths H..
ZION.
The enery drew Up his whole force. evi6ertl, with
Intention aseeu.ting General iacksoi's Inns TN
t'ercnVer of his heavy cannon, but his cannOrsiap
being warmly returned from the lines and shin on
Rama, caused hIm, Il presume, To abandon his noect
81 he retired without making the sttempt. You will
have learned ny my former letters that The crew of
Tue Louisi2a IL composed Of men &C. all nations (En
ISL eScepted) taken from the streets cf New-Orlears
Eot fortnight before the hGtIs; vet ! never knew
irns better served, or rnore Sinated FIRE, than was
ssopNttcd from her.
. Lieutenant e. g. r.. Thompson deserves greet cre.;.
{ The discipline to which in 50 short time he had
o. t sueh men, two thirds pt whom do not under
stand English.
Gen jackson having applied for officers snd seop.e,
o""rk The heavy eanrOn on his lines urrs BY me
J. eueuants Norris and Crowley Of The lat SCHOONER
Carolina, instantly volunteered and with the greater
part on her crew were sent to those cannon. WHICH
f'ey srved during the action herein detai.,i-T'Ee
e"emy mus have suh red great loss in that DAVIS
tc;i0n, by the heavy fire from this ship and General
J'cesous ines the cannon was Of heavy c,libre.
and served with great spirit.
have the honor IN be-
Wi;l greet consideration AMI respect
our obedieTit servant.
DAM. L. PATTERSON
Tac Ton. Secretary ofthe
Navy, Washington City.