Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1815-03-02
WASHINGTON CITY, March 1

Copy Of Ct letter from Com. Decatur.
to the Secretary Of the Nary dated
H. B. NJ. Sup Endya,ion, at AGA,
January lS 1878.
s1R-The painful duty Of detail
ing to you tie particular causes
which preceded and led TO the capture
Of the late u. States Frisate presi
dent. by squadron Of his Britannia
Majesty s ships. Gas per marsin) has
deyolyed npon me Ia my cemMan'
cation of the i4tll, made known to
YOU my intention ofproeeedins to sea
on that evening. Owing to some
mistake Of the Pilots, the ship 10
going out grounded on the Bar. where
She continued to strike heavily Tor
an hour and a half ; although she bad
broken several other rudder braces
and had received such other msterlai
injury as to render her return INTO
port desirable, | was unable TO 90
so frem the strong westerly VIM
which was then blowing. 1t being
now high water, it became necessary
10 force her ever the Bar before hr
tide fell, in this We succeeded by 10
o'clock, when we shaped our course
along the shore Of Long island for SO
miles. and then steered S. r. ny +.
A 5o'eiock. three ships were ais
covered ahead; We immed'atei,
hauled up the ship and passed miles
TO the nortlward Of them. Al "a
j hi, we dis osered four slips IN
chase. one Oil each quarter. ana t""
astern the leading ip'.fthe enemy
!, razee-she commenced a lie upon
us. bat wi.llou, effect. Al merId a"
the wind became light and battling,
we had Increased our distance fToa
The Race, but the next ship astesn.
which was also large ship. had
gained and continued 10 gain upon
US considerably ;~e Immediately &C
eupied all hands to Tighten ship. b'
starting water, cutting away 'bt
anchors, throwing overheard 70.
visions, cables spare spars. boats and
every article that could be got a
keeping The sails wet from the ro. a
down. Ats, We had the wind quite
light; the enemy who had now been
Joined by a brig had strong hreeze
and were coming up sitl us rapidly.
The End, mion (mountins 30 guns
"a FOUNDERS on the main deeks) hat
now approached us within gun shot
and had commenced lire with her
how guns, which we returned from
our stern. At o'clock. she had
obtained potion on our starboarts
quarter, within halfpoint blank shot.
ON hich neither our stern nor quar-
ter guns would bear; We were NV
steering f.. by N. the wind N. w
/ remained with her in this position
for haitian hour, in the hope tfat sh,-
would close with us on our broadslde
in which ease bid prepared mc
crew to beard, bnt from his con
Iinuing to yaw his ship to maintai"
his position, ii became evident tina.
10 close was not bis intention. Ever,
ire aoW cut some oti0ur sails ORIG
ing. 10 have continued oar cours
ander these circumstances, would
lave been placing il in his power to
cripple US, withoui icing subject to
injury himself, andfo have hauledu@
mere to the norihuard to bring
'ur stern guns to bear, would havs
exposed Jus to bis raking IRE. II
vas now dusk, when deterniaed 70
lltermy course south. for the par
,ose OF bringing the enemy abeam,&
llthough their ships astern were !
up fast, | felt satisfied
hould be enabled tothrow hin oai {
f the combat before they eonid come (,
Up, and was not without hopes, II the. .
light proved dark. (of which tf:ere {
vas every appearance) that l a'ism
till BIZ enabled IL eject my escape /,