Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1815-07-13
WASHINGTON CRY H.,
Copy Of a letter from Can i, ~, " ;.
Commodore Decatur ~. ia

Tan d'Acunha, & rich q ~,
slR-I have the honor t, inf,, Sf
mat on the morning of the 9 .sa0;n ynl
lalf past ten, when about IA '' an1 inst 1,
ne north end Of the island Of ai''t Ta,,.&
pAeanha, a sail was seen TO r. 'ntal
ward and eastward. ste ~ r;n' ''s s'ah,
~; eastward the wind fresh from tS 10 : q b
w: Ina few minute, she had I n .'s Is
f0fh !. westward so that we cea 4 RSi, ne.
er for the land. l imneIists S' "ol Sc
sail to the westward, and sAor;ln male
}etting sight of her again, perce;rSi a'ta
to bear up before the wind na ha
:or him to come down to us.-Wsv.e TO
had approached near, | Fl ed tho h .'en She
IFop.s;a'i, and continued to yaw th as az
while she continued to come u a ship
wearing occasionally to prevent b s'FAi
sing under our stern. AT | 4op OBJ fas
oeing nearly within muske. shot Sl. NJ
she hauled her wind on the starboa uS' taS
,M hnsllsh colors, and fired ,ms
We Immediately lufed too, hois,s "a ssaN'
ensign, and gave the enemy hra.I.. oa'
The action being thus commenced so'.s
s well directed fire waske ,up f,aTI s Us:
ship, the enemy gradually itiftms na, WIS
to us, when at In SOM he ore uP, srrs'
rentiy to run US on board. i.soe enr ~
perceived he would certainly fallon bo. a.
| called the boarders SO to be rosS,
to repel any attempt to boa d us. ANY Ip!
Instant every officer and m IN reps;rsa ~ ~
Inc quarter deck, where tie two vessel,
were csming in contact, and e,esrls :
pressed me to permit them to board 4.
enemy: but this | would net nermi. 70 -
lit was evident from tie com,nercemsa,
of the action that our fire was greatly =, ny
perior both in quickness and in effect -
The enemy's bowsprit came in betvoon
our main and mizen rigging, on our st,r AZ
board side, afording him an opportunity
to board US, if such was his design, ht
no attempt was made. There was a cor
siderable swell on, and as the sea El,.,
rs ahead, tie enemv's bousprit carried
away our mizen shrouds, stern davis and
spanker boom, and he hung upon ourhr.
board quarter. At this moment an off.
Ger, who was afterwards recognised IA
,e Mr.. M'Donaid, the first lieut.. and tbe
then commanding, officer, called out TIA,
hey had surrendered. | directed the
marines and musketry-men to cease fr
;ng, and while on the tatfrail asking 4
they had surrendered, Ireceired wound
IN the neck. The enemy had then jus
rot clear Of us, and his toremast and
)owsprit being both gene, and perceir
ing us wearing to give him fresh broad
side, be again called out that he Lad
surrendered. 1t twas with din Guilty lcouIt
,estrain my crew from firing into him a
cain as he had certainly fired into ussftpr
having surrendered. From tie firing O
the first gun. to the last time the ereml
cried outhe had surrendered. was exactly
% minutes by the watch. She proved
TO be his II. z. Nj. brig Penguin, nourt
ing sixteen SO ID. carroHadcs. two lODy
l2's. a twelve ID. carronade on the top
:.aiiant forecastse, with swiyes on TIKI
carstern and in the tops. She had
spare port forward, SO asto fight both be
long guns Of side. She sailed fron
England in September last. she va
shorter upon deck than this hip by tS
feet. but she had a greater length OF keel
greater breadth of beam. thicker sides,
higher bulwarks, tran this ship. and va;
in all respects, remarkably fine yesse
of her class. The enemy ackrowIeds
complement of 1as men 10 them ST.
pernumerary marines from tie MedNaY
"A, received on board in consequence 6
their being ordered TO cruiZe Tor the 4
merican Trivateer Young Nasp, ire
acknowledge, also. q loss OF ~ hi'e"' a..
2S wounded but Mr.. Mayo. who was
cha, &c OF the prize, assures ne tFh u.
number of killed was certainly gfea'S'
Among tire killed is captain D!oke"sol
who fell at tie close of the acton. al.
the bcatsN ain : among the Noundco,
tie second lieutenant, pursur; ana W
midshipmen. Each of the mldshI!n's
lost leg. We received on beard, u a
one hundred and eighteen prisoners, lO o.
Of whom have since died Of their Wculu'
Having removed the prisoners arc '"'. .
on board such provisions and stores : .:
would be useful to us, scuttieG u !,
Penguin, this morning. before day'''sm
and She went down. AS she was GU" ".
rleteIy riddled by our shot, her 's! arena.
and bovsprit both gone, Il, d hel n ann n.;n
so crippled as to be inealabIe Oh De ~;
secured, it seemed unad' SADIE al H. ~
distance IRON hcmc. to attemit sel'''
her to the Urited States.