Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-08-27

HIGHEST respect oil MS couliti nie"
documents have accidently fallen mo opr
hands. in relation to a bold achievement snn" ca
that distinguished officer in the year l0oo;
which places hi courage, seamenshiP anu
conduct in a striking light; the credi' OF
which. from misprint of his name al ''e !
time in the newspapers never has been d
warded to the right individual.
CAPT. Hull, was the first Lieut.. OF .i,e
fr;pate Constitution, commanded Dy IaP'.
Taibot. during the short war, which was
waced between the United States and The
Ersnch Republic. The Constitution was
arn;z;ng anon the coast OF St. Domingo III
the spring OF 1860: and, Capt. aiDo',
hearing that French armed ship, lying IN
por, PlRe* though she was protector ny
her own guns and fort of three heavy can
non. determined upon cutting her ot!. re,
~ 6rst Intended TO have silenced the lori
with the battery of his ship, but hndInS IL
somewhat dangerous TO approach near
enough 10 perform this sers ice with Inc
Constitution. he altered his pian-anI en-
trrsjed the enterprise with Lieut.. 1uii.
! The sloop Sally, vessel belonging 10
Rhode Island, having left Port Plate WIN
an intention Of returning, and being ~! IG
tanned by Capt. Talbot on account ol mr.. ,i,n,
cit traffic, afforded an excellent opportunity
TO effect the intended object: enc was
made use of as disguise, and deldehI
ment of about 90 volunteers, consisting oi
seamen and marines were put on D0srn uIi-
der the direction OF Lieut.. Hull. ne ma
rines were to be COMMANDED by Capt, Iar,
nick and Lient Armory, when they slou nc
he called upon TO act on shore. Inc oaiiy
left the Constitution on Sunday May, III
1900. and on her rout. was boarded by a
British frigate, the Captain OF when. III
tended to have cut out the French Corvette
on the following day.
At sunrise next morning, the vessel was
few miles to the windward OF Port sale,
and Lieut.. Hull called al hands upon deck,
detailed his plan of attack and appointed
the officers and men to their respective STA
tons. The Sally bore up for the hsrbor,
: as merchant vessel, whilst Lieut.. HUI
disguised in the habit of a sailor, took the
helm himself, and stood in. She passed
the fort without molestation and 1t. Hull
Law ny Der on board the eDemy's vessel,
and calling out 'Boarders Away carried
her, under cover of a fire of muske'ry,
without the loss Of man. The French
crew, taken By surprise, either Jumped
overheard or were capture among inc
latter were the first and second LIeutenants
belonging To the French navy. Lieut.
Armory, with his marines. in moment
afterwards, were in tine boat, which sunk
alongside the vessel-but heading his cal
: liant party, who swan with their muske's
he soon reached the shore. flushing ~
the hill with charged bayone's, they drove
: the panic struck garrison from The Tort, and
, spiked the guns. In The space oil 10 MN
utes both the fortress and vessel were cap
, tured. --She proved TO be the Sandwich
! a fast sailing. copper bottomed ship OF ON
tons, but completely dismantled, withou
: either rigging or sails upon the nasts' oh'
-pnsitInI
cables. The guns of the work and the can
non which had been landed from the Sand
: wen, were so disposed as 10 command the
, snip and the. entrance Of the harbor in a
mot effectual manner.
Lieut. Hull, being in an enemy's port, in
possession of dismantled ship, with hos.
, I'VE population surrounding him. perceived
!he necessity of promptDess and activity
III his movements; and he ordered the 6
cannon which yet remained on board 10 be
''N'S"' w btdf sue WHICH
commanded the approach to the ship A
flag OF truce, al this juncture, was sent on
board from the governor of the place, by
his .qid, to learn the further intentions of
the American commanding officer. Hull
promised him, il they would remain quiet,
not TO offer violence 10 the town or its in
habitants; but ii any hostile attempts were
made upon the vessel, he should repel force
by force. AT ten o'clock in the forenoon.
they began TO sway up the topmasts of the
prize. at five in the afternoon, being entire.
" rdady Tor sea they weighed anchor from
Port Plate, and at noon the next day rejoin-
ed the Constitution.
"A harbor of about twenty geographical
miles eastward Of Cape Francois. The
town contains about 5000 inhabitants.
Boston Hteliieenrer.