Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1822-02-13
OFFICIAL LETTER.

OFFICIAL LETTER.
U. s. Schooner Porpoise, ofMe NORTH
Coast Of Cuba. goth January 1899
SIR: Having completed the neoes ,ar,
equipments Of this vessel, at New q.
leans, on the 7th inst and previously .;
ven public notice that / should ,s;l
from the Balize on the 10th, with con
voy, l have now the honor to inform
you that | proceeded to sea on the day
appointed, with five sail under my prc.
lection. On the 18th. having seen III.
vessels bound to Havana and Mat,n.
zas safe to their destined psrts, mad.
all sail to the westward, and on the fol
lowing day boarded the brig Bolina, Of
Boston, Gorham master, from whom
received the following information: That
on the day previous, his vessel was CAP
tursd by pirates, and robbed Of ever
material they could carry away with
them, 1t the same time treating the crew
and himself with inhnman cruelty. A.
ter supplying him frem this vessel with
what necessaries he required, l mad,
sail for the land, and early she following
merning, SADDLE Hill, on the north
lcsast Of Cuba, then bearing S. byE.lI
dispatched our boats, with forty men
under command of Lieut.. Curtis, in our.
suit of thess enemies of the human race
The boats having crossed the reef, which
here extends . considerable distance
frsm the shore, very soon discovered
chased. and captured, = piraticaI schr
the crew Of which made their escap. to
the woods. Lieut.. Curtis very Judi.
ciously manned the prizs from eur boats,
and proceeded about 10 miles to leeward
whsre, 1t was understood, tho PRINCIPAL
depot Of these maurauders was estsb
lished. This he fortunately discovered
and attacked. A slight skirmi.h herr
tosk place, but, as our force advanced
the opposing party preclpitately retreat.
ed. We then took possession. aud burnt
and destroyed their feet, consisting Of
five vessels-one of them . beautiful
new schooner, Of about 60 tons, ready
for sea, with the exception of her sail |
We alsotook three prisoners; the Others
fed to the woods
In tho affair just mentioned the Of. |
GERS of the expedition state the enemys
loss to be severe. Only ono man wa
wounded in our boats-and it is wor.
thy of remark, that this man was one Of
their own gang, then prisoner in our
possession, and surrounded by our own
people.
The destruction of this place will
trust, be of some service. From infor
nation by me received, it was their prin
cipal depot, from whence they dispatch.
ed iquadrons to Cape Antonio. These
returning, loaded with plumber, it va
transhipped to Havana in vessels sort
from there for that purpose. Stores
and materials were collected on theipa,
not only for repairing but building
vessels.
The prisoners now on board are re-
cognized by seaman in my possession
who was one Of the crow Of the Englh
ship Alexander, of Greenock, Lately
burnt by these pirates; and, not conte'
with destroying the vessel, they inhp
manly butchered her unfortunate con-
mander. The seam an in question |"
tain As an evidence in tho case.
Lieut.. Curtis speaks in the highsf
terms Of the gallantry and good cOnd's,
of Midshipmen Pinkney, Kingston, 'na
Morris; as also Of DR.. Tsrril, and e's'!
other officer and man employed 10 'h'
expedition. Nothing could axceedthei
ardor in pursuit but their enthusiasm u
attack. and both affording abuno'p'
proof that more would have been doD'
had more been required.
have manned one of the schooner,
taken, very fine fast sailing vessel, 'ps
keep her with me. She will prove "
great service in my further opsr's''"
on this coast.
cannot close this letter, sir, w''nO''
naming TO you Lieut. Curtis, whose co.
duct, not only in the present in''aD =,
but in every other respect, during ="
period he has been under my comm'u.'
has merited my warm and decided =
probation.
have the honor to be, &c.
JAMES RAMAGb'
Honorable Smith Thompson,
Secretary Of the Navy