The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-04-18
-ouvopoRr PoRTER's SQUADRON.

I5,iIsd States ship Pearoet, of Key
Gninrhos, I'D .haset, lS23. =
=. .be expedition under Commodore
ar has excited unusual interest IN all
a. of oar country, nave thought that Il
az ~, sketch of lis operations might be
'' oI with interest by "A portion 1t the
l l'ba. of the Enquirer | therefore take
~. liberty Of giving you hasty account
In rornceedinss Illus far.
Tn. squadron lrft the Capes OF lirsinla,
IN. 18th of February. y reached the Is
If II. Tnoinas on the 81 OF Marcn,
.,h,nt any occurrence of mite. On It's
81 there, the Commodore WAS miorm.
u ,hat many depredations were committed
~ nor commerce. by prlsateers fitted oat
s,r, Porto Rico, and that some of them
,,ars. AT that time towering about the south
". If that island. The Commodore inn
r,aJ;ately despatched Lieut.. Com'dt Per-
-. - the Shark, with the Ferret, Terrier
I'd Weasel, To seoir that part of the
81 and To- aforl the necessary protection
:, o,,r commerce., whilst he with the re-
,,aioder of the squadron, sailed on the
tf,xing morning for st. johns, the capt
.l # the island Of Porto Rico, to ascer-
.-,io from the authorities, the number aud
description of The prirateets, commission
,d at that place ; and the extent and nature
If the blockade Of the coasts of Colombia
md Mexico said to be enforced by these
,r,v,teers. To save time, the schooner
dry Hound, Capt. john Porter, was sent
,br,d with dispatch to the Capt. Gene
rJ and with orders To wait a certain time
f,r an answer and then rroin us. O.i the
s,h the squadron arrived of the port, aud
an, the following morning Lieli. Comman,
dant Vim. II. Cooke, in the Fox, was sent
IN with letter from the Commodore To
Captain Porter, asking certain Information
ofhim, with which he was directed To return
immediately On his entering the harbor
& passing the fort, we observed thai several
guns were fired but as no change was
made in the man9u,res of the Fox, we
did nu1 suppose they could have been fred
at her. The squadron remained of the
barber until sunset, when the Peacock
stsod within three or four miles of the
anchorage, and we saw the schooner but
IN disposition being eyinced to join US,
rhe Commodore determined to go ia A.
gndo fr water, where h. had directed
the absent vessel to Join him knowing if
they were detained, that his presence OF
The port would be of no service for, the
batteries were SD strong as to render any
attempt OF ours on them unasalilg even
with tea TINES our present turce; and II they
we're not, they would join us oa the day fol-
hwfug, at Aguado. We therefore pro-
Gee ded IN that pace, and remained until
Inc 10th before we were relieved from
state of the most painful anxiety and sus-
pense.
Captain Porter then i"ined us, and in
formed, that on getting within hal of the
pincple castle rpouniing several hundred
guns, the Fox was fired OH, and the fourth
shot, from forty two pouader, charged
with round aud language, carried away
poor Cookies arm and thigh he promptly
and with great GOODNESS, ordered the vfs
sci to be rounded to, aud the anchor letsgo.
Seven or eight inmates aftcrwMds, he ex-
pired--and his death ever will be recollec-
I'll with the deepest regret by all the
MAJ Y. and BY IA Numerous acquaintance IN
syil life. - an officer and mad, he has
Lfl few equals behind him ; and none,
who surpassed hiul.--The intelligence was
received with the most sincere sorrow
minute guns, to the number oil 10, were
fired un board the tlig ship thu colours 81
ill the heet WE'RE struck at hill mast, aud
tIls worn throughout the day and the
blowing general order" Was issued ny
liz commander in chr'I.-A certified copy
vi the general order is enclosed, with ca
pes Of the correspondence, which took
place previously and subsequently Ia, thls
nellncl. o!y occurrefc" y wh1 you VIII
perceive that the Commodore has man
tInfd with his usual ability the rights and
L,nor uf our lag and in doing so, bias not
been unmildfu! of what was du. 10 that Oi
Spain. lie bas been prev6led on 10 al
low copies OF these letters 10 be taken, as
al oifo.t to Il publication in the Echo ol
HIe 9TH, which WAS evidently pcnned
BY the same hand that wrote his Excel |
es's dispatch, and is calculated 10 make |
very erroneous impressions.
Thus has Gmia lost one of her bravest
and most worthy sons, and the Navy one |
of It's brightest orllaments-.l would ash !
how long we are 10 submit the shedding |
VI our best blooi by these dastardly span
iuds, who would not dare To meet us .
Renly The day of Vengeance must GER
kiny come. The bload OF Cooke will
tludly claim retaliation aud il thr
Spanish Government does not render al.
earctuat and prompt atonement, we must,
aud we ought, 10 demand 1t IT the point OF
NJ. sword Upon noprincipie ofju ice, or
Policy, can this act be defended. We must
attribute it solely to the inimicai disposition
81 the Military Commandment the same
person, who has lately had 50 many dill
callhs with DIR naval officers, ON this sta
Aou; aud WHO had been superseded tc"
weeks previously.
The captair, general e The island hes cX-
Pressed 10 the commodore his deep regret