Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1831-04-09

| Elggots, split fine and covered with
/ melted rosin. Two more barrels filed
| with the same materials were placed
| each side. OF the mast, and thea the
whole deck was closely slowed up to
| the gunwale,s with birch twigs dipt in
rosIn. Strips Of canvass 6 or 8 inches
IN width, dipped in spirits of tnrpen-
tine covered all the standing rigging
| from the deck TO the mast head.
There were square sail and spirit
sail Yards to both vessels. and gap
| ping iron fastened to the end Of each
yssd, ti.e.dying glib boom, and the gait
ass. Gain boom, with chains that led
Nd esAa.d v ere hoatedns1hr aserls -
The vessels being in readiness, the
command Of the sloop was given to
Thomas Updike Fosdick, New Lon
don CT. then an ensign in company Of
the regiment Of Col. Charles Willis
continental troops. Ensign Fosdick's
crew consisted Of Gideon Beebe and
myself Of the same company and regi-
ment as above, and John Bass, who
was appointed by Commodore Tup-
per, sherman of the whale boat in
which we were to make our escape
His company and regiment l do not re-
collect. The remaining five of our
crew were from Webb's regiment, the
crew Of each vessel consisting of nine
men. The schooner was given to Lieu
tenant Thomas, a native of Rhode Isl
and, whose christian name | Fever
4 k<Sx hot
regiment he belonged; some Of his
men were from WHY'S regiment.
Every thing now in readiness, We
started from New York up the North
River, with light and variable wind.
Our progress was very slow. as we
could not make sail to advantage On
account of the graphing irons and
chains, which, as l have said, were az
fixed to the yards Of the vessels The
weather at this time was rainy and
drizziiag. The next day after we left
New York, we got up the river as far
as Spiking Devil Greek, where were
lying three new gallies, which bad re-
ceived orders from General Washing
ton to take US in tow and proceed inn
med.ate!y Up the river that night as far.
as it would be safe for them to venture.
The night was dark, foggy, and rainy,
and when we left Spiking Devil Creek
in search of the enemy's ships, We
could discern no object at the dis
lance Of fifteen yards. We steered
however, for their ships according to
the best of our judgment, and while we
were under full Roadway, stroke
from the bell Of their frigate, the Pho
nix, aPprised the gallies of their dan
ger. They Immediately cast of, bid
US good bye and God speed, and made
the best Of their way down the river.
After they left US, we steered our
course BY the sound of their ships bell,
and the sentiners cry Of "Alrs web"
The orders Of com. Upper, we're
that, Captain Thomas with his schoon-
er, should keep about 100 yards ahead
of Captain Fcsdick's sloop, and Crap
pie the bow Of the Phoenix, while Capt.
Fosdick should come up and fasten to
her stern. But as it happened Capt.
Thomas being in advance came in con-
tact with tender that was moored in
direct line ahead of the PhGnix.-
The darkness Of the night prevented
him from knowing what vessel 1t was,
and he was obliged to graPple her and
fire his train, by which means the ten.
der was soon consumed. The flames
oftwo vessels made it as light as day,
and the enemy's ships comme need
tremendous fire Of cannon and small
arms upon our vessel; many Of their
shot struck our hull, without doing
much injury. We kept our course,
and succeeded in graphing the bows
Of the Phoenix amidst the roar OF can
non and the voliies Of small arms from
the marines.
We fired our train, and the sloop re-
manned grappled to the Phoenix burn
ing with great fury for the space Ct
twenty minutes. At length the enemy
succeeded in clearing their ship by
cutting their bow cable, and letting
their ship drift with the tide, and then
bringing up with their stern anchor, BY
which means the force of the tide sep
arated the two vessels; and the fire ship
drifted to the shore and TO the waters
edge. We came off in our boat in safe
ty; not a man Of US was hurt, nor was
the boat damaged in the least by the
tremendous fire from the ships Of volley
after voiley. and broadside after broad
side.
SrErHEN HENrsrEAD. ST..