The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-07-11
FRIGATE POTOMAC.

FRIGATE POTOMAC.
Some time last year. the ship Friendship,
of Salem, was captured and plundered, and
as near as we recollect. several of the hands
were murdered by the inhabitants of Qualah
Battoo, piiatical town Of the Island of
Sumatra in the East Indies. In consequence
of this outrage, the u S. Frigate Potomac,
Com. Downes, was sent out 10 the Indian
Ocean, and the first account we have of her
arrival, informs US, also, of On action with
the Malays of Qualah Battoo. The follow
ing extracts give full account of the affair:
Extract Of Il letter, dated on board Of the u. S.
Frigate Potomac.
ISLE OF SuMATRA, 500 so, Feb. 10.
We arrived at Qualah Battoo, (about 5 or 6
miles from this place. on the 9th inst, after
passage of 50 days from the Cape of Good Hope.
We came in with our ship disguised as a mer-
chan,man, and with Danish coors flying. So
complete was our Disguise that the enemy was
not aware of our character. Shortly after we
had dropped our anchors, Commodore Downes
sent party on shore for the purpose Of recon
noitering the place. The design was TO exam.
inc the relative position of the different forts
previous to making the intended attack. But
they found the beach lined with large body OF
men, exhibiting warlike appearance, and man
iiesling hostile intentions; consequently they
did not deem it prudent to land AS soon as
the information of the HUSTLE appearance of the
Malays ashore was announced, our ship pre-
sentcd busy scene.
An attack upon the town the next morning
was determined upon, and everv necessary
preparation was accordingly made At ~
O'Clock on the morning Of the 9th, all hands as
signed TO take part in the expedition were call
ed, mustered, and received their instructions
About they left the ship. The expedition
proceeded slowly on their midnight GRAND in
perfect silence, save an occas onal whisper from
the officer in command, with muflled oars, and
nothing but star to guide them to their place
ofdisembarkment. landing was effected near
the dawn OF day, about mile and half from
the town, and undiscovered by the enemy. The
troops, amounting to 260 men in number, were
then all drawn up in regular order, and under
the chief command Of Lieut.. Shubrck, took IN
their line of march against the enemy.
Extracts from the Reports made by It, Shu-
BRICK. commanding The Expedition against
the malay Pirates, made by him to Com
modore Do,cnes, commanding The Potomac
tfTgate lying IN Bantam Bay) Straits Of
Sunda, .Marck ii, 1882, after the Attack
upon Quaitah Battoo.
We proceeded along the beach toward
the Town, undiscovered by the enemy
until within a short distance of the North
ernmost Fort, when imme diately dispatch
ell LIT. Hotf and his division to surround it.,
and IN the event Of the enemys firing upon
HIM, to take it by storm. As soon as he APP
preached the gateway he was fired upon
when, after close action of nearly two
hours, the American Flag was hoistel, the
enemy carrying off their wounded and leav-
ing behind their dead, IL in number, and
their women. 1t. Hoff had TO surmount
great difficulties in the capture Of this Fort.
He tore up the Palisades which surround
ed 1t, and forced bridge over the Jungle,
upon which he entered and drove the enc
my from their almost impregnable position !;
during the whole of which time an inces-
SAINT firing was kept up upon him.
After leaving 1t. Hoff, proceeded with
the remaining divisions, at the northern
end of the Town; Its Pinkham anil Edison
with their respective divisions filed off to the
left to the attack o? the two Forts assigned
them in the rear of the town. With the Sd
division under 1t, lngersoll, and the six
FOUNDER under sailing master Totten,
posted on 10 attack the principal and strong
est Fort situated at the Southern end Of
the town. At the distance of 50 yards from
the Fort directed the six FOUNDER TO be
loaded with round and grape shot and dis
ahn naI ,yhiah tbra,. int.
The GOODNESS and precision with which
sailing master Totten worked the six pound
er, did great execution. 1t. Ingersoll at
this time rushed on to the attalk; at this
juncture 1t. Pinkham with the LIST division,
rejoined ME. Sailing master Barry, the
guide, from material alterations in and
about the Fort, having been unable to point
out the Fort assigned to Lit. Pinkham, the
Pioneers with their crows and axes having
forced the Gate, portions of the LIST and 81
divisions under the directions of their re-
spectlve officers pushed into the area and
took possession with little resistance-few
Malays appearing-two Of which were shot
dead upon the spot. A charge was then
made at the inner Gate which communicate
ed with narrow passage leading to the
strong hold of the Pirates, which was
strong platform considerably elevated up
on which was mounted several cannon pro-
tecled by thick wall, which being forced
it was discovered to the disappointment of
the officers and men there engaged,
that the platform leading to the platform
had been drawn up, and in an Intellectual
attempt to climb the Parapet, regret to
say, that VIM. P. Smith, seaman, was kill
led, and Henry butcher, 70. ST. Levi Nc
Cable, Or. Gunner of the 81 division, and
Mid. John w. Taylor, with Peter Walsh,
70. S. of the LIST division, were wounded.
then directed-lhe buildings TO be fred, in
the hope that it would communicate with
the main body Of the Fort, in order to drive
them from their position, but it did not take
effect and they continued their firing even
during the explosion of two magazines
which took place near them; and so lena-
ciously did they hold on to their position
that it was not until 1t. Hof with portion
Of the I'd division, and 1t. Edison with the
marines came up latter leaving dctachments
in lie Forts against which they had been
sent) and formed between the water and
the Fort knnninc, hricE Il, l.L1