The Arkansas banner., 1843-10-28


 :, not single uninjured individual was foun, e on deck, except the seaman at the wheel, an, three officers. The deck was covered witt the dead and dying, and was slippery wit blood. When Lieutenant Riddle reached tn,
 quarter-deck, the commander and two othe , officers threw down their swords, and mad, an inclination of their bodies, thus affordins evidence that they had surrendered.
 During the early part of the action, the en
 sign of the enemy had been shot down. up. on which a British seaman carried 1t alof agaln, and nailed 1t to the mast. In this state It continued floating, they not being able tc lower It, until one of the United States officers aseended the rigging, and tore it from it's at taehments. In forty-three minutes from the commencement of the action. full possession was taken of the enemy, which proved to be His Britannic Majesty's sloop of war Frolic, commanded by Captain Whynyates.
 On examining the berth-deck, it was found crowded with the dead and wounded, there being but an inconsiderable proportion of the crew of the Frolic which had escaped unhurt. Soon after Lieutenant Riddle took possession of the enemy, her masts fell by the board, so that she lay a complete wreck. The contest being now terminated, Captain Jones ordered Dr. New, the assistant surgeon of the Wasp, to visit the wounded enemy, and to carry with him every thing on board, which could ill any manner contribute to their comfort.
 The force of the Frolie consisted of six teen thlrty-two pound carronades, four twelve pounders on the main-deck, and two twelve pound carronades. She was, therefore, su- perlor to the Wasp, by four twelve pounders The officers of the Frolic stated that the num- Der of men on the ships books was one bun- dred and ten but as boats were seen plying between the Frolic and some of the convoy. In the morning, before the action, it was be- lleved that she received many volunteers, in addition to her regular crew. This belief was strengthened by the circumstance, that one of the vessels Ill the convoy came along side the Wasp, next morning after her capture, and asked assistance to reef his sails, as he had but two men and a boy on board It was intimated that he had thus diminished his crew, by allowing volunteers to % on board the Frolic.
 The officers, seamen, marines, and boys. on board the Wasp, numbered one hundred and thirty-ive; which, from the best infor- nation which could be obtained, was less in number than that of the enemy Both ves- sels, however, had more men than was essen- tial to their efficiency and the officers of the Frolic candidly acknowledged that they had more men than they knew what to do with Ii appears, therefore, that while there was an equality of strength i'll the crews, there was an inequality in the number of guns and weight of metal-the Frolic having four twelve pounders more than the Wasp.
 The exact number of killed and wounded on board the Frolic could not be ascertained, with any degree of precision; but from the admissions of the British officers, 1t was sup posed that the number killed was about thir- ty, including two officers; and of those wounded, between forty and fifty. The cap- tain, and every other officer on board, were more or less severely wounded. The Wasp sustained loss of only five men killed, and five wounded.
 A busy scene now ensued, of disposing of the dead, taking care of the wounded, and re- pairing the damages which the Wasp sustain ed during the conflict. Lieutenant Riddle, with portion of the officers and crew of the 1 Wasp, were similarly engaged on board the Frolic. While engaged ill erecting jury masts on board the latter vessel, suspicious sail was seen to windward; upon which, Captain Jones directed Lieutenant Riddle to shape her course for Charleston, or some other southern port of the United States, while the Wasp would continue her cruise.
 The strange sail coming down rapidly, both vessels prepared for action, but soon discovered, to the modification of the victors of this well-fought action, that the new enc my was seyenty-four, which proved to be the Poictiers, commanded by Commodore Beresford, Firing a shot over the Frolc, she passed her, and soon overhauled the Wasp, which, in her crippled state, was unable to escape Both vessels were thus captured, and carried into. Bermuda. Captain Jones and his officers were placed on parole of honor, at St. Georges, Bermuda, and were treated there with great courtesy, particularly by the officers of the ninety-eighth and one hundred and second regiments, of British in fantry. Dinners, balls, and other acts of ci- vlity, were tendered with a cordaity of manner which made our officers almost for get their misfortunes.
 After remaining in St. George's few WCCho3 a 1ditCl was PioP'iou, " Nliieh aie officers and crew of the Wasp were convey ed to New Y York. On the return of Captain Jones to the United States, he was every where received with demonstrations of the highest respect and admiration for the skill and gallantry which he displayed in his com bat with the enemy. In his journey to Washington, whther he was ordered by the President of the United States, he received brilliant entertainments ill the cities through which he passed
 The legislature of Delaware, his native State, gave to him a vote of thanks, and an elegant piece of plate, with appropriate en- cravings. On motion of James A. Bayard, of Delaware, the Congress of the United States appropriated twenty-five thousand dol lars, as compensation to Captain Jones, his officers, and crew, for the loss they sustained by the recapture of the Frolic. They also voted gold medal to Captain Jones, and
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