The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-10-17

Gem msAsre warringtsn.
| We find, in Coopsr's Naval History, the fol.
lowing account or the actions in the war ofIsI2,
IN which Commodore Warrington was engaged
! In March, 1914, the Peacock. 10, Capt War
rinslon," went to sea, and proceeded to the south
warn as Tar as "the Great lsaaes, /" cruising in
that vicinity, and along The Florida shore. 10 Cane
CarnaveraI
On the 29'h of April, in lat 27.47 North, and
'ons, oo'9' the Peacock made three sail TO wind.
"aru' under convoy Of large brig-of war. Tbs
merchantmen hauled up to e n E.. and the b,D
edged away for the Peacock. They were soon
alongside, and close action commenced Tn
american vessel received two 32-pouni shot in
inc quarter OF her foreyard from the enemy = FIRST
ofoadside, which rendered the headsails nearly
useless This injury compelled the Peacock ~
hsht running large, and prevented much man
uu''ihs' the combat being effectuaIly decided bv
gunhery' AT the end of "a minutes, the enemy
struck and possession was taken OF him.
The prize was H. Il. M, Epervier, 10, Captain
wales She was EXTENSIVELY injured, having re-
eeived no less than 25 shot in her hull and h.d 90
men KILLED and wounded. Her main-topm.s, u,..
over the side, her main boom was shot awav hsr
iosemast lettering, her bowsprit badly Injured
standing rigging much out, and five feet of water
IN the hold The Peacock received h,, I;uls
~ 'na' which was done the foreyard being the
prihciPai' While her hull escaped almost entirely
not round shot touching it. No person w.a
Killed. and only two men were wounded.
lhereacock Was heavier vessel than the Eosr-
'ier' whi'e as usual the disparity in the loss was
i'nhteiy greater than in the force The metal was
homihai'y the same; but if the shot of the Psa.ocL
was as short of weight as these of the wnsn 49,.
known to have been, she threw at hroads;daonI,.
twenty pound of metal more than her ap,apon;s,
nc Ipervler mcuAted l8thirty two pound carron.
aueS, ana 1t would seem, had chase guns her
csew consisted of l29 men. On board the vesssl
was found sllS,O00 in specie.
III one hour after the retreat from quarters was
oeat' the Peacock was, in all respects, ready for
another action. The Epervier struck abou, ia
M and by sunset was put in condition 10 csrr,,
sail. 1t was only by the greatest exertions bou,-
ever tha' she was at FIRST kept from sinking. Mr..
Nichoison did his duty successfully, and with
great steadiness and ingenuity,
MIR. ). Is. Nicholson, the first lieutenant Of, The
reacoek' was put In charge of the prize. with d.
rectlons to make the best of his way to Savannah
The Southern coast was then much infested nv the
enemy, and as Captain Warning ton knew he WAS
liable to be brought into action at anv momen, h.
determined to convey his prize into port.
Shortly after this gallant exploit of Warrington.
the Peacock sailed on cruise for the enemy 8 seas
the Bay of Hiscay, the coast of Portugal and
among the islands, constantly changing her posi-
ton to evade the English squadrons. After nass-
ing over some OF the best cruising ground in the
Atlantic, the ship returned TO New York a, the
END of October, without having fallen in with an
enemy OF force proper for her to engage. She
captured, however IA sail of merchantmen.
The Peacock, commanded by Warrington, was
one OF Commodore Decatur's force, in 1914, des-
tined to the East Indies, where it was thouobt
great havoc might be made among the valuable
trade ofthe English. The affair of the Presiden,
and the Endymlon is well known Capt. Biddle
continued the cruise in the Hornet, the Peacock
accompanying her
On the Both of June, in the Straits of Sunda
Warrington fell in with the East India Com
pany's cruiser, the Nautilus, IA, and not know
ing of the peace, took her, after an EXCHANGE of
broadsides. This unfortunate circumstance took
place a few days after the period set for the ter
mnation of hostilities, and on ascertaining that
treaty of peace had been ratified in March. Cant
warrington gave up the Nautilus, next day. The
latter vessel had killed and 8 wounded, but no
person was hurt on board the Peacock, which shin
Immediately returned home.