The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-13
VIRGINIA'S NAVY.
yoRE FIGHTING AND CAPTURES ~
sEVENTy-SIX.
order. TO Keep within Fifty Leagues vi
the Coast - Exploits Of Revolutionary
scsmen Heroic Conduct of Capt John
Covpcr Of the Brig Dolphin.
No s

Soon after the loss Of the Fly, sileet OF
tbe States cruisers were ordered out by
The Naval Board 10 watch the approach
OF British fleet hourly expected from
the North The Tartar, Dragon, and brig
Northampton were assigned to this duty.
with instructions 10 keep within nifty
leagues OF The land, and II occasion al
.oaed, 10 extend their cruise as far as the
Carolina seas, with the hope OF falling in
with "A hostile vessel Of the Goodrich
family, reported 10 be operating ON that
coast During this cruise the Dragon
WAS fortunate enough 10 rccapiure two
vessels laden with flour, which had been
.ken from the Americans 10y the enc
NV. She soon after fell in with the
Lord Howe, an English privaieer. The
enemy made fight but finding the
Dragons metal too heavy for him,
crowded sail, and succeeded IN getting OF.
TINS same vessel awaited herself of her
uimblc qualities more than once. In
October, l779, Captain Richard Taylor,
IN the schooner Patriot. encountered her
oil the capes of Virginia The Howe did
not avoid the conflict. She had an Idycr.
.ary more nearly her equal than was the
Dragon. The action was long and hOtly
contested, and the result would probably
have been doubtful had not the Patriot
received timely aid. Captain Francis
Blight, in the Northampton, happened 10
lc living under Smiths Island east Of
Cape Charles Hearing the cannOnade,
he made haste 20 learn the cause of il.
The wind being fair, be soon managed TO
overhaul the CombaiantS. The Howe,
ncrceiying she was about 10 be over
uowcrcd, once more crowded sail and
made her way safely ont 10 sea. The
northampton had gotten within range,
bat had only time 10 send single shot
after the fugi,igc. The Howe must have
behaved well In this action, as she Was
enabled 20 get away clear, whereas the
Patriot does not appear 20 have been
able either 90 prevent her escape or
.0in i'm the chase We hear no
more OF this enterprising enemy during
She war The brig Jefferson, Captain
James Markham. had not been idle about
tas time She is referred To As having Ia
ken several valuable prizes The Dol
ruin. too, 90 whom more reference will &c
presently made had been doing good ser
vice in the Chesapeake She had made
her way as far up as Taugier Island,
ohcrc she had narrow escape from
capture In the night, the weather being
thick. she had, unaWareS approached
quite near TO where the enemy lay at
anchor and i'm force At the break of
day she was deserted through the haze,
and hotilla Of boats was soon on the
Way 20 her capture. The enemy ) move
ments bad been cautiously but quickly
made About sunrise the Dolphin found
herself sharply engaged with u swarm OF
enemies Her resistance was however
,O stout that she not only made havoc
with her aSsailants, bat had not reinforce
ments been seen approaching she might
have DESTROYED them entirely. Fortu-
ua-eiy the wind began 10 rise with the
increasing dsy, and seeing he was about
tl be attacked by the entire fleet OF the
enemy. her captain took advantage Of the
breeze and bore of into safer waters.
The .VirEinians lost in this short action
nye killed. and a number wounded. That
ot me enemy must have been large, as
Ais boats were much crippled by the fre
oi the Dolphin.
About this period OF The wal the ac-
counts Of our naval forces are dim and
uncertain Vague references 10 fierce
encounters with the enemy come to Us in
Che distant muiierings of hostile guns
and lurid fashings through darkness and
0tscuriiy. il is simply stated, for in
stance. that Lieutenant Commander Trip
ieu. In the Congress of the Delaware
c4pos had taken valuable booty which
was safely taken into Philadelphia This
officer, in The same connection, Is re-
'cfred 10 as having on some other Occa-
sion attracted the particular notice OF
Washington for his good conduct But
we are left without the slightest hint as
90 the character of the service rendered.
Another instance is afforded in the mea-
ere account given Of severe action in
Lynhayen bay between the Tartar, Capt.
Richard TAYLOR, and an English schooner
whose name was unknown. Captain Tay-
l0r was wounded in the thigh, and 30
many Of his crew disabled that although
bis vessel vas not captured she was too
much disabled TO prevent the escape OF
the enemy. That this action did really
cake place is verified by the statement
made in the affidavit of the de-
poncnt as to the particular sur
r,onwho dressed Taylor's wounds
Let Us turn from such doubtful and I'M
rain accounts 10 admire the gallaniry
'i thc Youthful son Of Commodore james
Barron. who. while commanding a small
schooner after a desperate struggle cap
cured an armed vessel OF the enemy of
Hampton bar. StrangestO say the names
10 these vessels are not given. Young
Barron and his crew behaved SO well
that upon the surrender OF the enemy il
wa, found that more men had been Killed, /
wounded, and taken than were 10 be
found on his own vessel For this con
Que, he was at once promoted 10 lieu
tenancy. This gallant officer was after
wards the well known Capt ain Samuel /
Barron Of the United States navy, and Is
SAID by those who well recall his ap- |
pesfance to have been in mien and bear
tng the impersOnation of heroism and /
manly beauty lie expired suddenly in |
the year 1910, while at the dinner-table |
III presence OF numerous friends.
But the crOwning act of heriosm which /
se have now to record is that which has
lmm0rtslized the name of Captain John /
C0wper OF Nansemond county. This |
gallant officer was now commanding the !
lrr n,f,lt, Eha hat InuU bppn crui :.