tion, of thirty 24 pounders on her main-deck, and twentyfour 32 pounders, and two 18s on her upper deck, and 476 men: her loss in comparison with us is trifling, about 20: the first lieutenant of marines and 8 killed; and first lieutenant and master of the ship and eleven men wounded; her lower masts badly wounded, and stern much shattered, and very much cut up about the rigging. The Guerriere was so cut up, that all attempts to get her in would have been useless.. As soon as the wounded were got out of her, they set her on fire; and I feel it my duty to state, that the conduct of captain Hull and his officers to our men, has been that of a brave enemy, the greatest care being taken to prevent our men losing the smallest trifle, and the greatest attention being paid to the wounded, who, through the attention and skill of Mr. Irvine, surgeon, I hope will do well. I hope, though success has not crowned our efforts, you will not think it presumptuous in me to say, the greatest credit is due to the officers and ship's company for their exertions, particularly when exposed to the heavy raking fire of the enemy. I feel particularly obliged for the exertions of lieutenant Kent, who, though wounded early by a splinter, continued to assist me-in the second lieutenant the service has suffered a severe loss; Mr. Scott, the master, though wounded, was particularly attentive, and used every exertion in clearing the wreck, as did the warrant officers. Lieutenant Nicholl of the royal marines, and his party, supported the honourable character of their corps, and they suffered severely. I must recommend Mr. Shaw, the master's mate who commanded the foremast main-deck guns in the absence of lieutenant Pullman, and the whole after the fall of lieutenant Ready, to your protection, he having received a severe contusion from a splinter. I must point out Mr. Garby, acting purser, to your notice, who volunteered his services on deck, and commanded the after quarter-deck guns, and was particularly active, as well as Mr. Bannister, midshipman. I hope in considering the circumstances, you will think the ship entrusted to my charge properly defended-the unfortunate loss of our masts, the absence of the third lieutenant, second lieutenant of marines, three midshipmen, and 24 men, considerably weakened our crew, and we only mustered at quarters 244 men, and 19 boys, on coming into action; the enemy had such an advantage from his marines and riflemen, when close, and his superior saling enabled him to choose his distance. I enclose herewith a list of killed and wounded on board And have the honour to be, &c. the Guerriere. JAMES R. DACRES. A List of Officers, Seamen, and Marines, Killed and Wounded on board His Majesty's Ship Guerriere, in the action of the 19th of August, 1812. Killed Henry Ready, second lieutenant, and 14 seamen. Wounded-James R. Dacres, Esq. captain, severely; Bartholomew Kent, first lieutenant, slightly, and 61 seamen. CRUIZE OF THE ESSEX. Copies of Letters received at the Navy Department from Captain Porter, of the United States' Frigate Essex, of 32 guns. Sir, At Sea, August 20, 1811. I have the honour to inform you that on the 13th his Britannic majesty's sloop of war Alert, captain T. L. P. Laugharne, ran down on our weather quarter, gave three cheers and commenced an action (if so trifling a skirmish deserves the name), and after eight minutes firing struck her colours, with seven feet water in her hold, much cut to pieces, and three men wounded. I need not inform you that the officers and crew of the Essex behaved as I trust all Americans will in such cases, and it is only to be regretted that so much zeal and activity could not have been displayed on an occasion that would have done them more honour. The Essex has not received the slightest injury. The Alert was out for the purpose of taking the Hornet! I have the honour to be, with great respect, your obedient servant, (Signed) D. PORTER. Hon. Paul Hamilton, Secretary of the Navy, Washington. Sir, At Sea, August 20, 1811. Finding myself much embarrassed by the Alert, from the great number of prisoners we have already made (about five hundred), I concluded that before our arrival in America the number would be considerably augmented, and as I found my provisions and water getting short, and being well satisfied that a plan had been organized by them for rising on the ship in the event of an engagement; I conceived it to be the interest of my country to get clear of them as speedily as possible, particularly as I was well assured that immediately on their arrival in St. John's, an equal number of my countrymen would be released, and find a sure and immediate conveyance. I, therefore, drew up written stipulations corresponding with the accompanying letters; threw all the guns of the Alert overboard; withdrew from her all the men belonging to the Essex; appointed lieutenant J. P. Wilmer to command her as a cartel, put all my prisoners on board her, and dispatched her for St. John's, in Newfoundland, with orders to proceed from thence to New-York, with such Americans as he may receive in exchange. At a more suitable opportunity I shall do myself the honour to lay before you copies of every paper relative to this transaction, and sincerely hope that my conduct in this affair may meet with your approbation. As the Essex has been so annoying about Bermuda, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland, I expect I shall have to run the gauntlet through their cruizers; you may, however, rest assured, that all a ship of her size can do shall be done, and whatever may be our fate, our country shall never blush for us. I have the honour, &c. (Signed) D. PORTER. Hon. Paul Hamilton, Secretary of the Navy, Washington. [The following are the papers accompanying the preceding, viz. my two letters to captain Laugharne, with his answer, verbal and written, to the first; a copy of the passport given to lieutenant Wilmer, and a copy of captain Laugharne's certificate, certifying to the number of prisoners put on board the cartel Alert.] Sir, August 18, 1812. An arrangement has suggested itself to me, which, in my opinion, is calculated to advance the interest of the United States as well as that of his Britannic majesty, and if acceded to by you, shall be immediately put in execution should you object to the terms, they will not, after this, be repeated, and the treatment usual to prisoners of war, will in future be observed towards your crew. Art. 1. The Alert to be deprived of all her armament, and to proceed under charge of an officer of this ship, as a cartel, to such British port as you may deem most adviseable, and to take your officers and crew, together with the British cap tains and mates of merchant vessels, with their crews, now prisoners on board this ship. Art. 2. The officers to go on parole of honour, not to serve against the United States of America during the existing war, until regularly exchanged. The captains and mates of merchant vessels, and their crews, as well as the petty officers, seamen, marines, landsmen and boys, composing your crew, to be exchanged immediately on their arrival in a British port, for an equal number of equal grades of American prisoners, and are not to serve against the United States until the exchange takes place. Art. 3. The swords of the officers to be returned to them. Art. 4. You to remain as a pledge for the faithful fulfilment of the foregoing articles. I have the honour to be, &c. D. PORTER. Capt. T. P. Laugharne, late Commander of (Signed) H. B. M's. Sloop of War Alert, present. After delivering the preceding letter to captain Laugharne, he verbally informed me "that his officers preferred remaining with him, and sharing his fate, and as he was confident some of his ship's company were much prejudiced against him, he did not wish them to go to Newfoundland, until he could be present to appear in his own justification, before they could have an opportunity of injuring his honour and reputation as an officer, both of which he held as inestimable, and as a court martial could not take place in his absence.' He then wrote me the following letter: Sir, August 18, 1812. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this day's date, offering an arrangement for the officers and crew of his majesty's late sloop Alert. In answer thereto, I beg leave to inform you that I accept and agree to the first, second, and third articles, but permit me to mention my objection to the last, as it seems by your requiring me to remain as an hostage for the performance of the preceding ones, to cast (though I am willing to believe unintentionally) an indirect suspicion on the faith of the British government, so universally known for its fulfilment of every compact entered into by its public servants. By your allowing me to accompany my ship's company and officers, I will pledge to you mine honour to see the articles of our release fully complied with on our arrival in a British port. Should you object to this, my officers prefer remaining with me till we are regularly exchanged. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) T. L. P. LAUGHARNE, Late Commander of his M's. Sloop Alert. Capt. D. Porter, United States' Frigate Essex. Sir, August 18, 1812. In reply to one paragraph in your letter in answer to the terms offered by me I shall observe that, having on two former instances permitted cartels to proceed to British ports without reserving hostages, I have sufficiently evinced that I entertained the highest confidence in the honour and faith of the British government as respects the fulfilment of compacts entered into by their officers; nor should I have proposed the last article in this instance, were it not that I felt a necessity for holding some pledge as a justification of my conduct to my own government for the unlimited confidence I have reposed. For the reasons, however, which you have stated, I am willing to yield that condition; and you may consider yourself at liberty to proceed with your officers and crew, and on the same terms. I have the honour, &c. (Signed) D. PORTER. Capt. T. L. P. Laugharne, late Commander of his B. M's. Sloop of War Alert, present. [Here follow copies of the agreement, passport, &c. and a list of the prisoners.] Sir, At Sea, September 1, 1812. On the afternoon of the 30th August, in latitude 36° N. longitude 62° W. discovered one of the enemy's frigates standing towards us under a press of sail, apparently with an intention of speaking us. Stood for him under easy sail, with the ship prepared for action; apprehensive that he might not find us in the night, I hoisted a light. At 9 he made a signal, consisting of two flashes and one blue light, apparently about four miles distance from us. I continued to stand on for the point where they were seen until midnight, when not getting sight of the enemy, I concluded it would be best to heave to for him until day-light, presuming that he had done. the same, or that he would at least have kept in our neighbourhood; but to my great surprise, and the mortification of my officers and crew (whose zeal on every occasion excites my admiration), we discovered in the morning that the bird VOL. II. Нн |