The other vessels of the squadron were, Africa, 64 guns, captain Bastard; Guerriere, 38 guns, captain Dacres; Belvidera, 36 guns, captain Byron; Æolus, 32 guns, captain lord Townsend. My officers and crew were sent on board the Africa. I remained with the Nautilus. The treatment I received from commodore Broke was polite and gentlemanly. We arrived here last evening. If it is not improper, I beg leave to request your interference in having me exchanged, as I feel great unwillingness to remain inactive at this time. Very respectfully, I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant, W. M. CRANE. Hon. Paul Hamilton, Secretary of the Navy, Washington. The Secretary of the Navy to Lieutenant Crane, late of the Nautilus. Sir, Navy Department, 7th Oct. 1812. The following is the opinion of the court of enquiry convened agreeably to your request, for the purpose of investigating the circumstances of the loss of the late United States' brig Nautilus: "The court were unanimously and decidedly of opinion, that in the capture of the late United States' brig Nautilus, lieutenant Crane, her late commander, and his officers, are entirely free from the least blame or censure, and do consider lieutenant Crane did every thing to prevent said capture that a skilful and experienced officer could possibly do." This opinion of the court, sir, only confirms the impression confidently entertained with respect to your conduct on the occasion to which it refers. I have the honour to be, respectfully, sir, your obedient servant, PAUL HAMILTON. Wm. M. Crane, Esq., of the Navy, Boston. CRUIZE OF COMMODORE RODGERS. Copy of a Letter received by the Secretary of the Navy from Sir, Commodore Rodgers. United States' Frigate President, at Sea, Oct. 17, 1812. I have the honour to acquaint you that on the 15th inst., near the Grand Bank, this ship, the Congress in company, captured the British king's packet Swallow, Joseph Mor phew commander, bound from Kingston, Jamaica, to Falmouth. The rank of the commander of this vessel is that of a master and commander in the navy. She had no cargo on board except eighty-one boxes of gold and silver, amounting to between one hundred and fifty and two hundred thousand dollars. The specie I took out of her, and had intended sending her to England in the character of a cartel with her own crew: having fallen in with the American schooner Eleanor, bound from Baltimore to France, dismasted, induced me to change my first determination, and instead of sending her to England I have sent her to the United States. in charge of the master and crew of the before-mentioned schooner, who, at the moment of writing this have charge of the Swallow with the schooner in tow, but which, as soon as the weather will permit, they intend abandoning, after having taken her cargo on board the Swallow. I parted company with the United States and Argus five days since; they are not however far from me at present, I apprehend. We have not seen a single British vessel of war as yet, except one frigate, which the want of wind and the approach of night prevented our chasing with any effect; although from information afterwards received we must have passed very near a squadron of five frigates the evening preceding that on which we saw the one before mentioned. I have the honour to be, with the greatest respect, sir, obedient servant, your JOHN RODGERS. Hon. P. Hamilton, Secretary of the Navy. Copy of a Letter from Commodore Rodgers to the Secretary of the Navy. Sir, At Sea, long. 32, lat. 33, Nov. 1, 1812. I wrote you on the 18th ultimo, by the British packet Swallow, informing you of having captured that vessel with between an hundred and fifty and two hundred thousand dollars on board; and I now write you by a British South Sea ship, loaded with oil, captured yesterday, one of two ships under convoy of the frigate Galatea. The above ship is manned from the Congress, and it is now blowing so fresh, that I cannot learn from captain Smith her name, having separated from him yesterday in chase of the Galatea, whilst he was manning the prize, and, owing to excessive bad weather last night, was unable to join him today. I got within six or seven miles of the Galatea by sun-set, but the extreme darkness of the night enabled her to escape. With the greatest respect, &c. JOHN RODGERS. Hon. Paul Hamilton, Secretary of the Navy. AMERICAN AND BRITISH ACCOUNTS OF THE CAPTURE OF THE FROLIC AND WASP. Copy of a letter from Captain Fones, late of the United States" Sloop of War the Wasp, to the Secretary of the Navy, dated New-York, 24th November, 1812. Sir, Í here avail myself of the first opportunity of informing you of the occurrences of our cruize, which terminated in the capture of the Wasp on the 18th of October, by the Poictiers of seventy-four guns, while a wreck from the damages received in an engagement with the British sloop of war Frolic of twenty-two guns; sixteen of them thirty-two pound carronades, and four twelve pounders on the maindeck, and two twelve pounders, carronades, on the top-gallant-fore-castle, making her superior to us by four twelve pounders. The Frolic had struck to us, and was taken possession of, about two hours before our surrendering to the Poictiers. We had left the Delaware on the 13th. The 16th had a heavy gale, in which we lost our jib-boom and two men. Half past eleven on the night of the 17th, in the latitude of 37 degrees N. and longitude 65 degrees W., we saw several sail, two of them appearing very large; we stood from them for some time, then shortened sail and steered the remainder of the night the course we had perceived them on. At daylight on Sunday, the 18th, we saw them a-head-gave chase, and soon discovered them to be a convoy of six sail, under the protection of a sloop of war, four of them large ships, mounting from sixteen to eighteen guns. At thirty-two minutes past eleven, A. M., we engaged the sloop of war, having first received her fire, at the distance of fifty or sixty yards, which space we gradually lessened until we laid her on board, after a well supported fire of forty-three minutes; and although so near, while loading the last broadside, that our rammers were shoved against the side of the enemy, our men exhibited the same alacrity which they had done during the whole of the action. They immediately surren VOL. II. I I dered upon our gaining their forecastle, so that no loss was. sustained on either side after boarding. Our main-top-mast was shot away between four and five minutes from the commencement of the firing; and falling, together with the main-top-sail yard, across the larboard fore and fore-top-sail braces, rendered our head-yards unmanageable the remainder of the action. At eight minutes the gaft and mizen-top-gallant-mast came down, and at twenty minutes from the commencement of the action every brace and most of the rigging was shot away. A few minutes after separating from the Frolic both her masts fell upon the deck, the main-mast going close by the deck, and the fore-mast 12 or 15 feet above it. The courage and exertions of the officers and crew fully answered my expectations and wishes. Lieutenant Biddle's active conduct contributed much to our success, by the exact attention paid to every department during the engagement, and the animating example he afforded the crew by his intrepidity. Lieutenants Rodgers, Booth, and Mr. Rapp, shewed by the incessant fire from their divisions, that they were not to be surpassed in resolution or skill. Mr. Knight and every other officer, acted with a courage and promptitude highly honourable, and I trust have given assurance that they may be relied on whenever their services may be required. I could not ascertain the exact loss of the enemy, as many of the dead lay buried under the mast and spars that had fallen upon deck, which two hours' exertion had not sufficiently removed. Mr. Biddle, who had charge of the Frolic, states, that from what he saw, and from information from the officers, the number of killed must have been about thirty, and that of the wounded about forty or fifty-of the killed is her first lieutenant and sailing master, of the wounded captain Whinyates and the second lieutenant. We had five killed and five wounded, as per list; the wounded are recovering. Lieutenant Claxton, who was confined by sickness, left his bed a little previous to the engagement, and though too weak to be at his division, remained upon deck, and shewed by his composed manner of noting its incidents, that we had lost by his illness the services of a brave officer. I am, respectfully, yours, JACOB JONES. The Honourable Paul Hamilton, Secretary of the Navy. From the London Gazette, December 26. Letter from the Captain of the Frolic to Admiral Warren. Sir, It is with the most bitter sorrow and distress I have to report to your excellency the capture of his majesty's brig Frolic, by the Wasp, belonging to the United States of America, on the 18th instant. Having under convoy the homeward bound trade from the bay of Honduras, and being in latitude 36 degrees N. and 64 degrees W. on the night of the 17th, we were overtaken by a most violent gale of wind, in which the Frolic carried away her main yard, lost her topsails, and sprung the maintopmast. On the morning of the 18th, as we were repairing the damages sustained in the storm, and re-assembling the scattered ships, a suspicious ship came in sight, and gave chase to the convoy. The merchant ships continued their voyage before the wind under all sail; the Frolic dropped astern, and hoisted Spanish colours, in order to decoy the stranger under her guns, and to give time for the convoy to escape. About ten o'clock, both vessels being within hail, we hauled to the wind, and the battle began. The superior fire of our guns gave every reason to expect its speedy termination in our favour, but the gaff head-braces being shot away, and there being no sail on the main-mast, the brig became unmanageable, and the enemy succeeded in taking a position to rake her, while she was unable to bring a gun to bear. After lying some time exposed to a most destructive fire, she fell with the bowsprit betwixt the enemy's main and mizen rigging, still unable to return his fire. At length the enemy boarded, and made himself master of the brig, every individual officer being wounded, and the greater part of the men either killed or wounded, there not being twenty persons remaining unhurt. Although I shall ever deplore the unhappy issue of this contest, it would be great injustice to the merits of the officers and crew, if I failed to report that their bravery and coolness are deserving of every praise; and I am convinced, if the Frolic had not been crippled in the gale, I should have to make a very different report to your excellency. The Wasp was taken, and the Frolic re-captured the same afternoon, by his majesty's ship Poictiers. Being separated from them, I cannot transmit at present a list of killed and wounded. Mr. Charles M'Kay, the first lieutenant, and Mr. Stephens the master, have died of their wounds. I have the honour to be, &c. T. WHINYATES. |