Western Sun, Volume 6, Number 9, Vincennes, Knox County, 27 August 1814 — Page 1

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SacM Centurt has its peculiar Mode or doing Business) and Men guided more et Custom than Bt Reason, follow without Enquiry, the Manners wuich are prevalent in their own Time. IIix.

SATURDAY, AUGUST sr, ish,

THE WESTERN SUN, IS fainted weekly at Two Dollars per annum, paid in advance or an attested Note, payable at the cud of the year for Two Dollars is' Fifty Cents. Xo Subscription will be received fcr a

(liquid the Iftip blow up, as I was inforrred the fire was near the magazine, and the cxplofion of a large quality of powder below fcrved toincreafe the horrors of our filiation our boats were deftrcyed bv the enemy's (hot ; I, therefore, directed thofe who could fwim to jutr.p overboard, h endeavor to gain the fliore Some reached it tome were tkn by the enemy, and fome perifh-

cd in the attempt; but moft preferred fba-

less tun than one year rrna voill tea

be discontinued unit! all arrearages are j rmg ,vith me the fate of the Oiip. We

patd j who remained, now turned our attention I ft ate tent bj r.y't. the fet' wholly to extinguifning the flames ; and

tOM. subscribing must pav the postage. MBttMHTtSBatBttTS of no Mort length dian braadth will be inserted three times fcr Qtft Dollar, and rwfcNTY-Fltl GEatTS,r every nfter insertion sa avoid unpleasant disputes t it is reaaoo&ed of Advertising customers) thai they particularly specify the number of mes ihi ir Advertisement'? ore to be toniimueu Those sent without sue!: directions Witt be continued until forbid and must be paid for accordingly. All Letters addressed to the Editor must be Post paid or they WtH not b$ tali n out of the ojfict

W S'MNGTON-ClT-, Jt ' 14. Copy of a letter rroui captain Pol U r, to the tecrei v of the navy, (Concluded from our i :'t, J We hid approached the i;.,rc Withiu Rllliket thot, and I had no doubt l fuCCtf C ing, when, in an inllant the wind (hiited from tilt land (as is eery common in this port in thel ater part of the day) and payed our head down on the P ?be. where we. were again expoftd to a dreadful inking fire My Ihip w.s now totally unrnanagea blr ; yet af net head w.s toward ti e enemy anci lie to leeward of me, I frill boned to be

tbh- to bord hn.

(ilia

moment it.

a Jci Downei citnc on bctd to receive my rfdrt--, under Ihe imprefiion that 1 Aioutd foon be a ortfoner He couU bo of

ft to me in the tl en Wretched Kate v-t

the LlTv!:; and finding (from the enemy's putting nil helm ti p that mj attempt it boarditi i would not lticc.ee J, I directed i after he had been b ut iO minutes on board to return to hit own (nip, to be p:c

'd for defending anu defirovmii her

of att.uk. He took with him feverai t t my wounded, leaving three c f Lis boat's 'rrw on h.rtl to m ke room for thoto "1 he Cl etuh hJ now an opt) i tutlitj ol J.A tingoilhing herfelfi bv keeping op uoj fire cn him during hisfetom Ihe (laugh tet on botd mv (h p hud now become horrible the enemy continued to rake us. and we onable to brim; i goo to bear I therefore dtre&ed hawfei to be bent to the flieet

ancnor, :mu ine irrnor 10 oe cjt i r. m

:er

head

jrooni

this fuc

bows to bn 1

ceeded W ig in rot our broadiide to b.ai. at;tl tv '-- rnruw Wai much crippled Sc un bl to hold hie own, 1 have no doubt

when we had fuccecdeu. went again to our

guns, where the firing was kept up for lome minute t, but the crew had by this time become fo weakened, that they all declared to me the impoflibility of making further refinance, and entreated me to iurrender my (hip to fave the wounded, as all further attempt at oppo(ition muQ prove incflcdual almoit every gun being difabled by the deitruion rf their crews I now lent for the officera of divifiont to confult them; but what laet my fur prise to find only atling If Stephen Decdtur MKnight remaining (who confirmed the report refpecking Uw condition of the guns on the gun deik thole on the fpar deck were not in a better (Utc.) Lt. Wilmer, after fighting moH gallantly throughout the action, h.d been knocked ovefboard by a fplinter while get

ting the (licet anchor from the hows, and waa drowned. Aclirv It. John G. Co well

had loft a le;; ; mr. Edward Ca'newell, acting ftilingm after, had been carried below, after receiving two fevere woi:nJ.Si cne in tiie breft and one in the face ; and acting It. Vm- H. Odenhc imer had been knocked iverhoard from the quarter an inftant be fore, and did net regain the hip until after the iurrer.ucr. I v an infdrmed that the cockpit, the fieerge the ward room and the birth wtk rruld contain no "p.ore wounded; (hat the wounded wcie kiiied while the Purgeoni were dr effing them, and that uc left fomethiog w.ts fpeedily done to prevent it, the (hip would loon fiiik from the number of Hiot holetin her bottom. And on fending for the carpenter he informed me that all hi; crew had been killed or wounded, and that lie had once been ever the fide tn (top the leaks, when his flings had been fliot away, and it w.is with diffl euiiv he was faired from Dro:.irg. The enemy from the frnoothnefs of the waterj .r.d the impoftibrtity of read. ing him with our Carronadesi and tbe little apprehenfion that ws excited by our fire, wbith li?d now

become much ihekened, wal enabled to j t iko aiir, at 03 at at a target ; his Onjt nev- ! rr r. iiVed cu' hull, and uiv Ihip was cut up

in a manner which was perhaps never before wttneffed in fine, I law nohopeaof laving hefj nnd at CO n'oiutrs after 6 p. m gave the painful order to ftiike the eolori 75 men, including orticers were all chat rental, ned of my whole crew, after the a&ion, v pablr of doing duty, and inv.iv of tliem feverely wounded, fome of whom h2e i'mce died. The enemy (till contir.utd Lis fire, and mv br ve thD unfortuifate companions

of the condoft of thofe engaged for fuch an unparalleled length of time (under fuchcirComftances) with me in the arduous and unequal contcft. Let it fuffice to fay that

more bravery, Kill, patriotism U, zeal were

never di'played on any occa.ion. Every one feemed determined :o die in defence of their much loved country's caufc, li nothing but views of humanity could ever have recon ciled them to the furrender of the fliip ; they remembered their wounded .V. helplefs (hipmatea below. To acting Its. M'Knight and Odenheimer I feel much indebted for their great exertions & bravery throughout the adtion in fighting and encouraging the men at their divifions, for the derrtrous management of the iong guns, and for their promotnefs in re manning their guns as their crews were (laughtered. Toe conduct of that brave ar.ci heroic officer acting It. John G. Cowcll, who loft his leg in the latter part of the action, excited the admiration of every man in the 0 ip, and after being wounded would notconfent to be taken below until lofsof blood rendered him infeofi ble. Mr Edward Barnewcll, acting failing mailer, whofe a 5t i v i : y and courage was cqually confpicbous, returned cn deck fter hisfirft wound, and remained after receiving his fecend until fainting with loir, of blood. Mr. Samuel P. Johnfon who h.id joined me the day before, and arl-d as marine officer, conducted himfeif with Teat braveiv, and exerted himfeif in alii fling at the long guns --the mulketry afttr the iirfl half hour being ufriefs ('torn our leng diltatice.) Mr. M. W. Boftwick, whom I had appointed

1 - v.- uld foon hvr drifted outoTqun lliot j Welt ftill fIiing about me. I directed an

bef rr he difvoeered xe hid anchored, l.ad

not the hler u iiortonatety paiteJ. My Qiin had taken IV t feeeral times uurm the

aft

akion, but alarmingty Co forward and

at this moment, the flamca WCTC butftirgup tach I Itch w ay an ! no hopes wtre entertained 4i faaii g ber our dtftance from the fcbtr did not exceed tore. quarters ei a mile, ami I hoped many oi my brave crew would be able to Utt themCaifcsi

uoofi:e BQfl to br flid, to (liew them we

intended no further reuftance ; but they did not defift ; four men were uil'.rd at ny trie, and o'heis in different parts of the Ihip. I now belieerd he intended to (lion u no quarter, atid thit it Would be as well to die witli my Bag ; ; ing s llruck. was cn tlv po;nt of hoifting it. when about 10 m after hanliog the colrr: down he ceaftd firing. 1 ca:...wt fpeak ... Giffieientiy hih u-rmi

ac:inr:

was on botd my fhio. did tbe dunes of aid J i in a menner which refleflson him iie high ci honor, U midHiipmen, Ifaat:, Parragut and Ogden, as well as ;urting miulhipmcn, James Terry, Jane-- R. Lyman It Samuel

iuzenoury, uiivi m iters mate, itiiam

Tierce, exerted themfelves in thr performance of thir refpeiive duties and gave an earnel of their value to the fcr vice ; the three firH arc too youoff to recommend for promotion, the la'.te; I beg leave to recommend for Confirmation, as Well the acting lieuts. and mcflrs. Barnewcll, Johnflon and CjIi wick We have been unfortunate, but not dif-graced--the defence of thw- TeS has not been lefs lionoral !e to her ( fficers l crew, than the capture ol an equal foice, ;;nd 1 now confioer my iituat.on lefs unpleafanti than that ot com. Hillyar, who, in violation of every principle ot hanor ard generoGty, and regatdlefs of the nglits of nations, attacke:l tl.e KiTex in her crippled Rate, within pil-ol (hot of a neutral more ; when for fix we:ks I had duly ciTcred him fair and honorable combat, on terms greatly to Lis advantage j the bleed of the flain muft be on his head, and he has yet to reconcile his conduct to heaver, to his conrcience, and to the World. The annexed extrcit cf a letter from com. Hillyar, which was written previous to his returning me my fword, will (hew his opinion of our condu. My lofs lofs ha: been dreadfully fovrre, 5S killed or have Gncc died of their woond , and amorg them It. CoWrll ; 5.0 were Cf

vere'y wounded, 2f flightly, Sc ."I are mif- ' Cne : making in all 3A. killed, wounded

miffing! a tifl of whofe names i; annexed

many of the wounded ; thofe gentlemen have been indefatigable in their attention to them ; the two firR I beg leave to recommend for confirmation, and the latter to the notice of the department, I mult in jiiP.ice to my It if oMcrve obferve9that with our G 12 pounders only we (ought this action, i.nr carrooadea bein almolfc ufclcffe The lofj in killed and wounded has been great with the enemy ; among the former is the 1ft It. rf the Phtfebe, and of the latter capt. Tucker of the Cherub, whofe wounds are fevere. Both the ElTex and Phcebe were in a finking fiate, and it was with difficulty they coui be kept afloat until they anchored in Valparaifo ne?:t morning. The bettered Hate of the EiTtx will, I believe, prevent her ever reaching England, and I ilio think it will br out of (heir power to r.-pair the damages of tbe flee be, fo as to enable her to double Cape Horn All the mails and ytrds of the Pl cbe and Cherub r.re badly crippled, and their hulls much cut up ; the former hud 18 12 pound mot thro her beloW her w iter line, fome three feet under water. Nothing but t'j

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imoothm is or the watci

r i

oth

The

rro '

iUjn-! L

e of Dr. R.

chard Hot! man, a3irg forgeon, and Dr. Alexander Montgomery, acirg fureon's mate, added to th;ir Smdaity ?nd the benevolent uttertions and afliftant of mr. D. P AdijnSj thecbapltiDj lived ihe lives of

rl cebe and Elfex.

I hope, pr that our conduct may prove latistdLU.: too-i.r country, and that it will teftify it Ly obtaining our fpeedy exchange that we may again have it in our power to prove our tteol. Com. Hillyar (T am informed) ha: tbot proper to Date to hi? government that the ac.:an only lafted 4 5 m. (hould he have done To, the motive may b e-Tily discovered but th.e thoufands of difinterefted witnr Ties who covered the furroonding hills cart teftify that we fooght his Hips near 2 hours ; upwards of SO broadfidcs were wrrd by th.e enemy agree a I le to their own accoants, and upwards of 7"5 by curs ; except the few minutes thy were repairing damages the firing was inceflnt. Soon after my capture I entered into am agreement with com. Hillyar todnfarmmy prize the Kfi x junior, and proceed with the furvivos of my fiicerc and crew her to the U. S. taking with meal! heroffi.ers Tiitd crew. He confented to grant her 4 psiTpoit to feture her from recapture. The Hiip was fatal and we knew we had much to fuflVr, yet we hoped foon to reach our country in fafety, that we might again have it in our power to i'ervr it. This arrangement was attended with no additional expenfe, ; fhe ws abundantly fnpplied With provifions and (lores fnr the- voyage. In Juftice to com. Hillyar, I mufl oHferve t'nat, iiltho I can never be reconrih d to the manoer ol his attack on th- EfTex, or to his conduct be fore the action) he fince our capture, :iir'.:o the gre..;rft humanity to my wounded (whom lie permit ted me to l-r.:i on condition that tbe U. 5. fhouk) beartbeir expenfes) nr.d ria: rndeav. ored a. muwh a: lay in his power to alleviate the diftrcfles of war by t:.e mod generous &c delicate deportment toward- myfetf, n.y ciucef: and crew ; he gavr orutis rht rlie. property cf every pfrioti Ba Jold hp rr ":rcled his orders, lio'Aever, were not fo ftfi&ttp atiended to as might he been r. Ar,i . be (ides being deprived Of books, chart?, S:c botij ir..:c;: dnd ofiicers lr :t mny r'irtes of OUT clothing, fotne to a ccnlid -rrhl" mount. I H.ould not have cor . ! - 1 this laO circumflanre ol fufiicienr tHJpor ,r to notice, did it rot make a ftrikiny d rT nets

between the navy of G. Bnt.i rd 1 - ,

t L S, bighl) crci.ublc 10 ;hc la'tci