hour, in the hope that she would close with us on our broadside, in which case I prepared my crew to board, but from his continuing to yaw his ship to maintain his position, it became evident that to close was not his intention. Every fire now cut some of our sails or rigging. To have continued our course under these circumstances, would have been placing it in his power to cripple us, without being subject to injury himself, and to have hauled up more to the northward to bring our stern guns to bear, would have exposed us to his raking fire.

At

It was now dusk when I determined to alter my course south, for the purpose of bringing the enemy abeam, and although their ships astern were drawing up fast, I felt satisfied I should be enabled to throw him out of the combat before they could come up, and was not without hopes, if the night proved dark (of which there was every appearance) that I might still be enabled to effect my escape. Our opponent kept off at the same instant we did, and fire commenced at the same time. We continued engaged, steering south with steering sails set two hours and a half, when we completely succeeded in dismantling her. Previously to her dropping entirely out of the action, there were intervals of minutes, when the ships were broadside. and broadside, and in which she did not fire a gun. this period, half past 8 o'clock, although dark, the other ships of the squadron were in sight, and aimost within gun shot. We were of course compelled to abandon her. In resuming our former course for the purpose of avoiding the squadron, we were compelled to present our stern to our antagonist-but such was his state, though we were thus, exposed and within range of his guns for half an hour, that he did not avail himself of this favorable opportunity of raking us. We continued this conrse until 11 o'cluck, when two fresh ships of the enemy (the Pomone and Tenedos) had come up. The Pomone had opened her fire on the larboard bow, within musket shot; the other about two cables' length astern, taking a raking position on our quarter; and the rest (with the exception of the Eudymion) within gun shot. Thus situated, with about one fifth of my crew killed and wounded, my ship crippled, and a more than four-fold force opp.sed to me, without a chance of escape left, I deemed it my duty to surrender.

It is with emotions of pride, I bear testimony to the gallantry and steadiness of every officer and man I had the honor to command on this occasion, and I feel satisfied that the fact of their having beaten a force equal to themselves, in the presence, and almost under the guns of vastly a superior force, when, too, it was almost self evident, that whatever their exertions might be, they must ultimately be captured, will be taken as evidence of what they would have performed, had the force opposed to them been in any degree equal,

For 24 hours after the action it was nearly calm, and the squadron were occupied in repairing the crippled ships. Such of the crew of the President as were not badly wounded, were put on board the different ships; myself and a part of my crew were put on board this ship. On the 17th we had a gale from the eastward, when this ship lost her bowsprit, fore and main-masts, and mizen top-mast, all of which were badly wounded, and was, in consequence of her disabled condition, obliged to throw overboard all her upper deck guns.

I have the honor to be, &c.

STEPHEN DECATUR,

AMERICAN LOSS.

Killed 24-wounded 55.

BRITISH LOSS.

Killed 15-wounded 28.

BOYLE'S VICTORY.

Capt. Boyle to Mr. George P. Stephenson.

Privateer Chasseur, at sea, March 2, 1815.

[Extract.] SIR-I have the honor to inform you, that on the 26th of February being about six leagues to windward of Havanna, and two leagues from the land—at 11, A. M. discovered a schooner bearing N. E. of us, appar-. ently running before the wind; made every possible sail in chase. At half past meridian I fired a gun and hoisted the American flag, to ascertain, if possible, the nation which she belonged to, but she shewed no colors. At 1, P. M. drawing up with him very fast, she fired a stern chase gun at us, and hoisted English colors, shewing at the same time only three ports in the side next to us.

Under the impression that she was a running vessel bound to Havanna, weakly armed and manned, I tried every effort to close with him as quick as possible. Saw very few men on his deck, and hastily made small preparation for action, thongh my officers, myself and men did not expect any fighting, of course we were not completely prepared for action. At 1, 26, we were within pistol shot of him when he opened a tier of ten ports on a side, and gave his broadside of round, grape and musket balls. I then opened the Chasseur's fire from the great guns and musketry, and endeavored to close with him for the purpose of boarding; we having quick way at this time, shot ahead of him under his lee; he put his helm up for the purpose of wearing across our stern and to give us a raking fire, which I prevented by timely taking notice of his intention, and putting our helm hard up also. He shot quick ahead, and I closed within ten yards of him; at this time both fires were heavy, severe, and destructive. I now found his men had been concealed under his bulwark, and that I had a heavy enemy to contend with, and at 1, 40, gave the order for boarding, which my brave officers and men cheerfully obeyed with unexampled quickness, instantly put the helm to starboard to lay him on board, and in the act of boarding her, she surrendered. She proved to he H. B. majesty's schooner St. Lawrence, commanded by Lieut. James E. Gordon, of 15 guns, 14 twelve pound carronades upon an improved construction, and a long nine; 75 men, and had on board a number of soldiers, marines, and some gentlemen of the navy passengers; having by report 15 killed and 23 wounded. I had 5 men killed and 8 wounded, myself amongst the latter, though very slightly. Thus ended the action in 15 minutes after its commencement, and about 8 minutes close quarters, with a force equal in every respect to our own.

The Chasseur mounts six 12 pounders, and eight short 9 pound carronades, (the latter taken from one of her prizes) ten of our 12 pound carronades having been thrown overboard whlie hard chased by the Barrosa frigate.

Yours with respect,

THOMAS BOYLE.

Col. Scott to Governor Early.

Great Satill river, February 28, 1815.

[Extract] SIR-I have the pleasure to inform you of a brilliant affair having taken place on the 24th inst. on the river St. Mary's, between a part of my detachment, 20 men, commanded by Capt. William Mickler, aided by about 30 of the Patriots of Florida, under Col. Dill, and 6 of the enemy's barges, containing about 250 men, which had attempted to proceed up the river to burn Mr. A. Clark's mills. The enemy were first attacked by the Patriots from the Florida shore, near Camp Pinckney, when the barges immediately tacked about to retreat, but our men being in ambush on this shore gave them a second reception, and thus the fire was kept up from both shores until they got into a greater extent of river than our riflemen could reach. The enemy lost 160 killed and wounded,— We had one man severely wounded through the body, and several received balls through their clothes, but no further injury.

WILLIAM SCOTT.

Sailing master John Hurlburd to Com. Campbell. Gun Boat, No. 168, Cumberland Sound, March 18, 1815. [Extract.] SIR- Proceeding with the despatch which you did me the honor to cutrust to my care, I sailed from Tybee bar, at 1, P. M. on the 16th just. wind N. E. sleering south; at half past 3 descried a sail in the S. E. quarter, which we soon found to be a ship standing N. N. W. About 40 minutes after she fired a gun and hoisted her cofors, the shot passing over our fore gaff; our colors were hoisted, continued our course for a few minutes, when another gun was fired; the shot passed abaft the main rigging over the lee quarter. Heaving his vesse! too on the starboard tack, hailed me by saying, 'you damn'd rascal, if you don't lower your boat down and come on board immediately, I'll fire into you, I'll sink you, God damn you.' Seeing me in the act of taking in the square sail, why don't you heave too, God damn you, I'll sink you; l'it fire a broadside into you.' As soon as I could be heard I said, this is a U. States' vessel, from Savannah, with despatches for Admiral Cockburn. In the act of pronounce ing the last words, a musket was fired at me, the ball

pass

ing near my shoulders, over the hand of the man at the helm, striking the water from 20 to 30 feet from the vessel. Putting the helm down, I agam informed him of the character of the vessel, saying if you wish for further satisfaction you are at liberty to send your boat on board; he said, 'I don't care a damn for the despatches, nor Admiral Cockburn either; God damn them and the United States too; I'll fire a broadside into you and sink you, if you don't lower your boat down and come on board, you rascal.' Put about and run close under the ship's lee, saying, this is the U. States' gun vessel No. 168, with despatches for the Admira: off St. Mary's; if you doubt her being what she appears to be, you can send your boat on board. Turning to me, he says, God damn you, come on board or I'll sink youI'll fire thunder into you.' I replied, if you do, I shall return your compliments with lightning.' At this time I received, if ossible, a greater flood of vulgar abuse than before. I hove about, stood to windward of him, heaving too on his starboard quarter, with the larboard tacks on board; when a Lieutenant came alongside, and ordered me into the boat, saying, ' if you do not go on board, every one of you will be taken out and carried to Charleston.' Go on board and tell your commander that I shall not lower my boat, nor shall an officer or man leave the vessel but by force, showing him the paper for Admiral Cockburn. If you don't go on board, you'll be sunk as soon as I go on board; I advise you to go'-I want no advice, (said I) I have the orders of my government by which I am governed; tell your commander that such trifling shall not pass with impunity. On the boat leaving us, the Captain of the ship said, won't the damned rascal come? then come alongside and let me sink him; I'll fire a broadside into him.' On the boat's reaching the ship's side a gun was fired; the shot passing to leeward, through the mainsail, near the mast, cutting away one of the stays, going between the foremast and rigging; while he gave full vent to his vulgar abuse. I now saw every one of our little crew anxiously waiting the order to fire into the apparent enemy; but I considered that several lives would in all probability be lost, and the flag struck at last. Under these considerations, I fired a gun across his bows, as the vessels were lying, sunk the signals, and hauled the colors down.

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