after capturing 20 vessels (a list of the names and other particulars of which I have the honour to enclose) being in latitude 52 15 north, longitude 5 50 west, on the 14th August, 1813, we discovered at 4 o'clock A. M. a large brig of war, standing down under a press of sail upon our weather quarter, the wind being at south, and the Argus close hauled on the starboard tack, we immediately prepared to receive her; and at 4 30, being unable to get the weather gage, we shortened sail and gave her an opportunity of closing. At 6, the brig having displayed English colours, we hoisted our flag, wore round, and gave her the larboard broadside (being at this time within grape distance,) which was returned, and the action commenced within the range of musketry. At 6 4, captain Allen was wounded, and the enemy shot away our main braces, main spring stay, gaff, and trisail mast. At 6 8, captain Allen, being much exhausted by the loss of blood, was taken below. At 6 12, lost our spritsail yard, and the principal part of the standing rigging on the larboard side of the foremast. At this time, I received a wound on the head from a grape-shot, which, for a time, rendered me incapable of attending to duty, and was carried below. I had, however, the satisfaction of recollecting on my recovery, that nothing which the most gallant exertions could effect, would be left undone by lieutenant William H. Allen, junior, who succeeded to the command of the deck. Lieutenant Allen reports, at 6 14, the enemy, being on our weather quarter, edged off for the purpose of getting under our stern; but the Argus luffed close to, with the maintopsail aback, and giving him a raking broadside, frustrated his attempt. At 6 18, the enemy shot away our preventer, mainbraces, and maintopsail tye; and the Argus having lost the use of her after sails, fell off before the wind, when the enemy succeeded in passing our stern, and ranged up on the starboard side. At 6 25, the wheel ropes and rigging of every description being shot away, the Argus became unmanageable; and the enemy, not having sustained any apparent damage, had it completely in his power to choose a position, continued to play upon our starboard quarter, occasionally shifting his situation until 6 30, when I returned to the deck; the enemy being under our stern, within pistol shot, where he continued to rake us until 6 38, when we prepared to board, but in consequence of our shattered condition, were unable to effect it. The enemy then passed our broadside, and took a position on our starboard bow. From this time until 6 47, we were exposed to a cross or raking fire, without being able to oppose but little more than musketry to the broadside of the enemy, our guns being much disabled and seldom brought to bear. The Argus, having now suffered much in hull and rigging, as also in killed and wounded, among the former of whom (exclusive of our gallant captain,) we have to lament the loss of two meritorious young officers in midshipmen Delphy and Edwards; and being exposed to a galling fire, which, from the enemy's ability to manage his vessel, we could not avoid, I deemed it necessary to sur render, and was taken possession of by his Britannic majesty's aloop Pelican, of twenty-one carriage guns, viz: sixteen 32 pound carronades, four long sixes, and one 12 pound carronade. I hope this measure will meet your approbation, and that the result of this action, when the superior size and metal of our opponent, and the fatigue which the crew, &c. of the Argus underwent, from a very rapid succession of captures, is considered, will not be thought unworthy the flag under which we serve. I have the honour to inclose a list of killed and wounded, and feel great satisfaction in reporting the general good conduct of the men and officers engaged on this occasion, and particularly the zeal and activity displayed by lieutenant Allen, who, you will observe, for a time commanded on deck. Hon. B. W. Crowninshield, &c. I have the honour to be, &c. W. H. WATSON, Late first Lt. U. S. brig Argus. Killed, 6-died of their wounds, 5-wounded, 12. SIR, NEW ORLEANS, March 17th, 1815. Inclosed I have the honour to transmit for your information a copy of a letter from lieutenant Thomas Ap Catesby Jones, giving a detailed account of the action between the gun vessels under his command and a flotilla of the enemy's launches and barges, on the 14th December, 1814, which, after a most gallant resistance, terminated as stated in my letter of the 17th December, in the capture of our squadron. The courage and skill which was displayed in the defence of the gun-vessels and tender, for such a length of time, against such an overwhelming force as they had to contend with, reflects additional splendour on our naval glory; and will, I trust, diminish the regret occasioned by their loss. I have the honour to be, &c. Hon. B. W. Crowninshield, DANIEL T. PATTERSON. NEW ORLEANS, March 12th, 1815. SIR, Having sufficiently recovered my strength, I do myself the honour of reporting to you the particulars of the capture of the division of United States' gun-boats, late under my command. On the 12th December, 1814, the enemy's fleet off Ship Island had increased to such a force as to render it no longer safe or prudent for me to continue in that part of the lake with the small force which I commanded. I therefore determined to gain a station near the Malhereux Islands as soon as possible, which situation. would better enable me to oppose a further penetration of the onemy up the lakes, and at the same time afford me an opportunity of retreating to the Petite Coquilles if necessary. At 10 A. M. on the 13th, I discovered a large Botilla of barges had left the fleet, (shaping their course towards the Pass Christian) which I supposed to be a disembarkation of troops intending to land at that place. About 2 P. M. the enemy's flotilla having gained the Pass Christian, and continuing their course to the westward, convinced me that an attack on the gun boats was their design. At this time the water in the lakes was uncommonly low, owing to the westerly wind which had prevailed for a number of days previous, and which still continued from the same quarter. Nos. 156, 162, and 163, although in the best channel, were in 12 or 18 inches less water than their draught. Every effort was made to get them afloat by throwing overboard all the articles of weight that could be dispensed with. At 3 30, the flood tide had commenced; got under weigh making the best of my way towards the Petite Coquille. At 3 45, the enemy despatched three boats to cut out the schooner Sea-Horse, which had been sent into the bay St. Louis that morning to assist in the removal of the public stores, which I had previously ordered. There finding a removal impracticable, I ordered preparations to be made for their destruction, lest they should fall into the enemy's hands. A few discharges of grape shot from the Sea-Horse compelled the three boats, which had attacked her, to retire out of the reach of her guns, until they were joined by four others, when the attack was recommenced by the seven boats. Mr. Johnson having chosen an advantageous position near the two 6 pounders mounted on the bank, maintained a sharp action for near 50 minutes, when the enemy hauled off, having one boat apparently much injured, and with the loss of several men killed and wounded. At 7 30, an explosion at the bay, and soon after a large fire, induced me to believe the Sea-Horse was blown up and the public store house set on fire, which has proved to be the fact. About 1 A. M. on the 14th, the wind having entirely died away, and our vessels become unmanageable, came to anchor in the west end of Malhereux Island's passage. At daylight next morning, still a perfect calm, the enemy's flotilla was about nine miles from us at anchor, but soon got in motion and rapidly advanced towards us. The want of wind, and the strong ebb tide which was setting through the Pass, left me but one alternative, which was to put my vessels in the most advantageous position, to give the enemy as warm a reception as possible. The commanders were all called on board and made acquainted with my intentions, and the position which each vessel was to take, the whole to form a close line abreast across the channel, anchored by the stern, with springs on the cables, &c. &c. Thus we remained anxiously awaiting an attack from the advancing foe, whose force I now clearly distinguished to be composed of forty-two heavy launches and gun barges, with three light gigs, manned with upwards of one thousand men and officers. About 9 30, the Alligator (tender) which was to the southward and eastward, and endeavouring to join the division, was captured by several of the enemy's barges, when the whole flotilla came to with their grapples, a little out of reach of our shot, apparently making arrangements for the attack. At 10 39, the enemy weighed, forming a line abreast in open order, and steering direct for our line, which was unfortunately in some degree broken by the force of the current, driving numbers 156 and 163 about one hundred yards in advance. Aš soon as the enemy came within reach of our shot, a deliberate fire from our long guns was opened upon him, but without much effect, the objects being of so small a size. At 10 minutes before 11, the enemy opened a fire from the whole of his line, when the action became general and destructive on both sides. At 11 49, the advanced boats of the enemy, three in number, attempted to board No. 156, but were repulsed with the loss of nearly every officer killed or wounded, and two boats sunk. A second attempt to board was then made by four other boats, which shared almost a similar fate. At this moment I received a severe wound in my left shoulder, which compelled me to quit the deck, leaving it in charge of Mr. George Parker, master's mate, who gallantly defended the vessel until he was severely wounded, when the enemy, by his superior numbers, succeeded in gaining possession of the deck, about 10 minutes past 12 o'clock. The enemy immediately turned the guns of his prize on our other gun-boats, and fired several shot previous to striking the American colours. The action continued with unabated severity, until 40 minutes past 12 o'clock, when it terminated with the surrender of No. 23, all the other vessels having previously fallen into the hands of the enemy. In this unequal contest, our loss in killed and wounded has been trifling, compared to that of the enemy, which amounts to nearly four hundred. Enclosed you will receive a list of the killed and wounded, and a correct statement of the force which I had the honour to command at the commencement of the action, together with an estimate of the force I had to contend against, as acknowledged by the enemy, which will enable you to decide how far the honour of our country's flag has been supported in this conflict. With much respect, &c. Capt. Daniel T. Patterson, commanding. 62 Statement of the effective force of a division of the United States gun-boats, under the command of lieutenant commanding Tho mas Ap Catesby Jones, at the commencement of the action, with a flotilla of English boats, on the 14th of December, 1814. Gun-boat, No. 5, 5 guns, 36 men, sailing master John D. Ferris; gun-boat, No. 156, 5 guns, 41 men, lieutenant commandant T. A. C. Jones; gun-boat, No. 162, 5 guns, 35 men, lieutenant Robert Speeden; gun-boat, No. 163, 3 guns, 31 men, sailing master George Ulrick.-Total, 25 guns, 182 men. N. B. The schooner Sea Horse had one 6 pounder and 14 men, sailing master William Johnson, commander; none killed or wounded. The sloop Alligator (tender) had one 4 pounder and eight men, sailing master Richard S. Sheppard, commander. THOMAS AP CATESBY JONES, The following is a correct statement af the British forces which Forty launches and barges, mounting one carronade each, of 12, 19, and 24 calibre. One launch, mounting one long brass 12 pounder. One do. do. do. do. 9 do. 45 42 The above flotilla was manned with 1200 men and officers, commanded by captain Lockyer, who received three severe wounds in the action. The enemy, as usual, will not acknowledge his loss on this occasion, in boats or men; but from the nature of the action, and the observations made by our officers while prisoners in their fleet, his loss in killed and wounded may be justly estimated to exceed three hundred, among whom are an unusual proportion of officers. SIR, CAPTURE OF THE PENGUIN. U. S. SLOOP HORNET, OFF TRISTAN D'AĆUNHA, I have the honour to inform you, that on the morning of the 23d instant, at half past ten, when about to anchor, off the north end of the island of Tristan d'Acunha, a sail was seen to the sonthward and eastward, steering to the westward, the wind fresh from the S. S. W. In a few minutes she had passed on to the westward, so that we could not see her for the land. I immedi |