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PUBLISHED WEEKLY, BY ALEXANDER HAMILTOX, BELLEFONTE, Pa) NEXT DOOR, SOUTH OF THE BANE.
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 1814:
Vor. 1.] : 6 hc ¥
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Arn
— 1 W—-— onm—— Tr ———
The official letter of Captain Porter |
* (coNCLUDED.)
“I cannot speak in sufficiently nigh tony
of the conduct of those engaged for such
an unparaileled length of time (under such
circumstances) with me in the arduous
and uneaqual contest. ‘Let it suffice
to say that more bravery, skiil, patriotism
and zeal were never displayed on any occa-
sion. «Every one ‘seemed determined to die
in defence of their much loved country’s
cause, and nothing but views to humans
ity could have ever reconciled them to the
surrender of the _ship—they remembered
their wounded and helpless shipmates be-
low. Two acting lieutenants M:Knight
and Odenheimer, 1 feel much indebted for
their great exertions. ahd bravery through-
“out the action in fighting and encouraging
the men at their divisions, for the dextrous
management. of the long guns, and for their
promptness in re-manning their guns as
their crews were slaughtered. The con-
duct of that brave and heroic officer, acting
licut. John G. Cowell, who lost his leg in’
the latter part of the action, excited the ad-
miration of every man in the ship, and after
being wounded would vot consent to be ta-
ken below until loss of blood rendered him
insensible. Mr. Edward Barnewall, acting
sailing master, whose activity and courage
was equally conspicuous, returned on deck
after his first wound, and remained after re-
ceiving his second until fainting. with losg
of blood. Mu. Samuel B. Johnson who had
Joined me the day before, and acted as ma-
vine officer, conducted himself with great
valour, and exerted himself in assisting at
the long guns ; the musketry after the first
half hour being useless, (fromour Jong dis-
tance.) 2
Mr. M. W. Bostwick, whom I tad’ ap-
pointed acting purser of the Essex Junior
and who was on board my ship, did the du~
ties of aid in a manner which reflects the
highest honor on him, and Midshipmen I-
saacs, Farragut and Ogden, as well as act-
ing midshipmen James Terry, James R.
Lyman and Samuel Duzenbury, and mas-
ter’s mate William Pierce exerted them-
selves in the performance of their several
duties, and gave an earnest of their value to
the service ; the three first are too young
to recommend for promotion, the latter I
beg leave to recommend for confirmation,
as well as the acting licuts. and Messrs.
Barnewall, Johnston and Bostwick.
subsequent insertion,
No. XXV
© We have been enlirtanite, but not dis apivards of sovehty five by ours; except the the ‘Betion which govern oni | in favor of
been less honorable £0. her officers. and c: crew
than the capture of an equal force, and now
I consider my situation less unpleasant, than
that of commodore Hillyar, who in’ viola-
tion of every principle of honor and geoer-
osity, and regardless of the fights of nations,
attacked the Essex in her crippled state
within pistol shot of a neutral shore; when
for six weeks I had offered him fair and ho-
norable combat, on terms greatly to his ad_
vantage ; the blood of the slain must. be on
his head, and he has yet to reconcile his
‘conduct to Heaven, to his conscience and to
the world. The annexed extract. of a let-
ter from Commodore Hillyar, which was
written previous ‘to his returning me my
sword, will show bis opinion of our con-
duct.
© My loss has ry dreadfully severe, oa 8
‘killed or have since died of their wounds,
and a among them lieut. Cowell ; twenty
nine severely wounded, xu slightly, and 31
are missing ; making in ail 154, killed
wounded and missing; a list of whose nameg
is annexed.
The professional knowledge of Doctor
Richard Hoffman, acting surgeon, and Dr
Alexander Montgomery, acting surgeon’s
mate, added to their assiduity and the be-
nevolent attentions and assistance of Mr.
D. P. Adams; the Chapidii, saved the lives
of many oi'the wounded ; those genticmen
. have been indefatigable in their attentions
to them ; the two first { beg leave to recom-
mend for confirmation, and the latter to the
notice of the department.
I must in justification ‘of myself observe,
that with our six twelve pounders only we
fought this action, our carronades Deas al-
most useless. ¥
The loss in killed and oud hy been
great with the enemy ; among the formeris
the lieut. of the Phoebe, aud of /the latter
capt. Tucker of the Cherib, whose wou..ds
are scvere. Both the Essex and the Pacebe
were in a sinking state, and it was with dif-
ficulty they could be kept afloat unl the
anchored in Valparaiso next morning, The
battered state of the Essex will, 1. believe,
prevent her ever reaching England, and I
also think it will be out of their power e-
ver to repair the damages of the Phoebe, so
as to enablc her to double Cape Horn Ail
the masts and yards of the Phicebe and Che-
rib are badiy crippled, and their Hulls much
cut up ; the former had 18 twelve pound
shot through her below her water line,
some three feet under water.
the smoothness of the water saved both the
Phebe and the Essex.
I hope sir, our conduct may prove satis-
factory to our couniry, and that it will . testi-
fy it by obtaining our speedy exchange, tha;
we may again have 1t in our power to ) proye
our zeal
Commodore Hillyar, (Tam informed) has
thought proper to state to his government,
that the action only lasted 45 minntes;
should he have done so the motive may be
easily discovered—but the thousmds of
disinterested Withesses, who covered the
surrounding hills can testify that we fought
his ships near two hours and an half; up-
wards of 50 broadsides were fired by the en=’
emy agreeable to their own accounts, and
Nothing but
the firing | vas incessant." ?
© Soon alermy capture, I entered into an
arrangement with com. Hillyar to disarm
my prize the Essex Junior, and- proceed
with thé survivors of my officers and crew
in her to he United States, taking with me
all heroficers and crew. He consented to
grant her a passport to secure her from re-
capture. The ship was small and we knew
we had nuch to suffer, yet we hoped soon
to reach our country in safety, that we
might again have it in our power to ser ve it.
This artangement was attended withno ad-
ditional expense, as she was abundantly
supplicdwith provisions and stores for the
EE a ut
In justice to commodore Hillyar, I must
observe, that, (although I never can be re-
conciled to the manner of his attack on the
Essex. or to his conduct previous to the ac-
tion) he has since our capture, shewn the
greatest humanity to my wounded {whom
he permitted me to land on condition that
¢
thie United States should bear their expen-
ses,) and has endeavored as much as lay
graced—the defence of the Essex has not few miavtes they were Sopsiting damages, “the English, as well as s their hostility to the
Americans, induced Mr! ‘Pointsett to Jeave
the country. Under such circumstaiices, I
did hot conceive if would be proper f for me
to claim the restoration of my ship, confis
dent that the claim would be made by the
Government to better effect. Finding some
difficulty i in the sale of my prizes, I had ta-
ken the Hector and Catharine to sea and
burnt them with their cargoes.
I exchanged Lieut. M:«Knight, Mr. A-
dams, and Mr. Ly man and eleven seamen
for part of the crew of the Andrew Hat
mond, and sailed from Valparaiso on the
27th April where the enemy were stillpatchs
ing up their ships to put them in a state
for proceeding to Rio de Janeiro previous
to going to England.
~ Annexed is a list of the remains of my
crew to be exehanged, as also a copy of the
correspondence between com. Hillyar and
myself on that subject. I also send you'a
ist of the prisoners I have taken during my
cruise, amounting to 340.
I have the honor to be, 3c.
D. PORTER.
in his power to alleviate the distresses of The Hon. Secretary of the Navy
“the war by the most generous and delicate
deportment tawards myself, my officers and
crew ; he gave orders that the property of
every person should be respected—-his or,
ders liowever were not so strictly attended
to as might have been expected ; besides
being deprived of books, charts, &c. &c.
both myself and officers lost many articles
of clothing, some to a considerable amount.
I should not have considered this last cir-
cumstance of sufficient importance to no-
tice, did it not mark a striking difference
betweer the Navy of Great Britain and
that of the United States, highly creditable
to the latter.
By the arrival of the Tagus, a few days
ater my capture, I was informed that be-
sides the ships which had arrived in the
Pacific in pursuit of me, and those still ex-
pected, others were sent to cruize for me
in the China seas, off New Zealand, Timor,
and New Holland, and that another frigate
was sent to the river la Plate.
To possess the Esscx it has now cost the
British Government near six millions of dol-
Jars, and yet, sir, her capture was owing
entirely to accident; and if we consider the
expedition with which naval contests are
the action is a dishonor to
| Had they brought their ships bold-
ly into the action with a force so very supe
now decided,
them.
rior, and having the choice of position, they
should €ither have captured or destroyed
us in one fourth the time they were aboug
it” ;
During the action, our consul Mr. Poin-
sctt called on the Governor of Valparaiso,
and request d that the batteries might pro-
tect the This request
refused, but. he promised that if she
should succeed in fighting her way to ‘the
common ai'c .orage, he would send an offi-
cer to'the British commander and ‘request
him t6 cease firing, but declined using force
under any circumstances, and there is no
doubt of a. perfect understanding existing
between them ; this congflce” added to the
assistance given, & their friendly recep-
ion after the action, and the strong bias of
Essex. was
of the o. 3. Washington.
Extract of a letter from com. Hilly: ar to
Captain Porter.
Puorse, April 4, 1814.
« My Dear Sir-~Neither in our conver-
sations nor in the accompanying letter,
have I menticned your sword. Ascribe
my remissness in the first instance to fore
getiuiness. 1 consider it only in my ser-
vant’s possession with my own, until the
master may please to call for it ; and altho”
I omitted at the moment of presentation,
from my mind being much engrossed in at-
tending to professional duties, to offer its
restoration, the band that received, will be
most gladiy extended, to put it In possess-
ion of him who wore it so honorably in de-
fending his country’y cause. :
« Believe me my dear sir, very faithfilly
yours.
" (Signed) JAMES ELLY AR:
Capain PorTER.
—
BATTLE OF CHIPPEWA.
yo.
‘Copy of a letter from Major General
Biown to tie Secretary of War, dated
Head-Quarters, (Chippewa, Plains)
July 7th, 1814. JH
Dear Sir---On the second inet. Tosod
my orders for crossing the Niagara rivers:
and made the arangements deemed necess
sary for securing the garrison of Fort Eric.
On the 3d that post surrendered at 5 iP:
M. Our joss in this affair was 4 of the 25th
regiment, under major Jessup, of brigadier
geieral Scott’ s brigade, wounded.----I have
enclosed a return of the. piisoners, of the
ordnance and ordnance stores captured. »
To secure my rear, I have, placed a gars
rison in this fort, and requested captain
Kenedy to station his, exis near the
post.
On the ‘morning of the 4th, brigadier
general Scott, with his brigade and a corps
of artillery, was ordered to adyance towards.
Chippewa, and be governed by ciscumstan-
ces; taking care to secure a good military
position for the night. After some skirs