Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION Agreed upon between lieutenant colonel Lawrence and major general Lambert, for the surrender of fort Bowyer, on the Mobile Point, 11th of February, 1815.

1. That the fort shall be surrendered to the arms of his Britannic majesty in its existing state as to the works, ordnance, ammunition, and every species of military stores.

2. That the garrison shall be considered as prisoners of war, the troops marching out with their colors flying and drums beating, and ground their arms on the glacis--the officers retaining their swords, and the whole to embark in such ships as the British naval commander in chief shall appoint.

3. All private property to be respected.

4. That a communication shall be made immediately of the same to the commanding officer of the 7th military district of the United States, and every endeavour made to effect an early exchange of prisoners.

5. That the garrison of the United States remain in the fort until 12 o'clock to-morrow, a British guard being put in posses. sion of the inner gate at 3 o'clock to-day, and the British flag be hoisted at the same time; an officer of each service remaining at the head quarters of each commander until the fulfilment of these articles.

H. G. SMITH, major and military secretary.

Agreed on the part of the royal navy.
T. H. RICKETS, captain H. M. ship Vengent.
R. CHAMBERLAIN, 2d regt. U. S. infantry.

W. LAWRENCF, Lt. col. zd infantry comdg.
APPROVED

ALEXANDER COCHRANE, Commander in chief of his majesty's shipping.

JOHN LAMBERT, maj. gen. comdg A true copy-Test.

JOHN REID, aid-de-camp.

CAPTURE OF THE ARGUS.

NORFOLK, March 2d, 1815. SIR,

Circumstances during my residence in England, having heretofore prevented my attention to the painful duty which devolved on me by the death of my gallant commander, captain Willian H. Allen, of the late United States' brig Argus, I have now the honour to state for your information, that, having landed the minister plenipotentiary (Mr. Crawford) and suit, at L'Orient, we proceeded on the cruize which had been directed by the department, and

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 thé farboard 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 68, 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 be low. 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. Allep, 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 des. eription 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 upun 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 ia killed and wounded, among the former of whom (exclusive of our gallant captain,) we have to lament the loss of two ineritorious 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

[ocr errors]

render, and was taken possession of by his Britannic majesty's sloop 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.

I have the honour to be, &c.

W. H. WATSON,

Late first Lt. U.S. brig Argusa Won. B. W. Crowninshiell, &c.

Killed, died of their wounds, 5.wounded, 12.

NEW ORLEANS, March 17th, 1815 SIR,

Inclosed I have the honour to transmit for your informatn a copy of a letter from lieutenant Thomas Ap Catesby Jones,,ving a

a detailed account of the action between the gun vessels nder his command and a flotilla of the enemy's launches and bares, on the 14th December, 1814, which, after a most gallant resisance, terminated as stated in my letter of the 17th December, in he capture of our squadron.

The courage and skill which was displayed in the fence of the gun-vessels and tender, for such a length of time, aginst such an overwhelming force as they had to contend with, reflets add tional splendour on our naval glory; and will, I trust, diminisa ths

agret occasioned by their loss.

I have the honour to be,

DANIEL T. PATE Hon. B. W. Crowninshield,

Secretary of the Navy,

NEW ORLEANS, March 19th, SIR,

Having sufficiently recovered my strength, I do my the honour of reporting to you the particulars of the capture 1x division of United States' gun-boats, late under my commare'.

On the 12th December, 1814, the enemy's fleet off Ship 1 19/? had increased to such a force as to render it no longer sac prudent for me to continue in that part of the lake with the sky ! force which I commanded. I therefore determined to gain a state: near the Malhereux Islands as soon as possible, which situati?

a

would better enable me to oppose a further penetration of the ene. my 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 flotilla 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 find. ng a removal impracticable, I ordered preparations to be made

fo.heir destruction, lest they should fall into the enemy's hands. A fewlischarges of grape shot from the Sea-Horse compelled the three bots, which had attacked her, to retire out of the reach of her gunsuntil they were joined by four others, when the attack was recomenced by the seven boats. Mr. Johnson having cho sen an advntageous position near the two 6 pounders mounted on the bank, aintained a sharp action for near 30 minutes, when the enemy kuled off

, having one boat apparently much injured, and with thgloss of several men killed and wounded. At 7 30, an expiosiorat the bay, and soon after a large fire, induced me to belic the Sea-Horse was blown up and the public store house

leare, which has proved to be the fact. Sout i A. M. on the 14th, the wind having entirely died aw, and our vessels become unmanageable, came to anchor in the est end of Malhereux Island's passage. At daylight next morn?, still a perfect calm, the enemy's fotilla 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 whih was setting through the Pass, left me but one alternative, which was to put my vessels in the most advantageous position, togive the enemy as warm a reception as possible. The commandes were all called on board and made acquainted with my intentiins, and the position which each vessel was to take, the whole to firm 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

se

а

and gun barges, with three light gigs, manned with upwards of one thousand men and officers. About 930, the Alligator (tender) which was to the southwurd 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. As 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 imme. diately 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.
THOMAS AP CATESBY JONES,

Lieut. Com. U.S. Naty. Capt. Daniel T. Patterson, commanding.

62

« AnteriorContinuar »