American naval battles; (1837) (14741127586)

Identifier: americannavalbat00kimb (find matches)
Title: American naval battles;
Year: 1837 (1830s)
Authors: Kimball, Horace. (from old catalog)
Subjects:
Publisher: Bsoton, C. Gaylord
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation



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ll of exchange on London for four-teen thousand dollars. The men were disarmed,and an exchange receipt taken for them, and theyseverally took an oath not to serve until exchanged. The following day captain Porter captured thebrig Lamprey from Jamaica, by which he receivedintelligence that the Thetis frigate, with specie anda large convoy was about sailing for England. Everyexertion was made to get off St. Augustine in timeto fall in with them, but without effect, as fresh galesprevailed from the southwest, which increased till the19th of July, when, by the violence of the tempest,they were compelled to run before the wind. On the thirteenth of August, the British sloop ofwar Alert, of twenty guns, ran down on the weath-er quarter of the Essex. Her crew gave three cheers,and immediately commenced an engagement. Butso spirited and well directed a fire was kept up fromthe Essex, that in eight minutes after the commence-ment of the action, she forced the Alert to strike NAVAL BATTLES. ;.Q
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60 NAVAL BATTLES. her colours. She had seven feet water in her hold.She was much cut to pieces, and had three menwounded. The Essex did not receive the slightestinjury. Captain Porter, being much embarrassed by thenumber of his prisoners, amounting to about fivehundred, concluded an arrangement with the captainof the Alert for sending them to a British port, inthe Alert, as a cartel. The Alert, on her return to the United States,was fitted out as a government vessel. On the 30th of August, the Essex being in lati-tude 36 N. longitude 62 w. a British frigate was dis-covered standing towards her, under a press of sail.Captain Porter stood for her under easy sail, withhis ship prepared for action; and apprehensive thatshe might not find the Essex during the night, hehoisted a light. At nine t!ie British vessel made asignal. It consisted of two flashes and a blue light.She was then apparently about four miles distant.Captain Porter stood for the point where she wasseen, until midnight, wh