On the Ocean n 



made his preparations accordingly. 11 At half-past 

 seven six boats were observed approaching cautious 

 ly under cover of the marsh, with muffled oars; on 

 being hailed they cheered and opened with boat 

 carronades and musketry, coming on at full speed; 

 whereupon the Alligator cut her cable and made 

 sail, the wind being light from the southwest ; while 

 the crew opened such a heavy fire on the assailants, 

 who were then not thirty yards off, that they stopped 

 the advance and fell astern. At this moment the 

 Alligator grounded, but the enemy had suffered so 

 severely that they made no attempt to renew the 

 attack, rowing off down stream. On board the 

 Alligator two men were killed and two wounded, 

 including the pilot, who was struck down by a 

 grape-shot while standing at the helm ; and her sails 

 and rigging were much cut. The extent of the 

 enemy's loss was never known ; next day one of the 

 cutters was picked up at North Edisto, much injured 

 and containing the bodies of an officer and a sea 

 man. 12 For his skill and gallantry Mr. Basset was 

 promoted to a lieutenancy, and for a time his exploit 

 put a complete stop to^the cutting-out expeditions 

 along that part of the coast. The Alligator herself 

 sank in a squall on July ist, but was afterward 

 raised and refitted. 



11 Letter of Sailing-Master Basset, Jan. 31, 1814. 



14 Letter from Commander J. H. Dent, Feb. 21, 1814. 



