16B ' porter's journal. 



wounded were killed while the surgeons were dressing 

 them, and that, unless something was speedily done to pre- 

 vent it, the ship would soon sink from the number of shot 

 holes in her bottom. And, on sending for the carpenter, 

 he informed me that all his crew had been killed or woun- 

 ded, and that he had been once over the side to stop the 

 leaks, when his sHngs had been shot away, and it was with 

 difficulty he was saved from drowning. The enemy, from 

 the smoothness of the water, and the impossibihty of our 

 reaching him with our carronades, and the little apprehen- 

 sion that was excited by our fire, which had now become 

 much slackened, was enabled to take aim at us as at a tar- 

 get; his shot never missed our hull, and my ship was cut 

 up in a manner which was, perhaps, never before witness- 

 ed — in fine^ I saw no hopes of saving her, and at twenty 

 minutes after six P. M. gave the painful order to strike the 

 colours. Seventy-five men, including officers were all 

 that remained of my whole crew, after the action, capable 

 of doing duty, and many of them severely wounded, some 

 of whom have since died. The enemy still continued his 

 Jire, and niy brave, though unfortunate companions, were 

 still falling about me. 1 directed an opposite gun to be 

 fired, to show them, we intended no further resistance ; but 

 ihey did not desist ; four men were killed at my side^ and 

 others in different parts of the ship. I now believed he in- 

 tended to show us no quarter, and that it would be as well 

 to die with my flag flying as struck, and was on the point of 

 again hoisting it, when about ten minutes after hauling the 

 colours down he ceased firing ! 



I cannot speak in sufficiently high terms of the conduct 

 of those engaged for such an unparalleled length of time 

 (under such circumstances) with me in the arduous and un- 

 equal contest — Let it suffice to say, that more bravery, 

 skill, patriotism, and zeal, were never displayed on any 

 occasion. Every one seemed determined to die in defence 

 of their much loved country's cause, and nothing but 

 views to humanity could ever have reconciled them to the 

 surrender of the ship ; they remembered their wounded 

 and helpless shipmates below. To acting Heutenants 

 M^Knight and Odenheimer » feel much indebted for their 

 great exertions and bravery throughout the action, in fight- 

 ing and encouraging the men at their divisions, for the 



