1,56 
PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
The enemy from the smoothness of the water, and the impossibi¬ 
lity of pur reaching him with our carronades, and the little ap» 
prehension that was excited by our fire, which had now become 
much slackened, was enabled to take aim at us as at a target; his 
shot never missed our hull, and my ship was cut up in a manner 
Which was, perhaps, never before witnessed—in fine, I saw n© 
hopes of saving her, and at twenty minutes after six P. M. gave 
the painful order to strike the colours. Seventy-five men, includ¬ 
ing 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 my brave, though unfortunate companions, were still fal¬ 
ling about me. I directed an opposite gun to be fired, to show 
them we intended no further resistance; but they did not desist; 
four men were killed at my side , and others in different fiarts of the 
ship. I now believed he intended to show us no quarters, 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 ceasedfiringl 
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 unequal contest—-Let 
it suffice to say, that more bravery, skill, patriotism, and zeal, 
were never displayed on any occasion. Every one seemed deter¬ 
mined 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 lieutenants M‘Knight and 
Odenheimer I feel much indebted for their great exertions and 
bravery throughout the action, in fighting and encourging 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 conduct of that brave and heroic officer, act¬ 
ing lieutenant John G. Cowel, who lost his leg in the latter part 
of the action, excited the admiration of every man in the ship, and 
after being wounded would not consent to be taken below, until 
loss of blood rendered him insensible. Mr. Edward Barnewal! 
acting sailing master, whose activity and courage were equally 
