Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v2p2.djvu/132

ledge I was much surprised at the nearest ship yawing repeatedly, and giving starboard and larboard broadsides, when it was fully in her power to have run up alongside the Belvidera^[1]. I thought it my duty to make a firm retreat from three frigates of the largest class, accompanied by a small frigate or sloop, and a brig of war, two of which bore broad pendants^[2]. The cannonading continued on both sides until seven o’clock. About half an hour previous to the close, the President’s second began an ineffective fire. At 10^h 30', by the good advice of the Master, I shifted the course at once six points to starboard: the enemy hauled up after us, but with less decision, evidently apprehensive of losing some of her consorts; and at 11^h 30', there being a fine moon, we saw her wear, and heave to on the opposite tack; also her second and the other frigate; and I conclude the two sternmost did the same as they came up. The necessity of retreat was painful to every one on board the Belvidera. The stem and quarters are damaged, main-top-mast shot through, and cross-jack-yard cut away in the slings; the sails are also damaged, With some standing and running rigging. The President must have suffered considerably from the excellent direction of the two quarter-deck guns by Lieutenant John Sykes, first of this ship, an officer of seventeen years standing; and the firing of the two 18-pounders was very quick arid well-directed by Lieutenants William Henry Bruce, and the Hon. George Pryse Campbell^[3]. To the Lieutenants I am much indebted, and equally so to Mr. James Ker, the Master, for his speedy re-

1. One of the President’s 24-pounders burst ten minutes after she had opened her fire. By this accident 16 persons were killed and wounded, including among the latter Commodore Rodgers himself severely in the thigh; and the main and forecastle-decks near the gun were so much shattered, as to prevent the use of a bow-chaser on that side for some time.
2. The third American ship was the United States, Commodore Decatur, armed precisely the same as the President, with the addition of an 18-pounder travelling carronade, used through a port at the gang-way. She also carried a howitzer in each top. The other vessels were the Hornet and Argus sloops of war.
3. No less than 300 round shot were discharged from the main-deck stern-chasers.