The Alexandria Herald

Extract from the Journal of the boat Income employed in the revenue service, at Machias, capt. Daniel Elliott.

Feb. 22, lying in Moonspecky-Head Harbor—at 6 A. M. discovered a sail, wind at N. E. as the wind hauled to the S. we got under weigh and soon discovered her to be an armed sloop standing on us and gaining on us very fast, being about a league distant. We bore away, and run through the islands into Moopecky Beach; she pursued us closely and we run ashore on Sawyer's Cove; expecting she would follow us in, it was concluded for all but the capt. and one hand go on shore the better to annoy them. When arrived at the mouth of the Cove, they hoisted English colors, and fired a number of 6 pound shot under cover of which they sent a boat with 6 men on board the Income. As soon as she floated, they began to get under weigh, when we began a brisk fire from our ambuscade, and two of their men immediately fell—they then took to their boat, leaving one of their wounded on board, when a number of the inhabitants came down on the other side of the Cove, brought them too, and made them prisoners. The sloop proved to be the Hare of St. Johns, formerly the privateer Wasp. of Salem. At 12 she weighed anchor and stood back and forth about two hours, firing round and grape shot as often as she could bring her guns to bear on us without any injury—she then stood to the eastward & disappeared.

Captain Elliot attaches much credit to the men composing his crew, being ten in number, as well as to seven of the inhabitants of that place, for their coolness and bravery in repulsing the enemy. The sloop had a complement of 30 men as stated by the prisoners, and carried 2 long 6 pounders.