Virginia Argus

October 5

RODGERS's CRUIZE.

Copy of a Letter from Commodore Rodgers to the Secretary of the Navy, dated

U. S. Frigate President, Newport,

Sept. 27th, 1813.

SIR,

You having been informed of my leaving Boston on the 23d of April last, and of my departure from President Road, in company with the Congress, on the 30th of the same month, it now only remains for me to make you acquainted with my proceedings since the latter date.

In a few hours after getting to sea, the wind which had been light from the westward, shifted to the south east and obliged me to beat consequently prevented our getting clear of the Bay until the 3d of May, when, in the afternoon, while in chase of a British brig of war, near the Shoal of George's Bank, we passed to windward of three sail, two of which, from their appearance & the information previously received, I judged to be the La Hogue, 74, and a large frigate, and the third, a merchant brig.

After getting clear of George's Bank, the wind veered to the north-eastward, and we continued along east-southerly: in the direction of the southern edge of the Gulf Stream, until the 5th of May, in long 60 W. lat 39, 30 N. when I parted company with the Congress. After parting company, I shaped a course, as near as the wind would permit, to intercept the enemy's West India commerce passing to the southward of the Grand Bank; not meeting with anything in this direction, except American vessels from Lisbon and Cadiz, I next pursued a route to the northward, on a parallel with the eastern edge of the Grand Bank, so as to cross the tracks of his West India, Halifax, Quebec and St. John's trade. In this route, experiencing constant thick fogs, for a number of days, and not meeting anything after reaching the latitude of 48 N. I steered to the south east towards the Azores, off which, in different directions, I continued until the 6th of June, without meeting a single enemy's vessel, or any others, except two Americans. At this time, falling in with an American ship bound to Cadiz, and receiving information that she had four days before, passed an enemy's convoy from the W Indies bound to England, I crowded all sail to the N E. and although disappointed in falling in with the convoy, I nevertheless made four captures, between the 9th & 13th of June.

Being now in the lat. of 46 N and long 28. W. I determined on going into the North Sea, and accordingly shaped a course that afforded a prospect of falling in with vessels bound to Newfoundland from St George's channel, by the way of Cape Clear, as well as others that might pass north about to the northward of Ireland ; to my astonishment however, in all this route I did not meet with a single vessel, until I made the Shetland Islands, and even off there nothing but Danish vessels trading to England under British licenses At the time I reached the Shetland Islands, a considerable portion of my provisions and water being expended, it became necessary to replenish these, previous to determining what course to pursue next; and I accordingly, for this purpose, put into North Bergen on the 27th of June; but much to my surprise and disappointment, was not able to obtain any thing but water, there being an unusual scarcity of bread in every part of Norway, and at the time not more in Bergen than a bare sufficiency for its inhabitants for four or five weeks. This being the case, after replenishing my water I departed on the 2d of July, and stretched over towards the Orkney Islands, and from thence towards the North Cape for the purpose of intercepting a convoy of 25 or 30 sail, which it was said would leave Archangel about the middle of July under the protection of two brigs or two sloops of war ; and which was further confirmed by two vessels I captured on the 13th and 18th of the same month. In this object however the enemy had the good fortune to disappoint me, by a line of battle ship and frigate making their appearance off the North Cape, on the 19th of July, just as I was in momentary expectation of meeting the convoy: on first discovering the enemy's two ships of war, not being able, owing to the haziness of the weather to ascertain their character with precision, I stood toward them until making out what they were, I hauled by the wind on the opposite tack to avoid them ; but owing to faint, variable winds, calms, and entire day light (the sun in that lat. at that season, appearing at midnight several degrees above the horizon) they were enabled to continue the chase upwards of 80 hours; during which time, owing to different changes of the wind in their favor. they were brought quite as near to us was desirable. At the time of meeting with the enemy's two ships the privateer schooner Scourge, of New York which I had fallen in with the day before, was in company: but their attention was so much engrossed by the President that they permitted the Scourge to escape without appearing to take any notice of her.

Being thus disappointed in meeting with the convoy, and a still further portion of my provisions being expended, I determined to proceed to a more westerly station, and accordingly steered to gain the direction of the trade passing out of and into the Irish Channel In this position, between the 25th of July and 2d of August, I made 3 captures, when finding that the enemy had a superior force in that vicinity, I found it expedient to change my ground; and after taking a circuit round Ireland, and getting into the latitude of Cape Clear, steered for the Bank of New Foundland, near to which I made two more captures, and by the latter one found that the Bellerophon 74, and Hyperion Frigate were on the eastern part of the Bank, and only a few miles to the westward of me; I however did not fall in with them. From the eastern edge of the Grand Bank, to which I had beat all the way from the N. W. coast of Ireland (the wind having prevailed without intermission from the 1st of August to the middle of September, from West to South-west) I steered for the United States without seeing a single vessel of any kind, until the 22d of the present month being near the south shoal of Nantucket, I met with a Swedish brig and an American cartel (the Russian ship Hoffnung) from London, bound to New Bedford.

By this time my provisions and particularly Bread, was so nearly consumed as to make it indispensably necessary that I should put into the first convenient port after gaining the requisite information of the disposition of the enemy's cruizers as could enable me to steer clear of superior force; and this I was enabled to do in a manner which I shall communicate in another letter. On the 23d inst. I captured His Britannic Majesty's Schooner High Flyer (tender to Admiral Warren) with which vessel I now have to inform you of my arrival at this port.

Annexed is a list of vessels captured and destroyed, in which were made 271 prisoners. I have now, however, only 55 prisoners on board, having sent to England on parole 78 in the Duke of Montrose; 76 in the Greenland ship Eliza Swan, and 62 in the Barque Lion, of Liverpool
During my cruize, although I have not had it in my power to add any additional lustre to the character of our little navy, I have nevertheless rendered essential service to my country, I hope, by harrassing the enemy's commerce, and employing to his disadvantage more than a dozen times the force of a single frigate.

My officers and crew have experienced great privations since I left the U. States, from being nearly 5 months at sea, and having the last three months of that time upon a scanty allowance of the roughest fare ; and it is with peculiar pleasure I acquaint you, that they are all in better health than might be expected, altho' you may well suppose, that their scanty allowance has not been of any advantage to their strength or appearance

The High Flyer was commanded by Lieut. Hutchinson, 2d of the St. Domingo. She is a remarkably fine vessel of her class, sails very fast, and would make an excellent light cruizer, provided the government have occasion for a vessel of her description

Just at the moment of closing my letter a Newspaper has been handed me, containing Captain Broke's letter to my late gallant friend Capt. Lawrence, in which he mentions, with considerable emphasis the pains he had taken to meet the President & Congress with the Shannon and Tenedos.

It is unnecessary, at present, to take further notice of Com Broke's observations than to say; if that was his disposition, his conduct was so glaringly opposite as to authorize a very contrary belief. Relative to Captain Broke, I have only further to say, that I hope he has not been so severely wounded as to make it a sufficient reason to prevent his reassuming the command of the Shannon at a future day.

I have the honor to be, &c.

JNO. RODGERS,

The hon. Wm Jones,

Secretary of the Navy, Washington.

List of vessels captured and destroyed.

9th of June, brig Kitty, of Greenock, Robert Love. master of 2 guns and 11 men, from Newfoundland, bound to Alicant (Spain) with a cargo of codfish. Ordered her for France.

10th June, packet brig Duke of Montrose, A G. Blewett. commander, of 12 guns and 54 men, from Falmouth, bound to Halifax, Sent her to England as a cartel, with 78 prisoners.

11th June. Letter of Marque brig Maria of Port Glasgow, (Scotland) John Bald Master of 14 guns and 35 men, from Newfoundland bound to Spain, with a cargo of cod fish : ordered her for France.

12th June. Schooner Falcon, of Guernsey. John Mauger Master, of 2 guns and 10 men, from Newfoundland bound to Spain, with a cargo of cod fish : ordered her for France

July 12 brig Jean and Ann, of Salt Coats, Robert Caldwell master, from Cork bound to Archangel, in ballast. took out her crew and sunk her.

July 18. Brig Daybreak, of Whitby, William Gales master, of 2 guns and 9 men, from South Shields bound to Archangel, in ballast: took out her crew and sunk her.

July 24 Ship Eliza Swan, of Montrose, John Young master, of 8 guns and 48 men, from a Greenland whaling voyage, bound to Montrose with the fish blubber, ransomed her for 5000 pounds sterling.

July 29. Brig Alert, of Peterhead, Geor. Shand master, from Archangel, bound to Oporto (via England) with a cargo of pitch and tar: took out the crew and burnt her.

August 2. Barque Lion, of Liverpool. Thomas Hawkins master, of 8 guns and 52 men, from Greenland, whaling voyage bound to Liverpool, with fish blubber : ransomed her for 8000 pounds sterling.

August 30. Hermaphrodite brig Shannon, of St. Kitts. John Perkins master, from St. Kitts bound to London, with a cargo of rum, sugar and molasses; ordered her for the United States.

Sept. 9. Brig Fly, of Bermuda, James Bowey master, of 6 guns and 9 men from Jamaica bound to London, with a cargo of coffee : ordered her to the United States.

Sept. 23rd. His Britannic Majesty's Schooner High Flyer, Lieut George Hutchinson commander, of 5 guns, 5 officers, and 34 men.