The Providence Journal, And Town And Country Advertiser

AMERICAN HEROISM.

The ship Planter, Capt. John Watts, of Richmond, on her passage to London, on the 10th of July, in lat. 29: 2, long. 17: 30, was chased by a lofty ship, with national colours, carrying 22 guns, twelves, nines and sixes, with small arms in the tops, and full of men. At 4, P. M. the Planter, finding she could not outsail her, had all ready for action, all her small sails down, courses up, boarding-netting spread, &c. &c. At half past five, he lay by for her, all hands giving three cheers. The privateer then bore down under the starboard quarter of the Planter, and fired one shot into her, which the latter, rounding to, immediately returned with a broadside. The action then commenced, and continued with a constant fire for two glasses and an half, when the privateer sheered off to repair damages, and in about one glass returned, with the bloody flag hoisted, to board the Planter, who, however, being in readiness, bore upon her with well-directed broadsides of langrage and grape shot, which must have made great havoc among the crowded decks of the enemy. The action continued three glasses, when the privateer sheered off, and stood to the southwest.

In this honourable instance of American bravery and skill, the passengers, Mr. M'Kennon and Mr. Hodgson, and Mrs. M'Dowell and Miss Mary Harley, participated equally with the crew; the former standing at their quarters with small arms, and the ladies conveying cartridges from the magazine to the deck, and afterwards humanely attending the wounded.

The privateer, on sheering off, was seen heaving the dead bodies overboard in abundance. The Planter was prodigiously damaged in the hull and rigging; she carried 12 nine-pounders, 6 six-pounders, and 43 men.

The following is the list of killed and wounded:

Killed—John Leetch, Samuel Huffman, William Johnson, William Chester.

Wounded—W. M'Kennon, passenger, Daniel Comb, 2d mate, D. Gordon, seaman, Henry Mason, do. William Bagnale, do. John Barron, do. Goodwin Hill, do. John Brown, do.

These particulars are extracted from a letter written by Capt. Watts, dated off Dover, July 15, and published in the London Star of July 18.