The Enquirer

REVENUE CUTTER.

We are satisfied from the Contents of the following Letter, that the Report, as stated in our last, respecting the conduct of Capt. Travis, is incorrect. We see from the Norfolk paper that the same hue has been given to the transaction in that city.—As the letter from which we have taken the following transcript is from the pen of a Lady in the family of Capt. T., we give every credit to the accuracy of its contents. We ourselves know nothing personally of Capt. T.; but those who know him best, have spoken in the highest terms of his vigilance and valor. "A braver man never trad the earth," said one of his friends.

It is further said, that immediately after the Cutter was boarded, the report of small arms was distinctly heard by those on shore—and that much solicitude has been entertained for the fate of Travis & his crew;—that the enemy took due care to carry the cutter down immediately after her capture; that she was lying not at Queen's Creek, as had been originally stated—but lower down the river at Point Fort on the Gloucester side, near Gloucester Town; and that the moment she had descended the river so far as to take the shot out of the range of York, on the other side, several shot were fired at her from a field-piece on the Gloucester shore.—A flag of truce was about to be sent to the British Squadron to enquire the fate of Capt. T. and his crew:

Extract of a letter.

"On Friday night, about 10 o'clock, four barges surrounded the cutter and took it.—Lt. Wm. Travis (the Lieut.) who was in the Lookout boat, with Jones and three other Sailors, got safe by making for the shore immediately after firing the alarm gun.—I had not left the cutter more than fifteen or twenty minutes, when one of the sailors insisted on it he saw a barge; but Wm. T. listened—heard nothing, and said it was impossible; it must be the reflection from some trees.—When in two minutes more the sailor again repeated that it was certainly a barge. Wm. T. then saw no less than three Barges, one between their boat and cutter, and the other two close behind them. They then fired five guns; but the barges did not return them for fear of alarming the cutter and in a few moments four surrounded her, gave three cheers, and jumped aboard her. The Cutter had not time to fire many guns before she was taken.—It was a dark, rainy night, and the British had their oars muffled."