Daily National Intelligencer

GALLANT EXPLOIT.

From the Susquehanna Gazette.

Some documents have accidentally fallen into our hands, in relation to a bold achievement of Capt. Isaac Hull, in the year 1800, which places his courage, seamanship, and conduct, in a striking light; the credit of which, from a misprint of his name, at that time, in the newspapers, never has been awarded to the right individual.

Capt. Hull was first lieutenant of the frigate Constitution, commanded by Capt. Talbot, during the short war which was waged between the United States and the French republic. The Constitution was cruising upon the coast of St. Domingo in the spring of 1800; and Capt. Talbot hearing that a French armed ship was lying in Port Platt, though she was protected by her own guns and a fort of three heavy cannon, determined upon cutting her out. He, at first, intended to have silenced the fort with the battery of his ship; but finding it somewhat dangerous to approach near enough to perform the service, with the Constitution, altered his plan, and entrusted the enterprise to Lieut. Hull. The sloop Sally, a vessel belonging to Rhode Island, having left Port Plate with an intention of returning, and being detained by Capt Talbot on account of illicit traffic, afforded an excellent opportunity to effect the intended object. She was made use of as a disguise, and a detachment of about ninety volunteers, consisting of seamen and marines, were put on board, under the direction of Lieut. Hull. The marines were to be commanded by Capt. Carmick and Lieut. Amory, when they should be called upon to act on shore. The Sally left the Constitution on Sunday, May 11, 1800, and on her route was boarded by a British frigate, the captain of which intended to have cut out the French corvette on the following day.

At sun rise the next morning, the vessel was a few miles to the windward of Port Plate, and Lieut. Hull called all hands upon deck, detailed his plan of attack, and appointed the officers and men to their respective stations. The Sally bore up for the harbor as a merchant vessel, whilst Lieut. Hull, disguised in the habit of a sailor, took the helm himself, and stood in. She passed the fort without molestation, and Lieut. Hull, laying her on board of the enemy's vessel, and calling out "Boarders, away," carried her under cover of a fire of musketry, without the loss of a man.

The French crew, taken by surprise, either jumped overboard or were captured: among the latter were the first and second lieutenants belonging to the French navy. Lieut Amory, with his marines, in a moment afterwards were in the boat, which sunk along side the vessel--but heading his gallant party, who swam with their muskets, he soon reached the shore. Rushing up the hill, with charged bayonets, they drove the panic-struck garrison from the fort and spiked the guns. In the space of 15 minutes both the fortress and vessel were captured. She proved to be the Sandwich, a fast sailing, copper-bottomed ship of 500 tons; but completely dismantled, without either rigging or sails upon the masts. She was moored near the shore, in a position a little past the battery, with springs on her cables. The guns of the work, and the cannon which had been landed from the Sandwich, were so disposed, as to command the ship and the entrance of the harbor in a most effectual manner.

Lieut. Hull, being in an enemy's port, in possession of a dismantled ship, with a hostile population surrounding him, perceived the necessity of promptness and activity in his movements; and he ordered the 6 cannon which yet remained on board to be all brought in battery to bear on the side which commanded the approach to the ship. A flag of truce, at this juncture, was sent on board from the governor of the place, by his aid, to learn the further intentions of the American commanding officer. Hull promised him, if they would remain quiet, not to offer violence to the town or its inhabitants; but if any hostile attempts were made upon the vessel, he should repel force by force. At ten o'clock in the forenoon they began to sway up the topmasts of the prize; at five in the afternoon, being entirely ready for sea, they weighed anchor from Port Plate, and at noon the next day rejoined the Constitution.

A harbor about twenty geographical miles eastward of Cape Francois. The town contains about 5,000 inhabitants.