Virginia Argus

SALEM, August 12.

Arrived privateers Fame, Upton, & Dart, Symonds, from a cruize. Capt. Upton has handed us the following information. Thursday afternoon, Aug. 1, the privateers Mars, Capt. Brooks, and Morning Star, Tucker, both of Portland, were chased into Haycock's harbor by 2 English frigates (supposed the Spartan and Maidstone) who immediately manned out 5 launches, with about 200 men, and sent them in the privateers in the mean time were hauled on shore, and all the people (28 in number) landed with the small arms, except enough to work the large guns which remained on board the privateers. The launches, on approaching near the privateers, discharged their cannonades into them, which was immediately returned from the privateers and the men ashore, when the launches were compelled to heave round, and stand out of the harbor. Saturday, the 3d, in the morning, 8 launches, with about 350 or 400 men, came to the mouth of the harbor, and landed them on each side. Capts. Tucker and Brooks, having then only 33 men in the whole, thought it best to retreat into the woods ; the English then took possession of the privateers, plundered and burnt them. The American party found in the woods, a marine, who was in one of the launches in the first attack, and had deserted : he informed that 30 men were killed and wounded on board the launches. Capts. Tucker and Brooks, had not a man injured. The ships had a number of coasters in their possession, just taken—one a schr. from Boston with 405 bbls flour, bound to Eastport, cut out from Bar Harbor.