The Alexandria Herald

The subjoined affecting letter, with which we have been politely favored by the gentleman to whom it was written, is from the respectable surgeon of the schr. Alligator.

[Nat. Gaz.

Matanzas, (de Cuba) Nov. 16.

Dear Sir—You will no doubt have heard, before the receipt of this, of the capture of a piratical schr. by the boats of the Alligator, about forty miles to windward of Matanzas, and of the great loss our naval service has suffered, in the death of lieut. commandant William H. Allen.

After sailing from New York in August last, we had an arduous and diligent cruise, remaining but a short time in those ports we visited, in order to avoid the diseases of the climate, by which our vessels of war have unfortunately suffered so much this summer.

We continued healthy until the middle of October, when some cases of fever appeared among the crew, which, tho' violent in the commencement, gave way in a short time, to free evacuating treatment, and I scarcely thought of yellow fever, until the loss of acting Lieut M' Rorie, who died on the 4th day of his illness, with black vomit. He was much regretted by all of us; he possessed a sound understanding, and a worthy heart.—

There were twelve cases on board,—his was the only one that terminated fatally, which I attribute entirely to the mild and manageable state of the disease.

The time of our cruise having expired, we were on our return home, and put into Havana for provisions, &c. but before we came to anchor, information was given capt. Allen, that several piratical depredations had recently been committed near Matanzas.

He immediately ran out, went up to Matanzas, and found the fullest confirmation that the neighborhood, about 40 miles to windward, was infested with the most formidable piratical force that has at any time appeared off the coast of this island. They had captured a brig and schr. two days before, and being disappointed in getting money, suffered the captains to go to Matanzas, in order to procure their ransom; while they kept the vessels in possession. We sailed in search of them, and early on the morning of the 9th Nov. discovered them among the Keys. By this time they had a ship; two brigs, and two schrs. and were employed in plundering them. As soon as we came in sight, they abandoned their prizes, and made all sail to effect their escape. The wind dying away and the water being shoal, so that it was impossible to pursue them, capt. Allen manned his boats and pulling for them came up with them fast.

He and capt. Freeman of the marine corps, were in the launch, with about 20 men, and the first lieut. Mr. Dale in the cutter with ten or twelve. Having approached the nearest pirate, he commenced a fire of grape shot from a long 12 pounder, aided by two long 6's, and some smaller guns, but our boats kept steadily for him, and commencing a fire of musketry, at the same time coming fast up with him, the piratical crew abandoned their vessel and took to their boats with the utmost precipitation, making for another schr. which was coming to assist them. Capt. Allen ordered his gig and 5 or 6 men, with midshipman Henley, to go on board the prize, and pursued the other schr. with a determination to board him. The second having a large crew on board, and being joined by that of the first, which had escaped, determined on a desperate resistance. They had much such an armament as the first, of large guns, and his decks were literally covered with men.

Our boats approached him under a heavy but ill directed fire. Capt. Allen was closing with him on one quarter, and Mr. Dale on the other, he retreating and firing; and when about to board him, the brave Allen received two wounds from musket balls, one of which was mortal. Mr. Dale, although not less exposed, having two or three men shot by his side, was more fortunate. The captain ordered him to go to the prize schr. and the other escaped.

The two pirates had upwards of a 100 men, and another of them was not far distant, but was supposed to be their tender. They had pulled the red flag to the mast of the one we captured, and when they abandoned the vessel, left a number of bottles of powder with slow matches to them.

When you reflect on the disparity of force, and the disadvantages of attacking vessels from our small boats, you will readily suppose that every officer and man engaged in the expedition, conducted himself well. Mr. Randolph was left much against his inclination, in charge of the Alligator, and Mr. Cunningham, with a number of volunteers, masters of vessels and others, were prevented by insurmountable obstacles from getting up to the action.

I need not tell you that capt. Allen had but few equals in our service. He was ardently devoted to the interest of his country, was brave, intelligent and accomplished in his profession. He displayed living and dying, a magnanimity that sheds lustre on the names of his relatives, his friends and his country.

His wound that proved mortal, penetrated his left shoulder between the head of the os humeri and the clavicle, and passing downwards, destroyed the axillary artery, entered the thorax, passed out and over the vertebral column, and lodged superficially on the right side of the spine, about the eighth dorsal vertebra.—

He lost but little blood. After extracting the ball I suffered him to rest awhile, although it was certain from the absence of pulsation at the wrist, that the axillary artery was wounded. In about an hour the hemorrhage commenced, which I instantly checked by pressure on the subclavian artery over the first rib.

He shortly after expired, having survived his wounds about three hours. It appeared injudicious to torture him with an operation for securing the subclavian artery, as I kept my fingers pressing on it, so as to prevent loss of blood, and life was fast ebbing.

He continued giving orders & conversing with Mr. Dale and the rest of us, until a few minutes before his death, with a degree of cheerfulness that was little to be expected from a man in his condition; he said, he wished his relatives and his country to know that he had fought well, and added that he died in peace and good will towards all the world, and hoped for his reward in the next.

His other wound was of the scalp.— The ball passed over the top of his head.

We had 7 killed and wounded; three are yet living: they were all shot in the head, except one; those living are doing well. We have rescued between fifty and a hundred thousand dollars worth of property. But a considerable force, and decisive measures must be adopted with these people, who have abandoned all conscience, and resolved to destroy every thing they find belonging to the United States.

Lieut. Dale has succeeded to the command of the Alligator, and we felicitate ourselves on having so gallant and worthy an officer to perform the many important duties that must necessarily devolve on him.

The remains of capt. Allen were interred in Matanzas, with military honors. We shall sail from here to-morrow with a fleet of ten or eleven sail, for Norfolk, where I request you will do me the favor to write me by the time I get in.