Alexandria Gazette & Advertiser

Norfolk, Nov 29.
ACTION WITH THE PIRATES,
AND
Death of Lieut. Commandant ALLEN ! !

Anchored between the forts, yesterday morning, the Piratical sch'r Revenge, 10 days from Matanzas, prize to the U. S. Sch'r Alligator, Lieutenant Comd't William H. Allen, in charge of Lieut. Robert B. Cunningham. The Revenge was captured on the 9th inst. near Point Yacos, (Coast of Cuba,) by the boats of the Alligator, commanded by Capt. Allen and Lieut. Dale. The circumstances of this encounter, as they have come to our knowledge, are the following:

The Alligator sailed from Havana for Matanzas on the 7th inst in consequence of having received information that several American vessels had recently been captured to windward of Matanzas by pirates. Upon her arrival at Matanzas, this intelligence was confirmed by capt. Mayo, of the brig Iris, of Boston, and Mr. Marsden, Mate of the Schr. of Salem, who had been sent from Point Yacos, (about 27 miles to windward of Matanzas,) by the Pirates, for money to ransom their vessels, then in their possession. The Alligator left Matanzas on the 8th, in company with a small schooner called the Plough Boy, belonging to Philadelphia, on which Capt. Watson had mounted one gun; Capt. W. undertaking to pilot the boats of the Alligator into the Inlet where these miscreants had carried their booty.

On the evening of the 8th, the Alligator came to anchor about five miles distant, and to windward, from the rendezvous of the Pirates, and the next morning about day light, she manned her Launch, Cutter and Gig--the Launch with Capt. Allen, Capt Freeman of the marine corps, Capt. Watson of the Plough Boy, and 12 men; the Cutter with Lt Dale, Mr. Marsden, mate of the Salem schooner and 10 men, and the Gig with Midshipman Henley and 4 men. The schr. Plough-Boy, with a 12 pounder on a pivot, and 30 men, was assigned to the command of Lt. Cunningham, and led in with a fine breeze, but unfortunately grounding and the wind dying away, she was unable to render any assistance--but for this circumstance, the discomfiture of the Pirates would, no doubt, have been completely effected.

Upon entering the passage the piratical vessels were discovered in sight of her consorts. As the boats approached, the Revenge made signal for them and commenced firing. She soon hove to for action, and as one of her consorts, which was armed with a long 12 pounder, fell short of them, she opened grape shot, which however from a long upon 12 pounder fell short a fire amid of boats the Pirates were soon abandoned along-side the vessel when the whole come ond taking over-hoard piratical to their all schooner boat of them and making at others a short lor jumping distance the sec-

The prize being secured without the loss s of a man the and Launch leit in and charge Cutter of pushed the on to the altack of the second Pirate reaching of the men and Revenge armed with deck had mus- kets, cutlasses and pikes—They opened a beavy fire of musketry as they came within reach which returned in the most spirited manner all were not at the oars About this time Capt. Allen received a wound in the bead from a musket ball. and shorily breast after another which passed between the through left and in the back Three of the men also were killed, and three badly wounded. Notwithstanding the severity of his wounds, and the fearful odds opposed to him, Capt Allen continued to animate and encourage his men to fight courageously. and to push on to the accomplishment of their glorious purpose.--But in despite of every exertion, seconded by the most daring and intrepid bravery, the Pirate succeeded in making his escape and they were compelled to relinquish the pursuit and return to their vessel; carrying with them their prize the Revenge, and the following Am. vessels, which had been captured a short time before, by these wretches, viz:--Ship William Henry, Drew, of and from New-York, bound to New-Orleans; Brig Sarah Morrill, of and from Boston, bound to New-Orleans, master's name unknown, Brig Iris, Mayo, of and from Boston, bound to do; and two Schrs, one from Rochester, the other from Salem, masters names and destination unknown. All these vessels were captured within a few leagues of Point Yacos. Capt. Drew, the captain of the Sarah Morrill, and of the Rochester schooner, were still on board of their respective vessels, at the time of the recapture. Capt. Mayo, of the Iris, was on board the Alligator--but the captain of the Salem schooner had made his escape and afterwards arrived at Matanzas.

All the recaptured vessels have been sent for Charleston, (S. C.) and the Alligator may be hourly expected in this harbor. The Revenge parted company with her the first night after leaving Matanzas. The Alligator took under her convoy from Matanzas, a ship bound to New-Orleans, and two brigs and a schooner bound to other ports of the United States.

Acting sailing-master Victor M. Randolph, with a prize crew, was put on board the Salem Schooner--the other vessels having their own crews on board.

The Revenge is a sharp, coppered sch'r. of about 70 to 80 tons burthen, has one long 12 pounder on a pivot, amidships--two 6's and two 3 pounders; her crew supposed to have been about 35 men, only 3 of whom fell into the hands of the captors, having concealed themselves in the hold, and one of these made his escape at Matanzas. She had on board, when taken possession of, 83 boxes of axes--one dozen in a box, and 31 barrels of patent cut nails: these were transferred to the brig Iris, from which they had been taken.

The conflict between these vessels and the boats of the Alligator, continued about 35 minutes. Killed of the Alligator's crew, 4, viz:--William H. Allen, Esq. commander, James Denny, quarter gunner; John White, seaman: Elijah Place, ord, seamen Dangerously wounded--John Philips, ord seaman, musket ball through his jaws and tongue. Severely wounded --John Stevens, boatswain's mate, in the head, and John Green, in the neck.

Accounts received at Matanzas stated, that 14 of the pirates were killed, among whom was one of their captains. Acting Lieut David W. M'Rorie died on board the Alligator, in Port-au-Prince Bay, on the 19th October

Capt. ALLEN, was buried at Matanzas, with naval honors on the 11th inst.

The annunciation of the death of Lieut. Com'dt WILLIAM H. ALLEN, yesterday, produced a general gloom through this place and Portsmouth, more especially among his brother officers of the navy--by whom he was regarded as a pattern of excellence in his profession, and as a man was beloved and esteemed by all for his moral worth and dignified and gentlemanly deportment: as an officer his claims were of the first order, and it may verily be said; his country has lost one of the most gallant and intrepid advocates and defenders of its rights.

the brig Iris, Capt. Mayo, a prize to the

CHARLESTON, Nov. 25.--The arrival of
PIRACY AND MURDER

Alligator, Lieut. Dale, furnishes us with the subjoined account of insulting and injurious treatment of our citizens. We know not when a stop shall be put to these proceedings; but we think we know how. Let orders be given to our naval officers to hang up to the yard arm every scoundrel taken on board a piratical vessel.--Thus will justice be expedited, and the president of the United States be saved the reproach so frequently incurred of sending forth, by his lavish pardons, the pests & banditti of the commercial world.

The rendezvous of these villains is between point Yacaco and Stone Key, and their force was three schrs. of from 60 to 90 tons, the largest they say a Baltimore schr. which they have lately captured, one of one long 18 pounder and 6 nine pounders, one eighteen pounder, and 4 nines, and one of 18 and 2 nines, all well manned. They capture all vessels they meet with, and it is supposed that many of the crews are murdered, as the chief mate of the Iris found the shores lined with wrecks of vessels, trunks and other articles which led to the belief that they had been hanged on board of one of the pt other caplures ed in Matanzas, that two Americans had
Sails, and Capt. Mayo is fearful that one with a similar fate. The pirates also
crew who missing threaten vengeance on the next American
may safely execute, as there were no
capture American vessels of war on the coast when
the Iris left.
openly encourage piracy by going to their
The merchants and others at Matanzas,
their nefarious enterprises, defacing the
purchasing fruits marks on goods and exposing them for
the authorities of that island engaged in it
former possessors themselves, or are they bribed to silence?
see all law and justice in this manner set
natural else why e defiance?
"The Alligator and her prize sailed for
i2 sail.
captured vessels and seven others—in all
Norfolk convoy jnterior force, one piratical vessel, be tell,
be deplored. After capturing, with a far
The death of Lieut. Allen, is deeply to
in attempting to carry a second of superi-
or force and reinforced by those who had
escaped from the first. Lieut. Allen was
a gallant and intelligent officer, and has
fallen by the hands of assassination-and
adds another victim to the catalogue of pi-
atical crimes
[City Gaz. ter of the brig Iris, from Boston. bound to
"Declaration of Freeman Maro, mas-
New Orleans.
Matanzas bearing SW. by W about 40
"Nov. 4th, at sun rise, saw the Pan of
miles distant-steering west, wind from
NE. At 8 a. m. saw two schooners steer-
ing out from the land to the SW. I hauled
ed on the wind to the northward, found
they came up fast with sweeps out, and
decks full of men; one of them with Bue-
over me. I then hove too—they boarded
pos Ayres colors, fired two 18 pound shot
me with 6 men, armed with pistols, cut
over my head in boarding; drove every
lasses, and long knives; fired one pistol
man below, and attempted to tack ship,
could not work the brig themselves, and
to the eastward. They acknowledged
a time, stood in for the land on the wind
ordered one half of the crew on deck at
themselves pirates, &c. [Here capt. Mayo-
o describes his treatment and sufferings,
being for hours confined below without
food or air, and at midnight ordered into
the cabin and inhumanly beaten. The
next night, they had all the pirates aboard
passing all night, who robbed them of e-
very article of clothing, money, watches,
&c. Nov. 6, weighed anchor and run a:
bout 5 miles farther up the Bay, Stone
Key and Point Ycaccos, to the southward
in co. with schr. Mary & Eliza, capt. Cole,
from Salem, whom they had captured the
same day, capt. Mayo then continues]—
they then commenced discharging about
40 casks of nails, kedge anchor and haw-
ser, all my spare rigging, &c. also two
studding sails, two compasses, most of the
cabin stores, about 500 lbs. of bread, &c.
At 3 p m. the captain of the pirates came
aboard and ordered his crew if they did
not find more money in one hour, to mur-
der every one of us, and burn the vessel.
I begged for the long boat, some bread
and water, to proceed to the Florida coast;
he said no, I should send an American man
of war to detect him. he did not mean to
spare one of us. One of the pirates, more
humane than the rest, begged hard for my
life The capt. told him to do his duty.
or he would take his life instantly. I then
proposed to go to Matanzas, and get mo-
ney to ransom our lives, and the vessel.
He hesitated a few minutes, and then said
he would give me three days to go and re-
turn with $6000, or he would burn the
brig and every soul on board, He took
me on board his piratical schooner, and
next day (Nov 7) carried me within 6
miles of Matanzas, and put me into a boat.
I arrived in town at 1 p. m. I called on
the governor. who would not assist me;
the American merchants did not think pro-
per to raise any money, or treat with the
pirates, The American masters then a-
greed to muster a force from their own
crews, go down and engage them Capt.
Watkins, of the pilot-boat schr, Plough-
boy, of Philadelphia, offered his vessel &
services. We put on board her one 18
pounder, 50 muskets, a few pistols, cut-
lasses, &c. and mustered about 30 men.
After getting ready, some began to dis-
courage the expedition as not of sufficient
force; some of the sailors began to drop
off and finally gave it up. Next morning
(Nov. 8), I went ashore to consult what
could be done. Soon after I landed, I saw
the U. States' schr. Alligator, coming into
the bay. I boarded her as soon as possi-
bly, and stated my situation to Capt. Al-
len. He was pleased to assist me, and
immediately tacked ship, and stood out
the bay. Capt. Watkins, in the Plough-
boy, with a few American sailors, follow-
ed the Alligator. Next morning (9th),
found ourselves directly off the entrance
the bay between Stone-Key and Point Ycacuas with three American vessels and one of the pirates in sight at anchor The Americans proved to be the ship William Henry Capt Drew from New-York for New Orleans; brig Sarah Morrill, Lord of Boston for New Orleans and sch Nancy Mary Moore from Boston for Pensacola captured the day previous We found the piratical schooner making ail and sweeping up the Bay Capt Allen found it impossible to overhaui her with the Alligator-He therefore immediately ordered the boats to be hoisted out, manned and armed; also put 20 men on board the Ploughboy and gave chase prate hoisted a Patriot Flag, and fired a yun to leeward soon after boisted a Rea Flag, and fired to windward. We soon perceived another of their schooners standing out the Bay to assist them. We received several fires from their 18 and 9 pounders without any damage We boarded the largest; they all fled to the boats, and number were killed and We left the gigs crew in possession of the prize and proceeded to board but they had too much the advantage-- their decks being full of men ketry Capt Allen received his Death wound four others were also killed and sevelal wounded We we e obliged to our prize thinking to come up her but her guns were dismounted and in such condition. What Lieut. Dale
I ordered her out of the Bay, and got on
board the Alligator. At 3 P.M. came to
anchor close by the Iris; found her ashore
with her other cable cut; not a soul on
board.
By assistance from the Alligator, I ar-
rived in Matanzas the second day after,
with the Iris, in company with the ship.
brig, two schr's, and the prize before men-
tioned. I found my second mate, 3 sailors,
cook and cabin boy, and a passenger
(Mr. Greenleaf), had arrived in a boat 12
hours before. They informed us that when
the action commenced, the pirates were
all on board their own vessel—Mr. Rich,
my chief mate, took the small boat, to go
and get Capt. Cole and his crew, to assist
in keeping them off. They found the pi-
rates were boarding the Iris, and captain
Cole and his crew advised taking to the
woods. When they boarded the Iris they
discharged several pistols at the crew,
but missed them; they drove some over-
board with cutlasses. and into the boat—
After all the crew were in the boat except
one, the second mate rose upon them, hove
2 pirates overboard, and sheared off with
the boat; The pirates hove every thing at
them they could get hold of, but did not
kill any one, though every man was more
or less wounded. (Mr. Rich,) the chief
mate with capt Cole and his crew arr-
ived in Matanzas two days after; hav-
ing travelled all the way on foot suffering
very much— Lieut, Dale of the Alligator,
took my papers, and with the four others,
ordered us for Charleston for adjudication,
or to settle the salvage. &c.
FREEMAN MAYO.