16 – Went to Town & return’d to dine with Mr. Alex Brown – A warm day & light Shower in the Evening, Wind SD. Haul’d all my Oats from the meadows and completed my Harvest this day. Crops have been fine & well got in –
From the journal of Captain Henry Thompson, July 16, 1814. Courtesy the Friends of Clifton.
July 16.
In sight of St Domingo. Boarded a Spanish schooner from Port au Platt to Jamaica with Live Stock. At 1/2 past 5 AM saw a sail standing in for the land. Went in chase of her. At 7 she tacked and stood to the North’d. At half past 9 came up within gun shot of her and gave her a gun and shewed Our Colours, when she hauled on a Wind. Spread all possible sail. Triced up her Tarpaulins which covered her Battery shewing 12 Ports and commenced firing Broad Sides, the shot falling around us, but did no injury. In 6 hours from her first firing had her courses down.
From the journal of the Privateer Armed Schooner Lawrence, July 16, 1814. Maryland Historical Magazine, Volume 3, Number 2, June 1908, p. 171-176.
on July 16th
These 24 hours commences with moderate wind and foggy weather. At 8 PM tacked ship to the southward. At 2:30 AM tacked to the NW saw nothing of the Brig in chase. At 4 PM called all hands to quarters to Exercise [?] At 8 PM tacked ship to the southward. At 9 heard the report of a gun to windward and saw a Brig to windward within gunshot in chase of us. Wove ship and stood to the NNE at 10.30. Took in Studdingsails, and squaresail, and hauled close upon a wind to the NW. At 11.30 hove too. At 5 AM fresh breezes and clear sea there. Made several Islands of Ice bearing SW by S. At 11 saw a sail to windward. Tacked in chase
From the Schooner Mammoth Logs, 1814. MS 3082, H. Furlong Baldwin Library, Maryland Historical Society.