30 – Exercis’d at 6 this morning, and breakfasted at Jas. Steretts, din’d at Col. Hindmans ~
From the journal of Captain Henry Thompson, August 30, 1814. Courtesy the Friends of Clifton.
30 – Exercis’d at 6 this morning, and breakfasted at Jas. Steretts, din’d at Col. Hindmans ~
From the journal of Captain Henry Thompson, August 30, 1814. Courtesy the Friends of Clifton.
August 30th
These 24 hours commences with fresh Breezes and a heavy sea. At 3 PM spoke the French Brig la Diligence from Marsailles, bound to St. Petersburg. Cargo wind. At 5 PM saw a sail from the Masthead, made sail in chase. We could not come up with him before dark, so left him in sight during the night. Several times he made lights in different forms. And we saw several things floating past. At 6 AM made all sail in chase. Passed a Brig with French colors flying. At 9:30 AM the chase cut away his stern boat and knocked away the stern of the vessel to get his stern chasers to bear upon us at 10:30 hoisted our colors and commenced firing, which he returned and the Action lasted 50 minutes, when finding he sailed so fast by knowing him to be a Packet thought it best to leaf him.
Expended 58 cartridges.
From the Schooner Mammoth Logs, 1814. MS 3082, H. Furlong Baldwin Library, Maryland Historical Society.