04/26/1814 col 2 06/17/1814 col 1 06/24/1814 col 2 Source: McManemin, Captains of the Privateers of the War of 1812
Extract from the Log-Book of the General Armstrong, Captain Guy R. Champlin.
April 19 th. [1814] Lat. 51.58, captured the British ship Fanny, from Pernambuco bound to Liverpool with a valuable cargo of cotton, coffee and tallow, burthen 337 tons, 16 guns 9 and 12 pounders, and 45 men, manned and ordered her in. Engaged the Fanny forty minutes before she struck her colours; she had six men severely wounded and one killed; her hull rigging and sails were considerably cut up; the Armstrong received no damage.
On the 30 th of April Captain Laughton of the Fanny wrote his owners, Messrs. Brotherstone and Begg:
On Monday, the 18 th inst, about meridian, we discovered a schooner standing towards us, supposing her to be an enemy…. When we got about the distance of a pistol shot he commenced a most severe and destructive fire, which the Fanny with alacrity returned, but the wind having fallen almost to a calm, the Fanny would scarcely steer….. At this time it was a desperate conflict, but his fire from a long French forty-two pounder proved so tremendous, and his numerous musketry so galling, that the great part of the men on the main deck could not be kept to their quarters, not withstanding the exertions of Mr. Bridge, the chief mate. I thought it my duty, though a painful one, to save the lives of the brave few that remained true, to haul down the colours, after engaging one hour, never out of pistol shot… |