had been much hurt by a splinter striking him on the head, was no sooner informed of his Captain’s fall than he went upon deck and assumed the command.
“The Boston had hitherto maintained a position close under the enemy’s lee; but was now fore-reaching, and falling to leeward for want of after-sail, the gaff being shot away, and the mizen-stay-sail literally cut to pieces, no less than 25 large shot, besides an immense number of musketballs, having passed through it. The main-top-sail was hanging over the lee-gangway, so that it was absolutely necessary to clear the wreck before the larboard guns could be fired with safety; and when about to wear, for the purpose of bringing them to bear on l’Ambuscade, several strange sail suddenly appeared to windward. This alone induced Lieutenant Edwards to put before the wind, and Mons. Bompard, although encouraged by the sight of his supposed countrymen, did not make any attempt to follow the Boston until she had increased her distance to about 2 miles. The last shot fired by either party was at about 7 A.M.[1].
“The Boston’s damages, in addition to those I have mentioned, were as follow:– the cap of the bowsprit shot away; fore-top-mast, and fore and main-yards badly wounded; mizen-mast wounded and sprung; the whole of the mizen-rigging on both sides, and the standing and spring, stays shot away; only two main shrouds on one side, and one on the other left standing; the fore-rigging much injured; the main-spring-stay and both bob-stays cut in two; every brace and bowline gone; the ship hulled in many places, and two of the main-deck-guns dismounted. The loss we sustained has been correctly stated by you[2], and that it was not greater is truly astonishing, as the musket-balls afterwards picked up on our quarter-deck alone amounted to an almost incredible number.
“Our opponent mounted 26 long twelves, 10 long sixes, and 2 heavy carronades; the Boston had the same number of long twelves, but only 6 sixes, and not a single carronade, either ‘monkey-tailed,’ or of any other description. Lieutenant Hayes, Mr. Guion, &c. having been prevented from joining the ship, the total number of effective officers, men, and boys on- ↑ The strangers to windward were very naturally suspected to be French; but it was afterwards ascertained that they were Americans, coming out to witness the battle. L’Ambuscade brought to with her head to the eastward, at 8 A.M. and was soon afterwards lost sight of by the Boston. The enemy’s squadron from St. Domingo anchored at Sandy Hook Aug. 1st, and went up to New York on the following morning.
- ↑ 10 killed and 24 wounded. N.B. Although none of l’Ambuscade’s masts fell during the contest, she was obliged to take them all out on her return to New York , where she continued upwards of two months, repairing the damages she had sustained by the Boston’s fire. See James’s Naval Hist. 2d ed. Vol. I, p 147.
