of the prize[1]. I beg to recommend these officers most strongly to the commander-in-Chief s patronage, for the gallantry they displayed during the action, and the skill and judgment they evinced in the anxious duties which afterwards devolved upon them.
“To Mr. Etough, the acting Master, I am much indebted for the steadiness with which he conned the ship into action. Lieutenants Johns and Law, of the marines, bravely boarded at the head of their respective divisions.
“It is utterly impossible to particularize every brilliant deed performed by my officers and men; but I must mention, when the ships’ yard-arms were locked together, that Mr. Cosnahan, who commanded in our main-top, finding himself screened from the enemy by the foot of the top-sail, laid out at the main-yard-arm to fire upon them, and shot three men in that situation. Mr. Smith, who commanded in our foretop, stormed the enemy’s fore-top from the fore-yard-arm, and destroyed all the Americans remaining in it. I particularly beg leave to recommend Mr. Etough, the acting Master; and Messrs. Smith, Leake, Clavering, Raymond, and Littlejohn, Midshipmen. The latter officer is a son of Captain Littlejohn, who was slain in the Berwick.
“The loss of the enemy was about 70 killed, and 100
- ↑ Mr. James says, “after those upon the forecastle had submitted, Captain Broke ordered one of his men to stand sentry over them, and sent most of the others aft, where the conflict was still going on. He was in the act of giving them orders to answer the fire from the Chesapeake’s main-top, when the sentry called lustily out to him. On turning round, the Captain found himself opposed by three of the Americans; who, seeing they were superior to the British then near them, had armed themselves afresh. Captain Broke parried the middle fellow’s pike, and wounded him in the face; but instantly received from the man on the pikeman’s right, a blow with the butt-end of a musket, which bared his scull, and nearly stunned him. Determined to finish the British commander, the third man cut him down with his broadsword, and, at that very instant, was himself cut down by one of the Shannon’s seamen. Captain Broke and his treacherous foe now lay side by side; each, although nearly powerless, struggling to regain his sword, when a marine despatched the American with his bayonet. * * * * * * Soon after this, Captain Broke’s senses failed him from loss of blood; and the Shannon’s jolly-boat arriving with a supply of men, (the two ships having separated, owing to the Chesapeake’s quarter-gallery giving way,) he was carried on board his own ship.” See Nav. Hist. id. pp. 383–385.
