quarter and gave the "Raleigh" a
broadside," which carried away its foretopmast and mizzentop gallant
mast, which, to "the unspeakable grief" of Captain Barry, caused him,
"in a great measure, to lose command" of the "Raleigh," "determined to
victory" as he was. "The enemy plied his broadsides briskly, which was
returned as brisk," though the "Raleigh" "bore away to prevent the enemy
from raking us." The British sheered off and dropped astern. During the
night Barry perceived the stern-most ship gaining on us very fast and,
being disabled in our sails, masts and rigging and having no possible
view of escaping, Captain Barry, with the advice of his officers, ran
the "Raleigh" on shore to prevent her falling into the hands of the
enemy. The engagement, however, continued "very warm until midnight"--a
five-hours' contest, when the frigate sheered off to wait the consort.
The "Raleigh's" mizzentopsail had been shot away. Captain Barry ordered
the other sails cut loose from the yards. The two frigates appeared and
endeavored to cut the "Raleigh" "from the land." The headmost ship
proved a two-decker of at least fifty guns. The "Raleigh," "not in the
least daunted, received their fire, which was very heavy, and returned
ours with redoubled vigor."

"Encouraged by our brave commander, we were determined not to strike,"
related one of the officers. "After receiving three broadsides from the
large ship and the fire of the other frigate on our lee quarter," the
"Raleigh" struck the shore, when the enemy poured in two broadsides,
which were returned. She then hove in stays, our guns being loaded gave
us a good opportunity of raking her, which we did with our whole
broadside. After that she bore away and raked us and both British
frigates kept up a heavy fire in order to make us strike to them, which
we never did. They ceased and came to anchor a mile distant from the
"Raleigh."

The island on which the "Raleigh" struck was uninhabited and being rocky
could not be fortified for the defense of the ship. The enemy kept up an
incessant fire on her and the men being exhausted after the long contest
with the two frigates, Captain Barry ordered the men to land and the
"Raleigh" to be set on fire. The eighty-five men were landed, but the
treachery of Midshipman Jesse Jaycockt, an Englishman, who extinguished
the fire, prevented the destruction. The other officers and men were
made prisoners before the boats could return to take them off