ioned officers, and also a sword to each of the
midshipmen, and the sailing-master of the aforesaid vessel, in
testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of the
gallantry and good conduct of the officers and crew, in the
action with the British sloop-of-war Reindeer, on the
twenty-eighth of June, in the year one thousand eight hundred and
fourteen; in which action determined bravery and cool
intrepidity, in nineteen minutes, obtained a decisive victory by
boarding.

[Footnote 95: The silver medals are copies of the
medal in gold to Captain Blakeley.]

Approved November 3, 1814.

_____

_Captain Blakeley to the Secretary of the Navy._

To the Honourable United States Ship Wasp,
William JONES L'Orient, July 8th, 1814.
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.

Sir: On Tuesday, the 28th instant, being then in latitude 48 deg.
36', north, and longitude 11 deg. 15' west, we fell in with, engaged,
and after an action of nineteen minutes, captured His (p. 202)
Britannic Majesty's sloop-of-war the Reindeer, William Manners,
Esquire, commander.

Where all did their duty and each appeared anxious to excel, it
is very difficult to discriminate. It is, however, only rendering
them their merited due, when it is declared of Lieutenants Reily
and Bury, 1st and 3d of this vessel, and whose names will be
found among those of the conquerors of the Guerriere and Java;
and of Mr. Tillinghast, 2d lieutenant, who was greatly
instrumental in the capture of the Boxer; that their conduct and
courage on this occasion fulfilled my highest expectations and
gratified every wish. Sailing-master Carr is also entitled to
great credit for the zeal and ability with which he discharged
his various duties.

The cool and patient conduct of every officer and man, while
exposed to the fire of the shifting gun of the enemy, and without
an opportunity of returning it, could only be equalled by the
animation and ardour exhibited when actually engaged, or by the
promptitude and firmness with which every attempt of the enemy to
board was met and successfully repelled. Such conduct may be
seen, but cannot well be described.

The Reindeer mounted sixt