ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.
Resolution of Congress Voting Medals to Captain Biddle, etc.
Resolved unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled: That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, requested to present to Captain James Biddle, of the sloop of war Hornet, a gold medal, with suitable emblems and devices, and a silver medal,[107] with suitable emblems and devices, to each commissioned officer of the said sloop of war, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress, of the gallantry, good conduct, and services of Captain Biddle, his officers and crew, in capturing the British sloop of war Penguin, after a brave and skilful combat.
Approved February 22, 1816.
Captain Biddle to the Secretary of the Navy.
United States sloop Hornet,
Off Tristan D'Acunha, March 25th, 1815.
To the Honourable
Secretary of the Navy,
Washington, D. C.
Sir: I have the honour to inform you, that on the morning of the 23d instant, at half past ten, when about to anchor off the north end of the island of Tristan d'Acunha, a sail was seen to the southward and eastward, steering to the westward, the wind fresh from the S. S. W. In a few minutes she had passed on to the westward, so that we could not see her for the land. I immediately made sail for the westward, and shortly after getting in sight of her again, perceived her to bear up before the wind. I hove to for him to come down to us. When she had approached near, I filled the main-topsail, and continued to yaw the ship, while she continued to come down, wearing occasionally to prevent her passing under our stern. At 1.40 p.m. being within nearly musket shot distance, she hauled her wind on the starboard tack, hoisted English colours and fired a gun. We immediately luffed to, hoisted our ensign and gave the enemy a broadside. The action being thus commenced, a quick and well directed fire was kept up from this ship, the enemy gradually driving near to us, when at 1.05 minutes he bore up apparently to run us on board. As soon as I perceived he would certainly fall on board, I called the boarders, so as to be ready to repel any attempt to board us. At the instant every officer and man repaired to the quarterdeck, where the two vessels were coming in contact, and eagerly pressed me to permit them to board the enemy; but this I would not permit, as it was evident, from the commencement of the action, that our fire was greatly superior both in quickness and effect. The enemy's bowsprit came in between our main and mizzen rigging, on our starboard side, affording him an opportunity to board us, if such was his design, but no attempt was made. There was a considerable swell on, and as the sea lifted us ahead, the enemy's boom carried away our mizzen shrouds, stern davits, and spanker boom, and he hung upon our larboard quarter. At this moment an officer, who was afterwards recognized to be Mr. M'Donald, the first lieutenant, and the then commanding officer, called out that they had surrendered. I directed the marines and musketry men to cease firing, and, while on the taffrail asking if they had surrendered, I received a wound in the neck. The enemy had just then got clear of us, and his fore-mast and bowsprit being both gone, and perceiving us wearing to give a fresh broadside, he again called out that he had surrendered. It was with difficulty I could restrain my crew from firing into him again, as he had certainly fired into us after having surrendered. From the firing of the first gun, to the last time the enemy cried out he had surrendered, was exactly 22 minutes by the watch. She proved to be His Britannic Majesty's sloop of war Penguin, mounting six 32 pound carronades, two long 12's, a 12 pound carronade on the top-gallant fore-castle, with swivels on the capstern in the tops. She had a spare port forward, so as to fight both her long guns a side. She sailed from England in September last. She was shorter upon deck than this ship, by two feet, but she had a greater length of keel, greater breadth of beam, thicker sides, and higher bulwarks than this ship, and was in all respects a remarkably fine vessel of her class. The enemy acknowledge a complement of 132, 12 of them supernumerary marines from the Medway 74, received on board in consequence of their being ordered to cruise for the American privateer Young Wasp. They acknowledge, also, a loss of 14 killed and 28 wounded; but Mr. Mayo, who was in charge of the prize, assures me that the number of killed was certainly greater. Among the killed is Captain Dickenson, who fell at the close of the action, and the boatswain; among the wounded is the second lieutenant, purser, and two midshipmen. Each of the midshipmen lost a leg. We received on board, in all, 118 prisoners, four of whom have since died of their wounds. Having removed the prisoners, and taken on board such provisions and stores as would be useful to us, I scuttled the Penguin this morning, before daylight, and she went down. As she was completely riddled by our shot, her foremast and bowsprit both gone, and her main-mast so crippled as to be incapable of being secured, it seemed unadvisable, at this distance from home, to attempt sending her to the United States.
This ship did not receive a single round shot in her hull, nor any material wound in her spars; the rigging and sails were very much cut; but having bent a new suit of sails and knotted and secured our rigging, we are now completely ready, in all respects, for any service. We were eight men short of complement, and had nine upon the sick list the morning of the action.
Enclosed is a list of killed and wounded. I lament to state that Lieutenant Conner is wounded dangerously. I feel great solicitude on his account, as he is an officer of much promise, and his loss would be a serious loss to the service.
It is a most pleasing part of my duty to acquaint you that the conduct of Lieutenants Conner and Newton, Mr. Mayo, Acting-Lieutenant Brownlow, of the marines, sailing master Romney, and other officers, seamen, and marines I have the honour to command, was in the highest degree creditable to them, and calls for my warmest recommendation. I cannot, indeed, do justice to their merits. The satisfaction which was diffused throughout the ship when it was ascertained that the stranger was an enemy's sloop of war, and the alacrity with which every one repaired to quarters, fully assured me that their conduct in the action would be marked with coolness and intrepidity.
The loss on board the Hornet, was 1 killed and 11 wounded.
I have the honour to be, &c.,
J. Biddle.
March 4, 1817—March 4, 1825.
James Monroe President of the U. S. A. D. 1817. ℞. Peace and friendship.