On September 23, 1779, the little squadron sighted a British fleet of forty sail off Flamborough Head. They were merchantmen bound for the Baltic under convoy of the Serapis, forty-four, and the Countess of Scarborough, twenty. Captain Jones instantly gave chase, ordering his consorts to form in line of battle, but the Alliance, whose command had been given to a Frenchman, ran off to some distance, leaving the Richard to attack the Serapis single-handed, while the Pallas took care of the Scarborough.
PAUL JONES
[September 23, 1779]
An American frigate from Baltimore came,
Her guns mounted forty, the Richard by name;
Went to cruise in the channel of old England,
With a noble commander, Paul Jones was the man.
We had not sail'd long before we did espy
A large forty-four, and a twenty close by:
These two warlike ships, full laden with store,
Our captain pursued to the bold Yorkshire shore.
At the hour of twelve, [Pierce] came alongside.
With a loud speaking-trumpet, "Whence came you?" he cried;
"Quick give me an answer, I hail'd you before,
Or this very instant a broadside I'll pour."
Paul Jones he exclaimed, "My brave boys, we'll not run:
Let every brave seaman stand close to his gun;"
When a broadside was fired by these brave Englishmen,
We bold buckskin heroes return'd it again.
We fought them five glasses, five glasses most hot,
Till fifty brave seamen lay dead on the spot,
And full seventy more lay bleeding in their gore,
Whilst Pierce's loud cannon on the Richard did roar.
Our gunner, affrighted, unto Paul Jones he came,
"Our ship is a-sinking, likewise in a flame;"
Paul Jones he replied, in the height of his pride,
"If we can do no better, we'll sink alongside."
At length our shot flew so quick, they could not stand:
The flag of proud Britain was forced to come down,
[The Alliance bore down and the Richard did rake],
Which caused the heart of Richard to ache.