“The enemy approached ’till within musket-shot of us.  The two ships were so near to each other that we could distinguish the officers from the men; and I particularly noticed the captain on the gangway, a noble-looking man, having a large gold-laced cocked hat on his head, and a speaking-trumpet in his hand.  Lieutenant Little possessed a powerful voice, and he was directed to hail the enemy; at the same time the quartermaster was ordered to stand ready to haul down the English flag and to hoist up the American.  Our lieutenant took his station on the after part of the starboard gangway, and elevating his trumpet, exclaimed:  ‘Hullo.  Whence come you?’

“‘From Jamaica, bound to London,’ was the answer.

“‘What is the ship’s name?’ inquired the lieutenant.

“‘The “Admiral Duff",’ was the reply.

“The English captain then thought it his turn to interrogate, and asked the name of our ship.  Lieutenant Little, in order to gain time, put the trumpet to his ear, pretending not to hear the question.  During the short interval thus gained, Captain Williams called upon the gunner to ascertain how many guns could be brought to bear upon the enemy.  ‘Five,’ was the answer.  ‘Then fire, and shift the colors,’ were the orders.  The cannons poured forth their deadly contents, and, with the first flash, the American flag took the place of the British ensign at our masthead.

“The compliment was returned in the form of a full broadside, and the action commenced.  I was stationed on the edge of the quarter-deck, to sponge and load a six-pounder; this position gave me a fine opportunity to see the whole action.  Broadsides were exchanged with great rapidity for nearly an hour; our fire, as we afterward ascertained, produced a terrible slaughter among the enemy, while our loss was as yet trifling.  I happened to be looking for a moment toward the main deck, when a large shot came through our ship’s side and killed a midshipman.  At this moment a shot from one of our marines killed the man at the wheel of the enemy’s ship, and, his place not being immediately supplied, she was brought alongside of us in such a manner as to bring her bowsprit directly across our forecastle.  Not knowing the cause of this movement, we supposed it to be the intention of the enemy to board us.  Our boarders were ordered to be ready with their pikes to resist any such attempt, while our guns on the main deck were sending death and destruction among the crew of the enemy.  Their principal object now seemed to be to get liberated from us, and by cutting away some of their rigging, they were soon clear, and at the distance of a pistol shot.

“The action was then renewed, with additional fury; broadside for broadside continued with unabated vigor; at times, so near to each other that the muzzles of our guns came almost in contact, then again at such a distance as to allow of taking deliberate aim.  The contest was obstinately continued by the enemy, although we could perceive that great havoc was made among them, and that it was with much difficulty that their men were compelled to remain at their quarters.  A charge of grape-shot came in at one of our portholes, which dangerously wounded four or five of our men, among whom was our third lieutenant, Mr. Little, brother to the first.