Connecticut vs Italic Conquest

Extract from a letter from a Young Man on board the U. S. Ship Connecticut, to his friend in East Hartford, Conn.

St. Kitts, 18th June 1800.

On the evening of the 29th day following, off Descada, about 10 o'clock, we saw a sail, which immediately stood for Descada, — we made sail and gave her chase. At half past 11, we came so near as to fire muskets into bear, which she returned with great violence. We both continued the firing of musketry until about 12, when we brought our guns to bear upon her. We gave her not a very small portion of Pills, which was more than she could digest. We gave her the second broadside, shot away her main-top-mast, wounded the captain and killed and wounded a number of his people, and at that time they all left her decks, and sent an American on deck to call for quarters.

We took possession of her — she proves to be a French privateer brigantine of 12 guns, called the Italic Conquest — took her in tow and on Jan. 1, 1800, arrived safe with her at St. Kitts, where she was manned out by our ship and the Insurgente upon a cruise and has captured the American ship William and Mary, of New York, from Liverpool; since that she has sailed for America