On the 7th May, while on board the Seringapatam, on duty, which required my being present, a mutiny took place, in which I was wounded, and the mutineers succeeded in getting the Seringapatam out of the bay. Two days after, when making the necessary preparations to depart for Valparaiso, we were attacked by the savages, and I have with the deepest regret, to inform you, sir, that Midshipman William Felters, John Thomas, Thomas Gibbs, and William Brudinell, were massacred, and Peter Coddington, marine, dangerously wounded. After bending the jib and spanker, we cut our moorings, and fortunately had alight breeze, that carried the ship clear of the bay, with six cartridges remaining out of the only barrel left us by the mutineers.
After getting out of the bay, we found our situation most distressing. In attempting to run the boat up, it broke in two parts, and we were compelled to cut away from the bows the only anchor, not being able to cat it. We mustered altogether eight souls, out of which there was one cripple, one dangerously wounded, one sick, one just recovering from the scurvy, and myself confined to the bed with a high fever, produced by my wound. In that state, destitute of charts, and almost of every means of navigating the ship, I reached the Sandwich Islands, after a passage of seventeen days, and suffering much from fatigue and hardships. I was there unfortunately captured by the English ship Cherub, remained a prisoner on board of her seven months, during which time my men were treated in a most shameful manner.
We were then put on shore at Eio de Janeiro, without the possibility of getting away until after hearing of the peace. I then, by the advice of the physician who attended me, embarked on board a Swedish ship bound for Havre de Grace, (there being no other means of my getting away at that time,) leaving behind Midshipman Clapp and five men, having lost one soon after my arrival in that place with the small-pox. On the 1st inst. lat. 47 deg. N. long. 18 deg. W. we fell in with the American ship Oliver Ellsworth, from Havre, bound to this port. I took a passage on board of her, and ar! rived here two clays since, after beino; upwards of an hundred days at sea.
I am at present unable to travel, and shall therefore await either your orders, or the orders of the commandant of the marine corps at this place. I have the honor to remain, with the highest respect and esteem, sir, your obed't serv't, JOHN M. GAMBLE.! i