every Officer & man are willing lo testify that we have acted with prudence & Discretion-during your absence- .Most Respectfully Yr Ohl & Obt Servls Seward P Morse To Q. master J. Brown Esqr Comander Aproved F Johnson 1st Lieut George A. Newman 3d Lieut Joseph L. Sevey-2d Lieut D 1\1 Howell Q. M. Mate N. B. read before, and approved by the whole crew of the Invincible. Velasco May 30th 1836 I certify that I had charge of the armed Schooner Invincible which was al anchor off the bar at this place during the absence of Capt Brown the commander who left the vessel the 28th inst to go on shore and that nothing material occurred until yesterday the 29th when a slTange sail hove in sight. At 7 o'clock P. M. she was about a mile and half on our larboard quarter. She threw oul a white flash from a musket which we did not understand but supposed it Lo be a Mexican signal as their port fire is white; we therefore thought it prudent to get under weigh and mamade sail as soon as possible, cleared away for action and loaded and double shoted the guns. Whil under weigh we discovered that the sail was the Brutus from a recognition of her signals which we answered with ours Ahout 11 oclock we heard the report of three guns from the Brutus one of which was shoted the hall of which fell thirty or forty yards under our larboard quarter. We did not tack ship supposing her not to understand our signals, and fearing a broadside which would have brought about and engagement immediately. Immediately after this the Brutus tacked ship. We clone the same and stood along to the windward of her. She signalized us agin we answered her signals and kept away for the anchorage On arriving the har found the Brutus at anchor Capt Hurd accompanied by Dr Levey came on board, the former requesting us to anchor near his vessel, which we done. Capt Hurd then informed me that Commodore Hawkins was on the Brutus who elevated the hig gun that was sholecl himsilf and had given him (Hurd) orders lo fire a broadside al us. He told me that Commodore Hawkins requested me Lo go and see him with
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