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BOSTON: PBINTID AND PUBUSHED BT 0HABLB8 OATLOBD. 1837* "^' £ \9:i l«37 3275 OF MASSAOHTOfemiA ^ wn t ^Jlft INMrM Cbrft*« , • . . 0eatli apd funeral Of e^ptaiB Allen « ' ^ • Enterprise, ftnd Boxer > /• )l - Funeral of lieutenant Burrows and captain ]ftlythe Letter from captain Hull ^ . . ^ . from lieutenant M'Call . I* ' Captain *Hull's card « . . . .. ' . letter to commodore Bainbridge - Cruise of the fisnex in the Pacific t>cean Action in the harbour of Valparaiso and loss of tho Esaez Baturn of paptain Porter > t'ke Aliigator - . Cenamodore Rodgers > * . . Peacock and Epervier. . ' - . v^. ^;;^t , G^ise of the Wasp '^ - - . * Ol^ttre of the Reindeer ^* - * . ,l.'^^on. * ■ - ■ ■ - ■■ , Less of the Presideq^ . ' . . Capture of th^ Cia^' and Levant Blockade of Cb " '^^ Sehooner Lottery iPrivateer Dolphin Attack on Havrej4i^^ii» f. -. • . Or iake and Delaware bajra - 70 15 80 81 86 88 89 100 tOl 103 109 lOT 108 118 in 180 181 138 189* 186 186 199 141 142 149 149 146 146 147 m m iB9 160 160 160 161 162 .fti'^A\l._y, -"\- COITTBirTS. Sciiooner Asp . . , . • . Torpmlo - - . ^ - Attack on Lewntown . • . ^^unboat action - . • JpiTenta on lake Erie - • • . Capture of the Britiah fleet - . . Efenta on lako Ontario - - , • Eventa oq lake Ghamplain - . • Battle of Plattsburg - . • , . Letter of commodore M'Donough - •• Attack on Baltimore - . . . ^ ^Battle of New Orlean^ . . . * President and Plantagent - « . ^ Esca j>e of the Constitation from the TenedM and Eadjoiion Hornet and Penguw . • , Escape of the Hornet - - . , The Atlas - - * . .The Yoang Ei^Ie - ^e Montgomery - . . ^ . . the Dolphin - .* The Rolla - ^ - ^ • '. The Comet - - « - ^e General Armstrong « . v|^ Young Teazer ,- - • Th^ Decatur - .^ mi. .^e Saratoga - . - ^., ^:;. . ^^ v^. ..'■■:„ .||fie General Armstrong - ;,{<•! ,4', , Lfltter from <:aptain Ckmible - - , , . Sketch of the Algerine wai' ' - , ,|,« Naval poetry - - . « * ' ^ List of the Americnn Navy , - ;^|, V let let 164 186 166 166 lis IW ' 168 198 m ' 904 815 . * 318 i 896 SS8 ftSfi 937 843 968 919 ?' .#. J*-. / %i "^ \\, M> %f%i- ■*'■• ,;.4 * f ■"'rX :* i : : ^ *t> yr 'is . NAVAL BATTLES. i.v The benefits top'be derived from historical records of noble achievements whether physical or moral are universally acknowledged. The ambition of the student, the warrior, or the statesman is stimulated by the accounts transmitted in this manner ; and the Patriotic of every age and nation have heard with pride the heroic deeds of their countrymen recounted, whether it be done by the faithful pen of the impar- tial historian, or recorded in the page of Historical Romance. It is with the desire of commemorating some of the most remarkable exploits of our gallant seaman that the following plain and unvarnished de- scription of the Naval Battles fought by^ them since the c^stablishment of the American Navy is offered to the public; b|E>lieving it will be useful to the whole American People and especially to the rising genera- tion, prompting them to emulate the Heroic daringi and that high minded self respect which has uniform- ly distingiushed the American Comman^. No opa can read these pages without being filled, with admi- ration at the ^t majority of victories l^ich hata «rowned the efforts df our Gallant ^tvy. Indeed RAVAL 9ATTI.I8. r.: during tlie cootintiance of the late war with Greit JB^tain there are but two intunces of the lots of an American Ship where the forces were nearly equal, m.-7the Cheiapeake and the Argus ; and we cer- tainly cannot consider the former as having been of equbl force with the Shannon, although the number of guns we/e so nearly equal, (the Shannon having in all 63 guns and the Chesapeake 48) on ai^ount of the di|ierence in the crews, the Shannon having been at tea l|pg enough to discipline hers-completely, while die crew of the Chesapeake were scarcely out of port. Nor is the meed of praise due to our gaUant Tars for bravery in action alone, for we have abun- dant evidenoe in the fdHowing pages of very superior •kill in Naval Tactics and Seamanship, at well as in battle. There is not probably on the pages of histo^ ry a more brilliant illustration of these qualities tlian in the escapie of the Constitution from the British Fleet in July, 1812. In eveiy naval engagemenl seamen idone can %^ how much depends upon skill and celerity in msiiaging the ship. Hie accounts ure carefully selected from the bett Authorities and uninteresting detail as much as possi* bte 'ilvoided. It has been attempted to preserve a coimiected tttoiative at fkr as the nature of the tmder^ taking would pcftmitj and to mttko the work some^ thilig itio^ iliKn a tme coHe^ion ^ dficial dodo- mtkta and lioact^ fr6tti1% books. The HtMi tSiiB of ^i^tliiin«'dOi»s fibt admit of io <«ompIet»^^^ MM6ri^iN>m«i«fidertW0ilMwi^,lttt it ^mbrae^'^ ili^ bmp^heniilit^'^eW of thiiifera^ df tttit p»/^. •\if : -I NAVAL BATTkM. i* If cry tlNUi any other pnMicatkni, aad tlw engravlngt tre done in n style of eleganee whiek doee hoaor tA 'tile artiitt who executed them. In die rerolutionary wir, WMcontest, irom (he want of finances, the depreciation ef .paper cnrrency, and, perhaps, still AMNre, from the allianee With France supplying a naval force, little was done to augment, or even to maintain, that of our own nation ; and, shortly after the close of the war, the few ships, that had constituted the navy, were eeld by order of Congress. • The depredations committed on our commerce in the Mediterranean, by the piratlcfld corsairs of the Barbery powerii induced Cdng^resftfin 1794, to undertake the formation of a nRVttl force for its protection. Four ships, of fort^MlbM' gmis each, and two of thirty-six> were ovdef^ to be built.-— The act authorizing the constMeiieBf «f these ships, pneaed lhefwiarr!r<4nviifrii iiAVOt Miv«oil^it4iich 81^ be oansidereii as the day< ihae gate ^xikfenee ti the navy o( the United States. h; ^ ^ / 2 '■ ■ -:■:■ t >» 5 .% ■* ■•-f*'\l 10 NATAL BATTLES. ! 1^ ? I The creation and establishment of a permanent and efficient naval force, for the protection of commerce and the defence of the seacoast in case of war, had* alwajs been advocated by Mr. John Adams; and during the term of his presidencj, from March, 1797^ to March, 1801, the object was pursued with great 7.eal and energy* To no individual is the nation! more indebted, than to Mr. Adams ; and posteritji will hail him as the fath£r of the amebican navt. . In 1798, there were in service twenty vessels ; in 1799, upwards of thirty. A law was passed, direct- ing the building of six seventy-four gun ships, which»^ however, was never carried into effect. In 1801|t the navy consisted of «the following ships : United States. • President Constitution . Philadelphia Chesapeake Constellation ,1. Congress New-York Boston Essex Adams John Adams General Greene ^All the other public vessels were ordered by Con* gress to be sold, and the building of those authoriMd U 44 36 36 36 36 32 32 82 32 32 I «• :.!M ff*.. 'm ^t^ -^ ■<»wf ■ . '^^ ir lb NAVAL BATTLES. 11 CAPTAIN THOMAS TRUXTON. Was one of the first six captains appointed by the President, at the organization of the naval establish- ment, in 1794. He was directed to superintend the building of the Constellation, of 36 guns, at Balti- more, and to take the command of her when ecpiipped The Commerce of the United States having suf- fered much* from the ravages of the French, both in national vessels and privateers, Captain Truxton was sent wirii a squadron to the West Indies for its pro- tection. Qn the ninth Of February, 1799, at noon, the is- land of Nevis bearing w. i^.. w. five leagues distant, the Constellation being then alone, a large* ship was discovered to the southward, which proved to be the French frigate Insurgente, of forty guns and four hundred and seventeen men. Commodore Truxton bore down upon her, and, at a quarter past three, ranging along side, poured a broadside into her, which Was immediately returned. After a warm action of an hour and ^ quarter, the Fretich ship struck: twenty-nine of her crew were killed, and forty-four wounded. The Constellation had only one man kill • ed, and two wounded'. On the first of Felvuary, TBOOf the Constellation boifig^ alon^ m the' rt^bf Basseterre, at half past stven A« H. Guadaloufie' bearing eastward, about five lOagues distant, a saU was discovered, which, oil i^ II NAVAL DATTLfiV. if ' proaching, commodore Traxton ascertained to W c heavy French frigate, of J%-foiir giini. He im- mediately prepared his ship for action. He con- «ittitd tfa«'Chftsii tiU one >th»n«xt day, whdii a fttesh mtA cMnaodore I'raxtett, k a few >nomenFis gahi<* ed a position on the weather of the French ship^ whidi enabled him effectaally toretarn her bfoad- side* After a dose and ^vere action of about iBmt hours, the fire .of the French ship was completely sUenced, and she sheered off, at the moment when Truxtoo coanidered her as his prke, *and had otdered the tattered sails of the Consteilatioa to/be trimmed* It wias then pensstved that the main-asast was totally unsnppoited f by ^ Ingging, « veiy ahnasd having t been ihot «way. All effuts to jupportthe mast wwte use^ less ; it went over' the side > in a fenf) mi^iiles^ eatryiiig all the top-oMn with it^* Before the ship couU '■ he deaored «f the shattered fragments, wiiich wtas ao" complished in aboilt an hour, tile Fiench ship hmd * Iambi Jaritip,. of N«ip-York,ainidife^piiuu^^«lpin«ii)dl«i (ht toain4op. tte was apprized of his danger bjr a aearoan, but hid e^htilli aiDapwliMi of tbtt^mjr ^mtmkuifihm btfrtpHelj; ** If ihf»i9Mi^oee, we muitgo wit^il." This fooa bi^pysow^ aiitf oiily bne of the tten was lavMl. ,f^ "^ ■•*»., NAVAL BATTLES. 13 effected her eflci^. Her disappearance was so stid» den, thtt, the peqile oii iKnrd the Conitelfaition sap- pesed she had sunk* She arrited at Ctnrracoa, ftve days alter the engngemeiit, so shattered, that tdl her orew were conthittailjr employed' at the pumps to keep her from sinking., She had one hundred acd inxty men ktfted and wounded. Her captain stated that he had twice struck his colours ; but, owin^ to the darkness, it was not perceived on board the Constel- lation. Bf^eving it was the determination of the American captain to sink him, he renewed the en- gagement from necessity. The ConsteUation had thirty-nine men killed ^md wounded. The French frigate was the Vengeance. CA^AIK LirrLE-FRlGATE BOSTON. The United States frigate Boston, commanded by oaptain Little, being on a cruise, to protect the American commerce in the West Indies, in latitude 22y 160, longftode 51, capteied, on tie 12th of Ottb- ber, 1800, after an action of an«hoor uaA ibrty 'teiii- vias^ tberFiench aational corvette Le Bercean. The Boston raouBted twenty-four 12, and eight 9 ponnh dersyfandhad twe hundred ant thirty men, of Whom six fwewe ksUed, Imd eight wounded. Le Bercea^ was commanded by eapttdn denes, had tw(liity-twi». 9, and two 12 pounders, on one deck, and two hun* «•'" <* i u NATAL BATTLKB. dred and thiity men. She lost all her masts, and was otherwise much disabled. She had been 'out from Cayenne twenty-fiye days, during which she . had plundered two American vessels and made prize of one. On a former crube she had captured. sevef> ral American vessels. A variety of circumstances conspired to render this capture of much importance. Le Berceau was considered one of the fastest sailing corvettes in the French navy ; she served as a look- out Vessel to the French fleet for eighteen months, had frequently been chased by British cruisers, but never overtaken; and had been veiry successful in capturing British, American, and Portuguese vessels ; and was bound on this cruise to intercept the Ameri- can Indiamen, and South American ships. Captain Senes had been post captain in the French navy for many years ; was ji midshipman in count D'Estsuiig^s fleet in the revolutionary war ; and was esteemed a brave and. intelligent officer. Le Berceau lost in the engagement her first lieutenant, master, boat- swain, master-gunner, and pilot, besides a number of seamen. Captain Senes, and a commissidnei, who was in Le Berceau, after being in the Boston fifteen days, were, at their request, permitted to go to Bar- badoes, on their parole. The Boston expended upwards of 27 cwt. of pow- der, upwards of 1500 round shot, besides double that number of chain, doAl^-headed, and grape, during the actiop. Captain Little arrived, with his priz^t at Boston, the 14th of November.' %. MAYAL BATTLES. CAPTAIN STEBRSTT. 16 . In the month of August, 1801, Captain Sterrett, qommaniler of the United States schooner Enter- prise, of twelve guns, and ninety men, fell in, off Malta, with a Tripolitan cruiser of fourteen guns and eighty-five men. A desperate conflict ensued, and had continued for nearly two hours, when the Tri- politan ^auled down her colours. The crew of the Enterprize left their guns, and gave three cheers for the victory. Upon this, the crmser poured a broadside into the Enterpize, hoisted her colours, and renew- ed, the action with redoubled vigour. Her crew, brandishing their sabres, continually attempted to bcMurii. They were again overcome by the skilful crew of the Enterprize, and struck a second time. Captain Sterrett then ordered the cruiser under his quarter, and kept his men at the guhs. B ut the Tripo- litan had no sooner come to the position she was order- ed, than she renewed the action the third time, by ' pouring a broadside into the Enterprize. The Tripo- Utans hoisted their bloody flag, and attempted to board. A he indignant cry of ^* Fight on, and sink the per- fidious villains to the bottom," was now heard from every part of the American schooner. Every effort was made by Capt^n Sterrett to ensure a complete victory. ' His ' superior skill in the management of ^his tessel enabled^him to rd^ the corsair, fore and aft; A. number of sh§t between wind and water, opened her sides for the sea to pour in. Fifty of her men were killed and wounded. Her treacherous 1^. JfkrAh BATVLB0. ^ commander, perceiv!ui|the deitraotion of his vessel and crew inevitable) implored for quarters. Bending in a supplicating posture over the Waste of Ills ves> sel, he threw h^ colours into th^ sea, t6 dofti^cie the American captain that he Would no more attempt t6 resist. Captain Sterrett, actuated hy the Sentiment of tme bravely, stopped the effusion of blood, thonj^ the treacherous conduct of the Tripblitans merited no mercy. His mstructions not permitting hittiMo maikd a prize of the cruiser, he ordered her crew to throw overboard all their guns, swards, pistols, ammunitioh, &c. and then to go and tell their cotintrymen the treat- ment they might expect .from a nation, detennided to pay tribute onily in powder and ball. # The Enterprise, in this engagement of three hoiffs, did^t losfe a man. Captain Sterrett, after pajriiig every attention to (he wounded Tripolitans, ordered the cruiser- to be dismantled. Her masts were cut lown. A spar was raised, to which was hung a tat- tered siiil, as a ^ag. In this condition she was sent to Tripoli. CHi her arrival there; ^e iiiciflgiiation^ excited by her defeat, was so great, that the bashaw ordered di^ wounded captain to be mounted on a jack-ass, and paraded through the streets as an ob- ject of public scorn ; and then -to receive five hun- dred bastinadoes. ' The T#|lp6Iitans were so. terrified at this event, that the sailors abandoned the cnl^rs then iitting 9ut. Not# man coiii^ be proi^d tb navigate them.* **' • • Hittory of tfie war betwMn the XJtAeA Siates and Tripeli p. 91. ; : ' ^ ' , . , '■*■ f NAVAL BATTLEB. 17 .'^'^' T.''i \i^-j/-- i-fi.'i-- . fiiiv'*,^?'-.**' SCHOONER EXPBRIMENT.-LIEUT. STEWARt. In July, 1 800, lieutenant Charles Stewart was ap- . pointed to the command of the Experiment, of twelve guns, and ordered to cruise in the West Indies. He arrivedon that station the first of September, and the same night fell ui with the French schooner Deux , Amis, of eight guns, which he engaged and captur- ed, without any loss, after an action of ten minutes. I ! Soon after, while cruisipg near the island of Bar- buda, he discovered a brig of war, and a three-masted schooner, standing for the Experiment, und^riii press' of sail, and displa^^g English colours. The %|>er- iment was hove to, and the British signal of the dajf was made, which not being answered by the stiai||6^ vessels by the time they were within gun^-shot^i signal was hauled down, and the Experimentri away with''all sail set. A chase was now commtl by the enemy, and continped for about ;ti^^hcmrs ; when finding they were outsaifed by the Experiment, they relinquished the pursuit, and boreanvay under easy sail, firing a gup to windward, and hoisting French colmirs. Ldeutetttt Stewart now manoeuvred his schooner so as to bring her in the enemy's wake to wiiMward, whin a chas##as made on his pan, * which continued the whole day before the wind, each vessel crowding all her canvass. At eight o'clock ./m^:.: ^ ■■■« - ■ 18 NAVAL BATTLES. \ ■^ at night, the Experiment closed with the three-mast ed schooner, which was th^ stemmost of the hostile veiipU; and having taken a position on her lai*- beard-quarter, opened a fire upon her from the great guns and. small arms, which in about five minutes, compelled her to strike. She was immediately ta- ken possession of, and proved to be the French schooner of war Diana, of fourteen guns and sixty- ive men, commanded by M. Peraudeau, lieutenant de/^a^seau. The detention occasioned by removing the prisoners, enabled the brig of war to escape. She mount04i,^ was afterwards learned, eighteen guns, and had a crew of one hundred and twenty men. The Experiment proceeded to St. Christo- pher's i^ith her prize. C c? C^the 14th of 'December^ she fell in with the privateer Flambeau, of sixteen guns and ninety meii,« %lih^ a prize brig, steering for, Marigalante. The 'eeie being light and the enemy to windward, it 'i|pii» late in the afternoon before there was any pros- p^i(iti|of dosing with him. Notwithstanding all the exertions of. the Experiment, the. Flambeau escaped in shor^ ; but her prize was retaken. This vessel proved to be the Zebra of and from Baltimore, laden wi^ flour. During the remainder of this cruise, the Experiment recapturec^gifveral American vessels sometimes as many as two or three in a day, and thus rescued Americangproperty to a consi^isnible amount. AVAL lATTUCS. 19 OPERATIONS IN THE MEDITERRAltE^, 'A»' every incident and anecdote coAnected'^ith the Tripolitan war has become extremely intereMJr ing to the publick, we trust that the following cir- cumstantial, though very imperfect, narrative of thA operations of the squadron under .Commod6|UB Prebli^, will be read with satisfaction. j The Tripolitan cruisers continuing to harass (be vessels of the United States, Congresf determined, in 1803, to act with greater vig<^ jgfonst them, and to fit out a fleet that should no#^y repel their unprovoked aggression, but also chastise their in- solence. The squadron consisted of the Constitu- tion, 44 guns; the Philadelphia, 44; the J^mUf 18; the Syren, 16; the Nautilus, 16; the Vixen, 16; and the £nterprize, H* Commodore Preble was ap^inted to the command of tiiis squadrfm* in May, 1803i^^ ^^ . On the tlurteenth of August, commodore Preble sailed in the Constitution for the Mediterranean. On his passage he brought to % Moorish frigate, which he suspected had been authorized to ag^st American vessels; but her papers not porting such a suspicion, he dismissed her. W he arrived at {Gibraltar, he found that our afiiiirs wii Morocfio had sasomed a vei|| disagreeable anpeet Captun William Bainbridge, commanding the fri- gate Philadelphia, had sailed in July ; and, on the ■*^' V I t twenty-sixth of August, had captured the Moorish ship Mirboha, of twenty-two guns, and one hundred adii|teti men. An order to cruise for American ves- sels was diseorered among her papers. There was *M signature to this order. The eaptaipi said it was delifered to him sealed, hy the Moorish governoui of Tangiers, who ordered him not to open it until at sea. By the authority of this order he had captured _ 1^ American brig CeUa, then in company. In May, ciptain Rodgers had detained a vessel, under Moor- ish colours, attempting to enter Tripoli, then actually blockaded by him. On board of her were font guns* and other contraband articles^ The. emperour denied having authorized the latter ; and 4he gpvernour of Tangiers disavowed havuig giv^n any orders to cruise * for^mericans to the fonener* Commodore Preble* the day after his arrival, wroite to the Aiperic^n con- aril at Tangiers, that peace with the emperour of Moi|)cco was desiraUe ; that su9ce he disavowed the acts of hostility, committed by his spbjectjs, he should pmi^ as pirate| aU IfooM^ crm^ to ca^fiture AmbricaiiiTe«9elfw* CSommodore RodgerSv who, with iJj^KewYQj^ John Adams, frig»$?8, wai unite prdws t^^ . to the United StAtes, iK)]w«9tf4 tO rieipaiii^ ji fi^w /ft on the station, and to fmf^ wltii jpojumodpre rebb to Tangier liy» ,U^ ei^t jMl ^^Mii| gf existing differiiniop^ '^ Oa the seventeenthof Afl«p»t,,«iiiwif>daw Jt^blQ ■ppMred in Tmim ii!«f^ ^ Nifil^^««^ • Port Folio, vol. iii. p. 961. \- HATA-L BATTLE!. 21 ill token of peace. The Americui ceasul wai mat permitted to go en board. Two lemiDelB wen placed at Us door. About thiB time mnotlier act of hostility was com- ■littedl at Mogadofe. It was an order gives to Koir Qii>ti& Morrif. my — >* h .-*' / NATAL BATTLEI. «T which was immediately done, and so effectually, that with difficulty was the Intrepid preserred. A ftivour- able breeze at this moment sprung up, which soon carried them out of the harbour. None of the Amer- icans were killed, and only four wounded. For this heroick achievement lieutenant Decatur was promot- ed to the rank of post captain. His commission was dated on the day he destroyed the Philadelphia. »' After the ' destruction of the Philadelphia firigate, commodore Preble was, during the spring and early part of the summer, employed in keeping up th^ blockade of the harbour of Tripoli, in preparing for an attack upon the town, and in cruising. A prize that had been taken was put in commissiop, sind o^l* ed the Scourge. A loan of six gun-bpats and two bomb-vessels, completely fitted for service, wa^ ^\h tained from the king of Naples. Permission w^ also given to take twelve or fifteen Ne^polit^ g^ board each boat, tq sem under the American flag. With this addition tjMis force, the commodore, opi the 21st of July, joined the vessels off Tripoli I^is squadron then consisted of the Frigate Constitution, 44 guns, 24 pounders. . ■m Brig Argus, 18 24 Syren, 18 jJ4s Scourge, Schooner Vixen, 16 6 Nautilus, 16 6 Enterprize, 12 6 Besides six gun-boats, carrying each a iwentj-rix brass pounder, aud two bomb-ketches, carrying leacli '4 r 28 NAYAL BATTLES. n \ a thirteen' inch mortar. The number of men engag- ed in the service amounted to one thousand and sixty.'' "' On the Tripolitan castle and batteries, one hundred and fifteen guns were mounted : fifty-five of which were pieces of heavy ordnance ; the others long eighteen and twelve pounders. In the harbour were nineteen gun-boats, carrying each a long brass eigh- * teen or twenty-four pouLuer in the bow, and two howitzers abaft: also two schooners of eight guns ' each, a brig of ten^ and two galleys, of four guns each. In addition to the ordinary Turkish garrison, and the crews of the armed vessels„estimated at three thousand, upwards of twenty thousand Arabs had been a,ssembled for the defence of the city. The weather prevented the squadron from ap- proaching the city until the 28th, when it anchored within two miles and a half of the fortifications ; but the wind suddenly shifting, and increasing to a gale, the commodore was compelled to return. On the 3d of August, he again approached to within twa or three miles of the batteries. Havana observed that sev- eral, of the enemy's boats were stationed without the reef of rocks, covering the entrance of the harbour, he resolved to take advantage of this circumstance. He made signal for the squadron to come within speaking distance, to communicate to the several commanders his intention of attacking the shipping and batteries. The gun-boats and bomb-ketches were immediately manned, and prepared for ac- tion. The former were arranged in two divisions of three each. The first divison was under the com- i * < KAVAI. BATTL£8. • - ~j. i • ■ - mand of captain Somers, on board the boat No. 1 ; lieutenant James Decatur commanded the boat No. 2 ; and lieutenant Blake, No. 3. The second divi- sion was commanded by captain DeCatur, in No. 4 ; lieutenant Bainbridge commanded No. 5 ; and lieu- tenant Trippe No. 6. The two bomb-ketches were commanded, the one by lieutenant commandant Dent ; the other by Mr. Robinson, first lieutenant of the commodore's ship. At half past one, the squadron stood in for the batteries. At. two, the gun-boats were cast off. At half past two, signal was made for the bomb-ketches and gun-boats to advance and attack. At three quarters past two, the signal was given for a general action. It com- menced by the bomb-ketches throwing shells into the town. A tremendous fire immediately commenced from the enemies batteries and vessels, of at least two hundred guns. It was immediately returned b}' the American squadron, now within musket-shot oi' the principal batteries.' 4 At this moment, captain Decatur, with the thfee gun-boats under his command, attacked the enemy's eastern division, consisting of nine gun-boats. He was soon in the midst of them. The fire oC the cannon and musketry was immediately changed to a desperate attack with bayonet, spear, sabre, &c. Captain Decatur having grappled a Tripolitan boat, and boarded her with only fifteen Americans ; in ten minutes her decks were cleared, and she was cap- tured. Three Americans were wounded. At this moment captain Decatur was informed thai the gyn- 30 NAVAL BATTLES. ^^ M. boat commanded by his broker, had engaged and captured a boat belonging to the enemy ; but that his brother, as he was 8t;ppping on board, was treacherously shot by the Tripolitan commander, who made off with his boat. Captain Decatur im- mediately pursued the murderer, who was retreat- ing within the lines ; having succeeded in coming along side, he boarded with only eleven men. A doubtful contest of twenty minutes ensued. Deca- tur immediately attacked the Tripolitan commander, who was armed with a spear and cutlass. In parry- ing the Turk's spear, Decatur broke his sword close to the hilt, and received a slight wound in the right arm and breast ; but having seized the spear he closed ; and, after a violent struggle, both fell^, De- catur uppermost. The Turk then drew a dagger from his belt ; but Decatur caught hold of his arm, drew a pistol from his pocket, and shot him. While they were struggling, the crew of both vessels rushed to the assistance of their commanders. And so desperate had the contest around them been, that it was with difficulty Decatur could extricate himself firpm the l^illed and wounded that had fallen around Mlioi^*^^ In this affair an American manifested the most lieroick courage and attachment to his commander. Decatur, in the struggle, was attacked in the rear by a Tripolitan ; who had aimed a blow at his head, which must have proved fatal, had not this generous*' minded tar, then dangerously wounded and deprived of the use of both his hands, rushed between him and the sabre, the stroke of which he received in his head • r nJUVAL lATTLKS. :#"' whereby his scull was fractured. This hero, howeT* ersurrived, and now receives a pension from his gratefal country. All the Americans but four were wounded. Captain Decatur brought both his prizes safe to the American squadron. .Lieutenant Trippe boarded one of the enemy's large boats, with only a midshipman, Mr. Jonathan Henly, and nine men ; his boat falling off before any more could join him. He was thus left either to per- ish, or to conquer thirty-six men, with only eleven, Though at first, the victory seemed doubtful, yet, in a few minutes, the Tripolitans were subdued ; fonr- teen of them were killed, and twenty-two taken pris- oners. Seven of these last were severely wounded. Lieutenant Trippe received eleven sabre wounds, some of them dangerous. The blade of his swovd bending, he closed with his antagonist. Both ML In the struggle, Trippe wrested the Turk^s swoid from him, and, with it, stabbed him to the heart. Lieutenant Bainbridge had his lateen yards shot •way. This rendered all his exertions to get aiong iide the enemy's boats of no effect. But his hikk and well directed fire, within nrasket shot^^ did great execution. At one time his boat grounded within pistol shot of one of the enemy's batteries. He was there exposed to the fire of misketry ; bat, by his address and courage, he extricated himicif from/ his dangerous Mtuatlon. Captain Somers was not able to get lair «aotigh to wiadwafd, to co-operate with Deoativ. He^how- efer^ bore down upon the leewafd>dif ^ NAVAL BATTLB8. ,r ■\ emy. With his single boat, he attacked five full manned Tripolitan boats, within pistol shot. He de- feated, and drove them in a shattered condition, and^ with the loss of many lives, to take refuge under the rocks. The two bomb vessels kept their station, and threw a great many shells into the town. Five of the ene-^t my's gun-boats, and two galleys, composing their centre division, stationed within the rocks, being re*i^ inforced, and all joined by the gun-boats that had been driven in, twice attempted to row out and surround the gun-boats and prizes of the Americans. They were, however, prevented by the vigilance of the com-rl modore, who made signal for the brigs and schooners i^v,^ to cover them. This was properly executed by% these vessels. Their conduct was excellent during the whole of the engagement, and they annoyed the enemy exceedingly. The fire from the Constitution^ did considerable execution, and kept the enemy's flotilla in constant disorder. She was several times within two cables' length of the rocks, and three of the batteries. As soon as her broadside was brought^ to bear on any of the batteries, it was immediately^? silenced. But having no large vessels to secure^ $ these advantages, the fire was recommenced as soon y^ as she changed her position. ^^ ^^^ At half past four, the wind having inclined to the northward, and the enemy's flotilla having retreated ^^ to a station which covered them from the fire of the Americans, signal was made for tlie gun-boats and bombs to, retire from the action. This was efiectr ■^}i NAVAL BATTLES. 53 ed, and in fifteen minutes the squadron was out of the reach of the enemy's shot. ^ae squadron was more than two hours within grape shot distance of the enemy's batteries, which kept up a constant fire. The damage sustained by the Americans was by no means proportionate to the apparent danger. The frigate Constitution was struck in her mainmast by a thirty-two pound ball, her sails and rigging were considerably cut, and one of her quarter-deck guns was injured by a round shot ; not a man, however, was killed on board of her. The other vessels suf- fered in their rigging, and had several men wound- ed ; but none were killed, excepting lieutenant De- ^ catur. On the part of the enemy the effect of this engagement was very different. The boats cap- tured by the Americans had one hundred and three men on board, forty-seven of whom were killed and twenty-six wounded. Three other boats were sunk with all the men on board of them. Numbers were also swept from the decks of the other vessels in the harbour. On shore, several Tripolitans were kill- ed and wounded ; a number of guns in the batteries were dismounted and the town was considerably in- jured. When the squadron was standing in for the attack, the bashaw affected to despise them. After having surveyed them from his palace, he said, " they will . mark their distance for tacking ; they are a sdrt of Jews,Vho have no notion of fighting." The palace and terraces of the houises were crowded with spec- tators to behold the chastisement the bashaw's bdati -•^^« \l li IfATAL IIATTLE8. would give the American veisels if tliey approach- ed too near. Momentarj, however, was this exul- tation. Scarcely had the battle commenced, when no one was to be seen, except at the batteries. Many of the inhabitants jBed to the country : and the bashaw retreated to his bomb-proof room. " On the 6th of August the commodore prevailed on a French privateer, that had left Tripoli in the morning, to return with eleven wounded TripoKtans, whose wounds had been carefully dressed. The commodore also sent a letter to the bashaw's minister. The prisoners informed the prince, that the Americans in battle where 6circer than lions, but in the treatment of their prisoners, they were even ^* S moie kind than the mussulmen. The bashaw at first misunderstood the motive of sending these men but when informed that it was done through motives of humanity* he, professed to be pleased, and said that if he took any wounded Americans, he should in like manner, restore them : but he would not release iiuy of the crew of the Philadelphia. r^ On the 7th the privateer returned with a ktter from the French consul, signifying, that the bilshaw woiild prpbably treat on more reasonable terms. No- thing, however, definitive or satisfactory was pro- pioved. The terms intimated were considerably hi^h^^ «r than the cemmodore felt willing, or though^ himself authorized to accept. He therefore prepared for a^. aecovid attack; The bomb-ketches, cooraiandlBd by lieutemnvi Crane and Thoni, were to take a station in « smatt k^ west of the tow», wherei without be^ NATAL BATTl ''.t. ing much exposed, they might thfow their ubells vitll great effect. The gun-boats were to attack a /e« gun battery. The brigs and schooners were to su''< port them, in case the enemy's flotilla should ren- ture out. At half-past two, the action commenced. In the course of two hours, six of the seven guns in the battery were silenced. During the action, forty eight shells and about five hundred round shot were thrown into the town and batteries. The Tripolitan galleys manoeuvred to gain a position that might en- able them to cut off the retreat of the American gun- boats; but the large vessels defeated their design. One of the American prise boats, taken in the first attack, was blown up by a red-hot shot from the bat« tery passing through her magazine.* She had on board twenty-eight men, ten of whom were killed) and six wounded: among the former were James Caldwell, first lieutenant of the Siren^and J. Dorset, midshipman. Mr. Spence, midshipman, and eleven men, were taken up unhurt. When the explosion took place, this young officer was superintending the loading of a>gun; having discharged the [neee, he with the survivors jumped ffito the sea. They were soon taken Up by another boat. At eight m the evening of the same day, the John Adams, Captain Chauncy, joined the Squadron. By him the Commodore was infomied, that four frigata9 were on their passage ; also, that by the ai ment of a senior offieer to one of the frigatea, he would be superseded in his command. The gorcni' ment was highly satisfied with the conduct p( the \ i ..d^Va W' NAVAL BATTLES. commodore ; but had not a sufficient number of cap* tains juniors to the commodore to supply all the fri* gates with commanders ; nor had information of his brilliant success as yet reached America. The John Adams having been sent out as a tran§> port, no assistance could, for the present, be received from her. All her guns were stowed by the kelson, and their carriages put away on board of the other frigates. As these last were all to sail four days after the John Adams, further operations were sus- pended in expectation of their arrival. «* On the 9th, the commodore reconnoitred the harbor, in the brig Argus. Next day a flag of truce was seen flying on the shore. . The commodore sent a boat, but which, hoVever, was not permitted to land her men. They returned with a letter from the French Consul. By it the commodore was informed that the bashaw wfuld accept five hundred dollars for the ransom of each prisoner, and put an end to the war without any annuity for peace. The sum de- manded amounted to about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Thi^the commodore rejected; but for the sake of the cl^tives, and to prevent fur- ther effusion of blood, he offered eighty thousand dollars as ransom, and ten thousand dollars as pre- sents. The bashaw, however, suspended the nego- tiations, and said he would wait the result of another ittack. i\ On the night of the 2dd, the bomb-ketches were sent under the protection of the gun-boats, to bom- bafd the town. The bombardment commenced at NAVAL BATTLES. a? two A. M. and continued till day-break ; but without much effect. The weather being favorable on the 27th the com- modore stood in for Tripoli, and anchored the Con- stitution two miles n. by e. from fort English. The light vessels kept under way. As a number of offi- cers and seamen of the Constitution were employed in the boat, captain Chauncy, several of his officers, and about seventy seamen, volunteered their servi- ces on board her. The gun-boats, accompanied by the Siren, Argus, Vixen, Nautilus, Enterprize, and the boats of the squadron, anchored at three in the morning within pistol shot of the enemy's lines. With springs on their cables, they commenced a brisk fire on the ship- ping, town, batteries, and castle. It was warmly re- turned from the enemy's batteries. The boats of the squadron remained with the gun-boats to assist in boarding the flotilla in case it should come out. The brigs and schooners kept under way, to harass the ene- my, and to support the gun-boats. At daylight, the commodore, apprehensive that the ammunition of the gun-boats might be nearly expended, weighed an- chor, and stood in under the direct fire of fort Eng- lish, and of the castle, crown and mole batteries. He made signal for the gun-boats to retire from ac- tion. Having arrived at a good distance for firing at thirteen Tripolitan gun-boats, and galleys, en- gaged with the American boats, he discharged a broadside of round and grape shot at them. One of them was sunk ; two were disabled ; and the remain- SB NAVAL BATTLES. der put to flight. The commodore then continued running in until within musket shot of the batteries He hove to, fired three hundred round shot, besides grape and canister, into the bashaw's castle, town «nd batteries. The castle and two of the batteries were silenced. A little after six he hauled off. The gun*boat8 fired four hundred round shot, besides grape and cannister, apparently with much effect. The result of this attack was serious on shore. A thirty-six pound ball penetrated the castle, and en- tered the apartment of the prisoners. Considerable damage was done to the houses. Several lives were lost. A boat from the John Adams, with a master's nate and eight men on board, was sank by a double headed shot, which killed three seamen and badly wounded another. The French consul, immediately after the attack, fenowed the negotiations for peace. They were, however, broken off, in consequence, he thought, of one o( the vessels of the squadron approaching the harboui:. as a cartel. This the bashaw interpreted as • proof of discouragement on the part of the Ameri- cans. « On the Sd of September, the bomb^ketclies being repaired, and also the damages sustainMl by Ihe other ▼esseU in the action of the 27th of August, the com- nodore resolved on another attack. The action commenced between three and four o'clock, and soon beome general. As the American gnn^boats bore down,: the boats and galleys gave away, and retreat- ad i:iiiider cover of theauiyketry, on Bhore. The NATAL BATTLES. 39 brigs, schooners and gun-boats, pursued as far as the depth of the water would permit, and within mus- ket shot of fort English. The action in this quarter was divided. The brigs and schooners, with one di- vision of the gun-boats engaged the fort. The oth- er division continued engaged with the Tripolitan boats and galleys. The two bomb-ketches, while throwing their shells into the town were exposed to a direct fire from the bashaw's castle, from the crown, mole, and sev- eral other batteries. The commodore, perceiving their danger, ran his ship between them and the bat- teries, within musket shot. Seventy guns were brought to bear on him from the batteries. But he discharged eleven broadsides with so much effect, that he silenced the principal batteries, and ii^ured the others, and also the town considerably. The wind veering to the northward, and it beginning to blow fresh, the commodore, at half past four p. m. gave signal to retire from the action under cover of the 'Constitution. Though the frigates and vessels were much damaged in this engagement, not a man was lost. The bomb-vessel, commanded by lieutenant Rob- inson, had all her shrouds shot away, and was so much damaged in her hull, as to be with difficulty kept above water. The Argus received a thirty- two pound ball in her hull. It cut away a lower cable as it entered, which so completely destroyed its force, that it fell upon the deck without doing any injury. V 40 NAVAL BATTLES. I Commodore Preble had for some time contempla- ted sending a fire-ship into the harbor, in order to destroy the flotilla, and injure the town. Captain Somers volunteered his services. He, with the as- sistance of lieutenants Wadsworth and Israel, fitting out the ketch Intrepid for the expedition. One hundred barrels of gunpowder and one hundred and fifty shells were placed in the hold. Fusees and combustibles were so applied as not to endanger a retreat. On the evening of the 4th of September, captain Somers chose two fast-rowing boats, in order to bring off the people after the vessel should be set on &re. His own boat was manned by four men from the Nautilus and six from the Constitution, with lieutenant Wadsworth. At eight they parted from the squadron, and stood into the harbour. They were convoyed by the Argus, Vixen, and Nautilus, until arrived within a short distance from the batte- ries. On entering the inner harbour, and near the point of her destination, the fire ship was boarded and carried by two galleys of one hundred men each. At this moment she exploded with the most awful effect. Every battery was silenced. Not a gun was fired during the remainder of the night. There is every reason to suppose that captain Somers, on perceiving no means of escape left, and that he shoi^ld inevitably be doomed to an ignominious captivity, heroically resolved - to die, and with his own hands set fire to the train, when himself, his companions, and the enemy, met a common death. NAVAL BAi'TLbS. m- After this, nothing material occurred until Sep- tember 9th, when the long expected squadron, under commodore Barron, joined the one before Tripoli. Here ended the command of commodore Preble, so honourable to himself and his country. All joined in praising his distinguished merit. The Pope made a publick declaration, that, ** the United States, though in their infancy, had, in this affair, ddne more to humble the antichristian barbarians on that coast, than all the European States had done for a long series of time." Sir Alexander Ball, a distinguished commander in the British navy, addressed commo- dore Preble as follows : — " T beg to repeat my con- gratulations on the services you have rendered your country, and the hair-breadth escapes you have had in setting a distinguished example. Your bravery and enterprise are worthy a great and rising nation. If I were to offer my opinion, it should be, that you have done well not to purchase a peace with the enemy. A few brave men have indeed been sacri* ficed ; but they could not have fallen in a better cause ; and I even conceive it advisable to risk more lives rather than submit to terms which might encour- age the Barbaty states to add fresh demands and insults." After the junction of the two squadrons, commo- dore Preble obtained leave to return home. This he did with the greater pleasure, as it would give the command of a frigate to captain Decatur. On hit r«^turn to the United States, he was received and treated every where with that distinguished atten- 6 42 IfAYAL BATTLES. tioDi which he had so fully merited. Congress vot- ed him their thanks, and requested the President to present him with an emblematical medal.* u ■.'4 i * RENCOUNTER OF THE PRESIDENT AND LITTLB BELT. Pursuant to instructions from the navy depart- ment, on the 10th of May, I'^ll, commodore Rod- gers, commanding the frigate President, sailed from Annapolis for New York. On the 16th, about noon and within six leagues from land, a sail was discover- ed to the eastward, standing towards the President. The commodore perceived it to be a man of war ; and supposed it to be the British frigate Guerriere, which frigate, it was also supposed, had, a few days before, impressed a boy from on board an American brig, near Sandy Hook. Commodore Rodgers, considering it his duty to know the names and character df all foreign vessels hovering on the coast resolved to speak to her. He also hoped, that, if she proved to be the Guerriere, he might prevail on her commander to relinquish the young man. At half past three, the commodore perceived his ship lo be guning upon the chase, but the wind decreasing, he did not come up with her till it was too dark to discover her actual force ; nor could he discover to • Clark's NsvaI History, vol. i. p. 148— 16S: NAVAL BATTLES. what nation she belonged, as she declined showing her colours. At fifteen or twenty minutes past sev- en, the chase took in her studding sails, and soon after hauled up her courses. She then hauled by the wind on the starboard tack ; and at the same time, hoisted an ensign or flag at her mizzen peak. It was however, too dark to discover what nation it repre- sented. Her broadside was now for the first time presented to view. Though her appearance indicat- ed a frigate, darkness prevented her actual force be- ing ascertained. .^ At twenty minutes past eight, the President being a little forward of the weather beam of the chase, and distant between seventy and a hundred yards from her, the commodore hailed, ** What ship is that?" To this no answer was given ; but the question was repeated from on board the chase. After a short pause, the question was repeated by the commodore and immediately a shot was fired into the President. Just as the commodore was about giving orders for a shot to be fired in return, one was actually fired from the second division of the Present. This was returned from the other vessel, by three guiu in quick succession, 'and, soon after, by the remainder of his broadside and musketry. The commodore then gave a general order to 'fire. Theifire from' the President having, in a few minutes, produced a partial jileiice «f the gans of the other vessel, the cummodore gave ordeni to cease* firing, judging that she mast beadbipef f«fy ' infetiour farce, or that some uatorivard aechleBt -fad happeiiadf toiler. ^&as ooder cmamodnre Rodg- m Sr NAVAL BATTLES. VT3 soon had reason to regret. The fire was renewed from the other vessel, and two of its thirty-two pound shot cut off one of the fore shrouds and injured the fore-mast of the President. He therefore, immedi- ately ordered a recommencement of the fire. It con- tinued for a few minutes, when the commodore, per- ceiving his opponent's gaff and colours down, his main-top-sail yard upon 'he cap, and his fire silenc- ed, again ordered the tiling to cease, to prevent a fur- ther effusion of blood. After a short pause, perceiv- ing his adversary was not disposed to renew the ac- tion, the commodore again hailed, and was informed that she was a British ship ; but, from the wind blowing fresh, he was unable to learn her name. Commodore Rodgers, having informed the British commander of the name of bis ship, gave orders to wear ; to run under the lee of the British ship ; to haul by the wind on the starboard tack ; to heaVe to under top-sails ; and repair the little damage that had been sustained in the rigging. The President continued lying to all night on dif- ferent tacks, with lights displayed, that the British vessel might better discern her position, and com- mand any assistance that she might require during the night. At day light she was discovered several miles to leeward. The commodore gave orders to bear up and run down to her under easy sail. After hailing her, he sent a boat on board, with lieutenant Creighton, to learn the name of the ship and heir commander, with instrtictions to ascertain the damage fifhe^had sustained, and to state how much he regret- NAVAL BATTLES. 45 t ted, on his part, the necessity that led to so unhappy a result, and to offer every assistance in his power, in repairing the damages. Lieutenant Creighton, returned with information that the vessel was his firitannick majesty's ship Little Belt, captain Bing- ham, of eighteen guns ; and that the captain declin- ed accepting any assistance. The Little Belt had nine men killed and twenty-two wounded. No one was killed on board the President, and only a boy wounded. Captain Bingham's account differs materially from the preceding statement. He denies having fired the first gun; asserts that the action lasted three quarters of an hour ; and even intimates that he had gained the advantage in the contest. Commodore Rodgers's account, from which the one -here givea is taken, was confirmed by all his officers and crew, on tlieir solemn oath, before a court of inquiry. The court also confirmed all the particulars .of his state- ment, after a long and minute investigation.* H THE PRESIDENT AND BELVmERE. A FORMAL declaration of war against Great Bri- tain was passed by Congress on the 18th of June, 1812, which was proclaimed by the President of the United States on the following day. On the • Glwk's Naval Hiatory, fol. L p. 168. 46 NAVAL BATTLES. 1^1 St, Commodore Rodgers, having received official information of the event, set sail from New York, accompanied by the frigates United States and Con- gress, and the brigs Hornet and Argus, in search of a British fleet of merchantmen, which had sailed from Jamaica the preceding month. The following night information was received of the convoy from an American brig, which had passed them four days before, and the squadron crowded all sail in pursuit. The next morning, however, their course was al- tered by the appearance of the British frigate Bel- videre, to which the commodore immediately gave chase. The pursuit continued from six in the morn- ing, till past four in the afternoon, when the Presi- dent, having got within gun-shot, commenced a fire with the bow chase guns at the spars and rigging of the Belvidere, in hopes of crippling her so as to ena- ble them to get along side. The Belvidere returned the fire of the President with her stern guns, and the firing was kept up without intermission for about tei. minutes, when one of the President's chase guni» burst, by which unfortunate accident sixteen men were killed and wounded ; among the wounded was commodore Rodgers, who had his leg fractured. By the bursting of the gun, and tbe explosion of the passing box, from which it was served with powder, both the main and forecastle decks w^ris ao much ihattered as to prevent the use of a chas^^un on jl^t side for some time. Orders were thjeretfore givQtt ho veer the ship, and a broadside liras fired In 'tjbe hope of diflabling the i|mu» of the eneviy ; but this NAVAL BATTLES. 47 did not succeed. Considerable damage, liowever, was done to the rigging and the stern. The utmost exertion was now used on board the President, by wettir^ the sails, &c. to gain ground of her oppo- nent ; but without success. A constant firing was kept up from both ships, until about seven o'clock ; when the Belvidere, having cut awaj her anchorsi started a number of water casks, and thrown over- board her boats and every thing that could be spar- ed, got out of the reach of the President's shot. The chase was continued till about midnight, when it was given up as hopeless. One 'of the first shots fired by the President killed one man and wounded six on board the Belvidere ; and the captain was se- verely wounded in the thigh by the breaking of the breaching of a carronade. On board the President there were three killed and nineteen wounded, the greater part by the bursting of the gun as above related. ,->«lJi*l,', U» i«it> ittinitf ■r""0 ■M ESCAPE OF THE CONSTITUTION. Tbe frigate Constitution, conunanded by eaptpai Isaac HuU,,lbad t^ceived orders to join the squadras (under comiuodove Bodgers,) andy Ibr tlmt purpose* sailed from Annapci^ on the 6th of July. Ob the 19th, off £gg HaiiKiur, four Bhips» apparently nm* of waf, wefe cUscovered finom the mast-^head to ti» n^f^ ' 46 NAVAL BATTLES. northward, and in shore of the Constitution ; and, in the belief that it was the American squadron, wait- ing her arrival, all sail was made in chase of them. At four in the afternoon, another ship was seen to the northeast, standing for the Cons.titutipn, with all sail set. At ten in the evening, being then within six or eight miles of the strange sail, the private signal was made by the Constitution; which not being answered, it was concluded that she, and the shipil in shore, were enemy's vessels. Captain Hull immediately laid' his vessel in the same course with the others, having determined to lie off till daylight to see what they were. ' ^ext morning, two frigates were seen from the Constitution, under her lee, one frigate four or five miles, and a line of battle ship, a frigate, a bHg and a schooner, ten or twelve miles directly astern, all in chase, and c^omiug up 'fast, they having a fine breeze, and it being nearly calm where the Constitu- tion was. Finding there was but little chance for escape, i)eing then within five m^es of three heavy frigates, the Constitution was cl^^ed for action, and two guns were run out at the calkin windows and two at the po?ts on the quarterdecks At eight o'clock, four of the ships welre niearly withijn gun- shot, some of them having six or eight boat! ahead, towing with all their oars and sweepp out. In tlus perilous situation a new ex|tedient was\y adopted, which was the means of sai^ the vessel. Bein^ in only twentyi-four fathmi^ water, boats were sent out ahead with anchors, and the »^ NAVAL BATTLES. 40 •9 A ■ O fit m H I e .1 ► H CO n S, i ^i' 60 NAVAL BATTLES. war|>ed up to them, by which they soon began to get ahead of the enen^y. They, however, adopted the saope plan, and all the boats from the most dis- tant ships were sent to assist those which were near- est. For two days and nights the Constitution was thus chased by the British squadron, sometimes with light winds, at others, warping and towing in a calm, seldom much beyond gun-shot distance. On the morning of the 20th, only three of the squadron^ could be seen from the mast-head, the nearest about twelve miles distant, directly astern. A light breeze now springing up, the enemy was soon left far be^ hind, and the Constitution, not being able to find the Americaii squadron, arrived safe at Boston. During the whole of the chase the gallant crew of the Constitution remained at their stations. It is re- lated on good authority, that the officers of the British ships expressed their admiration of the skill with which Captain Hull manoeuvred his ship and effected hb escape. But however brilliantly the nautical knowledge and professional adroitness of captain HuA were dis- played on that ogcasion, his generous disinterested- ness afterwards, is worthy of universal applause and imitation. The pubtick notice taken of the affair, and the praises bestowed on the commander, induced him, on his arrival at Boston, to insert the following card on the books of the Exchange Coffee Hense. tt Captain Hull, finding that his friends inBoston are correctly informed of his situation, when chafed by the British squadron off New York, and that thej KAVAL BATTLK8. M are good enough to give him more credit for haring escaped it than he ought to claim, Cakes this oppor- tunity of requesting them to transfer their good wishes to lieutenant Morris and the other brave officers, and the crew under his command* for their very great exertions and prompt attention to his or- ders while the enemy were in chase. Captain Hull has great pleasure in saying, that notwithstanding the length of the chase, and the officers and crew be- ing deprived of sleep, and allowed but little refresh- ment during the time, not a murmur was heard to escape them." CAPTURE OF THE GUERRIERE. On the second day of August, the Constitution again set sail, pursuing an easterly course. She passed near the coast as far down as the Bay of Fun- dy ; then ran off Halifax and Cape Sable ; and not seeing any vessels for some days, captain Hull steer- ed toward Newfoundland, passed the Isle of Sables, and took a station off the Gulf of St. Lawrence, to intercept the Canada trade. While cmismg here, he captured two merch lut vessels. On the 15tb, he chased a convoy of iive sail, captured one of them, and prevented the prize ship of an American priva- teer from being retaken. Having received informa- tion that the British squadron were off the Grand u NA^ffi BATTLES. Bank, and not far distant, he changed his cruising ground, and stood to the southward* . On the memorable 19th of August, at two p. m. the Constitution being. in latitude, fortj-one degrees and forty •itwo minutes north, and fiftj^five degrees and thirty-three minutes west longitude, a vessel was discovered to the.southward. The Constitution instantly made all sail in chase, and soon gained on heir. At three p. m. it could plainly be perceived she wajs a ship, on the starboard tack, under easy sail, close hauled to the wind. At half TpaaC three, she was ascertained to be a frigate. The Constitu- tion continued the chase. At about three miles dis- tance, captain Hull ordered the light sails to be ta- ken in, the courses to be hauled Up, and the ship to be cleared for action. The chase now backed her niain-top-sail, and waited for the Constitution to 'com»dier public bodies, voted their thanks to captain Him^is officers and crew. The order of Cincinna ti ^l^tted him as an honourary member. Congress voted fifty thousand dollars as an indemnification to the captain, officers, and crew, for the loss sustained by the destruction of the Guerriere. 8 (» NAVAL BATTLES. %'. CAPT. PORTER.— FIRST CRUISE OF THE ESSEX. 8 The Essex, commanded by captain David Porter, sailed from New York the third of Julj, 1812, and shortly after fell in with a fleet of transports, under convoy of a frigate and two bomb-ketches, ffora Ja- maica for Halifax, with troops. The Essex kept at a distance until night, when she cut off a brig with one hundred and fifty soldiers on boards which was ransomed for a bill of exchange on London for four- teen thousand dollars. The men were disaroaed, and an exchange receipt iaken for them* and they severally took an o%th not to serve until ex£hai%ed. The following day captain Por4«r captured the brig Lamprey from Jamaica, by which he received intelligence that the Thetis frigate, with ^ipede and a large convoy was about sailiiig for England. Every exertHwwas made to get off St. Augustine In time to fall in with them, but without ^ect, as fresh ^es prevailed from the southwpst, whkh increased tiU the 19th of July, when, by the violence of die tem^st, they were oompelled to run before the wind.' ^ On the thirteenth of August, captain Jones found «bat they w\i NAVAL BATTLES. J» fifty men each. Captain Jones, however, deter- mined to attack them. The convoy made their escape under a press of sail. The sloop of war alone remained, which proved to be the Frolic, captain Whinyates, mounting twenty-two guns, and having a crew of about one hundred and twenty men. There was a heavy swell in the sea, and the weather , was boisterous. The top-gallant yards of the Wasp were taken down, her top-sails were close reefed, and she was prepared for action. About eleven o'clock the Frolic showed Spanish colours. The Wasp immediately displayed the American ensign and pendant; and at thirty-two minutes past eleven, came down to windward on the larboard side of the Frolic. When within about sixty yards she hailed. The Frolic then hauled down her Spainish colours ; hoisted the British ensign ; and opened a fire of cannon and musketry. This was instantly returned by the Wasp ; and, nearing the enemy, the action became close and spirited. About four or five minutes after the commence- ment of the action, the main-top-mast of the Wasp was shot iiway, and, having fallen, with the main-top-sail yard, across the larboard, fore, and fore- top-sail braces, rendered her head yards unmanage- able during the remainder of the engagement. In two or three minutes more, hfir gaff and mizzen-top- gallant-sail were shot away. She however kept up .|^ close and constant Are. The sea was so rough, that the muzzles of the Wasp's guns were frequent- ly under water. The Americans fired as the side of 64 MAVAL BATTLES. ** i I' ■1 their ship was going down. Their shot of course, either struck the Frolic's deck, or below it. The English fired as their vessel rose. Their balls conse- quently only struck the rigging, or were ineflfectual. The Wasp, having now shot ahead of the Frolic, poured a broadside into her, which completely raked her. She then took a position on the Frolic's lar- board bow. A most spirited fire was now kept up from the Wasp, which produced great effect. The fire of the Frolic had slackened so much, that cap- tain Jones gave up his intention of boarding her, lest both vessels might be endangered by tl\jB rough- ness of the sea. But, in the course of a few min- utes more, not a brace of the Wasp was left. All had been shot away. Her rigging was so much torn to pieces, that captain Jones was afraid, that her masts, being unsuppurted, would go by the board ; and the Frolic thereby be enabled to escape. He therefore resolved to board, and at once decide the contest. With this intention, he wore ship, and ran down upon the enemy. The vessels struck each other. The Wasp's side rubbed along the Frolic's bow. The jib-boom of the latter entered between the main and mizzen rigging of the Wasp, directly over the heads of captain Jones and his first lieuten- ant, Biddle, who were then standing together near the capstan. The Frolic now lay in so good a po- sition for being raked, that it was resolved not to board until another broadside had been poured into her. So near Were the two vessels, that while the men were loading ^e guns, the rammers of the '<.. *■"* rfr Jiiu. eiiiiii r II Bd NATAL BATTLES. ■*,.\ % -k0 fe; ft ■*;;« O 01 ■*i8* l ^«" NAVAL BATTLES. 66 Wasp were pushed against the Frolic's aktei ; and t^o of her guns went through the bow ports of the Frolic^ a^l swept the whole length of her deck. About th^ ' time. Jack Lang, a brave and intrepid seaman, of th^Wasp, and who had once been im- pressed on boara a ttian of war, jumped on a gun with hi^^l^s, and was springing on board the Frolic; when Captain Jones, desiring to fire again before iboaidiug) caUed him down. Bot, probably urged on by his iiB|ietuosity, be did not liear the command of his captain, and was immediately oA the bowsprit of the Frolic. Lieutenai^t Biddle, per- ceiving die ardour and enthusiasm of the Wasp^a crew, mounted on ike hammock-cloth, to boanL The crew immediately followed. But the lierten^ aQt's feet behp eaitangled in the rigging of the Frolic's bows^nt,attid midshipman Baker, in his ar-* dour to board, laymg hold of his coat, he lelH back on the Wasp's deck. He directly sprang up,, and, as the jfiext swell of the sea brought ^ Frolic neaiH n, he gqt on her "bowsprit, where Lang and asothelr seaman wbre already. He passed them on the fore- castle ; and was much surprised at not seeing t single man alive on the Frolic's deck, except the seiEi^* man at the wheel, and three officers. The (deck v#a8 slippery ii^& blood, and strewed with deadibodief. As he weiit forward, the captun of the FtoUc, and two other olScers, who were stsn^foigsontbe quarteip* deck, *}srem down their swords, and made the legi^ture of New York — the house of repre- V;/ «e NAITAL BATTLES. sentatives of Masstcfaiuetts*— the citizens of Pliila- delphia,-— the commoii council of New Yorkf &c. . The order of Cincinnati at New Yoii^ adnntied captain Jones into the Society as an honotmury mem- ber. Captain Jones, in consideration of his meril, wU {?pf>oiiiled to command the Macedonia^ a ihirtjr-eight ^r frigate, just captured from the British. Lieutenant fiiddile was promoted to the rank of master commandants* * ! SECOND CIIUISE OF OOMMODOBIB ROBGEHS. On the 8th of October, commodore Rodgers sail- ed again from Boston, in the firigatd President, accompanied by the United States, Congress, and Argus. On the IStfa, the United States and Ar- gus parted from the others ia a gale of wind. On the. 15tfa, the Pre^dent and Congress captured the British packet Swallow, having on board specie amounting to nearly two hu&dred thousand dollais. On the dlst they captured a South Sea lAip^ loaded wkh oil, one of two s^ps under eomoy of ^e'^ak^* tea fHgate, to whibh tiey gave chase, but k»st herin a fog. During the remainder of the enifse,^ieyiniw ae other British Vessel except the frigaie Nym|ih^ ivlikll •OIirk*i| KftTtl fiiitiny; Vol i p. 183-^1S6. NATAL BATTLKB. e9 iped in the night On the 31 st cif December they arriYed at Boston, having been as far to the east as longitude 22, and to the south as far as latitude 17 north. From longitude 22, they ran down the trade wind to longitude 60, and passed to the north, one a Intndred and fifty miles from Bermuda. In thia cruise, the space passed over was not less than eight thousand miles ; and though the President and Con- gress returned richly laden, their commanders could not but regret that no opportunity was afforded to try the spirit and discipline of their officers and crews. The cash taken from the Swallow was car- ried from the navy yard to one of the banks, in sev- eral waggons, escorted by the crews of the frigates and a detachment of marines, with drums beating and colours flying, amidst the huzzas of a large con- . course of spectators. The specie and gdld dust de- iposited in the bank were said to be worth nearly three hundred thousand dollars. THE iLRQUa After parting from the. squadron, as above not^d^ the Arg^St CQmmande.d by captain Sinclair, proceed- ed to the coast of Brazil, sailed along the north ooast, from cape St. Roque to Surinam, thence to the windward of the West Indies, and in every di- >v n NAVAL BATTLE0. rectioQ between the Bermudas, Halifax, and the con- tinent. After a cruise of ninety-six days, she arriv- ed at Now York, having made five prizes,#aiued at two hundred thousand dollars. She fell in with a Briti^^h squadron of six sail, tv o «f whieft were of the liixe, and one of them • remarkably iiu v sailer. The chase wr*? contii^ued fojr three days iuA nights, and uiider varlt>us circuB>8tanc'^n, oaptain Garden, mounting forty-nine guns, and carrying three hundred and six men. The Macedonian being to windward, had the advantage of choosing her distance, which was so great, that for the first half hoiff, the United NAVAL BATTLES. fl States could not use her carronades ; and at no time were they within musket or grape shot. To this circuiBfi^ce, and a heavy swell of the sea, was as- cribed the extreme length of the action. In this contest the superiority of the American gunnery was strikingly obvious. . The Macedonian had one hun^ dred and six men killed and wounded. She was total- ly dismasted, and had nearly one hundred shot holes in her hull. On board the United States there were only five killed and seven wounded ; and so little in- jury was done to the ship, that, in five minutes after the action, she was fully prepared for another. Shortly alter the action commenced, such a torrent of fire proceeded from the United States, that the crew of the Macedonian supposed she was actually on fire, and gave three cheers. The Macedonian was a frigate of the largest class, only two years old, four months out of dock, and re- puted one of the fastest sailers in the British service. All the private property of the officers and crew of the Macedonian was given up to them ; that claimed by captain Garden, amounted to eight hun- dred dollars, and was paid for by the commodore. An instance of the generosity, which is so predom- inant in the breasts of American tars, must not be omitted. John Archibald, one pf the opw of the United States, received a mortal wound, ^which he soou after aied. He left three children to the mer- cy of the- world and a profligate mother, who had deserted them. When the father of Archibald went on board the firigate, to claim the wages and proper- ■^,r. n NATAL BATTLES. < I < ' it NAVAL BATTLES. m '» tj of his son, an inquiry was mcJe into the circum- stances of his family* A plan was immediately agreed ||||^n by the seamen for the relief of the or- phans. Two dollars was subscribed by each of them ; a sum of eight hundred dollarf ^as made v^ and placed in the hands of suitable trustees, for the main- tenance and education of his children. Commodore Decatur arrived at New London with his prize on the 4th of December. He receiv- ed from all quarters the congratulations of his coun- trymen. A gold medal was presented to him by Congress, in testimony of their high sense of his gal- lantry, good conduct and services. The legislature of Pensylvania voted him their thatokil, and ad ele- gant sword ; and various other testimonisils of j^b- lic regard Were bestowed upon him and his crew. > The tiews of this brilliftnt victory was received at Washington on/ the evening of the 8th of Dc^etti- ber. It happened, that on that evening, t bidl tlrAs given in compliment to the officer and navy g^n^- ly, and particularlyftb cApt^ Stewaii:, itt tt6knd#1- edgmeiit of lids politeness to the citixfens Of WtilAl- mgton on a reeent ocq^sion. A \tagt and i'es|»«ieia- ble cdni|mny was assemUed, and the scen^ #a8 graced% thi6|nresenceof altlSic beatiil^iiid ii^lildn of^he dty. The roon^ fin wl^h the iig|Mi/ W«?e assembled bad heen decoratei with ter^opMes of naval victory. Tbe colairs of the Guonieee and Jl^Mt, displayed on the walls, roused jjferjWng <# |toiM- ism, and revived in the ttiind tile** Ki§{r<|ctibi of itt bravery which had won them. ;^t this time lleutea - 10 p- 74 NATAL BATTLES. ant HamUton arrived with the colours of the Mace- donian, and despatches from commodore Decatu/ 'He was received with loud acclamations, i|p escor*. ed to the festive hall ; and the colours of the Mac edonian were borne into the room by captains Hull and Stewart, and deposited with those of the Guer- riere and Alert. CONSTITUTION AND JAVA. On the arrival of the Constitution in Boston, after the capture of the Guerriere, captain Hull received permission to remain on shore to attend to his private affairs, and commodore Bainbridge was appointed to command in his room. After undergoing the neces- sary repairs, she sailed on a cruise along the coast of South America, accompanied by the Hornet sloop of war, bommanded by captain Lawrence. In running down the; coast of the Brazils, they found the Bonne Citoyenne, a British ship of virar, loaded with specie lying in the port of St. Salvador. CoiJimodore Bainbridge here separated from captain Lawrence, leaving him to blockade the Bonne Citoyenne. On the twenty-ninth of December, the Constitu- tion, being in 13 degrees south latitude, and 38 west longitude, about ten leagues from the coast of Brazil, at nine a. m. twS sirange vessels were discovered on her weather bow.-^ At ten they were discovered to NAVAl f At tut '4» be 8h.|jd. One of them stood in for the land ; the otne* stood off shore towards the Constitution. At ten* commoil^e Bainbridge tacked ship to the northward and westward, and stood for the sail approaching him. At eleven a. m. he tacked to the southward and eastward, hauled up the mainsail, and took m the rojals. At thirty minutes past eleven, made a private signalfor the day, which was not answered ; and then set mainsail and royals, to draw the strange vessel off from the neutral coast, and separate her from her company. At twelve, the American ensign and pendant were hoisted on board the Constitution. At fifteen min- utes past twelve, the strange vessel hoisted an Eng- lish ensign, and displayed a signal at her mainmast. At a quarter past one, the ship in sight proving to be an English frigate, and being sufficiently distant from land, commodore Bainbridge ordered the main- sails and royals to be taken in, to tack ship and stand for the enemy ; who soon bore down with an intention of raking the Constitution, which she avoided by wearing. At two .o'clock, p. m. the British ship was within half a mile of the Constitution, and to wind- ward. She now hauled down her colours, except an union jack at the miz'^eti-mast head. This induced commodore Bainbridj^e K> order a gun to be fired anead of her, to make her show her colours. It was succeeded by the whole of the Constitution's broad- side. On this, the enenfy immediately hoisted co- lours, and returned the fire. A general action now commenced with round and grape shot. The British 76 WAVAL BATTLKfe, w IF frigate kept at a much greater di&' wic*^ than the com- modore wished. He, however, could not bring her to ckMer action, without exposing his vessel to be sev- eral times raked. Both vessels for some time man- oeovred to obtain a position that would enable them to rake, or avoid being raked. In the early part of the engagement the wheel of the Constitution was shot away. Commodore Bainbridge determined to close with the British vessel, notwithstanding, in so doing, he should expose his ship to be several times raked. He ordered the fore and mainsails to be set, and luffed up close to the enemy, in such a manner that his jib-boom got foul of the Constitution's mizzen rigging. About three o'clock, the head of the British vessel's bowsprit and jib-boom, were shot away ; and, in the space of an hour, her foremast was shot away by the board, her main-tOp-mast just above the cap, her gaff and spanker-boom, and her mainmast nearly by the board. About four o'clock, the fire of the British vessel being completely silenced, and her colours in the main rigging being down, she was supposed to have struck. The courses of the Constitution were now hauled on board, to shoot ahead, in order to repair hep rigging, which was very much cut. The Brit- ish vessel was left a complete wreck. Her flag was soon after discovered to be still flying. Tffe Constitution, however, hove to, to repair some of her damages. About a quarter of an liour after, the mainmast of the British vessel w^t by the board. About three quarters of an hour after four, <: • MAVAL BATILXA. V "S ^ n NAVAL BATTLES. i: the Constitution wore, and stood for the British ve^ sel ; and got close to her athwart her bows, in a very effectual position for raking, when she prudent- ly struck her flag. Had she suffered the broadside to have raked her, hei ^ditional loss would have been extremely great ; for she lay quite an unman- ageable wreck upon the water. After the British frigate struck, the Constitution wore and reefed topsails. One of the op\y two re- maining boats out of eight, was then hoisted out, and Meutenant Parker, of the Constitution, was sent to take possession of the frigate. She proved to be his Britannick majesty's frigate Java, rating thiity- eight, but carrying forty-nine guns. She was man- ned by upwards of four hundred men ; and wai commanded by captain Lambert, a very distinguish- ed naval officer. He was mortally wounded. The action continued, from the time the firing commenc- ed till the time it ceased, one hour and fifty-five minutes. The Constitution had nine men killed, and twen- ty-five wounded. The Java had sixty killed, and one hundred and one (certainly) \. ounded — ^but by a letter written on board the Constitution, by one of the officers of the Java, and accidentally found, it is evident her loss must have been much greater. He states it to have been sixty killed, and one hundred and seventy wounded. The Java had her own fiiU complement of men, and i^^ards of one hundred supemimierariesv for British' ships in the East Indies. H^pnece in num- / n NAVAL BATTLED. 79 ed ber of men, at the commencement of the action, was probably much greater than the officers of the Con- stitution were enabled to ascertain. Her officers were extremely cautious in discovering the number of ber crew. By her quarter bill she had one man more, stationed at each gun, than the Constitution. The Java was an important ship. She was fitted out in the most complete manner, to carry lieuten- ant general Hislop and staff to Bombay, of which place he had been appointed govemour, and several naval officers for different vessels in the East Indies. She had despatches for St. Helena, the Cape of Good Hope, and for every British establishment in the In- dian and Chinese seas. She had copper on board for a seventy-four, and for two brigs, building at Bom- bay ; and probably a number of other valuable arti- cles. The great distance from the United States, and the disabled state of the Java, forbade^ every idea of attempting to bring herto the United States. No alternative was therefoff^lelft, but to burn her, which was done, after the prisoners and their baggage were removed to the Constitution. They were all landed at St. Salvador," and paroled. The commander of ''th/^ava, captain Lambert, died soon after he was put on shore. The British officers paroled were a lieutenant-general, a major, and a captain, of land service; in the naval service, a post captain, a ma«- ter and commander, five lieutenants, three lieuten- ants of marines, a surgeon, two assistant surgeons, a purser, fifteen midshipmeii, a gunner, a boatswaiui a % te IfATAl BATTLES. i.'^'i m p. master, a carpenter, and two captain's clerks ; like- wise, three hundred and twenty three petty officers, seamen, and marines — making all together three hundred and fifty-one men; besides nine Portuguese seamen, liberated, and eight passengers, private characters, who were permit «d to land with out re- straint. Lieutenant Aylwin, of the Constitution, was se- verely wounded during the action. When the board- ers were called to repel boarders, he mounted the' quarter-deck hammock cloth*, and, in the act. of fir- ing his pistol at the enemy, he received a ball through his shoulder. Notwithstanding the severity of his wound, he continued at his post until the enemy struck. A few days afterwaVds, when an engage- ment was expected with a ship, which afterwards proved to be the Hornet, he left his bed, and repair- ed to quarters, though labouring under a consider- able debility, and under the most excruciating pain. He died on the 28th of Jsmuary, at sea. Commodore Bainbridge pas received by his coun- trymen on his return to the*United States, with every demonstration of joy and esteem that his gallant ex- ploit merited. The Congress of the United States voted fifty- thousand dollars, and their thanks, to commodore Bainbridge, his officers and crew. They likewise ordered a gold medal to be presented to commoddre Bainbridge, and silver ones to each of his officers, in token ^ the^ esteem. 1 '.V'iaeuiit.4' ! NAVAL BATTLES. 81 The legislatures of Massachusetts and New York, oic. voted their thanks to commodore Baiubridge, his officers, and crew.* * HORNET AND PEACOCK. y Th£ Hornet, of eighteen guns, commanded by captain Lawrence, as stated in the preceding article, tailed in company with the Constituti jn. Such was me eagerness of captain Lawreno^/ to engage the Bonne Citoyenne, though a much .argpi vessel, and . having a greater force, both in guns and men, that he -sent, through the American consul at St. Salvador, a challenge to her commander, captain Green, pledg- ing his honour, that neither the Constitution, nor any other American vessels should interfere. This pledge was confirmed by commodore Bainbridge, who to show his sincere f, left the Hornest before St. Sal- vador, and sailed on another cruise. The comman- der of the Bonne Citoyenn^, however did not see fi to accept of the challenge, out suffered himself to b blockaded by the Hornet. Captain Lawrence con tinned for fourteen 4ays off the harbour of St. Sal vador, bloiclLading the Bonne Citoyenne. T^ro oth- er Engli^ vessels were likewise in the same port, namely, Hbug Fox, of twelve guns, and an armed schoQfier. • Qlad^f Mttval Hiatory, vol. i. p. 188<^1» 11 82 NAVAL BATTLES* i > -v. « M >« 9 H »; K 4.' W "E H 9 Q •4 M o « H U s o a 4' . 4 f 1 m if tA. r 0' I NATAL BATTLES. 83 On the 24th of January, the Montague of seven- ty-four guns, hove in sight, and drove the Hornet into the harbour — but night coming on, she wore, and stood out to the southward. Captain Lawrence, knowmg that the seventy-four had come for the purpose of relieving the Bonne Citoyenne and pack- et Fox from blockade, jitdged it most prudent to change his cruising ground. He therefore hauled by the wind to the westward, with the intention of cruis- ing off Pernambuco. On the 10th of February he captured the English V brig Resolution, of ten guns, bound to Maranhara, from Rio Janeiro, laden with coffee, jerked beef, flour, fustic, butter, and about twenty-five thousand dollars ' in specie. As this vessel sailed dull, and as captain Lawrence could not spare hands to man her, he took out the money, and set her on fire. He then ran down the coast for Maranham ; and cruised there a short time. Thence he ran off Sur- inam. After cruising off that coast from the fifteenth to the twenty-third of February, without meeting with a vessel, ha stood for Pemarara ; and intendedv should he not be fortunate on that station, tp run through the West Indies, on his way to the United States — but, on the ^th, in the morning, he discov- ered a brig to leeward ; to which he immediately gave chase. Not having a pilot on board, he was obliged to haul off. The fort at the entrance of De- marara river bore southwest, distant about two and a half leagues. Previous to giving up the chase, captain Lawrence discovered a vessel a| anchor % 4 • # > NATAL BATTLES. 86 g H o #y^' i-! '♦ » :-jfV tit without the bar, with English colours flying. She appeared to be a brig of war. In beating round Car- obana bank, in order to get to her, at half past three p. M. he discovered another sail on his weather quar- ter, edging down for him. At twenty minutes past four, she hoisted English colours. She was now discovered to be a large man of war brig. Captain Lawrence immediately ordered his men to quarters, and had the ship cleared for action. He kept close by the wind, in order if possible, to get the weathergage of the approaching vessel. At ten minutes past five, finding he could weather the ene- emy, he hoisted American colours and tacked. About a quarter of an hour after this, the ships pass- ed each other, and exchanged broadsides within half pistol shot. Captain Lawrence observing the enemy in the act of wearing, bore up, received his starboard broadside, and ran him close on board on the star- board quarter. From that position he kept up a Anost severe and well directed fire. So great was its effect, that, in less than fifteen minutes the Brit- ish vessel struck. She was almost cut to pieces, and hoisted an ensign, union down, from her fore rigging as a signal of distress. Shortly after, her mainmast went by the board. , Lieutenant Shubrick was despatched on board. He soon returned with her first lieutenant, who report- ed her to be his Britannick Majesty's brig Peacock, commanded by captain William Peake, who fell in the acti||[m< — that a number of her crew were killed and woidnded — and that she was sinking very fast, •^ • NAVAL BATTLES. iiaving then six feet water in her hotd. The boats of the Hornet were immediateiy despatched for che wounded. Both vessels were brought to anchor. Those shot holes in the Peacock that could be got at, were then plugged, and her gun« thrown over- board. Every exertion was used to keep her afloat, until the prisoners could be removed, by pumping and bailing, but without effect. She unfortunately sunk in five and a half fathoms water, with thirteen of her crew, and three of the Hornet's. Lieutenant Connor, midshipman Cooper, and the remainder of the men employed in removing the prisoners, with difficulty saved themselves by jumping into a boat that was lying (/> the booms, as the vessel went down. Four men of the Peacock's crew, who were on board when she went down, and were so fortunate as to gain the foretop, were afterwards taken, off by l^f the Hornet's boats. Previous tc the Peacock's sinking, four of her men took to her stern boat, which had been muchv damaged during the action!^ There was little or no prospect oi their reaching the land. They, however, arrived safe at Demarara. Captain Lawrence could not ascertain from the officers of the Peacock the exact number of killed. Captain Peake and four men were found dead on board. The master, one midshipman, carpenter, captain's clerk, and twenty-nine seamen of the Pea- cock, were wounded ; most of them very severely-* ft I ft three died after being removed — nine were drowned. The Hornet had only one man killed|,and two slightly wounded. Two men were also severely ■ Wm 4 NATAL BATTL£8. 87 its he yr. Br- at, mg ely ien ant of dth loat ent rere late by H ck's oat, ion3 the the led. on Iter, *ea- y-,l ned. two (rely i. i burnt by the explosion of a cartridge, one of whom died a few days after. The rigging and sails of the Hornet were much cut. A shot passed through the foremast ; the bowsprifwas slightly injured ; but her bull received very little injury. ': At the time captain Lawrence brought the Pea- cock to action, the Espiegle, the brig mentioned as being at anchor, lay within six miles of the Hornet, between her and the shore, and could plainly see the whole of the action. She mounted eighteen guns. Supposing that she would beat out to the as- i^istance of her consort, great exertions were used by the officers and crew of the Hornet, to repair her damages. By nine o'clock her boats were stowed ; a n^w set of sails bent ; and the ship completely ready for action. . lo At. two o'clock, A. M. the Hornet got under way and stood by the winJ to the northward and west- ward, under easy sail. On mustering next morning, two hundred and seventy souls were found to be on board the Hornet. As the crew of the latter had been for some time on short allowance, captain Law- rence resolved to make the best of his way to the United States. The Peacock was deservedly styled one of the finest vessels of her class in the British navy. She was about the tonnage of the Hornet. Her beam was greater by five inches ; but k^r extreme length not so great by four feet. She mounted sixteen four and-twenty pound carronades, two loug nines, a twelve pound carronade on her top gallant fore-castle i V NAVAL BATTLES. as a shifting gun, and a four or six pounder, aiA two sv els aft. By her quarter bill, her crew consisted of >ae hundred and thirty-fou' men, four of whom were absent in a prize, besides 'bu; men and one boy, who were not on her quarter bill. Of the Hornet's crew, the sailing master and seven men were absent in a priae ; and lieutenant Stewart and six men on the sick list. The conduct of the Hornet's crew towards th*; British seamen, who, by the sinking of their vessel, had lost every thing except what they had on tiieir backs, manifested much humanity and generosity. They raised among themselves a sufficiency to sup- ply these distressed seamen, with two shirts^ a blue jacket and trowsers each. The surviving officer^ of the Peacock returned a public acknowledgment to the captain and officers of the Hornet, for the hu*^ ri' anity and kindness wherewith they treated them. Captain Lawrence on his return to the United States was received with grejit distinction and ap- plause. The same tokens of approbation and esteem were conferred on him by public bodies, with which other gallant and successful commanders had been honoured.* CHESAPEAKE AND SHANNON. The Chesapeake frigate^ commanded 1^ captain Evans, sailed from Boston about the middle of No- » Clark't NiiVtl History, tol. i. p. SOS^^^AOS. m I r NAVAL BATTLES. 89 r^ pointed to c< had he arrive manded by cap Yembert 1812; and after a cruise of one hundred and fifteen days, returned to Boston. During the cruise several captures of some importance were made. The Chesapeake continued in Boston harbour until the first of June, the day of her unfortunate rencounter with th- Shannon. Captain Lawrence, of the Hornet i short time previous been ap- the Chesapeake, and hardl m, when the Shannon, com- lu.. oke, appeared off the harboiir with the avowed purpose of seeking a combat with her. ^' Stung with the repeated disasters of the British frigates, this officer resolved to make an efibrt to retrieve them ; and when he deemed his ship per< fectly prepared for that purpose, sent a formal chal- lenge to captain Lawrence. ** < As the Chesapeake,' his letter began, *• appear* now ready fat sea, I request you will do me the fsi* your to meet the Shannon with her, ship to ship, to> try the fortune -of our respective flags. To an offi- cer of your character, it requires some apoJogy for procfteding to further particulars. Be assured!, sir that it is not from any doubt I entertain of your wishing; to dose with my proposal bui merely to provide an answer to any ol^ction, that might be made, and very reasonali^y, upon, the obanco oi om receiviaf^ liito support.' After observing ^t cQmmodoi» Rodgets had not accepted several verbal chaUengiet which he had ^ven, etf taift Bioke then ptocemb tP 12 .>.■».■. r^%. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) A ^o 1.0 I.I £ K° 1120 iiy& 1:25 ||U III 1-6 ^ 6" - ► <^^ # Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STM ET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14S80 (716)873-4503 /M % m 90 NATAL BATTLES* stnte very minutely the force of the Shaimon> ano otitis to send all British ships out of reach, so that they might have a fair combat, at any place within a certain range along the coast of New England which he specified ; if more agreeable, he offers to sail to- gether, and to warn the Chesapeake, by means of pri* rate signals, of the approach of British ships of war, till they reach some solitary spot — or to sai! with a flag of truce to any place out of the reach of British aid, so that the flag should be hauled down when rtwas deemed fair to begin hostilities. * I entreat you, sir,' he concludes, * not to imagine that I am urged by mere personal vanity to the wish of meeting the Chesapeake, or that I depend only upon your per- gonal ambition for your acceding to this invitation* We have both nobler motii tow You will feel it as a eomplinaent, if I say that the result of our meetings may be the most grateful service I can render to my country ; and I doubt not that you, equally confident of success, will feel convinced that it is only by re- peated triumphs in even combats, that your little navy can now hope to console your country for the loss of that trade it can no longer protect.' ^ The style of this letter, with the exception of the puerile bravado about commodore Rodgers, is frank ind manly ; and if the force of the Shannon were . correctly stated, would be such a challenge as might well be sent froih a brave seaman to a gallant adver* ■ary. We, however, are but too well SMitisfied, that captain Broke studiously underrated the number of lis guns and crew ; or that, after his challenge, h» ■• NATAL BATTLKS. 91 mvst have received additions to both. That the Shannon had more guns than the number stated by her commander, we learn from the testimony of the surviving officers of the Chesapeake ; who also assert, that she had three hundred and seventy-six men; that she had an officer and sixteen men from the Belle Poule ; and that the hats of some of her sea- men were marked * Tenedos.' Such as it was, how- ever, this letter, most unfortunately, never reached captain Lawrence. If he had received it ; if he had been thus warned to prepare his ship ; if he had had an opportunity of selecting his officers, and disciplin- ing his crew ; if, in short, he had been able to place the Chesapeake on anything like equal terms with the Shannon, the combat might have been more bloody- there might have been such an engagement as has not yet been seen between single ships on the ocean; though we cannot suffisr ourselves to doubt the result of it. But he knew nothing of this challenge^he saw only the Shannon riding before him in defiance ; he re- membered the spirit with which he himself over- awed a superior, and he could not brook for a inoment that an eneipy, which seemed to be his equal, sb^ >uid insult his flag. Although, therefore, the Chesapeake was comparatively - an inferiour ship— although his first lieutenant was sick on, shore— although three of hb lieutenants had recently left her ; and, of the four who remained, two were only midshipmen, ac- ting as lieatenants-^though part of his crew were new hands, and all of them had lost some of their discipline by staying in port— yet, as he would hxn ■•MMIMW 92 NAVAL BATTLES. .'.one to sea in that situation had no enemy appeared, lie felt himself bound not to delay sailing on that ac- count, and* throwing himself, therefore, on his cour- age and his fortune, he determined at once to attack the enemy. It was on the morning of the 1st of June, 1813, that the Chesapeake sailed out of the hl«- bour of Boston, to meet the Shannon. As soon as she got under way, captain Lawrence called the crew to- gether, and having hoisted the white flag, with the motto of * free trade and sailor's rights,' made a short address. His speech, however, was received with no enthusiasm-— on the contrary, signs of dissat- . isfaction were evident ; particularly from a boat- swain's mate, a Portuguese, who seemed to be at the head of the malecontents ; and complaints were muttered, that they had not yet received their prise money. Such expressions, at the eve of an action, were but ill-bodings of the result of it; but captain Lawrence, ignorant ^s he was of the characters of las sailors, and unvtdlling at such a moment to «* i> their spirits by harshness, preserved his accusti.^ d caknneas, and had prize-checks, at oace^ given by the purser to those who had not received them. Whilst this scene was passing, the Shannon, observing ike Chesapeake coming out, bore away. The Chess^ peake followed her titt four^^'clock in the aftesvooii, when she hauled up and fired a gun, on which the ShaniMni hove to. They maBoeuvred for some timo> till, at about a quarter before six, they approachisd within pistol shot and ezckuiged broMbidMu 4*^ 94TAL BATTLES. yd UU ."Tli<}se broad^idei were both bloody; but th.* Jire,oft^^JSbaiuip| was most fortunat in tlie de- ^atruct^pii of officers. The fourth lieutenant, Mr. ^Q^allai^, ^as mortiill^ wounded — the sailing master ^yf9a hUled^ and captain Lawrence receired a musket ^b^l lA his leg, which caused great pain, and pro^se hlee||i|g, but be leaned on the companion way, aii^ ^9pnl|n^Q4 }9 9f|l®' ^^^ P animate hb creW. A Se- ^ifond, andi, a tliird oroadside was exchanged, with ^ 6¥ic(ent ac^yantage on the part of the Chesapeake; |J)iit^,|i^9||unateIy, among tliose now wounded on ,j|>piird of hff was the first lieutenant, Mr. Ludtow, 0y\^ was 'parried below — three men werfe successive- tJy shot from the helm, in about twelve minatiBS from ■^^p ^OjQEi|D|ieiP|cement of the action ; and as the halids ^^|r§;sl^|ftingi a sHot disabled her foresail, ^ that She ,^^^ji^d w^ ^ -^r heir helm^ aqd h^r iot^r I^cajught in one of the after ports of the ShaMn, lyrhjicb, .f^lMibiejoi tjbe Matter to rake her' upper Updk. ^^ l^ft SQpo^^af (^^tain perceitcd that she%as l^^lin^ to leeward, and that by the ISharinon's filing ^jhe would fadlon board, he called his boarders, aldd^as ^l^y|ng orders about the foresail, wh^ti he receiif^d a ^^^iiis|jst ball in Jils bcMl^. i?he 1)ugleman,%ho shchild •^b«rft ps^^ the boarders, did not d6 liiS diity ; lind, ^at tbi% moment,' commodore Broke, whose ship" had ifl'ftxL. SO mucn that he was preparing to repel board- ; uercei?uigV from this accident, how the dc^t of the iJhesapeake was strept, jumped on bos^'%ith about twenty men. They WdiSdd have been uuitant- It repei^dVlnit^the <^tiyln^^^£^^^^ •% '*«*„ M :UVAL BATTLB8. ■ :V tiuling-iiiaster, the boatswain, the lieutenant of rinea, the only acting lieutenant on the spar-deck, were all killed or disabled. At the call of the board*- «rs, lieutenant Cox ran on deck, but just in time t^ eceive his falling commander, and bear hitn below*. Lieutenant Budd, the second lieutenant, led uj^ the boarders, but only fifteen or twenty would follo# hini, and with these he defended the ship till he #aB wounded and disabled. Lieutenant Ludlow, woUSi^ ed as he was, hurried upon deck, where he soon r%-, ceiFed a mortal cut from a sabre. The marines wh0 were engaged fought with desperate courage; bu| they were few in number ; too many of them haying followed the Portuguese boatswi|in's mate, who ex- claimed. It is said, as he skulked below, * so mueli for not paying men their prize-money * ' Meanwhile the Shannon threw on board sixty additional men, who soon succeeded in oveirpowering the seamen of the Chesapeake, who had now no office to lead or rallj them, and took possession of the sh^ ; which wal not, however, surrendered by any signal of submiB- aioD, but became'die enemy's only because they were able to overwhehn all who were in a coiiditien t^ refist* « As obtain Lawren<)e was carried beIo»w, he pei^ ceived the melancholy eondttion of the QliaiapjBiili^ bat ciM out, < Dou't Burvender the sh^',; He was taken down into the wifd-ioom, and aa he.hif hu ex* cfudatli^ pain, pefceivipg that the of^fiboire had caftsed, he oideied 1|w «ITg9<»ti to go en 4«Gk, nod 4tna the o%(Ni.JnJ«hi M ^ the lail, mA mm KAVkL BATTL18. 96 & t to I- ft* IS id HP .> . Strike their colours. 'They shall waye,' said he, " while I tire.' But it was too late to resist or to struggle longer ; the enemy had already possession of the ship. As captain Lawrence's wounds would not allow of his removal, he continued in the ward- room, surrounded by. his wounded oflficers, and, jifter lingering in great p^ for four days, during which hi} suflferiiigs were too acute to permit him to speak, Oi^y' perhaps, to think of the sad cTents he had just . witnessed, or do more than ask for What his situation required, he died on the 6th of June. His body was* wrapped m the colours of the Chesapeake, and laid on the quarter deck, until they arrived at Halifax, where he was buried with the highest military and naval honours ; the British officers forgetting in their admiraticm of his character, that he had been but lately thehr enemy. His pall was supported by the oldest captains in the navy then at Halifax, and no demonstration of respectful attention was omitted to honour the reinainsofabrave,butunfortunate stranger. v«( In this sanguinary engagement the Chesapeake tost her comUiander and -forty-seven men killed, and ninety-seTen wounded, of whom fourteen afterwards died. Among these were lieutenant Ludlow, first lieutenant of the ship, and fieutenant Ballard, the iburth j^fp^n^t, both excellent officers. «G.*.^of .heSh«m»««pt.b.B»kew« dangerously Wininded, though be has since recorer- ed ; the lilit Untenant, tlie purser, captain's clerir and twvi^^hree seamen killed, and fifty-seven per sons womMy besides cnptiun Broke. I I I % /-4 f l« » . II i» Li«lo i i|*]i ^' I NATAL BATTLES. 97 ^1 le of the Chesapeake is to be ascribed I tho ei^traoidinarjF loss of offiem (a lofs fvecedeflti as fiur aa. we can i«iooi|sict» In 1X0 ipiF to her ^^0|Wiiff accidentally on Piirpfitlie three broadsides, ! l)ie.QPsa{fenk« were living, and V th<^jWiii^,.44NB superiority was Aia^etieans. .'Pte >C|Msapeake Ij pn|iMt9ce, n^hik) the Shan- »tf )l|%^ WincI tin^^ witer, siiid be, kept afloat dnring the sue- '.ytm'mAy wintm aioci^t threw^ 'M itoM Jlpe Jiumnon^ whdl, her weiWTiiiibre to le^ on the boiiiciers, diat )k0 hittiseli; timttary, w^ believtf, to the of the Apitjiph nairy, Ic^ his own ship, and p|w the Chesapeake* . •; , ' ""iKr*^*^*^ which we |ii«| |conipefl^ to believe, ,^ improp^ M^r!)^.captpi^,4>9J^^ V«|i- *^e <^tli^' .thi(:igi«K,^.*^3Jw. iH>nie aUowanoei are.di^rip the eiM^ / 4. ■ X' .' NitVAIi BATTUB8. n •mbhioii of the country is bo closely Uendeiy if we oBitted My opportunity of ginng the Inet end fidr- oet taetre to their fame, hy oMitraeting their condoct with thut of the enen^, pr if we forbore, Aoipi any niiiplacedl delicacy tov^M^ our adveraatfes, to report circumttanoee connected with the fate of the Cheia- peake, which throw a broad and dazzling tiglit on the generotti magnanimity of pur countrymen." «^ur readers cannot have fiuled to observe the U- *berality which was extended to the officers and crews of the ^Gaerriere, Macedonian, and Java,. and the still more striking instance of the Peecocfc. ^*>Wlipn llie Chesapeake was taken V the SImubbom, the key of ciptain LwwreABe's store room ivras demanded of the purser. ,.It vrasglren ; botthe pursefvClMeKV'' «d et the same tjwse, that in the capture^ of the Oner? riere, M&cedpniim, and Java, the n^ost fcn^wlouf vof gard was paid $p the priviue property of the British olpQfire ; jMlAl eaptidii Lawrenpe had laid in storps £or alopig crpjuse ; >aiid thet the value of thmn wo«ld be a glnpt )|^ec| to Jbis wi4f^|V,l«i#iiqnly, Jor li^^^^W^ 1ie;il^desirp^Mpps#le,ofpreseiir^ 'W^ iefiieMt inran , im l^erely decMned ; it wae liingli^ 'li^ sitperfsiyeiis^.^Dissed. Hv .^ m/tl - . ««Hi^irever^ii^|i!l^r|DOom the w^sr^of thni #y,^^ IpBSf j^ tMf jDheu^^ l^ not,!!^ /enr esti^ iBati!M|,,:ifil^ tli«B relatwe ^tandiii^ <^t^ llie t^ivo couotnes - nor does itjsbai^Jin,tl|ii|||ig||^ i|sgree, any of the Minm of fm navid,^rei|^B«ip(|^»is.: contest was whol^|i|M^|ii|l^^, iigi||||» li in officers, ia efer^^iyiig. 9^ * JC '!/ «' • NATAL BATTLIf. ff ** The llhuiiMm was a better tiiip ; the had aoe upon her the ciuie of that ill^^eineiied nane, th^ C^lesipeakei The Shannon waen stronger ship ; she fbootfted twenty-eight eighteen poonders on the main dedL, twenty-two thirty-two pounil carronades, and two long hrass nine or twelres, on the spar deckhand a hiige«arronade amidships, in aH fifty-two gnns, be- sides this last heavy carronade ; while the Chesapeake modttted twenty-eight eighteen poonders on the main deck, and twenty thirty-two pound canonades, and one eighteen poonders chase gun, on the iipar deck, in all forty-nine gunsi *' Thi Shannon had a better crdw. Besidek her complement she had seamen from two other ships. That crew, too, had been long at sea; lokig in the ship ; were known ; were tried ; aiid as commodore Broke sent achsllenge, were^ of ciMitle, men on ifirhom^ if they weteHot picked for the oocii^en, he knew lie could confide; The Chesap^e had, isn the contrary, in pibrt; a new^ci^, ii^no#n Id Hlbhr oflicers, not yet knoWhlg their places or the ihip. Hie shi^ had* not been more thah a few honfl at sei^ alid thi kndsiiifeii Md the landsWbmeil had been dismissed from her on the Verf day of the enia|^ iA6at. ThiEi bfficeii, too, alth«iti|h we shew be tl^ laiittc^dcltfict from thelriberits, tM ttlthongh^ maniw»r In ^^di^thliy fought idteii" jjiifr dbei' Mliill the higlttst 1idh<^, tiie officers irere yoitof^ mi Mf in limiftir; kiid Iftd as fti m^ % opptMoiiity <^ IHsclpliii% Of knowh% their s^afisei; yet, MMr - all these disadyantag^, the great diiiige snslilnil- .^ 4 100 MA?AL BATTLES. • - bjr the Shannon, and the great lou of her crew, all which took phice before the bdardingi warrant completely the opinioot tbat^ but for the accidei|tal loaa of officers, the ▼ictory would hate been with the Chesapeake."* ' Mr. Crowninshield, of Salem, obtained a flag of truce for the purpose of conreying to the United States the bodies of Lawrence and Ludlow, which he performed. On his return to Salem, the bodies of the departed heroes were conveyed, with the most afiecting ceremonies, from the cartel to the shore^ From the time the boats left the brig, until the bo- dies were landed, minute guns were fired from die ves- sels in the harbour. When placed upon the hearses^ they Were covered with the colours, which they had io lately and so signally honoured, and moved to a convenient distance for the proceision to form*, which moved to solemn musfck, to the meetinghouse. The corpses were then placed in the centare of th^ church, by the seameii who' rowed them to the shore, and who stood, during the whole of the ser^ ▼ie^^ ieanittg tipon theitt in an attitude of mournhig. The church was hung with cypnis litld evergreen^ The names of LAWRBifCfi and LuiiLbw appeared in letters ofgold, enciribl^d by feistoon^of evergreen, immediately iif ftoiit df' the desk. An ie^ogy was pronounced by the honoliirabtbjiirdge Story.;/^ Alter ths performtoces in the m^^etiligfabuse, the li^ilDen con- .^veyed the remains to ih^ tbitib, wiiere dicr iiiaicmick )e Micieties and military cdii|)ii, pidd the list ritual hohl- . agieP to the illustrious d^Ji|;* '^ # t I MATAL BATTLES. 101 Th« bodiei of the deceaaed, at the reqaett of thei? reletlfef, were afterwards carried to New York, and interred with the respect due to brave men, sacrific- ed in defence of their country. m;- OOM. DBOATim BLOCKADED nrMW UOVDOW, In the earl J part of the summer, (1819,) commo- dore Decatur, in the frigate United States, accom- panied bjr the Macedonian, captain Xones, and the (doop of war Hornet, put to sea from New York. But a very superior force, consisting of line of battle ah^ and frigates, hove in sight and gave chase im- mediatelj after he left port. The American squad* ron was fortunate enough to reach the harbour of New London, where, for the remainder of the sum- mer, they were blockaded, without any thing inter- esting occurring except an attempt made to blow up i<^lie of;the £i|gli|h vessels by % fireship. The fire- ihip wipja^^ theE;agle,^^a^ for the pur- poee >y,|ohn Icud^^^^ It was suj^ioied thajt on her being afp^ni^fjri^l^ be talieii^alang side one <# the v^ss^ of war« vifhe^ in att^pting to unlade her, a jmii^en^ oUmt conlbustdlf^ would l|ive been set da fire^ The at- tempt was made in the month of jTune* IShe was taken possession of by the British ; but blew up bo- t m HATAL BATTLS8. foitt «h^ got alongside iuiy of their large tiaielt. Al iki time of^explosion, ibur beats t. ere seen alOiig^4itt wIM were all, with tHe men on boaid tlieiB» 4il^ tfi6)red. It is supposed that upwards df one hundM of die BHtish perished. ■f'li ey\ia ■■*r:f t?"'*'<'tf>,T*"^ *.i.aY . It -'J / ,:■■*? 4-/>r QiJPTUItS OF TiOS £4CUUB. k. In the mopith of July, a Ming smaoh wasienl by |^|MllilQ0d0l9 l^ewisi of New YoiIl, for tH^ pqrpoa« ^ ^p||iturijig hf stratagem ^ejrio^lBagtei II ti^4ef«€ ^■0^ FoH^r% a British y^isel of seyei^^four gups. Ilie 9ma<(» was b^isrowed 6f so)|ie ishermen. A ci0r^ f/i^mt^^ Spf^ WW p«i o« Iwaii,'* 1^^ tw^o i^y ?md forty men i^reU armed w#»^i^ #ere ««»rot0d i^^^^l^ ^IWfiff^ foi^ peak of 1^ mfu^ J^^ prej^ured, she st^ aea as j^ gfpioaa fifihi^ OillytkMie mfitf; i^arfdfp^Kpi^.difss^ as Qilinite% ,1^ 1^ on p<^}fgi|pig ttjie fmai^, j^ «h»iie. After "l^il; '^^^ jW|^ ^ ^a^Qi^ipg|^|jif»i ^^i^och;iii- ^;:^0)(^i(^ l^wii'itojtiM^oanii^ ipa^ aloi^ fi4o #e pgle, 09|'4^^N» gpie%«iid m armpd Mn a«uM ojadiokrliom l«f «x # \l rULWAh BATTLK8« IM l0w ; and peuied a voMey of miulietry imo dia tan^ 4aK ; whioli drove her ciew below^ wHh so anioli pie- ctj^taacy, tliat they had not tine, to ttrika hei col- aufB. ;^ floon aa jailing master Paieival,^ who com- muiided the smack, perceived the ■. W«si india coininiBroe, |iasii]ig to the MttthwaliiM thuGraiid Bank. Not meeting with any thing4li this direction, except Anwiean vessels from Lishdn and Cadiz, he changed bis course to the northwtud. iHaving reached the forty-eighth degree of north lit- itude, he steered for the Axores, off which he^enli tinned in different directions till the 6ih4f'JiMie, without meeting any British vessels. Being inform- ed >y an American vessel j that four days previcms she had' passed a British convoy from the West In- dies, the commodore crowded all sail bi chase to northeast* Though disappointed in fallmg in with the convoy, he neVerdieless captured four vessels. Being then in latitude forty-six northf ldim|liide •twenty^ei^t west, he determined to proceed to ^e Noclii Sea. He however did not meet with a rinj^e vessel until off the Shetland Isliiads, and those^e there met with were Danish^ under British^ Heeiise. Hia fwater and provisions being now nearly ef3dl4ust- ed^ he potu' into .North Bergen, in Norway> ^on ^e 27tb of Jotte«i A scarcity in the country ' prevelifild ^hisobtaiiikigprQivisioiis*^^ After havii^filledliiieiiihs with water, bet departed on the 2iof July, towards the Orkaey i Isiandt^ and^ thence towudi tive North Ca^, fiir /the purpofte of iartere^ti^g a etmvoy^%l twenty*^ve brithivty sail,«whieH^'it in» ss^ leave Atcb^oigelmbeii^ Um «iiddle of Ja^'itaiet tMe prote^hM of two jslqapeiif watv ISiii^ww^liiaiiii- ed by twb'veiseto he!0^p«if«dion^ie^M^^€^7i^ montb^ In tbis, discovered their ^gtMngth^ when he hauled by the wind on the op- ;^osite lack to avoid them. But owing to faint vari- ahle wind«i and light for an entire day, for in that latitude and season the sun appeared above the hori- ^Eonat imdnight, the British vessels were enabled to continue the: chase upwards of ei^ty hours. At tiipes, owing to changes of the wind in favour of the Bntish vessels, ihoy were brought near to the Presi- dent.;^ When th^ise vessels ^e chase to the Presi- ,4<9i>tt Iht pnvateerScoUfge of liiHir; York was in com- po^Ji ,Ht so Inteni were the Britiih in .^ iheir chase t^iif^ {0TmBXi iknu, the latter escaped. liavln^ bu| a verystnall qimntiiy, of provisions On board hi9,ve^0l, cominodore Jtodgers determikxedto* |ip!P9jB9d, to la jnore weiter)y^ station after having es- f j^lped .Irom the superior British force that so long i^if^yied him* He aocordiliglyj^t^red to intercept ^lii^fffide pnisiijig oirt wlfapB^xon.;t]patS^ July aiid^^fd of August he ilMide tjlufee ^^ij^rei |iibut taceivin^informadoa that t^ Jti^ipIlM a^i^^ 4fi^n^<^ it e3fp|i^<«pt tp ch«|ge his cruising fepond. ^^I^f^llfijqi^ ma^ %(jb^,ioinMl:lrdattd)^imdh^ bg comfipl^ |he ^tMad^s of C^sie Qlear^he iteered tor the fi«iM of Newlbiitt^and) near to which he 14 106 VA' :PfBr^^ filfy effB<^u^ sfifiev ti^ hi #^^ t&e Biltish cotnmei^^ imi jRiira^ ihm t^detaeb€ gi0ar nimrilker o^>th9ir veiiels ^ war In an .il«m|fs- 6Bssfid-plirsl)##7-^^'''v ' ;./-;' t|w>.^|;/|^^jr trvll^ ,k/'C' ;'V? ri It is a circumaiiiao^ aoinewhiit ^i^pal^fi^l^ sin^ dm ren0#9P^lM ^ BMVide^ ere has never metpM^^^^Qgli^aEi^^^^ in cdrnpany with a ielrentHbur ; p^^ praised in lis Slilt^lini ^p^ ^ ^ 01«tk*i Mifill filsloi7> Tall ^ SIS— gH ..I. ■ \ ! IfiMr At. BATTUeiw ttfl ^ ikoMflf BiribilinittA Itelaiid; fie twice tnYtntk orer nidire than liaif tbe globe, witiimit fneetiiig a B?itiili<^ frigate ; aii# tlioiigh he fooght them in their own fiemsf and along" their own ihores, he never had Ike #w4'ft>rtiui#^^ bring one el them to action^ ¥et^ With aU tidi>' eooiteodeM Hodgei* faaa anffered no^'dimifl^^imiof .repMtation. It ia eieditable t» the AmeiiMai chamcterv to cheridb and uphold the high lepirtatlili of a rm^ijitorioiia; .^ficMr^ notwithstanding oi^portunitiea have noit been given fakn to diaplajr sMU mA pfOwesa mgtha^ an espial fioice of the J J i-tti ■'•»,<,•!,; ■•'' :-%J :ji} %^Ite Congiiiii^ af%ei p^ wi^ thcf Ptei^deht, eii^ 8th^ of iiiiy,^pic#6^ diire^ iim^^the Mfmtli^ <^i^ ^paaiinjg Ihevetliieaii dsiit df Bflo^ aft^lhenkr hoiiiewardv deite o yie d ^ albr tahilig ont the most laluable part of 'thiliiMll^ inrison^ eia, yffbii^^^in^pas^se^^^^ hi Fof ttmou t i i hnihiiite^:thP^^MM^t>i^^ yl iJ 108 NAVAL BATTLES* i.-t ARGUS AND PEUOAN. Gaptaiit Allen, id the brig Argns, nildl from Ihel^lj^ States im France, havfaig on b0i|d Mr. :43i!9rar|M» minister to the court of Parish lik' May, 181di. He arrived there in the short pfisige of tRventj-three days, during which he captMiid and destroyed a British schooner of six guns. ^ ^^^ ' ^ After remaining at JLi'Orient a few days, he {sro- ceeded ona cruise in the Bri^h cbanner, ivhrisrC^he captured twenty £;nglish vesiels ; tlie^ews giw^ he treated with humanity and gelitaidr;^ ^^^^ ,. 'The injury which capttiin Allied commerce is, in some of their papersy^slin^ ^amount of two mittl^. W'^Uo |joa|dfQ^'^in burdng, sinlung imd d \9 be flogged at tiiiB gang#i!f. Utt English papett, if^'JiUe thejr wer0 wridlfaig under tiM severe injuries thai Inllicted, wtft^ ^umuiinioufl in liieir testimonials of ixsspect to the cdndlict of this gallaHt officer, for the humanity and d^^kKcy with which he performed a service so invidKoiib. Prbbabljr ■D action of his life ccild more pliiiaiy; dliiingiiisli his^sbaracter than this: he loved danger it much as he abiiorred to plunder .he defenceless. On the 14th of Ai^iidt, being In latitildi Ifty-i^O degrees fifteen minutes ndrth, bnghilde ive de- grees fifty, minutes w6st, lie dlsooreredi at four o'clock, A. M. a large brig of wii, stuilBlii doii^i under a press of sail upesi the Weath^ qMiMr i>f thd Argus. Captain A)%«Mttediately|t«^|^ oeiveher; and bdif lii»Me^|;^ tl^ #yi|fe he shortened sdl^siid gave her vi^oplM^^ dosing. At six #^eldcir« iiM$ brig English colours, tiie A^glit ImiIs^ ibi' 4^ Ihig, woie round, and gave her^ th^ ode, being at tb& titiad wUb^ gra^ dl^^ci,^^^^ was fetmied, ani tl^^c^olr toani^^ MJlih^^^ t^ range of nuudustry. A ' ew liih|t#s pHi ilX| captain Alien #«B woonded ; i id, b^igiDinieh ^iimiited bjr the lees if Hloii^ il^ :|aLa^ ^iir; At tidp timej the A^gttw hid ^ Uti mi^ bftMaBS, m^ i|a4igstay, gafl^aoid try^Rli mm, anil dioitlf ^ ^t- itm0* ^flW pii^pitf 'p«rt1^ ^ )4ittrmi the. Iv ..utra^-tfyfy ;«■ by . 1 1I4TAL BATTLES. Ill woliad 00 tlM he«d finon a grape ihot, which, for a tnne, rmdafed him incapable of attanding to duty, and he waa also oanlad balow. The oomqiaBd now deyolved.iipoa lieutenant Allen ; the enemy, being 9^ the weather quarter of the Argiu, edged off, for the purpose ef getting under her stem* but the Aigus (ff|sttated his att#mpt by giving him a broadside. Aboufhajtf past i six, the Argus, hating . lost the use of her afternnuls fell before the wind, when the enemj SQoqfeded in passing her stem, and ranged upon the starboaid side. The Wheel-n^s, and rigging of e?ery desorqptiQn being shot away, the Aigus became unmanageable ; and the enemy, not having sustained jliy apparent damage, had it com- p|etel7i^;h^ If^et jte ^choose a position. By this advantiige h0 profited, and: coatinned to play iqmn ^ f^UilbOfMrd,^^^^ shifting his sltua- &»^^hetijie«t0n«ta; Watson returned to the. deck, |^..pTq|ia«M;to tmai^ t)ie enemy ;. but, in conse- qpiieipi^e cffi the;|l)iatter^ condition of the Argus, iua|>le lio f isct it. .., AftiNt this, the British cotftinued i inking w^ be but ft^ptly opposed, the gui^i^ of the !^gus being much disi^b|ed, and seldom 1^|ii^^]^)iettr^ H ^fiered,in the hull and Hgg^ j^ also m> lulled end woun^edi and being likiposed^ ay^ from, J^ enemy's ability to^mfUplige* egn^ iim hs^ ^^roidol, yenl^muit Watson 4<^me4 it pBoessasyj^^^ The A^- 1^ waa %| fakenJp^^ if war Pelican, gf twe)it]r^oo|^|prriiige guna i|i|Ben Uiifty^ )pqu|^ ^ kmg i %i 112 NATAL ^BATTLES. t ■'^»i:^ apd one twelve pound canonade, commanded l»f captain Maples. The Argus carried eighteen twev^- ty-four pounders, and two long twelves. The loss on board the Pelican, as stated iu the British official account, was eight in killed' and wounded. The loss in the Argus was six killed and twelve wounded. . Five of the wounded died soon after, among whom was captain Allen, who lost his leg at the second broadside, and died the next day. It would be ui^ust to the feelings which are revir- ed by the preceding account, and ungrateful to the memory of a braver and distinguished officer, to re- cord in our pages only the circumstances which coet him his life, and his- countrymen so mueh pqigntei^ regret. Tlie prominent traits of his character, and the hoiiours paid to Jiis 'remainfl, in a foreign laad^^ and by those who were lus adversairiefl in war, should beoo-exteniive with every register of naval achieve* ments. TJ^e following letter from John Hawker, Esq. d-devwnt American consul^ wUI be read with interest. PUjrmoutliyAugiiit 19, 1813. SiR.«^*^l%e Station I have had the hjonour to hold for many y^lvpast^ of American vice^onsul, calls fofdi my poignant feelings in the cdtiiimunication' I have to nrake to yira of the death of jmat son, ci^ tain Allen, hite commander of the United States bdg of war Argus, which vessel wai e«ptuiedov Satur- day last, in the Irish channeir itfiter a ver)^V|rp'ie- i V i I 8 a I 'n r s I G r 1 c ^iL NATAL BATTLBt. lis 1 the ■nd mitt iTter, Bgat eyrr- D the o re- ; cost ^ and laiid^ uNikl ieve* £iq. rest. IS. held calls ■*'A\ itiir- tkte of three quarters of an hoar, by his Britannick miyesty's ship Pelican. Early in the action he lost his left leg, but refiised to be carried below, till from loss of blood he fainted. Messrs. Edwards and Delphj, midshipmen, and four seamen were tkilled ; and lieutenant Watson, the carpenter, boatswain, boatswain's mate, and seren men wounded. Captain Allen submitted to amputa- tion abore the knee, while at sea. He was jester- day morning attended bj yerj eminent surgical gen- tlemen, and removed from the Argus to the hospital, where every possible attention and assistance would have been afibrded him had he survived ; but which was not, from the first moment, expected, from the shiBttejred state of his thigh. At eleven, last night, he breathed his last ! He was sensible, at intends, until mlHikm tin minutes of his dissolution, when he sank exhausted, and expired without a struggle! His kicki^ intervals were very cheerful, and he was satisfied and fully sensible that no advice and assist- ^ anee would be; wanting. A detaohed room was pre- pared by the eonunissary and chief Si^geon, and fe- male attendants engaged, that every tenderness and respect might be experienced. The master, purser surgoout and oiM midshipman, accpinpi^ied captain Allen, who was also attended l^ hb ini|gj|iiiiiiiu I have ccin^i^^cfl^ted; and. aAanged jimlk the offi- cers resp^^^tlMS imeialy Whieh will be;in the most re9pectj&]4 ^at it be r ) lU If ATU* BATTLM. ,->^"t' ivjblieklj tttendad bj oiBc«n of rank, and with mili- tary honouri. The time fixed for procesiion if oo Satordaji at eleren* a. m. A lietttenaat-colooeFt guard of the rojal marinei is alio appoiatedt A wainieoat cofim has beea ordered; on the breaat plate of which will be inicribed. u below.* Mr. Delphj, one of the midshipmen, who lost both legs, and died at sea, was buried yesterday in St Andrew'* churchyard. I have requested that captain Allen may be bqhed as near him, on the right (in the same ▼ault,* if practicable,) as possible. I remain, respectfully, sir» your most obedient, humble servant: (Signed) JOHN HAWKER, Cidevant Am^riean vic^-^sonaii Tls Our. Aluw, fce. Im. he, Ph»f idmoe, ft. I. . On the 21st of August, a^reably to previous ^ rangement; the remabs of the depfqied AUjen wer« interred at Plymouth. The fpUowing was the order of the iimeral procession* nioosdsiofr. Ckiard tft Hbeovr. Iiis rt ftMitpcolqprt «f ioj«l mwiaAS, wUh two compsniM of tbat corpi^ , I, iilbiltepit and field-a^iutuit (04 with*liat-buidf uhI acarft.) ^ Rojrid mwritaa band. Tho ' ''.iT'i.'*-' i ■%'• ■ * ^ ^ 1lMl|i&,^«lk^MMi «ffi/be veooiM the ¥^ be eoiitnTed> aa I Jkift abi mtnTed> aa I Ikiftaiiltaatad ; Mti hafioff NATAL BAT Jtfk 116 bfk •^K fkir Ml 0«f«l« of I ! Okrkof i^fko, Willi tk« eorpM of th< mw, late of th ^, wMi erift rooad tiMir uaBi, IM witk wUl« a^ q ribbon. A|w» oifhA JMlioh oopUuM oif tho ro/ol nuff, m po ll b toroto, wkb htl-baado tod ocorfr. Ooptaio AUon*o Mrfuto in mounjinf . Tm*. ^ ' '91 lato of (bo Arf no, in nnifonn, witb cropo saoboo and bol-baadi) two and (wo. *>a Hawkw, Eaq. lato AaMrioaa tjoo eoaoul, and bit olorlu, Captain Polio wo, firwamiiainnar for priaontra of war. , ^. M'Oradkf ebiof medieal offioor at Milt PriM>n dopol. ' Cqitaina of tbe royal naTji in port, two and two Followod bj a Torj nunMrona and ri^tootablo rodnoo of inbahiNnln» « The proceukm left Mill PfisMi «t twelve o'dook. The coffin wae ooYered with a Tehet pall, cm which was spread the Americas eoiigB, imder which thp action was fought, and on that the hat and sword of ihe deeeasdd Wttfe laid. On the coflni bnng reasoT* ed to the hearse, the guard sakited ; tmd when de- posited in the hoarse* the prooeasion mofed forward, the band played the '* Dead march in Sauk" On their anrimi near tho church, 'the guard haltod and ckibbod arqis^ siagle files inwasd, t^urawh wthich the pFiK^dssSbn ^passed to ^phttrohi intowJillNliii corpse was carried, and d^pofited in tka osntre wiih, whilst thefimeial safvice was read ^hj the leverend vicai^ aft« whkkii waa MMwod Bad uMeoNi^lnitfae aonth yiiit (p«■. NATAL BATTLE8« 119 lj,|-r^j " ^w NAV4«l f A«f IiSi* ». tfiter tib0 yictoiy he bf»9«M hii.iiiilRftrC^vNii Blylk«, 019 cooimander pfutlie BooMif . jij^ |||| i« Jm) coKiili0Bfiem«iit of the aotifip, h9viii| iic«if«| Mcamr mm eltol Ihiough the body. His remniiw, lnofpnpi^ iij writli tha«e of lieuteiuuKI BunowB, n^pilMPuglit to Portlaii4 where the tw«i^ oommaa^ejp Jiipit. iii|«K- re4| sMe by side, with ixuHtary honours. I^e Boxer was so much cbimaged in her sails, rig- ^ilg, spars, hull, &c. as to render it difficidt to canry her into|K>rt. The Enterprize received but trifling iajw^. 0%i||i«|Eaimin^tiqii of the fruE^, sl^^^pis ad- ludged wlptt^ tp t|0 captQKs, a^eably to lawt as a Tesiel of 9liperi ^ UiiiNI I fto# hiV# 16 hlri^Mf 5^ Mr I Isfi Pdifllii^^ #gtf iii^^i aiid Hate IM^ iiioiil^tifriiHrii M, il ^ iiall ii^6«ii^< I lit^dMfy ^tae^^^Sdmi^ mkto ms^m f^amHi^ itit^itieiiti of thri^iiiii offhe^ tWOf^ils^ ai to Ihi ^BriAj^ a# hi*% ii^ d#iiredy && flfelH b(i ^iHri^i^iid aa ib6ir is iNmreyi)^ he itaOm^ fUBm&i^m rei^^ed Milbh dinoMll^Ji huMi ttMnei im^mlAi^ Meed^ m& imtmSumiti '«odd i]^ ke^ aitotti to get'hter fir. Tile Eitel^ f^ii Oi^ iiliaifyd iii her nUiifCs Ail saHi. I Wm ISAAC lie-Bllirig EnterpriHe, Portland, September 7, ItlS SiR^In consequenc^^ of the unfortQiiate death of lieuteiuuit-cominandaiit William Biinowa» late com- mander of this yessel, it devolves on me to acquaint you with the result of the cruise. After sailing itom Portsmouth on the 1st instant, we steered to the eastwaid ; and on the mOrning of the dd, off Wood Island, discovered a schooner, which we chased into this harbour, where we anchored. On the morning of the 4th^ weighed imchor and swept out, and coil- tinned our course to the eastward* Haying re- ceived information of several privateers being off Manlmgany we stood for that place ; and on the fol« lowiiig morning, in the bay near Penguin Point, dis- covered a brig getting under way, which appeared to be a vessel of war, and to. which we immediately gave chase. She fired several guns and stood f%r ns, having four ensigns hoisted. A|ter reconnoite]^ and discovering her force, and tfaie psttion to wImc^ she belonged, we hauled mpon a^wind to stand jpi:|t; of the bay> and at three o'clock s^ort^ned sail, talk- ed to ipn down wi^ an int^tion to luring her to close action. At twenty minutes after three, p. b^, wlien within half pistol shot, the firing commenced from both, and i^ter being warmly kept up, and with soni^ manoeuvring, the enemy hailed and said they surrendered, about four, p. if.— their colours nailed to the masts, could not be hauled down, "^e proved to be his Britanniqk|]|iajesty's Jbrig.j§cae^^ fourteen guns, Samuel Blythe, Esq. conimander, vi^o ^ in^the 'early part of the enpg^nent, Jiavnig i|h i i-i -#• .t: JW (f ^-5. ' • • HAYAL BATTI^i. il2S ^'.^ ccived a cmiiioii ' ilioi tkrough tlie body. And I tm aorry to add that lioutenant Borsows, who bad gal- lantfy M uft into action, fell also about the same time by a jBusket ball, which terminated his existence in eight hours. The Enterprise suffeifed much in spars and rigging and the Boxer in spars, rigging and hull, having^ many shots between wind and water. ^t^^. It would be doing injustice to the merit of Mr. Tillinghast, second lieutenant, were I not to men- tion the able assistance I receired from him during ^ remainder of the engagement, by his strict atr ti»tttion to his own division and other departments. And of the officers and crew generally, I am happy to add*, their cool determined conduct have my wannest approbation and applause. ^-^-^^ "'As nc muster roll ^at can be fully relied on has eome into my poisefssion, I cannot exactly state the number killed and wdttnded on board the Boxer, but . ffbtn information rtc^iv^ from the officers of that V vi^ssd, it iipp^r^ there were between twenty afld twenty-fiv6 hill^ and fburieeh' wbuitded. Enclosed is a list of the'kilYed and Wounded 6h board 6f the mze. ' 1 have the honotir to be, lie. EDWAI11> R. M'0ALL, Senior OflStter. ULi.,/Iisq. cc^ntfcnding naval oi|oer on the diii^fn station. Card. — Captain Htill, with the officer| and crew of thd United^taii^^ brig Ettterpriase, are Jlep- ly iiiAJpi^ied #i)th ^ i^adiiieis 1^ tM^ mih t i '- if 124 i^^rW^iAT^LlfW. ji i'lf^ whkli ih« iiriiabitaiits tff Pdrtland, ik thetr M^dll militarj defMirtme^ts, Ins^lHed to^d liiiiDtmf td'^t^ memory of the brare lieutenant W^Uam Bui^wt, Ikte ' commander of the £nterprize» who fell in the gallant action with his Britannick majesty's brig Box6r^ Which she captured and brought iiitd'thiij^rt ; ' and htg they will tttiiWe their grateful addioWli^' ments for their very bUndsome tribute of r^spedt %j^f' btMt^ in their attendance on the fiinend of tb^lf brare officer, as" well as tbat of his gallant cbi m^ ci^iain Samuel Blythe/ late ' cbmmaii^er bf the* Boxer, who fdl in the tome abtlbii, aiid fd Whok G^\M bdndiirs #etie paid in every respect, In thisir ittiveral obsequies, eWbitm^ to the worlf an'evideiicd of that character #hich the Americani are p>fdttd t6 possess, of showing eveiry t^bute of reipeiei ^ttb'^'a bmve en«my who has Men iif coinlbfiBit, aikd bf^^^ tiding to those iat their poller ^^f^ niailt W lilierl^ idllT and cotnfb^ ^^t^ni ^With the^ sitia^ pnsoiiers.^ Ckptein Hun, #h the offices and drew of Eirt^r^e^embrac^^ present W t^e sense which ttey entertain ot t^ prbmp^ attri- tion and of the icfive^ind hiiinane exerti(Hi^ 9^^^' uel Siorer, Esq. the ' tJnited IStates navy Portland, in hayi^ every accbminodation ^ the wounded "onf jbbard ' Ae tJn^ Enterprize as well as fitowe on board tbe'Bbxi tween whom no distinction was ma^e. Am |pi|^ l|ewise beg t^ phyjkiiip| beeiisolund as to alteid the -most prompt iiMiam- f.u m * M^IFAIi iAttHllSt n$ '-V |i^cdK«reii« of tlieitf j^feirioiis Wwm^^ WoQli# 4^ of botk tofttelf^ to ae^pt dldi^;|ett tlMi^ . SiiraA of • lollw from otpCai»Hall UKoonrnddef* BlliibrUlge, daltod, Septenber 10, 181». «« 1 7«$ti^rday Tinted tlio two brigs', iild #liir aUtbo^ Idied^ to 806 tho difibrence of iujiity 8iliftuMI ior ihift a<:tion. Ttte Enterprize haa hattoim eH^hU^i^ j^OUkil siior &i to hull; one in htr waanjOiMt ii^ < edge—- several stanift' of eighteen poimd grape stick in her side, and suck a quantity of small grape that I did not undertake to count them. Her masts, sails and apars, are literal- ly cut to pieces, several of her guns diamounted and i^^t lor, service ; her t<^p gpdlantforecastle nearly tak* en off by the shot, her boats cut to pieces, and her ^ttiip^>|Dg^in'j^pOi^m' yifi^fmmiBieaL of ^ qtilttititif of iditft iOMtttf IH^V IP isifhrmifism^Mt I odijHite#idli^iiti$di^ tht^e eij^eeiVfMiUf a&(w^ i6lM^ e^ttsen^ ]lirg(^gi«i)RP sIm«<^ si^nwi «^ sr Mf> liole^ attd^ ^ 1^^ Mnbvr of sMlil |i|MV i)Htkottt c^^ ^96 NATAL BATTLIf . •cemnmodatioiis for all her officer! below in state- ImMiit, 10 that I have no donbi that the had one hun- dred men on board. We know that she has seyeral of the Rattler's men on board, and a quantity of wads was taken out of the Rattler, loaded with four laige grape shoti with a small hole in the centre to put in a cartridge that the inside of the wad may take fire :^hen it leares the gun. In short, she is in every re- spect completely fitted, and her accomodations ex- ceed any thing I have seen in a vessel of her class." A publick dinner was given at Portland to lieute- nant M'Call and the other officers of the Enterprise, for their gallant conduct in the action with the Bon- i ar. ■ - , . J _ ■" ■ ■ . ■ '^i THE ESSSX. c iCAraAiif Porter, in the frigate Essex, proceeded to sea from: the Delfiware, on the twenty-seventh of October, ^ 1812, and repmred, agreeably to instruc- ^ tions;firom commodor^Bainbridge^ to the coast bf Braail^ where dUferent places oT rendezvous had been arranged between them. In: the coum qS^Mb eiuiae on this .coast he captured Ifis Britannidk mt^es- tflafMwt Nocton, and a£ter.^k^^^ a llni^'Mk a U^Hmmm to^te^ riwnr^Lni Plaias^ ^IMae mmflmt ia wfeirirtiaptoa^J%t^ ■ '■v; /-' J NATAL •▲Tme. 139 ■A .4'- tKt miiMfou* btfrea Mid 4tt- oliM« iikiiili thK foan th* QiUttpigo* group, attd atMt HWM^ing OB the Amencta ooMt^ko left bo im- •M bjT whkh be omiM be followed ; nuaouiy wbile kmgaiied bi» uiyloilei Uurew bio puiMien at tell ; tiiey weie diftnieted bj mgae aeooiiBtf of ca|»tiiMt Modo «t diffoffeni pboe% and oC firigatee soppoied to li* the EiatK boveraig at tbe tame time off different epaala and bauaituig diffefeat ialandik i> Iittlie Mean wbilia eaptain Porter, tbough wrapped ift m^Fttery and uaeeitaia^ binieelf jet received fre- ^pient and aeemaCe acooimts of hia eaemies, from the Imoua prices wbicb bo bad taken* lieiitenant Downes, alaoy who bad convoyed the prioea to Yal- faniao,. on bia retwrn, brought advicei of the ezpeet- ed< aniTal.of ooBMBodore Hillyar in the Pbcebe ftl- gatb laliag tfairty^eix guna accompanied by two ■laopa of war* Glutted with fpoil and baveelbK and latBd with the eaiy and inglorioua captures of meiw ehaaftnaaf captain Porter now fek eager fos ai^.op- portiiatl]! t» moot the enemy on^ equal terms, attd to aigwntiuft hisr eruise by some IjriU^EpC achieTbmenl. Hamngbeent nearly a* year at Bea» he found that his •hip wouldt re^ilia.aoma' fepaiis^. to^ enable her- t«v, facet the foo^},herffe paii s d »» thnr^orf^ accom pani ed hill sMseral o| hit piai^h to. Ihe tehmd of Neaaho eeividH^oue o£ th%»i?iasb]|«^o»> smv* ^Useovened b^ mm9^mm-^'^i$p9ihft^^ o£ ^§mn^ Here he Ipmded,^ ilihe jMWteiii m< d i i a«W (d n ^ .'-.fJ^^iimi^P.'-if'mf^.ll^ 17 ISO NAVAL BATTLES. ulous and fertile, abounding with the necessaries cff life ; the natives in the vicinity of the harbour which he had chosen received him in the most friendly manner, and supplied him with abundance of provi- sions. During his stay at this place he had several encounters with some hostile tribes on the island, whom he succeeded in reducing to subjection. Having calked and completed overhaled the ship, made fop her a new set of water casks, and taken on board from the prizes provisions and stores for up- wards of four months, he sailed for the coast of Chili on the 12th December, 1813. Previous to sailing he secured the three prizes which had accompanied him, under the guns of a battery erected for th^ir protection, and left them in charge of lieutenant Gamble of the marines and twenty-one men, with or- ders to proceed to Valparaiso, after a certain period. ' After cruising on the coast of Chili without suc- cess, he proceeded to Valparaiso, in hopes of falling in with commodore Hillyar, or, if disappoint^ in this wish, of capturing some merchant ships said to be ex- pected from £ngland. While at anchor at this port, commodore Hillyar arrived, having long been search- .ing in vain for the Essex, and almost despairing of eVer meeting with her. . Contrary to the expectations of captain Porter, bowefer, commodore Hillyar, besides his own frigate, spiperior in itseirto the Essex, was accompani^cl by the Cherub sloop of war, strongly armed and m«inned. These ships, having been seni^ out expressly to seek for the £s8ex, were in. prime Older and eqoppment, with n^ked crewii, and hoisted #• 4'- NAVAL BATTLES. 131 flags bearing the motto ** God and country, British sailors' best rights : traitors offend both." This was in opposition to captain Porter's motto of ** Free trade and sailors' rights," and the latter part of it suggested doubtless, by errour industriously cherish- ed, that our crews are chiefly composed of £nglish seamen. In reply to this motto captain Porter ^hoist- ed at his mizzen, " God, our country, and liberty : tyrants offend them." On entering the harbour the Phcebe fell foul of the £ssex in such manner as to lay her at the mercy of captain Porter ; out of re- spect, however, to .the neutrality of the port, he did not take advantage of her exposed situation. This forbearance was afterwards acknowledged by com- modore Hillyar, and he passed his word of honour Co observe like conduct while they remained in port. They continued therefore, whiie in harbour and on shore in the mutual exchange of courtesies and kind 4>ffices that should characterise the private intercourse between civilized and generous enemies. And the crews of the respective ships often minglied togeither and passed nautical joke^ and pleasantries from one to the other. On getting their provisions on board, the Phoebe and Cherub went off the port^ where they cniised Cor sli: weeks, rigprpusly blockading captaiii Porter. Th^ir united force amounted, to ei||^h^-qi|ie guns and five .huadred meni..in additipn to whipb dfey took. 5m board the^irew of an English letter of niarque, Ij^^ in port* The fofce of the £s^x consisted of but %rty-s]Z guns, all of whicb> ^]|ceptipg sl^i long ,» m NAVAL BATTLES. twelves, were twenty-two pound canronades^ only serviceable in dose fighting; Her clnw, having been iimcfh reduced' by the tttsuming of prizes, amounted to but two hundred and fifty-five men; The Essex jtt9ior being only intended as a storesfaip, mounted fen eighteen pound carronades and 4,en short sixes with a complement of only sixty mem '^hJsi vast superiority of force onr the part of tlie ettemy prevented all chattb^ of encounter, on any thing like equal terms, unless by express covenant between the commanders. €aptain Pbrter, there^ ft»re, en^avoured repeatedly^ to provoke a'-diallfenge fi!lke ini«^ri)ey of Mt frigate t(Pthr Phoftbe not jus^ ttfying hiw in' mai^ tfere challenge himself^) but WiVhdut effect*. Wb ttied> fre^^itly also to bring; the Fhttbti ikittf ^sitiglb at^ni; but this commodore iiiilyar WaAty dVdiAs^ andi always' kept Uis ships so close tdgei^iter asi to> ihxstrater (»ptaiii Portei^s attempts. J^ditt^ it ittiiiiGMlbto! w bring the^ enem^ to eifual ciombiNf ; and fbariii^ thie^ aativalof ailfitiqnai fovc^, Wl^h^Mediid^rstood watf ott tho wiq^ captfais Porter dl^tetfflik^ mfm m^m ^e6f fihrt^dpportmiitjr Hiat should present. A rendezvous was accordin^y ap^ pir tlli»]0s§i» jtmktr, andhavini^ afi«erti^ed hfWpe^mi^ tdiii that tlMB Ssseir Wat a slipartor sid!:- ^t tti eitli»? of di9!Hbodtadkrg^sl^s,iti wn'agreod ttiitslittiidMtddtllbirthtt^cttMf elHMV^l^ tfff'X thiiNi% ^bHii^ ^M^sMM^jiiuiibr a«>d|»^ ■^01- mr neiit dl^' i^^Ah^ of MiMh, fteiwkid iMttnif otf i^bklW fm^fymk Ae' iNMltil>l«BArd, tfldt tin fisMer pdNMdi IwrlallMNMI dtfilei an* dniggadr M .-j^ NAVAL BATTLES. 193 ■4 starboara ancnor directly out to sea. Not a moment was lost in getting sail on the ship ; but perceivmg that the enemy was close in with the point form- ing the west side of the bay, and that there was a possibility of passing to windward, and escaping to sea by superior sailing, captain Porter resolved to hazard the attempt. He accordingly took in his top- gallant-sails and braced up for the purpose, but most unfortunately on rounding the point a heavy squall struck the ship and carried away her main-top-mast, precipitating the men who were aloft into the sea^i who were drowned. Both ships now gave chase, and the crippled state,of his ship left captain Porter no al- ternative but to endeavour to regain the port. Find- ing it imposible to get back to the common anchor- age, he ran olose into a small bay about three quar- ters of a mile to leeward of the battery, on the east of the harbour, and let ,go his anchor within pistol shot of the shore. Supposing the enemy would, as formerly) respect the n^trality of the place, he con- sidered himself secure, and thought only of repairing the damiiges he had sustained. The wary and men- acing approach of the h^tile ships^ however, display- ing th^if motto flags and having jacks at all their ma|t^!, ,he,ads, soopi , showed him the real danger of his 8itQ9tifm» With all possible despatch he got his ship majdj^ for actioii» and endeavoured to get a spring oii,iii|£i^e» but had not succeeded, when, at fifty- four a^|p»pa p««* *^»^ » Y *'*^ enemy commenced aa attack. ^--.^j-. 134 NAVAL BATTLES. At first the Phoebe lay herself under his stem and the Cherub on his starboard bow; but the latter soon finding herself exposed to a hot fire, bore up and ran under his stern also, where both ships ke|it up a severe and raking fire. Captain Porter succeeded three different times in getting springs on his cables, for the purpose of bringing his broadside to bear on the enemy, but they were as often shot away by the ex- cessiVe fire to which he was exposed. He was ob- liged, therefore, tp rely for defence against this tre«- mendous attack merely on three long twelve ppund- ers, which he had ran out of the stem ports ; and which were worked with such bravery and skill, as in half an hour to do great injury to both the enemy's ships, and induce them to hale off* and repair dama- ges. It was evidently the intention of commodore Hillyar to risk nothing from the daring courage of liis antagonist, but to take the Essex at as cheap a rate as possible. All his manoeuvres were deliberate and wary ; he saw his antagonist completely at his mercy, and prepared to cut him up in the safest and surest manner. In the mean time the situation of the Essex was galling and provoking in the extreme; crippled and shattered, with many killed and wound- ed, she lay awaiting the convenience c^ the enemy, to renew the scene of slaughter, i^ith scarce a hope of escape or revenge. Her brave crew, however, in place of being disheartened, were aroused to despera- tion* and by hoisting ensigns in their rigging, and jacks in different parts of the ship, evinced ^tir de- fiance and determination to hold out to the \tat. ^ NATAL BATTLES. 136 u The enemy having repaired his damages, now placed himself, with both his ships, on the starboard quarter of the Essex, out of reach of her carronades, and where her. stem guns could not be brought to bear. Here he kept up a most destructive fire, which it was not in captain Porter's power to return ; the latter, therefore, saw no hope of injuring him with- out getting under way and becoming the assailant. From the mangled state of his rigging, he could, set no other sail than the flying jib ; this he caused to be hoisted, cut his cable, and ran down on* both ships, with an intention of laying the Phoebe on board. For a short time he was enabled to dose with the enemy, and the firing on both sides was tremendous. The decks of the Essex were strewed with dead, and her cockj^t filled with wounded ; she had l)eea several times on fire, and was in fact a perfect wreck ; still a. feeble hope sprung up that she might be saved, in consequence of the Cherub being com- pelled to hale off by her crippled state ; she did not retiirn to close action again, but kept up a dis- tant i^mg with her long guns. The disabled state of the Essex, however, did not permit her to tsdie advantage of this circumstance ; for want of sail she was unable to keep at close quarters with the Phoebe who» edging off, chose the distance which best sinted her long gui|s, ^4ept up a tremendous fire, which mspde dreadful Jiav0Q|i among our crew. Many of the guns of the Espex were rendered useless, and many had their whole crews destroyed— 'they were man»- ned from those that were disabled, and one gun in i# 196 NAVAL BATTLES. 1^ piuticdlar was three times manfie^ ;' fifteeii UlUE were slain at it in the course of the action, thoti^h the captain of it escaped with only a slight wound. Captain Porter now gave up sill hope of closing with the enemy, but finding the wind fiiTourable) de- termined to run his ship on shore, land the crew, and destroy her. He had approached within muSket shot of the shore, and had every prospect of succeed- ing, when, in an instant, the wind shifted frotn tlib land and drove her down upon the Phoebe, exik>sing her again to a dreadful raking i^e. The ship wjIs now totally unmanageable; yet as herhead was toward the ^nemy, sad he to leeward, captain Porteir iigain percMved a faint hope of boarding* ' At this ni6nk«ttt fientenant Dewnes, of the £ssex junior^ citrine dn board to receive Aiders, expecting lliat captain Pos- ter would soon be a ptfsoner. His serviebs ceroid be of BO 8?ail in the deplombtef state of the Essex,* stnd finding Irom the enemy's putting hk helm trp, thSM ilie last attempt at bonrding would not sutceed, cH^ tna Porter direct«d^ him, after hie had be0n tett niM^ ntes on bo«rd, to return to^^Mso#n ship, t6 b6 prcfKred fop defending and= destroyiiig her itif ckse df Sfttack. He ttyek wMh hittr sievevnt of the Wonnded, leaving three of his boat*»< cfeti' oil board to make ro6m for tliem. The Chertt^ kept vtp ahot fire on him du<^g lis retumi. The s^^^ on bblird df ^ Ilss«jt mm became horrible; the i^nem;^ cofttinned to tHI^ liei, while site ws^ nxinlble to bring it gun to bear* Hi rctvmv Stills htfP tc^iSBmSi^,^ ^^^ ihal^ boidered on d«speratlonv persisted in th# Uj^- '^ I ^ #^ NATAL BATTLES. 197 1 qual and almost hopeless conflict Eveiy exp^ent that a fertile and inventiye mind could suggest was resorted to, in the forlorn hope that thej might yet be enabled bj some hickj chance to escape from the grasp of the foe. A halser was bent to the sheet anchor, and the anchor cut from the bows, to bfing the ship's head round. This succeeded ; the broadside of the Essex was agam brought to bear ; and as the enemy was much crippled and unable to hold his own, captain Porter thought she might drift out of gun shot before she discovered that he hai anchored. The halser, however, uniortunately partr ed, and with it failed the last lingering hopa of the Essex. The ship luid taken fire^ several tiroes during the ap^;^ but at this moment her situation was awr* flit She was on fire both forward and aft; the j|unes were burstpig up^ each hatchway ; ai huge quantity of powdef below expLsded, and ward was given, that^ the fire wfis near the magazine. Thw ^uprounded by horri^urs, without any chance of. sav* ueif^thje ship captain Pojrter turned his attention to rea- luing as many of hi9 bc&ve companions, as possifalsb l^^ing his ^tjaiice fromt the shore did not exceed ^uree quarters of 9 n|9e,.he hoped nuu^ would, he aUeito.save diemselves should the siup bhiif up. Hit bg^s,]»d b^n;cu$< to. pieces by theenemy^s shot, blithe advided «icb^as ooiUd swim tojompovierboaod ap^: mal^ for^ jriuir^k , Some fearkedit-Hpome: wera takei^ by the enemyf and some p^iidbed in the ^wk" tempt; bal most of ti»i»toyai andgalhHii '^ a m 1S8 NATAL BATTLES ferred sharing the fate of their ship and th^ eom-^ mander. ^ ''''■^':. -v^"'' , Those who remained on bcfcii4 JIWfrled bj se- vere wounds. The accounts from «yery part of the ship^ were deplorable in 'the extreme; representing her in the most shattered and crippled condijIQii* u^ imminenridanger of sinking, and so crowdedlpih the wounded that even the birth. d^i^i could contttin no more, i^ many were killed while Wl«(r:the siurgeon's handb. In the mean while the enemyviiicoBSf^enCft of the smoothposst of the water andiiis secui^ dis ' ttpce, was enabled to keep ttp a ^elib^te ^c^ sitimt fire, aiming with epohm and Wtainljflis '** firing at a target;%id hitting the hu^ ev^ ^^%yy . At length, utterly despairi^ Q^|||^|i|ie sliip, cap^^':. tain^prter was <^mpelled, if twcity »Wi^8 part m p. M. to give ike painfut order to stkike the c<^ ours. It is probable the enemy did not p^ceb^ that the ship had surrendered, far he c^ftin^l^g; several men were kill^ and wom^ted in . ^|jwrent parts of the ship, 8^4 csaptain Fcwfii^ffiHilaiitSe in- >\ , *^^ {lAf At BATTLBl. 139 ft?. . i ^w^' -V*, t 5 • 140 NiTAL SATTLIf. V tended to ihow no quarter, was about to rehoitt his^ flag aad to fight until be Bunk, when tbe enemy d^ tisted bk attack ten minutea after tbo aunender. Tbe kMM of the Essex is a suffieient testimonj of tbe desperate bravery with which she was defended. Out ot two hundred and fifty-fi?e men which com- prised her crew, fifty-eight were killed; tbirty*nine wounded severely ; twenty-seven slightly ; «nd thii^ ty-one missing, making in ali one hundred and fifty^ four. She was completely cut to pieces, and so covered with the dead and dypgt with mangled iimbS) with brains and bloody lu^ dU the ghastly im^ ages of pain and death, that the officer who eame on b6ard to take possession of her, tfa^ogh accustom^ ed.to scaues of slaughter, was struck with npkenlng borrour, nad fsiinted at the shocking sjpectacle. Thousands of the inhabitpijis of 'Valpffraiso were spectators of the tpltle, covefin|f the nugbbiouring Its ; for it wa| fought so ne«i Hkfi fjgore tjbift of the ^ot even struck Jimeiii the citizeni^ viip rn^e eagerness of theiif cttno8pty$ bad venture ""^^ v^ jip<>ti th« 1«eaebw Touched by tbf forlorpi idti of 1^ l^lliistr afNlittl#«^ J^^u^^ at tagging B^iM vxdjiegm^^ hf» ip0«i|iua^r and crew» '» generous anxiety ran llnM^lQllt the muhitude for;^^ l^ts qf dUilbt -arose when, by any i^eisskude of battle, or MMpt expedient, ajdiMiBp seemet t^ ^ up in Wiiiavour, and llpi^ i^^^ specfOtM Wei0 seen.to wniig tlu^ hands, in^aiteiiii^^ ei f^m^thy, wiMitbe tmnuent hipe^wmt^i^ktf aillie ga^ If AVAL BATTLES. 141 lant little frigate once more became an unreiitting object of deliberate slaughter. Though, from the distance and positions which the enemy chose, this battle was chiefly fought on our pai . by six twelve pounders only, yet great damage was done to the assailing ships. Their masts and yards were badly crippled, their hulls much cut up; the Phoebe, especially, received eighteen twelve pound shot below her water line, sonie three feet under water. Their loss in killed and wounded was not ascertained, but most have been severe ; the first lieutenant of the Phoebe was killed, and captain Tucker, of the Cherub, was severely wounded. . It was with some difficulty that the Phoebe and the Essex could be kept afloat until they anchored the next morniag in the port of Valparaiso. Much indignation has been expressed against com- modore Hillyar for his violation of the laws of na- tions, and of his private agreement with . captain Porter, by attacking him in the neutral wate y^pj^V af- •paraiso. His cautious attack with a vastlyNiPl^or .force, on a crippled ship, which, rmying on his^or- bearance, had placed herSelf ina most defenceless situation, and which for six We^ks prevMks jiad of- fered him fair fight, on advantag^pus^'tern\||(tSll!gh it may reflect great^credit on his^jhiqencej yet.certainr ly furnishes no triluuii^H. tb i, brai^^ ail4 generous miiid. Captain Porter and his creV were paroledt snd permitted tQ rfiturn to the Unit^ States in the ^ sex jamQ^,)ier. armament beine previously taken out. On arriving aS the port of New Ybr|^}t|]tg#i^ere .^l 142 NAVAL B4TTLE8. overhaled hy the Saturn razee, the authority of com-^ modore Hillyar to grant a passport was questioned, and the Essex junior detained. Captain Porter then told the boarding officer that he gave up his parole, and considered himself a prisoner of war, and as such should use all means of escape. In consequence of this threat the Essex junior was ordered to remain all night under the lee of the Saturn, but the next morning captain Porter put off in his boat, though thirty miles from shore ; and, notwithstanding he was pursued by the Saturn, effected his Escape, and landed safely on Long Island. His reception in the United States has been such as his great services and distinguished valour deserved. The various interest- ing and romantick rumours that had reached this country concerning him, during his cruise in the Pa- cifick, had excited the curiosity of the public to see t&is modem Sinbad., On arriving in New York his clirriage' was surrounded by the populace, who took outjiiiyMyses, and dragged him, with shouts and IP^s, jbjhis lod^mgs. ^,'* ■' ■■ :^ ... ;■:' fc ii^* — - T0£^ ALLIGATOR. t ■ • Towards the ^er part of January, 1814, the XJmted State|8fi&(^er Alligator, mounting eight or ten ^^, with a comj^ttient of' forty me% was at- t^^pi^^%(»n6 river (six niiles south of tfaie thannel *» */ NAVAL BATTLES. 149 of Chmi^m; S. C.) by six boiu from the enemy's * squadron off the mouth of the ri?er, having on board one hundred and forty men, and succeeded in beat- uig them off, after a warm action of thirty minutes, in which the enemy suffered very severely. The loss on board the Alligator was two killed and two wound- ed. Great credit is due to her commander, sailing- master Dent, and crew, for defeating a force so great- ly superior in numbers. The Alligator was after- Wards lost in a severe gaic. and twenty-three of her men drowned* • t'-i /' ( ORUISB OF COItfMOlK^llE'RODGERS. ,uit i On the 18th of FebnKury, commodore Rodgers arrived Ht Smdy Hook, off Ne^ York, after a cruise of seventy-five ^ys, during which he captuTlsd a number of British merchant vessel^, a^ miirowly escaped at diiereat time8»:^.a> veiy superior force of the enemy. i fM " m%9 . ' K.* P£iLqO(DK4ND £P;^y£BR. 0]f^29i^iif April, in latiti^e 27 47, longitude 80 9, ^4Jnited Statea sloop^ war Peacock, cap- tain Wanpgton, tf twenty ^s and one hundred and m^ mep, cilptured, ali<^^ action of ^rty-two 144 NAYAL BATTLES. H a A« Gd H »J Q 3 o M IVATAL BATTLES. 146 I m^ minutes, the British forig £pervier of eighteen guns and one hundred and twentj-eigbt men, having on board one hundred and twenty thov9?M3d dojlars j^ specie. The loss on board the Epervier was eight killed and thirteen wounded ; among the latter was her first lieutenant, who lost an iirm and revived j||p, severe splinter wound on the hip. Not a man in tWe Peacock' was kUled, and only two wonnded ; aoi^ the injury sustained by the vessel was so trifling that in fifteen minutes after the Epervier struck, she was * ready for another action. When the enemy stniek, be had five feet of watlft' in his hold, his main-top-mast was over th^ side, his main boom shot away, his foremast cut nearly in two and tottering, his bowsprit badly wounded, ftnd for- ty-five ahot holes in his hull, twehty of which were within a foot of his Water find. By gre%t exertkUtt^ the E|)ervier was got in sailing order in t!^ eoUlM of the day, f? - On th^ Ist <>f May, the Epervitf arrived at Sa- vannah ; and on the 4th, the PePNick reacMd i|tt,i same pla^e, after having beien separated frtqn 1^ prize and ehaaedfor four or hvp <^d'hpi|^Q|^ forpe of enemy'is yessels. The Peacock shortly sailed again, aw} arrived at New Y&tk toward the latter part of ifetc^r, from a cruise of bile hunted and forty-seven ^ys, bav- ing ma^^fouirteen^prizes, valued ninety*l5ar thousai^ two hui dollars; twelve of the prizes, and two made cartels for prii 10 Isor Kiwi hundred tw^i^- and two sre bumc^ oraaidt, /.^■■# •••r- 146 NATAli BATTLES. ( i. » 1^- OEUISK OF THE WASP.— CAPTURE OF THE REIN BEER. 411 On the 1st of Maj, the United States slbdp of w4r Wasp, of eighteen guns and oqe hundred and seventy-three men, captain Blakely commaiider, sail- ed from Portsmouth, N. H. on a cruise, and on the^8tb of June, in latitude 4d 36, longitude 11 15 after having made several captures, ^e fell in with engagei^, and after an action of nineteen minutes, cap- tured his Brittanick majesty's sloop of war Reindeer, William Manners, esquire, commander. The Rein- deier mounted sixteen twenty-four pound carronades, two long six or nine pounders, and a shifting twelve I pound carronade, with a complement on board of one hundred and eighteen men. She was literally cut to piecel in a line with her ports ; her upper wotks, ^ boats and. spare spairs were one complete wreck, aind •^l^reece springi% up the day after the action, her roren^t went by the boai^ ; when the ^prisoners haviij|M|i. taken on board the Wasp, she was set ne wotinded. 'More t^n one half of the wpuiufSfnemy weijejiii cdnse^iience of the severity and »ept of thTif wounds, put on ' 1>oM i Fortugaei|^^ and sent tor England.-'-^he ± -'mmmm * NATAL BATTLES. 147 loss of the Americans, although not as severe as th^t of the British, was owing, in a degree, to the prox- imity of the two vessels during the action, and the extrcime smoothness of the sea, b^t chiefly in repel- ling boarders. On the 8th of J^Iy, the Wasp put into L'Orient, France, after capturing an additional number 9f priz^ es, where she remained until the 27th of August, when she again sailed on a cruise. On the ^Ist of September she fell in. with the British sloop of war Avon, of twenty guns, commanded by captain Abuth- not, and .after an action of forty-five miniites, coiod- pelled her to surrender,, her crew being ne^ly all kfuc ' f wounded. The guns were then ordered to be dd, and a boat lowered from die Wasp in order to tak^ possession of the prize. , 1|^e act of lowering £e boat, a second enemy's vessePlvas dis- covered astern and standing towards the Wasp. Captain Blakely immediately ordered his crew to their quarters, prepared every thing' for action, and awaited her coming up. In a fen^inUtes after, t^o additional sail were discovered bearing down upon the Wasp. .Captain Blakely stood off ^withihe ex- pectation of drawing the first from its Mnpanions; but in this he was^isappoint^d. She continued to approach until she came close to the stern of the Wasp, when she haled by the wind, fired her broad- side, (which injured the Wasp but trifling,) and re- traced her steps to join her conallts. Captain Blaie- ly was now necesiltated to afaAdon the Avon, which had by this time become wreck, and which V (^ NAVAL BATTLES. fStion after sunk, the surriving part of her crew hav- ing barely time to escape to the other enemy's ves- sels. On board the Avon forty were killed and sixty wounded- ' -e loss sustained by the Wasp was two killed ainpf one wounded. The, Wasr afterwards contiiiued her cruise, mak- ing great havock among English merchant vessels ai^ privateers, destroying an immense amount of the enemy's property. From the 1st of May until t]he 20th of September, she had captured fifteen ves- sels, most of which she destroyed. LOSS OF THE PRESIBENT. •^-:!l*'i On ih6 14th of January, the frigate President, the command of which, had been assigned to com^nodore Decatur, sailed from New York on a crliiile. Owing to a mistake of the pilotsy the ship, in going out, ffri>unded 6h the bar, where she continued to strike teeav^ for an hour and a half. Several of he* rudder Wees being broken, and other mate'rial injury sus- tained, commodore Decatiir thought it a)dtisatde to i^um to port, which, however, he was prevented from doing by the s^i^g westerly winds. Having succeeded in forcing K^ over the baf, he shaped his coarse akmg th^ fthoir^f Loiig Island for fifty milet, ' • KAVAL 9ATTLES. 149 and then s. £. by £. At five o'c]iocKi three sliips were discovered ahead. The commodore passed two miles to the northward of them. At da}' light he discovered four ships in chase, one on each quar- ter, and two astern,, the leading ship being a razee, which commenced a fire upon the President, but without effect. At .meridian he found that he in- creased his distance from the razee ; but tjbe next ship astern, which v/as the Endymion, mounting 'fifty guns, twenty-four pounders, on th^ maindeqk, had gained and continued to gain upon hip^ considembly. All hands were occupied in lightening the ship by starting water cutting away anchors, throwing over- board provisions, cables, spars, boats, and every arti- cle that could be gotat, and keeping the sails wet from the royals down. At three d'clocjk the enemy was joined by a brig, and was coming iq) with the Presi- dent rapidly. The Endymion bad appjroached with- in gunshot, and commenced a fire with her bow guns, which was returned from the stern of the PresMent. At five o'clock, she obtained a position on Jfhe star- board quarter, within half point blank sh9t, on which commodore Decatuk' could not bring eith^ his sterp or quarter guns to bear. He reniained in this jposi- tion for half an hour, hoping that the*enemy ivbvAd close with him on his broadside, in which case he had prepared his men to board. The enemy, how- ever, kept his position, and every fire cut some of the sails.and rigging of the Presidef t. In was now fiusk, and commodore Decatur altered his course, ibr the purpose of bringing the enenlf abeam ; im^ 160 NAVAL BATTLES. their ships astern were drawing up fast, he felt satis- fied he should be able to throw his opponent out of \he combat before they could come up ; and was not without hopes of escaping. The enemy, however, kept off at the same instant. They continued engag- ed, steering sor u with steering sails set, two hours and a half, v/h.^. the Endymion was completely dis- mantled, and dropped entirely out of the action. The other ships of the squadron being in sight and ^most within gunshot, commodore Decatur was of .ourse compelled to abandon her. - He then resumed his ||nner course, to avoid, if possible, the remainder of tbcf iquadron, which he continued till eleven o'cliiek^ At this time two fresh ships of the enemy, the Fbmone and Tenedos, came up. The Pomone opened her fire upon the larboaird bow, within mus- ket shot; the Tenedos, about two cables length astern, taking a raking position on the quarter of the President. The other ships of the squadron, except the Endymion, were within gunshot. Thus situated with about one fifth of his crew killed and wounded, his ship crippled, and more than a four-fold force op- posed to him, without a chance of escape left, com- modore Decatur thought it his duty to surrender. The loss on board the President was twenty- four Lilled and fifty-five wounded. Among thefor- jpet were lieutenants Bal^bit, Hamilton and Howell. The loss of the enemy was not ascertained. The Endymion had on board in addition to her own crew, one lieutenant, one master's mate and fifty seamen, ' belonging to the Saturn, and when the action ceas- M. NATAL BATTLES. 151 ed, was left motionless and unmanageable, until she, bent new sails, cove pew rigging, and fished her spars; nor did she join the squadron till six hours after the action, and three hours after the surrender of the President. C'OmiitbBbre Decatur, and a part of his csew were put on board the Endjmion, and was carried to Ber- muda. After ren)aining on the Island a few days, he was paroled, and sailed for the United States in the British frigate Narcissus. The ships, cofnposing the squadron m this a^ion, wer^ the Majestic, Endjmion, Pomone, and Dispatch. In his letter to the secretary of the itavi^, c^nio- dore Decatur says, " f is with emotions of )^de I bear testimony to tho gdlantry and isteadiness of every officer and man I had the honour to command on this occasion : and I feel satisfied, thaf^the fact of their having beaten a force when equal to themselves, in the presence, and almost under the guns of so yastly superior a force, when, too, it was almost selif- evident, ihat, whatever their exertions might be, they must nltimately be captured, wilS be taken as evi- dence of What they would have pertbfnved, had the force opposed to them been in any degree equal." ' » r.fci. J CAPTURE OF THE CYANI? AND LEVAVT.K dN'*^tHe evening of thef Zipitfi^ February, captain Stewart, of the United States frigate Constitution, 162 NAVAL BATTLES. «' off ik^ Island of Madeira, fell ia with lib Britan- nick majesty's ships of war Cjane and LevtHHt When a lipirited action commenced. — lit fbrty' tiMites the Cyiine struck b^r colours, being Ibifeh ', and the Levant endeavoured to escape. Th^ C^iriftittt* tion, aft6T manning the prize, punided tllie Li^yant ; and in half an hour cataie up with heir, whMi «li6. soon surrendered. The Levant mounted tWiMy^he gttjiii, eighteen of which were thirty-two 'pound car^ottad^, llid h^l* crew cofisisted df '6nc hundred mA'sbtiy dfflt^ts, sea- me# l^mariti^s, coirittianded by diii^tailti Bbu^ss.' limjBS^^ killed was twenty-three, i^d '^tNlnddd Thb K^yarie ttiountfed thiriy-foiit guilfe, (t^tmiy- two thif t^-t«vo pound ckrrdnades,; 'her lotts'm'killtsa'i^ thj^e, ttftfl*w6i|i^^^'^^^ 'O&'thb i9ih tif ^Iffilrdi the ^Ccyitif^tit^tii^ ^th^h»r IWo¥ri^ds%^6^ed'6rthe'I)^ bf M^3r,'j[;^Mi^'C>M|sid- ering the little respect heretofoire paid by Bl^tish io'JihVkmet my. S^tiifs ^^^te ^a«Mrdkigly'1iMl}e v\ / n^llAh JIATTLfiS. 168 fe* 154 NAVAL BATTLES. 5}. for this purpose, whein the PortuguesitdpeDed a fire upon captain Stewart from several of tMr bptteries and the British frigates discovering the movements ofiiour vessels, gave immediate chase. After cchitin- uing the chase for three or four hours, they succeed- e^iiiv separating the Levant from the other vessels, when she tacked and stood for the hairbour, her com- manding officer, lieatenttnt Billiard, hopillg^ tlie neu- trality of the port might protect him : Mit iil thillifie Wiis disappointed. For after ^chdring ik fonki ^th- . IHW i)Mter, and within one hiindnsd Aid fifty yiirds of t he shore, he Was wantonly aitiiclted by th^ British fcj^at^(which had chased him in) wlii^n, filing jK' fiinher resistance vain, he was comp<>lled t6 straLe Kii (*olour8. " • '^" .' f On the 8th of April, the Cyaiie, ebmmand^ by lieutenant Hoffman, arrived in itflty at N^iv York ; and on the Idth of May captain Ste#sfft arril^Bd at the same place in the Constitution^ after a cruise of about five months— having heard of the rapfic^tibnof a treaty of peace between Great Btitam and Ameri- cai^5«boat a fbrtnight prervicwiis toihis i^^ The following particulars df the capture of the Cyane .anH, Levant, df the escipe of the Constitution with one of^ them and > the subsequent Vecapttire of the other by li British 'fleet, are giVeii by captain Stewart, in his o^is|l letter^land mi^peililms be more gratifving to tb« nautical reader, thu^ our pre-^ ceding brief relation.* ' , f i NAVAL BATTLB8. 166 Mniiitoi of Um aetioa botweea Ui« United StatM frigate Conrti- tution and hit aiigettjr't sliiiM Cjane and Levant, on the 90th Febraary, 1810. «(*■ CoMifKNCis with light breezes from the east, add cloudy weather. At one p. m. discovered a sail two points on the larboard bo]w — hauled up, and made sail in chase. At a quarts past one, made the sail to be a ship ; fto three quarters pa^t one, discovered another sail aiiiead ; made them out, at two, to be both ships, standing close hauled, with their starl tacks on board ; ^t four, the weathermost shij^^ signals, and bore up for her consort, then al miles to leeward ; we bore up after her, and sefi er top-mast, top-gallant .and royal studding sails, in chase ; at half past four, carried away our main roy- al-mast ; took in the sails, and got another prepared* At five, commenced firing on the chase from our two larboard bow guns ; our shot falling short, ceased fir- ing : at hsflf past five, finding it impossible to pre- vent their junction, cleared ship for action, then about four miles from, the two ships; and forty minutes past five, they passed within hail of each other, and hauled by the w.ind on the starboard tark, hauled up their courses, and, prepared to receive us: at. forty- five miip^^tes past five, they made all sail close hauled by th^ ii[iQ^, ill hi^pes of fi;etting to windward of us . at fifty-fip. niiiP^^ P^^ ^^^t finding themselves dis- appoin^^ill t|ieir ol^ect, and we were closing with them fast,'they shortened sail, and formed on a line of wind, abput half a cable's length of each other : at 0Kt having then^ under command of our battery. KV,. 166 NAVAL BATTLES. h koiit«d our colou'ii, which was answered hy both ships hoisting £ngilfh ensigns : at five minutes pjsst six, ranged up on the starboard side of the sternmost ship, about three hundred yards distant, and com- menced the action hy broadsides, both ships returning our fire with great spirit for about fifteen minutes ; then the fire of the eneodj beginning to slacken, and the great column of smolLe doUected under our lee, induced us to cease our fire to ascertain their poei- <«iaiM and conditions : in about ihree min^tes^ the ; SB^ft^mouHtiug .tlurtjrMfoitr .guns, ^t .eight,^fiiled aw^ .after .hef Ifk^ %AnLvt. 167 comort, which was still in sight to leeward. At half past eight, found her standing towards us, with her starboard tacks close hauled, with top-gallant sails-Set, and colours flying. At isfe minutes past eight, ranged close along side to windward of her on opposite tacks, and exchanged broadsides — wore immediately under )ier stem, and raked her with a broadside : she then crowded all sail, and endeavour- ed to escape by running — hauled on board ou tacks,4. set spanker, and flying jib in chfise. At half pasl^ nine, commenced firing on her from our sta.^ioard bow chaser; g^ve her several shot, which cut her spars and rigging considerably. At ten, finding she could not escape, fired a gun, struck her colours, an i yielded. lYe immediately took possession of his majesty's ship Levant, honourable . captain George Douglass, mounting twenty-one guns. At one ▲• m^ tfie damages of our rigging were repaired, sails shift %/^j ed, and the sh^> in fighting cUndition." ' ' ■'«tr H^' HinuteB of tlM> chase of !>ntalned but hm inhabitants. They of course cottid make but Uude mststaace against a numeious body of assaii- ■ t NAYAL BATTLKS. 161 I ants. The destruction committed by the British in those places was wanton in the extreme. The hous* es were set on fire. The furnityre and other prop- erty of the inhabitants were either destroyed or con- veyed on board their vessels. The squadron soon after returned down the Chesapeake. On the 20th of June, commodore Cassin fitted out an expedition against some of the blockading frigates then in the vicinity of Crany Island. Fifteen gun boats were selected for this purpose and put under the command of captain Tarbell. The attack was com- menced from the gun boats upon a frigate about three quarters of a mile distant. Two other British frig- ates were in sight. The frigate sustained considera- ble injury, and would have been captured by the gun boats had not a breeze sprung up which enabled the other two vessels to come to her assistance. The action however continued an hour and a half with the three frigates. Oply one Aniericah was killed, and some others slightly wounded. Oh the 22d of June, about three thousand British attempted to land on Crany Island, but were repuls- ed. Three of their barges were sunk : one of them, belonging to admiral Warren's ship had seventy-five men in her, the greater part of whom were drowned ; a number of prisoners were takenw Many of the ene- my ri60 deserted*. The Americsm tfo^m on the is- land consisted of about five hundred lano troops ttn^^ dttr ihe command of lieutenant'-colbnel Beaty ; and* one hundred and fifty marines, and sailors, under the ■4 , I 162 NAVAL BATTLES. command of lieutenants Neale, Shubrick, Saimdersi and Brackenridge. On the 26th. of June, about two thousand five hundred British attacked iiie town of Hampton. The American force statiauri there amounted to about four hundred, undt;r the command of major Crutchfield. This small body of Americans opposed the very superior British force, with the utmost gal- lantry for a considerable time, when, overcome by numbers, they retreated, and the British took posses- sion of Hampton, where the most inhuman and shock- ing acts were committed by them. Several of the de- fenceless and unfortunate females that rema^ied in the place suffered every indecency and violence. Pro- perty to a large amount was most wantonly destroyed.^ On the 14th of July the United States schooner Asp, of three guns and twenty-one men, in the Ches- apeake bay, being attacked .by several British ves- sels, ran up° a creek, whither she was pursued by three boats, well manned and arped ; but the assail- ants were soon compelled to 'retreat. After the lapse of an hour, the Asp was again attacked by five boats, the crews of which succeeded in boarding her. The crew of the Asp retreated on shore. The Brit- ish set fire tt the vessel and left her. The fire however was extinguished by the Americans. The W» of the laitter in killed and wounded amounted to ten. * « On the 18th of July, an attempt was made in the Chesaneake h»y^ to, blow i)p the PlantafiMiet, a se- venty-foor, by means pf a torpedo. ly^.rMi^, the NATAL BATTLXa. 168 projector of the scheme, had approached within forty fathoms of her, and dropped the torpedo ; when he was hailed by one of the British guard boats. He instantly drew his machine into the boat and escaped. On the following night he made a second attempt, but was again discovered. In the night of the 2Qth, he madcv a third attempt, and got within fifteen yards of the ship's bow, and directly under her jib^ boom, where be contiaued fifteen minutes making preparations, when a sentinel from the forecastle hailed ^^Boat ahoy." ^The sentinel not being an- swered, fired his musket at the now retreating ad- venturer, .to which a rapid discharge of small arms succeeded. Blue lights were resorted to in order to find out the position of the boat, but failed. Rockets were then thrown which illilmined the water to a considerable extent, and discovered the boat. ^A heavy discharge of cannon immediately commenced. The Plants^ganet slipped her cable, made some sail, while her boats were sent in pursuit. 13ut the dai^ mg American escaped unhurt. Unsuccessful a^ tempis were made the three following nights. Bui on the 24th Mr. Mix took his position within one hundred yprds of the Plantaganet, and in a direction^ with her larboard bow. The machine was dropped into the water, and the same moment ^the sentin cried " All's well :" the tide swept it towards vessel, but it exploded a few seconds m loon. column of water fifty feet in circumference wi thrown up thirty or forty feet.^ Its appearance wni a vivid red, tinged with purple at the sides, lie r^"« % 164 IfAVAI, BATTLES. snmDiit of the column burst with a tremendous explo- sion^ and fell on the deck of the Plantaganet in tm- rents, while she rolled iiiio the yawning cbasTij be- low, and nearly upset. She however receiv fd bu.;". little injury. *< In the month of JUI31; the bio«^kiding squa Ton again sailed up ^he Chesapc>^ke and entered the Po- tomac : they however effected nothing. Soon siUr riettfsning out of the river thej sai!*}4 toward the hejtd of thf! Chesapeake. They landed on Kemt islfaiid, wh^*^ they ramaiirted for some time, wheii they again 1reryrii€ti dcwa the bay. On the 6th ti April ike blockading squadron in the Delawitre b?t¥ eommeaced a cannonade on Lewis- to^w^, t^e inhabitants of which had refused comply- ing with an order of the English commodore, to sup- |i|y the squadron with provisions. The cannciiiade Idited ftbout twenty-two houts : a number of eighteen 'xBd thitty-two pottnd shot Were fired, likewise slioHs hiJi Congireve rockets; but produced littTe or no effect — not a life wa^i lost. Thi% inhabitants of the te were prompt in repelling every attempt to On tbe 27th of July, due 6f the United States gun t|Gl8t8 was' captured in the Deliaware by a superior fytce, af^erV ^ery g$^ant defence, in which the >Q|itish hadi^evea men killed and twelve wounded.^ k • Clark's Ntval Hiitdry, ftA. i. p^ IB^I^T. w.^ t XAVAL BATTLES. 166 k * GUN BOAT ACTION On the 19th of May, commodore Lewis, commaod- ing the United States flotilla on the New York sta- tion, discovered the enemy in pursuit of a brig under American colours standing for Sandy Hook ; when he ordered a detachment of eleven gun boats to pro- ceed to sea and pass between the chase and the en- emy, by which means to bring him H> action, and give opportunity to the chaise to escape — all Which was effected ; and the enemy, after receiving the fire of thu^boats bore away. OM the 2dd, commodore Lewis engaged the ^0b- mji before New London, and (^ned a passage for forty sail of coasting vessels ; the action lasted three hoiti;^ in which the flotilla snfiered very little, ail} "^llnt^c&imttg on, the action ^ceased* The enen^y's fbvce consist^ of two ships and ;i sloop of wiir, |nd fhnn appearance suflered sev^rely^ as he was UBwill- ilig to renew the action next moriiing. ' . EVtNTS ON LAtE ^lEj^ O^tiie mojtthi^ofthe 8tlrof OdtC^et, 1812, t^ Blitisi^v«M«ls, theD. Yh- •i;f: 10 ^ttoy the military siores with which she was pri»- ^ifiaUy laden. But they were dislodged bj a dctach- pevt of voltinteers under th^ command of major Cy- renus Cbapin. About three o'clock in the ^afternoon of the same day, the British a second tisoe attempt- ed to board the Detroit ; but were again repulsed. The Detroit mounted six long six pounders, and had a crew of fifty-six men. About thirty American pfisoaers were on board her. She was burnt by the Americans after they had taken the greater part of lie itores ouit of her. The Caledonia mounted two small guns, and had a crew of twelve men. She hud on hmxd,m cargo of furs, estimated at about one lljimdred mi4 lifty thousand dollars. {pil tl^ch 1813) captain Perry arrived at the port of J{;ii^, to tfike command of the fleet there fitting out. ', Purpiig the summer the following American veir t0ik werei «qii^^ on lake Erie. Gttw. 20 20| A- • 4 ling l4awi^iiee; Cidedoua Sohiu Aiifil * f^y Homely. TIgiwss Bosempne Conunaodttra. Oi H. Peny^ J. D. Elliot Turner. Packet* Chamyliiii Ohio Zk2i 9mmh Almyi* It Qoftklufc 1 MthK 1 Wttm !|l 55 ^- NATAL BATT «*.«. The British fleet ander the command of commo^ dore Barclay, consisted of the following vessels. Hrt. HowiiMri. 2 1 t ♦». Oani. Ship Detroit 19 Queen Charlotte 17 Schr. Lady Prevost 13 Brig Hunter 10 Sloop Little Belt 5 Schf. Chippeway 1 63 guns. On the mornirig of the tenth of Septelllber the British ileet was discovered by commodore Perry from Put in Bay, where he then hiy Ht linchor. Commodore Perry immediately got under way with his squadhm, and stood for the British fleet. The wind at that time wds light fropn southwest. At fif- teen minutes before twelve, the British commenced firing : and at five mtntites before twelve, the action commenced on the part of the Amerieans. As th^ fire of the British, owing to their long gtiiis, was very severe upon the Americans, and was principally ^- rected at this < Lawrence, commodore Pferry res -hed to close with thent : he asecordingly made sa?l, '.^bi! ordered Ae other vessels to follow. Every brace and bowfiiite of the LiewreUce being shot away, she became unmanageable, notwithstanding the great exertions of the sailing master. In this sitttation she sustained the action, within cannist^ distance, up* wards of two hours, until every gun was rendered 22 H' ■% 170 WAVAL BATTLES. iuel«iB, and the greater part of her crew either kiHed or wounded. After a display of skill and gallantry, which, alone, would have been sufficient to have immortalized commodore Perry — after defending his vessel against a far superior force, to the very last extremity, this illustrious hero, at a critical moment, when, to al- most any other mind, the contest would have appear- ed hopeless, resolved to save his country's honour, or perish in the attempt. He therefore quitted the Lawrence in an open boat, and rowed off for the Niagara, to make one more display of his heroism and talents. In his passage, there was no less than three broadsides fired at him by tlie British vessels, which he passed. Heaven interposed its protecting arm. He escaped the apparently inevitable destruc- tion. He reached the Niagara in safety, and a breeze springing up, enabled captain Elliot, who commanded that vessel, to bring her into (;lose action in a very gallant manner. Captain Elliot anticipated the com- modore's desires by volunteering to bring the schoon- ersi wliich had, by the lightness of the wind, been ^ j^ept astern, into close action. Some time after com- modore Perry had left the Lawr;,nce her flag was lowered ; for having been so long exposed to nearly the whole fire of the British fl^et, she was almost cut to pieces; and the chief part of her crew disabled, oiily; ciigbt men remaining capable of doing duty. The British however were not in a state to take pos- SjBssion of her, and circumstances soon permitted her to b« again hoisted. At forty-five minutfis paist , "*■ ,W' NATAL BATTLI8. m\ tW0| the signal was made for close action. As the Niagara was very little injured, commodore Perrjr determined to pass through the enemy's line with her. He accordingly bore up, and passed ahead of :heir two ships and a brig, giving a raking fire to them from his larboard side, at half pistol shot dis- tance. The smaller vessels were by this time with- in grape and cannister distance, under the direction of captain Elliot. The severe and well directed fire from them and the Niagara, forced the two ships, the brig, and a^ schooner to surrender. A sloop and schooner attempted to escape,, but were overtaken and captured. The Lawrence was so completely cut up, ^hat •after the action, she was sent to Erie to be disman- tled. Lieutenant Ys^rnell, upon Whom the command fof the Lawrence devolved after the commodore left her, refused to quit the deck though several times wounded. Lieutenant Brooke of the marines, and midshipman Saul, were both killed on board the Lawrence. As the surgeon of this vessel was stoop- ing, in the act of dressing or examining* a wound, a ball passed through the ship a few inches from his head, which, had it been erect must have been tak- en off. Mr. Hambleton, purser, distinguished him- self, and towards the close of the action was severe- ly wounded. On board the Niagara, lieutenants Smith a|td Ed- wards and midshipman Webster behaved iiWVery handsome manner. Captain Brevoort of the army, who, with the men under his commauid» had volun- J li % 1 »{ Ml NATAL BATTLES. teered, to act as marines, did great execution with his musketry. Lieutenant Turner, who command- ed the Caledonia, brought his vessel into action in the most gallant style. The Ariel, lieutenant Pack- et, and Scorpion, sailing master Champlin, got early into the action, and were of great service. The pur- ser ^Magrath performed essential service. Captain £)iliot particularly distinguished himself by his exer- tion and ^kill. The following is an estimate of the killed and iFOundeid on board the American fleet. • Killed. Wounded. Total Lawrence 22 61 83 Niagara 2 25 27 Caledonia 3 3 Somers 2 2 Ariel 1 3 4 Trippe 2 2 Scorpion 2 2 <■/'. -J ?«>- ki J^vf f 96 123 ■ Of the British fleet the captain and first lieutenant c^ th? Queen Charlotte, were killed. Commodore Bar- clay of the Lady Prevost was severely wounded, and Iqst liis )\and. The loss of ,the British in kiUed and wounded has been estimated at one hundred and sixty. The rejoicing at this victory ju the United States, was extremely great. All the principal towns were illuminated,* 4^Cl|i|^'« K»vil Itiitory, vol. i. p. S^i •--223. -«!.. NAVAL BATTLES. m ETENTS ON LAKE ONTARIO. For a long time previous to tile war, the British had been actively employed in equipping Vessels of war on lake Ontario. On the 19th of Ju!/18)2, ^n after the declaration of war redched Sackett^s harbour, lieutenant Woolsey, of the American brig Oneida, then lying in Sackett's harbour, discovered from the mast head five sail of British armed vessels namely, the Roys|l George, of twenty-four guns ; the Prince Hegent, a new ship carrying upwards of twen^ ty guns, the Earl Moira of twenty, the Seneca of eight, the other unknown. They were about five leagues distant, beating up for th^e harbour with the wind ahead. The troops were immediately called to arms and despatches sent for the troops in the vicini- ty, whp assemble^, to the amount of nearly three thousand. Soon ^fter sunrise the Prince Regeitt brought to, /and captured the custom house boat, about seven miles from the harbour. The crew of the boat were set on shore, with a message to colohel Belleyer, the commandant at the harbour, demfttfd- ing the surrender of the Oneidi^, and the fate British schooner I^clson, seized tor a breach of the revenue laws, and then fitting out as an ^med vessel. In case of refusal, the British threatened to bum the village, and lay the inhabitants Under contribution. Soon after this lieutenant Woolsey kft the hairhour in the Oneida, and ran down.withifft a leagUi of the British. But he soon returned, and moored his vessel •**»< % m NAVAL BATTLES. < I 1 in a line with a land battery lately erected. Lieu* tenant Woolsey then left his vessel, in order to direct the guns of the land battery. By this time the Brit- ish ^eet had arrived within gunshot. The Royal George, as flag ship, was ahead. A brisk firing com- menced on both sides, and continued upwards of two hoqrs^ The Royal George and Prince Regent were much injured. As the former was veering to give a broadside, a shot from an American thirty-two pound- er, was observed to strike her and completely rake her.- Soon after this the squadron bore away for Kingston. None of the Americans were injured. On the 31st of July, the Julia, carrying three guns was attacked by the British armed vessels Earl Moira, of sixteen gvms, and the Duke of Gloucester of ten, at the entrance of the St. Lawrence, and beat them both off. In September, captain Isaac Chauncey was' ap- pointed to command the American fleet on lake On- tario, then lying in Sackett's harbour, where he ar- rived in the month of October. In the early part of November, he sailed with his fleet from Sackett's harbour : the aggregate of guns of the American ves- sels amounted to forty, their crews to four hundred and thirty men ; that of the British to one hundred mid eight guns, and their crews to eight hundred and ninety men. On tjjie 8th, commodore Chauncey fellin with the Royal George, and chased he; into Quinte Bay; where he lost sight of her in tho night ; but on the morning of the 9th, she was perceived lying in '•?*'* NAVAL BATTLES. 176 Kftt^ton channel. She was immediatiBly followed into the harbour of Kingston. He there engaged her while exposed to the fire of the land batteries,* for upwards of an hour and a quarter. Night coming on he haled off with the intention of renewing the at tack next morning ; but this the weather prevented. On the 10th, the commodore fell in with the Govi4 ernor Simcoe, which however succeeded in escaping into the harbour of Kingston. In passing through the bay of Quinte, two British trading vessels were captured. On the 12th he returned to Sackett's harbour. 'On the 26th of November, the ship Madison was launched at Sackett's harbour. ^ In the spring of the year 1813, the United States had the following vessels equipped on lake Ontario Guns Ship Madison 24 . Brig Oneida ;♦ /• 18 Schooner Governor Tompkins .6 Hamilton 9 Julia . 2 Elizabeth 2 ,. Lady of the Lake S Conquest 8 Growler 6 Pert S Fair American 4 Ontario 1 Scourge 8 OS m NAVAL BATTtES* ¥ .> ; Also the Mary, bombvessel. During the summer the General Pike of thirty-two guns, was added to the fleet. The British fleet in the spring consisted of tht following vessels : • . Guns. The frigate General Wolfe 3^ Ship Royal George 22 ? Prince Regent 16 i Brig Eari Moira 12 Seven schooners of from four to eight guns each> On the 25th of April the American fleet, under commodore Chauncey, left Sackett's harbour for the purpose of conveying the expedition^ under the com- mand of major general Dearborn, against the British post at York. At this place the fleet arrived on the 27th. The landing of the troops was covered in a masterly manner by the commodore. The Ameri- cans succeeded in their attack upon the town : but unfortunately; the ever «o be lamented brigadier general Pike, was killed by explosion. A midship- man and some seamen of the fleet iiveie killed. CgilHModore Chauncey, after haviug returned to Sackett's harbour from York, again sailed, on the 22d of May for the purpose of co-operating in the reduction of the British fort George, which was at- tacked on the 28th. The vessels of the American squadron were judiciously stationed to cover the landing of the troops, and to silence the land batte- ries of the British ; in the latter they soon succeed- ed ; wlisn a landing was efiected, and the fort taken NAtAL BATTLES. iii Captain Perry hfld come down from lake Erie, and was in tMs engagi^ment. He rendered particular ^service to the commodore by assisting in arranging and superintending the delmrkation of the troops, Oi^ boaird the fleet only one man was killed, and two Wionnded; On the 29th of May, during the absence of the American fleet, the British fleet, consisting of the Wolfe, RoyAl George, Prince Regent, Earl Moira, two armed schooners, and a nnmber of gun boats. With a detach^^t of the Brivish armj, from Kings- tdh, attkdked Sadketf^s faarbom ; they Were hoWev- ^ gallantly repulsed by the troops under the com- iti^nd of brigadier geneitil Brown. A few days after iifhis tf£fair the Ahi^irksan fleet rt^tumed to Sackett's l^botir. ^^^^ Iki th6 laftterpart df July, commodore Chauncey left Saekett'^ harbour With Ms fleet, and on the 27th of ^t same Wibnth arrived dff* Niagara. Having there takish abdtrt two hnndred and fifty infantry on boaird, fn^^^ s^. It h^d been i^solved to attack an encattip- n^eM Of th« Br^ish ; but th^ latter being in greater fbr^6 thkii had been Siilppos^d, the attentpt Was aban- ddMid ; and tha fl6et proceeded to Yoiic, where th6^ «l!Ari(i^^ 'ttM soldievs were landed, under coYond BtbiH. A V^ry cou^iierabte cfnantity df British stores Wtre ^ther de^r^y^d or ciyifVeyed on board tht fleet. The batracks ^tnd pdblick store houses werie burnt Thfe fl6*?e thenlftetnmind to Niagara. ^ Oh th^ 7th df Anpst at daylight, the British fleet, c^ltisSMtlng Of tm ithips, irwo brigs, and two larg^ 23 I I 1 m NAVAL BATTLISS. t schooners, were discovered bearing w. n. w. ? hey were about five or six miles distant, and the wn 1 at, west Commodore Chauncey^ having passed the lee*^ ward of the British line, and abreast of their van v hip, the Wolfe, hoisted American colours ; and fired 9 few guns to ascertain whether the .British vessels < ould be reached by his shot. But discovering that they fell shorty he wore and haled upon a wind on the starboard tack. The rearmost of the Ameiican schooners was tl^en about six miles astern. The British wore in succession ; and haled upor^ f-i wind oa the same tack ; but perceiving the Americans would be enabled to weather them upon the ne:^t tack, they tacked, and made all sail to the noith- \. d d. As soon as the rear vessels of the Aoierican squadron could reach the w?ike of the British, they tacked, and made all sail- in chase. In the afternoon the wind became very light, and towards night a calm succeeded. The Anaerican ischoonecs used their sweeps all the afternoon, in endeavours to close with the British, but without success. Late in the afternoon commodore Chauncey made the signal of recall, and formed in close order. During the night,L. . the wind was from the westward; and after mi47 night squally. All hands were kept at quarters, an4 the vessels beat to windward, in expectation of gain^f ing the wind of the British. Duri g the night the two best American schooners were upset, in a heavy squall of wind, and sunk. Only sixteen persons weriei saved from th^m ; all the rest perished. The names of the schooners were the Hamilton and Scourge, NA¥AL BATTLES. 179 mounting together nineteen guns. Tbis accident gave the British a decided superiority. Commodore Chauncey expected the British would take advan- tage of this superiority ; and the more so as by a change of wind they were brought right to windward o( him. He accordingly formed his line upon the lar- board tack, and hove to. Soon after the British bore up and set studding sails, apparently with the inten- tion of bringing the Americans to action. When they had approached within four miles, they brought 10 on the starboard tack. The Americans then wore, and brought to, on the same tack. Commodore Chauncey perceiving the British did not intend bring- ing him to action, edged away towards the shore, in order to take advantage of the land breeze in the af- ternoon. It soon after became calm, when he direct- ed his schooners to sweep up and engage the British. About noon a light breeze blew from the eastward. The commodore then took the Oneida in *tow, and made sail towards the British. When the van of the American schooners was within one and a half or ^ two miles of the rear of the Biitish, the wind shift- ed to the westward, which again brought the latter to windward ; when they bore up to the American ' schooners in order to cut them off, before they could be rejoined by commodore Chauncey. But the schooners succeeded in returning to their station. The British being thus foiled in their attempt upon the schooners, haled their wind, and hove to. Tl» weather becoming very sqpally, commodore Chaui'^ cey resolved to run w towards Niagaiti. The creirs .Ji^Ktj 180 KAFAL BATTLES. of the squftdron were nearly forty^eig^t konvB m quarter*. A detachment of one huMke^ and fifty soldiers was received on board the American fleet from Niagara, to act as marines. On the. ftrflowing morning the British fleet was discovered bearing north. The American commodore immediately weighed anchor, Md stood for them. The winds were light tind variable, and by twelve o'clock were quite calnt. At flve« a fresh breeze blew from th^ north ; the British fleet then bearing north, about four or five leagues distant. The Vessels of the American fleet wore in succession, and haled upon a wind Oft the larboard tack. At sunset, th6 British bbre n* w. by N. 6n th^ starbotird tack. The wind changing towards the Westward, the Amtricah com- modore stood to the northward all night in eifder f6 giiin the north shore. At daybreak he tadked to the Westward, the wind hdving then changed to n. it. W. Boon after which he discovered the British fleet, bearing ». w. The commodore made all sail in chase with the Asj^, MddfSon, and Fair Amerieaitt hi tot^^ ' To his great disajf^intment, the wind aboat twelve . oVIoek changed «o Wr d. w. which agikin broiNght the British to windward. The coinmodore tardked to the northward; bttt at three o'clock, the wind itf* dining to the nwth, he worf^ to south and went, and made signa! fo>: the fleet to Make al! sail. At fbur, the British hvfe^ s. s. w. The Amifericans steered ^ after ihera. At five^ the former were bcfcaliMf under the hmd, wkie thit lattefr«ear^ tbetii tery ftst with a &K breeze from n. n. w. At Six, the Attiericatti KMin at ad fifty in fleet bearing ediatelj I winds jk were rom tht t about 6f the apoti a British )e wind ihcoiii'^ itdet f6 1 to the . It. W* fleet, chase tot4 ' Itwelve . ht the ed to \wi irf* It, and ibur, jcred limdet WTCn VAYAL BATTLES. lei jformed in line within four mites of the British ; the wind being then very light. At s^ven the wind chang- ed to B. w. blew a fresh breeze. This placed the Brit- iih to windward. The American commodore then tacked, and haled u{k>n a wind on the larboard tack, under easy sail, the British standing after him. At nine in the evening, the British were within double gun shot of the rear of the Americans. They then wore to the southward. Commodore Chauncey stood to the porth under easy sail, with his fleet formed in two lines : a part of the schooners formed the weather line. They were ordered to commence the fire upon the British as sov)n as the shot of the latter should take effect ; and, as they approached, to edge down upon the American line to leeward, pass through the intervals, and form to leeward. At half past ten, the British tacked, and stood after the Americans. At eleven o'clock the rear of the Amer- ican liae opened a brisk fire upon the British, and in the course of fifteen minutes the fire became general along the weather line of the Americans. At half pa«t eleven this line bore up, and passed to leeward, except the Growler and Julia. These two vessels ticked to the south, which brought the British be- ^tween them and their commodore. The latter filled his main-topsail, and edged away two points to lead the Britbh down i tl^s he did in oroci to engage them to greater advantage, and to lead them from the Growler and Julia. They however kept their wind until they separated these two last mentioned vessels from 'the rest of the American squadron. As 182 NATAL BATTLLB. they passed the Of>ncral Pike, a few shots were ei- changed without < ng any injury. While the British were in chase of the two schooners, the comnauhvte tacked and stood after them until midnight when he was forced to give over the pursuit to rejoin his squadron, then to leeward. Their line was now formed on the starboard tack. The firing continued between the two American schooners and the Brit> ish fleet until one o'clock, when the former were captured. Soon after this, the American jQeet being nearly destitute of provisions, returned to Sackett's harbour. During a cruise in the earl}^ part of September, commodore Chauncey fell in with the British fleet and phased them all round the lake, when they put into Amherst bay, after having received considerable injury from tm fire of the Americans. This bay was so lit'H kiicwn to the American pilots, that they were unwiihi>g to take the fleet in. Sir James Yeo, commander of the British fleet, had a superiority over the American commodore, both in guns and men. His vessel also sailed better than the Ameri- can. Commodore Chauncey blockaded the British fleet in Amherst bay for four days, when the wind blowing^ heavy from the westward, they succeeded in getting into Kingston : upon which the commodore returned ^ to Sackett's harbour, where he Remained only a few hours, and on the 18th of September sailed for Niag- ara, where he arrived on the 24th. NATAL BATTLES. 183 » tow. But 3 Ameri- 'od out of i. he Ameri- Commodore Chauncey having ascertained that the British scjuadrop was in York bay, sailed from Niag- ara* On the 27th, in the evening, owing to the ex- treiite darkness of the night a part of his squadron separated, and did not join him until next morning. On the same day, the British fleet was discovered under way in York bay. The A me r an squadron sailed for them with three scho' on the British perceiving the dc cans to engage them, they tackeu, the bay, the wind being then at east, can commodore formed his line, and ran down for their centre. As soon, however, as he had approach- ed within three miles, they made all sail to the south- ward. The vessels of the American squadron wore in succession, and stood on the same tack with the British, and edged down gradually in order to close. At ten, past meridian, the British perceiving the Americans closing fast with them, and that they must either risk an action, or suffer their two rear vessels to be cut off, they tacked in succession, begin- ning at the van, hoisted their colours, and commenc- ed a well directed fire at the Pike. This they did with a view to cover their rear; and, while passing to leeward, to attack the rear of the Americans. This commodore Chauncey frustrated by bearing up in succession, with the line preserved, for the centre of the British, as soon as their leading ship, the Wolfe,' bad. passed the centre of her line, and was abeam of the American. This manceuvre not only covered the American rear, but also threw the Brit- IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 11.25 US U wuu 1^ 1^ 2.2 2.0 '"1.4 11 1.6 i V] jj • 7 Photographic Sdences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STRHT WEBSTIR.N.Y. 14580 (716)872-4503 ^ ^V 4 ^"'^U VV^ ^ I 4r ^ ^ \ ^ 134 IfAYAL BATTLES. ishra confusion. They immediatelj bore sway\ bot the Americans had closed so near as to be enidbM to bring their guns to biear with effect, and iti twen* tj minutes after, the main and mizzen-topmast, and the main jard of the British frigate WoHe, was shot away. This vessel immediafely put before the wind, with all sail set upon hier foremast. The American commodore made signal for the fleet to crowd all sail in pursuit i but as the WfAfk kept right before the wind, she was enabled to outsail the American squadron, and experienced no retardment from the loss of her mafai and mhuen^topmast. Thjj , Americans obntinued the thi|^ until icnnr three o'clock* Th^ Pike, ft^itk the Asp in towy kept with« in point blank shot of the British during the chase^ and snstaiiled the whole of their fire. Prudence for** bade any further pursuit on the part of the American^; The Pik^ was much injured, owing to her being sd long exposed to the fire of the whole Briti^ fleet* The most serious injury, howerer, she received from the bursting of a gun^ which killed and woUnded tweBty<*iwo meh# The Governor Tompkini^ lost hef foremast. The American fleet i:*tUflied to Niagari. On the 2d of Octobery commodore Chauncey agaun proceeded in quest of the British fleet. He d}scover<^ ' ed tkemsteeriig a ceinrse for Niagara, whh studding satis, and aU iaHeset, the wind being from the souths aad westward; The commodore made all sail in ehase, but as soon as his vessels Wenf iiKscoVere#|^ the British, they tck)k & studifeig Saijr and baled upon »wind to the^westwaiiif ,and mader sitt saol from RATAL BATXIX8. 185 SCttt^V »{ ill from the Americans. The wind being light all day» little progress was made against the curreat. By sua down, the British were off Twenty Mile Creek, and had got a considerable distance fiom the Amerlcttii& At daylight, the British were perceived at anchor . but as soon as they saw the American squadron, they v^c^hed and made all sail to the weist* The wind iras from south to southwest and squally. The American commodore made all sail in. ehase, and continue^ it. the whole day. Al sundown, the British fm^^ scarcely be perceived froo) the mast head o| the American vessela. Oa the io^o wing morning^ the BritisikfleetwasLQutofsighl;. Commodore Chauncey tkm sleered for^he t>uchs,.iiiith a view of inceiceptr iilg the British fleet on kefetum, should) ii havegoqe down the lake. The wind ificreaie4 IP a «tr(wg g^^ ffo^i the n^prth^ani ^MPld westward^ apd. cohtin- jpd tohug the whole. ^^^ At three o^eloek u the aftemcjiMi of the 5th, seven sail were discovered near the False Ducks. Sail was immediately made in chase by the American commodore, who took them for the British' fleet. But in the course of an hour he ascertained them to be sloops and Fchooners. Sig- nal was made by the commodore for the Sylph and Lady of the Lake to cast off the vessels they had in tow, and chase n. e. Soon after this the British were perceived separating, on different tacksi The Governor Tompkips was now cast off by tl^ Pike, and the; . cQinmodore made all sail in chase wilfi her, having left the Ameriopi squadron in charge <|(| captain Crane. At five^o'cfibck in the afternoon the 24 186 NATAL BATTLB».^ 'r l^- British set fire to one of their gun vessels that did not sail well, after, having taken out her people. At sun- down, and opposite the Real Ducks, the Hamilton, Confiance,* and Mary- Ann, struck to the Americans. The Sylph soon after captured the Drummond. The Lady Gore ran into the Ducks, but the S^lph being left to watch her, she was captured early the next; mornipg. The only British vessel that escaped Wat. the; Enterprise, a small schooner. The British! vessels captured were three gun vessels mounting from one to three guns each. They were transit porting troops to Kingston. The number of pvison-^ ers amounted to two hundred and sixty-four j of whom two hundred and twenty-two were soldiers. The American fleet immediately after this affairj re turned to Sackett's harbour.t 4 * The Hamiiton and Confiance; these two Teuelf bad'nol^^,^ Ions beenowtured from the Anwricans,as already related, and^v"^ haa been in Q^e American service called the Growler and Julia. t Clark'e Nasral History^ vol L p^ 2^$— 238 , ^ ^ ^ If .^wSisiEMi^*' . ^'*' NATAL DATTLB8. 187 EVENTS ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN. * During th^ summer of the year 1812, prepara- tions were made on lake Champlain to oppose the naval force that might be sent by the British from Isle-au-Noix. Nothing Tery interesting occdrred until the dd of June, 1813. In consequence of some British gun hoats having appeared on the American side of the line, the Growler and Eagle sailed from Flattsburgh on the 2d of June, under the command of lieuten-# ant Smith, with the intention of attacking them. At dark bn the same day, they arrived within a mile o( the boundary line. On the following morning, at daybreak, three British gun boats were discovered, to which «he American vessels immediately gave ohas6. But the wind being south, they unfortu- nately r^u^so. far into the narrow channel, that they found ft diffii^t to return. . The Eagle not being sufficiently strong for her weight of metal, became unmaniEigeable, and sunk in shoal water; her crew were however saved. The Growler^ continued en- gaged with a nujpber of British gun boats until the Eagle went down^ when she was compelled to yield to a superior force; the action continued above rfour hours. T^e^shores were line<^with British soldiers who from the nariovi^ess of the channel were ena- bled to do considerable execution. ^^^ ^ ' ■% tk4^ t'!T.C'' nkNOk BAlTUi*. jifcitti li&i ^aiwniggilwfll of Aiipil [^ v^piMltiiMlllilii^ -f; v*" s ^. • 1 P. NAVAL BATTLES. 189 Jrs crdered out the militia of the counties of Clinton and Essex. The regiment from Clinton county, under lieutenant-colonel Miller, immediately assembled, and on the 2d September took a position on the west road near the village of Chazy ; and on the 3d general Wright with such of his brigade as had arrived, occupied a position on the same road about eight miles in advance of Plattsburgh. On the 4th the enemy having brought up his main body to Cham- plain, took up his line of march for that place. The rifle corps under lieutenant-colonel Appling, on the lake road, fell back as far as Dead Creek, blocking up the road in such manner as to impede the advance of the enemy as much as possible. 'The enemy ad- vanced on the 5th within a few miles of lieutenant- colonel Appling's position, and finding it too strong to attack, halted and caused a road to be made west into the Beekmantown road, in which the light bri- gade under general Powers advanced, and on the morning of the 6th, about seven o'clock, attacked the militia, which had at this time increased to near- ly seven hundred, under general Mooers, and a small detachment of regulars under major Wool, about se- ven miles from Plattsburgh. After the first fire, a considerable part of the militia broke and fled in every direction. Many, however, manfully stood" their ground, and, with the small corps of wdjor Wool, bravely contested the ground, againat Sye times their number, falling back gradually 2i»d occupying^^ Ae fences on each side the road, till they arrived within a mile of the town, whoa ihey were reinforced Igr #' -*,.. 490 NAVAL BATTLES. two pieces of artillery, under captain Leonard, and our troops occupying a strong position behind a itone wall, for some time stopped the progress of the enemy : being at length compelled to retire, they contested every inch of ground until they reached the south bank of the Saranac, where the enemy at- tempted to pursue them but was repulsed with loss. The loss of the British in this skirmish was colonel Wellington and a lieutenant of the third Buffs, and two lieutenants of the fifty-eighth killed, and one cap- ^ tain and one lieutenant of the fifty-eighth light com- pany wounded, together with about one hundred pri- vates killed and wounded ; while that on our part did not exceed twenty-five. The corps of riflemen un- der colonel Appling, and detachment under captain Sproul, fell back from their position at Dead Creek in time to Join the militia, &c. just before they en- tered the village, and fought with their accustomed bravery. The British got possession of that part of the village north of the Saranac about eleven o'clock, but the incessant and welLdirected fire of our artillery and musketry from the forts and opposite bank com- pelle'd them to retire before night beyond the reach of our guns. The enemy arrived towards night with his heavy artillery and baggage' on the lake road and crossed the beach, where he met v^ith a warm re- ception from our row-galleys, and it is believed suf- fered a heavy loss in killed and wounded. On our ' sid|, lieutenant Duncan, of the navy, lost an arm by A rocket and three or four men were killed by the enemy's artillery. The enemy encamped on the l( NAVAL BATTLES. 191 ridge west of the town, his right near the river, and occupying an extent of nearly three miles, his left resting on the lake about a mile north of the village. From the 6th, until the morning of the 11th, an al- most continual skirmishing was kept up between the enemy's pickets and our militia stationed on the ri- ver ; and in the mean time both armies were busily engaged— ours in strengthening ' the works of the forts, and that of the enemy in erecting batteries, collecting ladders, bringing up his heavy ordnance, and making other preparations for attacking the. fort. On the morning of the 7th, a body of the enemy under captain Noadie, attempted to cross at the up- per bridge, about seven miles west of Plattsburgh, but were met by captain Vaughan's company of about twenty-five men, and connpelled to retire with the loss of two killed and several wounded. On the morning of the Uth, the enemy's flee* came round the head with a light breeze from the north, and at- tacked ours, which lay at anchor in Cumberland b^, two miles from the shore, east of the fort. The ac- tion was long and bloody, bat decisive ; and the event such as we believe it will always be (except by accident) when our navy contends wit? any th»ng like an equal force. The enemy commence J a simul- taneous bombardment of our works ifrom seven bat- teries, from which several hundred shells and rockets were discharged, which did us very little injury, and our artillery had nearly succeeded in silencing all before the contest on the lake was decided. The enemy attempted |t the same time to throw his main 192 NAVAL BATTr.FA body in rear of the fort, hy crossing the river three miles west of the town, near the scitc of Pike's can- tonment. He succeeded in crossing, after a brave resistance by the Essex militia and a few of the Ver- mont volunteers, in all about three hundred and fifty, stationed at that place, who retired back a mile and a half from the river, continually pouring in upon them an incessant fire from behind every tree, until lieuten- ant Sumpter brought up a piece of artillery to their support, when the enemy commenced a precipitate retreat The Vermont volunteers,* who had hasten- ed to the scene of action on the first alarm^ fell upon the enemy's left flank and' succeeded in making many prisoners, including three officers. Had the British remained on the south side of the river thir- ty minutes longer, they must have lost nearly the whole detachment that crossed. Our loss in this af- fair was five killed and eight or ten wounded, some mortally. Inimediately on ascertaining the loss of _ ^e fleet,. Sir George Prevost ordered .preparations to be made for the retreat of the army, and set off himself with a small escort, for Canada, a little after poon. The main body of the enemy, with the ar- tillery and baggage, were taken off in the afternoon and night, and the rear guard, consisting of the light brigade, started at daybreak, and made a precipitate retreat, leaving their wounded and a large quantity of provisions, fixed ammunition, shot, shells and other public stores in the different places of deposit about their camp. They were pursued some distance by our troop, and many prisone%taken ; but owing < I NAVAL BATTLES. 198 to the very heavy and incessant rain, we were com- pelled to return. The enemy lost, upon land, more than two thousand men in killed, wounded, prisoners and deserters ; while our aggregate loss did not ex- ceed one hundred and fifty.* In September, 1814, commodore Macdonough succeeded in capturing the British fleet, the particu- lars of which will be best related in his letter to the secretary of the navy, which follows. United States ship Saratoga, Plattaburgh Bay, September 19, 1814. Sir, — I have the honour to give you the particu- lars of the action which took place on the 11th in- stant on this lake. For several days the enemy were on their way, to Piattsburgh by land and water ; and it being weU understood that an attack wdtild be made at the same time by their land and naval forces, I determined to await at anchor the approach of the latter. At eight, A. M. the look-out boat announced the approach of the enemy. At nine he anchored in a line ahead, at about three hundred yards distance from my line ; his ship opposed to the Saratoga, his brig to the Eagle, ciptain Robert Henley, his galley (thirteen in number) to the schooner, sloop, and a division of our galleys. Our remaining galleys with* the Saratoga and Eagle. In this situation, the whole force on both sides became engaged ; the Saratoga suffered much'from • Skitchifof the War, p 466—407 26 ^ 194 HAVAL BATTLES. the heavy fire of the Confiancc : I could perceive, at the same time, however, that our fire was very de- structive to her. The Ticonderoga, lieutenant-com- mandant Cassin, gallantly sustained her full share of the action. At hajf past ten o'clock, the Eagle, not being able to bring her guns to bear, cut her ca- ble and anchored in a more eligible positidn, between my ship and the Ticonderoga, where she very much annoyed the enemy, but unfortunately leaving me exposed to a galling fire from the enemy's brig. Our guns on the starboard side, being nearly all dismount- ed, or not manageable, a stern anchor was let go, the bower cable cut, and the ship winded with a fresh broadside on the enemy's ship, which soon af- ter surrendered. Our broadside was then sprung to bear on the brig, which surrendered in about fif- teen minutes after. The sloop that was opposed to the Eagle, had , struck some time before, and drifted down the line ; the sloop which was with their galleys having struck also. Three of their galleys are said to be sunk, and the others pulled off. Our galleys were about obeying with alacrity the signal to follow them, when all the vessels were reported to me to be in a sinking state : it then became necessary to annul the signal to the galleys, and order their men to the pumps. I could only look at the enemy's galleys going oflfin a shattered condition, for there was not a mast in eith- . er squadron that could stand to make sail on ; the lower rigging, being nearly all shot away, hung down as though it had been just placed df^t ihp mast heads. IfAVAL BATTLES. 195 The Saratoga had fifty five round shot in her hull ; the Confiance one hundred and five. The enemy's shot passed principally just over our heads, as there ' were not twenty whole hammocks in the nettings at the close of the action, which lasted, without inter- mission, two hours and twenty minutes. The absence and sickness of lieutenant Raymond Perry, left me without the services of that excellent officer; much ought fairly to be attributed to him for his great care and attention in disciplining the ship's crew, as her first lieutenant. His place was filled by a gallant young officer, lieutenant Peter Gamble, who, I regret to inform you, was killed • earjy in the action. Acting lieutenaht Valette work- ed the 1st and 2d divisions of guns with able efTeot. Sailing-master Brum's attention to the springs, and in the execution of the order to wind the ship, and occasionally at the guns, meets my entire approba- tion ; also captain Young, commanding the acting marines, who took his men to the guns. Mr. Beale, purser, was of great service at the guns, and in car- rying my orders throughout the ship, with Midship- man Montgomery. Master's mate Joshua Justin, had command of the 3d •division ; his conduct during the action, was that of a brave and correct officer. Midshipmen Monteath, Graham, Williamson, Piatt, Thwing, and acting midshipman Baldwin, all behav- ed well, and gave evidence of th^ir making valuable officers. The Saratoga was twice set on fire by hot shot from the enemy'Abhip. 196 NAVAL BATTLES. I close, sir, this communication with feelings of gratitude for the able support I received from every officer and man attached to the squadron which I have the honour to command. - I have the honour to be, with great respect, sir, your most obedient servant, T. MACDONOUGH. Hon. Wm. Jones, Secretary of the Navy. The following is a comparative view of the force and loss of the British and American fleets : -^■^ BRITISH. Guns. Men. Killed.* Wounded. .Large ship, 39 300 50 60 Bug Linnet, 16 120 20 30 Sloop, formerly Growler, 1 1 40 6 10 Sloop, do. Eagle, 11 40 8 10 13 Gun bcats,t 18 650 #: K. $M.^..r. Total, AMERICAN. Guns. Men. 95 1050 84 110 Saratoga, ship, Eagle, brig, Ticonderoga, sch'r. Preble, sloop, 10 Gun boats,* Total, 26 20 17 7 16 210 120 110 30 350 86 820 Killed. 28 13 6 2 3 52 Wounded 29 20 *^^ • 6 3 68 •Spv'' * This is a statement of what ^ere found on board the British vessels. Many were thrown overboard during the action; and U was supposed the whole number of killed and wounded amount- ed 4o two hundred and sixty. tl^^o' probably sunk. ^I'y NAVAL BATTLES. 197 The British officers killed, were commodore Dow- ney, and three lieutenants. The American officers killed, were lieutenants Gamble and Stansbury ; the latter -of whom was knocked overboard and not found. Commodore Macdonough escaped without injury. The Britbh officers taken were captain Pring and six or eight lieutenantSt The wounded were parol- ed and sent by a flag to the Isle-au-Noix. — The British large ship proved to be a very fine vessel of her class, having two gun decks in her bow and stern, and mounting, among h^r guns, twenty- eight long twenty-fdur pounders, a battery which few frigates of the Britif'u navy can boa&t. On the 13th of September, the interment of the American and British officers, who fell in the memo- rable battle of the 11th, took place at Plattsburgh, in a manner to do honour to the bravery With whick they defended they respective flags. The coffins of the American officers, covered with the flags of their vesselsf were taken on board a boat from the com- modore's ship and followed by him and his^offi- cers, in another boat, to the British ship, where they took on board the deceased British officers, covered with the flags of their own vessels, and proceeded ia the shore^ followed by their snryifing dffiicerit Daring tlie procession, ntnute guns wet0 flfed frmtt liweommodove's ship. At the land they were recei^eil by aiir tfsdort of lisAmtry andt aiDillery^ and Joined hf a Itu^e mMMt of the offioenofl ifae amiy ; iittd wlUte* titey pMi^ied^ '■^>?^" 198 NAVAL BATTLES. ed to the public burying ground, minute guns were also fired from the fort. At the grave, a discharge of musketry and artillery closed the scene. ^ ' The following amount of property was said to have been taken from on board the enemy's fleet, at the time of, and subsequent to its capture : — seventeen thousand weight of powder, exclusive of fixed am- munition for the ships ; between eighty and ninety thousand weight of balls, &c. ; six hundred muskets ; six hundred suits of sailor's clothing ; and the winter clothing for the whole of the land army. In the beginning of November, six tons of eight inch shells were taken out of the lake at Chazy by the Americans, which had been secreted by the ene- my in his incursion. A transport sloop was also raised at Isle la Mott, which had been sunk by the enemy, loaded with ^ naval stores and various instru- ments of war ^ yfif^i- Jij- :S!^ -^^^ ATTACK ON BALTIMORE. ■■ *f!^:;--' Om S.aturday the 10th of September, information was received that the enemy was ascending the Chesapeake, and on Sunday tnoming his ships were- seen at the mouth of the Patapsco river, (which com- municates with the basin on which Baltimore stands) incumber to forty to fifty. Some of his vessels en- "■. ■"'> NAVAF. BATTLES. 199 \ .„. "k iered the river, while others proceeded to North Point, ( ihe mouth of the Patapsco,) fourteen miles from Bikilimofe, and commenced the debarkation of the^r troops in the night, and was finished early next morning. The following extracts of a letter from general Smith to the secretary of war, gives an ac- count of the events which followed : " Baltimore, September 19, 1814 ^^'' '. ' ' ' , • . t ** I HAVE the honour of stating, that the enemy landed between seven and eight thousand men on Monday the 10th instant, at North Point, fourteen miles distant from this town. Anticipating this de- barkation, general Strieker had been detached on Sunday evening with a portion of his brigade on the North Point road. Major Randel, of the Baltimore county militia, having under his' command a light corps of riflemen and musketry taken from general Stanbury's brigade and Pennsylvania volunteers, was detached to the mouth of Bear Creek, with orders to co-operate with general Strieker, and to check any landing which the enemy might attempt in that quar- ter. On Monday, brigadier general SrHcker took a good position at the junction of the two roads leading from this place to North Poiat, having his right flanked by Bear Creek, aad his left by a marsh. He here awaited the approach of the enemy, having sent on an advance corps under the command of major Heath of the 5th regiment. This advance was met by that of the enemy, and after some skir- . mishing it returned to the line, the main body of the fiOO NAVAL BATTLES. / enemy being at a short distance in the rear of their advance. Between two and three o'clock, the ene- my's whole force qame up and commenced battle by some discharges of rockets, which were succeeded by the cannon from both sides, and soon after the action became general along* the line. General Strieker gallantly maintained his ground against a great supe- riority of numbers during the space of an hour and twenty minutes, when the regiment on his left (the fifty-first) giving way, he was under the necessity of retiring to the ground in his rear, where he had sfta- tioned one regiment as a reserve. He here formed his brigade ; but the enemy not thinking it advisable to pursue, he, in compliance with previous arrange- ments, fell back and took post on the left of my in- trenchments, and a half mile in advance of them* ^^^^ ** In this afiair the citizen soldiers of Baltimore, with the exception of the fifty-firsl regiment, have maintained the reputation they so deservedly acquir- ed at Bladensburg, and have given their country and their city an assurance of what may be expected fipom them when their services are again required. I cannot dismWs the subject without expressing the lieartfelt satisfaction I experience in thus bearmg testimony to the courage and good conduct of my Cello.W townsmen. Aboot the time general Strieker h^ taken the ground just mentioned, he was joined l^ brjigadies general Winder, who had been sUtioned QA ih» west side of thj» city, but was now ordered to tt»Kh W«t1i geneial Douglass' brigade of Virginia and thie^ United States, dragoons under captnai' '^:-rl^" I NAVAL BATTLES. 201 Bird, and take post on the left of genersil Strieker. During these movements, the brigades of generals Stansburj and Foreman, the seamen and marines under commodore Rodgers, the Pennsylvania volun- teers under colonels Corbeau and Findley, the Balti- more artillery under colonel Harris, and the marine artillery under captain Stiles, manned the trenches . and the batteries — all prepared to receive the enemy. We remained in this situation during the night. '< On Tuesday, the enbmy appeared in front of my intrenchments, at the distance of two miles, on the Philadelphia road, from whence he had a full view of our position. He manoeuvred during the morning towards our left, as if with the intention of making a circuitous march, and coming down on the Hart- ford and York roads. Generals Winder and Strieker were ordered to adapt their movements to those of the enemy, so as to baffle this supposed intention. They executed this order with great skill and judg- " ment, by taking an advantageous position, stretching [ from my left across the country, when the enemy was likely to approach the quarter he seemed to threaten. This movement induced the enemy to concentrate his forces (between one and two o'clock) in my front, pushing his advance to within a mile o us, driving in our videftes, and sljuowing an intention of attacking us that evening. I immediately drew ' generals Winder and Strieker nearer to the left of ^ my intrenchments, and to the right of the enemy, wi«k the inlea^n of their falling on his right or rear, should he attack Uft ; or if he deeliaed k« of attack^ ' 26 'W^ 203 NAVAL BATTLES. ing him in the morning. To this movement and to the strength of my defences, which the enemj had the fairest opportunity of observing, I am induced to attribute his retreat, which commenced at half past one o'clock on Wednesday morning. In this he was so favoured by the extrame darkness and a continued rain, that we did not discover it until daylight. 1 consented to general Winder's pursuing with the Vir- ginia brigade and the United States dragoons; at the same time major Randal was despatched with his light corps in pursuit of the enemy^s right, whilst the whole of the milhia cavalry was put in motion for the same object. All the troops were, however, so worn out with continued watching, and with being under arms during three days and nights, exposed the greater part of the time to very inclement weather, that it was found impracticable to do any thing more than pick up a few stragglers. The enemy com- menced his embarkation that evening, and completed it the next day at one o'clock. It would have been impossible, even had our troops been in a condition to act offensivefly, to have cut off any part of the enemy's rear guard during the embarkation, as the point where it was effected was defended from our approach by a line of defences extending from Back* river to Humphrey's Creek on the Patapsco, thrown up by ourselves previous to their arrival. -^>^. '* I have now the pleasure of calling your atten- tion to the brave commander of fort M'Henry* major Armstead, and to the operations confined to that * Folrt M'Henry ii about two nules firon the city of BaHimoro. NAVAf BATTLES. 20S quarter. The enemy made his approach by water at the same time that his army was advanding on the land, and commenced a discharge of bombs aiid rock- ets at the fort as soon as he got within range of it. The situation of major Armstead was peculiarly trying — the enemy having taken his position at such a distance as to render offensive operations on the part of the fort entirely fruitless, while their bombs and rockets were every moment falling in and about it — the officers .and men being at the same time en- tirely exposed. The vessels, however, had the temer- ity to approach somewhat nearer — they were as soon compelled to withdraw. During the night, whilst the enemy on land was retreating, and whilst the bombardment was the most severe, two or three rocket vessels and barges succeeded \h getting up the Ferry Branch ; but they were soon compelled to retire, by the forts in that quarter, commanded by lieutenant Newcomb of the navy, and lieutenant Webster of the flotilla. These forts -also destroyed one of' the barges, with all on board. The barges and battery at the Lazaretto, under the command of lieutenant Rutter of the flotilla, kept up a brisk and it is believed a successful fire during the hottest period of the bombardment. The loss in fort M'Henry was four killed and twenty-four wounded, amongst the former I have to lament the fall of lieutenants Cla- gett and Clamm, who were both estimable citizens and useful officers. Of general Strieker's brigade, the number of killed and wounded amounts to about one hundred and fifty 204 NAVAL BATTLES. among the former this city has to regret the loss of its repriesentative in the state legislature, James Lowry Donaldson, esquire, adjutant of the twenty- seventh regiment. This gentleman will ever be re- membered by his constituents for his zeal and talents, . and by his corps for his bravery and military know- ledge. '.* I cannot conclude this report without informing .„ you of the. great aid I have derived from commodore Rodgers. He was ever present and ever ready to afford his useful counsel, and to render his important services. His presence, with that of his gallant' offi- cers and seamen, gave confidence to every one. ** The enemy's loss, in his attempt on Baltimore, amounts, as near as we can ascertain, to between six - and seven hundred killed, wounded and missing." ''*« BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS. '•?.? -■«5i^' 'On the 27th December 1814, general Jackson ai iriVed at New Orleans with his army, where he im- mediately began the inspection of the different forts and works down the Mississippi river. On the morning of the 1st of January, the enemy had ad' vanced within six hundred yards of our breast-works, undier cover of night and a heavy fog, and greeted three different bvtteriea, moimtiii^ in all fifteen gunii ed NAVAL BATTLES. 205 from 6's to 32's. About eight o'clock^ when the fog cleared off, they commenced a most tremendous fire, which was amply returned by our men, and a heavy cannonading was kept up, without the least interval * on either side, except that -occasioned by the explo- sion of two small magazines, owing to their con- greve rockets. At four o'clock, p. m. we had dis- mounted all their guns but two. During the night the enemy retreated to their strong holds, about a mile and a quarter from our lines. Our loss was eleven killed and twenty-three wounded : that of the enemy must have been much more. A 32 pound- er from a battery commanded by commodore Pat- terson, killed lifteen at one shot. The Louisiana-this day fired seven hundred shot. On the 2d of January, general Jackson received at New Orleans and its vicinity, reinforcements from Kentucky and Tennessee, amounting to three or four thousand, which, with his former force, gave him an ' army of between seven and eight thousand, of whom not more, however, than one half were armed. In consequence of the great number of men arriving with their arms in bad order, and of the scarcity of . good muskets with bayonets, four companies of Unit- ed States troops gave up theirs, amounting to about five hundred, to arm the men at the camp, and armed themselves vvith fowling pieces and pikes. «On the 6th of January sailing-master Johnson of the United States navy, with a* launch and three small boats, manned with thirty-eight men, succeed- ed in burning a British transport brig on Lake .5?.^ • > 206 NAVAL BATTLES. Borgne, and in capturing a number of prisoners. The brig was laden with provisions and clothing. On the same day, twenty-one sail of British vessels arrived off Cat island, upon the coast opposite the bay of St. Louis, with a large reinforcement of troops, commanded by general Lambert. On the 7th, these troops were disembarked at the bayou Bienvenu : and lieutenant-general sir Edward Pakenham, (broth- er-in-law of lord Wellington) assumed command of the whole British army, amounting to twelve thou- sand men. ^ For two or three days previous to this, part of the . forces of the enemy had been employed in preparing scaling ladders and collecting fascines (made of su- gar canes) for their intended assault upon Our lines ; while others were widening and deepening the canal which leads from the bayou Bienvenu towards the Mississippi, and which, on the evening of the 7th, was cut through to admit the river. Through this canal they floated or dragged twenty-four of their smaller beats, containing twenty-five men each) and thus transported about six hundred men to the op- posite side of the river. Some distance above the spot where they landed, two batteries had been con- structed and placed under the direction of commo- dore Patterson. The enemy's troops which had thus crossed, were intended to attack the commodore's , batteries and create a diversion on that side of the river, while the main attack was carried on on the^^ other side. Accordingly on the morning of the 8th,' they silently drew out a large force to storm ouf V I "A NAVAL BATTLES. 207 lines, their columns advancing unperccived in the ob- scurity of the. morning, to within about half a mile of our camp, where they met and drove in our piquet guard. About day-break they advanced with great vivacity to the entrenchment, led gallantly on by their officers ; when the intrepid Jackson and his brave men opened a most tremendous and deadly fire upon them from our works, which ended in a dreadful slaughter and total defeat of the enemy. General Jackson officially reports to the secretary at war an account of this battle in the following words : — >Camp, 4 miles below Orleans, January 9, 1815 Sir, — During the days of the 6th and 7th, the enemy had been actively employed in making prepar- ations for ah attack on my lines. With infinite la- bour they had succeeded on the night of the 6th in getting their boats across the lake to the riv'er, by widening and deepening the canal on which they had effected their disembarkation. It had not been in my power to impede these operations by a general attack ; added to other reasopc, the nature of the troops under my command, mostly militia, rendered it too hazai^ous to attempt extensive offensive move- ments in an open country, against a numerous and well disciplined army. Although my forces, as to number, had been increased by the arrival of the Kentucky division, my strength had received very little addition ; a small portion only of that detach- ment being provided with arnis. Compelled thus to ^8 NAVAL BATTLES. wait the attack of the enemy, I took every measure to repel it when it should be made, and to defeat the object he had in view. General Morgan with the Orleans contingent, the Louisiana militia and a strong detachment of the Kentucky troops, occupied an in- trenched camp on the opposite side of the river, pro- . tected by strong batteries on the bank, erected and superintended by commodore Patterson. In my encampment every thing was ready for ac- tion, when, early on the morning of the 8th, the ene- my after throwing a heavy shower of bombs and congreve rockets, advanced their columns on njy right and left, to storm my intrenchments. I cannot speak sufficiently in praise of the firmness and delib- eration 'with which the whole line received their ap- proach — more could not have been expected from veterans inured to war. — For an hour, the fire of the small arms was as incessant and severe as can be imagined. The artiiloiy, too, directed by officers who displayed equal ski] I and courage, did great ex ecution. Yet the columns of the enemy continued to ' advance with ^ firmness which reflects the greatest credit. Twice the column which approached me on my left, was repulsed by the troops of general Car roll, thore of general Coffee, and a division of the Kentucky militia, and twice they fom^^d ngain and renewed the assault. At length, how; i cut to pieces, they fled in confusion from Ua^ licid, leaving \ it covered with their dead and wounded. The loss which the enemy sustained on this occa »h}h , cannot be estimated at less than fifteen hundred f Naval battles. 201) in killed, wounded and prisoners. Upwards of three hundred have alread ^ been delivered over for burial ; and my men are still eni^aged in picking them up within my lines and < " ying ttu i;) to the poini where the enemy are to rr eive tin m. — This is mi addition to the dead and wounded whom the cnnmv have been enabled to carry from the fi.ld, duriiig, and since the action, and to those who have since died of the v^ounds they received. We have taken about five h ;;dred prisoners, upwards of three hundred ol whom are wounded, and a great part of them mortally. My loss has not exceeded, and I believe has not amounted to ten killed and as many wounded. The entire destruction of the enemy's army was now inevi- table had it not been for an unfortunate oc< urrence which at this moment took place on the other side of the river. Simultaneously with his advance u|)on my lines, he had thrown over in his boats a consid rable • force to the other side of the river. This having landed, was hardly enough tP advance against the works of general Morgan ; and, what is strange and difficult to account for, at the very moment wher its entire discomfiture was looked for with a confidence approaching to certainty, 'the Kentucky reinforce- ments, in whom so much reliance had been placed, inglorio«isly fled, drawing after them by their exam- ple, the remainder of the forces ; and thus yielded to the enemy that most fortunate position. The bat- teries which had rendered me, for many days, the most import service, though bravely defended, were 27 VJ" 210 NAVAL BATTLES. If' of course now abandoned ; not, hov/ever, until the guns had been spiked. < This unfortunate route had totally changed the as- pect of aifairs. The enemy now occupied a position from which they might annoy us without hazard, and by means of which they might have been en- abled to defeat, in a great measure, the effects of our success on this side the river. It became there- fore an object of the first consequence to dislodge him as soon as possible. For this object, all the means in my power, which I could with any safety use, were immediately put in preparittion. Perhaps, however, it was owing somewhat to another cause that I succeeded even beyond my expectations. In negotiating the terms .of a temporary suspension of hostilities to enable the enemy to bury their dead and provide for their wounded, I had required certaio propositions to be acceded to as a basis ; among which this was one — that although hostilities should cease on this side the river until twelve o'clock of this day, yet it was not to be understood that they should cease on the other side ; but that no reinforce- ments should be sent across by either army until the expiration of that day. His excellency Maj. Gen. Lambert begged time to consider of these proposi- tions uutil ten o'clock of to-day, and in the meantime recrossed his troops. I need not tell you with bow much eagerness I immediately regained possession of the position he had thus-hastily quitted. . :v?t1 . .-■%. % i. / ■ Vt NAVAL BATTLES. 211 In a subsequent I'Hter, general Jackson states the loss of the enemy to have been much greater than what he at first computed. Upon information vf hich was believed to be correct, colonel Haynes .re- ported it to have been in total two thousand six hundred, viz. seven hundred killed, fourteen hundred wounded, and five hundred prisoners, including one major, four captains, eleven lieutenants, and one en- sign, who were among the latter. The American loss on both sides of the Mississippi was thirteen killed, thirty-nine wounded, ^nd nineteen missing — total seventy-one. Of this number six were killed and seven wounded in the action on the eastern bank of the river, and the residue in a sortie after the ac- tion and in the action on the western bank. Among the British officers killed were Sir Edward Paken- ham, lieutenant-general and commander in chief, (cut asunder by a cannon ball)- major-general Gibb's, colonel Ray nor, majors Pringle, Whitaker and Wilk- inson. Among their wounded was major-general Keane, iseverely. Numerous accounts official as well as unofficial, represent this battle to have been the greatest ever fought on the American continent. For disparity of loss a parallel can scarcely be found in ancient or modern history. So determined were the enemy to carry our works that many cj^me up to the very muzzles of our guns, and some penetrated into our lines, where they were either killed or taken prison- ers. Many fell mounting the breast-works ; othere were slain upon the works ; and ^he ditch in front •^ 212 NAVAL BATTLES. was, in many places, literally filled with dead and wounded. The roar of artillery from our lines was incessant, while an unihtermitted rolling fire was kept up from our muskets. The atmosphere was filled with sheets of fire and volumes of smoke. For an hour and a quarter the enemy obstinately con tinned the assault ; fresh men constantly arriving to fill up their lines thiimed by our fire. Their deter- mined perseverance and steady valour, were wortliy of a better cause ; nor did their troops falter, until almost all the officers who had lead them to the at- tack had fallen. At one time, a body of the enemy succeeded in gaining possession of a bastion on our right with three pieces of cannon in it ; but so de- structive was our fire, that every man who entered was either killed bv our riflemen or disabled before they could spike the guns. Our men soon returned to the charge and* regained the bastion. So intent were the enemy in getting over our works, that *they pulled off their shoes for the purpose of climbing them ; but nearly all who made the attempt were either killed or taken prisoners. The guns of commodore Patterson's batteries, on the opposite side of the river, did great execution, until the retreat of the Kentucky troops, who had been posted near them. The commodore, finding himself thus deserted, was compelled, with a handful of brave men, to retire, after spiking his guns. The British afterwards burnt the gun carriages, being foiled in their expectations of using the guns to an- noy our troops on the opposite shore. . , . IIAVAL B4TTL«S. JiM^I^Fe^kMli lli^ the bdfOi^ of! tlf* MNlf ^iNiif f «e v^Wit^ liteli g d bfoito a^pnaitNA JkiilUMNi^v|ili iiiii- '"^tioii tlit til^i^ %^» '^irtlii.t^iii MmM% i^ dkf^ tfi^.,|S)^^^^ ciiiiy^teiit iif #iffil|M|f }^mS^^^(0^^^^^ Wlti» urere put Mlo ra were ako i^^Nf^dljI^if^^ '«*^iMi'tJFIKI^k;6ii^eiH!^t^ ;ei were a»8i> ^pk^^^ ttitaiii IIMll^^ beneTolence, as likewise in making clothes for our 214 NATAL BATTLES. soldien. The ftitnre historian will delight to con- trast the destrojing and brilliant virtues of the one sexj with the preserving and not less attracting vir- tues of the other. Immediately after their repulse, the enemj com- menced active operations for a re-embari^ation of their troops. Nearly the whole of the sick and wounded were 'Sent on board their vessels, together with such baggage and -munitions of war as could l)e safely spared. During these operations, the enemy kept up a menacing attitude—frequent indications were given of an intention to renew the attack- on our lines, and vigorous works of defence were thrown up in front of our camp. Ute rear of their army retired first, while they displayed a numerous body of men to the view of our troops, and at night their fires seemed rather to increase than diminish. They had erected batteries to cover their retreat, in advantageous posi- tions, from their original encampment, to the bayou tl»oi^h which they entered lake 'Borgne. The camion placed on these batteries would have raked arpursumg army in 'every direction, and any attempt to storm theih would have been attended with very great slaughter. Having made tiie necessary ar- rangements, the whole British army precipitately, retreated on the night of the 18th of January; an account of which was officiidly given by general Jackson to the secretary of war. The enemy's loss after decampjonent, and on ship- board, (indadikig about three hundred drowned while NATAL BATTLES. 216 passing to and from their shipping,) amount to four thousand eight hundred.* The American loss in the several engagements, was fifty-five killed, one hundred and eighty-five wounded, and ninety-three rnissmg— >total, three hundred and thirty-three. Of our forces actually engaged (including marines as well as land troops) the following is a correct statement : — In the action of the 28th of December, three thousand two hundred and eighty-two ; 1st of January, three thousand nine hundred and sixty-one ; 8th of January, four thousand sil hundred and ninety-eight. The enemy's force previous to the j6th of January, was nine thousand ;;-sail when she had approached within gun shot. After mustering all hands aft^ commodore Rodgers addressed them in a spirited 9nd appropriate manner, and immediately gave or- ders to wear ship for the engagement. While back- ing to meet the cutter, and take a pilot. on board, the commodore was surprised to observe the enemy stand- in§^Qi*to the southward and eastward* A frigate avd gun brig appearing in sight, he hauled in mun and fore tacks and made for land. I^of the. space of five hours the enemy hud i$ at adl tim^ai iQ^.m^ power to bring the President to actios^ andrShf^^ hj in readiness with n^dn topHMiil idwick and eipecting him. Captain Lloyd who commanded the sevenly-foufi which proved to be the Plantagenet, states that his crew was in a state of mutii^, and gives this as a rea9O|il0K dMUning aa eiigagement intk tb» Prenh- d^nt. 'f NAVAL BATTLES !l^ vii?- *9 S \m O > n ^ 218 NAVAL BATTLES i V I ■ 1 1% B8CA?E OF THE CONSTITUTION FROM THE TENEDOS AND ENDTMION On the 3d of April, 1814, the United States frig- ate Constitution, captain Stewart, arrived at Mar- blehead, having beep chased in by the British frig- ates Tenedos and Endymion, of thirty-eight guns each, which had been in chase of her from daylight. The frigates, or one of them, it is said, got within two or three miles of the Constitution, at. one time, and to effect her escape she was obliged to throw overboard her provisions, &c. and every thing mover able, and started all her water. Some prize goods Were likewise thrown over. f She immediately anchored abore fort Sewall, in a posture of defence, her exposed situation rendering her liable to an attack, should she remain there long. In order to, the protection of the frigate and the town, a number of heavy cannon were sent over ftinn Sa- lem, and major general Hpyey issued an order for the M^blehead battalion oif artillery to bold itself in readiness to act. Commodore Bainbridge, to whom an express had been sent, despatched assistance from the navy yard in Charlestown, and the company of New England Guards began tbW tnarch ttim Bos- ton, to afford such aid as might be required of them. But towilrds evening the Constitution weigtied an- chor and came round into Salem harbom. [Salem Gazette. IIAVAL DATTLKS. I n ..§ -a •I O » "•« o te H n H » o «■ > O n !« o HATAL BATTLB8. HORNET AND PENGUIN. i r r. I H On tiie 2dd of March, 1815, as the Hornet, com- mtnded by captain Biddle, was about to anchor off the north end of the bland of Tristan d'Acuna, a saiJ was seen to the southward; which, at forty minutes past one, hoisted English colours, and iired a gun. The Hornet immediately luffed to, hoisted an ensign, and gave the enemy a broadsid?.. A quick and well directed' fire was kept up froa) the Hornet, the enemy gradually, drifting nearer, with an intention, as captain Biddle supposed, to board. The enemy's bowsprit came in betweien the mmn and miszen rigging on the starboard side of the Hornet, giving him an opportunity to boaro, if he had wish- ed, but no attempt was made. There was a consid- erable swell, and as the s^ lifted the Hornet ahead, the enemy's bowsprit carried away her nlizzen shrouds, stern daj^ts, and;^ianket booms, and hung upon her larboard!^ quarter. - ^t this moment an offi- cer called out that they h!a^ 'surrendered. Captain Biddle directed, the marines to stop firing, kand,;^ while asking if they had surrendered, receiVed a«' wound in the neck. The enemy just then g6t1;lear of the Hgmis, on the 6th of December, 1812, off Surinam fell in with the British vessel of war Surinam, df twenty guns. They lay board and board for half an hour. Some of the privateer's men lashed the bob- stay of the Surinam to the Montgomery's main-mast. So spirited was the resistance on both sides, that neither could succeed in boarding. One of the Montgomery's eig1itie(6ki pounders was repeatedly dischaiged into the baws of her antagonist between wind and water. As sooB as the two vessels parted, the Surinam made sail from the Montgomery. Her foremost was shot away^ and she was otherwise so much disabled, as'to be compelled to put into an outport to refit, without proceeding to the common place of rendezvous at Barbadoes. 29 226 MAVAL BATTLES. THE DOLPHIN, Of Baltimore, of ten guns and sixtj men, in the latter part of the year^ engaged two British armed vessels at the same time, the one of sixteen guns and forty men, and the other of ten guns and twenty- five men. She captured them both. 4 THEROLLA, >(,;^ Of Baltimore, of nineteen guns, captured seven vessels in one cruise, the guns ot which amounted to fifty-eight, and the prisoners to one hundred and fifty. tk'ii ■ -nx THE HAZARD, aijf Of Charleston, of three guns and thirty-eight meii, commanded by Placide le Chattier, while^at anchor ofi* the island of Davie, discovered a man of war brig convoying five merchantmen. One of these last, having lost her mizzenmast, could not keep up with the rest of the convoy. As soon as they were out of sight, the Hazard pursued her, to which, after f NAVAL BATTLES. 227 k id id m, lor rar ist, . ith Dttt 'ter J V some resistance, she struck. She proved to be the Albion, of London, copper-bottomed, and of three hundred tons burden, navigated by fifteen men, and [ mounting twelve guns. "While the Hazard was lying off Charleston, in a tog, her prize was separated from her, and recaptured by a British Cutter, the Caledonia, of eight guns and thirty-eight men. Three days after, on the 22d of February, the Hazard discovered her prize in company with the above-mentioned British cutter. The Hazard commenced a pursuit of them both. As soon as the Hazard came within musket shot, she commenced firing at the ship and cutter, which was jretumed by them with spirit, and apparent deter- • mination. At three o'clock, the second lieutenant, (Carpenter, and five men of the Hazard, were severely wounded. At five, the cutter hauled off to repair the damages she had sustained. At half past five, the Hazard came close to the cutter, the crew of the former, having determined to lose their lives sooner than give up so valuable a prize. At half past six the British cutter again hauled off, and con- tinued to fire at a distance. Taking advantage of this, the Hazard bore down on the prize, and after a brisk fire caused her to strike her colours. She was then ordered to lie to. ^^^ The British cutter having shot ahead, Le Chartier instantly gave chase, keeping up a brisk fire. He , pursued her until eight o'clock. The cutter then I ceased firing, and hailed, saying she had struck, and lignified the same by hoisting and lowering; a lantern 228 NAVAL BATTLES. three times. The Hazard having then but twenty- one men, including the captain on board, it was not thought advisable to take possession of her. She bore down for the prize, of which she took possession, leaving a prize-master, and six men on bbard of her so that there only remained fourteen men on board of the Hazard. Both the Hazard and her prize ar- rived safe at St. Mary's. ' THE COMET, Of Baltimore, captain Boyle, of twelve guns and. one hundred and twenty men, being on a cruise, dis- covered, on the 14th of January, 1813, four sail, standing out of Pernambuco. She lay by to give them an opportunity of getting off shore, with a view of then cutting them off. At three p.. m. they were upon a wind standing s. j:. and about six leagues from land. The Comet bore up, and made sail in chase. Atsix, or^e of them was discovered to be a large mati of war brig. All hands were im- mediately called to quarters on board the Comet; the guns were loaded with round and grape shot; and the ship cleared for action. At seven, being , close to the chase, she hoisted hnr colours, and came ' close to the man of war brjg, which had. hoisted t'ortun^ese colours. The coffloaander hfiiled* ^nd m NAVAL BATTLES. 229 flent an officer on board the Comet, who informed captain Boyle, that the brig was a Portuguese na- tional vessel, mounting twenty thirty-two pounders and one hundred and sixty-five men ; that the three others were strongly armed English vessels: and that he must not molest them. Captain Boyle in- formed him that he certainly should make use of every exertion to capture them. The Portuguese said he was ordered to protect them, and certainly should. ., The English vesseb were ahead of the Comet. They consisted (^ a ship of fourteen guns, and two brigs of ten guns each. So that including the Por- tuguese vessel, the Comet had a force of fifty-four guns to oppose. Captain Boyle immediately made sail for them ; came up with the ship, hailed her, . and ordered the cs^ain to have the mainsail back- ed. He gave little or no answer. The Comet hav- ing shot ahead, captain Boyle informed him, that he should be along in a few minutes, when if he did not obey his orders, he would pour a broadside into the ship. In a few minutes the Comet tacked, the Portuguese sloop of war being close after her, and ran along side . of the ship, one of the brigs being close to her. The Comet opened a broadside on them both. It was now about half past eight p. m. All the vessels were carrying a press of sail. The Comet, from her superior sailing, was frequently obliged to tack. From this she would hav^ profit- ed very much, had not the Portuguese sloop of war been so close. The latter now opened a heavy m 230 IfAYAL BATTLES. fire on the Comet, with round and grape shot, which she returned. The Comet had now the whole force of the four vessels to contend with. She, however, kept as closely as possible to the English vessels. They frequently separated, to give the sloop of war an opportunity of firing into the Comet. The latter as frequently poured whole broadsides into them ; at times also into the sloop of war. ' About eleven p. h. the ship surrendered— she was cut to pieces, and rendered unmanageable. Soon after the brig Bowes struck — she also was much in- jured. A boat was sent to take possession of her; as it passed the sloop of war, a broadside was fired by ner, which nearly sunk it, and obliged it to return. The Comet then commenced a brisk fire at the sloop of war, which sheered off to some distance. After following her a short distiince, she obliged the third English vessel to strike. The latter was very much cut to pieces. The Comet now again proceed- ed to take possession of the Bowes, when she spoke the ship thftt had first surrendered^ — ^her captain be- ing ordered to follow, informed taptain Boyle that his ship was in a sinking condition, having many shot holes between wind and water, and every rope on board of her being cut away. At l^alf past one, A. M. the Bowes was taken possession of and man- ned. The sloop of war then fired a broadside into the prize, and passed her.' The moon was now down, and it became quite dark and sqjially. This caused the Comet to separate from the other vessels, excepting the sloop of war, with which broadsides MAVAL BATTLES. 231 were frequently exchanged. At two, she stood to the south. Captain Boyle now thought it most pru- dent to take care of one of the prizes until daylight, the other two being out of sight. At daybreak, the sloop of war, and the two other prizes, a ship and brig, were discovered. The Comet immediately hove about, and stood for them. The sloop tacked, and made signals for her convoy to make for the first port Captain Boyle, knowing the situation of the ship and brig, determined not to take possession of them, but to watch their manoeuvres. Great ex- ertions appeared to b.e made to keep them from ^sinking. • ■ ^kw^I?-? Captain Boyle was afterwards informed that the sloop of war, was much injured-Hshe had five men killed, and a number wounded. The ship's mast searcely lasted to carry her into Pernambuco. Her cargo was nearly all damaged. It was with diffi- culty the brig was kept from sinking before i^e reached Pernambuco harbour. After capturing the Aberdeen, of eight guns, two vessels' of ten guns each, in sight of a sloop of war, and a schooner, captain Boyle returned to the Unit- ed States. He passed the blockading squadron in the Chesapeake, and arrived safe at Baltimore. ■iiMr-if^ SS2 NATAL BATTLES. THE GiBNERAL ARMSTRONG, A SCHOONER of eighteen guns, commanded by captain Champlin, was cruising off Surinam, on the 11th March, 1813. At seven a. m. she discovered a sail, which at half past eight, fired three guns, and hoisted English colours. About nine, the Armstrong fired a gun, and hoisted American colours. At half after nine, the British vessel tacked, and stood as near the Armstrong as the wmd would permit, keep- ing up a brisk fire from her main deck guns. At half past ten, the Armstrong bore down, intending tqt pour her starboard broadside into her, then wear ship, discharge the larboard tirokdside, aiid then boara* This was done, except the boarding. The English^ vessel was now discovered to be a frigate pierced for tWenty-fbur guns. She kept tip a constant fire* 60 the Armstrong, which lay^r ten niniutes like a log. The fore-top^sail and ih!zzen-gaff halyards of the frigate were shot away. Thils btbught ^bT^'tfeT' colours. The crew of the Armstrong, thinking she had struck, ceased firing. But they were soon again seen flying, and the action was renewed. The fri- gate lay for a few minutes ap|)at'ently unmanageable. She soon, however, recovered, and opene<| a heavy fire from her starboard Broadside and main-top ; ap^ parently with the intehtion of sinking the Armstroiig. The latter,, lay for the space of forty-five nnnutes within pistol shot of the frigate. Captadn Chaunplin \ \ NAVAL BATTLES. 299 was standing by the centre gun, in the act of firing his pistoli when he was wounded by a musket ball from the main*tO|i of the ftigate. The Armstrong luffed to windward, and forereached the frigate. The Armstrong had six men killed, and sixteen wounded, and was very much injured in her rigging, masts, and hull— she, however, succeeded in escap* ing from the frigate. THE TOVNG TEAZER, Captain Dobson, of New York, was chased into Hidifax by the Sir John Sherbroke, a vessel of supe* rior force. When witlun the light house she hoisted Eaglisl^ colours over the American, and waa chased nearly: up to the fbrts^ when the Sir, John Sherbroke supposing her to be a prize, hove about, and put to sea. As soon as. the. latter was out of sights, the Young Teazer hauled doWi| her English colours, and ^cted her escape. . \ V !S > 1 . 1 ti ; :-<^' THBDEOATCnii . Or ChairlestOD, mountiBg seven gi^is, with a crew ofime hundred tand three m£n, and, commanded by dfitaia Dit«iD^ being oaa< cruise in the month of Augnsti .diseoveied a ship and. schoon^. She imme- 90 ■;ih' 2S4 NATAL BATTLES. rliatelj Stood towards them to reconnoitre. At half past twelve, the Decatur was abreast of the schooner, which hoisted English colours. At one the Decatur wore round ; and half an hour after the schooner fired a shot without effect. The captain of the Decatur immediately gave orders to prepare for action. At two o'clock the schooner fired another shot, which passed over the Decatur. At a quarter past two, the latter fired her large gun, and hoisted American colours at the peak : two more discharges were made from the same piece, which were answered bj two guns from the British schooner. The two vessels were now within half gun shot distance. Captahi Diron, observing that the schooner was prepared to bear away, hauled upon the larboard tack, in order to present the bow of his vessel to his antagonist*^ Soon afterwards the latter fired her whole broadsidet-' which only slightly damaged the Decatur's rigging* This was returned from the eighteen pounder of the Decatur. Her captain at the same time, ordered every one of the crew to his post, in order to carry the British vessel by boarding, as soon as the neces-' sary preparations for the purpose should be made. It was now three quarters of an hour past two, an^ the vessels were within pistol shot of e^^h other. A severe fire df musketry commenced from the Deca^ tur. The British schooner bore away tp prevent' being boarded ; and fired a broadside into the Deca- tur, which killed two of her men, and injured her^ rigging and sails.' The Decatur closely followed her antagonist in her manoeuvres) and again endeavoored^ / NATAL BATTLES. 2S6 to board, which the schooner once more avoided, and fired another broadside. A third attempt was made by the captain of the Decatur to board. The jib- boom of the Decatur was run into the mainsail of the schooner, and the latter not being able to disen- gage herself dropped along side. During this ma- noeuvre the fire from the cannon and musketry on both sides was extremely severe and destructive. While the two vessels lay in this position captain Diron ordered his whole crew, armed with pistols, sabres, &c. to board, which was performed with the greatest promptness. The resistance of the English was desperate. Fire arms soon became useless, and the contest' was- carried on with the cutlass. The captain and principal officers of the British vessel ijeing killed, and her deck covered with dead and wounded, her colours were hauled down by the crew of the Decatur, when the two vessels were separat^^ ed, having their rigging and sails cut to pieces. i^ >> The English vessel was his Britannick majesty's schooner Dominica,, of fifteen guns, with a crew of eighty-eight men. The Decatur had four men killed and sixteen wounded ; the Dominica thirteen killed and forty-seven wounded. Among the killed of the' Dominica was her brave commander, who, as long as he lived, refused to surrender his vessel, jnd de- clared his.deteraiuiation not to survive her loss. The king's packet Princess Charlotte, remained an inactive spectator of this bloody contest^ which lasted an hour. As soon as the vessels were disengaged, she tacked about and stood to the southward. She •■i?|||v.- IfAYAL BATTLES. Iind sailed from St. Thomas, under codtoj of the Dominica. The Decatur and her prize arrived safe in port. . THE SARATOOily Of four guns and one hundred and sixteen meh^ belonging to New York, while cruising off Surinam river, in the month of September, discovered the British packet, brig Morgiana, of eighteen guns, witb a crew of about fifty men, commanded by James Cunningham. Captain Aderton, the com- mander of the Saratoga, immediately gave chase : when within musket shot, the Morgiana hoisted English colours, and the action commenced : part of the time the vessels were within pistol shot : the remainder, they were close along side of each other. After an action of an hour and a quarter the Sarato- ga succeeded in capturing the British vessel by boarding. The action was extremely severe. Both vessels were almost reduced to wrecks. The Sara- toga had almost all her stays, shroudtfi, &c. cut away. In her mainsail there were upwards of a hundred shot holes. A number of shot also struck her mastk^ spars, and bull. The crew of the Morgiana fought with desperation. She had two men killed and eigkt wounded. The Saratoga ha^ two men kHle^ aai five wounded. Both aBnived safe in port NATAL BATTLES. trt Vv %i^:. -**■ . 32 260 NAVAL BATTLES. Hi ; (particularly captain Winahip) 1 received every assist- aoce their situation could afford me. The .latives, though at first surprised at our de- plorable condition, and inquisitive to know the cause of it, which I did not think prudent to inform them, supplied the ship with fresh meat, fruits and vegeta- bles, partly on condition that 1 would take the chief men of the island, and some others with their pro- perty up to the Windward Islands, (where I found it necessary to go,) after shipping some men, in order to procure a supply ,of salt provisions from the king. From thence it was my intention to have proceeded to Valparaiso in compliance with my instructiona from captain Porter,-— but I was unfortunately cap- ' tured on the passage by the English ship Cherub of twenty guns. I was somewhat surprised to hear captaip Tucker say (when I pointed out -a valuable canoe, and many other articles which I assured him was the property of the natives, and that I was mere- ly conveying them, and it, from the one island to the other, the weather being to boisterous at that time for them to make the passage in their ' canoes,) that every thing found in a prize-ship belonged .to the captors. - u' . ,4 So that I had the mortification to see the people from whom I had received so much kindness, sent on shore, deprived of all they had been collecting foi twelve months past, and were about to present to their king as- a tribute imposed upon cbem. The Cherub then proceeded to Atooi, where after capturing the ship Charon, and making many fruit • NAVAL BAlTLkS. 261 lople It OD foi a to ifter leM attempt to get the cargo of that ship, and se- veral others that had heen deposited on the island, under the iirniediate protection of the king of the Leeward Islands, she took her departure on tiie 16th of Jul J from that place, and on the 28th Novem- ber following, arrived at Rio de Janeiro wii: her prizes, touching on her passage for refreshments at Otaheite and Valparaiso. During her stay at the latter place, the frigates Briton and Ta(^us arrived from the Marquesas, where they had hee>-\ in search of the ships left under my charge. Onthe 16th of December the prisoners w^r<. <,ent on shore, having received the most r?orous treat- ment from captain Tucker, during theii ioiig confine- ment in his ship, and the greater part of them, like the natives, left destitute of evety thing, save the clothes on their backs. The men belonging to the Essex had but little to lose, but those I shipped at Waahoo had received in part, money and goods for one, two, and some of them three years services ip t^ Canton ships. On the 16th of May, by t^:^ ««dvice of a physician who attended me, I took, my departure from Rio de Janeiro, in a Swedish ship bound to Havre de Grace leaving behind actiug midshipman Benjamin Clapp, and five men, haying lost one soon after my arrival at that place with the small pox. No opportunity had previously offered by which 1 could possibly get froih thence, the English admiral on that station, being determined to prevent by every i>?i^^n^^r iMMEDiiiTELT after the ratification of peace with Great Britain, in February 1815, Congress, in con- sequence of the hostile conduct of the regency of Al- giers, declared war against that power. A squadron was immediately fitted out, imder the command of commodore Decatur, consisting of the Guerriere, Con- stellation, and Maqedonian frigates, the Ontario and Epervier sloops of war, and the schooners Spark, Spitfire, Torch, and Flambeau. Another squadron, under commodore Bainbridge, was to follow this ar- mament, on the arrivsd of which, it was understood, commodore Decatur would return to the United States in a single vessel, leaving the command of the whole combined force to commodore Bainbridge. The force under commodore Decatur rendezvoused at New York, from which port they sailed the 20th day of May, 1815, and arrived in the bay of Gib- raltar in twenty-five days, after having previously communicated with Cadiz and Tangier. In the passage, the Spitfire, Torch, Firefly, and Ontario, separated at different times from the squadron in gales,. bjut all joined again at Gibraltar, with the ex- ception of the Firefly, which sprung her masts, and put back to New York to refit. Having learned at Gibraltar that thf Algerine squadron, which had been out into the Atlantic, had undoubtedly passed up the straits, and that information of the arrival of the American force hkd been sent to Algiers by persons 254 NAVAL BATTLES. in Gibraltar, commodore Decatur detcmined to pro- ceed without delay, up the Mediterranean, in the hope-of intercepting the enemy before he could re- turn to Algiers, or gain a neutral port. The 17th of June, off Cape de Gatt, he fell in with and captured the Algerine frigate Mazouda, in a running fight of twenty-five minutes. After two broadsides the Algerines ran below. The Guerriere . had four men wounded by musketry — the Algerines about thirty killed, according to the statement of the prisoners, who amounted to four hundred and six. In this affair the famous Algerine admiral, or Rais, Hammida, who had long been the terror of this sea, was cut in two by a cannon shot. On the 19th of June, off cape Palos, the squadron fell in with and captured an Algerine brig of twenty- two guns. The brig w^as chased close to the shore, where she was followed by the Epervier, Spark, Torch, and Spitfire, to whom she surrendered, after losing twenty-three men. No Americans were either killed or wounded. The captured brig, with most of the prisoners on board, was sent into Carthagena, where she has since been claimed by the Spanish government under the plea of a breach of neutrality. As th's affair will probably become a subject of ne- gotiation between the United States and Spain, we decline entering into further particulars. \ From cape Palos, the American squadron proceed- ed to Algiers, where it arrived the 28th of June. Aware that a despatch^boat had been sent from Gib- raltar, to inform the regency of his arrival, and having also learned that several Tartans had gone in search NAVAL BATTLES. 265 of the Algerines to communicate the news, commo- dore Decatur concluded that their fleet was by this time safe in some neutral port. He therefore thought it a favourable time to take advantage of the terror which his sudden and unwelcome arrival had excited, to despatch a letter from the President of the United States to tlie dey, in order to aflbrd him a fair opportu- nity to open a negotiatioiK The captain of the port was immediately despatched to the Guerriere, on the receipt of this letter, accompanied by Mr. Norderling the Swedish consul ; and commodore Decatur, who, with Mr. Shaler, had been empowered to negotiate a treaty, proposed the basis, on which alone he could conseiit to~enter on the affair of an adjustment. This was the absolute and unqualified relinquishment of any demand of tribute on the part of the regency, on any pretence whatever. To this he demurred. He was then asked if he knew what had become of the Algerine squadron, and replied — ** By this time it is safe in some neutral port." " Not the whole of it," was the reply. He was then told of the capture of the frigate, of the brig, and of the death of Hammida. He shook his head, and smiled with a look of incredu- lity, supposing it a mere attempt to operate on his fears, and thus induce an acceptance of the proposed basis. But when the lieutenant of Hammida was called in, and the minister learned the truth of these particulars, he became completely unnerved, and agreed to nego- tiate on the proposed basis. He premised, however, that he was not authorized to conclude a treaty, but requested the American commissioners to state the conditions they had to prooose. This was done, and 266 NAVAL BATTLES. the captain of the port then requested a cessation of hostilities, and that the negotiation should be conduct- ed on shore, the minister of marine having pledged himself for th^ir security while there, and tiieir safe return to the ships whenever they pleased. Neither of these prof^os'Uons were accepted, and the captain was expressly given to understand, that not only must the negotiation be carried on in the Guerriere, lut that hostilities would still be prosecuted against all vessels belonging to Algiers, until the treaty was signed by the dey. > f ?? The captain of the port and Mr. Norderling then went on shore, but the next day again came on board, with the information that they were commissicftied by the dey, to treat on the basis for winch the com- missioners'of the United States had stipulated* A treaty was then produced, which the commissioners declared could n9t be varied in any material article, and that consequently, discussion was'not only useless, l^ut dangerous on their part ; for if in the interim the Algerine squadron were to appear, it would most as- suredly be attacked. On examining the treaty pro- posed, the captain of the port was extremely anxious to ^et the article stipulating for the restoration of the property taken by the Algerines during the war dispensed with, earnestly representing that, it had been distributed into many hands, and' that as it wais not the present dey who declared war, it was unjust that h|^^ should answer for all its consequences* . .The article was, however, adhered to by the Americati com^ missionerS|,and after Various attempts to gain a truce, as well as to gain time, it was at length settled f-^- ^'ihii NATAL BATTLES. 257 that all hostilities should instantly cease, when a boat was seen coming off with a whi:e ilag, the Swedish consul pledging at the same time his honour that it should not be hoisted until the dej had sign- ed the treaty, and the prisoners were safe in the boat. The captain and Mr. Norderjing then went on shore, and returned within three hours ; with the treaty signed, together with all the prisoners, al- though the distance was more than five miles. The prindpal articles in this treaty were, that no tribute under any pretext or in any form whatever, should ever be required by Algiers from the United States of America— that all Americans in slavery should be given up Without ransom — that compensation should be made for American vessels captured, or pro- perty seized or detainer! at Algiers— 4hat the persons and property of American citizens found on board an enemy's vessels should be sacred'^^that vessels of either par^ putting into port should be supplied with provisions at market price, and, if necessary to be repaired, should land their cargoes without paying duty — ^that if a vessel belonging to either party should be cast on shore, ^he should not be given up to plunder-^-or if atmcked by an enemy withui can- non sliot of a fort, should be [ffotected, and no ene my be permitted to follow her when she went to sea withhi twenty^four hours. In general, the rights of Americans on the ocean and land, were fully pro- vided for in every instance, and' it was particularly stipulated that all citizens of the United States taken in watr^ lAioiild be treated at prisoners of war are 63 . . 258 NAVAL BATTLES. jk '"\ -s. treated by other nations, and not as slaves, but held subject to an exchange without ransom. After con- cluding this treaty, so highly honourrible and advan- tageous to this country, the comniis5foa< r.f gxva up the captured frigate and biig,'to their i irniev mw^jk; To this they were influeviced by a cor ;ideration of the great expanse U wo^ild requir;4 eluded, and consequently the surest guaran- tee for its observance on his part. The policy of the measure we think sufficiently o)>yious, when it is considered that the dey would most likely, in case of their refusal, have fallen a victim to the indigna- tion of the people, and that, in all probability, his successor would have found his safety only in disown- ing the peace which had been made by his predeces- sor. There being, as we before stated, some dispute with the Spanish authorities with regard to the le- gality of the capture of the Algerine brig, it was stip- ulated on the part of the American commissioners, in order to induce the Spaniards to give hei , that the Spanish consul and a Spanish mercliant, then prisoners in Algiers, should be released, and permit- ted to return to Spain if they pleased. According to the last advices the brig was still detained by the Spanish government, and the ultimate dispfvsal of this vessel will probably be .settled by an amicable negotiation. NAVAL BATtLES. 269 le- stip- ners, that then irmit- ngto ly the lalof tf^ ir Commodore Decatur despatched captain Lewis in the Epervier, bearing the treaty to the United States, and leaving Mr. Shaler at Algiers, as consul-general to the Barbary states, proceeded with the rest of the squadron to Tunis, with the exception of two schooners under captain Gamble, sent to convoy the Algerine vessels home from Carthagena. He was prompted to this visit, by having been informed that a misunderstanding existed between our consul and the bashaw of Tunis, into the nature of which he considered himself bound in duty to inquire. Here he was officially informed by the consul of a violation of the treaty subsisting between the United States and the bashaw, first, in permitting two prizes of an American privateer to be taken out of the harbour 'by a British cruiser, and secondly, in permitting a company ofmerchants, subjects of Tunis, to take the property cf an American citizen at their own price, and much below its real value. The truth of these allegations being thus officially verified, commodore Decatur addressed a letter to the prime minister of Tunis, demanding satisfaction for these outrages exercised or permitted by the bashaw, and a full restoration of the property thjus given up or sacrificed. The bashaw, through the mediiim of his prime minister, acknowledged the truth of the facts, as well as the justice of the de- mands ; but begged twelve months to pay the money. This was refused ; and on receiving assurances that it would be paid forthwith, the commodore went on shore, where he received the visits of .the different NAVAL BATTLES. , consvls. The Drother of the pnme miniiter 6f Tudn chanped to arrive with the money at thid time, arid seeing the British consul in conversation with com- modore Decatur, threw down the bass wliich con- tained it with great indignation, at the same time ad- dressing the consul in English, whicli he spoke fluent- ly, "You see, sir, what Tunis is obliged to pay for your insolence. You must fpel ashamed of the disgrace you have brpught upon us. Voii are very good friends now,, but I ask you whether you think it just first to violate pur neutrality, aiid then to leave us to be destroyed, or f^y for you r aggressions . " As soon as the money was paid, the ^a^Jiaw preparei( to despatch a miniiiter to iSngland, to iJemand the amoupt whl^h he had been oiiii^ed to pay in conse- quence of this requisition of the 4n(>erican comhiodorli. After adjusting tl^ese dilTerences, ^W isquadron proceeded to Tripoli^ where commodore pecaiur made a similar jdeiqivid for a similar violation of the treaty subsistirie betwei^ii the United States and the bashaw, who had permitted two AmeTicah vdasels to be taken trpm tpder t^e gjims of bis castle by a Brit- ish sloop of wjB^, ^nd re/ufied pojiectioii to an Amer- _ . ic^ ctifisejr iyifig within his jurisdictign. iteptitu-^? tion of the full value of these vessels was demanded, and the monfy,amoi^t|^gto twenty-five thousand dol- lars, paid by the bashaw into the hands of lie Ami^- can oGpiul. Afteir the cpnclusipn of thijf an^ir, the American consular flag) wtMahMr. JoneSp thecottfttl. 2tk "* 'nek, in consequence of the vioktipn of neiitnu- &ty 4i^iova mgntioned, was hoisted in the pi^oca of. NAVAL BATTLES. 361 j^ and Si om- toh- ad' lejit- pay the ▼er^ think letfve. ' As d the ponse- adrpii ecaiuf^ of the nil the ^els tq biit- Amer .estitu;* anded) ■uidl&i- Imcjf- ■air, the conftiil} MMitpl- '*^ the foreign agents, and saluted from the castle with thirtj*4»ne guns. In addition to the satisfaction thus ebtaioed for unprovoked aggressions, the commodore had the pleasure of obtaining the release of ten cap- tives, two Danes, and eight Neapolitans, the latter of whom he landed at Messina. iifter touching at Messina and Naples, the sqpiad- roDi sailed fof Catthagena on the 31st of August, where commodore Decatur was m expectation of meeting the relief squadron, under oommodoce Bain- bridge. On joining that officer at Gibraltar,, he re- linquished his command, and sailed in the Guerriere fkHr the United States^ where he anived on the 12th of Novembeiv 1 Bild. Every' thing, being done previ- OM'tOithe anrival of the second division! of the sqpad- rQn,'Under oemmodorB Bainbridge, that gallant offices had iiDionooat M iitv ofdistinpushing himself^as we are aadsfied he adways will where^ occasion occurs. Pursuant to hia instructionB he exhibited this additicnir al) foDce^ befere Algiers^. T!)|^|^ltl^ Tripoli^ where ^y wieref sdmewhat^ aurpriscic$l^ the < appeanuk^i. of^ tiiA Independense i seventy-four^. Ittwing , always been peiMfldedi that the* Uiuted States weie restricted bji; tkeio tieatiesi Witht England fromi building, ships-ofr that^cIasR. Whenicoldneii Leaii was oonsul.at Algiers hv endeavoured to convince the nunistera o£ the dey tfaattanch was notrtberease';, but theyr sdways. refklied, "^If/ joAn annpetmitted to^biald seventyrfours, let us see one of them and' we shallihe stitisfied;" Comi modore Bainbridge sailed from Gibraltar thirty-six hours before the Guerriere, and arrived at Boston the 16th of November. Ji' t62 IfAVAL BATTLES. 4^ Thus was concluded an expedition in which, though few, perhaps no opportunities occurred for a display of the hardj prowess of our sailors, the na- tion acquired singular honour, in humbling and chas- tising a race of lawless pirates, who have long been the inreterate scourges of the christian world. Inde- pendently of the glory thus accruing to the republi- can name, the probable advantages arising from this sudden and unlooked-for appearance of an American squadron immediately after a war, with Great Bri- tain, we think will be manifold. This circumstance will give them an idea of the power and resources of the United States altogether different from that which they before entertained ; and serve to con- vince them of the danger of provoking their resent- ment under any expectation of the destruction of their navy by any power whatever. WThat the as^ surance of an immediate war with England was what principally encouraged the dey of Algiers to com- mence ho^tilitief S^l^jfs^ the United States, under a conviction that oSir "little navy would speedily he annihilated, is evident from the following fact* One of the dey's officers one morning insinuated, whether true or false we cannot say, to the British consul at Algiers, that it was his fault that they declared war. <* You told us," said he, ** that the American navy .would be destroyed in six months by you, and now they make war upon us with two of your own ves- 8^9 they have taken from you !" / , \111 NAVAL POETRY. From a great nuitaber of nautical songs and other' effbsions of poetry, that have appeared in the period- ical works of our country, we have selected the fol- lowing, as not unworthy of preservation. -^t- a; FROM TBI rORT FOLIO. OCEAN.— A NAVAL ODE. All hail, thou mightiest, monstrous Power! To whom^ in this tempestuous hour, The Nations bow the knee! This hour, when Heaven's right arm hath hurled Its thunders round a warring world, 0*er Christendom one bloody flag unfurled— We lift our eyes to Thee! Primeval Power! ere Order sprung. While yet o'er chaos darkness hung, Thou wert; and when, in onward tioM;, The impious mortal stain'd by crime The image of his sire sublime;— Then, great Avenger! didst thou riM, And swelling to the darken'd skiee, Each of thy waves commissioned then Whelm'd in the worthless race of men' ; < I U'i^ 264 NAVAL BATTLES. OoBAH — that TMierftbU name What tongua unflihaiinf shall proclaim) Hare, at u^n mj^ natiTe pliuo That boriaM on tif wMa 4MMii, I atand, and ilrive om glimpoo to gain Of half thj worthi but itriTe in rain. ^(MMn-to i#m hiu>d««fffin(| *htii Taigjity globO) Am in one vaat, cerulean robe. And weottb— whoae many maaaiTe h»Kp§ Lie piled widkln thj cavem-dbepa, Where i^^ Vetwnw unfold llieir eoplbua ▼eilia of liquid gotd, Aa(L«tb«r. |indi«i.«9e,.tA «|)iim4. Of riral gfmn^ % VfuMfigM^ Tet,i ^ipnd awd awifol aa tl^u artu, 'lla oiira, n^ no forebodioK, heHt«, Tq count th^ ijlori^p o'er;;^-* Deacendenta fiom,that,wepteri\ wildi^ Of HeaTen the litest, lovelieat child, Who, 8iiAiti«ith|i'pMteciioft| amilfd}! Blooining;Mtlba^ftMriiiaB(iilinii6Bft«fl|. And kiiiiiiB tenaM hottllha wanj anfi'Thii^ TUl He, tifi ahoaeiD ohiflftMi^ oaoMy Genoa's boast) ftaMftskame^ (Blest, ha^htoaeiwi^aeaaUQle^tllettblBiiqini^^ Ifor Qnmd di^igMMe) and* He wooMbandt^ And gmtitD he* hit hniiiiii** .) iV '; i IbiL BATTLIS. I • ■> » £*er since that Inm, their «WMr«a> irt, la weal or wo ore 'Gainst Punic perfidy, the hand, ' Who well «vei^M «wr in|}ured land; And drove the ■eresceat) bath*d in hlood» To hide iU Mushes «n 4he ilood. But wImb m eifert could withatand The willy Tmfc*s «asnaring iiaad, Snatched for 4faemaelves the lighted brand, And BBoanliag in ««hreiid of flanN^ Died to 4h0 worid— to live in AbmI ^ ■t/r ?.,a<" And •new — Ihougk in the recent year That «0B4pass'd our '^diamal sphere," Defeat, disgrace, and waat, aa|d fear^ Wherwrer else we look, appear^ Yet, when to Thee we turn our eyea, Some stars amid the storms arise. to ) twiee wlthtti that little year. Behold yon trophied barque appear, Whose Eagle, in the wat'ry field, IVice bade tiie British Lionjrield ! I^nieae neUe BMMt yet stands to tell Hb natire oaks, it naTKB vau. t 34 ^«.'^'*P * i 266 IfATAL BATTiiBS. And bids Defiance' loudest blest Challenge the world to mate that mast^ For service 'shar'd-Hfor duty done— For danger dar'd— for Tict'ry won!* • Ere, echoing round our gladdenM shore,' The peal of triumph scarce was o'er^ , Thou bad'st thy winds to b^ar again, O'er all its hilb the lofty strain; To tell them that another sail, Mid dark October's stormy gale, In direst, deadliest shock, could close With hearts as brave as Britain knows. And in that shock prevail ! t We crf|wd not on the shudd'ring sight The horrors of that awful fight: Not ours to count the cruel scars, And groans, and wounds of ocean-wars. Let others note hoW; side by side. The virtuous and'the valiant died* Where gi^ 'gainst gun, encount'ring, lay So nefui;, they cr9S0'd each others way! And from the suff 'ring and the slain. The life^ream mingled with the main! Till Conquest grasp'd his laurel'd crown. Less as a symbol of renown. Than to conceal from sight, -firom thought. Proofs of the price at which 'twas bought! * ItMtcanelyneeMniytoitate, thatthkaUndMtothetwoeonqaflittaebieTad bjr the " Coutitation" orar the Gaeiriere and Java — the fint vadfit the imow' diale command of captain Hall; the aeeond, under that of commodora Baio- bridge. It has been asMrtsd, that no veaiel of equal force haa been known, ja any aervice, to have aeqiiired a* rnfsz'a glory in aa little time. t The mgagement between captain Jonea, indie "Waap," aadths '* FVolio/' bfwhieh the ktter WM eaptoKd liered iDine- Baio' NAVAL BATShRS^ l# Thou, OcAttB, thou, the Mamao's aira! Witness for uf, whilo deeds like thote ^pproT*d our prowess to our foes, Did thej sot, 'nid ourselves, inspire In all, the emulous desire As well to act, as to admire? Witness, as well it may,. That One coUld, unattended, roam To Albion^s very channel home. In vain, but bold assay;^ knd One could bid his cannon sound To St. Salvador's forthest ground, Till Andes might thent lustre bum. WiAout is all the alorni and din — Hie veatal flame yet Kvea intikm Once more, upoii thy list of fiune, Ocean! inaciilK^ another qame. Surely we niay not aak in vain For him, who ne'er can ask again! For him, roost pri^'di yet pitied moat, For Lawrbnck, honoured — Lawrence, lost' For htm, who erat the figfat maintained. And erst the conqu'rer's chaplet gain'd, And bettor, nobler far. Who sprang where battle fiercest bled, Between the living and the dead, And stayed the waste of war! For him, whose virtues were declar'd By eneoies his swerd had spar'd. What time his arm bnmanely dared The reeling captive to sustain. And snatdi the sinking from the main. The life, in fight half lost before. Was now to peril risk'd once aMre; Till, aiding in the great emprize, His comrades sunk before his eyes. This, this, may Fame's subltmest song In everlasting note prolong ! glorious end! O denth of pride! ' The victors for the vanquish'd died!* * The aUnuirdniMy neitkMM of the oAeera and erew of the ** Hornet," after Mr violory evw the " Peeeock,'* for rtie safety and eoMibrt of tMr piftMiien, moat be fieafa in the minda of every American, and we tniit, of eveiy Britea A after PfAVAL BAYTLEI But be the shouts of tricunph o'«r; Strike the high warbling harp do mom! And let the minstrel's measure know No toooiy but tones of martiil wo! O'er the slow-undulating tide Let only mournful muaiek f;lide. And but the solemn-sou nd^ug oar Awake the silence of the shore. Let Fancy to the tufted steep, For sad, sepulchral sights r^ire, Where wildly o'er the moaning deep The niennaids tear ^ < ^ Thctfr golden hair, ^ And fling it on the funeral pjrre. Such sorrows, to the patriot de«r, Befit a hero's bloody bi«r; Such, Lawrence! to thy name b^ p»jidf All that can gjreet thy gnUAmt ihftd^. Oh thou, whose gen'rous 9xv» coul4 iwfe fH^ Thy fellows from an early grave, *^ What blessings had to hiiJ9 helo^'d Who hed ^ life like thine prolonged? Long on the sadden'd mind s^^">^ stay The thought of that djtmstrou: ^ay, When, with thy few brave folhwfirs roup^r Thou dared'^t 4isput« th' unequal gro^uQil^ Till sunk heoBAth thy vf^ori^ w»iim)« Nor, then-— in the rec NAVAL BATTLBS% 271 O graot that mem to prove themi tben, Better m well •• brevet men} Wife to forbear, in civill lifoi av A* bold to dnre in hotrtilie etrife. For angel-ejree, thai torn afiur Abhorrent from the icenes of war, Have yet beheld, with tear* of joj, Virtuee whieh war could not deatrojr: That, in the hot and tempting hour Of mad Succeae and lawleie Power, When Av'h se, Pride, Revenge, contend For maatery '\n the AiMiafi;^!eml, Could chain thise furies to their den. And make the victors more than^men f Nor solely to the chieftain free This might uf magnanimity: Round many a humbler head it glowed— Through many a humbler heart it flowed; Those who, whatever their leaders claim. Must fall, themselves, unknown to Fanne: Theirs the toil without the praise— The conquest theinh-but not its days. Then grant, greit Ruler of the main t These virtues they may long retain; So shall th^ waters ne'er be viewM Without a burst of gratitude. So, when War's angry flame retirea^ And, ling'ring, on thy bed expires; These, tried and purified, shall rise, And, phosnix-lifce, ascend the ikiea. w ■^ >%'.k^ '*t*'-i .^ STX NAVAL BATTLES. ODE WHITTEN BY L. M. SAROENT, ElKk. AND Buiro AT THE Diirfris eNnmiT to oArritiiv mot/L bt oiTinms «r bostoit. Britannia's gallant atreamen Float proudly o'er the tide; And fairly wave Columbia's stripes^ In battle, side by side. And ne'er did bolder foemen me^, ^Vliere ocean's surges pour. O'er the tide, now they ride^, While the beU'wing thunders row, While the cannon's fire is flashing ftsi And the beU'wing thunders roar. Wheii Tankfie pilots the Bnton, Whose blood congei^ial flows, By Hea;ven cr^ed; to be iHenditt By fortune render'd foed} Hard then must ^ the battle ^y« Ere well the fight is o'er. Now th<^f rid«» side by side, While the bfJlVing thunders ro«r, While the cwnon's fife is fiairiiiag §uM And the beU'wing; l|||Hl4er8roal^ StiU, still for oobl« England, Bold Dacr«s!s i^reamors^i Aiid for CoJui|iibl%<9l^liUlt Hqx^'ll As proudly and as b'^h Now louder rings the battle din, More thick the volumes pour; StiU they ride, side by side, While the beH'wing thunders roar, While the cannon's fire is fluriiing ftsf And the beU'wing thunders roar. ■^: W NAVAL BATTLES. .«#■? Why lulls Britoania't thunder. That wak'd the wal*ry war? Why stays that gallant Cru^rriere, Whose streamer wav'd so hit I That straamer drinks the ocean vave I That warrior's fight is o'er ! Still they ride, side by side, While Columbia's thunders roar, Whue her cannon's fire is flashing halt, And her Yankee thunders roar. -i-Tf" Uvfkl 'tii th« Briton's lee gnn ! Me'er bolder warrior kneel'd I And ne'er to gallant mariners Did braver seamen yield. Proud be the sires, whose hardy koys^ Then fell, to fight no more: With the brave, 'mid (he wave. When the cannon's blunders roar. Their spirits then shall trim the blatl» And swell the thunder's roar. Vain were the cheers of Britons, Their hearts did vainly swell, Where virtue, skill, «nd bravery With gallant HCpms fel). That heart, so well in battle tried|, Along the Moorish shore, Again o'er the main. When Columbia's thunders roar, Shall prove its Yankee spirit tru^n When Columbia's thunders roar. ;l It II Hence be our floating bulwarks. Those oak» our mountain's yield; 'Tis mighty Heaveii's plain dft«r«« Then tali;^ the wat'ry Q«ldl U t74 MiyAL BATTUEf. T* oc«Mi'i fiurthMt barrier tli«i Your wbit'mof muI alMll pour; Safe they'll ride, o'er tiM tkle, While Colombia'M tbttodem roar, While her cannon's fire is flaahing faat) Aud her Yankee thunders roar. COLUMBIA'S NATAL HKIOES ■VN« AT Tin DIimXK eiTKN TO VAFTAIN BIOOLE BT TUi OITUlllt or NSW roaa. , BT raAirois aiout, ks• foaa, NoM floata to Neptuna daarar, Or iirar abuiaa m iama'a bright Umm Or awra makaa Britain fear her. • Waatb HuU'a cooHBaand, witk a tougk And nouglMt baaida to baok bar. Upon A dagfi aa log'4)Ooka aaj, A Aaat bora down to thwaak bar; A iaat, yon know, ia odds or ao, Againat a aingle ship ain; Ao oroaa Ihe tide, bar iega abe triad) And gava tha roguaa tba alip aira» But time fliea round, and soon abe Ibund^ While ploughing ocean's acres, An even chance to join the dance. And turn keel up, pom Dacraa; D%»ff a, »t»n f latr, dawisaa f§U9 Quite full of fun and prank is, Haiatw to abip's muaa, in plafM { to «•• hit IwiH^ Got in an Imnut or two, tin. Thon raiio ■mnin, the Joyfhl itrainy For well eke hw dewrrM it, Who brought the foe to often low, Clheer*4 freedeir and nenr'd It; Long may ahe rid* ^ pnde, And apur to reai And aeamen boaat, i. aen tout. The VMAATI otanrr nx nios '.:> i W 1.0 1.1 1.25 2.5 ^ ^ III 2.2 ^ us, 11112.0 1.4 ^U4 V Photographic Sciences Corporation ^\^ \ ^v <^ ]3 WiST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MSSO (716)872-4503 ■4^ k \\ 278 NATAL BATTLES. From OaUmo^t margin the tadjr aet mU, h^O To meet the bold knight on flkel wa: * She dreamt not that he in his promise would fiul, •• And leave a fair lady alone to bewail;— Yet no knight far or near could she see. mpatient to meet him no longel sheM stay, /; Resolv'd o'er the waters to roam: "Oh! say, have jou heard of mj brave knight I fnj. He promised to meet a fair lady to day, But I fear he's to Kingston gone home.'' At last she espied him — ^what could sir knight do? He -fidgetted — ran — and he tack'd in and out, And kept far aloof— yet he promised to woo; Bhe hail'd him — " Sir knight — ^wont you please to heavf to What a shame a fair lady to flout." But away ran sir knight— the lady in vain, Her oglings, and glances employ 'd; She aim'd at his heart, he aim'd at her brain, Ske vow'd from pursuing sheM never refrain; And the knight was most sadly annoy'd. At length from the lady, the knight got him clear, And^btain'd fyr a teuton name rest; But if the fair lady Jie ever comes near, For breaking his promise he'll pay pretty dear^ The price eapbm CKatmcey knows best. I n 74 74 74 74 74 74 44 44 44 44 .44 44 44 SB as 36 94 18 i w 74 74 74 74 44 4^ % i »■ptai«d, 1819 3 Fox 94 M U John A4uH 2r CiMriMlOB. 80.1799 BStlmin,16U Aleit,aloiaaUr 8aaO«ll«4o VBBSELB BUILDINO. w Namaa. WheialmUdiBg. i Na^a. WktnMlu;> w 74 74 74 74 44 Alabam VaraioBt Vfarginia FaaaaytTaaia Naw York FOrtamooth Boaloa Do. 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