Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-08-29
GAZETTE.
CONSTITUTION AND GUERRERO.

Null io1 iotSty kotS SS oNheo W NV Pe
| pers, which is stated to have heen from an unques.
! tionaable source, & characteristic of the GOODNESS,
prudence, aud superior skill OF the gallant Amer
| lean Commodore. The anecdote is doubtless
correct in each important particular, although we
have often heard it related with some additions
and slight variations, by a person who was on
board the Constitution when the occurrence took
place. His version was as fOllows:-
The Guerrero was lying to. The Constitu-
ton was ~leisurely bearing down upon the enemy
under three topsails--every man was at his sta
ton, and all on board were eager for the contest,
when the Guerrero commenced the action at
long shot. Capt. Hull gave a peremptory order
to his officers not to apply a single match until he
gave the word. In a few minutes a forty-two
pound shot from the Guerrero took effect, and
killed and wounded some of our brave tars.-
Lieut.. Morris immediately left his station on the
gun-deck to report the same to the captain. and
request permission to return the fire, as the men
were very DESTROYS 10 engage the enemy.
..Mr. Norris" was the Commodore's, reply
g arc YOU ready for action on the gun.dsck.'
ssYes, sir"
..Well, keep so-but don'tlet a gun be fired
till | gi9e the word"
In a few moments Mr.. Morris again appeared
and stated that he could with difficulty restrain
the men from giving the enemy a broadside--so
anxious were they to comaence the engage
ment.
me. Morris,' reiterated the Commodore, in
tently gazing on the English frigate, ''are you
ready Tor action on the gun deck?"
..fes, sir; and it is impossible for me any
longer 10 restrain the men from firing on the foe.
Their passions are wrought up to the highest
possible pitch Of excitement. Several OF our
bravest seamen are already killed and wounded"
ssKeep cool, Mr.. Morris-keep cool. See all
prepared, aud DO not suffer a gun to be fired, TIL
[ rive The word"
The gallant Lieutenant went below. In a lew
moments the vessels having neated each other TO
| within pistol. shot distance, Morris was sent tor
to appear ON TIE quarter deck.
Are YOU all ready for action, Mr.. Morrls.'
again demanded the Commodore.
awe are all ready, strand the men arenut-
tering horrible imprecations because they are not
suffered to return the fire Of the enemy"
..Fire. then in Gods name.m shouted the Com
modore. in a voice of thunder.
Ii i, added, that he wore at the time a pair OF man.
Keen hghis,-and he accompanied this soul -cheer-
ing order with such a stamp on the deck with
his right foot, that the unfortunate pantalUOns
were completely SPLIT from the Knee to the waist-
band!
Il uC GOuuuNt " U bUNtNSs bStN'N NV N'''''S 49,
action, was such as might have been expected
from asbrave and generous enemy. MIR. Reed, a
young man belonging to Brewster, Mass. al pre-
sent a respectable shipmaster out OF Boston, had
been pressed on board the Guerrero a few weeks
previous to the engagement. Several other Aine-
rican seamen were also on board. When the
| Constitution was bearing down in such a gallant
style, and i, became evident that a severe action
with au American frisate was inevitable, Mr..
| Reed Left his station and proceeded to the quarter
! deck. and respectfully but firmly represented to
! Canaan Dacres hat he was an American citizen,
! uniustly det.,atd or board the English frigate;
that he had hitherto faithfully performed the du'
ties assigned him; but that it could not rea3ona.
| Div be expected he would h,et gainst his coun-
trymen. lie therefore begged leave - decline
the honor Of participating in the engagement.
The English Captain iyarkly ted MIN that he
appreciated his patriotic feelings; t8at he did not
lsish the Americans on board to hght against
! heir ,ounlrymen. and he subsequently ordered
them into the cockpit to render assistance to the
surgeons, if il should be necessary. Reed left
the spar-deck after the Gucrriere had com'renc-
ed the action. Several shots were known TO have
taken effect. but the Constitution had not yet tir-
ed a gun, much to the amusement OF the British
iars, who predicted that the enemy would be Ia
| Ken without any TcSlstdHSCS WIZ tuC NC iNiop VI
a veteran man. oil. wars man, who was in the bat
lie of the Nile, and gruffly observed, with a sig
ni6cant shake of his head, that ID Yankee
knows what he's about"
| A few moments passed away, and the Consti-
tuition poured in her tremendousb rcadsi1e-eVe
~ gun was double shotted and well pointed; and
the effect which it had on the enemy can hardly
be conceived. Mistimed jests and jeers at the
m nartur,b la h,t harmless Yankees, gave place
to the groans of the wounded and dying; and
sirteea poor mutilated creatures were tumbled
down Into the cockpit, from the effects oil the
first broadside!
Dacres fought as long as q spar was standing,
or a gun could be brought to bear upon the enemy;
but when his masts were completely shot away.
his men mostly killed and wouaded, encumbering
the decks; while the scuppers were streaming
with gore; when the Guerrero, which a few hours
before was Justly considered one ofthe most splen-
did specimens Of naval architecture which belong
ell 10 the British navy, Law on the water an un-
slightly, Lnmanageable mass; when he had no
longer the stump of a mast left from which to dis