The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-01-25

made on her with fine breeze, boats with
lights and pilots were sent TO point out the
shoals, and at II o'clock, p. M, the Constel.
lation was safely moored between forts Nor
folk and Nelson, where she afterward conlri-
buted to defend that place, and with her can
non and her crew, repulsed the enemy's attack
on Crany Island, and defeated the expedition
sent to capture Norfolk and its dependen-
cles.
In the summer Of 1913, Capt. Stewart was
ordered to assume the command Of the frigate
Constitution, then undergoing repairs at Bos-
ton. In December following he proceeded on
cruise. After exhibiting that ship on the
coasts of Georgia and South Carolina, about
the Bermuda Islands, off the coasts of Surf
nam, Berbice and Demarara, 10 windward Of
the island of Barbadoes, st. Vincent, Martin
leo, off st. Christophers, St. Eustatia, Porto
Rico, and Santa Cruz, and destroying the Pic
tou of sixteen guns, merchant ship Of ten
guns, the brig Catharine, and schooner PhG-
nix, he chased several British ships Of war,
and the frigate La Pique in the Mona passage,
without being able to oyertake any Of them,
in consequence of the worn out state Of the
sails of the Constitution. Capt. Stewart de-
tSiuhiHCu W w DOotOu. ullu tuClH,
for the old sails had served throughout the
periods of Captain Hull's and Captain Balm
bridges former cruises. In April the Consti-
tuition arrived at Marblehead in Massachu-
sets bay, having with great difficulty escaped
from the British frigates, the Junon, and La
Nymphe, of fifty guns each
In December, the Constitution proceeded
on another cruise, under the command of
Captain Stewart, having been reitted with
great care, and furnished with new sails. On
the nty-fourth, he captured and destroyed,
TO the eastward of the Bermudas, the brig
Lord Nelson; off Lisbon he captured the ship
Susan, with valuable cargo, and sent her to
New York, and on the twentieth of February,
1915, after sharp conflict of forty minutes,
he captured the British ships Of war, the
Cyane, of thirty-four guns, and the Leuant, Of
twenty-one guns, having three men killed and
thirteen wounded, the British ships having in
all thirty-fve killed. and forty-two wounded.
The following is the official report of the
action.
United States Frigate Constitution,
AT Sea, 22d February, 1875 !
SIR On the twentieth Of February last,
the Island of Madeira bearing WIS. W., dis
tant about sixty leagues, we fell in with his
Britannia Majestys two ships of war, the
Cyane and Levant, and brought them to ac-
ton about 6 o'clock in the cuening, both Of
which, after spirited engagement Of forty
minutes, surrendered to the ship under my
command.
Considering the advantages derived by the
enemy having divided and more active force,
as also the superiority in the weight and num-
Der Of their guns, we deem the speedy and
decisive result Of this action, the strongest
assurance which can be given to the Govern
ment, that all under my command did their
duty, and gallanily supported the reputation Of
American seamen.
Enclosed you will receive the minutes of
the action, and list of the killed and wound
ed on board this ship-also, enclosed you will
receive for your information, statement Of
the actual force Of the enemy, and the num-
Der killed and wounded on board their ships,
as near as could be ascertained
| have the honor TO be, sir, very respect
fully,
Your obedent servant,
Signed, CHARLES STEWART.
To Hon. Secretary of the Navy, Washing
ton.
ITO be contianed)