The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-09-21


and anchored near her, which. disliking his
berth, the American commanding officer got
under weigh, and dropped out about mile to
leeward. So close were the British ships at
sthe time. that the pilot expressed his appre-
hension Of getting foul Of ihem--and he was
told 10 60 foul il he could do no better. BY
careful handling, however, the ship went
clear. A frigaie followed the Constitution to
her new anchorage. About eight o'clock,
Captain Hull, who was now on board, order
cd the ship cleared for action. The battle
lanterns were lighted fore and aft, and the
crew went to their quarters by the the beat Of
afam. II is not easy to portrny the enihnsl-
asm that existed in this noble ship; every
oincer and man on board, believing that the
anair OF the Chesapeake was about 10 be re-
Peated-so far, at least, as the assault was
concerned. The manner in which they took
hold OF the gun-iackles has been described as
if they were about to jerk the guns through
the ships sides. An officer was passing
through the batteries, observed 70 the men
that If there was any occasion to fight. il
would be in their quarrel, and that he expect
ed good service from them.
Let the quarter deck look out for the CO.
lors, and We will look out for the guns was
the answer. ~
In. short, it was impossible for ships
company to be in better humor to defend
the honor Of the flag. when the drum beat the
retreat, and the boatswain piped the men to
the capstan bars. Home come the yielding
anchor to the tune Of Yankee Doodle, and the
ship, casting TO starboard, stood over TO the
French coast without follower. Were the
English fugatesa satisfied that the lion might
be humbled in a single-handed attack with the
gallant frigatei Perchance the echo Of the
tune that drowned the wailing of the dying
soldiers at Bunker Hill was still familiar TO
their ears. Be this as it may, the noble
stranger was permitted to bid the cliffs OF Do
ger good night alone.
The next day, while beating across the
channel, several sail Of English men-of-war
were seen in chace, and il was the impress
sion on board the American ship that the ves-
sells were sent in pursuit. The Constitution,
however, outsailed all the strangers but one,
frigate, weathered upon her. After leading
this ship long distance ahead Of the others,
Captain Hull hove to, heat to quarters, and,
beneath the flag that was soon to wave In
glory above her quarter deck, awaited to know
the strangers object. Il unfortunately proved
amicable. On reaching entrance OF the
the port Of Cherbourg, the English vessel
kept close TO the American frigate, and while
the latter was turning into the roads, with
fresh breeze and thick weather, bore up also.
The private signal agreed upon before the
Constitution left France, however, was made,
and the battery fred gun. The shot struck
the Constitution in the bends. 1t was follow
ed by second, that flew between the masts.
third passed through the hammock MEETINGS,
and stove one Of the boats over the main
hatch. The steadiness Of the frigate now
induced the French 10 pause; and an oppor-
tuni'y offering soon after to display the signal,
the Constitution glided into port, while the
English frigate hauled her wind, and made
the best Of her way 10 join the channel feet.
In this brush a midshipman Of the Constitu-
ton was killed by the wind Of a shot. Thus
did this old cruizer dash along the English
channel, handy words, and give tit for tat 10
the British admiral beneath his thousand guns,
and then return to the United Stated to FIRE the
first gun in the second war with the mistress
Of the sea.