Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1840-12-03

selves down on the deck to catch short maps
the people slept at their guns.
" This was ona Of the most critical mo-
ments of the chase. The Shannon was fast
closing, as has Just been stated, while the
Gurrlere was about as near on the larboard
quarter An hour promised to bring the
struggle to an issue, when suddenly lat nine
minutes past nine,a light air from the south
ward struck the ship, bringing her 10 wind
ward. The beautiful manner liz which this
advantage was improved, excited admra-
ton, even in The enemy. As the breeze
was coming, the ships salls were trimmed,
aud as soon as she was under command she
was brought close up to the wind, on the
larboard tack the boats were brought in
alongside ; those that belonged to the da-
lifted clear of the water, by purchases on
the spars, slowed cupboard, where they
were in readiness to be used again at mo-
ment's notice. AS the ship came by the
wind, she brought the Gurriere nearly on
her lee beam, when that frigate opened a
fire from her broadside. While the shot
Of this vessel were just falling short ofthem
The people of the Constitution were hoist
ing up their boats, with SO much steadiness
as if the duty was performed in friendly
port. In about an hour, however it fell
nearly calm again, when Capt. Hull order
ed quantity of water started to Tighten the
ship. More than Two thousand gallons
were pumped out, and the boats were sen,
again ahead to tow. The enemy now put
nearly all their boats on the Shannon, The
nearest ship astern and few hours of pro-
digious exertion followed, the people of the
Constitution being compelled to supply the
place of numbers by their activity and zeal.
The ships were close by the wind, and
everything that would draw was set and the
Shannon was slowly but steadily forging
ahead. About noon of this day there was
little relaxation from labor, owing 10 the
occasional occurrence of cats paws, by
watching which, closely the ship was urged
through the water. But at quarter past
twelve, the boats were again sent ahead,
and the toilsome work Of towing and kedg-
ing was renewed.
At one O'Clock strange sail was discov-
cred, nearly TO leeward AT this moment
the four frigates Of the enemy we're about
one point on the lee gu arter of the Const-
tuition, at long gun shot, the Africa, and
the two prizes being on the lee beam. AS
the wind was constantly battling, any mo-
ment might have brought change, and
placed the enemy to the wlndward. AT
seven minutes before two, the Belvidere,
then the nearest ship, began to fire with her
bow guns, and thee Constitution opened
with her stern chasers. On board the lat
ter ship, however, it was found dangerous
to use the main deck guns, the transum
having so much the rake, the windows be-
ing so high and the guns so short, that
every explosion lifted the upper deck, and
threatened to blow out the stern Frame
Percevng, moreover, that this shot did
little or no execution, Capt Hull ordered
the firing to cease at half past two.
" For several hours the enemy's frigates
were now within gun shot. sometimes tow
ing and kedging, and at others endeavoring
to close with the puffs of air that OCCASION
ally passed. AT seven in the evening, the
boats of the Constitution were again ahead,
the ship steering southwest half west, with
an air so light as TO be almost imperceptlble.
At half past seven she sounded in twenty
four lathoms. For four hours the same
loilsome duties were going on, until little
before eleven, when light air from the
southwark struck the ship, and the sailors,
for the first time in many weary hours were
asleep. The boats, instantly dropped along
side hooked ON and were all run up, with the
exception of the first cutter. The topgal-
LIANT studdingsalls and staysals were set as
soon as possible, and Tor about an hour the
Ieople caught little rest.
" But at midnight, it fell nearly calm
again, though neither the pursuers nor the
pursued had recourse to the boats, proba-
bly, from an unwillingness to disturb their |
crews. At two A. NJ it was observed, on
board the Constitution that the Guerrero
had ranged ahead and was again on her lee
beam. AT this time the topgalant studding-
sails we're taken in.
"In this manner passed the night, and
on the morning of The next day,it was found
that three of the enemy's fiIgates were
within long gunshot on the lee quarter, land
the other about the same distance on the
lee beam. The Africa and the prizes were
much further to the leeward.
"a little after daylight, the Guerrero,
having drawn ahead sufficiently to be for
ward of the CONSTITUTIONS beam, tackled,
when the latter ship did the same, in order
to preserve her position to the windward.
An hour afterwards the Elos passed on the
contrary tack so near that il was thought by
some. who observed the movement, that she
ought to have opened her fire but as that