The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-03-07
From the Boston Times
NAVAL HISTORY-THE HORNET AND
PEACOCK.

The recent loss of the Peacock has revived in the
public mind recollection of the melancholy fate OF
the Hornet and of the memorable battle in which the
two vessels bearing those names were engaged. But
we perceive that several of contemporaries have
fallen into the error of supposing the Peacock lost
in the Columbia river to be the same which was
captured by the Hornet. This is great mistake
The day which those two vessels went into action
was the last that saw the sails OF the Pea
cock unfured to the wind, 1t cannot be disagreea-
BILE to either our readers contemporaries who have
fallen into this mistake to have that brilliant passage
of our naval history briefly recapitulated
On the twenty-fourth day of February, 1873, the
Hornet under the command of Captain Lawrence,
was cruising off Demarara when she hove in sight OF
the Peacock, British brig of war carrying the same
number of guns as herself Both vessels immediate
" bore down with a view of giving battle, each one
man9uvreing to keep the wind. AT twenty-five
minutes past FIVE O'Clock in the afternoon they passed
each other within pistol shot, and both delivered their
broadsdes simultaneously as their guns bore, and the
battle was thus commenced No sooner had they
passed than the Peacock put her helm hard up with
the view Of wearing short round across the stern OF
the Hornet and rakng her, but the latter performed
the same maneuvre and was too quick for her anita
gonst. She came down upon the quarter Of the Pea
cock in perfect blaze of fire. and Immediately clos
ed with her. Both vessels now fought with
great intrepidty and with the utmost fury. But the
superior gunnery and rapid handling of the Hornet
soon made her triumphant AT forty minutes past
five being but fifteen minutes from the time the first
,n was fred the Peacock struck her colors and not
only So but hoised them in the fore rigging union
down in token of distress. Lieutenant Shubrick,
who was sent to take possession of her. Immediately
returned and reported that she was sinking Every
possible exertion was now made by the officers and
men on board the Hornet to rescue from watery
grave the antagonists against whom they had Just
been engaged in bloody and mortal combat, Most of
those who had survived the battle got into the
boats but yet she went down suddenly that nine Of
her men, together with three American sailors who
were cndeavorng to save them, carried with
her and sank to rise no more. Within an hour from
the time the action commenced the Peacock was at
the bottom of the sea-
Such was her tragic end. The Hornet, before nine
o'clock of the same evening had all her sails bent
was again completely ready Tor action and lived to
achieve many new triumphs. Her brave commander,
the intrepid Lawrence was, however, subsequently,
slain on board the Chesapeake, and she, as we all
know several years af erwarJs experienced mourn
ful fate having swampcd as is supposed and persisted
with every soul on board. The mention of her name
H. therefore calculated to rouse mingled feelings of
| proud triumph and of deep sorrow. Indeed such
mus, be the feelings always awakened, by the
most brilliant results of war whether on land or
In the same year that the battle fought between
| the Hornet and Peacock, several vessels were
added TO our Navy. One which was built at our
| NAVY Yard was called the Peacock. She sailed from
this city in Match, 1914 on her first cruise and
after feel in WITH taught and captured the British brig
| Epervler She much active service during the
war and after its close She finally designated
as one Of the Exploring Squadron, and is the same
Peacock that wrecked upen the bar at the mouth
! Of the Columbia river.