Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1842-03-15
TIE HORNET AND PEACOCK


The recent lIss Of the Peacock has revived in the
public mind 2 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 or cOtsm?Draries
have fallen into the error Of snip nsing The Peacock
lo,i IN the Columbil nver TO be sime which was
captured by tho III rnet THIS is a great mistake.
The day on which those two vessels went into nc
ton was the last one that ever saw the sails ofihe
Peacock uniurlcl TO the wind. IL cannot b. disa-
greeuble To either our readers or contemporaries who
have fallen into This mistake. 10 have that brilliant
passage Of our naval history briefly Fccapiulnred.
On the twenty f'urh DAY Of February 1913, ia
III 'ruet under comm iud Of Ca ptain Lawrence. was
cruising oil Denlrirl. when she hove in sight OF
the Peacock, a British brig Of war carrying The same
number Of guns as herself Both vessels immedi-
ately bore down with a view Of giving battle each
one m1nIuvreine 90 keep the wind. Al twenty
five minutes past > O'Clock in the afternoon they
passed each other within pistol shot. and both deli
yered their broadsilcs simultaneously as their guns
bnre, and the battle was thus commenced. No
sooner had they passed than the Peacock put her
helm hard mp with the view Of wearing short round
across the stern Uf The Hornet and mking hor, but
the latter performed that same mlnoeuvre and was
too quick fr her antag mist. She came down un .
on the quarter Of The Peacock in a perfect blaze Of
hrc. and Immediately closed With her. Both vessels
now fought with great intrepidrty and with The ut-
most fury. But The superior gunnery and rapid
handling Ofihe Hornet s1ou made her triumphant.
AZ forty minutes past five, being bat fifteen minutes
from the lime The first gun was fired the Peacock
struck her cDlors. and not only 81, but hoistcd Them
~ the fore rigging union down, IN token Of distress
Lieut.. Siubrick. who was sent 10 take possession
Of her. Immediately returned and reported that she
WIS sinking. Every possible eHc;tion was now
made by the officers AMI men on boar the Hornet
10 rescue from n witery grave The Antagonists n
gaiusi whom they had just been engaged in bloody
and mortal combat Most Of those who had sur
yIved The battle were got into tho b,a:s. but yet she
went s., suddenly that nine Of her men, together
with three American sailors who we're endrayonnp
10 save them, were carried with her end sank TO
no nprr. Within an hour from The time IN, &C..
lion commenced the Peacock wlsat he bottom orthe
sea.
SIch was her tragic cnI. The Hornet. before
nine O'Clock Of The same evening hal all h,r sails.
heni. was again completely ready Tor action. and
lived % achieve mIuy new inumphs Her brave
1ommlnIer. the intrepid lawrence was. however.
subsequently SLAIN on board he Chcslpclke. and
rs we al know. several year, afterwards. ev.
leiienced a m1urnlul fate. having Ewamped NJ b.
supposed, and persisted with eyery soul on board
mention other name b.. therefore. calculated
y rouse Mingled feelings 81 proud triumph and OF
s1uy,y. Indeed such must De iha feeling 4I.
F1ys awakened even by he mIst brilliant results
IL war whether on land Dr sea.
lu he same yslr that rbo battle was fought be-.
tyeeu ihe Hornet aHl Peacock. several new YES.
wtro added r1 our Navy. Ous IS which was
ai oar NV NarI and called he Peace, k-I
smiled ir1u flis cry u March IsfI.o on hrf
cruze. lni som 1ner ioIl boo with. tough and
1pfurod fhe British brig Epefvier She saw much
Give service during Tho war. anil AFTER Boz Close
Pee was finally designated as one OF IIe Exploring
IulIrOn, lUd is fHr sumo Peacock ihlt was wre,E. .
O upon tbc Dor 90 ne mouth Of ihc CgIumJit Rr,.
.-Ra-t H Tunes.