Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-03-14

either party to board in the face Of such q
fire. and with the heavy sea that was on,
the sails were filed. and just as The Con-
stitu.ion shot ahead. the foremost Of the
enemy fell, carrying down with it the main
mast, and leaving him wallowing in the
trough Of the sea, a helpless wreck.
The Constitution now hauled about
her tacks, ran off short distance, secured
her masts, and rove new rigging. At 7,
she wore round; and taking a favorable
position for raking, a jack that had been
kept flying on the stump Of the mizzen
mast of the enemy was lowered. Mr.. Geo
Campbell Reed, the third lieutenant. was
sent on board the prize; and the boat soon
returned with the report that the captured
vessel was the Guerrero 3S, Captain OAR
cres. one Of the ships that had so lately
chased the Constitution off New York.
"The Constitution kept wearing, to re.
main near her prize; and at 2 A. NJ,
| strange sail was seen closing, when she
cleared for action; but at three, the s,ran-
ger stood off. At daylight the officer in
charge hailed TO say that The Guerrero had
four feet water in the hold, and that the re
was danger Of her sinking. On receiving
this information. Capt. Hull sent for his
boats to remove the prisoners. Fortunate
ly the weather was mode rate; and by noon
this duty was nearly ended. At 3 P. N.
the prize crew was recalled, having set the
wreck on fire, and in a quarter Of an hour
she blew up. Finding himself filled with
wounded prisoners, Captain Hull now re-
turned to Boston, where he arrived on the
| 30th Of the same month.
1T is not easy, at this distan, day, to
convey to the reader the full force of the
moral impression created in America by
this victory of one frigate over nnothes.-
So deep had been the effect produced on
the public mind, by the constant accounts
Of the successes Of the English over their
! enemies a, sea. that the opinions already
mentioned Of their invincibihtv on that ele-
ment generally prevailed; and it had been
publicly predicted that before the contest
had been continued six months, British
sloops Of war would lie alongside Of Anne
rican frigates with comparative impunity.
"Perhaps the only portion Of even The
American population that expected differ
/ ent results was that which composd the
| little body Of officers on whom the trial
would fall; and they looked forward TO the
struggle with manly resolution, rather
than with confident hope. But the ter
minntion Of the combat just related far ex.
ceeded the expectations Of even the most
sangnne. After making all proper allow
ance for the difference of force. (which
certainly existed in favor Of the Constitu-
iion) as we'll as for the excuses that the de-
feated party freel y offered to the world,
men, on both sides Of the Atlantic, who
were competent 20 form intelligent opin-
ions on such sub jects. saw the promise Of
many future successes in this.
The style in which the Constitution had
been handled; the deliberate and vet earn
est manner in which she had been carried
into battle, the extraordinary execution
that had been made in so short time BY
her fire; The readiness and gal!antry with
which she had cleared for the action. so
soon after destroying one British friga.e,
in which was manifested disposition to
meet another; uniting to produce a deep
conviction Of seIc-reiance. GOODNESS, and
skill, that was Of infinitely more weight
than the transient feeling which might re-
suit from any accidental triumph.
"ln this combat the Constitution suffer
ed good deal in her rigging and sails, but
very little IN her hull. Her loss was sew
en- killed and seven wounded. AS soon a S
she had rove new rigging. applied the nee
essary shoppers, and bent few sails, as
has been seen. she was ready to engage
another frigate."