Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-02-25


wind on his quurler-As this was an Indication
Of readiness to receive his antagonist, in
fair yard-arm and yard arm fight, the Constitn-
tion Immediately set her main top-ealiant sail
and foresail to get alongside. Alta little after
6, the bows of the American frigate began to
double on the quarter of the English ship, when
she opened with her forward guns, drawing
slowly ahead, with her greater way, both ves-
sells keeping up a close and heavy fire, IS their
guns bore. In about ten minutes or Just as
the ships were fairly side by side, 1.-The mizzen-
mast of the Englishman was shot way, when
the American passed slowly ahead, keeping up
a tremendous fire, and luiied short round on her
bows, TO prevent being raked. In executing
this manHuvre, the ship shot into the wind, got
sternway, and fell foul other antagonist.
While in this situation, the cabin Of the Con-
stitution took fire from the close explosion of
the forward guns of the enemy, who obtained
a small, but momentary advantage from his po.
sltion. The good conduct of Mr.. Hoffman, who
commanded in the cabin, soon repaired this ac-
tened further injury, was disabled.
"As the vessel touched, both parties prepa.
red 10 board The English turned all hands
up from below, and mustered forward, with
that object, while Mr. Morris, the first lieuten-
ant, with his own hands endeavored to lash the
ships together Mr.. Alwyn the master aud
Mr. Bush, the lieutenant of marines, were up.
on the talirail of the Constitution, 10 ne rcady
to spring. Both sides now suffered the close
Ness of the musketry; the English much the
most however
Mr.. Morris was shot through the body, the
ballet fortunately missing the vitals. Mr.. Al
wyn was wounded in the shoulder, and Mr.
Bush fell dead by bullet through the head
II being found impossible for either party to
board, in the face of such a fire, and with the
heavy sea that was on, the sails were filled,
and Just ms the Constitution shot ahead, the
foromast of the enemy fell, carrying down with
it his manmast, and leaving him wallowing in
the trough of the sea- a helpless wreck.
"The Constitution now hauled aboard her
tncks, ran off a short distance, secured her
magts, and rove new rigging. At seven she
wore round, and taking favorable position
for raking, jack that had been kept flying on
the stump Of the mlzen-mast the enemy was
lowered. Mr.. George Campbell Read, the
and the boat soon returned with the report that
the captured vessel was the Guerriere IS,
Captain Dacrcs, one of the ships tha; had so
lately chased the Constitution off n York.
"The Constitution kept wearing to remain
near her prize and at . A. NJ n stranGe sail wa.
| seen closing, when she cleared for action but
at three the stranger stood off. At daylight
the officer in charge hailed TO say thst the
Guerriere had four feet water in her hold, and
that there was danger of her sinking, On re.
ceiving this information, Captain Hull sent all
his boats to remove the prisoners, Fortunate
| ly the weather was moderate, and by noon this
duty was nearly endcd.--At 3. p NJ 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 returned TO Boston, where
| he arrived on the 30th of the same month.
at is not easy, at this distant day, to convey
| TO the reader the iul force of;he moral impress.
sion created in America by this victory of one
! irigate over another.-So deep had been the et
| feet produced on the public mind by the con
stant accounts of the successes of the Englisl
over their enemies at sea, that the opinions al
ready mentioned Of their invincibilily on tina
element generally prevailed and it had beer
publicly predicted that, before the contest la,
continued six months, British sloops Of wa
would lie along side of American frigstes viii
comparative impunity.
"Pcrhaps the only portion Of even the Amer
lean population that expected different result
was that which composed the little body of o.
ficers on whom the tral would fall, and the
looked forward to the struggle with a mani
resolution, rather than with a very contaen
hope But the termination OF the combat jus
the most sanguine Aner making all prone
allowance for the difference of force, which Get
f tanly existed in favor Of the Constitution, a
; well as for the excuses that the defeated part
! freely offered to the world, men on both side
ofthe Atlantic, who were competent TO tori
intelligent opiniors on such subjects, saw n
| promise OF mpny future successes IN this
e The style in which the Constitution h'
!. been handled, the deliberate and yet Carne