Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1846-01-15
From the n. y. Trse Sun.
NAVAL "REMINISCENCES.

sbcrrO, among our naval onCcfs a "luChN |
ship" The Chesapeake, on the other hand.
was always considered an ''unlucky ship
down 10 the dsy of her capture BY the Shan
non. The Constitution did great service du-
ring the last war. Is we'll known to our
readers. Her escape from a British squadron
on the l7,h OF July. 1872. of Egg Harbor was
one OF the most remarkable nautical ieats on
recort--showing the most consummate skill
aud scamanship on the part of Commodore
Hull and her lst lieutenant, Morrls. For
two days and nights the Constitution was,
chased by this squadron, sometimes with
light winds. at Others. warping and towing in
calm, seldom much beyond gunshot distance
/ BY the aid of sudden breeze, however she
was finally able To escape, anb arrive safe at
/ Boston. During the whole of the chase the
officers and crew OF the Constitution were at
their quart prepared for hattie. The conduct
OF Commodore Hull on this occasion received
! the highest concentrations from The press,
from men in high official statiou, and fvum
individuals competent To awe an oninsou -
the subject. Al Or d., there vtcse NO Iess
than four irigates within gunshot Of her some
OF ,hsm having eight boats ahead, towing
with all fheir osfs and sweeps out II was
indeea eoUsow escape. For period of fifty
hours ~ crew Of the Cons titutiou had no
sleep.
Having reGnaincd in port about fortnight.
the Constitution set ssil again from Boston ON
the ii oi August, and proceeded To the Cult
oil 81. Lawrence. and thence To- the Grand
Bank After cruising about for several davis
and often changing her cruising ground. she
fell IN, on the 18th OF August. with the British
frigatc Gueuiere, Capt Dacres, who seeing
the Constitution coming up with him, had
hoisted three English ensigns i'm token of
defiance. An engagement soon took place,
which lasted about thirty minutes, when the
I Guerriere struck her flag. As soon as Capt.
Dacres and his crew could b. removed 10 the
Constitution, the Guerrero was set on fire
and she blew up, with four or five feet of wa
Ter In her hold. The following extract will
gave the reader some idea of the summary
manner IN which this engagement was con-
Quoted on the part OF Com. Hull:-
As sson az the Constitution came within
gun shot, the British irigaie fired her broad
side; then filled away, wore and gave a broad d
side on the other tack; but her shot fell short.
She then attempted, unSucccssfully. To obtain
raking position. At six Z. NJ. the Consti.
tuition being alongside the Guerrero. within
pistol shot, Com. Hull ordered brisk firing
to be commenced from all her guns. which
were double-shotted with round and Crane
shot; and SD well-directed. and ~ WARMLY
kept mp, was the American fire. that in fifteen
minutes the mizzen INST of the British fripate
went by the board, aud her main ward i'm her
sings. Her hull was much injured aud her
rigging and sails torn To pieces. The fire WAS
kept up IN the same spirited Inanner for i.{
teen minutes longer for fifteen minutes longer
by The Constitution. She hail now fsken
position for rakingon the bows OF the British
iriga,e; besides which, her grape shot aud
sihsii arms dld great execution, IN sweeping
hes decks. Thirty minutes after the Constis
ID ~ her Eryf a.
ioremasto the Guerrero went by the board.
carrying with them every span except the
bowspnt. She then struck hcr coloEs. which
had been fastened in the stump OF the n;zxe,,s
mast, The hull al the British frigate was =,
much shattered that a few brosdsides would
have sunk her. She had fifteen men killed.
sixty-o wounded, and twenty-f four missing.
who, a. - supposed, were swept overheard by
tue 'aihnS INSISTS; The Constitution had only
seven killed aud seven ,saund.d."
The Constitution arrived a; Boston on the
Both day OF Augasi. when Com, Hull, his
officers and crew, were received by ever de-
monstrstion OF respect and enthusiasm. The
Commodore landed at the end OF Long
Wharf, amidst the firing OF cannon aud the
cheers al thousands OF patrioiic and grateful
citizens. lie was conducted To the area of
the old Exchange Coffee House, (sincc de-
stroyed by firc,) where he was addressed bv
a gentleman selected for the occasion: and
thence he was conducted To Fanucil Hall.
where al elegant entertainment had been
provided for about thou "a nj persons State
street was tastefully decorated Nth flags, as
was fsnueil Hall. Commodore Rodgers aud
the Officers OF his qu.giron honored the feast
with their presence, and the afternoon pas~cd
OF very agreesbly, nmids. toasts. songs
speeches, wine, patriotism aud punch. The
victory OF Commodore Hull was noticed i'm
proper manner by several of the State Ieeis-
iatures; aud Congress voted $50 900 as an
lndemniiicaiion 10 the captain. officers aud
crew ot the Constitution, Tor the loss sustain
ell by the destruction OF the Guerricrr. To
show with what lion hearted valor the .stnrs
OF Columbia" can fight il may b. mentioned
that one oi the crew percciving the flag AT
lte foremost head had Dccn shot away. went
up with it. ~ the heat Of the battle, and lash.
ed II ~ securely that ii was impossible TO
shoot !, away, unless the mast went with H.
Ana capt. Hull, IN his Official account of the
engagement. s1ys-''ihat from the smallest
boy IN the ship To the oldest seaman, not a
look of lear was seen. They all went into
action giving three cheers, aud requesting 10
land alongside al the encny" What has
been, VIII be again. in case Of a war with
Great Britain
lhe Constitution continued her cruise to-
wards the coast of Brazil On the 9Th d.,
oembeT, 1917. when within about ten leagues
oi that COST, she ioli in with the fTigate Java.
Capt. Lambert, from England. bound 10 Bonn
hay. SHE was discovered at 9. A. NJ. and nj
= i. NJ, they exchanged broadsides. and in a
lew minutes general s3tion was commenced
WIN round AMI gppc shot. After fighting
about halt Az hour, Com. Bainbndge deter
mined Ia Close with the British irigatr. al
though ~ 20 doing lac should expos his own
snip - taking IRE. IT, now came ~ closr
TO the enemy that the jib boom oi tie Java
got foul OF Tie Constitutions mineu rigging.
AZ three O'Clock, the head OF the Jaya's bow
-pul was shot away. aud, ia an hour alter
wards, Der foremost and mainmist went by
lhe board, and with them many ~ the su,,.
much oi the rigging 80. The Java struck
her flag about bali past g. Her captain Lam.
bert. was mouslly wounded III fought his
ship uobly. Size mounted 80 guns and was