The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-06-05
VOLUME l.--IVNBER 81.


killed, l04. Americans, II.
On the 18th of December, the frigate Essex,
Capt Porter, took the ship Nocten, of 10 guns,
in about five minutes With the Nocton he
also took $4,000 in specie. Capt Porter af-
terwards cruised in the Pacific, where his prizes
averaged about two day. His last act was TO
fight two British frigates of equal size, for
nearly half day.
On the 29th of December, the Constitution
Capt. Bainbridge, captured the British frigatc
Java. The combat continued more than three
hours, at the expiration of which time she was
so knocked to pieces that you could look thro'
her like piece Of gauze. The English lost in
this battle 161. The Americans "a. So much
for the year 1912.
On the 23d of February, 1873 the United
States ship Hornet, Capt Lawrence, encoun-
tered the British ship Peacock. In less than
fifteen minutes the Peacock struck her colors,
displaying at the same time a signal of distress.
The Hornet, in less than quarter of an hour,
having not only conquered the Peacock, but
nearly sunk her. In July, 1913, the American
brig Argus captured the British. brig Peicsn.
day or two afterwards the American brig
brig Boxer, Capt. Blythe These vessels were
of the same class, and showed in a most con-
elusive manner, the superiority of American
gunnery over that of any other power.
In August of this year, the American priva-
teer Decatur, mounting seven guns, and manned
with one hundred and three men, fell in with
the British schooner Dominica, of sixteen guns
and eighty-three men. For two hours the two
ships continued maneuyering and firing, the
Decatur seeking to board her antagonist, and
she to escape. At length the former was placed
in such position, that a part of her crew
passed, upon the bowsprit, into the stern of the
latter. The firing on both sides, from cannon
and musketry, was now terrible. In short
| time the two ships came in contact, broadsidc
to broadside, and then the remainder Of the
Decatur's crew rushed upon her enemy's deck
Fire arms were thrown aside, and the men
fought hand to hand, using cutlasses and throw
ing shot. Nearly all the officers of the Domin-
lea being killed, her flag was hauled down by
the conquerors. OF her crew of eighty-three,
sixty were killed or wounded; of that of the
Decatur but nineteen. The next day, the latter
captured a merchantmen, laden with with a
Na1udDie anu conuucIcu boln pIlZtS luNu
the harbor of Charleston.
In December, 1914, the United States frigate
Constitution, Capt Stewart, fought two British
frigates at once, and, what is more, whipped
them. They were the Leyant and Cyane- This
naval battle is one of the most glorious on rec
ord. So much for ships-let US now come to
s9uadrons.
On the 10th of September, 1913, the Ameri-
can squadron on Lake Erie, under Commodore
Perry, fought British squadron under Capt.
Barclay The battle commenced little after
noon. At o'clock Perry transmitted the fol-
| lowing laconic epistle TO Gen. Harrison: We
have met the enemy and they are ours-two
ships, two brigs, schooner and one sloop.'
On the 9th of September, 1914, the British
| squadron, commanded by Commodore Downie,
appeared off the harbor of Plattsburg, where
that of the United States commanded by Com
modore McDonough, lay at anchor, prepared
| for battle. The former, consisting of sixteen
vessels carried one hundred and two guns, and
was manned with eight hundred and fifty men.
The battle commenced about O'Clock. In two
hours and half the British were "a whipped
community every vessel in the squadron hav-
! ing backed down run away.