Daily American telegraph., 1852-01-21
[From the New York Evening Postl
The Capture OF the Guerriere by the Com
stitUttOM.

MEsSRSs EDITOkSi having pech an AMERICAN
prisoner on board the Guerrero during the famous
battle between that frigate and the United States
frigate Constitution, propose giving you an ac-
count of that important action, which took place
in June, 1872. M
About two weeks previous to the engagement
left Boston in American ship, which was
captured by the Guerrero some five days before
she fell in with the Constitution.
1t was about ten o'clock in the morning when
the Constitution was discovered. The Guerrero
hove to to enable her to come up AS the Con-
stitution neared us, Captain Dacres handed me
his glass and asked what / took her to be? My
reply was, "She looks like frigate = Very
soon she came within reach of the long guns OF
the Guerrero, which were fred, but with no effect
as the sea ran high. The Constitution made no
reply but, as | saw, was man9uvring for a posi-
tion-during which time Captain Dacres said to
me, I" Do you think she is going to strike without
fring?" Ireplied, g think not, sir"
| AT this moment, seeing a severe contest was
about commencing, in which could take no part,
being only prisoner, / raised my hat to Capt
Dacres, and said to him--ssWith your permission,
sir, will 60 below, as | can take no part. go,
certainly, said he, "and you had better go to
the cockpit, and should any of our men get
wounded, I shall feel obliged if you will assist
the surgeons in dressing them" Certainly,
sir" said J. and then descended into the cockpit.
and attendants sitting around long table, COW
cred with instruments and all necessaries for
dressing the wounded, as still as q funeral.
Within one moment after my foot left the lower
round of the ladder, the Constitution gave that
double broadside, which threw all in the cockpit
over in heap OH the opposite side of the ship.
For moment it appeared as if heaven and
earth had struck together; more terrific shock
cannot be imagined. Before those in the cockpit
had adjusted themselves, the blood run down
from the deck as freely us If wash-tub full had
been turned over, and Instantly the dead, wound
cd and dying were handed down as rapidly as
men could pass them, till the cockpit was filed
with hardly room for the surgeons to work. Mid
shipmen were handed down with one leg, some
with one arm, and others wounded in almost
every shape and condition. An officer who was
on the table having his arm amputated, would
sing out to comrade coming down wounded,
= Well, shipmate, how goes the battle I" An
other would utter some joke that would make
even the dying smile; and SO constant and free
were the playful remarks from the manned, and
even dying that almost doubted my own senses
! Indeed all this was crowded into q space OF not
over fifteen or twenty minutes, before the firlng
ceased. then went upon deck, and what
scene was presented, and how changed in SO
short a time!
The Constitution looked perfectly fresh; and
even at this time, those on board the Guerrero
did not know what ship had fought them On
the other hand the Guerrero was a mere rolling
log--almost entirely at the mercy of the sea-
Her colors all shot away, and her mainmast and
mizenmast both gone by the board, and her fore
mast standing by the mere honeycomb the shot
had made. Captain Dacres stood, with his Off
GERS, surveying the scene-all, all in the most
perfect astonishment. At this moment boat
was seen putting off from the hostile ship for the
Guerrero As soon within speaking distance,
q young gentleman, (AIidshipman Reed, now
Commodore Reed hailed and said, 81 wish to
see the officer in command Of the ship" At this
Captain Dacres stepped forward and answered
NIidshipman Reed then said, Commodore HulPs
compliments, and wishes to know if you have
struck your fag?" At this Captain Dacres APP
peared amazed, but, recovering himself, and look
ing up and down. he deliberately replied, swell,
don't know-our mizenmast is gone, our main
mast is gone--and, upon the whole, You may say
we have struck our flag"
Com. Hulls compliments, and wishes to know
if you need the assistance Of surgeon or sur
geon's mate" Captain Dacres replied, 'Well,
should suppose you had on board your own ship
business enough for all your medical officers"
Midshipman Reed replied, go, no, we have only
seven wounded, and they were dressed half an
hour ago."
Captain Dacres then turned TO me- deeply af-
suddenly reversed You are now free, and
prisoner
All the boats of both ships were now put in
requisition to remove the wounded on board the
Constitution. SO dreadful was the condition of
many of them, that two days were nearly con-
sumed in the removal, after which the Guer-
riere was burned, with all her stores, armament,
&C., &C. The Constitution, having recently come
out of port, had no room to take scarcely an art-
Gle.
Who can imagine the joy / experienced in find
ing myself again under American colors, or the
pride / felt at finding, from Commodore Hull
down TO the most humble man on board, an en-
tire absence of everything like boastful, even
a triumphant look, at their wonderful victory
Captain Dacres kept his state-room till we arrived
in port. About two hundred of'his men were
necessarily ironed, as the ship was so crowded.
Charles Morris NOW Commodore the first Of
fcer of the Constitution, had ball through his
body, and for several days his recovery was
doubtful during which he sent for me to come
to his room and ! well remember his perfect
unconcern for himself, although the surgeon had
apprized him Of his danger. Every courtesy and
Kindness was by Captain Hull and his officers
extended to their prisoners.
On Sunday, about noon, the Constitution
rived in Boston harbor. | was sent on shore in
the boat. The harbor between the ship and
wharves was now covered with boats TO learn, the
news To the first boat that we neared, we
hailed, The Constitution has captured the Gucr-
rierc." Instantly the two men in the boat took
off their hats and violently struck them on the
side of the boat, and, rising, gave cheer upon
cheer. They hailed other boats, and thus the air
was rent with cheers, and the victory passed
along till it reached the wharf, and then spread
| like wdfre all over the city and country.
II is now nearly forty years since the transac-
4. "a lat
| British fripates we're not invincible Who can
| rememhcr that day without feeling n plow of