The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-01-26
Capture of the Guerricre.

Capture of the Guerriere.
The following sketch Of the celebrated action be.
tween the ships Constitution and Guerrero has
been furnished by a correspondent of the New York
IJrfning Post to that paper:
..IIaving been an American prisoner on board
the Guerrero, during the famous battle between
that frigate and the United States irgae Constitu-
ton. propose giving you an account OF that
important action, which took place In june
1912.
''About two weeks previous to the engagement
left Boston in an American ship, which was cap
tured by the Guerrero some five days before she
fell in with the Constitution.
at was about ten O'Clock in the morning when
the constitution discovered. The Guerrero
hove to. TO enable her to come up. AS the Constr
tuition nearcd US. Captain Dacres handed me his
gIass, and asked me what took her to be. MY re-
ply was: She looks like frgate.' Very soon she
came within reach Of the long guns Of the Guer-
riere which were fired, but with no effect, as the
sea ran high. The Constitution made no reply,
but, as ! saw, was. Inaneuvring for position
during which Captain Dacres said to me: DO you
think she is going to strike without firing! re-
piled: Il think not, sir.
"At this moment, seeing a severe contest was
a bout commencing, in which ] could take no part
being only prisoner, raised my hat to Captain
Dacres, and said to him: with your permission,
sir, | will go below. as can take no part 'Oh,
certainly, said he and you had better go into the
cock pit, and should any OF our men chance TO get
wounded, shall feel obliged if you will assist the
surgeons in dressing them Certainly, sir, said
/, and then descended into the cockpit There
were the surgeons, and surgeons mates, and at
tcndants, sitting around long table covered with
instruments and oil ncccssaries for dressing the
wounded, as still funeral. Within one mo
ment after my foot left the lower round OF the lad
der, the Constitution gave that double broadside,
which threw all in the cockpit over In a heap on
.hs opposite side OF tho ship.
s'For a moment it appeared as ii heaven and
earth had struck togotherj more terrific shock
cannot be lima eined Before those in the cockpit
had adjusted themselves the blood run down from
the deck freely as if washtub full had been
turned over, and instantly the dead. wounded, and
dying were handed down as rapidly as men could
pass them, till the cockpit was hcd, with hardly
room for the surgeons to work. Midshipmen were
handed down with one leg, somo with one arm,
aud others wounded i'll almost every shape and
condition. An officer who on the table, having
his arm amputated. would sing out to comrade
coming down wounded: We'll, shipmate, how
goes the battle!' Another would utter some Joke,
that would make even the dying smile; and 50
constant and freely were the playful remarks from
the MANNED and even dying. that almost doubted
my own senses. Indeed, all this was crowded into
space Of not fifteen or twenty minutes before
the firing ceased. then went upon deck, and
what a scene was presented, and how changed In
80 short time.
1.-The Constitution looked perfectly fresh, and,
even this time, those on board the Guerrero did
not know what ship had fought them. On the
other hand, the G. uerriere a mere rolling log
almost entirely at the mercy OF the sea Her coiors
all shot away, her mainmast and mizcnnast both
the mere honey comb the shot had made. Captain
Dacrcs stood with his officers, surveying the
scene-sll, all in the most perfect astonishment.
AT this moment a boat was seen putting OIL from
the hostile ship for the Guerrero. As soon as
within speaking distance, young gentleman
(Midshipman Read, now Commodore Ready hailed
and said: Il wish TO zee the officer in command OF
this ship.
AT this Captain Dacres stepped forward and
answered. Midshpman Read then said Com
rnodors Hul's compliments. and wishes to know
fyou have struck your flag
.'At this Captain Daores appeared amazed, but,
recovering himself, and looking up and down. he
deliberately replied well, don't know-our
Inizenmsst Is gone, our mninrnast is gone-and,
upon the whole. you may sny we have struck our
nag,'
Commodore HulPs compliments, and wishes
20 know If you need the assistance OF surgeon or
surgeons msteP
Captain Dacres replied well. ! should sup
posv you had on board your own ship business
enough for all your medical ofheors.'
"Midsbpman Read replied ooh, no; we have
only seyen wounded, and they were dressed bali
an hour ago.
"Capiain Dacros then turned TO me, deeply af.
foeted and said: How have situations been
suddenly reversed You are now free, and a
prisoner
QUESTION 10 remove the wounded on board the Con
stitution. So dreadful was the condition Of many
ol horn that two days were nearly consumed in the
removal; after which the Guerrero was burned,
with all her etores, armament, &c. The Constitu.
ton having recently come out Of port, had no room
60 take scarcely an article.
"who can ina CINE the joy experienced in find
ing myself sgain under American colors, or the
pride felt at finding, from Commodore Hull down
TO the most humble man on beard, an entire alb
scnce Of every thing like boastful, or even tri-
umpbant look, at their wonderful victory. Cap
tain Dacres kept his state room till arrived In
port. About two hundred Of his men were neces-
ssnly ironod, as the ship was so crowded. Charles
Morris, (now comnodorc,) the fret effcer Of the
Constitution, had ball through bis 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 himeclf,
although the surgeon had apprircd him OF bis dan
ger. Every courtesy and kindness wac by Captain
Hull and his officers e tended to their prisoners
"On Sunday, about noon, the Constitution ar
rived la Boston harbor. ] wns sent on shore in tho
boat The barbor between the ship and vharvcs
vss now covered with boats 20 learn the news To
the fret boat that nenrcd, we hailed: The Con
sitution has captured the Guerriers.' Instantly
the two men in the boat took of their hats and vio-
lsntly struck them on the eide OF the boat, and,
rising, gave cheer upon cheer. They hailed other
boats, and thus the air was rent with choers, and
the victory passed along till II reached the wha ri,
and then spread like wildhrc all over the city and
country.
at is now nearly forty years since the transao.
ton of that day proved 90 the Americans that
British frigatcs were not invincihle. Who can 70.
member that day without feeling n glow Of pride,
that 80 early in the war, and in manner I'M
pretending, n victory 90 perfect should have been
achieved write this statement without notes,
bot believe it to be, ia the maip accurate
ain justice TO Captain Dacres, add, that there
wns none Of the Boosting hs part, before the
ton, which has to him been attributed, "a he did
not know the ship till Midshipman Read an
nounced her name and commander"
LIEUTENANT PINS ExPrpITfoS-Sr Rodcrick
Murcbison states that nc has intelligence from
Lieutenant PIN, Mt st. Peterborough TO the effect
that the Imperial government, after having taken
the most lively interest in this "a in every former
case to rescue the missing expedition, had satisfied
itself on the unanimous report Of the persons who
had fully studied the subject that tho execution Of
the plan which the noble and coura gcous devotion
of Lieutenant PIN had led him To- conceive, wac
opposed by insurmountable obstacles. Under
thcs, circumstances, the emperor could not con
sent TO allow the lite Of British officer TO be per
ed in vain; but that still, being dcsfous Of doing
everything which might bc possible the Imperial
government had placed our countrynan in com
nunication with NJ Ivan and NJ. Mddendorf-
the one the explorer Of Nova Iemba, tho other OF
northern and eastern Sibera-in the hope that by
some other plan additional chances might be OBJ
tanned OF procuring the desired tidings.