The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-02-26
25 DAVENPORT, SCOTT CO.. IOWA. THURSDAY FEBRU
THE CAPTURE OF THE GURRIERE BY
THE CONSTITUTION.

III AAOASs
The following account Of the capture O
the British frigate Gurriere by the Amer
can frigate Constitution, is communicated
to US by valued correspondent, who wa,
a prisoner on board the Gurricre during
the combat. It is a paper which deserves
a place among the historical archives of tbe
country
To the Editors Of tie Epcning Post:
Having been an American prisoner on
board the Gurriere, during the famous bat
tie between that frigate and United States
friga,e Constitution, ! propose giving you
an account ofthat important action, which
took place 10 June, 1912.
About two weeks previous to the en-.
gagement, left Boston in an American
ship, which was captured by the Gurriere
some five days before she fell in with the
Constitution.
II was about ten o'clock 10 the morning
when the Constitution was discovered
The Gurriere hove to, to enable her t6
come up. As the Constitution neared US
Captain Dacres handed me his glass, and
asked whrt took her to be. My reply
was, she looks like a frigate.' Very soon
she came within reach Of the long guns ol
the Gurriere, which were fred, but with
no effect, as the sea ran high. The Con
stitu,ion made no reply, but, as | saw, was
mannuveriug for position during which
Captain Dacres said to me, do YOU think
she is going TO strike without firingg |
replied, Il think not, SIR
Al this moment, seeing severe contest
was about commencing, in which could
take no part, being only prisoner, raised
nv hat to Capt. Dacres, and said to him.
with your permission, sir, will 60 below.
as can take no part 20, certainly said
he, 'and yon had better 60 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 sur
geons, and surgeons mates, and atten-
dants, sitting around long tablo covered
with instruments and all necessnries for
dressing the wounded, as still as 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 hemp on the oppo-
site side Of the ship.
For a moment It appeared as if heaven
and earth had struck together; more ter
rife shock cannot be imagined. Before
those in the cockpit had adjusted them
selves, the blood run down from the deck
as freely as if wash.tub tull had been
turned over, and instantly the dead, woun.
ded and dying were handed down as rap
idly as men could pass them, till the cock.
p, was filed, with hardly room for the sur
geons to work. Milshipmen were handed
down with one leg, somo with one arm
and others wounded in almost every shape
and condition. An officer who was on the
table having his arm amputatsd, would
sing out to a comrade coming down wound
ed, We'll, shipmate, how goes the batilef
Another would utter some joke, that would
make even the dying smile, and SO constant
and freely were the playful remarks from
the manned and even the dying, that ] al
most doubted my own senses. Indeed, all
this was crowded into space Of not over
fifteen or twenty minutes, before the firing
ceased. then went upon deck, and what
scene was presented, and how changed
in so short time.
The Constitution looked perfectly fresh
and, even at this time, those on board
The Gurriere did not know what ship had
fought them. On the other hand, the Cur
riere was a nero rolling log-almost en-
,irely at the mercy Of the sea. Her colors
all shot away, her main-msst and mizzen-
mast both gone by the board, and her fore
mast standing by the mere honey comb the
shot had made. Capt. Dacres stood with
his officers, surveying the scenc-alI, all
10 the most perfec, astonishment. At this
moment q boat was seen putting of from
the hostile ship for the Gurriere. As soon
as within speaking distance, a young gen
,leman (Midshipman Reed, now Commo-
dore Reed) hailed and suid:--I wish to sec
the officer in command Of this ship
AT this, Captain Dacres stepped forward,
and answered. Midshipman Reed then
said, 'Commodore Hul's compliments, and
wishes to know if you have struck your
flag
At this, Captain Dacres appeared amaz-
ed, but recovering himself, and looking up
and down, he deliberately replied: We'll. !
don't know-our mizzen-mast is gone, our
main-mast is gone-and, upon The whole,
you may say we have struck our flag"
'Con. Hull's compliments, and wishes
to know if you need tho assistance Of
surgeon or surgeons mater
Captain Dacres replied: sWell, should
suppose you had on board your own ship
business enough for all Of your medical OF.
ficers.'
Md.hipman Reed replied: 20, no; we
have only seven wounded, and they were
dressed half an hour ago.
Captain Dacres then turned TO me, deep
ly affected, and said: 'liow have our situa.
,ons been suddenly reversed! You are
now free, and prisonera'
sAIl 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 consumed in the removal
after which the Gurriere was burned, with
all her stores, armament, etc. The Con
.ttution having recently come out Of port