The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-11-13
Anecdote attending the Capture of the
Guerriere.

GueTIIere.
An anecdote relating TO the capture of the
Gurrriere has lately gone the rounds of the
papers which is stated 10 have been from an
nnGuestionahle source, and characterize ofthc
coolncSs, prudence AMI superior skill Of the
gallant American commodore The ancr,lote
Is doubtless correct in each imrcrtant nartic
ular. A person on hoard the Constitution
when the occnrrencc took place, gives the
following version:
The Gurrricrc was living TO. The Consti
tuition was lcisurclv hearing down upon the
enemy under three topsailS-pverv man was
at his station. and all on hoard were eager for
the conteSt. when the Gncrriere commenced
the action at long shot. Captain Hull gave
a pcrcmptory order to his officers not to an
ply a Sin-lc match NATL he rave the word
IN few minutes forfv-two pound shot from
the Guerriere took effect and killed and
wounded some of our brave tars. Lieut.. Nor
ri> immcdiatrly left his station on the rnn
deck to report il" same to the captain and
obtain permission 10 return the fire. As the
men Were very dc>irous Of engaging the enc
nv.
Mr. Morris was the commoIores rcply
are Won ready for acton on The gun-lleck =
Yes sir
We'll. keep 50, br, don't let a gun he fired
ill rive The worl
In few moments. NJ Morris again appear
ed. and stated that he could with difficulty
restrain tie men from giving the enemy A
broai>i'le-so ANXIOUS were they TO commence
the engagement
Mr. Morris. reiterated the commodore. in
tentlv gazing on the English frigate. are YOU
ready for action on the gun-icck =
Yes, sir: and it is impossible for me anv
longer to restrain the nacn from firing on the
foe, Their passions are wrought up to the
highest possible pitch of cxciiement Seve-
raj Of onr hrave>t seamcn are already killed
ani wounded
Keep cool, Mr. Morris keep cool. SEQ
all prepared. and 10 not suffer a gun to be
fired till | give the word
The gallant lieutenant went below. In a
few moments. the vessels having ncarcd each
other 10 within l>rol->hot distance. Morris
was sent for to appear on the quarter deck.
Are You all ready : demanded the conmo-
!orc
We ar" all rcadv-ani the men are NUT
tering horrible imprccatons because they
are not suffered 10 return the fire of the enc
nv
Fire. then. in Gods name" shouted the
commodore, in a voice of thunder.
1t Is added. that he wore at the time A pair
OF rd"ks'n tiqit>-and hr accompanied this
>"u!-cheerin@ order with >u, h stamp on the
deck with his ri.ht foot. that the unfortunate
pantal"onS were completely split from the
knee 10 the wai>thand
The conduct of DarrcS before and lurinG
the action. was >u,h a~ might have been cx-
prcted from a brave and generous enemy
MIR Reed. Young man belonging 10 Brew
sier, Mass. at present a respectable ship-mas-
ter out of Boston. had been pressed on hoard
the Gucrricre a few weeks previous to the
engagement Several other American sea
men were also on board.
When the Constitution was bearing dow,
in >uch gallant st,lc. and it became evident
that severe action with an American trig
ate was inevitable, Mr. Reed left his station
and proceeded to the quarter deck, and re-
Spcrttully hnt firmly represented to Captain
pacrc> that he was an American citizen. un-
justly detained on board the English trigate
that he had hitherto faithfully performed the
duties AS gncd him: but that it could n,
reasonably be expected that he would fight
against his countrvmrn. He therefore. beg
gcd leave to decline the honor Of participant
in~ in the engagement.
The English captain frankly told him that
he appreciated his patriotic feelings: that he
did not wish the Americans on hoard to fight
against their countrvmcn; ami he Subsequent
ly ordered them into the co~kpit To AID the
surgeons if necessary Reed left the SPAR
deck after the Gucrricrc had commenced the
action. Several shots were known To have
taken effect hut the Constitution had not vet
fired gun. much 10 the amusement of the
British tars. who predicted that the enemy
would hc taken without amy resistance, with
the exception of a veteran man-ot-war'S man
who was in the battle of the Nile, and gruiilv
observed with significant shake of his head
that Yankee know, what he's about"
Afew moments passed away, and the Con-
stitution poured in her tremendous hroad>idc
every Gun WAS double Shoticd and well
pointed; and the effect which it had on the
enemy can hardly be conceived. Mstlned
ir>t~ and j"crs at the impurturble, but HARM
less Yankees gave place 10 the groans of the
diving; and sixteen poor mutilatcd creatures
were tumhled down into the cockpit, from the
first broad>idc.
harres fought as long as a spar was stand