Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1852-04-22
The Capture of the Guerricre by
the Constitution.

British frigate Guerrero by the American fri
gate Constitution, is communicated to the
Evening Post, by correspondent who was
prisoner on board the Guerrero during the
combat. 1t is paper which deserves place
among the historical archives of the country.
Having been an American prisoner on board
the Guerriere during the famous battle be-
tween that frigate and the United States fri
gate Constitution, | propose giving you an ac
count of that important action, which took
place in June, of the year 1912.
About two weeks previous to the engage
ment, left Boston in an American ship,
which was captured by the Guerriere Some
five days before she fell in with the Constitu-
ton.
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 Constitution neared US, Captain Dacres
handed. me his glass, and asked me what
took her to be! My reply was" She looks
Inc q ISolS' NCIy sOOh, cLC CoiIiC WiIhiH
reach of the long guns of the Guerrero,
which were fred but with no effect, as the
sea ran high. The Constitution made no re-
ply, but as saw, was manevering for po-
sition-during which Captain Dacres said to
me, "Do you think she is going to strike
without firing !" replied, g. think not,
SIR"
At this moment, seeing severe contest
was about commencing, in which could take
no part, being only prisoner, | raised my
hat to Captain Dacres, and said to him
1" With your permission, sir, will go below,
as l can take no part" 80, certainly" said
he; land you had better go into the cockpit,
and should any of our men chance to get
wounded, shall feel obliged if you will as
sist the surgeons in dressing them!' Ger
tainly, sir" said |, and then descended into
the cockpit. There were the surgeons, and
surgeons mates, and attendants, sitting round
long table, covered with instruments, and
all the necessaries for dressing the wounded,
as still as funeral. Within one moment af-
ter my foot left the lower round of the ladder,
the Constitution gave that double broadside,
which threw all in the cockpit over in a heap
on 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 as il
a wash-tub full had been turned over, and in
stantly the dead, wounded, and dying, were
handed down as rapidly as men could pass
them, till the cockpit was filled, with hardly
room for the surgeons to work. Midshipmen
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 q
Another would utter sone joke, that would
make even the dying smile, and so constan,
and free were the playful remarks from the
manned, and even dying, that almost doubt
ed my own senses. Indeed, all this was crow.
ded into the space of not over fifteen or twen
ty minutes before the firing ceased. | thet
went upon deck, and what a scene was pre-
sented, and how changed in SO short time
The Constitution looked perfectly fresh
and even at this time, those on board the
Guerrero did not know what ship they hat
fought On the other hand the Guerrero
was mere rolling log-almost entirely at The
mercy Of the sea-. Her colors all shot away
her main-mast and mizzen-mast both gone b,
the board, andgher fore mast standing by the
mere honey-comb the shot had made Cap
| tain Dacres stood with his officers surveying
the scene-all in the most perfect astonsh
ment. at this moment boat was seen put
ting off from the hostile ship for the Guerr
ere. AS soon as within speaking distance, 0
young gentleman (Midshipman Reed, now
Commodore Reed,) hailed and said, 81 wisf
to see the officer in command of this ship
At this, Captain Dacres stepped forward ant
answered. Midshipman Reed then said =
"Commodore Hull's compliments, and wishes
, to know if you have struck your flag" Al
this Captain Dacres appeared amazed, but re
covering himself, and looking up and down
he deliberately replied: "Well, 4 don't know
our mizzen-mast is gone, our main-mast il
gone, and upon the whole, you may say tha
we have struck our flag" .
"Commodore Hull's compliments, and wish
es to know if you need surgeon or surgeons
mate! :" Captain Dacres replied "Wel
| should suppose you had on board your owr
ship business enough for all your medical of
icers," Midshipman Reed replied; o, nc
~e have only seven wounded, and they were