Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-02-28


a correspondent who was prisoner on board the
Guerrero during the combat. 1t is paper which
deserves a place among the historical archives of
the country: -sees7.--@z------s7=
Having been an American prisoner on board the
Guerrero, during the famous battle between that
frigate and the United States fIgate Constitution,
propose giving you an account of that important
action, which took place in June, 1912. : 4 -
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.
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, Capt, Dacres handed me his
glass, and asked what took her to be My re-
ply was. She looks like frigate." 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 I saw, manoeuvering for position;
during which Capt. Dacres said to me- do you
think she is going to strike without firing" re-
piled, " think not, sir"
| At this moment, seeing a severe contest was
about commencing, in which 1 could take part,
being only prisoner, l raised my hat to Captain
Dacres, and said to him, With your permission,
sir I will go below, as l can take part" ooh,
certainly" said he, and you had better 60 into
the cockpit, and should any of our men chance to
get wounded, shall feel obliged you will assist
the surgeons in dressing them" "Certanly, sir,
said l. and then descended into the cockpit. There
were the surgeons and surgeons mates, and attend
ants, sitting round long table, covered with in
struments and all necessaries for dressing the
wounded, as still as 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 in heap on
the opposite side of the ship.
Tor 1ooTotIf HaS1 hooy ord
had struck together; more terrific shock cannot
be imagined. Before those in the cockpit had ad-
iusted themselves, the blood ran down from the
deck as freely as if washtub full had been turned
over, and instantly the dead, wounded, and dying,
were handed down rapidly men could pass
them, till the cock pit filed, with hardly room
for the surgeons to work. Midshipmen were hand
ed down with one leg, some with one arm, and
others wounded in almost every shape and condi-
ton. An officer who on the table having his
arm amputated would sing out to comrade COM
ing down wounded, "We shipmate, how goes
the battle !' Another would utter some joke, that
would make even the dying smile, and so constant
and freely were the playful remarks from the MAIN
ed, and even dying, that almost doubted my own
senses. Indeed, all this was crowded into a space
of not over fifteen or twenty minutes, before the
firing ceased. then went upon deck, and what a
scene was presented, and how changed in so short
a time
| The Constitution looked perfectly fresh-and
even ut this time, those on board the Guerrero did
not know what ship had fought them. On the
other hand, the Guerrero a mere rolling log
almost entirely at the mercy of the Her
colors all shot away, her man-mast and mzZen-
mast both gone by the board and her fore-m
standing by the mere honey-eomb the shot had
made. Capt. Dacres stood, with his officers, sur
veyng the scene-al, all in the most perfect aston
ishment. Al this moment boat was seen putting
off from the hostile ship for the Guerrero. AS
as within speaking distance, young gentleman,
(midshipman Reed, now Commodore Reed,) hail
ed and said, l wish to the officer in command
of the ship. Has the ship struck 9 At this Captain
Dacres appeared amazed but recovering himself and
looking up and down, he deliberately replied "Wel
| / don't know-our miZzen-mast is gone, main
mast is gone-and, upon the whole, you may say
we have struck flag"
commodore HIJl's compliments, and wishes to
know if you need the assistance of a surgeon OF
surgeons mate" ca pt. Dacres replied "Well, !
should suppose you had on board your own ship
business enough for all your medical officers" Mid
Ishipman Reed replied, &c O no. we have only seven
wounded and they were dressed half an hour ago
Capt. Dacres then turned to me, deeply affected
and said, How have our situations been suddenly
reversed you are now free and l am prisoner"
All the boats of both ships now put in re-
QUESTION to remove the wounded on board the Con
stitution so dreadful was the condition of many Of
them, that two days nearly consumed in the
removal, after which the Guerrero was burned
with all her stores, armament, DC. The Constitu.
ton having recently out of port, had no room
to take scarcely an article.
Who can imagine the joy experienced in find
ing myself again under American coors-or the
pride felt at finding, from Commodore Hull down
to the most humble man board, an entire alb
sence of everything like boastful tr
umphant look, at their wonderful victory. Capt
Dacres kept his state-room till arrived in port
About two hundred of his men were necessarily
ironed, as the ship was so crowded. Charles Nor
ris, (now COMMODORE the first officer of the Con
stitution, had ball through his body, and for sew
eral days his recovery was doubtful-during which
he sent for to to his room-and vel
remember his perfect unconcern for himself, altho
the surgeon had apprised him of his danger. Every
courtesy and kindness was, by Captain Hull anc
his officers, extended to their prisoners.
On Sunday, about noon, the Constitution arrived
= in Boston harbor was sent ashore in the boat
The harbor, between the ship and wharves, was
now covered with boats to learn the news. To the
" first boat we neared we hailed, "the Constitution
has captured the Guerrero" Instantly the two
men in the boat took off their hats and violently
u struck them on the side of the boat, and rising
: gave cheer upon cheer. They hailed other boats
d and thus the air was rent with cheers and the vic
: tory passed along till it reached the wharf anC
then spread like wild-fre all over the city anC