Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-04-21
THE CAPTURE OF THE GuERRIERE,

ate Constitution, is communicated to US by
a valued correspondent, who was prisoner
on board the Gurriere during the combat.
1t is paper which deserves place among
the historical archives of the country ".
Y. EUening Post.
Having been an American prisoner on
board the Guerner during the famous bat
tie between that frigate and the U. States
frigate Constitution, | propose giving you an
account of that important action, which took
place in June, 1912.
About two weeks previous to the engage
ment, left Boston in an American ship,
which was captured by the Guerrero some
five days before she fell in with the Con-
stitution.
1t was about ten o'clock in the morning
when the Constitution was discovered
The Guerrero hove too, to enable her to
come up. AS the Constitution neared us,
Captain Dacres handed me his glass, and
asked what l took her TO be. My reply was
-''She looks like frigate !" Very soon
she came within reach of the long guns of
the Guerrero, which were fired but with no
effect as the sea ran high. The Consttu-
ton made no reply, but as I saw,was man.
euvering for position, during which Capt
Dacres said to e,"Do you think she is 60
Ing to strike without fring?" | replied,
'I think not, sir -
At this moment, seeing a severe contest
was about commencing, in which | could
take no part, being only a prisoner, rails
ed my hat to Capt. Dacres and said to him
-"With your permission, sir, | will go be-
low, as can take no part" 80 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 descend
ed into the cockpit There were the sur
geons, and surgeons mates. land attendants,
sitting round long table, covered with in
struments, and all necessaries 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 heap on the opposite
side of the ship.
For moment it appeared as if heaven
and earth had struck together a more ter
rife shock cannot be imagined. Before
those in the cockpit had adjusted them
selves, the blood ran down from the deck
as freely as if wash tub full had been
turned over, and instantly the dead, wound
ed, and dying, were handed down as rapid
ly as men could pass them,till the cockpit
was filled, with hardly room foi the sur
geons 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 ta-
BILE having his arm amputated, would sing
out to comrade coming down wounded
swell, shipmate, how goes the battle ?'-
another would utter some joke that would
make even the dying smile, land so 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 over 10 or
20 minutes, before the firing ceased. then
went upon deck, and what scene was pre-
sented, and how changed in SO short a
time.
The Constitution looked perfectly fresh
and even at this time, those on board the
Guerriere did not know who or what ship
had fought them. On the other hand, the
Guerrero was mere rolling log-almost
entirely at the mercy of the sea. Her col
ors all shot away, her main-mast and miz-
zen mast, both gone by the board, and her
foremast standing by the mere honey-comb
the shot had made. Captain Dacres stood,
with his officers, surveying the scene-all,
all, all in the most perfect astonishment =
AT this moment boat was seen putting
off from the hostile ship for the Guerriere.
As soon as within speaking distance,
young gentleman (midshipman Reed, now
Commodore Reed hailed and said 81 wish
TO see the officer in command Of the ship
At this, Captain Dacres stepped forward
and answered.
Midshipman Reed then said-"Commo-
dore HulPs compliments, and wishes TO
know if you have struck your flag p AT
this Captain Dacres appeared amazed, but
recovering himself and looking up and
down, he deliberately replied, d,"Well l don't
know--our mizzenmast is gone, our main
mast is gone-and upon the whole, you may
say we have struck our flag 70
"Commodore Hull's compliments, and
wishes to know if you need the assistance
of surgeon or a surgeons mate" Captain
Dacres replied "Well, | should suppose
you had on board your own ship business
enough for all your medical officers" Mid
shipman Reed replied, 30 no, we have on
lv seven wounded, and they were dressed
half an hour ago"
Captain Dacres then turned to me, deep
ly affected, and said, GLOW have our situ-
ations been suddenly reversed you are
now free, and | prisoner"
All 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 remov
al, after which the Guerriere was burned
with all her stores, armament, &C., Sc
The Constitution having recently come out
of port, had no room to take scarcely an ar
ticle.
Who can imagine The Joy | experienced
in finding myself again under American
colors-or tie pride felt, at finding, from
Commodore Hull down to the most humble
itidn OH OOaTu, au eHtlTt aUSenCc VI every
thing like boastful, or even a triumphant
look, at their wonderful victory. Captain
Dacres kept his state room till we arrived
in port. Abont two hundred Of his men
were necessarily ironed, as the ship was SO
crowded. Charles Morris, (now Commo-
dore, the first officer of the Constitution,
had ball through his body and for sever
al days his recovery was btful-during
which he sent fof me to come to his room