The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-04-07
WO0DsFIELD, OHIO WEDNESDAY, APRIL !, 1852

CAPTURE OF THE GURRIERE By
THE CONSTITUTION. ~
The following account Of the capture Q
the British frigate Gurriere by the Ameri
can frigate Constitution, is communicates
to us by q valued correspondent, who wal
a prisoner on board the Gurriere. during
The combat It's paper which deserves
place among the historical archives Q
the country. 4.
| s.a6n From the N. Y. Evening Post. /.
| Having been an American prisoner or
board the Gurriere, during the famous bat
tie between that frigats and the United
States irigate Constitution, propose giving
you an account Of that important action
which took place in June, 1879. aa
About two weeks previous 10 the cngage.
ment. ! left Boston in u ship which was
captured by the G1rrisfe some five days
before she fell in will, the Constitution.
II was about ten o'clock in the morning
when the Constitution was discovered.
The Gurriere hove too to enable her to
come up. As the Constitution II cared lus,
Captain Danrts handed me his glass ard
asked what ! took her TO be? NY reply
was-"She looks like asfrigate." Very
soon she came within reach of the long
guns Of the Gurriere which were fred with
no effect. as the sea ran so high. The
Constitution made no reply. but, as 4 saw
was maneuvering for a position, during
which Captain Dacres said to me. .do
you think she is going to strike without
6ringr lreplied. Il think alot. sir.'' @.
Al this moment. seeing a severe contest
was about commencing. h, which could
not take part. being only prisoner, 1
raised NY hat to Captain Dacres. and said
to him-"wi,I, your permission, sir. | will
20 below. assl can take no part" 10.
ceriainly.' said he. and YOU had better 90
into the cockpit, aud should any OF our
men chance 10 get wounded, shall feel
obliged If you will assist the surgeons III
dressing them" "Crrtainly. SIR said .
and ,lien descended into the cock pit
There were surgeons aud surgeon $ mates.
aud attendants. sitting around a long Ia.
bic. covered with Instruments. and all the
nccessaries for dressing The wounded. as
a funeral. Within on. moment after nv
fooi left the lower round Of the ladder tho
Consultation, gave that double broadside,
which threw all in the cock. pit over in
heap. on the opposite side Of the ship.
For moment il appeared as if heaven
and earth had struck together; a more ter
rifle shock cannot he imagined. Before
those il, the cock pit had adjusted iIlem.
selves the blood ran down from the deck
Us freely as il "A wash tub full had been
turned over; and Instantly the wounded.
dead and diving. were handed down as
rapidly as men could pass thrm. till the
cock. pit was filed with hardly room Tor
the surgeons 10 work. Midshipme,, were
handed down with one leg some with one
arm. aud others wounded in almost every
shape and cohdition. An officer who was
on the table having his arm amputated
would sing out to one coming down
wounded -'Woll shipmate. how goes The
baile!" Another womld utter some Joke
that would m Ike even the dying smile. AID
50 constant aud freely were the playful re-.
marks from the MANNED nnd The dying, that
| almost doubted my own senses Indeed
all this was crowded into a space of not
over fifteen or twenty minutes beforo the
nr'ne c'ase". men went upon n"ck'
aha ,'o wha' scene was presented ana now
o""s', az, !" 81 s.o'' ,i'''e'
~ oo"s,,'a''on ~: loonea Per'ec''y 'resh'
ann even u, ~, l''s .''ne nose on poar' 'ns
y our,lere VI" no' Know wnal snip nad
i. 'ous". '"em. -" 'ne olner nan" 'he 1ur.
1,s'e .m was '''ere 'o''''ig ios ne, oo'ors
all sno' away ner ,"a,n-'"as' ana "lzen-
mas. oo''' gone oy .ne ooaru' anu ner 'ore'
y, .nas' s!I''ans ~ 'ne 'nete noney'co"o
lne sho' nav 'haoe' oap.a'il ''acres s'oo"
w'.l' us ohcels. surveying me scehe--al
!" '''' mos, Pe.'ec' as'o"'sN'ne"'' =, uhs
inomeh. = ooa' was see, Pu"lng on rom
tlc nOStUe snip lur Ulb Uurrlere. iAS S0On