Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-02-05
Capture OF the Guerricre by Com
StilutiOm~

Having been an American prisoner or
board the Guerrero during the mmou,
battle between that f1gnte and the United
States frigate Constitution. propose Civ
ing you an account Of that important &c.
ton, which took place in June. 1912.
About Two weeks previous to the en-
gagement | left Boston in an American
ship. which was captured by the Guerriere
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 Gucrriere hove toto enable hcrto come
up. As the Constitution neared US, Cap
tain Dacres handed me his glass, and ask
ed what took her to bel My reply was.
"She looks like frigate." Very soon she
came within reach of the long guns Of the
Guerriere, which were fired, but with no
effect. as the sea ran high. The Constitu-
ton made no reply, but, as | saw. was
manGuv vcring for postion-durng which
time Captain Dacres said 10 me. "Do you
think she is going to strike without firingr'
replied, II think not, SIR"
At this moment, seeing severe contest
was about commencing in which ] could
take no part, being only aprisoner, rails.
ed my hat 10 Capt. Dacres, and said to
him-"With your permission. sir, l will
60 below, as l can take no part" 20,
certainly" said he. "and you had better
go 10 the cockpit, aid should any Of our
men get wounded, | shall feel obliged if
you win assist The surgeons in dressing
them" "Cerianly, sir" said !, nnd 'hcn
descended into the cockpit. There were
the surgeons and the surgeons mates, and
attendants. sitting around long table,
covered with instruments. and all necessn-
ries for dressing the wounded. as still as a
funeral. Within one moment after my
foot left the lower round Of the ladder, the
Constitution gave that double broads,Je,
which threw all IN the cockpit over in 9
heap on the opposite side Of the ship.
For moment it appeared as ii heaven
and earth had struck together; 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, aud instantly dead, wounded
and dying were handed down as rapidly
as men could pass them, till the cockpit
was filled, with hardly room for the eur,
geons to work. Midshipmen were hand
ed 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 amputatcd. would
sing out 10 a comrade coming down
wounded, "Well. shipmate, how goes the
bat,lef' Another would utter some Joke
that would make even the dying smile;
and SO constant and free were the playful
remarks from the manned, and dying, that
| almost doubted my own senses. Indeed,
all this was crowded into space of not
over fifteen or twenty minutes. before the
inng ceased. | then went upon deck, and
what scene was presented. 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 " hat ship had
fought them. On the other hand the Guerr-
ere was mere rolling log--almo,t entire
y at the mercy Of the sea Her coiors all
shot away. and her n,ainn.st and mizen-
mast bcsh gone BY tho bosrd, and her
hscunst siansos Wy shc nsers hor~s eetnb