Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1852-03-03

tuition. =,
1t was about ten o'clock in the morning,
when the Constitution was discovered. The
Gnerrlere hove to to enable her TO come
up. AS the Constitution neared US, Capt.
Dacres handed me his glass, and asked me
what took her to be :? NV reply was
"She looks like friga.e r' Very soon, she
came within reach of the long guns Of the
GueTriere, which were fired, bu, with no
effect, as the sea ran high. The Consliu-
tion made no reply, but as ! saw, was ma
nGuvering for a position-during which
Capt. Dacres said 10 me, DO you think
she is going to strike without firing :" !
replied, IL think not, sir.''
Atdhls moment, seeing severe contes,
was about commencing, in which could
take no part, being only prisoner, raised
my hat TO Capt. Dacres, and said to him
"Wilh your permission, sir, will GO below,
as can take no part" 90, certainly said
he, "and yon had better 60 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."-
"Cerlainly, sir," said ], and then descended
into the cockpit. There were the surgeons,
and surgeons mates, and attendants, sitting
round long table, covered with ins,ru-
men.s, and all necessaries for dressing the
wounded, as still as funeral. Within one
moment after my foot lel. The low er round
Of the ladder, the Constitution gave tha,
double broakside, which threw all in the
cockpit over in heap on the opposite side
of the ship.
For moment it appeared US if heaven
aud earth had struck together; a more ter
rife shock canno, be imagined. Before
those in the cockpit had adjusted them
selves, the blood run down from the deck
as freely as ifa wash-lub full had been turned
over, and Instantly the dead, wounded, and
dying, were handed down as rapidly as
men could pass them, till the cock pi, was
filled with hardly room for the surgeons to
work. Mdshipmen were handed down
with one leg, some with one arm, and 9th
ers wounded in lmost every shape and con-
dition. An officer who was on the table
having his arm ampuated, would sing out
to comrade coming down wounded
'"Well, shipmate, how goes the battle ?'-
Anstner would u,ler some joke, lha, would
make even the dying smile, and so constant
and freely were the playful remarks from
The manned and even dying, ,ha. almos,
doubted my own senses. Indeed. all this
was crowded into the space of not over Is
or 20 minutes, before the firing ceased
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 what ship had
fought them. On the other hand the Gu
errIere was mere rolling log-almos, en-
,rely al the mercy of the sea. Her colors
all shot away, her main-mast and mizen-
mas. both gone by the board, and her fore.
mas. standing by the mere honey comb the
shot had made. Capt. Dscres stood, with
his officers, surveying the scenc-alI, all in
the mos, perfect establishment. A, this mo.
ment boat was seen putting off from the
hostile ship for the Guerrero. As soon as
within speaking distance, young gentle.
man (midshipman Reed, now Commodore
Reed,) hailed and said, 81 wish to see the
officer in command Of the ship.' At ,hi:
Capt. Dacres stepped forward and answer.
ed. MIdshipman Reed then said; "Com.
modore HuIl's compliments and wishes ,c
know if you have stuck your flag ;" A
this Cap, Dacres appeared amazed, but re.
covering himself, and looking up and down
he deliberately replied: "WeII, dom
know--our mlzen-mast is gone, our main.
mas, is gone-snd upon the whole, you m ay
say we have struck our flag"
Comm odore TIul's compliments, ant
wishes to know if you need the assistance
of surgeon or surgeons mate - Capt
Dacres replied: ':Well, should suppose
you had on board your own ship business
enough for all your medical officers" Mid
shpman Reed replied 90 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 slua-
lions been suddenly reversed you are now
free, and ! prisoner"
All the boats of both ships were now put
in requisi,ion to remove the wounded on
board The Constitutions dreadful was the
condition of many of them, that two days
were nearly consumed in the removal, after
which the Guerrero was burned, with al
her stores, armament, &C., SC. The Con
sl'u,lon having recently came out of port
and no loom to take scarcely an article.
Who can imagine the JOY experienced
in finding myself again under American
colors-or pride ! felt at finding from Com
modore Hull down to the most humble mar
on board, an entire absence of every thing
like boasslul or even triumphant look, ano
their wonderful victory. Capt. Dacres KEEP
his state room I'LL we arrived in port. Abou
two hundred of his men were necessaril,
itoned, as the ship was so crowded. Charlie:
Morris, (now Commodore,) the first officer