Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-11-12
MISCELLANY.
How the Frigate President was Captured

MlS0GllAMWo
How the Frigate President was Captured.
The following article, which we cut
from the Louisville Journal, brings to
mind an interesting incident of the Amer-
can Navy, and one which will be read with
pleasure by all who admire the gallantry
which characterized the early days of the
"right arm of our national defence
In many of the newspaper articles which
attempt to correct mistake as to the idcn-
tity of Rear Admiral James Hope, recently
rcpulsed at Pciho, it has been stated how
the British frigate Endymion, under the
command Of Capt, Henry Hope, captured
the United States frigate President, Capt.
Stephen Decatur OF course all familiar
with the naval history of the war of 1912
--15, arc aware that this is not the fact
The President left the port of New York
when it was blockadcd by large British
fleet, Decatur intending to run the gaunt-
let and trust on the fine sailing qualities of
his ship. Unfortunately, she struck on
Sandy Hook bar, seriously damaging her
keel and bottom, and impering those sail
ing qualities. The day after this accident,
the whole British fleet gave chase The
Endymion, being the fcetest, was the first
to get along sid of her, and the following
extract from Deoatur's official report to the
Secretary of the Navy, set the matter in
its true light
Our opponent kept off at the same in
slant we did, and commenced at the same
time. We continued engaged, steering
south with sails set two hours and a half
when we completely succeeded in diamant-
ling her. Previously to her dropping en-
tirely out of the action there were intervals
of minutes when the ships were broadsde
and broadsdc, in which she did not fire a
gun. At this period, (Sl 'clock) although
dark, the other ships of the squadron were
in sight, and almost within gunshot We
were, of course, compelled to abandon her
In rcsuming cur former course, for the pur-
pose of avoiding the squadron, we were
compelled to present our stern to our an
tagonist; but such was his state, though
we were thus exposed and within range of
his guns for half an hour that he did not
avail himself of this favorable opportunity
of raking us.
We continued this course until | | o'clock,
when two fresh ships of the enemy, (thc
Pomona and Tcnedos) had come up. The
Pomona opened her fire on the larboard
bow, within muskct shot, the other about
two cables length astcrn, taking a raking
position on our quarter, and the rest, with
the exception of the Endymion, within
eunshot. Thus situated, with about one
fifth of my crew killed and wounded, my
ship crippled, and more than four fold force
opposed to me, without a chance of escape
left, | deemed it my duty to surrender.
Thus it will be seen that the Endymion
did not capture the President, but that the
Endymion was dismantlcd and her guns
completely silcnccd by those of the Prcsi.
dent. 1t was the design of Decatur to
take the Endymion and try to escape with
both vessels, but the crippled condition of
his prize prevented it, so he was compelled
to leave her, and start southwark to escape.
This he would have Effected, had not his
keel been injured on the bar He fought
wish energy until it became necessary to
surrender to fourfold force lie deliv-
cred up his sword to the captain of the
Race Majestic, which vessel was in CONF
pany with the frigatcs Tcnedos and Poma-
ma. The action of the Endymion was one
of the most gallant of the whole war. Her
guns were of heavier calibrc than those
of the President, and this disadvantage in
duccd the resolution of Decatur to board
her. He said to his men: "My lads,
that ship is coming up with us. As our
ship won't sail, well 90 on board of theirs,
every man and boy of US, and carry her in
triumph into New York. All ask of you
is to follow me. This is favorite ship of
the country. If we allow her to be taken,
we shall be deserted by our wives and
children. What, let such ship as this go
for nothing. 'Twopld break the heart of
every pretty girl in New York" This APP
peal was received with cheers, which warned
the Endymion of the design, so he stccrcd
off, but was crippled afterwards at long
range, despite the advantage in the size of
her cannon.
MosT dweilors in citios prefer to live in
hogses that stand apart, rather than In n
row. a great many, however, seem fond
of living in roc, without being at all pnr-