The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-09-25
"oLD IRONSIDEs., :,

Naval Academy, Annapolis, where she Is hereafter
to be employed as school.shfp for the young gen
tlemen of that institution. Old Iroasides" is the
favorte ship, as well she may be, of the American
+ Navy At the seige of Tripoi, under the com
mand of Commodore Preble, she led the way in
every attack upon the town and castle and was
the last to quit the field. But il was in the last
war with Great Britain that the frigate won her
brightest laurels and became the most distinguish
ed ship of a service which, in that whole war, won
every battle with only two exceptions. Her first
action with a British ffrigate was on the 10Th OF
August, 1912, when the Constitution fell in with
and captured the British frigate Guerriere after
contest of less than half an hour Perhaps the
most accurate account that has yet been given OF
this remarkable action appeared some years ago in
the Home Journal, from correspondent who was
a prisoner on board the Guerriere at the time of
the combat This gentleman left Boston about
two weeks previous to the action, in an American
ship, which was captured by the Guerriere some
days before the action with the Constitution. We
append the following extract from the graphic
| narrative: -. t -.- "~@, .. ~ ~
| 1t was about ten o'clock in the morning when
the Constitution was discovered The Guerriere
hove to, to enable her to come up. AS the Con-
stitution nearcd us, Capt. Dacers handed me his
glass, and asked what I took her to be- My re-
ply was "She looks like frigate." Very soon
she came within reach of the long guns of the
Guerrero which were fred, but without effect, as
the sea ran high. The Constitution made no reply,
but, as | saw, was maneuvrng for position, du-
ring which, Capt. Dacres said to me, "Do you
think she is going to strike without firing ?" l
replied, "I think not, sir" =
At this moment seeing severe contest was
about commencing, in which I could take no part,
being only prisoner, | raised my hat to Captain
Dacres, and said to him--"With your permission,
sir, will 90 below, as can take no part" 40,
certainly" said he, "and you had better go into
the cock k-pit, and should any Of our chance to
get wounded, shall feelobliged to you if you viii
assist the surgeons in dressing them" "Certain-
ly, sir" said l. and then descended into the cock
pit There were the surgeons and surgeons mates,
and attendants, sitting around long table cover
ed with instruments and all necessares for dressing
the wounded, as still as a funeral Within one
or two moments 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; more terrific shock
cannot be imagined Before those in the cock pit
had adjusted themselves the blood down from
the deck if wash-ub 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 pit was filed, with hardly room for
down with one leg some with one arm, and others
wounded in almost every shape and condition. An
officer who on the table having his arm ampu
tated, would sing cut to comrade coming down
wounded, "Well, shipmate, how goes the battle Z"
Another would utter some joke that would make
even the dying smile, and so constant and freely
were the playful remarks from the MANNED and
even diving, that almost doubted my own senses.
Indeed. all this was crowded into space of not
over fifteen or twenty minutes before the firing
ceased then went upon deck, and what scene
was presented, and how changed in so short a
time ! ... 80 -. --,...
The Constitution looked perfectly fresh-and,
even at this time, those on board the Guerriere
did not know what ship had fought them. On
the other hand, the Guerriere was mere rolling
log-almost entirely at the mercy of the sea- Her
colors all shot away; her main-mast and mzzen-
mast both gone by the board; and her fore-mast
standing by the mere honey comb the shot had
made Capt Dacres stood with his officers sur
veying the scene-all, all in the most perfect as
tonishment At this moment boat was seen put
ting off from the hostile ship for the Guerriere.
As soon as within speaking distance, young gen.
tleman, (Midshipman Reed, now Com. Reed, }
hailed and said:
81 wish to see the officer in command of this
ship"
At this Capt Dacres stepped forward and an
swered. Midshipman Reed then said: Commo-
dore Hul1's compliments, and wishes to know IT
you have struck your fag?"
At this Capt Dacres appeared amazed, but re
covered himself and looking up and down, he de-
lberately replied: "Well, I don't know-our miz
zen mast is gone-our main mast is gone-and on
the whole you may say we have struck our flag )?
~" Commodore Hull's compliments, and wishes
TO know if you need the assistance of surgeon or
surgeons mate Z" -
Capt Dacres replied: "Well, should suppose
you had on board your own ship business enough
for all your medical officers"
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: allow have our situations been sudden
ly reversed !! on are now free and a prisoner
All the boats of both ships were now put in re-
QUESTION to remove the wounded on board the
Constitution. So dreadful the condition of
many of them that two days were nearly consumed
in the removal; after which the Guerriere was
burned with al her stores, armament, ETC. The
Constitution having recently come out of port had
no room to take scarcely an article
Who can imagine the Joy experienced in find
ing, from Commodore Hull down TO the most hum
bic man on board, an entire absence of everything
like boastful, even triumphant look, at their
wonderful victory Baltimore american.
HEALTHFUL SIGN.-Two of our well known
citizens and business men have returned home
from the North decided Breckinridge men They