The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1869-11-19
NAVAL HISTORY.
The Late Admiral Ste,omt--A Great Fight
Of Oh "Ir0h sides. "

NAVAL HISTORY.
The Late Admiral Sts,omt--A Great Fight
Of Oh "Iroh sides"
The history of the trigate Constitu-
ton, (Old lronsides,) commanded by
the then Capt, Stewart, tthe now de-
ceased Admiral,) is as fresh and "thrill-
ing" as when read in days of boy hood,
with the accessories OF exciting wood
eats displaying bowed vessels with tat
tered sails butting each other in clouds
OF smoke. Take the following account
OF Captain Stewards battle with the
Cyane and Levant, rs just reprinted IN
the New York Sun. Ii took place in
the Bay of Biscay, on the goth of Feb
ruary, 1916. The Constitution had
been chasing these British vessels all
day, and towards night drew down
upon the rearmost:
COMING TO CLOSE QUARTERS.
Perceiving at 51S o'clock that it was
impossible to prevent the enemy from
eifecting junction, the Constitution,
| then little more than league distant
! from the farthest ship, cleared for &C
| ton. Ten minutes later, the two cliases
passed within hail of each other, came
| by the wind with their heads TO the
northward, hauled up their courses, and
were evidently clearing to engage. In
few minutes botll ships suddenly made
sail, close by the wind, in order to
weather upon the American frigate, but
perceiving that the latter was closing
too fast, they again hauled up their
courses, and formed OIL the wind, the
smallest ship ahead. AT 6 p. NJ. the
| Constitution had,the enemy completely
! under her guns, and she showed her en-
sign. The strangers answered this de-
! tance by setting English colnrs, and
five minutes later the American ship
ranged up abeam Of the sterHmost ves-
sci, at the distance of u cables length,
passing ahead with her sails lifting I'M
til the three ships formed nearly an
equailateral triangle, the Constitution
to windward.
/ COMMENCEMENT OF THE ACTION.
In this mastery position The action
commenced, he three vessels keeping
up hot and unceaslng fire for about a
quarter OF all hour, when that of the
enemy sensibly slackened. The sea be
ing covered with an immense cloud of
smoke, and it being now moonlight.
Captain Stewart ordered the cannonad-
ing to cease. In three minutes the
smoke had blown away, when the lead
ing ship OF the enemy was seen under
the lee beam of the Constitution, while
the sternmost was luffing, as il she in
tended to tack and cross her wake.
Giving broadside to the ship abreast
of her, the American frigate threw her
main aud mizzen topsails with torgal-
liant sails set. flat abaek, shook all foi :
ward, let fly her jib sheet, and backed
swiftly astern, compelling the enemy
to fill again to avoid being raked. The
leading ship now attempted to tack to
cross the Constitutions forefoot, when
the latter filled, boarded her f0retack,
shot ahead, forced her antagonist to
wear under raking broadside, and to
run off to the leeward to escape from
the weight OF the fire.
THE oYANE suRRENDERs.
The Constitution perceiving that the
largest ship VAS wearing also, wore in
her turn, and crossing her stern, raked
her with effect, though the enemy came
by the wind Immediately and delivered
his larboard b:oals d., but as the Con-
stitution ranged up close on his wes.h-
err quarter, he struck. Mr.. Hoffman,
the second lieutenant of the Constitu-
ton, was immediately sent to take pos
session, the prize provingto be the Brit
ist ship Cyane, Capt, Falcon.
THE LEyANT FORCED TO STRIKE.
In the meantime the ship that had
run to leeward had no intention of a.
bandoning her consort, but mad been
forced out of the combat, by the GRIP
| pied condition OF her running rigging,
and to avoid the weight OF the Consti-
tutor fire. She was ignorant of the
fate OF the Cyane, but at the nd of about
an hour, having repaired damages. she
hauled up, and met the Constitution
coming d. wn in quest OF her.
1t was near nine before the two ships
crossed each other on opposite tacks,
the Constitution to windward, and ex-
changed broadsides The English ship,
finding her antagonist too heavy, i'm
mediately bore up, in doing which SHE
got raking discharge, when the Con l..
stitution boarded her fore-tack and
made sail, keeping up most effective
chasing fire from her two bow guns,
nearly every shot of which told. The
| two ships were so near each other that
the ripping OF the enemy's planks WAS
heard on board the American frigate.
The former was unable to support this
long, and, at 10 p. NJ. he came by the
wind, fired gun to lceward and lower
ed his ensign. Mr.. w. B. Shubrick,
the third lieutenant, was sent on board
| to take possession, when it was found
that the prize was the Levant, carry
| ing twenty-one guns, commanded by
Honorable Captain Douglas.