The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-02-12

{ Nape O0u britlsn lrlgate, the GueFTtefe,
one Of the squadron which had chased the
Conaifutioa month before, was sighted,
and the ship was at once cleared for ac-
ton. The vessels came into close quar-
tiers at in the afternoon, and in less than
an hour not a stick was left standing in
the Guerriere except the stumps Of her
masts, while the Consultations was almost
uninjured. As his ship had become en-
tirely unmanageable, the brave English
Captain Dacres was constrained to strike
his colors, and the first naval battle between
nearly matched adversaries in the war was
decided in favor ofthe Americans. When
Hull brought his prize safely into Boston
the surprised delight of the nation knew
no bounds, aud men could hardly wait pa
tiently till the short re6ttipg Of the Con-
stitution was completed, aud she was of
again, this time under Captain William
Bainbridge, in search Of new glory.
Cruising to the south, she met and engaged,
December Goth, off San Salvador, the
British frigate Java, vessel of the same
class as the Guerriere At the close Of a
hot fight Of an hour the Constitution had
shot every spar out of her enemy and hulled
her so often that she was on the point OF
sinking. Further resistance being hope
less, Captain Lambert surrendered his ship
to Bainbridge, who blew her up on finding
that she could never float to reach port.
The injuries which the Constitution re-
ceived were, as before, comparatively
slight, and she reached Boston without
difficulty, on her return with the English
prisoners on board. In the latter part of
the year 1913 she put to sea once more,
under new Captain, Charles Stewart,
who took her to the West Indies, where she
snapped up the English schooner Pictou
Of fourteen guns, and three other small
vessels Thence in December, 1914, sail,
ing to the Bay Of Biscay, she encountered
in February of the next year off the coast
of Madeira two English sloops-of-war, the
Cyane and Lerant, mounting twenty and
eighteen guns respectively. After short
contest, in which Stewart showed consum-
mate judgment in handling his ship, both
the English vessels were made prizes and
brought into Port Praya. While the
Constitution lay in the roads, in thick
mist, three large English ships-of.war
entered, and Stewart was forced to cut his
cables and take to fight, leaving his prizes
to their fate.
One, the Cyane, lodged herpursuers and
reched New York in safety; but the Levaat
was less fortunate, being hemmed in and
seized by the English, although in neutral
waters. In May, 1915, Old Lonsides
returned to Boston and went out of com.
mission for the war was now over. 1t
was high time for her TO have some re-
spite, for the wear and tear oil twenty
years of almost incessant service had
sorely tried her strength, and her sides,
once so stout, were now so rotten that the
enemys balls went through her, at last,
without making splinter. After under
going repairs, so thorough that certain
caustic spirits are wont to liken her to the
problematic, jacknife, she was employed
ON various sea service till the year 1885,
when she was brought to Annapolis to
serve as school ship. From thence, at
the outbreak of the war, she was removed
to Newport and back again, at its close, to
her former station. In 1872 she was or
dered to Philadelphia, where she lies now,
in charge, as is understood, of special
commission who purpose fitting her up to
be exhibited along with other notable
Yankee products, in the impending Gen.
| tennial.