The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1882-01-28
The CONSTITUTIONS " Last Victory.

Mr.. DEMONSTRATING that may
weary your readers with Il subject which
has, in great manner, been forgotten,
and little interest felt in the renown
achieved by our infant Navy and eSpe-
cially by the noble old ship whose last
exploit | will narrate. | will close this
only the descendants of those who had
the honor Of serving on board of her. but
that every true American will do all in
his power to influence our National Leg
iSlature to make proper provision to re
build and preserve the gallant old craft
from humiliation.
"Old Ironsides' last and great vic
tory was under command ot Capt. Charles
S. Stewart. on Feb 10 1915. OF the coast
OF Portugal. At p. NJ. two strange sails
were reported On the lee bow. q quote
from the ships Logo We Immediately
bore away to ascertain their character
and size. and soon made them out to be
vessels of war-one friwate and Il large
sing lie deck ship. known as Il sloop of
, war and evidently English. Our first
object was To prevent them from form
| ing Il niunction: failing in this. We
made sail to close with them and cleared
| our ship for action: discovering our move
! mcnt. both the str;l:Igc ships made sail to
| Try aud get the weather gage ri us. but
! failed to do ST.. At I, =. NJ. we had the
| enemy in good shot distance and showed
| our colorS. The strangers answered i'll
defiance, by setting English cn>igns; five
I minutes later We ranged up abean OF the
! Stemmost ship. at the distance OF a ca
! Bile S length, passing ahead with our sails
| lifting, until the three ships formed Il
! triangle, "Oid honSles to windward.
In this position the action be -san, each
! ship keeping up a hot and unceasng fire
| fer about a quarter of an hour. when the
| fire of the enemy began TO Slacken oil.
| The leading ship attempted to tack and
rake us, but We gave him broadsidc
threw our topsails to the mast flat aback,
let fly the ,jib sheets. and backed swiftly
asuern. compelling our enemy to fill away
to avoid being raked himself Perceiv-
ing that the largest ship WAS waring also,
We wore short around, crossed his stem
and raked him fore and aft, and very
shortly afterwards he struck his colors.
Lieut. Hoffman was Immediately sent to
take possession of the prize, which proved
to be Ii. VI. Ship Cya"f, Capt. Falcon.
Our attention was then called II the
other ship, who had hauled of to repair
damages. which, as soon rs he completed
hot knowing the fate of his companion,
! night having come on.--made sail to close
with us. The two ships approached 81
near to each other that the ripping Off of
the enemys planks was distinctly heard
on board of us. Our opponent was un
able to support this calling fire long. and
at 10 Z. NJ. fired 4 gun to leeward i'll sub
mission and struck his colUrS. Lieut..
| Shubrick was sent as prize officer, ard
our second prize proved to be II. NJ. Ship
Lsr0nt, Hon. Captain Douglas.
The manner in which Capt. Stewart
handled his ship in this fight excited the
admiration of the nautical men of all ma
tons. it being an unusual thing for 4
single vessel tt engage two enemies and
escape being rakea. 50 tar from thi,
Occur ring To the CONSTITUTION, however.
she raked both OF her opp"nents; and
the manner al which she backed and
hlled in the smoke, forcing her Two IN
tagoniStS down IL lecward when they
were endeayoring to cross her bow OF
stern. is among the most brilliant ma
neuvering known in naval annals. Can
we afford to lose this gallant old shi,
from our Navy? II nothing else can b.
done with her. let her at least he sent tt
the harbor OF Annapolis. as an incentr,
to our young men to follow the exampl,
set by Hull, cambridge. amt Stewart
The following is "A list of vessels of wal
captured by her in the war of 1912 t,
1915, with dates. etc: August l9. 1872
GuCrriCrf, 10 guns: Dee. II. 1872. J'ro
30 guns; Feb. IA 1911. Lor.ig .lnnG
10 guns: Feb %. lSl4. Pirtoa. Il guns
Feb. 20, 1915. Lys,te, a guns; Feb. 20
1913. L,tnat, Is guns. Total number OF
guns, l53 l..