The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-03-30
A MEMORABLE sEA-FIGHT.

The following account of the capture
of the British frigate Guerriere, by the
Constitution, which appeared many
years ago in the New York Evening
Post, will be read with interest at this
iuncture. 1t was written by an eye
witness who was q prisoner on board
the Guerrero during the combat:
Having been an American prisoner on
board the Guerrero during the famous
battle between that frigate and the Uni
ted States frigatc Constitution, l pro-
pose giving you an account of that I'M
portant action, which took place in
June, 1872.
About two weeks previous to the en-
gagement left Boston i'll an American
ship, which was captured by the Guer-
riere some five days before she fell in
with the Constitution.
IL was about ten o'clock in the morn
ING when the Constitution was discover
ed. The Gucrriere hove to. TO enable
her to come up. As the Constitution
neared us, Captain DacreS handed me
his glass, and asked what | took her to
be. My reply was, '"She looks like a
frigate." Very soon she came within
the reach of the long guns Of the Guer-
riere, which were fired, but with no eff
feet, as the sea ran high. The Consti-
tuition made no reply, but. AS l saw, was
maneuvring for position, during
which Captain Dacres said to me-" ''Do
you think she is going to strike without
tiring?' / replied, Il think not, sir"
AT this moment, seeing severe con-
test was about commencing, in which |
could take no part, being only a prison.
er, | raised my hat to Captain Dacres,
and said to him, with your permis-
sion, sir, will 90 below, as l can take
no part"
go, certainly" said he, "and you had
better 90 into the cockpit, and, should
any of our men chance to get wounded,
shall feel obliged if you will assist the
surgeon in dressing them. ''Certainly,
SIR said /, and then descended into the
cockpit. There were the surgeons, and
surgeons mates and attendants, sitting
round a long table covered with instru-
ments, and all necessaries for dressing
the wounded, as still as funeral. With
in one moment after my foot left the
lower round of the ladder the COnstitu
ton 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 heav-
en- ard earth had struck together; a
more terrific shock cannot be imagined.
Before those in the cockpit had adjust
ed themselves the blood ran down from
the deck as if wash-tub full had been
turned over, and instantly the dead,
wounded and dying were handed down
as rapidly as men could pass them, till
! the cockpit was filled, with hardly room
| 4 fT rO1sir CHI in
men were handed down with one leg,
| some with one arm, and others wound
ed in almost Eevery shape and condition.
| An officer who was on the table, having
| his arm amputated, would sing out to q
cOmrade coming down wounded, ''Wcll,
shipmate, how goes the battle?" An
other would utter some joke that would
make even the dying smile; and SO con-
slant and free were the playful remarks
from the manned, and even dying, that
| / almost doubted my own senses. In
deed, all this was crowded into space
| of not over fifteen or twenty minutes,
before the firing ceased. l then went
! upon deck, and what a scene was pre-
| sented and how changed in so short a
time!
The Constitution looked perfectly fresh,
| ana even III lillS llllc unOSc vi DOalN lilC
Guerrero did not know what ship had
fought them. On the other hand, the
Guerricre was mere rolling log, al
most entirely at the mercy of the sea.
! Her colOrs all shot away, her mainmast
and mizzcnmast both gone by the board,
and her foremost standing by the mere
! honeycomb the shot made. Captain
! Dacres stood, with his officers, survey
inc the scene-all, all in the most per-
! feet astOnishment. AT this moment i
|. boat was seen putting off from the hos
tile ship for the Guerrero. AS soon rs
within speaking distance, young gen
tleman (Midshipman Reed, now Com
modorc) hailed and said, | wish to see
the officer in command of the ship"
At this, Captain DacreS stepped for
ward, and answered. Midshipman
Reed then said, Commodore Hull S
compliments, and wishes to know il
you have struck your tlagP' At this
Captain Dacres appeared amazed, but
recovering himself, and looking up and
down, he deliberately replied, ''Well, i
don't know-our miZZenmast, is gone,
our mainmast is gOne-and, upon the
whole, you may say we have struck our
nagr'
s.Commodore Hull's compliments, and
wishes to know if you need the assist
ance of a surgeon or surgeons mate. "
Captain Dacres replied, ''Well, sup
pose you have on board your own ship
business enough for all your medical OF
iieersP'' Midshipman Reed replied
10, DO; We have only seven Wounded