The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1899-04-05

lnclOse0 nave the honor TO send you
a list Of the killed and wounded on
board the Constitution, and a report Of
the damages she sustained-slso list OF
killed and wounded on board the enc
my, with his quarterbill, have the
honor to be, with very great respect, sir
your ohodient servant, IsAAC HULL.
The Hon. Paul Hamilton, Dec.
1t is remarkable that before tha close
of the year 1912, viz. on the Both of
December, the Constitution, under the
command Of Commando Reinr ridge,
captured and took up e ond British
fripate, he Jsys.
The following minutes were taken
during the battle;
At TIN minutes past two p. III. COM
menced the action within good grape or
canister distance, the enemy to wind.
ward, buC much farther than / wished
At thirty minutes past two, our wheel
was shot entirely away. at forty min
utes past two, determined to close with
the enemy, Notwithstanding his rakine.
Set the fore and main-sail, aud lufFed up
close to him. At fifty minutes past two,
the enemy's jib-boom got foul OF our
mizzen. rigging. At three. the he al Cf
the enemy's bowsprit aud jib-boom were
shot away by us. At five minutes past
three, shot awsy tho enemy,s fore-maet
by the board. At fifteen minutes past
three, shot away the gaf and spankeI-
boom AT tiliy-fve minutes past three,
shot away bis mizzen-mast, nearly by
the board. At five minutes past four,
having silenced the FIRE OF the enemy
completely, and his colors in the main.
rigging being down, we supposed he had
struck we then hauled down courses
and shot ahead, to repair our rigging,
which was extremely cut, leaving the
enemy a complete wreck; soon after
wards discovered that the enemy's flag
was still hying, Hove-to, to repair some
OF our damage. At twenty minutes past
four, wore ship and stood for the enemy.
At twenty five minutes past five, got
very close to the enemy in very
effectual raking position, athwart his
bow, and when about to fire, he most
prudently struck his flag; for had he
suffered the broadside to have raked
him, his loss must have been extremely
great, as he lay an unmanageable wreck
upon the water.
After the enemy had struck, wore ship
and reefed the topsais, then hoisted one
OF the only two remaining boats we had
left out of eight, and sent Lieutenant
Parker first of the Constitution, to take
possession of the enemv, which proved
to be his Britannia Maiesty's frigate
Java, rated thirty eight, but carried
forty-nine guns, and manned with up
wards of four hundred men, commanded
by Captain Lambert, very distinguish
ed officer who was mortally wounded.
The action continued from the COM
mencement to the end OF the fire, one
hour and forty.fve minutes.
The force of the enemy, at the COM
mencement OF the action was, no doubt,
considerably greater than we had been
able to ascertain. The officers were ex.
tremely cautious in discovering the
number. By her quarter-bill, she had
one man stationed at each gun more
than we had. The Constitution was
very much cut in her sails and rigging,
and many of her spars injured,
At seven p. m. the beat returned with
Lieutenant Chads, the first lieutenant of
the enemy's frigate, and Lieutenant
General Hislop, governor of Bombay,
Major Walker, and Captain Wood of his
staff. Captain Lambert of the Java, was
too dangerously wounded to be removed
Immediately.
The cutter returned on board the prize
for the prisoners, and brought Captain
Marshall, master and commander in the
British navy, who was a passenger on
board, ard several other naval officers
destined for ships in the East Indies.
The Java was an important ship. fitted
out in the completest manner. to convey
Northumberland Hislop and staff to
Bombay, several naval officers, and a
number of seamen for ships in the East
Indies.
Before the close OF the war, the Con-
stitution, under the command of Com
modore Stewart, captured two British
men OF war, the CYsne and Levant, in
one action, ard rendered other services
OF great importance 10 the county.
We now proceed to copy, from an
anonymous writer, passenger on board
the frigate, the terrible adventure of
the Constitution on lee shore.
II was the close of the stormy day,
in the year 1885, when the gallant fri
gate Constitution, under the command
of Captain Elliot (having on hoard the
ate Edward Livingston. minister of the
United States at the court OF France, and
mis- family, and manned by nearly five
hundred souls), dew near to 1.-THE
chops" of the English Channel. For
four days, she had been beating down
from Pl mouth, and ON the fifth at even.
ing, she made her last tack for the
French coasts
The watch was set at eight p. m. The
captain came on deck soon after, aud
having asc rtained the bearings Of Sicily,
gave orders 10 keeD the ahin tfnlI and /