The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-30
FORGOTTEN WAR.
Among the Wars Of the United
States, Now Almost Forgotten is
NAVAL WAR WITH FRANCE,
Fought out to a Successful Finish a
Century Ago-How the Gallant
Truxton, with the Constellation,
Captured the French Frigats Tnsur-
gent.

New York Press: one hundred years
ago next Thursday Captain Thomas
Truxton, with his crew at quarters was
bearing down on the French frlgate
Vengeance with his ship Constellation,
bent on sinking or capturing the
Frenchman. He chased her all that
day, and Tie next caught up with her
and Tough. one Of the greatest battles
OF naval history, TO the glory Of the
American arms and the dlscomhture Of
France.
Several wars have been waged by the
Omitted States which seldom are Thought
OF now. The list OF what might be call
cd forgotten wars is surprising even
10 those Americans who consider that
they,have pretty fair idea Of the his
tory Of The country. one Of these FOR
gotten wars" this country was fight
ing 100 years ago. It was war with
France, ard lasted two and IL half
years, In that time the little navy Of
the United states almost swept the
French commerce from the waters Of
the Western Hemisphere and captured
eIghty-four armed French vessels.
Nearly all the captures were made by
government cruisers. few prlvateers
getting to yea in this war. Only one
vessel OF The American navy, the Re
taitatlon, was captured by the French.
Not only lld the American navy in this
war capture and destroy French mem
of-war and harrass French commerce,
but 1t also extended such protection to
American trade on the sea that. as
Maclay says in his history OF the navy.
.the exports OF the country. under the
protection OF this marine force. in-
creased from So ,OOO. 600 in 1897, when not
a single American cruiser was in com
mission. to s7S.SG5.5gS in 1898, and the
revenue on Imports rose from 3G,oOO,OoO
in 1887 to s9,OsO,s2 in 1860.
II was carly in the morning on Feb
ruary /, 1900, that Captain Thomas
Truxton, ccuising south Of Guadeloupe,
looking for FrenchmeD, saw bah
standing &c the westward. Upon closer
Inspection she showed to be a French
frigate. Truxton beat TO quarter and
made for the Frenchman, but, the wind
falling light, the two ships We're unable
10 approach near enough to each other
to Join battle, and so lay for twenty
four hours, drifting about with their
men at the guns. Then the wind fresh
ened little and the Constellation was
able to get within striking distance OF
the enemy by evening. AT o'clock
that night Truxton was near enough to
hall the srigate. He lighted his battle
lanterns. liolsted his colOrs and charged
the gunnsFs to load chiefly with round
shot, with now and then stand OF
grape. Above all, he charged them not
to fire until he gave the word AS
Truxtuu stepped to the gangway to hall
the Frenchman she opened from her
stern-chasers and quarterback guns.
The enemy now began pouring in u hot
FIRE. doing much execution but Truxton
would not let his men fire until HI got
the Constellation into just the position
he wanted her. 1t WAS trying ordeal
for the gunners to stand and see their.
messmates shot down and hear the
enemy's shot crash through the ships
sides without being able to respond, but
they obeyed orders, until finally Trux-
ton. having reached favorable posi-
ton of the enemy's quarter. shouted
'Firey' The enect OF the American
broadside was terrific, and shrieks min
gled with the sound Of rending wood
came from the Frenchman. The
Frenchman made every effort to get
away and poured in heavy fire on the
Americans rigging. with the intention
of disabling the Constellation so that
she would be unable to pursue. The
battle ragged until midnight, wheE the
IRE OF the French frIgate slackened.
and then ceased altogether
by this time. says Maclay. the
CONSULTATIONS rigging and spars were
seriously cut up, although her hull was
comparatively unhurt. The mainmast
OF the Constellation was found to be
lettering. and before 1t could be secured
1t went by the board. The wreck was
cleared away in an hour but it was too
late. for, while the American vessel was