Evening star., 1939-05-14

up her courses, sent down her royal
yards, cleared for action, and beat
to quarters, her crew receiving the
order with three cheers.
''As soon as the Constitution was
ready, she bore down with the in
tention to bring the enemy to close
action, without the usual prelim-
mary maneuvers; but as she ap-
preached, at 5 o'clock, the latter
hoisted three British ensigns, fired
a broadside, filled away, and wore,
firing a broadside on the other tack,
without doing any damage. Three
quarters of an hour were spent by
the stranger in attempting to OBJ
tain position in which she could
rake the Constitution, during which
time the latter had fired but few
guns, contenting herself with ma
neuvering in such manner as de-
feated the attempts of the enemy to
secure the Weather-guage.
Fire Increased.
AT few minutes before o'clock
the stranger bore up and ran off
under her top-sails and lib, with
the wind on her quarter; and the
Constitution. accepting the invita-
ton which this maneuver conveyed.
Immediately set her foresail and
maln-top gallant sail, and ran
alongside. At minutes before 6
the ships being alongside, within
half pistol shot, the fire became
general and very heavy from the
entire force of both ships.
The Constitution guns were
double-shotted, with round and
grape shot; and so we'll we're thev
managed, that, within Is minutes
after the fire was opened. the
stranger had lost her mizzenmast
her main-yard was in the slings. and
her null, rigging, and sails were torn
TO pieces. This disaster enabled the
Constitution to run ahead of the
stranger, and by luffing short round
on her bows, to subject the latter to
a destructive raking fire, as we'll as
to a very destructive fire from the
topmen OF the former in which both
the officers and the men of the
stranger suffered very severely. This
maneuver was facilitated by the
operation of the wreck of her
mlzzen-maSt on the movements of
the stranger-the mast having gone
over the weather-side the TOP acted
as complete back-water, and the
head of the ship was brought up
TO the wind, in spite of every effort
OF the helmsman to prevent it. At
tins time, also, from the effects of
this maneuver, the Constitution fell
foul of the stranger-the bow-spr1t
OF the latter running into the
larboard-quarter of the former-and |
both crews prepared to board. The
stranger turned up all hands from
below, and mustered forward; while |
Lit. Morris, of the Constitution. en-
deaVored to lash both ships together.
The fire from the small-arms of both |
vessels was now exceedingly severe
1t. Morris, Master AylWin and 1t. |
Brush OF the marines, having re-
celved severe wounds-and both
parties hesitated to move in the
face OF such a fire. with the heavy
sea which was then on.
About the same time the sails of
the Constitution filled, and she shot
ahead of the stranger; when the
foremast of the latter went over.
carrying with it her mainmast. and |
leaving her a helpless wreck in the
trough of the sea.
Enemy Disabled.
"Her enemy having thus been en-
tlrely disabled. the Constitution
hauled aboard her tacks, ran off a
short distance, secured her masts, |
and rove new rigging At Z o'clock
she wore round, and took a favorable |
position for raking, when a jack, |
which had been fastened on the
stump of the strangers mizzenmast,
was lowered, a gun was fired to
leeWard, and she surrendered.
Third 1t. George C. Read was
sent on board the prize, and quickly
returned with the information that |
she was the Guerriere, rating 38
guns, and commanded by Capt. j.
A. Dacres.
The Constitution remained mar
her prize all night, and at daylight |
the officer in charge hailed, to say
the Guerrero had four feet water