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 THE 
 
 NAVAL MONUMENT, 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 OFFICIAL AND OTHER ACCOUNTS 
 
 OF ALL THE BATTLES FOUGHT BETWEEN 
 
 THE NAVIES 
 
 or THE 
 
 UNITED STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN 
 
 DURING THE LATE WAR ; 
 
 AND AN 
 
 ACCOUNT OF THE WAR WITH ALGIERS, 
 
 WITH 
 
 TWENTY-FIVE ENGRAVINGS. 
 
 TO WHICH IS ANNEXED 
 
 A NAVAL REGISTER OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 BOSTON : 
 PUBLISHED BY GEORGE CLARK, 
 
 1830. 
 
t_3G0 
 
 District of Massachusetts, to wit: 
 
 District Clerk's Office. 
 
 BE it remembered, that on the twelfth day of March, A. D. 1816, and in 
 the fortieth year of the Independence of the United States of America, 
 ABEL BOWEN, of the said district, has deposited in this Office the title of 
 a book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in the words following, 
 to wit : 
 
 "The JVaval Monument, containing Official and other accounts of all 
 the battles fought between the Navies of the United States and Great 
 Britain, during the late war ; and an account of the war with Algiers, 
 with twenty-five Engravings. To which is annexed a Naval Register of 
 the United States." 
 
 In conformit" to an act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, 
 "An Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, 
 Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such copies, during 
 the times therein mentioned : and also to an act entitled "An Act supple- 
 mentary to An Act, entitled an act for the encouragement of learning, by 
 securing the copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the authors and pro- 
 prietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned ; and extending 
 the benefits thereof to the Arts of Designing, Engraving* and Etching 
 Historical and other Prints." 
 
 JNO. W. DAVIS, Clerk of the district of Massachusetts. 
 
 *The Designs and Engravings in this volume were entered as the law 
 directs, Nov. 25, and Dec. 28, 1815, by A. Bowen. 
 
 I ' -&0S2/ 
 
 J "J 
 
 IOJTHER ROBY, PRINTER, Concord, N. H. 
 
TO 
 
 THE OFFICERS 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 
 
 WHO BY THEIR 
 
 BRAVERY AND SKILL 
 HAVE EXALTED THE AMERICAN CHARACTER, 
 
 SECURED 
 
 THE APPLAUSE OF THEIR COUNTRY, 
 
 AND EXCITED THE 
 ADMIRATION OF THE WORLD ; 
 
 THIS VOLUME 
 
 IS MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, 
 
 BV THEIR 
 
 MOST OB'T AND HUMBLE SERV'T 
 
 r 
 
 A. BOWEN 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 That a country, but of yesterday among the nations, should 
 already have acquired naval renown, and made the trident trem- 
 ble in hands that had wielded it for ages, is now not least among 
 the phenomena in the archives of history. Burke was astonish- 
 ed at the growth which, in his time, had happened to this coun- 
 try within the short period of the life of man. "Whatever Eng- 
 land has been growing to by a progressive increase of improve- 
 ment, brought in by varieties of people, by succession of civil- 
 izing conquests and civilizing settlements in a series of seven- 
 teen hundred years, you shall see as much added to her by Amer- 
 ica in course of a single life." Thus he supposes the genius of 
 Lord Bathurst to have addressed* that nobleman in his youth, 
 foretelling only what, at the moment of uttering this fine imagin- 
 ation, had become fact ; and yet to have left his Lordship alto- 
 gether incredulous and in wonder. But what has not been the 
 progress of this country since Burke's day, and still all within 
 the compass of a single life ? America was then under the bonds 
 of colonial subjection. Imagine, at the time he spoke, some 
 sage equally illustrious had thus addressed the monarch of 
 England. "Sire, these bonds she shall soon burst. You will 
 struggle to impose others and to force her sons to your service. 
 They will resist, with a spirit so desperate, and an enterprise so 
 hardy, as shall, 'before you taste of death,' make your ships not 
 safe at home, even within your own immediate waters. Your 
 navy, the favorite of your kingdom, that you have been centuries 
 creating, shall strike, once and again, in single ships and in 
 squadron, on the ocean and the lakes, in the old world and the 
 new ; to a navy, the outcast of its country, and the work ? of an 
 hour. It will indeed be simply an upstart from its cradle, but 
 you will find it a Hercules there." Had the sovereign then 
 been thus prophetically "rapt into times" but little "futuie," 
 
 * The beginning of this address we supply for the gratification of what 
 we consider laudable, a proper national pride. "Young man, there is 
 America — which at this day serves for little more than to amuse you with 
 stories of savage men, and uncouth manners ; yet shall, before you taste 
 of death, shew itself equal to the whole of that commerce, which nov 
 attracts the envy of the world." 
 
* 1 PREFACE, 
 
 father than live to behold them, would he not gladly have resign- 
 ed at once his crown and life ? 
 
 Naval history has a charm on the attention of the ardent, from 
 being peculiarly the record of enthusiasm. Every naval man of 
 spirit is an enthusiast. We read of "the self devoted Decii." 
 Among naval men self devotion is so common, that an act, 
 evincing this virtue merely, is passed almost without notice. It 
 is looked upon as but duty, and therefore no object for praise. 
 They devote themselves to their country and to their command- 
 er, with whom in their minds, indeed, the country is often iden- 
 tified. This spirit pervades not merely officers, but the men. 
 Instances from British history are familiar ; and the one from 
 our own, of the sailor who interposed himself between the up- 
 lifted scymitar and Decatur, in the first Tripolitan war, and re- 
 ceived the blow in its fall, of which he still lingers the living 
 monument, is, we trust, indelibly rivetted in the memory of a 
 grateful country, who probably owe to this one act of heroism all 
 the benefit of the subsequent, signal services of this gallant 
 captain. Here is disinterestedness that was perfectly pure, un- 
 adulterated even by the love of fame. What cared this mariner 
 for fame ? His name scarcely is known ; and how soon it is 
 every where forgotten, he heeds not. Nay, when all was over, 
 had he not borne upon his body the marks of an act, which sub- 
 jected him to the teasing of questions as to its cause, home this 
 sailor had probably gone, and, like Sampson of old, "told neith- 
 er father nor mother of it." This utter extinction of selfish- 
 ness, is it not sublime ? The fear of death, according to John- 
 son "natural to all," is, in this class of men, not merely com- 
 pletely overcome. Death is courted by them as glory, or sought 
 from friendship. Is it owing to the progress of Christianity 
 gradually and insensibly improving and elevating the mass of 
 mankind, that the virtues of our ordinary seamen have become 
 thus exalted ? What a reform have men's ideas not undergone 
 in the lapse of a few years ? Chivalry of character has shifted 
 its element. The world now looks for "men of honour," and 
 for "cavaliers," not where it looked formerly. To the ocean, 
 which was of late inseparably associated with every thing bois- 
 terous and rough ; the traversers of which were thought to par- 
 ticipate only in the nature of the storms that occasionally deso- 
 late its surface ; to this ocean are the eyes of mankind now uni- 
 versally directed for all that is valorous and gallant in war, and 
 for much of the virtue, thought peculiar to peace. The habili- 
 ments of the knight are changed ; and the plainness, that most 
 ennobles, has got to be (such are the caprices of fashion) the 
 common, everyday dress of the mariner. 
 
 The dawn of the American navy was ominous of a glorious 
 day. Not to mention the other exertions at sea in the war of the 
 
PREFACE. \ 1 1 
 
 revolution,* which were all respectable, and, hut for an eclipse 
 from greater brightness, would have remained brilliant ; the ex- 
 ploits of Paul Jones alone excited an eclat that ensured the whole 
 extent of success, which has to this day followed. Truxton and 
 the Constellalibn flashed next on the public eye. The scene of 
 naval operations soon shifted to Tripoli. Here Preble was the 
 father of a spirit that now reflects its radiance alike on his mem- 
 ory and country. The warfare was most active. It evinced en- 
 terprize the most ardent, and boldness the most daring. In these 
 seas, nearly all the mariners, who have since been eminently 
 distinguished, received their first rudiments of discipline and 
 lessons of danger. The city thrice bombarded ; the only frig- 
 ate the Turks took, and that from her accidentally grounding, 
 fired at the very mouths of their loaded batteries ; the infidels 
 chastised into peace ; self devotion animating our whole fleet as 
 one band ; in the back ground of the picture, Somers, Israel, 
 Wadsworth, kindling their own funeral pyre, and mounting in a 
 blaze to the mansions of light ; these were among the objects 
 which then attracted the attention of the world, and forced its 
 admiration. 
 
 We have just passed the close of a three years' war. The 
 causes of that war out of the question, the interrogatory is put 
 to the politician, to him who realizes that in the family of nations 
 no one member has respect from another, but for its power ; to 
 him the point is pressed home ; is not the effect of this war, in 
 the impression produced the world over from the lustre of our 
 arms, cheaply bought by all the blood and the treasure that the 
 conflict has cost ? Is not our flag now looked up to, as an object 
 of triumph, under every heaven ? Is not our navy covered with 
 renown ? 
 
 A good mind is ever grateful for peace. Justice to the merits 
 that have achieved it, is to such a mind among the first of its du- 
 ties. Has this renown then been justly acquired ? 
 
 What are the constituents of naval excellence ? Bravery, 
 discipline, military and nautical skill. In each of these respects 
 
 * To show the notice Barney then gained, and the favour shown by 
 fair royalty to the American cause, we add as a curiosity, what we do not 
 vouch for as fact. "A correspondent of the morning Chronicle, who sign- 
 ed 'Jean Francis,' affirms, that the musical bagatelle, culled, -Barney,, 
 leave the girls alone,' owes its origin to the kiss publicly bestowed on this 
 American officer by the beautiful Marie Antoniettc, and was composed bv 
 Count O'L. of the Irish brigade, who was present at court when the royal 
 familiarity took place ; and he stated, that the maids of honour were all 
 so eager to follow the gracious example set by the lovely queen, that. 
 Mr. Barney became an object of envy and dislike to the entire beau monde. 
 The American papers speak favourably of his conduct on the surprize of 
 Washington, and affirm, that of the seamen he commanded, one half were 
 killed and wounded; he was himself badly wounded and taken prisoner." 
 
 Brit. JVav. Chron. 1814. 
 
>► 1 1 1 PREFACE. 
 
 what are (he positive merits, and what the comparative, of the 
 American navy ? 
 
 It is not intended to pursue the answer through details of any 
 great minuteness. It will be rested on the authority principally 
 of this single volume, the references to which will, for the most 
 part, be general. 
 
 Bravery may be shewn either in enterprize or in actual en- 
 gagement ; as well in the pursuit, as the improvement, of oppor- 
 tunity ; in defeat not less, than in victory. 
 
 Bravery of enterprize certainly belongs in common to all of 
 our captains, the oldest at their head, who bearded the lion in his 
 den. They have even been blamed for excess in this particular, 
 and- the right of challenge has been absurdly questioned, as if in 
 a strife of mere glory, and to settle the point as to power, it was 
 not highly commendable to seek the opportunity indispensable 
 for the purpose, but which yet happened not to fall in one's way. 
 The challenge given by the Hornet ; and that taken (for sailing 
 across the harbour was clearly in substance a challenge) by the 
 luckless Chesapeake, under circumstances of obvious disadvant- 
 age, before the sailors could have lost the effect of land habits, 
 or have regained their sea legs, are among the countless proofs 
 of an aspiring spirit, steadily intent on one object, namely, nev- 
 er at least to be condemned as failing from not having dared to 
 attempt. 
 
 Where is the instance in which Americans have not evinced 
 bravery in battle ? The fatal engagement of the Chesapeake, 
 even after the boarding, is not, in fairness, an exception. Not 
 an officer was now left upon deck. Who are the men, in any 
 navy, that will continue valiant, deprived of the countenance and 
 support of every officer ? Of the fights between single vessels, 
 that of the Wasp and the Frolic is perhaps far the most distin- 
 guished for personal intrepidity. But we had battles in squad- 
 ron. Who ever showed more courage than Perry, passing in 
 open boat from ship to ship, within full view and point blank shot 
 of a multiplied foe, each of whose ships was intent on taking his 
 single life, as the object to make victory sure ; or than this same 
 eommander, breaking the enemy's line, thus doubling his own 
 force, exposing himself of course to shots from each side, to dou- 
 ble broadsides at once, and at half pistol shot distance ? Who 
 ever evinced greater constancy than Macdonough, awaiting at 
 anchor the approach of an enemy in unknown numbers, by land 
 and water, two states, if not the whole country, in suspense for 
 safety on the issue ; or who more glorious collectedness than 
 this same commander in like danger with Paul Jones, his own 
 vessel twice on fire? What perseverance was evermore inde- 
 fatigable than Chauncey's, in pursuit? Unless indeed that of 
 his adversary, in patience. An adversary only not beaten, be-. 
 
PREFACE. IX 
 
 cause impossible to be made to fight ; and he the sole British 
 commander on his return from the Lakes able to say even that !* 
 
 Who can read the official accounts within this volume, and fail 
 to perceive, that in display of bravery victory has been outdone 
 by defeat? To omit the other instances, and many and striking 
 there are, the sanguinary glories, preceding the surrender of the 
 Essex, are abundantly sufficient of themselves to settle this ques- 
 tion. 
 
 The details that have brought the discipline of our navy to its 
 present high degree of perfectness, it is, for obvious reasons, not 
 expedient to expose. The captians of our national ships have, 
 all of them, the character of rigid disciplinarians. The navy has 
 grown by the nation's neglect of it ; and discipline is the prin- 
 ciple that accounts for this growth. It is evinced by simultane- 
 ousness of movement among numbers, after one action in pre- 
 paring for another, and indeed on all the diversified occasions, 
 to which the service gives rise, precluding by their variety any 
 attempt to particularize them, but of which this whole book is a 
 proof. Yet injustice to him, whose name is the associate only 
 of victory, whose head now rests heaven only knows where, it 
 should be universally understood, that to Blakeley, while living 
 was given the credit of having disciplined the men of the En- 
 terprise, that vessel being commanded by him a few weeks only 
 before its battle with the Boxer. 
 
 Who in the world doubts the positive merit of the navy of this 
 country as to military skill ? Who has not been told of the al- 
 most wonderful exactness of American gunnery ? It is not the 
 number of our naval engagements or the extent of their suc- 
 cess, the fleets they have taken or the host of single vessels de- 
 stroyed or brought in ; it is the brilliant celerity of their elec- 
 tric execution, that attests this fact. 
 
 Nautical skill extends to the navigation of the vessel, to the 
 various manouverings for escape and for battle, and in fine to 
 all those points of which professional men are proud, as constitu- 
 ting seamanship. To the style of our general navigation, not 
 only has no exception been suggested, but the number of our ves- 
 sels that have gone out and returned, considering the vastly 
 greater number despatched in pursuit, is a circumstance not far 
 from conclusive to shew, that this style is of the highest possible 
 order. The trophied ship Macedonian, navigated to her new 
 home from such a distance, and similar trophies alike secured 
 since, are among the proofs of our mastery of mere navigation. 
 
 *Thisis not meant to disparage Yeo, I know this Fabius had been also 
 Marcellus ; that he could dash, as well as delay. Had not his reputation 
 for the former been well established, would he have dared, for three years, 
 attempt the latter ? 
 
 2 
 
i PREFACE. 
 
 For skill in escape, take the Constitution, chased three days and 
 three nights bv a line-of-battle ship, four frigates, a brig and a 
 schooner, and getting off by kedging : The Jlrgus evading a 
 squadron of six sail, at one time within musket shot of a 74, at 
 another surrounded : The Hornet, clearing a ship of the line af- 
 ter a chase of forty-two hours : and lastly remember the hue and 
 cry throughout Europe, and the power of the United Kingdom 
 all in requisition, to take the little Essex! For nautical skill in 
 battle, take the Hornet sinking the Peacock in fifteen minutes, and 
 the Constitution, engaged at once with the Cyane and Levant, suc- 
 cessfully avoiding a raking fire from either. This feature is 
 common to all our battles. The most prominent, and few only of 
 these, are selected. Perry, breaking the line and placing the 
 Niagara between two of the enemy's ships ; Macdonough, fight- 
 ing the guns on one side, till all there were dismounted ; then 
 suddenly winding a fresh broadside to the foe ; and lastly, Law- 
 rence carrying the Chesapeake into action. Last, as not least. 
 " See how that noble fellow, Collingwood, carries his ship into 
 action," was the exclamation of Nelson at the battle ef Trafal- 
 gar, absorbed as he was, in his own fate and duty. It is a cir- 
 cumstance on which sea captains place great pride. Nor is it a 
 mere point of honour ; the advantage it gains, is often effectual 
 to fix the fate of the conflict. The officers of the navy will to a 
 man agree, that James Lawrence was the perfect sailor. That 
 Hornet how admirably he managed ! The Chesapeake he led in- 
 to battle, within half pistol shot distance, not firing till he could 
 pour in a whole broadside at once, in such gallant style, with such 
 tremendous execution, gaining at the outset so decided an advan- 
 tage, and chiefly from superior seamanship : that eminent na- 
 val men have pronounced, at the time this vessel fell on board 
 her adversary, that the Shannon was a whipt ship, and had p sin- 
 gle commissioned officer been then remaining on deck to have 
 extricated our frigate from her momentary difficulty, this fact 
 would have been made to appear. 
 
 Now compare for a moment the American navy with the Brit- 
 ish. With the British, because the enemy navy ; and because, 
 our own excepted, all must agree this to be the standard. 
 
 What advantages have not the British in the antiquity of their 
 naval establishments ? What facilities for naval education ; 
 what extent of employment to reward extensive competition ; 
 what excitement to emulation from the indefinite height to which 
 promotion may be carried, and from the greater munificence 
 which attends it at every step? With all thti-c advantages 
 against them, what wonder, even had the American navy suffer- 
 ed in comparison? 
 
PREFACE. Xi 
 
 But let them be judged from effect. For numbers, the respec- 
 tive navies are objects not of comparison, but contrast. So in- 
 deed are their respective captures and victories, but the order 
 is inverted. Of these the navy of less numbers has more, that 
 of greater numbers less. Mathematically may it not be said, 
 that the proportion of the comparitive captures of the two na- 
 vies, is inversely as the proportion of their comparitive num- 
 bers. 
 
 Had neither navy figured except in tiiis war, to which, pray, 
 would impartial people, not of either nation, now look up as tho 
 standard ? 
 
 In bravery these navies are equal ; in discipline, ours certain- 
 ly not the inferior ; in nauticul skill, if you please, equal ; but 
 in military skill, gunnery particularly, should not the Americans 
 have their claim allowed to a very decided superiority? - 
 
 This runs through all of their battles, on the ocean and lakes. 
 One fact goes far to settle the question. It rests on fair and un- 
 disputed authority ; the British official account of the fight of 
 the Shannon and Chesapeake, and the American of the several 
 fights about to be mentioned. Each party tells hi3 own story 
 and is taken at his word. The fact referred to is this. The 
 British lost in killed on board the Shannon one man more than 
 the Americans lost in the battles of the Constitution with the 
 Guerriere, of the same vessel with the Java, of the United States 
 with the Macedonian, of the Hornet with the Peacock, all combin- 
 ed ; more in one battle, than we lost in four. 
 
 In our comments on particular battles, it should be remember- 
 ed, that, from the nature of the service, previous plan is of very 
 little use. The naval eye is of more importance, than the mil- 
 itary. Over and above all the circumstances that occur on land 
 to thwart the calculations of a commander, at sea is the nature 
 of the element. Time and tide wait for none. All plan is here 
 at the mercy of the winds and waves. Nelson, aware of this, 
 writes to his captains before the battle of Trafalgar, that, " if by 
 the prescribed mode ©i attack, they found it impracticable to get 
 into action immediately, they might adopt whatever they thought 
 best, provided it led them quickly and closely along side an en- 
 emy." Again. " No captain can do wrong, if he places hi? 
 ship along side that of an enemy." Take this test for the battle of 
 Erie, and for that of Champlain. In the former the lightness of 
 the winds prevented all the vessels getting into action immediate- 
 ly. To close was the Commodoie's object, such injuiy was the 
 Laivrcnce sustaining from the enemy's long guns. This vessel 
 soon closed. The Niagara was brought into close action next, 
 and soon after all the rest of the fleet. On lake Champlain all 
 were in close action at once. A further reason for the differ- 
 
XII PREFACE. 
 
 ence, than that already suggested, is, that hcra our fleet were at 
 anchor, and the British could -take their own distance. There 
 the American commodore had to sail in pursuit of them out up- 
 on the lake, and to take, of course, only just such battle, as they 
 saw fit to give. The battle of Erie has this of resemblance to 
 that of Trafalgar ; it was fought with wide sea room by fleets 
 under sail ; Perry, like Nelson, broke the line. In the battle of 
 Champlain, as in that of the Nile, all the ships on one side were 
 at anchor. But the result, happily for us, was reversed. Those 
 at anchor were, in this instance, the victors. Nelson at the Nile 
 was the assailant. Macdonough at Champlain was on the de- 
 fensive. An assault excites hope ; there is something to be 
 gained. Defence is apt to infuse fear ; here is something simply 
 to prevent being lost. The former may be carried by courage, 
 by sail}' 1 , something violent, but transient. The latter must be 
 secured by firmness, constancy, what is of more permanent na- 
 ture, and therefore more rare, Macdonough's winding ship in the 
 heat of the action required as much collectedness as breaking 
 the line, and was equally decisive of the fate of the day. Per- 
 ry's victory had a completeness, perhaps without parallel in na- 
 val annals. He captured the whole. At the Nile two ships of 
 the line and two frigates escaped and four French ships at Tra- 
 falgar. In Macdonough's battle as compared with its rival, the 
 odds against him were greater, especially if the enemy is to be 
 presumed to have come better prepared from the notice given 
 him at Erie about a year previous ; the consequences, that 
 would have followed defeat, were here more important ; and 
 though the victory was less complete as to the number of the 
 captures, yet it was much more so than the victory of Trafalgar, 
 where the error was the British not anchoring sufficiently early ; 
 an error that had been shunned, had Nelson's last words been re- 
 garded. Our two battles were indeed on a far less scale than 
 those of the British. But this effects neither side the compari- 
 son, as between us and our adversaries. Yet far as our preten- 
 sions are concerned in likening the Americans as victors on 
 these recent occasions, to Britons as victors on occasions more 
 distant ; is there, in truth, nothing to make up for this difference 
 of scale ? Against whom were fought the battles of the Nile 
 and Trafalgar? Against Frenchmen, and against Spaniards 
 and Frenchmen. They were fought "on that element on which," 
 we have Soulhey's word for it, the biographer of Nelson, " when 
 the hour of trial comes, a Frenchman has no hope." But our 
 battles were both fought against Englishmen, the conquer- 
 ors of Spaniards and of Frenchmen ; and " on that element," 
 where " when the hour of trial comes," they have always been 
 
PREFACE. XIII 
 
 represented, as abounding in " hope," and even exulting in cer- 
 tainty. 
 
 Two other points remain to be noticed, that do not enter tech- 
 nically into naval character as essential to its nature, but yet are 
 important incidents, without which a navy would almost cease to 
 excite pride. One of these points has for its object the mind, 
 the other the heart, of the community. Our naval accounts, are 
 they not all modestly written? No boast ; no gasconade ; no- 
 thing deficient ; nothing redundant. Some thing has been said 
 about Porter. But much of prolixity is to be indulged to defeat. 
 It puts a man on his defence and every one is then to be heard 
 fully and at large. Fastidiousness has fastened on Perry's 
 " We have met, and they are ours," as indicating too great cel- 
 erity. But the " came saw and conquered " of Caesar, is sub- 
 ject to the same exception, and yet was never found fault with, 
 as failing in modesty. Naval history furnishes similar instances. 
 Nelson's fine signal scarcely surpasses the last famed signal of 
 Lawrence. " Don't give up the ship " is quite as comprehen- 
 sive and equally modest with " England expects every man to do 
 his duty." 
 
 Humanity is the point by which it was thought the naval men 
 of the country would have been endeared to the affections of a 
 moral and religious people. It is the point that " makes ambi- 
 tion virtue." It can constitute indeed no part of glory ; but the 
 want of it would cover any one of our sailors with shame. The 
 American navy is not the inferior in moral character." Which 
 of numerous battles has not been prominently marked by this 
 benignant feature? Lawrence, in the Hornet losing more men 
 in saving, than in conquering the enemy, is an instance scarcely 
 the most striking. The shores of Champlain and of Erie attest 
 our humanity. The Irish poured forth their gratitude in public 
 to Allen of the Argus. Nelson prayed that the victory of Tra- 
 falgar might be distinguished for humanity; and " setting an ex- 
 ample himself," says Southey, gave order* to cease firing on the 
 Redoubtable, thinking she had struck. Blakeley, engaged at 
 night with an unknown foe, ceased firing, and hailed to know, 
 had the enemy surrendered. A recommencement of her fire 
 was the answer received. This returned ; soon was renewed 
 the hail for information. Amiable man! To this first fruitless 
 hail, you perhaps owe the very wound, since so fatal to your ves- 
 sel and life! The flag your shroud, your ship a coffin, the ocean 
 your grave. " Reindeer " and " Avon" constitute the epi- 
 taph ; your m3mory is immortal! 
 
 No encouragements should ever be withheld from a navy on 
 account of the pretended nature of the war in which it is engag- 
 ed. Nelson at Copenhagen was brave as at Trafalgar, and he 
 
XIV TRKFACE. 
 
 was rewarded as much. The question as to the cause of the 
 war, must, of necessity and forever, be left to the sovereignty of 
 the country for settlement. War once declared, the ordinary 
 struggles between party and party should give way to the extra- 
 ordinary state of things the declaration produces. The question 
 is now no longer between citizen and citizen, but between the 
 country and the enemy, native and foreigner. "At least," says 
 admiral Blake, "let us keep foreigners from fooling us." 
 
 The war found us with captains and has given us admirals ; 
 with frigates and has given us ships of the line. Yet to what 
 purpose all this, but to make us proud ? Pray heaven, it have 
 this effect ! Give elevation to feeling ; you impart purity to 
 character. National pride may introduce national honesty ; and 
 from the marine part of the community, the mercantile may at 
 length be reformed. 
 
 But is it now asked, of what value is a navy ? You owe to it 
 your peace. Able as were your negotiations upon paper, and 
 abler never were published, to the negotiations on lake Cham- 
 plain and not to the others, your peace is known to be due.* 
 
 Yet this is not all the good your navy has achieved. Peace 
 with Britain has been followed by an expedition to Algiers and 
 its vicinity. Here Preble had done before with his limited fleet 
 more than Blake "with his thirty capital ships." The barbari- 
 ans now bend again beneath the blows of Decatur. A treaty is 
 obtained of so great favor to us as to have been unheard of in 
 the world before. Peace, naval men have been instrumental in 
 obtaining from Britain. Peace, they have wrested from Algiers ; 
 and what is more, our sons, and the sons of other countries, 
 have these men restored from captivity and slavery. It is poe- 
 try, but not fiction, 
 
 "That those '.oho suffer bravely, save mankind." 
 
 ♦This is said without derogation from Jackson, the success of whoso 
 masterly diplomatics at New Orleans was not known in Europe at the time 
 the treaty was concluded. 
 
/ 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 In making this selection the editor has endeavoured to obtain 
 the most correct and authentic accounts. He cannot however 
 promise himself, that every part of it is perfectly accurate ; but 
 he believes that no material error has escaped him. The diffi- 
 culties of observing exact chronological order in a work like this 
 need not be mentioned, as they will readily occur to the reader. 
 Perhaps some instances of skill and valour have been overlook- 
 ed, and others given too much at length. The official accounts 
 of the battles represented in the plates, are given entire. In 
 many other instances, official letters are curtailed. To have 
 printed them at large would have increased the work beyond the 
 limits prescribed. This is offered as an apology for omitting 
 what otherwise would gladly have been inserted Many of the 
 periodical publications of the last four years have been examin- 
 ed, but the compiler is particularly, and almost exclusively in- 
 debted to the able and indefatigable Mr. Niles, publisher of the 
 Baltimore Weekly Register, a paper in which may be found a full 
 and interesting naval and military history of the late wars against 
 Great Britain and Algiers. The pages of this work might have 
 been enriched with extracts from the Analectic Magazine and 
 Naval Chronicle ; but this is rendered unnecessary by the ex- 
 tensive circulation of that eloquent and excellent work. Who- 
 ever wishes to be instructed or delighted on the subject of the 
 American navy, may have his curiosity fully gratified by a peru- 
 sal of those publications. 
 
 The editor cannot but indulge the hope, that he has fulfilled 
 the engagements made in the prospectus, and equalled the ex- 
 pectations of subscribers. Should he meet the approbation of 
 the public, he intends to publish a military history of the war, on 
 a similar plan, entitled the Military Chronicle. 
 
 Most of the engravings, which accompany this volume, are 
 from the designs of Mr. Corne. The frontispiece was designed 
 by Mr. Penniman. The plate, which exhibits the return of the 
 squadron from the Mediterranean, is from a design of Mr. Fan- 
 ning, and was taken from actual survey on board the Indepen- 
 dence. 
 
 For the preface the editor is indebted to the kindness of a lit- 
 erary gentleman, who has furnished to our periodical publications, 
 many interesting articles on the subject of the navy. A. B. 
 
INDEX TO THE ENGRAVINGS. 
 
 Frontispiece, facing the title - 
 
 Constitution's escape from a British squadron 
 
 Constitution bearing down for the Guerriere 
 
 Constitution in close action with the Guerriere - 
 
 Wasp boarding the Frolic - 
 
 United States and Macedonian - - - - 
 
 The Java surrendering to the Constitution 
 
 Hornet blockading the Bonne Citoyenne 
 
 Hornet sinking the Peacock - 
 
 Chesapeake and Shannon - 
 
 Enterprize and Boxer - 
 First view of Com. Perry's victory - 
 
 Plan of the first view of the battle on Lake Erie 
 Second view of Com. Perry's victory - 
 Plan of the second view of the battle on Lake Erie 
 Capture of the Essex - - „ 
 
 Peaeock and Epervier - 
 
 Wasp and Reindeer - 
 
 Wasp and Avon - 
 
 Com. Macdonough's victory - 
 President engaging the Endymion - 
 
 Constitution taking the Cyane and Levant 
 Hornet and Penguin _____ 
 Hornet's escape from a British 74 - 
 
 United States squadron returning from the Mediterranean, 
 after concluding peace with Algiers - 289 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 The exploits of the American Navy in the late war be- 
 tween the United States and Great Britain, commenced with 
 the escape of the Frigate Constitution from an English 
 squadron. 
 
 On July 12th, the Constitution, completely equipped and 
 well manned, left the Chesapeake, bound to New York. On 
 the 16th saw a frigate and gave chase, with winds too light 
 to reach her. On the 17th discovered the British squad- 
 ron, consisting of the Jlfrica 64, and Guerriere, Shannon, 
 Belvidera and JEolus, frigates, a brig and a schooner. The 
 Belvidera within gun-shot. The 17th was calm and spent 
 in towing, manoeuvering and firing. On the morning of 
 the 18th a light breeze sprung up, when the Constitution 
 spread all her canvas, and by outsailing the enemy, escaped 
 a conflict, which she could not have maintained with amy 
 hope of success, against a force so greatly superior. The 
 chase was continued sixty hours, during which the whole 
 crew remained at their stations. 
 
 A gentleman, belonging to an American captured vessel, 
 who was on board the Shannon, during the above period, 
 informs us, that all the officers of the British squadron ap- 
 plauded the conduct of Capt. Hull ; and though mortified 
 at losing so fine a ship, gave him much credit for his skill 
 and prudence in managing the frigate. 
 
 A more particular account is detailed in the following 
 extract from the Constitution's log book. 
 
 EXTRACT FROM LOG BOOK. 
 
 Friday, July 17, 1812. 
 
 Commences with clear weather and fresh breezes from 
 the northward and eastward. At \ past 1, P. M. sounded 
 3 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 in 22 fni's. water. At 2, four sail of vessels in sight. At 
 ,'}, sounded in 18^ fin's. At \ past 3, tacked to the east. 
 At 4, a ship in sight, bearing N. E. standing down for us, 
 and three ships and a brig N. N. W. on the starboard tack. 
 From 4 to 6, light airs from the northward. At 6, the sin- 
 gle ship bearing E. N. E. At \ past 6, got a light breeze 
 from the southward and eastward, wore ship and stood to- 
 wards the above sail, keeping her a little off the larboard 
 bow. At \ past 7, beat to quarters and cleared ships for 
 action. At 8, light airs ; — coming up with the ships very 
 slow. At \ past 10, made the private signals of the day. 
 At \ past 11, hauled down the signals, not having been an- 
 swered, and made sail by the wind, with starboard tacks 
 on board. From 12 to 4 A. M. light airs from the south- 
 ward and westward and cloudy. At 4 A. M. the ship made 
 a signal. At day-light, discovered three sail astern. At 5, 
 discovered another sail astern, making two frigates off our 
 lee-quarter, and two frigates and one ship of the line, one 
 brig, and one schooner, astern. At \ past 5, it being calm 
 and the ship having no steering way, hoisted out the first 
 cutter and got the boats ahead to tow ship's head round to 
 the southward, got a 24 pounder up off the gun-deck for a 
 stern-gun, and the forecastle gun aft — cut away the taffarel 
 to give them room, and run two guns out of the cabin 
 windows. At 6, got the ship's head round to the south- 
 ward and set top-gallant studding-sails and stay-sails, one 
 of the frigates firing at us. At \ past 6, sounded in 26 fm's. 
 water. At 7, got a kedge and warped the ship ahead. At 
 \ past 7, hoisted the colours and fired one gun at the ship 
 astern. At 8, calm ; — employed warping and towing the 
 ship. The other ships having a light air gaining on us, 
 with their boats ahead, and one of them using sAveeps. At 
 9, the above ship in close chase of us, and the nearest frig- 
 ate gaining on us. At 9 minutes part 9, a light breeze 
 sprung up from the southward ; braced up by the wind on 
 the larboard tack, when the above frigate commenced fir- 
 ing, but her shot did not reach us : got the boats along 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 3 
 
 side, run two of them up. At 10, started 2335 gallons of 
 water and pumped it out — almost calm — manned the first 
 cutter to tow ship ; — six sail of the enemy's ships off the 
 starboard beam and quarter ; perceived that the nearest 
 frigate had got all the boats from the other ships to tow her 
 towards us. From 10, A. M. to meridian, employed warp- 
 ing and towing. All sail made by the wind, one of the 
 ships coining up, apparently having all the boats from the 
 other ships. 
 
 Saturday, July 18. 
 Light airs from the southward and eastward, attended 
 with calms. At | after meridian, sent the first cutter and 
 green cutter ahead to tow ship. At \ before 1, P. M. a 
 strange sail discovered two points abaft off the lee-beam, 
 the four frigates one point off the starboard-quarter. Line- 
 of-battle ship, brig and schooner, off the lee-beam. At 7 
 minutes before 2, the chasing frigates commenced firing 
 their bow chase guns, we returned them with our stern 
 chasers. At | past 3, still chased by the above ships, one 
 of them being nearly within gun-shot. At 7, observed the 
 enemy's ships towing with their boats. Lowered down 
 the first cutter, green cutter and gig, and sent them ahead 
 to tow ship ; — light airs, inclinable to calms. At 8, light 
 airs from the southward and eastward. The first and fifth 
 cutters and gig ahead towing ship. The enemy's ships in 
 the same position as at 7. From 8 to 9, light airs and 
 cloudy. The enemy's ships still in chase of us ; boats 
 ahead towing ship. At 7 minutes before 11, a breeze 
 springing up from the southward ; boats came along side, 
 hoisted up the gig and green cutter, and set the fore-top- 
 mast staysail and main-top-gallant studding sail. At mid- 
 night moderate breezes and cloudy, the enemy's ships still 
 in chase. At 2, A. M. discovered one of the ships off the 
 lee-beam. At k past 2, took in the studding sails, at day- 
 light four frigates in sight, three off the lee-quarter and 
 one off the lee-beam, from two to three miles distant. At 
 4, six sail in sight from off the deck, hauled down the fore 
 
1 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 top-mast staysail ; — very light breezes. At 20 minutes past 
 4, tacked ship to the eastward. At 5, passed about gun- 
 shot distance to windward of one of the frigates ; hoisted 
 in the first cutter ; — ten sail in sight from the mast-head. 
 At 9, saw a ship to windward, supposed to be an American 
 merchantman, standing towards us. The frigate astern 
 hoisted American colours as a decoy ; we immediately 
 hoisted English colours, got royal studding sails fitted. At 
 11, A. M. took in sky-sails. At meridian, moderate breezes 
 and pleasant weather, rather leaving the frigates in chase ; 
 the head-mest frigate to leeward, bearing nearly N. by W. 
 four or five miles distant, the nearest frigate W. N. W. di- 
 rectly in our wake, distant about three and half miles. 
 The line-of-battle ship, N. by W. \ W. on the larboard 
 tack, hull down. Two frigates off our lee-quarter, N. N. 
 W. i W. and N. W. by N. about five miles distant, and a 
 brig bearing about N. by W. Observed, latitude 38 o 47/ 
 N. which, with the soundings got at | past 10, A. M. and 
 allowing for the distance since run, gives our long, about 
 73 o 53/ W. from which we date our departure. 
 
 July 19. 
 Fresh breezes from the southward and pleasant. At 1 P. 
 M. hauled down the royal staysails and set the middle stay- 
 sail. At 2, got shifting backstays on the top-gallant mast, 
 and set them well up, took in the gaft-topsail and mizen- 
 top-gallant staysail. At \ past 2, set the mizen-top-gallant 
 and main royal staysails and main sky sail. At 4, a moder- 
 ate breeze from the S. S. W. and cloudy ; four sail of t*ie 
 enemy still in chase, the nearest about six miles off, bearing 
 N. N. W. and one off the weather quarter, W. by N. h N. 
 At £ past 7, the leewardmost ship N. N. W. ^ W. and the 
 weathermost ship, N. W. by f W. — the other two more 
 astern, and hull down. At ipast 9, the wind hauled round 
 to the southward and westward. At h 10 P. M. the wind 
 backed round again. At 1 1, could just discover the weath- 
 er-bow ship to have got in our wake. At midnight, moder- 
 ate breezes and pleasant. From midnight to 4 A. M. mod- 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 5 
 
 erate breezes. At h past 4, hauled up to S. E. by S. four 
 sail in sight astern, all of them hull down. At $ past 6, 
 more moderate ; — employed wetting the sails aloft. At 8, 
 four ships still in sight chasing us. At \ past 8 A. M. all 
 the ships in chase stood to the northward and eastward. 
 
 CAPT. HULL'S OFFICIAL LETTER. 
 
 Constitution at sea, off Nantucket, 
 Sir, My 20, 1812. 
 
 The Constitution is on her way to Boston for your or- 
 ders, having been chased by a British squadron off New- 
 York, and very near being taken. The chase continued 
 ♦three days and nights, by a line-of-battle ship, four frigates, 
 a brig and a schooner. 
 
 I shall call off Boston and write from there, and continue 
 cruising in the bay until I hear from you. 
 
 Respectfully, 
 Hon. Paul Hamilton, ISAAC HULL. 
 
 Sec'i/ of Navy. 
 On Sunday, the 26th of July, the Constitution arrived 
 in Boston harbour. On Tuesday the 28th, Capt. Hull came 
 up to town. On his landing and reaching State Street, he 
 was received by his fellow-citizens with repeated huzzas. 
 
 [The following card was inserted, at the request of Capt. 
 Hull, in the Exchange Coffee-house Books.] 
 
 " Capt. Hull, finding his friends in Boston are correctly 
 informed of his situation when chased by the British squad- 
 ron off New-York, and that they are good enough to give 
 him more credit by escaping them than he ought to claim, 
 takes this opportunity of requesting them to make a trans- 
 fer of a great part of their good wishes to Lt. Morris, and 
 the other brave officers, and the crew under his command, 
 for their very great exertions and prompt attention to orders 
 while the enemy were in chase. Capt. Hull has great 
 pleasure in saying, that notwithstanding the length of the 
 chase, and the officers and crew being deprived of sleep, 
 
6 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 and allowed but little refreshment during the time, not a 
 murmur was heard to escape them." 
 
 Interesting particulars. 
 
 Capt. Hull, in the management of his ship, during her 
 chase by the squadron under Com. Broke, displayed the 
 most skilful and accomplished seamanship. 
 
 At a time when the wind was very light, the sails of the 
 Shannon were all furled, and the boats of the squadron were 
 all put to tow her directly to windward toward the Consti- 
 tution ; at the same time Capt. Hull was kedging his ship 
 forward faster than the enemy was able to advance by tow- 
 ing ; he had gained a considerable distance, before the ene- 
 my, who were constantly observing him with their glasses, 
 perceived the manner in which he was leaving. They then 
 kedged in their turn, but not with the same rapidity, ow- 
 ing probably in some measure to the precaution observed 
 by Capt. Hull, whenever his boats came home, instead of 
 making them fast to the ship, of hoisting them up at the 
 davids. This manoeuvre of kedging a ship at sea, in 25 or 
 30 fathoms water, was an ingenious and novel experiment ; 
 it was first suggested, it is understood, by Lieut, [now 
 Capt.] C. Morris. 
 
 When the squall struck the Constitution, by which she ul- 
 timately escaped, Capt. H. availed himself of another strat- 
 agem to gain time. He was to windward — the squall was 
 powerful, and pressed her huge side low in the water ; he 
 immediately let every thing go by the run, apparently in 
 the utmost confusion, as if unable to shew a yard of can- 
 vass — his sails were hauled up by the brails and clewlines ; 
 the enemy, perceiving this, hastened to get every thing 
 snug, before the gust should reach them : — but, no sooner 
 had they got their sails furled, than Capt Hull had his 
 courses and topsails set, and the Constitution darted forward 
 with great rapidity. So coolly however did he proceed, 
 that he would not suffer one of his boats to be cut adrift, 
 but, though pressed by a pursuing enemy, attended per- 
 sonally to hoisting in his launch and other boats, while the 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 7 
 
 ahip was going nine or ten knots through the water. This 
 is a fact which will appear astonishing to a sailor ; and he 
 seemed to be the only person in the ship who conceived it 
 feasible : — the British squadron cut adrift all their boats, 
 and, after they abandoned the chase, spent two or three 
 whole days in cruising to pick them up. 
 
 CAPTURE OF THE NAUTILUS. 
 
 Soon after the escape of the Constitution, the U. S. brig 
 Nautilus, 12 guns, Lt. Crane, was captured by the above 
 British squadron. The following letter ishonorary toLt. 
 Crane: 
 
 The Sec^y of the navy to Lt. Crane, late of the Nautilus. 
 Sir, Navy department, 1 Oct. 1812. 
 
 The following is the opinion of the court of inquiry, 
 convened agreeably to your request, for the loss of the U. 
 S. brig Nautilus. 
 
 The court were unanimously and decidedly of opinion, 
 that in the capture of the late U. S. brig Nautilus, Lieut. 
 Crane, her late commander, and his officers, are entirely 
 free from the least blame, or censure, and do consider Lt. 
 Crane did every thing to prevent said capture, that a skil- 
 ful and experienced officer could possibly do. 
 
 This opinion of the court, Sir, only confirms the im- 
 pression confidently entertained with respect to your con- 
 duct on the occasion, to which it refers. 
 I have the honour to be respectfully, 
 
 Sir, your ob't serv't, 
 William M. Cranf, Esq. PAUL HAMILTON. 
 
 of the navy, Boston- 
 
 CONSTITUTION AND GUERRIERE. 
 
 U. S. Frigate Constitution, off Boston Light, 
 Sir, August 30, 1812. 
 
 I have the honour to inform you that on the 19th inst. at 
 1 P. M. being in lat. 41 o 42/ and long. 55 o 48/, with 
 the Constitution under my command, a sail was discovered 
 
8 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 from the mast head|bearing E. by S. or E. S. E. but at such a 
 distance we could not tell what she was. All sail was in- 
 stantly made in chase, and soon found we came up with her. 
 At 3 P. M. could plainly see, that she was a ship on the 
 starboard tack under easy sail, close on a wind ; at \ past 3 
 P.M. made her out to be a frigate ; continued the chase un- 
 til we were within about three miles, when I ordered the 
 light sails to be taken in, the courses hauled up, and the 
 ship cleared for action. At this time the chase had backed 
 his maintop-sail, waiting for us to come down. As soon as 
 the Constitution was ready for action, I bore down with in- 
 tention to bring him to close action immediately ; but on 
 our coming within gun-shot she gave us a broadside and 
 filed away, and wore, giving us a broadside on the other 
 tack, but without effect ; her shot falling short. She con- 
 tinued wearing and maneuvering for about three quarters 
 of an hour, to get a raking position, but finding she could 
 not, she bore vip, and run under her top-sails and gib, with 
 the wind on her quarter. I immediately made sail to bring 
 the ship up with her, and five minutes before 6 P. M. be- 
 ing along side within half pistol-shot, we commenced a 
 heavy fire from all our guns, double shotted with round 
 and grape, and so well directed were they, and so warmly 
 kept up, that in 15 minutes his mizen mast went by the 
 board and his main yard in the slings and the hull, rigging, 
 and sails very much torn to pieces. The fire was kept up 
 with equal warmth for 15 minutes longer, when his main- 
 mast and foremast went, taking with them every spar, ex- 
 cepting the bowsprit. On seeing this we ceased firing, so 
 that in thirty minutes after, we got fairly along side the 
 enemy ; she surrendered, and had not a spar standing, and 
 her hull below and above water so shattered, that a few 
 more broadsides must have carried her down. 
 
 After informing you, that so fine a ship as the Guerriere, 
 commanded by an able and experienced officer, had been 
 totally dismasted, and otherwise cut to pieces so as to make 
 her not worth towing into port, in the short space of thir- 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 9 
 
 ty minutes, you can have no doubt of the gallantry and 
 good conduct of the officers and ship's company I have 
 the honour to command ; it only remains therefore for me 
 to assure you, that they all fought with great bravery ; and 
 it gives me great pleasure to say, that from the smallest 
 boy in the ship to the oldest seaman, not a look of fear was 
 seen. They all went into action, giving three cheers, and 
 requested to be laid close along side the enemy. 
 
 Enclosed I have the honour to send you a list of killed 
 and wounded on board the Constitution, and a report of the 
 damages she has sustained ; also a list of killed and woun- 
 ded on board the enemy, with his quarter bill, &c. 
 
 I have the honour to be, with very great respect, 
 
 Sir, your ob't serv't, 
 
 Hon. Paul Hamilton, &c. ISAAC HULL. 
 
 Return of killed and wounded on board the U. S. a 'gate Consti- 
 tution, Isaac Hull Esq. Captain, in the action icith H. M. ship 
 Guerriere, Jas. R. Dacres, Esq, Captain, on the 20th day of 
 Aug. 1812. 
 
 Killed — Wm. S. Bush,* 1st Lt. marines; Jacob Sago, 
 seaman ; Robert Brice, do ; John Brown, do. ; James Read 
 do.; Caleb Smith, do.; James Ashford, do. 
 
 Wounded — Chas. Morris, 1st Lt. dangerously ; John C. 
 Alwyn, master, slightly ; Richard Dunn, seaman, danger- 
 ously ; Geo. Reynolds, ord. seaman, dangerously ; Daniel 
 Lewis, do. dangerously ; Owen Taylor, do. dangerously ; 
 Francis Mullen, marine, slightly. 
 
 Recapitulation. 
 Killed — One Lt. of marines and six seamen. — Total kil- 
 led 7. 
 
 * Lieut. William S. Bush was a native of Wilmington (Delaware.) His 
 father, Capt. John Bush was a meritorious officer in the revolutionary war, 
 and he was the nephew of the brave Major Lewis Bush, who fell supporting 
 the cause of his country at the battle of Brandy wine. 
 
 4 
 
10 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 Wounded— Two officers, four seamen and one marine. 
 Total wounded 7. 
 
 Total killed and wounded, 14. 
 
 ISAAC HULL, Capt. 
 
 U. S. frigate Constitution, T. J. CHEW, Purser. 
 
 Aug. 21, 1812. 
 
 List of killed and xcounded on board the Guerriere. 
 
 Killed— H. Ready, 2d Lt. and fourteen petty officers, 
 seamen and marines. 
 
 Wounded— James R. Dacres, Capt. ; Bart. Kent, Lt. ; 
 Robert Scott, master ; Samuel Grant, master's mate ; James 
 Enslie, midshipman, and fifty seven petty officers, seamen 
 
 and marines. 
 
 Missing— Lt. James Pullman, Mr. Gaston, and twenty 
 
 two seamen and marines. 
 
 The following particulars of the action, are communica- 
 ted by an officer of the Constitution, and may be consider- 
 ed as essentially correct. 
 
 Lat. 41 o 42/ N. Ion. 55 o 33/ W. Thursday, Aug. 20, 
 fresh breeze fromN. W. and cloudy ; at 2 P. M. discover- 
 ed a vessel to the southward, made all sail in chase ; at 3, 
 perceived the chase to be a ship on the starboard tack, close 
 hauled to the wind ; hauled S. S. W. ; at | past 3 made 
 out the chase to be a frigate ; at 4, coming up with the 
 chase very fast ; at \ before 5, the chase laid her main-top- 
 sail to the mast ; took in our top-gallant-sails, stay-sails 
 and flying-gib ; took a second reef in the top-sails, hauled 
 the courses up, sent the royal yards down, and got all clear 
 for action ; beat to quarters, on which the crew gave three 
 cheers ; at 5 the chase hoisted three English ensigns, at 5 
 minutes past 5 the enemy commenced firing ; at 20 minutes 
 past 5, set our colours, one at each mast-head, and one at 
 the mizen-peak, and began firing on the enemy, and con- 
 tinued to fire occasionally, he wearing very often, and we 
 maneuvering to close with him, and avoid being raked ; 
 

NAVAL MONUMENT. 11 
 
 at 6 set the main-top-gallant sail, the enemy having bore 
 up ; at 5 minutes past six, brought the enemy to close ac- 
 tion, standing before the wind ; at 15 minutes past 6, the 
 enemy's mizen-mast fell over on the starboard side ; at 20 
 minutes past 6, finding we were drawing ahead of the en- 
 emy, luffed short round his bows, to rake him ; at 25 min- 
 utes past 6, the enemy fell on board of us, his bow-sprit 
 foul of our mizen rigging. We prepared to board, but 
 immediately after, his fore and main mast went by the 
 board, and it was deemed unnecessary. Our cabin had ta- 
 ken lire from his guns ; but soon extinguished, without 
 material injury ; at 30 minutes past 6, shot ahead of the 
 enemy, when the firing ceased on both sides ; he making 
 the signal of submission by firing a gun to leeward ; set 
 fore-sail and main-sail, and hauled to the eastward to re- 
 pair damage ; all our braces and much of our standing and 
 running rigging and some of our spars being shot away. 
 At seven wore ship, and stood under the lee of the prize — 
 sent our boat on board, which returned at 8, with Capt. 
 Dacres, late of his Majesty's ship Guerriere, mounting 49 
 carriage guns, and manned with 302 men ; got our boats 
 out and kept them employed in removing the prisoners 
 and baggage from the prize to our own ship. Sent a sur- 
 geon's mate to assist in attending the wounded ; wearing 
 ship occasionally to keep in the best position to receive 
 the boats. At 20 minutes before 2 A. M. discovered a sail 
 off the larboard beam, standing to the south ; saw all clear 
 for another action : at 3 the sail stood off again ; at day 
 light was hailed by the Lieut, on board the prize, who in- 
 formed he had four feet of water in the hold, and that she 
 was in a sinking condition ; all hands employed in removing 
 the prisoners, and repairing our own damage through the 
 remainder of the day. Friday the 21st commenced with 
 light breezes from the northward, and pleasant ; our boats 
 and crew still employed as before. At 3 P. M. made the 
 signal of recal for our boats, having received all the pris- 
 oners. They immediately left her on fire, and \ past 3 she 
 
12 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 blew up. Our loss in the action was 7 killed and 7 woun- 
 ded ; among the former, Lieut. Bush of marines, and 
 among the latter, Lt. Morris, severely ; and Mr. Aylwin, 
 the master slightly. On the part of the enemy, 15 men 
 killed, and 64 wounded. Among the former, Lt. Ready, 
 2d of the ship ; among the latter, Capt. Dacres, Lt. Kent, 
 1st, Mr. Scott, master, and master's mate. 
 
 During her short cruise, the Constitution, beside the 
 above gallant achievement, has destroyed two English 
 brigs ; one with lumber, the other in ballast, and recaptur- 
 ed the Adeline of Bath, from London, with dry goods, 
 which had been taken by the British sloop Avenger, Capt. 
 Johnston, of 16 guns ; — and which Capt. Hull manned and 
 ordered for America. 
 
 When the Gucrriere first came in sight of the Constitution^ 
 she stood toward her as if with an intention of bringing 
 her to immediate action, and the latter put herself under 
 easy sail for her reception : but after approaching sufficient- 
 ly near, to observe her with accuracy, she bore up, stood 
 broad off from the wind, and seemed inclined to take French 
 leave ; Capt. Hull was compelled to crowd a press of sail 
 upon his ship in order to overtake his antagonist, who 
 when he got within gun-shot, commenced a cannonade ; 
 not a sun was returned from the Constitution, whose men 
 were coolly turned up to reef topsails, send down top-gal- 
 lant yards and swing the lower yards with chains ; this bu- 
 siness being effected with deliberation and precision under 
 a galling fire from the enemy, and without herself return- 
 ing a single shot, the Constitution was ranged along side of 
 the enemy, and her fire opened with such terrible effect, 
 that in 25 minutes the Gucrriere was demolished ! 
 
 When the Giterriere J s mizen mast was shot away, Capt. 
 H. in the enthusiasm of the moment, swung his hat round 
 his head, and in true sailor's phraze, exclaimed, " Huzza ! 
 my boys ! wc have made a brig of her ! " 
 
 It is well known that when Lieut. Bush of the marines 
 received his mortal wound, the Guerriere's bowsprit was 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 13 
 
 engaged in the mizen rigging of the Constitution, and he 
 was on the quarter for the purpose of boarding. Lieut. 
 Morris was in the same situation, and received a musket 
 ball through his body. Capt. Hull was about joining them 
 for the same purpose, and when stepping upon the arm- 
 chest, he was drawn back by a sailor, who begged he would 
 not get up there unless he took off those swabs, pointing to his 
 epaulets. At that moment the two ships were so near to- 
 gether, that one of our sailors, having discharged his board- 
 ing pistol, and missed his object, threw the pistol itself, 
 and struck him in the breast. 
 
 The flag being shot away from the Constitution' 1 s main-top- 
 gallant mast head, John Hogan, a young sailor, ascended 
 amid a shower of bullets and lashed it to the mast. This 
 brave fellow enjoys a pension for his intrepidity. 
 
 Lieutenant, (now Capt.) Morris, has since been promot- 
 ed to the command of the frigate Mams, of 32 guns. He 
 has ever been distinguished in the navv for his unremitted 
 application in the acquirement of nautical information ; for 
 activity, intelligence, and zeal in the faithful discharge of 
 his duty. His gallant conduct, while under Commodore 
 Preble, in the Tripolitan war, gained him the confidence of 
 his commander, the admiration of his companions in 
 arms, and the applause of his countrymen. He was the 
 first man who gained the deck of the frigate Philadelphia, 
 on that ever memorable night, when under the batteries of 
 the enemy, she was wrapt in flames by the Spartan band, 
 under Lieut. Decatur ; for which brilliant exploit the Pres- 
 ident most justly gave the latter a Captain's commission. 
 When the Constitution made her escape from the British 
 squadron off the Capes of the Chesapeake — to Lieut. Mor-> 
 ris did the magnanimous Hull give much of the credit ac- 
 quired in that masterly retreat. Those who personally 
 know the sterling worth and intrinsic merit of Capt. Mor- 
 ris, cannot but rejoice that his manly virtues and naval tal- 
 ents have now a more ample field of exertion in his coun- 
 try's cause. 
 
U NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 Capt. Hull, in a letter to the Secretary of the navy, 
 passed a handsome eulogium of Capt Morris, in the follow- 
 ing passage : "I cannot but make you acquainted with the 
 very great assistance I received from that valuable officer, 
 Lieut. Morris, in bringing the ship into action, and in work- 
 ing her whilst along side the enemy ; and I am extremely 
 sorry to state, that he is badly wounded, being shot through 
 the- body. We have yet hopes of his recovery, when, I am 
 sure, he will receive the gratitude of his country for this 
 and the many gallant acts he has done in the service." 
 
 WASP AND FROLIC. 
 
 OFFICIAL LETTER OF CAPT. JONES. 
 
 Copy of a letter from Capt. Jones, late of the United States' sloop 
 of war, the Wasp, to the Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 Sir, N. York, 24 Mv. 1812. 
 
 I here avail myself of the first opportunity of inform- 
 ing you of the occurrences of our cruise, which terminated 
 in the capture of the Wasp on the 18th of October, by the 
 Poictiers of seventy four guns, while a wreck, from dama- 
 ges received in an engagement with the British sloop of 
 war Frolic, of twenty two guns, sixteen of them 32lb. car- 
 ronades, and four twelve pounders on the main deck, and 
 two twelve pounders, carronades, on the top-gallant fore- 
 castle, making her superior in force to us by four twelve 
 pounders. The Frolic had struck to us, and was taken pos- 
 session of about two hours before our surrendering to the 
 Poictiers. 
 
 We had left the Delaware on the 13th. The 15th had a 
 heavy gale, in which we lost our jib-boom and two men. 
 Half past eleven, on the night of the 17th, in latitude 37 o 
 north, and longitude 65 o west, we saw several sail, two of 
 them appearing very large ; we stood from them some time, 
 then shortened sail, and steered the remainder of the night 
 the course wc had perceived them on. At day-light on 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 15 
 
 Sunday the 18th, we saw them ahead ; gave chase, and soon 
 discovered them to be a convoy of six sail under the pro- 
 tection of a sloop of war : four of them large ships, mount- 
 ing from sixteen to eighteen guns. At 32 minutes past elev- 
 en A. M. we engaged the sloop of war, having first receiv- 
 ed her fire, at the distance of fifty or sixty yards, which 
 space we gradually lessened until we laid her on board, af- 
 ter a well supported fire of 43 minutes ; and although so 
 near while loading the last broadside that our rammers were 
 shoved against the sides of the enemy, our men exhibited 
 the same alacrity which they had done during the whole of 
 the action. They immediately surrendered upon our gain- 
 ing their forecastle, so that no loss was sustained on either 
 side after boarding. 
 
 Our main-top mast was shot away between 4 and 5 min- 
 utes from the commencement of the firing, and falling to- 
 gether with the main topsail yard across the larboard fore 
 and fore topsail braces, rendered our head yards unmanage- 
 able the remainder of the action. At eight minutes the 
 gaft and mizen top-gallant mast came down, and at 20 min- 
 utes from the beginning of the action every brace and most 
 of the rigging was shot away. A few minutes after separa- 
 ting from the Frolic, both her masts fell upon deck ; the 
 mainmast going close by the deck, and the foremast twelve 
 or fifteen feet above it. 
 
 The courage and exertions of the officers and crew fully 
 answered my expectations and wishes. Lieut. Biddle's ac- 
 tive conduct contributed much to our success, by the exact 
 attention paid to every department during the engagement, 
 and the animating example he afforded the crew by his in- 
 trepidity. Lieutenants Rodgers, Booth, and Mr. Rapp, 
 shewed, by the incessant fire from their divisions, that they 
 were not to be surpassed in resolution or skill. Mr. Knight, 
 and every other officer, acted with a courage and promp- 
 titude highly honourable, and I trust have given assurance 
 that they may be relied on whenever their services may be 
 required. 
 
1G NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 I could not ascertain the exact loss of the enemy, as ma- 
 ny of the dead lay buried under the masts and spars that 
 had fallen upon deck, which two hours' exertion had not 
 sufficiently removed. Mr. Biddle, who had charge of the 
 Frolic, states, that from what he saw, and from information 
 from the officers, the number of killed must have been 
 about 30, and that of the wounded about 40 or 50. Of the 
 killed is her first lieutenant, and sailing master ; of the 
 wounded, Capt. Whinyates, and the second lieutenant. 
 
 We had 5 killed and 5 wounded, as per list : the wound- 
 ed are recovering. Lieut. Claxton, who was confined by 
 sickness, left his bed a little previous to the engagement ; 
 and though too indisposed to be at his division, remained 
 upon deck, and showed by his composed manner of noting 
 its incidents, that we had lost by his illness the services of 
 a brave officer. I am respectfully yours, 
 
 Hon. Paul Hamilton, JACOB JONES .* 
 
 Sec'y of Navy. 
 
 It is on the navy of the United States that our national 
 pride, and our hopes of glory repose. We have never 
 been able to look without the highest satisfaction on that 
 fearless profession, the nursery of generous courage, and of 
 high-minded patriotism — to whose followers every form of 
 danger is alike familiar and without terror. 
 
 Nor toil, nor hazard, nor distress, appear 
 To sink the seamen with unmanly fear ; 
 Who from the face of danger strives to turn, 
 Indignant from the social hour they spurn ; 
 No future ills, unknown, their souls appal, 
 They hiiow no danger, or they scorn it all. 
 
 But we have no language to convey our admiration of 
 
 the young and gallant spirits, who, in the first essays of their 
 
 strength, have triumphed over the veteran science, and the 
 
 disciplined valour, of the habitual conquerors on the ocean. 
 
 They have retrieved all our disasters ; they have shed new 
 
 * Capt. Jones is a native of Kent county, state of Delaware. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 17 
 
 lustre on our arms, and sustained, even in the midst of 
 mortifying reverses, the loftiest tone of national enthusi- 
 asm. Their only anxiety has been to find the enemies of 
 their country ; and, wherever they have met them, their 
 valour has rendered victory certain, whilst their skill has 
 made it easy. 
 
 Devoted, as is this journal,* to all that can add honour 
 or distinction to the national character, it has no fairer pa- 
 ges than those which record instances of bravery like the 
 following, the account of which we have rendered scrupu- 
 lously minute and authentic. 
 
 The United States' sloop of war the Wasp, commanded 
 by Captain Jacob Jones, was cruising in long. 65 o W. and 
 lat. 37 oN. the track of vessels passing from Bermuda to 
 Halifax, when, on Saturday, the 17th of October, about 
 eleven o'clock, in a clear moon-light evening, she f®und 
 herself near five strange sail, steering eastward. As some 
 of them seemed to be ships of war, it was thought better to 
 get farther from them. The Wasp therefore haled her 
 wind, and having reached a few miles to windward, so as 
 to escape or fight as the occasion might require, followed 
 the strange sail through the night. At daybreak, on Sun- 
 day morning, Capt. Jones found that they were six large 
 merchant ships, under convoy of a sloop of war which pro- 
 ved to be the Frolic, Capt. Whinyates, from Honduras to 
 England, with a convoy, strongly armed and manned, hav- 
 ing all forty or fifty men ; and two of them mounting six- 
 teen guns each. He determined, however, to attack them, 
 and as there was a heavy swell of the sea, and the weather 
 boisterous, got down his top-gallant yards, close reefed the 
 topsails, and prepared for action. About eleven o'clock the 
 Frolic showed Spanish colours ; and the Wasp immediate- 
 ly displayed the American ensign and pendant. At thirty- 
 two minutes past eleven, the Wasp came down to wind- 
 ward, on her larboard side, within about sixty yards, and 
 hailed. The enemy hauled down the Spanish colours, 
 * Port Folio. 
 
 5 
 
18 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 hoisted the British ensign, and opened a fire of cannon and 
 musketry. This the Wasp instantly returned ; and, com- 
 ing nearer to the enemy, the action became close, and with- 
 out intermission. In four or five minutes the main topmast 
 of the Wasp was shot away, and, falling down with the 
 main topsail yard across the larboard, fore and fore topsail 
 braces, rendered her head yards unmanageable during the 
 rest of the action. In two or three minutes more her gaft 
 and mizen top-gallant sail were shot away. Still she con- 
 tinued a close and constant fire. The sea was so rough 
 that the muzzels of the Wasp's guns were frequently in the 
 water. The Americans, therefore, fired as the ship's side 
 was going down, so that their shot went either on the ene- 
 my's deck or below it, while the English fired as the vessel 
 rose, and thus her balls chiefly touched the rigging, or 
 were thrown away. The Wasp now shot ahead of the 
 Frolic, raked her, and then resumed her position on her 
 larboard bow. Her fire was now obviously attended with 
 such success, and that of the Frolic so slackened, that Capt. 
 Jones did not wish to board her, lest the roughness of the 
 sea might endanger both vessels ; but, in the course of a 
 few minutes more, every brace of the Wasp was shot away, 
 and her riffffins; so much torn to pieces, that he was afraid 
 that his masts, being unsupported, would go by the board, 
 and the Frolic be able to escape. He thought, therefore, 
 the best chance of securing her was to board, and decide 
 the contest at once. With this view, he wore ship, and, 
 running down upon the enemy, the vessels struck each oth- 
 er, the Wasp's side rubbing along the Frolic's bow, so that 
 her jib-boom came in between the main and mizen rigging 
 of the Wasp, directly over the heads of Capt. Jones and 
 the first Lieutenant, Mr. Biddle, who were at that moment 
 standing together near the capstan. The Frolic lay so fair 
 for raking, that they decided not to board until they had 
 given a closing broadside. Whilst they Avere loading for 
 this, so near were the two vessels, that the rammers of the 
 Wasp were pushed against the Frolic's sides, and two of 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 19 
 
 her guns went through the bow ports of the Frolic, and 
 swept the whole length of her deck. At this moment, Jack 
 Lang.,* a seaman of the Wasp, a gallant fellow, who had 
 been once impressed by a British man of war, jumped on 
 his gun with his cutlass, and was springing on board the 
 Frolic : Capt. Jones, wishing to fire again before boarding 
 called him down ; but his impetuosity could not be re- 
 strained, and he was already on the bowsprit of the Frolic, 
 when, seeing the ardour and enthusiasm of the Wasp's crew, 
 Lieut. Biddle mounted on the hammoc cloth to board. At 
 this signal the crew followed ; but Lieut. Biddle's feet got 
 entangled in the rigging of the enemy's bowsprit, and mid- 
 shipman Baker, in his ardor to get onboard, laying hold of 
 his coat, he fell back on the Wasp's deck. He sprang up, 
 and as the next swell of the sea brought the Frolic nearer, 
 he got on her bowsprit, where Lang and another seaman 
 were already. He passed them on the forecastle, and was sur- 
 prised at seeing not a single man alive on the Frolic's deck, 
 except the seaman at the wheel and three officers. The deck 
 was slippery with blood, and strewed with the bodies of the 
 dead. As he went forward, the Captain of the Frolic, with 
 two other officers, who were standing on the quarter deck, 
 threw down their swords, and made an inclination of their 
 bodies, denoting that they had surrendered. At this mo- 
 ment the colors were still flying, as, probably, none of the 
 seamen of the Frolic would dare to go into the rigging for 
 fear of the musketry of the Wasp. Lieut. Biddle, there- 
 fore, jumped into the rigging himself, and hauled down the 
 British ensign, and possession was taken of the Frolic in 43 
 minutes after the first fire. She was in a shocking condi- 
 tion ; the birth deck, particularly, was crowded with dead, 
 and wounded, and dying ; there being but a small propor- 
 tion of the Frolic's crew who had escaped. Capt. Jones 
 instantly sent on board his surgeon's mate, and all the blan- 
 kets of the Frolic were brought from the slop room .or the 
 
 * John Lang is a native of New Brunswick, in New Jersey. We men- 
 tion with great pleasure, the name of this brave American seaman, as a 
 proof that conspicuous valor is confined to no rank in the naval service. 
 
20 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 comfort of the wounded. To increase this confusion, both 
 the Frolic's masts soon fell, covering the dead and every 
 thing on deck, and she lay a complete wreck. 
 
 It now appears that the Frolic mounted sixteen 321b, car- 
 ronades, four Impounders on the main deck, and two 121b. 
 carronades. She was, therefore, superior to the Wasp, by 
 exactly four twelve pounders. The number of men on 
 board, as stated by the officers of the Frolic, was one hun- 
 dred and ten — the number of seamen on board the Wasp, 
 was one hundred and two ; but it could not be ascertain- 
 ed, whether in this one hundred and ten, were included 
 mariners and officers ; for the Wasp had, besides her one 
 hundred and two men, officers and marines, making the 
 whole crew about one hundred and thirty five. — What how- 
 ever, is decisive, as to their comparative force is, that the 
 officers of the Frolic acknowledged that they had as many 
 men as they knew what to do with, and, in fact, the Wasp 
 could have spared fifteen men. There was, therefore, on 
 the most favorable view, at least an equality of men, and 
 an inequality of four guns. The disparity of loss was 
 much greater. The exact number of killed and wounded 
 on board the Frolic could not be precisely determined ; 
 but from the observations of our officers, and the declara- 
 tions of those of the Frolic, the number could not be less 
 than about thirty killed, including two officers ; and of the 
 wounded, between forty and fifty ; the Captian and second 
 Lieutenant being of the number. The Wasp had five men 
 killed, and five slightly wounded. 
 
 All hands were now employed in clearing the deck, bu- 
 rying the dead, and taking care of the wounded, when 
 Captain Jones sent orders to Lieutenant Biddle to proceed 
 to Charlestown, or any southern port of the United States; 
 and, as there was a suspicious sail to windward, the Wasp 
 would continue her cruise. The ships then parted. The 
 suspicious sail was now coming down very fast. At first it 
 was supposed that she was one of the convoy, who had all 
 fled during the engagement, and who now came for the pur- 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 21 
 
 pose of attacking the prize. The guns of the Frolic were, 
 therefore, loaded, and the ship cleared for action ; but the 
 enemy, as she advanced, proved to be a seventy-four, the 
 Poictiers, Captian Beresford. She fired a shot over the Frol- 
 ic ; passed her ; overtook the Wasp, the disabled state of 
 whose rigging prevented her from escaping ; and then re- 
 turned to the Frolic, who could, of course, make no re- 
 sistance. The Wasp and Frolic were carried into Bermuda. 
 It is not the least praise due to Capt. Jones, that his ac- 
 count of this gallant action, is perfectly modest and unos- 
 tentatious. On his own share in the capture, it is unneces- 
 sary to add any thing. " The courage and exertion of the 
 officers and crew," he observes, u fully answered my ex- 
 pectations and wishes. Lieutenant Biddle's active conduct 
 contributed much to our success, by the exact attention paid 
 to every department, during the engagement, and the ani- 
 mating example he afforded the crew by his intrepidity. 
 Lieutenants Rodgers and Booth, and Mr. Rapp, showed by 
 the incessant lire from their divisions, that they were not to 
 be surpassed in resolution or skill. Mr. Knight and every 
 other officer, acted with a courage and promptitude highly 
 honourable. Lieutenant Claxton, who was confined by 
 sickness, left his bed a little previous to the engagement ; 
 and, though too weak to be at his division, remained upon 
 deck, and showed, by his composed manner of noting its 
 incidents, that we had lost, by his illness, the services of a 
 brave officer." 
 
 UNITED STATES AND MACEDONIAN. 
 
 Message of the President of the United States, communicating to 
 congress the official letters of Captains Decatur and Jones. 
 
 To the Senate and House of Representatives of the U. S. 
 I transmit to Congress a copy of a letter to the Secreta- 
 ry of the navy, from Capt. Decatur, of the frigate United 
 States, reporting his combat and capture of the British frig- 
 ate Macedonian. 
 
22 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 Too much praise cannot be bestowed on that officer and 
 his companions on board, for the consummate skill and con- 
 spicuous valour by which this trophy has been added to the 
 naval arms of the United States. 
 
 I transmit also a letter* from Capt Jones, who command- 
 ed the sloop of war Wasp, reporting his capture of the Brit- 
 ish sloop of war, the Frolic, after a close action, in which 
 other brilliant titles will be seen to the public admiration 
 and praise. 
 
 A nation feeling what it owes to itself, and its citizens, 
 could never abandon to arbitrary violence on the ocean, a 
 class of men, which gives such examples of capacity and 
 courage, in defending their rights on that element ; exam- 
 ples, which ought to impress On the enemy, however brave 
 and powerful, a preference of justice and peace to hostility 
 against a country whose prosperous career may be accelera- 
 ted, but cannot be prevented by the assaults made on it. 
 
 JAMES MADISON. 
 Washington, Dec. 11, 1812. 
 
 COBIMODORE DECATUR'S OFFICIAL LETTER TO THE 
 SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. 
 
 U. S. ship, United States, at sea. 
 Sir, Oct. 30, 1812. 
 
 I have the honour to inform you, that on the 25th 
 inst. being in latitude 29 o N. longitude 29 o 30/ W. we 
 fell in with, and after an action of an hour and a half, cap- 
 tured his Britannic Majesty's ship Macedonian, commanded 
 by Captain John Carden, and mounting 49 carriage guns, 
 (the odd gun shifting.) She is a frigate of the largest class 
 two years old, four months out of dock, and reputed one 
 of the best sailers in the British service. The enemy, be- 
 ing to windward, had the advantage of engaging us at his 
 own distance, which was so great, that for the first half 
 hour, we did not use our carronades, and at.no moment 
 
 * Which see ante, p .14. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 23 
 
 was he within the complete effect of our musketry and 
 grape ; to this circumstance, and a heavy swell, which was- 
 on at the time, I ascribe the unusual length of the action. 
 
 The enthusiasm of every officer, seaman and marine on 
 board this ship, on discovering the enemy — their steady 
 conduct in battle, and precision of their fire, could not be 
 surpassed. Where all met my fullest expectations, it would 
 be unjust in me to discriminate. Permit me, however, to 
 recommend to your particular notice, my first Lieutenant, 
 William H. Allen. He has served with me upwards of five 
 years, and to his unremitted exertions in disciplining the 
 crew, is to be imputed the obvious superiority of our gun- 
 nery exhibited in the result of this contest. 
 
 Subjoined is a list of the killed and wounded on both 
 sides. Our loss compared with that of the enemy, will ap- 
 pear small. Amongst our wounded you will observe the 
 name of Lieut. Funk, who died a few hours after the ac- 
 tion ; he was an officer of great gallantry and promise, and 
 the service has sustained a severe loss in his death. 
 
 The Macedonian lost her mizen mast, fore and main top- 
 masts and main yard, and was much cut up in her hull. — 
 The damage sustained by this ship was not such as to render 
 her return into port necessary ; and had I not deemed it im- 
 portant that we should see our prize in, should have contin- 
 ued our cruise. 
 
 With the highest consideration and respect, I am, sir, 
 your obedient humble servant, 
 
 Hon. Paul Hamilton. STEPHEN DECATUR. 
 
 List of killed and wounded on board the United States. 
 
 Killed — Thomas Brown, N. Y. seaman ; Henry Shep- 
 herd, Philadelphia, do. ; William Murry, Boston, a boy ; 
 Michael 0. Donnel, N. Y. private marine ; John Roberts, 
 do. do. 
 
 Wounded — John Musser Funk, Philadelphia, Lieuten- 
 ant ; John Archibald, N. Y. carpenter's crew ; Christian 
 Clark, do. seaman ; George Christopher, do. ord. seaman ; 
 
24 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 George Mahar, do. do. ; Wm. Lumes, do. d«. ; Jolin Lator, 
 do. private marine. 
 
 On board the Macedonian, there were thirty-six killed, 
 and sixty-eight wounded : among the former were the boat- 
 swain, one master's mate and the school-master ; of the lat- 
 ter, were the first and third Lieutenants, one master's mate 
 and two midshipmen. 
 
 At a meeting of the young men of Lancaster, Pa. the fol- 
 lowing resolution, honorary to Lieutenant Funk, was passed: 
 
 Whereas, with the deepest regret we have been apprised 
 of the untimely death of our friend and fellow citizen, Lt. 
 John Musser Funk, who fell gloriously fighting in the cause 
 of his country, in the engagement between the frigate United 
 States and the Macedonian, which ended in the brilliant vic- 
 tory of the United States over the British frigate. 
 
 Resolved, That as a testimony of our grief at the loss of 
 the companion of our youth, our respect for his virtues, 
 and the high estimation in which we hold his memory, we 
 will wear crape on the left arm for the space of thirty days. 
 
 John Archibald died of his wounds soon after. — He left 
 three children to the mercy of the world and a worthless 
 mother, who had abandoned them. When his father went 
 on board the frigate to claim the wages and property of his 
 son, an inquiry into the circumstances of the family took 
 place, and a plan was agreed upon by the seamen for the re- 
 lief of the orphans, and two dollars apiece was immediate- 
 ly subscribed, amounting to about eight hundred, for the 
 maintenance and education of the bereaved infants to be 
 placed in the hands of suitable trustees. 
 
 ADDRESS OF THANKS. 
 
 The father of the deceased John Archibald, who fell in 
 the gallant action on board the United States, under the com- 
 mand of the heroic Commodore Stephen Decatur, avails 
 himself of thus publicly returning his most sincere thanks 
 to the commander for his humanity and benevolence to him, 
 and also to his gallant officers and seamen, many of whom, 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 25 
 
 are personally acquainted with the deceased's father, for 
 having contributed largely and honourably towards the 
 support of the said deceased's three orphan children ; which 
 clearly demonstrates that the American seamen are posses- 
 sed both of courage and humanity. 
 
 Captain Carden spoke in the highest terms of approbation 
 of the conduct of Commodore Decatur and his officers. 
 All the private property of the officers and men on board 
 the Macedonian was given up. That claimed by Capt. Car- 
 den, (including a band of musick and several casks of wine) 
 valued at about 800 dollars, the Commodore — whose soul is 
 as liberal as brave — paid him for. Generosity could not 
 have been more properly applied. Capt. Carden has been 
 distinguished for his civilities to such Americans as he met 
 at sea before the war. 
 
 The frigate United Slates is 176 feet deck, and 42 feet 
 beam — her gun deck is 6 feet 6 inches high — she has 15 
 port holes on a side — and carries 24 pounders on her main 
 deck. 
 
 The Macedonian, is 166 feet deck — 42 feet 8 inches beam 
 — her gun deck is 6 feet 10 inches high — she has 15 port 
 holes on a side — and carries 18 pounders on her main deck. 
 
 The Macedonian! is said to be the best model for a frio-ate, 
 and was accounted the most completely fitted vessel in the 
 service. 
 
 An officer of the United States frigate, speaking of Deca- 
 tur's victory, says, 
 
 " I am well aware it will be said, the Macedonian is a lit- 
 tle ship, with five guns less than the United States, and a hun- 
 dred men less, and carries lighter metal &c. Well, all this 
 is true — she is inferior in all these, but she is just such a ship 
 as the English have achieved all their single ship victories 
 in ; it was in such a ship that Sir Robert Barlow took the 
 Africaine, that Sir Michael Seymour took the Brune, and 
 afterwards the Niemen, that Capt. Milne took the Vengeance, 
 Capt. Cooke the La Forte, Capt. Lavie, the Guerriere, Capt. 
 Rowley, the Venus, and God knows how many others : — • 
 
 6 
 
26 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 She is in tonnage, men and guns, such a ship as the Eng- 
 lish prefer to all others, and have, till the Guerriere's loss, 
 always thought a match for any single decked ship afloat. 
 You will observe the ship was just out of dock, her masts 
 were better than the Guerriere's. She had taken no prizes ; 
 her complement was full. She was not built of fir, thirty 
 years ago, as was said of that ship, but of the best English 
 oak, two vears since. 
 
 CONSTITUTION AND JAVA. 
 
 House of Representatives of the United States, 
 
 Monday, February 22, 1813. 
 
 To the Senate and House of Representatives. 
 
 I lay before congress a letter with accompanying docu- 
 ments from Capt. Bainbridge, now commanding the United 
 States frigate "the Constitution," reporting his capture and 
 destruction of the British frigate u Java." The circumstances 
 and the issue of this combat afford another example of the 
 professional skill and heroic spirit which prevail in our nav- 
 al service. The signal display of both by Capt. Bainbridge, 
 his officers and crew, command the highest praise. This 
 being the second instance in which the condition of the cap- 
 tured ship, by rendering it impossible to get her into port, has 
 barred a contemplated reward for successful valor, I recom- 
 mend to the consideration of congress equity and propriety 
 of a general provision, allowing in such cases, both past and 
 future, a fair proportion of the value which would accrue 
 to the captors on the safe arrival and sale of the prize. 
 
 JAMES MADISON. 
 
 U. S. frigate Constitution, St. Salvador, 
 
 Sir, January 3, 1813. 
 
 I have the honour to inform you that on the 29th ult. at 
 
 2 P. M., in south lat. 13 o 6/, and west long. 38 o , and 
 
 about 10 leagues distant from the coast of Brazil, I fell in 
 
 with and captured his B. M. frigate Java, of 49 guns and 
 
NAVAL MONUiMENT. 27 
 
 upwards of 400 men, commanded by Capt. Lambert, a very 
 
 distinguished officer. The action lasted 1 hour 55 min- 
 es 
 
 utes, in which time the enemy was completely dismasted, 
 not having a spar of any kind standing. The loss onboard 
 the Constitution, was 9 killed and 25 wounded, as per en- 
 closed list. The enemy had 60 killed and 101 wounded, 
 certainly, (among the latter Capt. Lambert, mortally) but 
 by the enclosed letter, written on board this ship, by one of 
 the officers of the Java, and accidentally found, it is evident 
 that the enemy's wounded must have been much greater 
 than as above stated, and who must have died of their 
 wounds previously to their being removed. The letter 
 states 60 killed and 170 wounded. ■ 
 
 For further details of the action, I beg leave to refer you 
 to the enclosed extracts from my Journal. The Java had, 
 in addition to her own crew, upwards of one hundred su- 
 pernumerary officers and seamen to join the British ships of 
 war in the East Indies : also Lieutenant General Hislop, 
 appointed to the command of Bombay : Maj. Walker and 
 Capt. Wood of his staff, and Capt. Marshall, master and 
 commander in the British navy, going to the East Indies to 
 take command of a sloop of war there. 
 
 Should I attempt to do justice by representation to the 
 brave and good conduct of all my officers and crew during 
 the action, I should fail in the attempt ; therefore suffice it 
 to say, that the whole of their conduct was such as to merit 
 my highest encomiums. I beg leave to recommend the of- 
 ficers particularly to the notice of the government, as also 
 the unfortunate seamen who were wounded, and the fami- 
 lies of those brave men who fell in the action. 
 
 The great distance from our own coast and the perfect 
 wreck we made the enemy's frigate, forbade every idea of 
 attempting to take her to the United States ; I had there- 
 fore no alternative but burning her, which I did on the 
 31st ult. after receiving all the prisoners and their baggage, 
 which was very hard work, only having one boat left out 
 of eight, and not one left on board the Java. 
 
28 NAVAL MONUiMENT. 
 
 On blowing up the frigate Java, I proceeded to this place, 
 where I have landed all the prisoners on their parole to re- 
 turn to England, and there remain until regularly exchang- 
 ed, and not to serve in their professional capacities in any 
 place, or in any manner whatsoever against the United 
 States of America, until their exchange shall be effected. 
 
 I have the honour to be, &c. 
 • (Signed) W. BAINBRIDGE. 
 
 To the Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 List of killed and tvounded on board the Constitution. 
 
 Killed — Jonas Ongrain, seaman; Joseph Adams, do.; 
 Patrick Conner, do.; Barney Hart, do.; John Cheever, do.; 
 Mark Snow, do.; John D. Allen, do.; Wm. Cooper, do.; 
 Thomas Hanson, private marine. 
 
 Wounded — Wm. Bainbridge, commander, severely ; 
 John C. Ayhvin, lieut. do.; Chas. F. Waldo, master's mate, 
 do.; Peter Woodbury, quarter master, do.; John Clements, 
 seaman, do.; Joseph P. Cheever, do. do.; Nicholas Ven- 
 tram, do. slightly ; Wm. Long, do. dangerously ; Stephen 
 Webb, do. do.; Reuben Sanders, do. do.: Joseph Ward, 
 do. severely ; Wm. Weaden, do. slightly ; Enos Bateman, 
 do. dangerously ; Jas. D. Hammond, do. slightly ; Peter 
 Evans, seaman, severely ; Steven Shepherd, do. slightly ; 
 Abijah Eddy, do. do.; Philip Cook, do. do.; Wm. Brim- 
 blecom, do. severely ; Samuel Brown, ordinary seaman, 
 do.; Daniel Hogan, do. do.; Thomas Williams, 3d seaman, 
 slightly ; John Voyle, do. severely : Anthony Reader, pri- 
 vate marine, slightly ; John Etwell, do. do. 
 
 (Signed) AMOS R. EVANS, Surgeon, 
 
 R. C. LUDLOW, Purser, 
 W. BAINBRIDGE. 
 
 John Cheever was mortally wounded in the late action 
 with the Java. Whilst lying on the deck, apparently dy- 
 ino\the word was passed the enemy had struck. He raised 
 himself up with one hand, gave three cheers, fell back, and 
 expired ! Heroic specimen of the genuine patriotism of 
 Vmerican tars ! ITc had a brother, Joseph P. Cheever. kill- 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 29 
 
 ccl in the same action. They have left an aged an cL helpless 
 mother at Marblehead, who depended entirely on the fruits; 
 of their industry for a subsistence. 
 
 At a public dinner, at the Exchange Coffee house, in Bos- 
 ton, given in honour of Capt. Bainbridge, JVlarch 2, 1813, 
 the Hon. Christopher Gore, president of the day, announ- 
 ced in an affecting and eloquent address, that the money 
 arising from the subscription, which was usually appropri- 
 ated to decorations, had been on this occasion, reserved for 
 the benefit of the widow Cheever, who had lost in the bat- 
 tle with the Java, her only two sons, her stay and support ; 
 and he offered this to the Commodore as an apology for an 
 omission of decorations of the hall, as had been usual, and 
 doubted not it would be acceptable. The Commodore ex- 
 pressed his grateful sense of the compliment implied in the 
 apology ; and all present felt that the compliment was just- 
 ly due. 
 
 Lieut. Aylwin died, at sea, Jan. 28, 1813, on board the 
 U. S. frigate Constitution, of wounds received in the action 
 with the Java. He entered the service about the time war 
 was declared, as a sailing master, and was promoted to a 
 lieutenant for his gallant conduct in the action with the 
 Guerriere. He was an officer of great merit, much esteem- 
 ed by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. In him 
 his country has suffered great loss. He had seen much of 
 the world, and improved his opportunities of observation : 
 possessed a strong mind, and a benevolent disposition. 
 
 In the action with the Guerriere, he stood on an elevated 
 situation by the side of his comrades, Morris and Bush, at 
 the time the two vessels came in contact, and was wounded 
 in the left shoulder by a musket ball. In the late action he 
 commanded the forecastle division ; and his deliberate 
 bravery and marked coolness throughout the contest, gain- 
 ed him the admiration of his commander, and all who had 
 an opportunity of witnessing it. When boarders were cal- 
 led to repel boarders, he mounted the quarter deck ham- 
 mock-cloths ; and, in the act of firing his pistol at the ene- 
 
30 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 my, he received a ball through the same shoulder. Not- 
 withstanding the serious nature of his wound, he continued 
 at his post until the enemy struck. A few days after the ac- 
 tion, although labouring under considerable debility, and 
 the most excruciating pain, he left his bed, and repaired to 
 quarters, when an engagement was expected with a ship, 
 which afterwards proved to be the Hornet. He bore his 
 pain with great and unusual fortitude, and expired without 
 a groan. 
 
 The following is a list of his Britannic Majesty's military 
 and naval officers and crew, paroled at St. Salvador ( Bra- 
 zil) by Commodore William Bainbridge, 3d Jan. 1813. 
 
 1 Lieutenant general, 1 major, 1 captain, military offi- 
 cers ; 1 post captain, 1 master and commandant, 5 lieuten- 
 ants, 3 lieutenants of marines, 1 surgeon, 2 assisting sur- 
 geons, 1 purser, 15 midshipmen, 1 gunner, 1 boatswain, 1 
 master, 1 carpenter, 2 captain's clerks, 38 ; and 323 petty 
 officers, seamen, marines and boys, exclusive of 9 Portu- 
 guese seamen liberated and given up to the governor of St. 
 Salvador, and 3 passengers, private characters, whom the 
 Commodore did not consider prisoners of war, and permit- 
 ted them to land without any restraint. 
 
 EXTRACT FROM COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE'S JOURNAL. 
 
 ''Tuesday December 29, 1812— At 9 A. M. discovered 
 two strange sails on the weather bow. At 10 discovered 
 the strange sails to be ships : one of them stood in for the 
 land, and the other stood off shore, in a direction towards 
 us. At 45 minutes past 10 A. M. we tacked ship to the 
 northward and westward, and stood for the sail standing 
 towards us ; at 1 1 A. M. tacked to the southward and east- 
 ward, hauled up the mainsail and took in the royals. At 
 30 minutes past 11, made the private signal for the day, 
 which was not answered, and then set the mainsail and roy- 
 als to draw the strange sail off from the neutral coast, and 
 separate her from the sail in company. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 31 
 
 " Wednesday, 30 Dec. (nautical time,) lat. 13 o 6/ S. Ion. 
 31 o W. ten leagues from the coast of Brazil, commenced 
 with clear weather and moderate breezes from E. N. E. 
 hoisted our ensign and pendant. At 15 minutes past merid- 
 ian, the ship hoisted her colours, an English ensign, having 
 a signal flying at main. 
 
 " At 26 minutes past 1 P. M. being sufficiently from the 
 land, and finding the ship to be an English frigate, took in 
 the main sail and royals, tacked ship, and stood for the ene- 
 my. At 50 minutes past 1 P. M. the enemy bore down with 
 an intention of raking us, which we avoided by wearing. 
 At 2 P. M. the enemy being within half a mile of us, and to 
 windward, and having hauled down his colours, except the 
 union jack at the mizen mast head, induced me to give or- 
 ders to the officer of the third division to fire a gun ahead of 
 the enemy, to make him shew his colours, which being 
 done, brought on a fire from us of the whole broadside, on 
 which the enemy hoisted his colors, and immediately return- 
 ed our fire. A general action, with round and grape, then 
 commenced ; the enemy keeping at a much greater distance 
 than I wished : but could not bring him to a closer action, 
 without exposing ourselves to several rakes. Considerable 
 manoeuvres were made by both vessels to rake and avoid 
 being raked. The following minutes were taken during 
 the action : 
 
 " At 10 minutes past 2 P. M. commenced the action with- 
 in good grape and canister distance, the enemy to windward, 
 (but much farther than I wished.) At 30 minutes past 2, 
 our wheel was shot entirely away. At 40 minutes past 2, 
 determined to close with the enemy, notwithstanding his ra- 
 king. Set the fore and mainsail, and luffed up close to him. 
 At 50 minutes past 2, the enemy's jib-boom got foul of our 
 mizen rigging. At 3, the head of the enemy's bowsprit 
 and jib-boom shot away by us. At 5 minutes past 3, shot 
 away the enemy's foremast by the board. At 15 minutes 
 past 3, shot away his main topmast just above the cap. At 
 40 minutes past 3, shot away the gaft and spanker boom. 
 
32 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 At 55 minutes past 3, shot away his mizen mast nearly by 
 the board. At 5 minutes past 4, having silenced the fire of 
 the enemy completely, and his colours 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 discovered that the enemy's flag was still flying. 
 Hove to, to repair some of our damage. At 20 minutes 
 past 4, the enemy's mainmast went nearly by the board. 
 At 50 minutes past four, wore ship and stood for the enemy. 
 At 25 minutes past 5, got very close to the enemy in a very 
 effectual raking position, athwart his bows, and was at the 
 very instant of raking him when he most prudently struck 
 his flao- — for had he suffered the broadside to have raked 
 him, his additional loss must have been extremely great, as 
 he laid an unmanageable wreck upon the water." 
 
 The following correspondence exhibits the character of 
 Capt. Cambridge in a light so honourable, and so well cal- 
 culated to exalt the national character, that we are happy 
 in the opportunity of giving it publicity. 
 
 GENERAL HISLOP TO COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 
 
 Dear Sir, St. Salvador, January 3, 1813. 
 
 I am justly penetrated with the fullest sense of your very 
 handsome and kind treatment, ever since the fate of war 
 placed me in your power, and I beg once more to renew to 
 you my sincere acknowledgments for the same. 
 
 Your acquiescence with my request in granting me my 
 parole, with the officers of my staff, added to the obligations 
 I had previously experienced, claims from me this addition- 
 al tribute of my thanks. May I now finally flatter myself, 
 that in the further extension of your generous and humane 
 feelings, in the alleviations of the misfortunes of war, that 
 you will have the goodness to fulfil the only wish and re- 
 quest I am now most anxious to see completed, by enlarg- 
 ing on their parole (on the same conditions you have acced- 
 ed to with respect to myself) all the officers of the Java 
 
NAVAIi MONUMENT. S3 
 
 still on board your ship, a favour I shall never cease duly 
 to appreciate by your acquiescence thereto. 
 
 I have the honour to subscribe myself, dear sir, your 
 most obliged and very humble servant, 
 
 (Signed) T. HISLOP. 
 
 Commodore Bainbridgc. 
 
 ANSWER OF COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 
 
 United States frigate Constitution. 
 Dear Sir, St. Salvador, Jan. 3, 1813. 
 
 I have received your letter of this date conveying, senti- 
 ments of your feelings for my treatment towards you since 
 the fate of war placed you in my power. The kind expres- 
 sions which you have been pleased to use, are justly appre- 
 ciated by me, and far overbalance those common civilities 
 shewn by me, and which are always due to prisoners. I re- 
 gret that the lumbered state of my ship prevented me from 
 making you as comfortable on board, as I sincerely wished 
 to have done. I have complied with your last request, re- 
 specting paroling all the officers of the Java. In doing so, 
 your desire, in addition to my disposition to ameliorate as 
 much as possible the situation of those officers, considerably 
 influenced me. 
 
 Permit me to tender you (notwithstanding our respective 
 countries are at war) assurances of sincere esteem and high 
 respect, and to assure you that I shall feel at all times highly 
 g ratified in hearing of or from you. 
 
 With fervent wishes for the recovery of the gallant Capt. 
 Lambert, I have the honour to subscribe myself, very res- 
 pectfully, &c. 
 
 (Signed) W. BAINBRIDGE. 
 
 Lieut. Gen. Hislop, of the British army. 
 
 GENERAL HISLOP TO COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 
 
 Dear Sir, St. Salvador, Jan. 4. 1.813. 
 
 Allow me once more to express my sincerest acknowl- 
 edgments for this last instance of your kind attention to 
 my wishes, by having complied with my request in behalf 
 
 7 
 
34 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 of the officers of the Java. Lieut. Chads delivered to me 
 your very polite and obliging letter, and be assured that I 
 shall feel no less gratification at all times to hear of and 
 from you, than that which you are so good as to express 
 you will derive in receiving information respecting myself. 
 
 May I request now that you will be so good as to cause 
 to be looked for a small chest, containing articles of plate, 
 more valuable to me on account of having been presented 
 to me by the colony of Demarara, where I commanded for 
 several years. I have the honour to be &c. 
 
 (Signed) T. HISLOP. 
 
 Com. Bainbridge. 
 
 Lieut. Chads presents his compliments to Commodore 
 Bainbridge, and is extremely sorry to inform him, Captain 
 Lambert died a short time since. 
 
 St. Salvador, Monday 1 1 o'clock. 
 
 COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE TO LIEUTENANT CHADS. 
 
 January, 4, 1813. 
 Commodore Bainbridge has learnt with real sorrow the 
 death of Capt. Lambert. Though a political enemy, he 
 could not but greatly'respect him for the brave defence he 
 made with his ship : and Commodore Bainbridge takes this 
 occasion to observe, in justice to Lieut. Chads, who fought 
 the Java after Capt. Lambert was wounded, that he did ev- 
 ery thing for the defence of that ship, which a brave and 
 skilful officer could do, and that further resistance would 
 have been a wanton effusion of human blood. 
 
 Size of the Java. 
 
 The Java is rated in Steel's List a 38 gun frigate. Her re- 
 al force was 28 eighteen pounders on the main deck — 14 
 thirty-two pounders on the quarter deck — 4 thirty-two 
 pounders, and 2 large twelve pounders on the forecastle — 
 and one shifting gun, a twenty-four pounder. 
 
 The British rate their ship from the number of guns on 
 a particular deck ; and a frigate carrying 28 eighteen poun- 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 35 
 
 tiers on her main deck, is regularly called by them a 38, 
 which rate has frequently fifty-two mounted. 
 
 There are on board the Constitution some of the Java's 
 shot, from which it has^ been ascertained, that there is 
 scarcely three pounds difference between her eighteens and 
 the American twenty-fours, so called ; and that the thirty- 
 two pound shot of the Java is heavier than the thirty-two 
 pound shot of the Constitution. 
 
 The officers of the Java, while on board the Constitution, 
 mentioned, that this frigate was formerly the French ship 
 La Renome, taken off Madagascar, May 20, 1811, in com- 
 pany with La Neriede, after a severe action, by the Phoebe, 
 Jlstrea and Galatea. At the time of capture, La Rcnomc 
 mounted 44 guns — the British added five guns. 
 
 HORNET AND BONNE CITOYENNE. 
 
 Capt. Lawrence, while off the harbour of St. Salva- 
 dor, in the Hornet, sent a challenge to Capt. Greene, of 
 the Bonne Citoyenne, to try the superiority of their vessels 
 in action ; which was conveyed through the American Con- 
 sul, as follows : 
 
 " When I last saw you, I stated to you my wish to meet 
 the Bonne Citoyenne, and authorized you to make my wish 
 known to Capt. Greene. I now request you to state to him, 
 that I will meet him whenever he may be pleased to come 
 out, and pledge my honour that neither the Constitution, 
 nor any other American vessel shall interfere. 
 
 " Commodore Bainbriclge, of the Constitution frigate, 
 confirms to me (says the consul) the request of Capt. Law- 
 rence, in these words : — " If Capt. Greene wishes to try 
 equal force, / pledge my honour to give him an opportunity, 
 by being out of the way or not interfering." 
 
S6 naval monument. 
 
 The following letter from Mr. Frederick Landeman, the English 
 Consul to the Jlmencan Consul, conveys Capt. Greene's reply to 
 the challenge. 
 
 Sir, «< Fort de St. Pedro, Dec. 29, 1812. 
 
 I transmitted your letter to me, of yesterday, to Capt. P. 
 B. Greene, to whom the substance is directed ; and, hav- 
 ing received his reply, I herewith insert it verbatim. 
 
 " I hasten to acknowledge the favour of your communi- 
 cation, made to me this morning from Mr. Hill, consul to 
 the United States of America, on the subject of a challenge, 
 stated to have been offered through Mr. Hill, by Captain 
 Lawrence, of the United States sloop of war the Hornet, to 
 myself, as commander of his Britannic Majesty's ship the 
 Bonne Citoycnne, anchored in this port, pledging his honour, 
 as well as that of Commodore Bainbridge, that no advantage 
 shall be taken by the Constitution or any other American 
 vessel whatever on the occasion. I am convinced, sir, if 
 such rencontre were to take place, the result could not be 
 long dubious, and would terminate favourably to the ship 
 which I have the honour to command ; but I am equally 
 convinced that Commodore Bainbridge could not swerve so 
 much from the paramount duty he owes to his country, as 
 to become an inactive spectator, and see a ship, belonging to 
 the very squadron under his orders, fall into the hands of 
 an enemy ; this reason operates powerfully on my mind for 
 not exposing the Bonne Citoyenne to a risk, upon terms so 
 manifestly disadvantageous as those proposed by Commo- 
 dore Bainbridge ; indeed, nothing could give me greater 
 satisfaction than complying with the wishes of Captain 
 Lawrence ; and I earnestly hope that chance will afford him 
 an opportunity of meeting the Bonne Citoycnne under dif- 
 ferent circumstances, to enable him to distinguish himself 
 in the manner he is now so desirous of doing. I further as- 
 sure you, that my ship will, at all time.-;, be prepared, wher- 
 ever she maybe, to repel any attacks made against her, and 
 I shall also act offensively, wherever I judge it proper to do 
 SP,. I am, fir, with great regard, &c." 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 37 
 
 HORNET AND PEACOCK. 
 
 CAPT. LAWRENCE'S LETTER TO THE SECY OF THE NAVT 
 
 U. S. ship Hornet, Holmes' 1 Hole, 
 Sir, March 19, 1813. 
 
 I have the honour to inform you of the arrival at this 
 port of the United States ship Hornet, under my command, 
 from a cruise of 145 days ; and to state to you, that after 
 Commodore Bainbridge left the coast of Brazils, (Jan. 6) I 
 continued off the harbour of St. Salvador, blockading the 
 Bonne Citoyenne, until the 24th, when the Montague 74 hove 
 in sight, and chased me into the harbour ; but night com- 
 ing on, I wore and stood out to the southward. Knowing 
 that she had left Rio Janeiro for the express purpose of re- 
 lieving the Bonne Citoyenne and the packet, [which I had 
 also blockaded for 14 days, and obliged her mail to go to 
 Rio, in a Portuguese smack] I judged it most prudent to 
 shift my cruising ground, and hauled by the wind to the 
 eastward, with the view of cruising off Pernambuco, and 
 on the 4th of February captured the English brig Resolu- 
 tion, of 10 guns, from Rio Janeiro, bound to Morahnam, 
 with coffee, jerked beef, flour, fustic, and butter, and about 
 23,000 dollars in specie. As she sailed dull and I could not 
 spare hands to manlier, I took out the money and set her on 
 fire. I ran down the coast of Morahnam, and cruised there 
 a short time : from thence ran off Surinam. After cruis- 
 ing off that coast from the 15th to the 22d of Feb. without 
 meeting a vessel, I stood for Demerara, with an intention, 
 should I be fortunate on that station, to run through the 
 West Indies, on my way to the United States. But, on the 
 24th in the morning, I discovered a brig to the leeward, to 
 which I gave chase ; ran into quarter less four, and not hav- 
 ing a pilot, was obliged to haul off, the fort at the entrance 
 of Demerara river at this time bearing S. W. distant about 
 two and a half leagues. Previous to giving up the chase, 
 I discovered a vessel at anchor without the bar, with En- 
 glish colours flying, apparently a brig of war. In beating 
 ToundCorobanoBank, in order to get at her, at half past 3 
 
38 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 P. M. discovered another sail on our weather quarter, edg- 
 ing down for us. At 20 minutes past 4, she hoisted English 
 colours, at which time we discovered her to be a large man- 
 of-war brig — beat to quarters, cleared ship for action, and 
 kept close by the wind, in order, if possible, to get the 
 weather gage. At 10 minutes past 5, finding I could weath- 
 er the enemy, I hoisted American colours and tacked. At 
 25 minutes past 5, in passing each other, exchanged broad- 
 sides within half pistol shot. Observing the enemy in the 
 act of wearing, I bore up, received his starboard broadside, 
 ran him close on board the starboard quarter, and kept up 
 such a heavy and well directed fire, that in less than 15 min- 
 utes he surrendered, being literally cut to pieces, and hoist- 
 ed his ensign, union down, from his fore-rigging, as a signal 
 of distress. Shortly after, his mainmast went by the board. 
 Despatched Lieut. Shubrick on board, who soon returned 
 with her first Lieut, who reported her to be his Britannic 
 Majesty's late brig Peacock, commanded by Capt. William 
 Peake, who fell in the latter part of the action ; that a num- 
 ber of her crew were killed and wounded, and that she was 
 sinking fast, having then six feet water in her hold. Des- 
 patched the boats immediately for the wounded, and 
 brought both vessels to anchor. Such shot holes as could 
 be got at were then plugged up : her guns thrown over- 
 board, and every possible exertion used to keep her afloat 
 until the prisoners could be removed, by pumping and bail- 
 ing, but without effect, as she unfortunately sunk in 5a 
 fathoms water, carrying down 13 of her crew, and 3 of my 
 brave fellows, viz : John Hart, Joseph Williams and Han- 
 nibal Boyd ; Lieutenant Conner, Midshipman Cooper, and I 
 the remainder of my men, employed in removing the pris- 
 oners, with difficulty saved themselves, by jumping into ai 
 boat that was lying on her booms as she went down. Four 
 men, of the 13 mentioned, were so fortunate as to gain the 
 fore top, and were afterwards taken off by the boats. Pre- 
 vious to her going down, 4 of her men took the stern boat, 
 that had been much damaged during the action, who, I 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 39 
 
 sincerely hope, reached the shore in safety ; but from the 
 heavy sea running at the time, the shattered state of the 
 boat, and the difficulty of landing on the coast, I am fear- 
 ful they were lost. I have not been able to ascertain from 
 her officers the exact number killed. Capt. Peake and 4 
 men were found dead on board. The master, and one mid- 
 shipman, carpenter and captain's clerk, and 29 seamen were 
 wounded ; most of them severely, 3 of them died of their 
 wounds after being removed, and 9 drowned. Our loss 
 was trifling in comparison. John Place, killed ; Samuel 
 Coulson, and John Delyrumple severely wounded ; George 
 Coffin and Lewis Todd severely burnt by the explosion of 
 a cartridge. Todd survived only a few days. Our rig- 
 ging and sails are much cut. One shot through the fore- 
 mast ; and the bowsprit slightly injured. Our hull receiv- 
 ed little or no damage. At the time I brought the Peacock 
 to action, the L'Espiegle (the brig mentioned as being at an- 
 chor) mounting sixteen 32 pound carronades and two long 
 nines, lay about six miles in shore of me, and could plainly 
 see the whole of the action* Apprehensive that she would 
 beat out to the assistance of her consort, such exertions 
 were made by my officers and crew repairing damages, &c. 
 that by nine o'clock my boats were stowed away, new set 
 of sails bent, and the ship completely ready for action. At 
 2 A. M. got under way and stood by the wind to the north- 
 ward and westward, under easy sail. 
 
 On mustering next morning, found we had two hundred 
 and seventy seven souls on board, including the crew of the 
 American brig Hunter, of Portland, taken a few days since 
 by the Peacock. As we had been on two thirds allowance of 
 provisions, for some time, and had but 3,400 gallons of wa- 
 ter on board, I reduced the allowance to three pints a man, 
 and determined to make the best of my way to the United 
 States. 
 
 The Peacock was deservedly styled one of the finest ves- 
 sels of her class in the British navy. I should judge her to 
 be about the tonnage of the Hornet. Her beam was greater 
 
40 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 by five inches ; but her extreme length not so great by four 
 feet. She mounted sixteen 24 pound carronades, two long- 
 nines, one 12 pound carronade on her top-gallant forecastle, 
 as a shifting gun, and one 4 or 6 pounder, and two swivels 
 mounted aft. I find, by her quarter bill, that her crew 
 consisted of 134 men, 4 of whom were absent in a prize. 
 
 The cool and determined conduct of my officers and crew 
 during the action, and their almost unexampled exertions 
 afterwards, entitle them to my warmest acknowledgments, 
 and I beg leave most earnestly to recommend them to the 
 notice of government. 
 
 By the indisposition of Lieut. Stewart, I was deprived 
 of the services of an excellent officer. Had he been able to 
 stand the deck, I am sure his exertions would not have been 
 surpassed by any one on board. I should be doing injus- 
 tice to the merits of Lieut. Shubrick, and acting Lieuten- 
 ants Conner and Newton, were I not to recommend them 
 particularly to your notice. Lieut. Shubrick was in the 
 actions of the Guerriere and Java. Capt. Hull and Commo- 
 dore Bainbridge can bear testimony of his coolness and good 
 conduct on both occasions. I have the honour to be, sir, 
 
 your obedient servant, 
 Hon. Wm. Jones, JAMES LAWRENCE. 
 
 Secretary of the navy. 
 
 P. S. At the commencement of the action, my sailing- 
 master and seven men were absent in a prize; and Lieut. 
 Stewart and six men were on the sick list. As there is ev- 
 ery prospect of the wind being to the eastward in the 
 morning, T shall make the best of my way to New-York. 
 
 Liberality of American tars. 
 
 It is a fact worthy of note, and in the highest degree hon- 
 ourable to our brave tars, that, the day preceding the des- 
 truction of his Britannic Majesty's brig Peacock the crew of 
 the Hornet made a subscription, and supplied the prisoners, 
 who had lost almost every thing, with two shirts, a blue 
 jacket and trowsers, each. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 41 
 
 Tribute of gratitude. 
 Sir, Mw-York, March 27, 1813. 
 
 We, the surviving officers of his Britannic Majesty's 
 brig Peacock, beg leave to return you our grateful acknowl- 
 edgments for the kind attention and hospitality we experi- 
 enced during the time we remained on board the United 
 States sloop Hornet. So much was done to alleviate the 
 distressing and uncomfortable situation, in which we were 
 placed when received on board the sloop you command, 
 that we cannot better express our feelings, than by saying, 
 "we ceased to consider ourselves prisoners," and every 
 thing that friendship could dictate, was adopted by you, 
 and the officers of the Hornet, to remedy the inconvenien- 
 ces we should otherwise have experienced from the una- 
 voidable loss of the whole of our property and clothes by 
 the sudden sinking of the Peacock. 
 
 Permit us then, sir, impressed, as we are, with a grateful 
 sense of your kindness, for ourselves and the other officers 
 and ship's company, to return you, and the officers of the 
 Hornet, our sincere thanks, which we shall feel obliged, if 
 you will communicate to them in our name, and believe us 
 to remain with a high sense of the kind offices you have 
 rendered us, 
 
 your humble servants, 
 
 F. A. WRIGHT, 1st Lieutenant. 
 * C. LAMUERT, 2d Lieutenant. 
 EDWARD LOTT, Master. 
 I. WHITAKER, Surgeon. 
 F. D. UN WIN, Purser. 
 James Lawrence, Esq. 
 
 Commander U. S. sloop Hornet. 
 The demolition of the Peacock by the Hornet appears to 
 have been a master-piece of American gunnery. When the 
 Leopard, a 50 gun ship, attacked the Chesapeake of 36 guns, 
 she poured her broadsides for nearly 20 minutes, without 
 cessation, and close aboard, into an unresisting, cluttered 
 and inferiour ship. Yet only three were killed, and a pro- 
 
42 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 portionate number wounded. The Wasp, in 43 minutes cut 
 down the Frolic from 119 men to 20, capable of doing du- 
 ty ; and the Hornet, in only 15 minutes, killed 9, wounded 
 35, and totally shivered her superior antagonist to atoms ! 
 
 CHESAPEAKE AND SHANNON. 
 The following account of the capture oj the Chesapeake, appear- 
 ed in a Boston newspaper on Friday, 4th June, 1813. 
 
 On Tuesday forenoon, 1st of June, the British frigate 
 Shannon, Capt. Broke, appeared off our harbour, and dis- 
 played her colours. 
 
 The United States frigate Chesapeake, Capt. Lawrence, 
 was then at anchor, just below fort Independence. As soon 
 as the enemy was seen, she fired a gun, and hoisted her col- 
 ours. Preparations were immediately made for sailing, and 
 when the officers had assembled on board, and the tide 
 served, she got under way. The Shannon proceeded down 
 the bay, the Chesapeake following under a press of sail. 
 
 Spectators were collected on every place in Boston, 
 which commanded a view of the sea, but the frigates pro- 
 ceeded to the eastward till lost sight of from the town, and 
 our citizens on shore were thereby spared the distress of 
 witnessing the result, a pain which those had to encounter, 
 who were spectators of the conflict in boats and vessels ; and 
 from whom the particulars of the battle, as far as at present 
 known here, are obtained. 
 
 The Chesapeake had a colour at each mast head. That 
 on the fore royal mast was white, and appeared to have 
 some inscription on it. She was put under her topsails on 
 approaching the enemy, fired a gun, and 10 or 12 minutes 
 before 6 the cannonade became general and severe, and the 
 Shannon experienced some injury in her spars and rigging, 
 while the Chesapeake suffered no visible damage ; and ap- 
 peared to have the advantage of her antagonist. About 6, 
 the Chesapeake, which was to windward, ran on board the 
 enemy, and the contest continued yard-arm to yard-arm. 
 In about 5 minutes there was a great explosion on board 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 43 
 
 the Chesapeake, but whether caused by accident, or any new 
 combustible used by the enemy, is uncertain. Soon after 
 the smoke thus caused had dispersed, the ships separated, 
 and the English colour (a blue flag) was seen over the 
 American ensign inverted ; and both vessels then stood to 
 the eastward, undoubtedly for Halifax. From the manner 
 in which the action was fought, neither of the frigates were 
 essentially injured in their masts or rigging. 
 
 We know not that any written challenge was received by 
 Capt. Lawrence, but one intended for him reached Salem 
 just after he sailed from Boston. If one was delivered on 
 board the Chesapeake, duplicates were written. 
 
 The Chesapeake was rated 36 guns, but we understand 
 mounted 49, the Shannon was rated 38, but, it is said, moun- 
 ted 52 — and was superiour in weight of metal. The num- 
 ber of men probably about equal. The Chesapeake had 
 been refitted for a cruise and was nearly ready for sea. 
 
 Capt. Lawrence took the command of the Chesapeake a 
 few days since. Some changes had also occurred in the 
 other officers, and the 1st lieutenant was sick on shore.* 
 For the same officers to be long associated, we should con- 
 ceive an advantage. Many of the sailors were fresh re- 
 cruits, and little or no opportunity had been afforded to 
 discipline them, as the business of equipping the vessel for 
 sea was not completed. The enemy, on the contrary, there 
 is reason to believe, was prepared. All her officers and 
 men had been for several months in the same relative situ- 
 ations — the complement in each respect was full — and the 
 seamen had had every chance of being thoroughly exercis- 
 
 * Lieut. Octavius Augustus Page died at Boston, of the lung fever, on 
 Friday the 4th of June, three days after the battle, aged 28. He was a 
 son of the late Governor Page of Virginia, one of the oldest Lieutenants 
 in the navy of the United States, and the 1st of the Chesapeake. This 
 gentleman is deeply lamented as a brave and skilful officer. Capt. Law- 
 rence deplored the necessity of proceeding to sea without him, and Lieut. 
 Page, during his illness, seemed to forget his otvn eufterings in regret of his 
 inability to rejoin his ship, and in anxiety for the fate of his gallant com- 
 panions in aim?. 
 
 % 
 
44 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 ed. From these circumstances Capt. Lawrence might, 
 without impropriety, have delayed the interview, but he 
 yielded to the impulse of his intrepid spirit as soon as he 
 saw the foe, and whatever speculations there may be as to 
 what would have been the mode of battle deserving prefer- 
 ence (speaking after the event,) no one doubts the bravery 
 of the commander, officers and crew, and that he did what 
 he considered best. 
 
 OFFICIAL ACCOUNT 
 
 From Lieutenant Budd to the Secretary of the navy, dated 
 Sir, Halifax, June 15, 1813. 
 
 The unfortunate death of Capt. James Lawrence, and 
 Lieut. Augustus C. Ludlow, has rendered it my duty to in- 
 form you of the capture of the late United States frigate 
 Chesapeake. 
 
 On Tuesday June 1st, at 8 A. M. we unmoored ship, and 
 at meridian got under way from President's roads, with a 
 light wind from the southward and westward, and proceed- 
 ed on a cruise. A ship was then in sight in the offing, 
 which had the appearance of a ship of war, and which, 
 from information received from pilot boats and craft, we 
 believed to be the British frigate Shannon. We made sail 
 in chase and cleared ship for action. At \ past 4 P. M. she 
 hove to, with her head to the southward and eastward. At 
 5 P. M. took in the royals and top-gallant sails, and at \ 
 past 5 hauled the courses up. About 15 minutes before 6 
 P. M. the action commenced within pistol shot. The first 
 broadside did great execution on both sides, damaged our 
 rigging, killed among others Mr. White, the sailing master, 
 and wounded Capt. Lawrence. In about 12 minutes after 
 the commencement of the action, we fell on board of the 
 enemy, and immediately after, one of our arm chests on the 
 quarter deck was blown up by a hand grenade, thrown 
 from the enemy's ship. In a few minutes one of the Cap- 
 tain's Aids came on the gun deck to inform me that the 
 hoarders were called. I immediately called the boarders 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 45 
 
 awa} r , and proceeded to the spar deck, where I found that 
 the enemy had succeeded in boarding us, and had gained 
 possession of our quarter deck. I immediately gave orders 
 to haul on board the foretack, for the purpose of shooting 
 the ship clear of the other, and then made an attempt to re- 
 gain the quarter deck, but was wounded and thrown down 
 on the gun deck. I again made an effort to collect the 
 boarders, but in the mean time the enemy had gained com- 
 plete possession of the ship. On my being carried down 
 to the cockpit, I there found Capt. Lawrence and Lieut. 
 Ludlow both mortally wounded ; the former had been car- 
 ried below previously to the ship's being boarded ; the lat- 
 ter was wounded in attempting to repel the boarders. 
 Among those who fell early in the action was Mr. Edward 
 J. Ballard, the 4th lieutenant, and Lieut. James Broom of 
 marines. 
 
 I herein enclose to you a return of the killed and wound- 
 ed, by which you will perceive that every officer, upon 
 whom the charge of the ship would devolve, was either 
 killed or wounded previously to her capture. The enemy 
 report the loss of Mr. Watt, their 1st lieutenant ; the pur- 
 ser ; the captain's clerk, and 23 seamen killed ; and Capt. 
 Broke, a midshipman, and 56 seamen wounded. 
 
 The Shannon had, in addition to her full complement, an 
 officer and 16 men belonging to the Belle Poule, and a part 
 of the crew belonging to the Tenedoes. 
 
 I have the honour to be, with very great respect, &c. 
 Hon. Wm. Jones, GEORGE BUDD. 
 
 Sec'y of Navy. 
 
 Killed — Edw. J. Ballard, acting lieutenant ; James 
 Broom, 1st lieutenant of marines ; Wm. A. White, sailing 
 master ; Pollard Hopewell, midshipman ; John Evans do.; 
 Courtland Livingston, do. ; Daniel Burnham, quarter mas- 
 ter ; James Woodbury do. ; Michael Kelly, quarter gunner ; 
 John Carter, boatswain's mate. 
 
 Seamen — Henry H. Munroe, Abraham Cox, Sterling 
 Clark, Alexander Marino, Thomas Evans, John Miller, 
 
46 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 Daniel Martin, Robert Bates, William Russel, Harris Ball, 
 Andrew Williams, Joseph Simmonds, John W. Duggan, 
 David Bias, Josiah Shatfield, John Philips, Benj. Esday, 
 John Reed 2d, Samuel Mullen, Michael Sawyer, Jas. Bet- 
 ton, John Crabb, Samuel M. Perkins, Joseph Judith, John 
 Jones, Christopher Houstan. 
 
 Marines — Thomas Wheaton, Benjamin Morrison, John 
 Mulligan, John German, John Huntress, James Trainor, 
 Jacob Preston, Philip Bryant, Redmond Barry, Robert 
 Standley, Delany Ward. 
 
 Wounded — James Lawrence, Esq. captain (since deceas- 
 ed :) Aug. C. Ludlow, lieutenant, (since deceased ;) Geo. 
 Budd, lieutenant, Win. Cox, acting do.; Samuel Liver- 
 more, acting chaplain ; Francis Nichols, Walter Abbot, 
 Wm. A Weaver, Edmund M. Russell, Win, Barry, mid- 
 shipmen. Peter Adams, boatswain, (since dead ;) Jefferson 
 Griffith, quarter^ master ; James A. Lewis, quarter master; 
 Forbes Dela, quarter gunner, (since dead ;) Samuel Hutson, 
 sail maker's mate ; Thomas Finnagan, gunner's yeoman ; 
 Thomas Smith 2d, quarter gunner ; John Veazy, do.; John 
 Giles, do.; Thomas Rouse, do.; and Thomas Jackson 2d, 
 quarter master. 
 
 Seamen — James Sprout, Sylvester Stacy, John Appleton, 
 Peter Quantin, James Butler, John Johnson, John Peterson, 
 Thomas Sterling, Peter John, Jehu Smith, Joseph Weyland, 
 Francis Symonds, (since dead,) John Brice, Eliphalet Carr, 
 Thomas Flanagan, John Hodgeman, (since dead,) Francis 
 Franklin, Henry Hyde, Alexander Grant, Enoch Hackett, 
 Andrew Mercer, John Tallman, James Parker, Ebenezer 
 Day, Giles Cone, (since dead,) Andrew Vandesnau, Derby 
 Lee, (since dead,) John Hunt, (do.) Rolla Peters, Robert 
 May, Joseph Vaughan, John Devo, (since dead,) Noel Dear- 
 born, John Rollins, Charles Sargent, Wm. Metcalf, Charles 
 Thompson, Abraham Richardson, James Durfee, Lewis 
 Hanscom, (since dead,) Wm. Hubans, Benj. Sumner, Wm. 
 M'Cafforty, Marcus Mansel, (since dead,) John Dezink, 
 John Petusiwing, Wm. Peterson, Wm. Stewart, Asa New- 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 47 
 
 hall, Alexander Brown, Matthias Douglas, John M'Neal, 
 (since dead,) John Crutchett, Thomas Jones 2d, John 
 Caldwell, Wm. Gardiner, and John Kegan. 
 
 Marines — Sergeants, John Twiss, Win. Harris ; corporal, 
 Wm. Dixon, (since dead ;) privates, Richard Hoffman, Jas. 
 Brown, Joseph Twiss, Geo. Upham, John Crippen, Samuel 
 Jackson, John Johnson, John Wright, Miles Morris, Mat- 
 thias Woolberry, Warren Fogg, Thomas Johnson, George 
 Clyne, Joseph Crane, Wm. Lewis, John Livre, and John 
 Brady. 
 
 Killed 47 ; wounded 99 ; wounded, since dead, 14. 
 
 The British return states the loss of the Shannon to be 27 
 killed and 58 wounded. 
 
 FUNERAL OF CAPTAIN LAWRENCE, 
 
 The following orders were issued the day previous to the 
 funeral : — 
 
 GARRISON ORDERS, 
 
 Halifax 1th June, 1815, 
 A funeral party will be furnished to-morrow, by the 64th 
 regiment, consisting the 300 rank and file, with a proper 
 proportion of officers, and to be supplied with three rounds 
 of blank cartridges each man ; to inter the remains of 
 Capt. Lawrence, late of the American frigate Chesapeake, 
 from the King's Wharf, at § past 1 o'clock, P. M. 
 
 The band of that corps will attend, and the party will 
 be commanded by Lieut. Col. Sir J. Wardlow. 
 
 The officers of the garrison will be pleased to attend the 
 commandant there, at | before 2, to inarch in procession, 
 wearing a piece of black crape round their left arm. 
 
 (Signed) F. T. THOMAS, 
 
 Major of Brigade. 
 
 NAVY ORDER. 
 
 The body of the commander of the late United States 
 frigate Chesapeake, will be interred to-morrow at 2 o'clock. 
 The captains and commanders, with a portion of lieuten- 
 ants and midshipmen, agreeably to the following order of 
 
48 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 procession, will attend the funeral, and will assemble pre- 
 cisely at 1 o'clock along side of the Chesapeake, for that pur- 
 pose. 
 
 THOMAS M. CAPEL, 
 
 Capt. and senior officer at Halifax. 
 
 ORDER OF PROCESSION FROM THE SHIP. 
 
 Pall bearers 
 
 
 Pall bearers 
 
 Abreast of the corpse. 
 Capt. Baker, 
 
 ■ 
 
 O 
 
 n 
 
 Abreast of the corpse 
 
 Capt. Head, 
 
 Pearse, 
 
 Perchel, 
 
 
 H 
 
 
 Collier, 
 
 Blyte. 
 
 Boats two and two, with midshipmen and liewtenants, 
 commanders or lieutenants commanding vessels. 
 
 Commanders. 
 Post captains. 
 
 ORDER OF PROCESSION ON SHORE. 
 
 Funeral firing party. 
 
 C TTip } 
 
 Pall bearers < \ Pall bearers. 
 
 I BODY \ 
 
 Officers of Privateers. 
 American naval officers. 
 English naval officers. ■ 
 Midshipmen. 
 Lieutenants. 
 Officers of garrison according to rank. 
 Post captains. 
 Staff officers. 
 General and Senior officers. 
 The respect due to a brave enemy was yesterday shewn 
 to the remains of Capt. Lawrence. — The corpse was land- 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 4i> 
 
 ed from the Chesapeake, under a discharge of minute guns, 
 and at 2 o'clock reached the King's wharf— the American 
 ensign was spread as a pall over the coffin, on which was 
 placed the sword of the deceased — six captains of the navy- 
 officiated as pall-bearers — six companies of the 64th regi- 
 ment, commanded by Sir John Wardlow, preceded the 
 corpse — the officers of the Chesapeake followed it as mour- 
 ners — the officers of the navy generally attended — Sir 
 Thomas Saumarcz, the staff, and officers of the garrison — 
 and the procession was closed by a number of respectable in- 
 habitants. — The funeral service was performed by the Rev. 
 Rector of .St. Paul's, and three vollies discharged by the 
 troops over the grave. 
 
 EXTRACT OE A LETTER. 
 
 June 19, 1813. 
 " I suppose the newspapers and letters sent from Halifax, 
 by such of the officers, whose wounds would permit them 
 to write, will give you all the particulars of the loss of our 
 frigate Chesapeake, which had arrived there. She came in 
 eight or nine miles ahead of the Shannon, and appeared to 
 out-sail her fast. When she saluted one of the forts six 
 miles from the town, and shewed the English over the 
 American colours, the Halifax people thought it was the 
 President, a prize, and there was a general shout. But I 
 undeceived all whom I could speak to, as I knew the ship ; 
 and when they found it to be the Chesapeake, and that her 
 captain was dead, not a huzza was heard, except I believe on 
 board a brig. I was near La Hogue, a 74, and am certain 
 her crew did not cheer. Capt. Lawrence was highly re- 
 spected for his humanity to the crew of the Peacock ; and 
 marks of real grief were seen in the countenances of all the 
 inhabitants I had a chance to see. I can say truly, that all 
 appeared to lament his death ; and I heard several say, 
 they considered the blood which had been shed on the 
 Chesapeake's deck as dear as that of their own countrymen. 
 They also speak against the war as cruel and unnatural; and 
 
 9 
 
50 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 hope the States will not comperthem to continue it. I saw 
 three mahogany coffins carried on board the Chesapeake the 
 day of the funeral. In one of them Capt. Lawrence was 
 placed, and the coffins put into a twelve-oared barge,which 
 rowed minute strokes, followed by a procession of boats.— 
 The corpse was received at the king's wharf, by a regiment 
 of troops, and a full band of music. Six of the oldest na- 
 vy captains carried the pall, which was one of the colors of 
 the Chesapeake ; which they said was considered a particu- 
 lar mark of respect by naval men, as it was a token that he 
 had defended his colours bravely, and that at his tombthey 
 should not be separated from him. The procession was ve- 
 ry long, and every thing was conducted in the most solemn 
 and respectful manner and the w r ounded officers of both 
 nations, who followed in the procession, made the scene ve- 
 ry affecting. I never attended a funeral in my life when 
 my feelings were so much struck. There was not the least 
 mark of exultation that I saw, even among the commonest 
 people. 
 
 The Shannon received five or six shots in her hull, near 
 wind and water, but they were stopped and leaded. She 
 was lying in the harbour, and they were overhauling and 
 shifting her rigging. They expected to get her to sea 
 shortly. 
 
 Capt. Broke and Capt. Lawrence were both delirious from 
 their wounds ; and the ships were both brought in by very 
 young officers. Capt. Broke we considered as very dan- 
 gerously wounded, having his head cut from the top to near 
 his mouth by the ear. When Capt. Lawrence could speak, 
 he would say, ' Don't give up the ship.' He was first 
 wounded in the leg, which bled much, and weakened him ; 
 but he would not be carried below ; when he received a 
 grape shot in the lower part of his belly, of which he died. 
 Capt. Broke was stated to have received his wound in 
 stooping down, trying to save the life of one of the Chesa- 
 peake's crew, which one of his own men was masgling, and 
 whose head he cut off." 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 51 
 
 Shortly alter the fate of the Chesapeake and her brave 
 defenders was known in the United States, B. W. Crownin- 
 shield Esq. of Salem, solicited the American government for 
 permission to sail with a flag of truce to Halifax, for the 
 purpose of obtaining the entombed bodies of Capt. Law- 
 rence and Lieut. Ludlow : the permission being granted, 
 Mr. Crowninshield sailed in a vessel, manned by himself and 
 10 other masters of vessels, and on application to the British 
 admiral, commanding on that station, obtained the object 
 of his request. On their arrival at Salem the funeral obse- 
 quies of the brave deceased were again celebrated in the 
 most solemn and impressive manner. 
 
 Business was suspended, and the whole town was crowd- 
 ed either to perforin or to witness the funeral honours to 
 the fallen heroes. About noon the bodies were removed 
 from the cartel Henry, accompanied by eight boats, manned 
 by sailors in uniform, rowing minute-strokes ; the cartel 
 brig and the U. S. brig of war Rattlesnake, Capt. Creighten, 
 firing minute guns during their passage. The bodies were 
 landed, and the coffins placed on hearses, which were lent 
 by the Board of Health of Boston ; the U. S. flag covering 
 the hearses. At one o'clock the procession, consisting of 
 the officers of the U. S. navy and army, the clergy of all 
 denominations, the different corporate bodies, the several 
 marine societies, together with citizens and strangers from 
 Boston and the vicinity, moved under the escort of the el- 
 egant company of light infantry, commanded by Cap'c. J. 
 C. King. Minute guns were fired during the whole pro- 
 cession by the Salem artillery, under Capt. Peabody, which 
 was stationed on Washington-Square. The movement was 
 deeply impressive. The sides of the streets were crowded, 
 and the windows were filled with spectators, and many were 
 on the tops of houses. The tolling of the deep toned bells 
 — the solemn melody of themusick — the slow and melan- 
 choly-inspiring pace of the procession — the appearance of 
 the sable coffins with their accompaniments — and the awe- 
 striking report of tlie minute guns, rendered the whole a 
 
h2 NATAL MONUMENT. 
 
 scene of solemn woe. Two hours elapsed while the pro* 
 cession was moving to the church ; and the multitude was 
 so great, that a small part only could be accommodated to 
 hear the Eulogy by the Hon. Judge Story. After the ora- 
 tor had concluded, the bodies were entombed with the cus- 
 tomary military and masonic ceremonies. The church was 
 shrouded in the sable habiliments of woe, and the sacred 
 services of religion, and the musick, were appropriate. 
 
 During the day, our own, as well as the neutral merchant 
 vessels in the harbour wore their colours at half mast. 
 
 In the procession were several officers of high military 
 rank — Maj. Gen. H. Dearborn, Brig. Gen. T. H. Cushing, 
 &c. 
 
 We have understood that the remains are to be re-em- 
 barked in the cartel Henry, and carried to New- York, and 
 there to be at the disposal of their respective relatives. 
 
 A great number of the citizens of Boston attended the 
 funeral rites in Salem. Minute guns were fired at 1 o'clock, 
 and the fla,<rs were displayed half-mast from the frigate Con- 
 stitution, the vessels in the harbour, the forts, gun-houses, 
 and p^blie buildings. A company of artillery left town 
 lor Salem on Sunday evening, to assist in the funeral honors. 
 Their remains were soon after conveyed to New York, 
 where a procession was formed, which, with the spectators, 
 it is supposed, amounted to fifty thousand. The burial ser- 
 vice was once more performed, and the dead committed to 
 the tomb. 
 
 LOSS OF LAWRENCE AND THE CHESAPEAKE. 
 
 " Pro Patria." 
 
 Of the sea-fight in the time of the Commonwealth, it is 
 said, by a British historian, " that Blake, who was victor, 
 gained not more honor than Tromp, who was vanquished." 
 The remark is alike true of the recent engagement. The 
 perseverance of Broke was equalled by the promptness of 
 Lawrence. This vessel was met the instant it was ascer- 
 tained there was no other to meet. His very first move- 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. fi3 
 
 ment was announced to the foe, -who, in plain sight, was 
 challenging battle and cruising defiance. His going into ac- 
 tion was to be full as gallant as his reception. But he met 
 his fate in the first ball. " Give not up the ship," he said, 
 and fell, no officer unwounded near, to bear him up in his 
 fall. He cared only for victory and his country ; never 
 for life. 
 
 No restlessness for battle betrayed him into action. He 
 had fought and conquered ; had realized the glory of vic- 
 tory, and helped to establish the honour of his country. 
 Not to go out would be an acknowledgment of victory. 
 The result of a meeting could be no more. True, she had 
 a crew picked from the squadron. But were not American 
 seamen equal to any ? Her captain and men well known to 
 each other. Can mine want confidence in me r Has she 
 not been long upon the cruise, and preparing for the pur- 
 pose ? What then ? Are we not always ready ? And 
 what if she be the better sailer ? The challenger will not 
 dare to retreat ; and I shall willingly spare him the trouble 
 of pursuit. 
 
 The die was cast ; and let those event-enlightened reason- 
 ers who have now the presumption to think it was then cast 
 in rashness, ask themselves the question, what they would 
 not have said, and what others would not have said, had 
 the Chesapeake to this hour remained in port, supinely at an- 
 chor, beholding the British flag, day by day, cross and re- 
 cross the harbour, waving, triumphantly, from a frigate 
 not so decidedly her superior, as to be deemed generally 
 much more than a match. As for Lawrence, if he had had 
 "forty thousand lives," he would have thought the loss of 
 all was gain to the surviving such a sight. 
 
 If not rash in going out, still less can this imputation be 
 cast upon his commencing the battle. He was not only so 
 eautious as not to waste a single ball at a fruitless distance ; 
 but so gloriously collected as to hold himself in reserve, 
 and receive his enemy's successive fires, until within mus- 
 ket shot he was able to pour in his whole broadside at once. 
 
54 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 To what then was owing the sudden termination of this 
 deadly conflict? Not indeed to an explosion that swept 
 the deck of its officers. Mistaking only the cause, never 
 was conjecture more fatally right as to the effect. The cap- 
 tain, every lieutenant without exception, officers of mar- 
 ines, many of the midshipmen, the sailing master, the boat- 
 swain, were all, early in the action, levelled with the deck ; 
 and at the precise point of time, when it was most of all im- 
 portant that the Chesapeake should gain a particular position, 
 at the instant of boarding, the loss of an essential part off 
 her rigging threw her into the wind, and gave to the ene- 
 my the decisive advantage. The desperation not over, 
 Broke now led his boarders ; an effort, Lawrence doubtless 
 had equalled, but for his previous disability ; and had prob- 
 ably made his adversary bitterly repent his daring temeri- 
 ty. Nothing is farther than blame from any single officer 
 on board. Ludlow, the 1st lieutenant, received three balls 
 in the fight, and has since carried them to the grave. Eve- 
 ry man did his duty. The enemy have gained a battle, in 
 which it may be said, without disparagement to their prow- 
 ess, that certainly their valour and their skill could not 
 have been greater than was their good fortune. We grudge 
 them not the only laurel [they have won. Under these cir- 
 cumstances, were it not deeply drenched in the blood of her 
 sons, our country could say to the enemy, " take it, and! 
 welcome." 
 
 Most probably the annals of the world may in vain be 
 challenged to furnish another instance of so short an engage- 
 ment, and on each side such tremendous execution. 
 
 Capt. Lawrence, at the time of his death, had been near 
 ly sixteen years in the service, with only one furlough, and I 
 that of six weeks. In September, 1798, he entered as mid- 
 shipman ; and in two years was promoted to an acting lieu- 
 tenant in the Mams, Capt. Robinson, in which capacity he 
 continued, till the reduction of the navy ; an event which 
 alone prevented his appointment being confirmed. He K 
 however, was not to remain midshipman long. In the war 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 65 
 
 with Tripoli he was promoted to a lieutenancy, and was or- 
 iginally the 1st officer of the Enterprize, but afterwards re- 
 moved to the John Mams. He signalized himself in this 
 memorable warfare by volunteering as first lieutenant, with 
 about seventy men and Decatur in the ketch Intrepid of 4 
 guns, to destroy the Philadelphia, of 44, in the harbour of 
 Tripoli, and at the very mouth of the Bashaw's cannon. 
 He returned to this country with Preble ; and to Tripoli as 
 commander of gun boat No. 6. Nearly five years in all he 
 served against the Turks ; and was afterwards constantly 
 eno-aced ; in the Constitution as 1st lieutenant — and in the 
 Vixen, Wasp, Jlrgus and Hornet, as commander. His first 
 cruise the present war was under Commodore Rodgers ; and 
 we all remember what interest his countrymen took in that 
 remonstrance, temperate, yet firm, which he made so imme- 
 diately after his return, against the unprecedented promotion 
 of the gallant Morris, and in which he contrived, with del- 
 icacy and spirit, at once to save the feelings of a brother, 
 and to vindicate his own. Under the countenance of Rod- 
 gers and of Bainbridge he urged his appeal, but left it to its 
 fate, and sailed with the latter upon that brilliant cruise 
 which eventuated so gloriously to his country, his com- 
 mander and himself. Of the right and fitness of challeng- 
 ing in a public war and at sea, we have no doubt. This 
 whole business of naval warfare, incalculable as it is in its 
 importance to a commercial nation, is yet a strife only for 
 glory. It is not to enrich or augment one fleet at the ex- 
 pense of another ; to support a country by spoils,or extend 
 empire by the conquest of ships. It is a contest for superi- 
 ority, a mere struggle for distinction ; and the opportunity, 
 which cannot otherwise be met, may very fairly be sought. 
 But let those refined minds, those nicely scrupulous souls, 
 who quarrel upon principle with the right of challenge, 
 consider how Lawrence was circumstanced ; aud either 
 withhold their censure, in this instance at least, from his 
 challenge to the Bonne Citoyenne, or avow, at once, their 
 utter unwillingness to pardon any thing to " poor human 
 
56 NAVAL MONUMENT, 
 
 nature.'' He had left a country, which he had certainly 
 reason to distrust as regardless of his claims, and when he 
 was as yet uncertain what was their fate. Unless those 
 claims were answered, he was publickly pledged to go into 
 retirement on his return, to the minds of some men perhaps 
 with doubtful dignity, to the forfeiture of his only object in 
 life, and to the rendering utterly useless all his habits of 
 living. To this, however, he was equal. But " a wound- 
 ed spirit who can bear ?" The Bonne Citoyenne however 
 did not come out ; and as far as may be inferred from the 
 fate of the Peacock, a vessel equal in force to the Bonne Cit- 
 oyenne, there was no rashness in giving this challenge, since, 
 had she come out, her fate, in all human probability, had 
 been the same. But she saved her money and lost her cred- 
 it. The challenge declined was pronounced by high au- 
 thority " a victory gained." But the character of James 
 Lawrence was not to be left to any constructive victory, 
 however fair the construction. On his way home lie fell in 
 with the Peacock, which in less than 15* minutes he com- 
 pelled to make signs of distress as her signal for surrender ; 
 and, to his eternal honour be it recorded, lost more men in 
 saving, than in conquering the enemy. One man only was 
 killed in the battle. Three of his " brave fellows" went 
 down in attempting to save the vanquished from the sink- 
 ing vessel. 
 
 It is with delight the most exquisite ; with pleasure the 
 most elevated ; that we dwell upon incidents like these, 
 which have invariably characterized all our naval achieve- 
 ments. Truly our ocean heroes are humanely glorious. 
 Such has been their humanity, it is difficult to say, wheth- 
 
 * It is said that Capt. L. stated in conversation, on his last visit to this > 
 jtown, thut the interval between firing his first shot and the Peacock's hoist- 
 ng her flag, union down, was only 11 minutes by the watch ; but as his 
 clerk had got it down 15, he thought that time short enough, and would 
 not correct it. This certainly justified the statement in the Halifax papers, 
 « ' that a vessel, moored for the purpose of experiment, could not b.ar« 
 been sunk sooner." 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 57 
 
 er the enemy have more of dread of their valour as war- 
 rious, or of admiration at their magnanimity as victors. 
 
 This engagement with the Peacock has been pronounced 
 Ly Lieut. Ludlow, whom we name with pride, and certain- 
 ly not. without sympathy, not to have been surpassed " for 
 brilliancy of design and boldness of execution," by any of 
 all the bold and brilliant events, that at sea have distin- 
 guished this war. 
 
 Capt. Lawrence was as amiable in his private, as he was 
 admirable in his professional life.* The domestic were in 
 the same circle with the ocean virtues, each heightening the 
 charm of the others. As a husband, such was the ardour 
 of his affection, that there is a sacredness in the griefs of 
 the chief mourner of his country upon which we dare not 
 suffer even our sympathies abruptly to intrude. As a Chris- 
 tian, his proof of faith in our Father in Heaven was love 
 to every brother upon earth. Reduced foreigners in our 
 own metropolis realized the munificence of his private 
 charity. As a companion, he looked on you only to smile, 
 and with that blandness which is characteristic of child-like 
 simplicity. If in him the gentleman forgot not the sailor, 
 the sailor certainly ever remembered the gentleman. As a 
 citizen, believing order to be " heaven's first law," and con- 
 tent with filling up completely his own department, he left 
 to civilians the civil. To political opinions he had howev- 
 er a rio-ht, which he exercised without disguise. But satis- 
 fied that it must forever be patriotism to fight for one's 
 country, he desired no better naval creed than Blake's under 
 Cromwell. " It is still our duty to fight for our country, into 
 what hands soever the government may fall" 
 
 The funeral solemnities of Capt. Lawrence took place 
 abroad. 
 
 * With a heart of a most magnanimous texture, the lamented Lawrence 
 
 took under his particular care a youth, whose father being killed in the 
 
 Peacock, was left an orphan, bereaved of parents, and had it not been for 
 
 our hero, would have been left in his tender years exposed to the shocks of 
 
 a boisterous world. 
 
 10 
 
58 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 ' By strangers honoured and by strangers motirn'd .'* 
 
 His enemies were his mourners ; or rather the enemies 
 of his country ; for personal enemies Lawrence had none. 
 The tears of Britons evinced how much rather they would 
 have shewn homage to his person, than respectful attention 
 to his remains. That flag, from which he had parted but 
 with life, was restored to him in death. 
 
 " His signal once, but now his shroud !"* 
 
 The publication of the subsequent is due to the memory 
 of the heroes, who on that disastrous day, so gallantly sac- 
 rificed their lives for their country. 
 
 The members of the court were Com. Bainbridge, and 
 Captains Hull and Smith, names indentified with chivalry, 
 and dear to Americans ; and their report contains the only 
 authentic account of the engagement with the Shannon. 
 
 Capt. Lawrence's sailing orders were peremptory ; and 
 when the enemy hove in sight, the Chesapeake's crew were 
 mutinous, on account of the non-payment of their prize- 
 money. The commander could not have disobeyed his or- 
 ders with impunity ; and mutiny was to be overawed by 
 energy. He passed the day in preparation for action, and 
 in the encouragement of his men ; and before night-fall, 
 the whole ship was animated with his heroic soul. 
 
 The unexampled destruction of the Guerriere was accom- 
 plished in less than 18 minutes, and the vanquished ship 
 had 63 killed and wounded. One third more metal is 
 thrown by the Constitution'' s than the Chesapeake' 's broadside ; 
 
 * We would have every opportunity improved of being just to an enemy. 
 As Capt. Broke had not his senses till after his arrival at Halifax ; and as 
 his 1st lieutenant was killed in the action, the command of two frigates 
 devolving upon a 2d lieutenant at a time, when the precise extent of the 
 injury to either could not be ascertained, and when each was a sort of hu- 
 man slaughter house ; his paramount, if not his only duty was to make the 
 best of his way to Halifax, especially as Capt. Lawrence was so badly 
 wounded, that his end might have been accelerated by any attempt at re- 
 moving him out of the vessel. The utmost then in their power to do in this 
 case, has been done, and done well. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 59 
 
 and the Shannon was so cut in her hull, by eight minutes' 
 broadsiding, that it was with difficulty she could be kept 
 afloat during the night ; and she numbered 88 killed and 
 wounded. It has been truly remarked, " that the world 
 never witnessed so destructive a fire from so limited abroad- 
 side in so short a space." Lawrence fell ! and the remain- 
 der of the fight, if fight it may be called, was as disgrace- 
 ful as the first eight minutes were brilliant. The moment 
 after Capt. Lawrence was carried below, Capt. Broke 
 boarded our quarter deck at the head of 20 men. Nothing 
 but desperation could have prompted or justified the meas- 
 ure. Lieut. Budd, the senior officer, had now gained the 
 spar deck, where there were, with those who had come up, 
 from 60 to 75 well men. No attempt was made to bring 
 more men from the gun-deck, and none on the spar deck to 
 rally the men and charge the boarders. This melancholy 
 pause continued, as Mr. Budd has testified, 3 minutes. In 
 the mean time, Capt. Broke, without making any attack, 
 had collected near 100 men, and proceeded to the attack on 
 the starboard side of the ship. Mr. Budd now perceived a 
 British uniform, and concluded that the men on the quarter 
 deck were the enemy, at whose approach our men fled to 
 the forecastle, precipitated themselves through the fore 
 hatchway to the gun-deck, and from thence to the birth- 
 deck, without an effort to prevent them. A few only of 
 the enemy were killed or wounded by involuntary and acci- 
 dental blows, and the fire from the tops ; and he continued 
 his unresisted havoc, till not a man was left on either deck. 
 Although Lawrence was prostrate, his soul Was in arms. 
 From the cockpit he issued his memorable orders — " keep 
 the guns going" — " fight her till she strikes or sinks" — and 
 when he knew that the enemy had carried the spar deck, 
 he sent the emphatic message to the gun-deck, " don't give 
 up the ship." When he was apprised of the issue, he only 
 remarked, " then the officers of the deck hav'nt toed the 
 mark — the Shannon was whip'd when I left." 
 
60 NAVAIL MONUMENT. 
 
 The officer-like conduct of this gallant martyr, on this 
 day, has been impeached by some of the survivors of that 
 dreadful conflict. The inevitable disadvantages under 
 which he fought a superior ship, perfectly prepared ; the 
 chivalry with which he courted the contest ; and the bril- 
 liancy of it before he fell, should alone rescue his memory 
 from censure. Cruel sacrilege to profane the sanctuary of 
 the tomb to shield living defection from merited disgrace ! 
 Every witness upon the court-martial, under a close cross- 
 examination, not only repelled the foul slander, but deci- 
 dedly established his high character as a commander. 
 
 In a very unreserved conversation, Com. Decatur, with 
 whom Capt. Lawrence had served much, was asked, "wheth- 
 er his intrinsic merit as an officer, justified the enthusiastic 
 veneration in which the nation held his memory ?" After 
 a short pause he answered, " yes, sir, it did ; and the fellow 
 died as well as he lived ; but it is a part of a soldier's life 
 to die well. He had no talk ; but he inspired all about him 
 with ardour : he always saw the best thing to be done ; he 
 knew the best way to execute it ; and had no more dodge 
 in him than the mainmast." Laudatum est, a laudato viro. 
 This vindication is due to the ashes of the inured patriot. 
 
 When the ill starred fortunes of this ship are recalled to 
 memory ; when we recollect that her deck was the death 
 scene of our favourite hero, with victory almost in his 
 grasp, we involuntarily adopt the language of Milton's mon- 
 ody upon his shipwrecked friend : — 
 
 " It was that fatal and perfidious bark ; 
 
 " Built in the eclipse ; and rigged with curses dark ; 
 
 "That sunk so low that sacred head of thine ;" 
 
 REPORT. 
 
 The court are unanimously of opinion, that the Chesa- 
 peake was gallantly carried into action by her late brave 
 commander ; and no doubt rests with the court from com- 
 parison of the injury respectively sustained by the frigates, 
 that the fire of the Chesapeake was much superior to that of 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 61 
 
 the Shannon. The Shannon being much cut in her spars 
 and rigging, and receiving many shot in and below the wa- 
 ter line, was reduced almost to a sinking condition, after 
 only a few minutes cannonading from the Chesapeake ; while 
 the Chesapeake was comparatively uninjured. And the 
 court have no doubt, if the Chesapeake had not accidental- 
 ly fallen on board the Shannon, and the Shannon's anchor 
 got foul in the after quarter port of the Chesapeake, the 
 Shannon must have very soon surrendered or sunk. 
 
 It appears to the court, that as the ships were getting foul, 
 Capt. Lawrence ordered the boarders to be called ; but the 
 bugle man, Wm. Brown, stationed to call the boarders by 
 sounding a bugle, had deserted his quarters, and when dis- 
 covered and ordered to call, was unable, from fright, to 
 sound his horn ; that midshipmen went below immediately 
 to pass the word for the boarders ; but not being called in 
 the way they had been usually exercised, few came upon 
 the upper deck' ; confusion prevailed ; a greater part of the 
 men deserted their quarters, and ran below. It appears al- 
 so to the court, that when the Shannon got foul of the Ches- 
 apeake, Capt. Lawrence, his 1st lieutenant, the sailing mas- 
 ter, and lieutenant of marines were all killed or mortally 
 wounded, and thereby the upper deck of the Chesapeake 
 was left without any commanding officer, and with only 
 one or two young midshipmen. It also appears to the 
 court, that previously to the ships getting foul, many of 
 the Chesapeake's spar deck division had been killed and 
 wounded, and the number stationed on that deck thereby 
 considerably reduced ; that these being left without a com- 
 missioned officer, or even a warrant officer, except one or 
 two inexperienced midshipmen, and not being supported by 
 the boarders from the gun deck, almost universally desert- 
 ed their quarters. And the enemy, availing himself of this 
 defenceless state of the Chesapeake's upper deck, boarded 
 and obtained possession of the ship with very little opposi- 
 tion. 
 
62 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 From this view of the engagement and careful examina- 
 tion of the evidence, the court are unanimously of opinion, 
 that the capture of the late United States frigate Chesapeake., 
 was occasioned by the following causes ; the almost unex- 
 ampled early fall of Capt. Lawrence, and all the principal 
 officers ; the bugleman's desertion of his quarters, and in- 
 ability to sound his horn ; for the court are of opinion if the 
 horn had been sounded when first ordered, the men being 
 then at their quarters, the boarders would have promptly 
 repaired to the spar deck, probably have prevented the en- 
 emy from boarding — certainly have repelled them, and 
 might have returned the boarding with success ; and the 
 failure of the boarders on both decks to rally on the spar 
 deck, after the enemy had boarded, which might have been 
 done successfully, it is believed from the cautious manner 
 in which the enemy came on board. 
 
 The court cannot, however, perceive in this almost 
 unexampled concurrence of disastrous circumstances that 
 the national flag has suffered any dishonour from the 
 capture of the United States frigate Chesapeake, by the 
 superior force of the British frigate Shannon, of 52 car- 
 riage guns, and 396 men. Nor do this court apprehend 
 that the result of this engagement will in the least discour- 
 age our brave seamen from meeting the enemy hereafter on 
 equal terms. 
 
 The court being also charged to inquire into the conduct 
 of the officers and men during and after the engagement, 
 and thereupon having strictly examined and maturely con- 
 sidered the evidence as recorded, do find the following cau- 
 ses of complaint: 
 
 First. Against Lieut. Cox ; that being stationed in com- 
 mand of the second division on the main deck, he left his 
 division during the action, while his men were at their 
 quarters, and went upon the upper deck ; that when there 
 and the enemy boarding, or on the point of boarding, he 
 left the deck to assist Capt. Lawrence below, went down 
 with him from the spar deck to the birth deck ; did not 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 6S 
 
 return to his division, but went forward on the gun deck ; 
 that while here and the men retreating below,, he com- 
 manded them to go to their duty without enforcing his 
 commands. But as a court of inquiry allows an accused 
 person no opportunity of vindicating his conduct, the 
 members of this court trust that their opinion on the con- 
 duct of Lieut. Cox, may not be deemed conclusive against 
 him, without trial by court martial. 
 
 Second. Against Midshipman Forrest ; that he left his 
 quarters during the action, and did not return to them, and 
 now assigns no reason for his conduct satisfactory^ this 
 court. 
 
 Third. Against MidshipTman Freshman ; that he behav- 
 ed in an unofficer-like manner at Halifax, assuming a false 
 name at the office of commissary of prisoners, when ob- 
 taining his parole, and was paroled by the name of William 
 Brown. 
 
 Fourth. Against the crew generally ; that they desert- 
 ed their quarters, and ran below after the ships were foul, 
 and the enemy boarded. But it appearing that they behav- 
 ed well at their quarters before, and fired on the enemy 
 with great rapidity and precision, the court ascribe their 
 misconduct to the confusion naturally incident to the early 
 loss of their officers, and the omission of the call of board- 
 ers in the accustomed manner. 
 
 Yet this court is very far from exculpating those who are 
 thus criminal. It is unable to designate by name all the in- 
 dividuals who thus abandoned their duty, because most of 
 the officers had recently joined the ship, some only a few 
 days preceding the engagement, and of course could not 
 distinguish the men. The court, therefore, respectfully 
 submit to higher authority, the expediency of withholding 
 the wages of the crew. The persons whom the court are 
 able to designate by name, as deserters from their stations, 
 are William Brown, bugleman, Joseph Russel, captain of 
 second gun, Peter Frost and John Joyce, seamen. 
 
64 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 The court further find, that the following persons entered 
 the British serviceat Halifax, viz. Henry Ensign, Peter 
 John, Andrew Simpson, Peter Langrun, Magness Sparring, 
 Joseph Galla, Martin Anderson, Francis Paris, John White, 
 boy, Thomas Arthur, Charles Reynolds, John Pierce jun. 
 Andrew Denham, Thomas Jones, Charles Goodman, Jo- 
 seph Antonia, Christopher Stevens, Charles Bowden, Chas. 
 Westbury, Joseph Smith, George Williams, and George 
 Cordell. 
 
 The court further find and report, that William Wain- 
 wright, William Worthington, and James Parker, the last 
 of whom was born in Salem, Massachusetts, were claimed 
 by the enemy as British subjects, and sent on board of the 
 enemy's ships of war. 
 
 This court respectfully beg leave to superadd, that, unbi- 
 assed by any illiberal feelings towards the enemy, they feel 
 it their duty to state, that the conduct of the enemy after, 
 boarding and carrying the Chesapeake, was a most unwar- 
 rantable abuse of power after success. 
 
 The court is aware that in carrying a ship by boarding 
 the full extent of the command of an officer cannot be 
 readily exercised ; and that improper violence may una- 
 voidably ensue. When this happens in the moment of con- 
 tention, a magnanimous conquered foe will not complain. — 
 But the fact has been clearly established before this court, 
 that the enemy met with little opposition on the upper deck, 
 and none on the gun-deck. Yet after they had carried the 
 ship, they fired from the gun-deck down the hatchway up- 
 on the birth-deck, and killed and wounded several of the 
 Chesapeake's crew, who had retreated there, were unarmed 
 and incapable of making any opposition ; that some balls 
 were fired even into the cockpit : and what excites the ut- 
 most abhorrence, this outrage was committed in the pres- 
 ence of a British officer standing at the hatchway. 
 
 W. BAINBRIDGE, President. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 65 
 
 The following is a copy of the letter, denominated a challenge, 
 sent from the commander of the .British frigate Shannon to the 
 commander of the American frigate Chesapeake. Capt. Law- 
 rence sailed before this letter reached Boston. 
 
 LETTER FROM CAPT. BROKE TO CAPT. LAWRENCE. 
 
 His Britannic Majesty's ship Shannon, 
 Sir, Off Boston, June, 1813. 
 
 As the Chesapeake appears now ready for sea, I request 
 you will do me the favour to meet the Shannon with her, 
 ship to ship, to try the fortune of our respective flags. To 
 an officer of your character, it requires some apology for 
 proceeding to further particulars. Be assured, sir, that it 
 is not from any doubt I can entertain of your wishing to 
 close with my proposals, but merely to provide an answer 
 to any objection which might be made, and very reasona- 
 bly, upon the chance of our receiving unfair support. 
 
 After the diligent attention which we had paid to Com. 
 Rodgers ; the pains I took to detach all force but the Shan- 
 non and Tenedos to such a distance that they could not pos- 
 sibly join in any action fought in sight of the Capes ; and 
 the various verbal messages which had been sent into Bos- 
 ton to that effect ; we were much disappointed to find the 
 commodore had eluded us, bv sailing on the first chance, 
 after the prevaling easterly winds had obliged us to keep an 
 offing from the coast. He perhaps wished for some stronger 
 assurance of a fair meeting. I am therefore induced to ad- 
 dress you more particularly, and to assure you, that what I 
 write I pledge my honour to perform to the utmost of my 
 power. The Shannon mounts twenty-four guns upon her 
 broadside, and one light boat gun ; eighteen pounders on 
 her main deck, and thirty-two pound carronades on her 
 quarter deck and forecastle ; and is manned with a comple- 
 ment of three hundred men and boys (a large proportion of 
 the latter,) besides thirty seamen, boys and passengers, who 
 were taken out of re-captured vessels lately. I am thus min- 
 ute, because a report has prevailed in some of the Boston 
 
 11 
 
66 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 papers that we had one hundred and fifty men additional, 
 lent us from La Hogue, which really was never the case. 
 La Hogue is now gone to Halifax for provisions, and I will 
 send all other ships beyond the power of interfering with 
 us, and will meet you wherever it is most agreeable to you: 
 From six to ten leagues east of Cape Cod Light House, from 
 eight to ten leagues east of Cape Ann Light on Cashe's 
 Ledge in lat. 43 o N. at any bearing and distance you please 
 to fix off the south breakers of Nantucket, or the shoals off 
 St. George's Bank. 
 
 If you will favour me with any plan of signals or tele- 
 graph, I will warn you (if sailing under this promise) should 
 any of my friends be too nigh or any where in sight, until I 
 can detach them out of the way, or I would sail with you 
 under a flag of truce to any place you think safest from our 
 cruisers, hauling it down when fair to begin hostilities. 
 
 You must, sir, be aware that my proposals are highly ad- 
 vantageous to you, as you cannot proceed to sea singly in 
 the Chesapeake without imminent risk of being crushed by 
 the superior force of the numerous British squadrons which 
 are now abroad, where all your efforts, in case of a rencon- 
 tre, would, however gallant, be perfectly hopeless. I en- 
 treat you, sir, not to imagine that I am urged by mere per- 
 sonal vanity to the wish of meeting the Chesapeake ; or that 
 I depend only upon your personal ambition for your acced- 
 ing to this invitation : we have both nobler motives. You 
 will feel it as a compliment if I say, that the result of our 
 meeting may be the most grateful service I can render to my 
 country ; and I doubt not that you, equally confident of 
 success, will feel convinced, that it is only by repeated tri- 
 umphs in even combats that your little navy can now hope 
 to console your country for the loss of that trade it can no 
 longer protect. Favour me with a speedy reply. We are 
 short of provisions and water, and cannot stay long here. 
 I have the honour to be, sir, 
 
 your obedient humble servant. 
 (Signed) P. B. V. BROKE, 
 
 Capt. of JL B. M. ship Shannon. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 67 
 
 N. B. For the general service of watching your coast, 
 it is requisite for me to keep another ship in company, to 
 support me with her guns and boats when employed near 
 the land, particularly to aid each other if either ship in 
 chase should get on shore. You must be aware that I can- 
 not, consistently with my duty, wave so great an advantage 
 for this general service by detaching my consort, without 
 any assurance on your part, of meeting me directly ; and 
 that you will neither seek or admit aid from any other of 
 your armed vessels, if I detach mine expressly for the sake 
 of meeting you. — Should any special order restrain you 
 from thus answering a formal challenge, you may yet ob- 
 lige me by keeping my proposal a secret, and appointing 
 any place you like to meet us (within 300 miles of Boston) 
 in a given number of days after you sail ; as, unless you 
 agree to an interview, I may be busied on other service, 
 and perhaps be at a distance from Boston when you go to 
 sea. Choose your terms — but let us meet. 
 
 To the Commander of the United States 
 frigate Chesapeake. 
 
 ENDORSEMENT ON THE ENVELOP. 
 
 We have thirteen American prisoners on board, which I 
 will give you for as many British sailors, if you will send 
 them out, otherwise, being privateersmen, they must be 
 detained. 
 
 ARGUS AND PELICAN. 
 
 Extract of a letter from James Indenoick, surgeon of the late 
 United States brig Argus, to the Secretary of the navy. 
 
 Boston, September 5, 1814. 
 Having been appointed by Commodore Decatur, as act- 
 ing surgeon on board the late United States brig Argus, a 
 short time previous to her departure from New-York, and 
 having served in that capacity until the unfortunate termi- 
 
68 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 nation of her cruise ; I was, with her surviving officers, 
 detained as a prisoner of war, on parole, in England. I 
 have now, Sir, however, the honour of reporting to you 
 my arrival on the 3d inst. at this port, in the cartel ship 
 Saratoga, having at length obtained my release and passport 
 as a non-combatant. As Lieut. Watson, our surviving 
 commanding officer, has been unable, under parole restric- 
 tions, to transmit any official documents, relative to the ac- 
 tion and capture of the Argus, I have the honour to enclose, 
 for your information, a report of the casualties attending 
 that event. I regret that I have not yet been able to fur- 
 nish the wounded with regular certificates ; it was impossible, 
 without personal communication with them to obtain the 
 information necessary to the filling up the blanks, with the 
 precision, enforced in the orders of your honourable de- 
 partment. 
 
 The list of killed and wounded, as given by Dr. Inder- 
 
 wick, is omitted, as a more complete account is given by 
 Lieut. Watson in his official letter. 
 
 Letter from Lieut. Watson, 1st of the late United States brig 
 Argus, to the Secretary of the navy. 
 
 Sir, Norfolk, March, 2, 1815. 
 
 Circumstances during my residence in England having 
 heretofore prevented my attention to the painful duty which 
 devolved on me by the death of my gallant commander, 
 Capt. Wm. H. Allen, of the late U. S. brig Argus, I have 
 now the honour to state for your information, that hav- 
 ing landed the Minister Plenipotentiary (Mr. Crawford) 
 and suite at L'Orient, we proceeded on the cruise which 
 had been directed by the department, and after captur- 
 ing twenty vessels ( a list of the names and other par- 
 ticulars of which I have the honour to enclose, ) being 
 in lat. 52 o 15/ N. long. 5o 50/ W. on the 14th Au<r. 
 1813, we discovered at 4 o'clock A. M. a large bri«r of 
 war standing down under a press of sail upon our weath- 
 er quarter, the wind being at south, and the Argus close 
 
ISAVAL MONUMENT. 69 
 
 hauled on the starboard tack : we immediately prepared to 
 receive her ; and at 30 minutes after 4, being unable to get 
 the weather gage, we shortened sail, and gave her an oppor- 
 tunity of closing. At 6, the brig having displayed English 
 colours, we hoisted our flag ; wore round, and gave her 
 the larboard broadside (being at this time within grape dis- 
 tance) which was returned, and the action commenced 
 within the range of musketry. At 4 minutes after 6, Capt. 
 Allen was wounded, and the enemy shot away our main 
 braces, main spring-stay, gaff, and trysail-mast, At 8 min- 
 utes after 6, Capt. Allen, being much exhausted oy the loss 
 of blood, was taken below. At 12 minutes after 6, lost our 
 spritsail-yard and the principal part of the standing rigging 
 on the larboard side of the foremast. At this time I receiv- 
 ed a wound on the head from a grape shot, which for a 
 time rendered me incapable of attending to duty, and was 
 carried below ; I had, however, the satisfaction of recol- 
 lecting on my recovery, that nothing which the most gallant 
 exertions could effect, would be left undone by Lieut. W. 
 H. Allen, jun. who succeeded to the command of the deck. 
 Lieut. Allen reports, at 14 minutes after 6, the enemy, be- 
 ing in our weather quarter, edged off", for the purpose of 
 getting under our stern, but the Argus luffed close to, with 
 the main topsail aback, and giving him a raking broadside, 
 frustrated his attempt. At 18 minutes after 6, the enemy 
 shot away our preventer, main-braces and main-topsail-tye ; 
 and the Argus having lost the use of her after sails, fell on 
 before the wind, when the enemy succeeded in passing our 
 stern, and ranged on the starboard side. At 25 minutes af- 
 ter 6, the wheel ropes and running rigging of every descrip- 
 tion being shot away, the Argus became unmanageable ; and 
 the enemy, not having sustained any apparent damage, had 
 it completely in his power to choose a position, and contin- 
 ued to play upon our starboard quarter, occasionally shift- 
 ing his situation, until 30 minutes after 6, when I returned 
 to the deck, the enemy being under our stern, within pistol 
 shot, where she continued to rake us until 38 minutes after 
 
70 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 6, when we prepared to board, but, in consequence of our 
 shattered condition, were unable to effect it ; the enemy 
 then passed our broadside, and took a position on our star- 
 board bow. From this time until 47 minutes after 6, we 
 were exposed to a cross or raking fire, without being able 
 to oppose but little more than musketry to the broadside of 
 the enemy, our guns being much disabled and seldom brought 
 to bear. 
 
 The Jlrgus having now suffered much, in hull and rig- 
 ging, as also in killed and wounded, among the former of 
 whom (exclusive of our gallant captain) we have to lament 
 the loss of two meritorious young officers in Midshipmen 
 Delphy and Edwards ; and being exposed to a galling fire, 
 which from the enemy's ability to manage his vessel, we 
 could not avoid, I deemed it necessary to surrender, and was 
 taken possession of by his Britannic majesty's sloop the 
 Pelican, of twenty-one carriage guns, viz. sixteen 32 pound 
 carronades, four long 6's, and one 12 pound carronade. I 
 hope this measure will meet your approbation, and that the 
 result of this action, when the superiour size and metal of 
 our opponent, and the fatigue which the crew, &c. of the 
 Jlrgus underwent from a very rapid succession of captures, 
 is considered, will not be thought unworthy of the flag un- 
 der which we serve. 
 
 I have the honour to enclose a list of killed and wound- 
 ed, and feel great satisfaction in reporting the general good 
 conduct of the meritorious officers engaged on this occa- 
 sion, and particularly the zeal and activity displayed by 
 Lieut. Allen, who you will observe for a time commanded 
 on deck. 
 
 I have the honour to be, Sir, with great respect, 
 
 your obedient servant, 
 
 Hon. B. Crowninshield, W. H. WATSON, 
 
 Sec'i/ of the navy. Late of the U. S. brig Jlrgus. 
 
 Killed. Richard Delphy, Wm. W. Edwards, midship- 
 men ; Joshua Jones, Wm. Finley, Wm. Knowlton, George 
 Gardner, seamen. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 71 
 
 Died of their wounds. William H. Allen, captain ; 
 James White, carpenter ; Joseph Jordan, boatswain's mate; 
 Francis Eggert, and Charles Backster, seamen. 
 
 Wounded. William H. Watson, 1st lieutenant ; Colin 
 M'Leod, boatswain ; John Sniffer, carpenter's mate ; John 
 Young, quarter master ; John Nugent, James Hall, Joseph 
 Allen, John Faddon, George Starbuck, Win. Hoventon, 
 John Scott 1st, John Scott 2d, seamen. 
 
 During a few weeks preceding the loss of the Argus, she 
 had captured 23 British vessels, of various sizes, some of 
 great value. 
 The tonnage of the Argus* is given as. follows ; 
 
 Length of keel, for tonnage 80 feet ) 
 
 Breadth of beam, do. 28 do. V 298 68-95 tons 
 
 Depth of hold do. 12 ft. 8 in. ) 
 
 A London paper has the following : the Pelican brig of 18 
 guns, which so nobly captured the Argus sloop of war, was 
 commanded by Capt. Searle, when she beat the French frig- 
 ate Medea, of 44 guns, inte Guadaloupe, after an action of 
 two hours in the year 1799. 
 
 FUNERAL OF C APT. ALLEN. 
 
 At Plymouth Eng. on the 21st of August, was interred 
 with military honours, William Henry Allen, Esq. late com- 
 mander of the United States sloop of war Argus, who lost 
 his left leg in an action with his Majesty's sloop of war Pel- 
 ican, J. F. Maples Esq. captain, in St. George's Channel on 
 the 14th ; of which wound he died in the Mill-prison Hos- 
 pital, on the 18th following. 
 
 The procession left Mill-prison at 12 o'clock : the coffin 
 was covered with a velvet pall, on which was spread the 
 American ensign, under which the action was fought, and 
 upon which the hat and sword of the deceased were laid. 
 On the coffin being removed to the hearse, the guard salu- 
 ted ; and when deposited in the hearse the procession mov- 
 ed forward, the band playing the " Dead March in Saul." 
 
 * Built in Boston, by Mr. Edmund Hart. 
 
7^ 
 
 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 On arrival, near the church, the guard clubbed arms, single 
 files inward, through which the procession passed to the 
 church, into which the corpse was carried and placed in 
 the centre aisle, while the funeral services were read by the 
 Rev. Vicar ; after which it was removed and interred in 
 the south yard (passing through the guard in the same order 
 from as to the church,) on the right of Mr. Delphy, mid- 
 shipman of the Argus, who lost both legs in the same action, 
 and was buried the preceding evening. 
 
 ORDER OF PROCESSION. 
 
 Guard of Honour. 
 
 Lieut. Col. of Royal Marines, 
 
 with two companies of that corps. 
 
 The Captains, Subalterns, and field Adjutants, (Officers 
 
 with hat bands and scarfs.) 
 
 Royal Marine Band. 
 
 Vicar and Curate of St. Andrew's. 
 
 Clerk of ditto. 
 
 THE HEARSE, 
 
 With the Corpse of the deceased Captain, 
 
 attended by eight seamen, late of the Argus, with crape 
 
 round their arms, tied with white crape ribbons ; 
 
 Also, eight British Captains of the Royal Navy, as Pall 
 
 bearers, 
 
 With hatbands and scarfs. 
 
 Captain Allen's servants in mourning. 
 
 The Officers, late of the Argus, in uniform, with crape 
 
 sashes, and hat bands, two and two. 
 
 John Hawker Esq. late American Vice-Consul, 
 
 and his Clerks. 
 
 Captain Pellowe, Commissioner for Prisoners of War. 
 
 Dr. McGraih, Chief Medical Officer at Mill-prison Depot. 
 
 Captains of the Royal Navy in port, two and two. 
 
 Marine and Army Officers, two and two. 
 
 Servants of the American Officers, two and two. 
 
 Followed by a very numerous and respectable retinue of 
 
 Inhabitants. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 7* 
 
 EXTRACT FROM THE BRITISH NAVAL CHRONICLE. 
 
 "As several misstatements have appeared in the public 
 prints relative to the death of the late Capt. Allen, we subjoin 
 the following particulars, communicated to us by a friend, 
 which may be depended on : Capt. Allen's left thigh was am- 
 putated by his own surgeon, in a very proper manner, about 
 three quarters of an hour after the close of the action. — 
 On the morning after the arrival of the Jlrgus, (Tuesday,) 
 the chief medical officer from Mill-prison attended him, and 
 soon discovered, that dangerous symptoms, which had es- 
 caped the observation of his surgeon, who thought favour- 
 ably of his situation, were insidiously approaching, and ac- 
 cordingly communicated his apprehensions, and recommen- 
 ded such remedies as were deemed advisable. In the even- 
 ing he was again visited, when the prognostic given in the 
 morning; was found too visiblv verified. On the following; 
 day his symptoms were much aggravated, and his immedi- 
 ate removal to Mill-prison Hospital was strongly recom- 
 mended, in order to obtain the most prompt remedies, and 
 where he might have all the care and attention his situation 
 demanded. He arrived about noon ; but in spite of every 
 effort, gradually sunk, until he breathed his last, about 11 
 o'clock that night, during which period he was never left 
 by his physician. We understand he was not conscious of 
 the danger of kis situation, but conversed familiarly with 
 those present with him until about three quarters of an hour 
 before he died. His death was conceived to be chiefly occa- 
 sioned by the great loss of blood which he sustained previ- 
 ous to amputation, by his persisting in remaining on deck 
 after he was wounded. Throughout the whole, he bore 
 his sufferings with that manly, determined fortitude and 
 composure, which might be expected of a brave and gallant 
 officer, and never once complained of pain ; but his mind 
 constantly dwelt on the loss of his ship, which he regretted 
 in the most feeling and manly manner. In person he was 
 about six feet high, a model of symmetry and manly conie- 
 
 12 
 
74 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 liness, and in his manner and conversation a highly finished 
 and accomplished gentleman. 
 
 William Henry Allen* was an officer, no less distinguish- 
 ed by his bravery, than the uniform courtesy and amenity of 
 his manners. In ordinary life we discovered nothing of 
 those high qualities, for which, in the hour of danger, he 
 was found to be so preeminent. He relaxed into all the 
 mildness of the polished and amiable gentleman, stated his 
 opinions with modesty, and carefully abstained from irrita- 
 ting or insulting language. His conversation, although pe- 
 culiarly unostentatious, was luminous and instructive, and 
 combined the elegance of a scholar with the sound practical 
 sense of a man of intercourse with the world. He studied 
 naval tactics as a science, and laboured to adorn and decorate 
 the stern and masculine character of the sailor, with the 
 milder graces and softer embellishments. In this he suc- 
 ceeded completely, and was capable of turning to the view the 
 stern and intrepid side of his character, or the milder and 
 more amiable, as occasion required. In his friendships he 
 v/as ardent and constant. All these advantages were render- 
 ed still more conspicuous by a noble masculine deportment, 
 and the fine forms which he inherited from nature. A 
 stranger, in his company, and perfectly ignorant of his 
 character, would find his heart drawn powerfully towards 
 him, by the predominant and pervading sympathy, which 
 such endearing qualities always excite. He would be dispo- 
 sed to converse more with him, and to cultivate his friend- 
 ship. Every hour he would feel this attachment growing 
 stronger, as the varied excellencies of his character were 
 disclosed in succession. Such was William Henry Allen. 
 He had adorned his name by his bravery, which was so con- 
 spicuous in the affair of the Macedonian. This enlarged his 
 ideas and made him pant for fame, that last infirmity of no- 
 ble minds. He has fallen, indeed, but for all the purposes 
 of life he had lived long enough. He had enjoyed the con- 
 
 * J-tout. Allen was a native of Hhode Island 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. U 
 
 fidence of his country, and died in the performance of his 
 duty. This humble wreath is not less a tribute to individ- 
 ual friendship, than to justice. 
 
 The following is from an Irish news-paper. 
 
 It would be injustice not to notice the excellent conduct 
 of Capt. Allen, of the Argus. He allowed the passengers 
 and crews of the Betsey and Mariner to remove every article 
 of their private property, and in order that they might have 
 liberty to do so, he would not suffer one of his officers or 
 crew to be present below, whilst they were employed in 
 packing up their effects. Capt. Gilbert, of the Mariner, had 
 left some articles of cabin furniture behind, which Capt. 
 Allen sent after him in his boat. » A great coat, belonging to 
 an officer of one of the captured ships, was missing, and it 
 was found in the possession of one of the crew of the Argus. 
 Capt. Allen immediately ordered the man to be tied up, and 
 he actually received a severe flogging. Considerable sums 
 in specie were saved by the passengers, as Capt. Allen would 
 not allow his men to touch a single article. 
 
 COURT OF INQUIRY. 
 
 The following decision and opinion of the court of inqui- 
 ry, convened at Baltimore, in April last, to investigate the 
 causes of the loss of the Argus, have been received and ap- 
 proved by the secretary of the navy. 
 
 The court, in pursuance of the authority by which they 
 were convened, having carefully examined into the causes of 
 the loss by capture of the U. S. sloop of war Argus, under 
 the command of the late W. H. Allen, master commandant 
 in the navy of the United States, and also into the conduct 
 of the officers and crew of the said sloop of war, before and 
 after her surrender to the enemy's ship Pelican, and having 
 maturely deliberated upon all the testimony, they find the 
 following facts : 
 
 1. It is proved, that in the number of her crew, and in 
 the number and calibre of her guns, the Pelican was deeided- 
 ly superiour to the Argus. 
 
70 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 2. They find that the crew of the Argus was very much 
 exhausted by the continued and extraordinary fatigue and 
 exposure to which they had been subjected for several 
 weeks, and particularly for twenty four hours immediately 
 preceding the action. 
 
 3. They find that every officer and man of the Jlrgus, 
 (with the expection of one man, Jacob Alli;ter, and one boy, 
 Hendrick) made use of every practicable exertion to capture 
 the British sloop of war Pelican. 
 
 They are therefore of opinion, that every officer and man, 
 with the exception before mentioned, displayed throughout 
 the engagement, a zeal, activity, and spirit in defence of the 
 vessel and flag committed to their protection, which entitles 
 them to the undiminished confidence and respect of their 
 government and fellow citizens, and do therefore honoura- 
 bly acquit them. 
 
 ENTERPRIZE AND BOXER. 
 
 LETTER FROM COM. BAINBRIBGE TO THE SECRETA- 
 RY OF THE NAVY. 
 
 Boston, September 7, 1813. 
 The enclosed letters will give you the information of a 
 brilliant victory, gained by the United States brig Entcrprize, 
 over his Britannic Majesty's brig Boxer, of considerable su- 
 periority of force. Nothing that I can say would add to 
 the lustre of the gallant action, which so decidedly speaks 
 for itself. But I cannot restrain my deep regret for the loss 
 of so valuable an officer as the brave Lieut. Burrows. 
 I have the honour to be, with great respect, 
 
 your obedient servant, 
 Hon. William Jones, W. BAINBR1DGE. 
 
 Sce't/ of th& nc.vy. 
 
'Filial?*! 1 K»i $1 I 
 
 n ill . ft 
 BHft 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 77 
 
 LETTER FROM CAPT. HULL TO THE SECY OF THE NAVY. 
 
 Sir, Portland, September 7, 1813. 
 
 I had the honour last evening to forward you, by express, 
 through the hands of Commodore Bainbridge, a letter, re- 
 ceived from Samuel Storer Esq. navy agent at this place, 
 detailing an account of the capture of the British brig Box- 
 er, by the United States brig Enterprize. 
 
 I now have to inform you, that I left Portsmouth this 
 morning, and have this moment arrived, and, as the mail is 
 closing, I have only time to enclose you the report of Lt. 
 M'Cail, of the Enterprize, and to assure you that a statement 
 of the situation of the two vessels, as to the damage they 
 have received, &c. shall be forwarded as soon as surveys 
 can be made. The Boxer has received much damage in her 
 hull, masts, and sails ; indeed it was with difficulty she 
 could be kept afloat to get her in. The Enterprize is only 
 injured in her masts and sails. 
 
 I have the honour to be, &c. 
 
 Hon. William Jones, ISAAC HULL. 
 
 Secr'y of the navy. 
 
 OFFICIAL ACCOUNT. 
 
 United States brig Enterprize, 
 Sir, Portland, Sept. 7, 1813. 
 
 In consequence of the unfortunate death of Lieut. Will- 
 iam Burrows, late commander of this vessel, it devolves, 
 on me to acquaint you Avith the result of my cruise. After 
 sailing from Portsmouth, on the first inst. we steered to the 
 eastward ; and on the morning of the 3d, off Wood Island, 
 discovered a schooner, which we chased into this harbour 
 where we anchored. On the morning of the 4th weighed 
 anchor, and swept out, and continued our course to the 
 eastward. Having received information of several priva- 
 teers being off Manhagan, we stood for that place ; and on 
 the following morning, in the bay near Penguin Point, dis- 
 #orered a brig, getting under way, which appeared to be a 
 
78 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 vessel of war, and to which we immediately gave chase. 
 She fired several guns, and stood for us, having four ensigns 
 hoisted. After reconnoitring and discovering her force, and 
 the nation to which she belonged, we hauled upon a wind, 
 to stand out of the bay, and at 3 o'clock shortened sail, 
 tacked to run down, with an intention to bring her to close 
 action. At 20 minutes after 3 P. M. when within half pis- 
 tol shot, the firing commenced from both, and after being 
 warmly kept up, and with some maneuvering, the enemy 
 hailed, and said they had surrendered, about 4 P. M. their 
 colours being nailed to the masts, could not be hauled down. She 
 proved to be his B. M. brig Boxer, of 14 guns, Samuel 
 Blythe, Esq. commander, who fell m the early part of the 
 eno-acrement, having received a cannon shot through the 
 body. And I am sorry to add, that Lieut. Burrows, who 
 had gallantly led us into action, fell also about the same 
 time by a musket ball, which terminated his existence in 8 
 hours. 
 
 The Enterprize suffered much in spars and rigging, and 
 the Boxer in spars, rigging, and hull, having many shots be- 
 tween wind and water. 
 
 It would be doing injustice to the merit of Mr. Tilling- 
 hast, 2d lieutenant, were I not to mention the able assistance 
 I received from him during the remainder of the engage- 
 ment, by his strict attention to his own division and other 
 departments, and of the officers and crew generally, I am 
 happy to add, their cool and determined conduct have my 
 warmest approbation and applause. 
 
 As no muster roll, that can be fully relied on, has come 
 into my possession, I cannot exactly state the number killed 
 and wounded on board the Boxer, but from information re- 
 ceived from the officers of that vessel, it appears there were 
 between 20 and 35 killed, and 14 wounded. Enclosed is a 
 list of the killed and wounded on board the Enterprize. 
 I have the honour to be, &c. 
 
 EDWARD R. M'CALL, Senior officer. 
 
 Isaac Hull. Esq. Commanding 
 naval officer on the eastern station. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 79 
 
 Liit of killed and wounded on board the United States bris Enter- 
 prize, in the engagement with the British brig Boxer, the 5th of 
 September 1813. 
 
 Killed, Nathaniel Garren, ordinary seaman. 
 
 Wounded, William Burrows Esq, commander, (since 
 dead ;) Kervin Waters, midshipman, mortally ; Elisha Blos- 
 som, carpenter's mate, (since dead,) David Norton, quarter- 
 master : Russel Coats, do.; Thomas Owings, do.; Benjamin 
 Cammon, boatswain's mate ; Scuiler Prapley, seaman ; 
 James Snow, do.; Snow Jones, do.; Peter Barnard, ordin- 
 ary seaman ; William Thomas 2d, seaman ; John Fitzmere, 
 marine. 
 
 Killed, 1. Wounded, 13. Since dead of wounds, 3. 
 EDWARD R M'CALL, Senior officer. 
 
 LETTER FROM ISAAC HULL ESQ. TO THE SECRETARY 
 
 OF THE NAVY. 
 
 * U. S. Navy Yard, Portsmouth, 
 
 Sir, September, 14, 1813. 
 
 I have the honour to forward you by mail the flags of the 
 late British brig Boxer, which were nailed to her mast heads 
 at the time she engaged, and was captured by the U. S. 
 brig Enterprise. Great as the pleasure is that I derive from 
 performing this part of my duty, I need not tell you how 
 different my feelings would have been, could the gallant 
 Burrows have had this honour. He went into action most 
 gallantly, and the difference of injury done the two vessels 
 proves how nobly he fought. 
 
 I have the honour to be &c. 
 
 ISAAC HULL. 
 
 EXTRACT OF A LETTER FR03I COMMODORE HULL TO 
 COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 
 
 September, 10, 1813. 
 " I yesterday visited the two brigs, and was astonished to 
 seethe difference of injury sustained in the action. 
 
80 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 The Enteryrize has but one 18 pound shot in her hull, 
 one in her mainmast, and one in her foremast ; her sails are 
 much cut with grape shot, and there are a great number of 
 grape lodged in her sides, but no injury done by them. — 
 The Boxer has eighteen or twenty 18 pound shot in her hull, 
 most of them at the water's edge, several stands of 18 
 pound grape stick in her side, and such a quantity of small 
 grape, that I did not undertake to count them- Her masts, 
 sails, and spars are literally cut to pieces, several of her 
 guns dismounted, and unfit for service ; her top-gallant 
 forecastle nearly taken off by the shot, her boats cut to pie- 
 ces, and her quarters injured in proportion. To give you 
 an idea of the quantity of shot about her, I inform you, that 
 I counted in her main-mast alone three 18 pound shot holes, 
 18 large grape shot holes, 16 musket ball holes, and a large 
 number of smaller shot holes, without counting above the 
 cat harpins. 
 
 We find it impossible to get at the number killed ; no pa- 
 pers are found, by which we can ascertain it. I however 
 counted upwards of 90 hammocks, which were in her net- 
 ting with beds in them, besides several beds without ham- 
 mocks ; and she has excellent accommodations for all her 
 officers below in state rooms ; so that I have no doubt, that 
 she had 100 men on board. We know that she has several 
 of the Rattler's men. on board, and a quantity of wads was 
 taken out of the Rattler, loaded with four large grape shot, 
 with a small hole in the centre, to put in a cartridge, that 
 the inside of the wad may take fire when it leaves the gun : 
 in short, she is in every respect completely fitted, and her 
 accommodations exceed any thing I have seen in a vessel of 
 her class." 
 
 Remarks. There have been various opinions respecting 
 the relative force of the vessels ; and some ungenerous at- 
 tempts have been made to diminish the splendor of the vic- 
 tory. The foregoing extracts settle the question of force 
 and skill. It appears, that in number of men the enemy 
 were equal ; in number of guns it is well known the enemy 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 81 
 
 were superior ; and the vast difference of execution confirms 
 (if confirmation were wanted) the fact of the high degree 
 of the superiority of our seamen in the art of gunnery. 
 
 In addition to the particulars officially given, we have 
 the following from other sources. The Enterprize rates as 
 12 guns, but carries 16, viz. 14 eighteen pound carronades 
 and 2 long 9s ; her officers and crew consisted of 102 per- 
 sons, and her burthen is about 265 tons. The Boxer rates as 
 a 14 gun brig, but carries 18, viz. sixteen 18 pound carron- 
 ades, and 2 long 9s ; her force, at the time of the action, was 
 104 men, and her burthen is about 300 tons. The first is an 
 old, light built vessel, the latter is new and very strong. 
 
 For several days before the Boxer sailed from St. John's, 
 great exertions were made by the government officers, as 
 well as the magistrates of the place, to man and equip her 
 in a perfect manner to fight the Enterprize. Capt. Blythe 
 sailed with the most confident belief of speedily returning 
 to port, crowned with the same laurels, that decked the brow 
 of Broke. 
 
 Soon after the arrival of the Enterprize, and her prize at 
 Portland, the bodies of the two commanding officers, Lieut. 
 Burrows and Capt. Blythe, were brought on shore in ten- 
 oared barges, rowed at minute strokes, by masters of ships, 
 accompanied by most of the barges and boats in the har- 
 bour, while minute guns were fired from the two vessels. 
 A grand procession was then formed, which moved through 
 the principal streets, to the Rev. Mr. Payson's meeting house, 
 where the rites of sepulture were performed, with appro- 
 priate music, and from thence to the place of interment. 
 
 The order of procession was as follows : 
 
 Military escort, 
 
 Composed of a rifle company and two companies of infantry. 
 
 Selectmen of Portland. 
 
 Town Treasurer and Sheriff of the countv. 
 
 Town Clerk and other municipal officers. 
 
 The Reverend Clergy. 
 
 13 
 
82 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 Mr. Le Sassier, trt Mr. Shields, 
 
 IN ^ 
 
 Mr. O'Neal, g o § Mr. Turner, 
 
 Mr. Tillinghast, M Mr. M'Call. 
 
 Chief mourners. 
 
 Dr. Washington, Capt. Hull. 
 
 Officers of the brig Enterprize. 
 
 Crew of the brig Enterprize. 
 
 Lemuel Weeks, jun. ^ William Merrill^ 
 
 Seth Barnes, 2 o ^ James Combs, 
 
 Joshua Knights, PQ John Alden. 
 
 Officers of the brig Boxer, as mourners, 
 
 and Officers on Parole. 
 
 Crew of the brig Boxer. 
 
 Officers of the United States Navy. 
 
 Ship Masters and Mates. 
 
 Marshal of Maine. 
 
 Navv Agent, and 
 
 The late Consul General to the Barbary Powers. 
 
 Collector of the Port, and Surveyor. 
 
 Superintendant General of Military Supplies. 
 
 Officers of the Army of the United States. 
 
 Militarv Officers of the State, in uniform. 
 
 Judges, and other Civil Officers of the United States 
 
 Members of Congress. 
 
 Judiciary of the Commonwealth. 
 
 Members of the State Legislature. 
 
 Civil Officers of the State. 
 
 Portland Marine Society. 
 
 Presidents, Directors and Officers of the Banks, and 
 
 Insurance offices. 
 
 Citizens in general. 
 
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NAVAL MONUMENT. 83 
 
 The funeral was attended with all the honours that the 
 civil and military authorities of the place, and the great 
 body of the people could bestow. The whole scene was 
 strikingly impressive. The bells were tolled, and two 
 companies of artillery fired minute guns, which were repea- 
 ted from forts Preble and Scammel. 
 
 Lieut. Burrows was a young man of uncommon worth. 
 He was the son of Col. Burrows, of South Carolina, for- 
 merly of the marine corps. He lived with honour, and 
 died with glory. By his early death"* his country has lost 
 an able commander, and his two surviving sisters a brother, 
 whose excellencies they will never cease to remember. He 
 was intelligent, intrepid, generous and humane. He was 
 ambitious to add lustre to the American navy, and eagerly 
 rushed into a combat, which issued in a signal victory over 
 a superior force. He received a mortal wound at the com- 
 mencement of the action, but refused to be carried below 
 until the sword of his enemy was presented to him. He 
 seized it with both hands, and exclaimed, " / am satisfied, I 
 die contented,' 1 '' and soon expired. Of Lieut. M'Callf the 
 public will judge by the termination of the fight, and his 
 modest account of it. Capt. Blakely, late of the Enterprize, 
 to whom certainly some part of the credit is due for the 
 complete discipline of the men, had a short time before left 
 that vessel, to superintend the building and fitting out of a 
 new sloop of war, which he was to command. 
 
 Capt. Blythe, killed on board the Boxer, had distinguish- 
 ed himself at the conquest of Cayenne, and received of the 
 Prince Regent of England a handsome present in money, 
 to purchase a sword or some other memorial. His oppo- 
 nent, the invincible Burrows, had little or no experience 
 in the business of a battle, and Lieut. M'Call, on whom the 
 command of the Enterprize devolved, had never seen a fight. 
 
 * He had just entered his twenty eighth year. 
 
 t Lieut. M'Call is a native of South Carolina. 
 
84 NAVAL xMONUMENT. 
 
 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE. 
 
 COPY OF A LETTER FROM COMMODORE PERRY TO THE 
 
 SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. 
 
 U. S. Brig Niagara, off the Western Sister, 
 Sir, Lake Erie, Sept. 10, 1813. 
 
 It has pleased the Almighty to give to the arms of the 
 United States a signal victory over their enemies on this 
 lake': The British squadron, consisting of 2 ships, 2 brigs, 
 1 schooner, and 1 sloop, have this moment surrendered to 
 the force under my command, after a sharp conflict. 
 I have the honour to be, Sir, very respectfully, 
 
 your obedient servant, 
 Hon. William Jones OH. PERRY.* 
 
 Sec'y of the navy. 
 
 LETTERS FROM COM. PERRY TO MAJ. GEN. HARRISON. 
 
 U. S. Brig Niagara, off the Western Sister, 
 Dear General, Lake Erie, Sept. 10, 1813. 
 
 We have met the enemy ; and they are ours ! 2 ships, 2 
 brigs, 1 schooner, and 1 sloop. 
 
 Yours with great respect and esteem, 
 Gen. Harrison. O. H. PERRY. 
 
 Dear Sir, September 11, 1813. 
 
 We have a great number of prisoners, which I wish to 
 land: will you be so good as to order a guard to receive 
 them; and inform me of the place ? Considerable numbers 
 have been killed and wounded on both sides. From the 
 best information, we have more prisoners than we have 
 men on board our vessels. In great haste, 
 
 yours very truly, 
 Gen. Harrison. 0. H. PERRY. 
 
 * Com. Perry is a native of Newport R. I. and son of Com. Christopher 
 R.Perry, who formerly commanded the frigate General Green. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. SS 
 
 COPY OF A LETTER FROM COMMODORE PERRY TO THE 
 
 SECRETARY t OF THE NAVY. 
 
 U- S. Schooner Ariel, Put-in-Bay, 
 Sir, September 13, 1813. 
 
 In my last I informed you that we had captured the 
 enemy's fleet on this lake. I have now the honour to give 
 you the most important particulars of the action. On the 
 morning of the 10th instant, at sunrise, they were discov- 
 ered from Put-in-Bay, where I lay at anchor with the 
 squadron under my command. We got under way, the 
 wind light at S. W. and stood for them. At 10 A. M. the 
 wind hauled to S. E. and brought us to windward : form- 
 ed the line and bore up. At 15 minutes before 12, the ene- 
 my commenced firing; at 5 minutes before 12, the action 
 commenced on our part. Finding their fire very destructive, 
 owing to their long guns, and its being mostly directed at 
 the Lawrence, I made sail and directed the other vessels to 
 follow for the purpose of closing with the enemy. Every 
 brace and bow-line being shot away, she became unman- 
 ageable, notwithstanding the great exertions of the sailing 
 master. In this situation she sustained the action upwards 
 of 2 hours within cannister distance, until every gun was 
 rendered useless, and the greater part of her crew either 
 killed or wounded. Finding she could no longer annoy the 
 the enemy, I left her in charge of Lieut Yarn all, who I was 
 convinced, from the bravery already displayed by him, 
 would do what would comport with the honour of the flag. 
 At half past two, the wind springing up, Capt. Elliott was 
 enabled to bring his vessel, the Niagara, gallantly into close 
 action : I immediately went onboard of her, when he anti- 
 cipated my wish by volunteering to bring the schooners 
 which had been kept astern by the lightness of the wind, 
 into close action. It was with unspeakable pain, that I saw, 
 soon after I got on board the Niagara, the flag of the Law- 
 rence came down, although I was perfectly sensible that she 
 had been defended to the last, and that to have continued 
 
86 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 to make a shoAV of resistance would have been a wanton sac- 
 rifice of the remains of her brave crew. But the enemy was 
 not able to take possession of her, and circumstances soon 
 permitted her flag again to be hoisted. 
 
 At 45 minutes past 2, the signal was made for " close ac- 
 tion." The Niagara being very little injured, I determin- 
 ed to pass through the enemy's line, bore up and passed 
 ahead of their two ships and a brig, giving a raking fire to 
 them from the starboard guns, and to a large schooner and 
 sloop from the larboard side at half pistol shot distance. 
 The smaller vessels at this time having got within grape 
 andcannister distance, under the direction of Capt. Elliott, 
 and keeping up a well directed fire, the two ships, a brig 
 and a schooner surrendered, a schooner and sloop making a 
 vain attempt to escape. 
 
 Those officers and men who were immediately under my 
 observation evinced the greatest gallantry, and I have no 
 doubt that all others conducted themselves as became Amer- 
 ican officers and seamen. Lieut. Yarnall, first of the Laic- 
 rence, although several times wounded, refused to quit 
 the deck- Midshipman Forrest (doing duty as lieu- 
 tenant) and Sailing-Master Tailor, were of great assistance 
 to me. I have great pain in stating to you the death of Lt. 
 Brooks of the marines, and Midshipman Laub, both of the 
 Laurence, and Midshipman John Clarke of the Scorpion : 
 they were valuable and promising officers. Mr. Hambleton, 
 purser, who volunteered his services on deck, was severely 
 wounded late in the action. Midshipmen Claxon and 
 Swartwout of the Lawrence, were severely wounded. On 
 board of the Niagara, Lieutenants Smith and Edwards, and 
 Midshipman Webster (doing duty as a sailing master,) be- 
 haved in a very handsome manner. Capt. Breevoort of the 
 army, who acted as a volunteer in the capacity of a marine 
 officer, on board that vessel, is an excellent and brave officer, 
 and with his musketry did great execution. Lieut. Turner, 
 commanding the Caledonia,, brought that vessel into action 
 in the most able manner, and is an officer that in all situa- 
 

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NAVAL MONUMENT. 87 
 
 tions may be relied on. The Ariel, Lieut. Packet, and 
 Scorpion, Sailing-Master Champlin, were enabled to get ear- 
 ly into action, and were of great service. Capt. Elliott 
 speaks in the highest terms of Mr. Magrath, purser, who 
 had been despatched in a boat on service previous to my 
 getting on board the Niagara ; and, being a seaman, since 
 the action has rendered essential service in taking charge of 
 one of the prizes. Of Capt. Elliott, already so well known 
 to the government, it would be almost superfluous to speak. 
 In this action he evinced his characteristic bravery and judg- 
 ment, and, since the close of the action, has given me the 
 most able and essential assistance. 
 
 I have the honour to enclose vou a return of the killed 
 and wounded, together with a statement of the relative force 
 of the squadrons. The captain and 1st lieutenant of the 
 Queen Charlotte and the 1st lieutenant of the Detroit were 
 killed : Capt. Barclay, senior officer, and the commander 
 of the Lady Prevost, severely wounded : the commander of 
 the Hunter and Chippeway slightly wounded. Their loss in 
 killed and wounded I have not yet been able to ascertain ; 
 it must however have been very great. 
 
 Very respectfully, I have the honour to be, 
 Sir, your obedient servant, 
 
 Hon. William Jones, 0. H. PERRY. 
 
 Sec'y of the navy. 
 
 EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM COMMODORE PERRY. 
 
 U. S. Schooner Ariel, Put-in- Bay, 
 Sir, September 13, 1813. 
 
 I have caused the prisoners taken on the 10th inst. to be 
 landed at Sandusky, and have requested Gen. Harrison to 
 have them marched to Chilicothe, and there wait until your 
 pleasure shall be known respecting them. 
 
 The Lawrence has been entirely cut up : it is absolutely ne- 
 cessary she should go into a safe harbour. I have there- 
 fore directed Lieut. Yarnall to proceed to Erie in her, with 
 the wounded of the fleet, and dismantle and get her over 
 the bar as soon as possible. 
 
88 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 The two ships in a heavy sea this day at anchor lost their 
 masts, being much injured in the action. I shall haul them 
 into the inner bay at this place, and moor them for the pres- 
 ent. The Detroit is a remarkably fine ship, sails well, and 
 is very strongly built. The Queen Charlotte is a much su- 
 periour vessel to what has been represented. The Lady 
 Prevost is a large, fine schooner. 
 
 I also beg your instructions respecting the wounded. I 
 am satisfied, Sir, that whatever steps I might take, governed 
 by humanity, would meet your approbation. Under this 
 impression, I have taken upon myself to promise Capt. Bar- 
 clay, who is very dangerously wounded, that he shall be 
 landed as near Lake Ontario as possible, and I had no doubt 
 you would allow me to parole him. He is under the im- 
 pression that nothing but leaving this part of the country 
 
 will save his life. 
 
 There is also a number of Canadians among the prison- 
 ers, many of whom have families. 
 I have the honour to be, Sir, 
 
 very respectfully, your obed't serv't, 
 Hon. William Jones, 0. H. PERRY. 
 
 Sec'y of the navy. 
 
 STATEMENT OF THE FORCE OF.THE BRIT'H SQUADRON. 
 
 Ship Detroit* - - 19 guns — 1 on pivot, and 2 howitzers. 
 
 Queen Charlotte, 17 do. 1 do. 
 Sch. Lady Prevost, 13 do. 1 do. 
 Brig Hunter, - - 10 do. 
 Sl'p Little Belt, - 3 do. 
 Sch. Chippeway, - 1 do. and 2 swivels — Total, 63 guns. 
 
 STATEMENT OF THE FORCE OF THE U. S. SQUADRON. 
 
 Brig Lawrence, - - 20 guns. 
 Niagara, - - 20 do. 
 Caledonia, - - 3 do. 
 
 *The Detroit is a new ship, very strongly built, and mounts long 24s, 
 18s and 12s. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 89 
 
 Sch. Ariel, - - 4 do. (one burst early in the action.) 
 
 Scorpion, - - 2 do. 
 Somers, - - 2 do. and 2 swivels. 
 Sl'pTrippe, - 1 do. 
 Sch. Tigress, - 1 do. 
 
 Porcupine, 1 do. — Total, 54 guns. 
 The exact number of the enemy's force has not been ascer- 
 tained, but I have good reason to believe that it exceeded 
 ours by nearly one hundred men. 
 
 List of killed and wounded on board the United States squadron 
 tinder command of O. H. Perry Esq. in the action of 10th 
 September, 1813. 
 On board the Lawrence. Killed — John Brooks, lieuten- 
 ant of marines ;* Henry Laub, midshipman ; Christian 
 Mayhew, quarter master ; James W. Allen, Joseph Kenne- 
 dy, seamen ; John C. Kelly, private in the - regiment ; John 
 Smith, Andrew Michael, Charles Pohig, Nelson Peters, 
 James Jones, John Rose, Thomas Butler, James Brown, sea- 
 men ; William Cranston, John Hoffman, ordinary seamen ; 
 James Carty, sail-maker's mate ; Wilson Mays, carpenter's 
 mate ; Ethelred Sykes, landsman ; Philip Starpley, corpo- 
 ral marines ; Jesse Harland, Abner Williams, privates — 22. 
 Wounded — John J. Yarnall, 1st lieutenant, slightly ; Du- 
 laney Forrest, 2d do. do.; William N. Taylor, sailing mas- 
 ter, do.; Samuel Hambleton, purser, severely ; Thomas 
 Claxton, Augustus Swartwout, midshipmen, severely ; Jo- 
 nas Stone, carpenter, slightly ; William C. Keen, master at 
 arms, do.; Francis Mason, John Newen, quarter master? 
 severely ; Joseph Lewis, Ezekiel Fowler, quarter masters, 
 slightly ; John E. Brown, quarter gunner, severely ; Wil- 
 liam Johnson, boatswain's mate, do ; James Helan, do. 
 slightly ; George Cornell, carpenter's mate, do.; Thomas 
 Hammond, armourer, do.; William Thomson, Geo. Vern- 
 um, James Moses, William Roe, Joseph Denning, William 
 
 * A son of the Hon. John Brooks of Medford, Mass. He was an accom- 
 plished gentleman and brave officer. 
 
 14 
 
 => 
 
90 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 Daring, John Clay, Stephen Fairfield, George Williams, 
 Lannon Huse, James Waddington, John Bnrnham, John 
 Bnrdeen, Andrew Mattison, William Dawson, seamen, se- 
 verely ; Robert Hill, seaman, slightly ; Jeremiah Easter- 
 brooke, Henry Schrceder, Benoni Price, Thomas Robin- 
 son, Peter Kinkley, Nathan Chapman, Thomas Hill, Bar- 
 ney M'Clair, Westerly Johnson, Samuel Spywood, Francis 
 Cummings, Thomas Reed, Charles Vandyke, William Simp- 
 son, Jesse Williams, ordinary seamen, severely ; James 
 Hadley, ordinary seaman, slightly ; James Bird, William 
 Burnett, William Baggs, David Christie, Henry Vanpool, 
 marines, severely ; Thomas Triff, Elijah Partin, John Ad- 
 ams, Charles Harrington, William B. Perkins, landsmen, se- 
 verely ; Nathaniel Wade, boy, do.; Newport Hazard, do. 
 slightly. — 61. 
 
 [On the morning of the action, the sick list of the Law- 
 rence contained 31 unfit for duty.] 
 
 On board the Niagara. Killed — Peter Morel, seaman, 
 Isaac Hardy, ord. seamen. — 2 
 
 Wounded. — John J. Edwards, lieutenant ; John C. 
 Cummings, midshipman ; Edward Martin, seaman, since 
 dead ; William Davis, ord. seaman, do. Joshua Trapnill, 
 marine, do.; Geo. Piatt, Henry Davidson, James Lansford, 
 Thomas Wilson, Charles Davidson, Daniel Bennet, seamen; 
 Rouvell Hall, Elias Wiley, John M. Stribuck, John Free- 
 man, ord. seamen ; John Filton, boatswain's mate ; Ser- 
 geant Mason, Corporal Scott, Thomas Miller, John Rumas, 
 George M'Manomy, George Scoffield, Samuel Cochran, 
 marines — 25. 
 
 [On the morning of the action, the sick Hit of the Niag- 
 ara contained 28 unfit for duty.] 
 
 On board the Caledonia. Wounded — James Artus, Isaac 
 Perkins, James Phillips, slightly — 3. 
 
 On board the Somcrs. Wounded — Charles Ordeen, God- 
 frey Bowman — 2. 
 
 On board the Ariel. Killed — John White, boatswain's 
 mate — 1 . 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 01 
 
 Wounded — William Sloss, ord. seaman, slightly ; Rob- 
 ert Wilson, seaman, do ; John Lucas, landsman, do. — 3. 
 
 Onboard the Trippe. Wounded — Isaac Green, soldier, 
 ,26th regiment, badly ; John Failes, do. 17th, slightly — 2. 
 
 Onboard the Porcupine. None killed or wounded. 
 
 On board the Scorpion. Killed — John Clark, midship- 
 man ; John Sylhamamer, landsman — 2 
 
 On board the Tigress. None killed or wounded. 
 
 [Two days previous to the action, 57 men unfit for ser- 
 vice in the small vessels.] 
 
 
 RECAPITULATION. 
 
 
 Killed. 
 
 Wounded. 
 
 Total. 
 
 Lawrence, 
 
 22 
 
 61 
 
 83 
 
 Niagara, 
 
 '2 
 
 25 
 
 27 
 
 Caledonia, 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 Somers, 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 Ariel, 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 Trippe, 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 Scorpion, 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 27 96 123 
 
 S. HAMBLETON, Purser. 
 0. H. PERRY, Captain. 
 
 and senior officer. 
 
 Of the 96 wounded in the battle of Lake Erie, only four 
 died : most of the wounded were fit for duty in a short 
 time. 
 
 Just before the battle, Com. Perry hoisted the union jack, 
 having for a motto the dying words of Lawrence, " don't 
 give up the ship." It was received with repeated huzzas by 
 the officers and crews. 
 
 The victory of Com. Perry was* the result of skill, cour- 
 age, and enterprise, against superiour force. Both the qual- 
 ity and amount of the force he had to_ contend with, ought 
 to have given a triumph to the other side ; and at the time 
 
n NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 of the surrender, the odds were increased against him, since 
 his own ship, after having suffered more than perhaps a ves- 
 sel of the same size and force ever did before, had been 
 compelled to strike. The immediate termination of the bat- 
 tle appears to have been decided by the bold Nelsonian meas- 
 ure, of breaking through the British line and coming to 
 close action. 
 
 EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM A NAVAL OFFICER AT 
 
 ERIE. 
 
 October 7, 1813. 
 
 " Had I been able, I should before now have sent you 
 some particulars of the action of the memorable 10th of 
 September. As we have not many letter writers in our 
 squadron, the public will have to put up with the Commo- 
 dore's ' round, unvarnished tale ;' which however is very 
 well told. All the fault I find with it is, that he himself is 
 too much in the back ground. 
 
 " In no action fought this war has the conduct of the 
 commanding officer been so conspicuous or so'evidently de- 
 cisive of the fate of the battle, as in this. When he dis- 
 covered that nothing further could be done in the Lawrence, 
 he wisely removed to the Niagara, and by one of the bold- 
 est and most judicious manoeuvres ever practised, decided 
 the contest at once. Had the Niagara shared the fate of 
 the Lawrence, it was his intention to have removed to the 
 next best vessel, and so on as long as one of his squadron 
 continued to float. The enemy saw him put off, and ac- 
 knowledge that they fired a broadside at him. With his 
 usual gallantry he went off standing up in the stern of the 
 boat ; but the crew insisted on his sitting down. The ene- 
 my speak with admiration of the manner in which the 
 Lawrence bore down upon them. She continued her course 
 so long and so obstinaielv, that thev thought we were croin^ 
 to board them. They had a great advantage in having long 
 guns. Many of our men were killed on the birth deck and 
 in the steerage, nfter they were taken below to be dressed — 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 93 
 
 Midshipman Laub was of this number. One shot went 
 through the light room, and knocked the snuff of the can- 
 dle into the magazine — the gunner happened to see it imme- 
 diately, and extinguished it with his hand : 2 shot passed 
 through the magazine ; 2 through the cabin ; 3 or 4 came 
 into the ward room — but I believe only one went quite 
 through, and that passed a few inches over the surgeon's 
 head as he sat in the cockpit. Our short guns lodged their 
 shot in the bulwarks of the Detroit ; where a number of 
 them now remain. Her bulwarks however were vastly su- 
 periour to ours, being of oak and very thick. Many of 
 their grape shot came through ours. They acknowledge 
 that they threw combustible matter on board of us, which 
 set our sails and rigging on fire in several places. I am 
 clearly of opinion, that they were better manned than we 
 were. They had a much greater number — they had veteran 
 troops — their men were all well. We had as motley a crew 
 as ever went into action ; and our vessels looked like hospi- 
 tal ships. 
 
 " During the whole of the action the most complete or- 
 der prevailed on board the Lawrence. There was no noise, 
 no bustle, no confusion. As fast as the men were wounded 
 they were taken below and replaced by others. The dead 
 remained where they fell until the action was over. Capt. 
 Perry exhibited that cool, collected, dignified bravery, 
 which those acquainted with him would have expected. — 
 His countenance all the time was just as composed as if he 
 had been engaged in ordinary duty. As soon as the action 
 was over he gave all his attention to the securing of the 
 prisoners and to the wounded on both sides. Capt. Bar- 
 clay declared to one of our officers, several days after the 
 action, that Capt. Perry had done himself immortal hon- 
 our by his humanity and attention to the wounded prison- 
 ers. The action was fought on Friday — Ave got into har- 
 bour next day. On Sunday all the officers on both sides, 
 who fell, were buried on South Bass Island, at Put-in-Bay, 
 with the honours of war. 
 
94 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 " I am sorry to inform you that Midshipman Claxton died 
 of his wounds this morning;. 
 
 " There were two Indian chiefs on board the Detroit. 
 The 2d lieutenant informed me, that as soon as the action 
 became general they ran below." 
 
 The suit of Com. Perry, on his arrival at Newport, R. I. 
 consisted of his brother, and the four sailors that rowed 
 him from the Lawrence to the Niagara. It is said that in pas- 
 sing from the Lawrence to the Niagara, in an open boat, the 
 gallant commodore stood up until he received two broad- 
 sides, directed at his little barque from the enemy, and was 
 then pulled down by the skirts of his coat, by the faithful 
 tars, that accompanied him. > 
 
 Com. Barclay certainly did himself honour by a brave 
 and obstinate resistance. He had seen much service, hav- 
 ing been dangerously wounded in the battle of Trafalgar, 
 and afterwards losing an arm in another engagement with 
 the French. In this battle, he was twice carried below, on 
 account of his wounds, and unfortunately lost his remain- 
 ing hand. 
 
 At a public dinner and ball, given to Com. Barclay, at 
 Terrebonne, (Canada) this gallant, but unfortunate officer, 
 gave the following toast: — "Commodore Perry, the gallant 
 and generous enemy.'''' 
 
 Gen. Harrison sent reinforcements to assist Com. Perry 
 in the action, which terminated in the capture of the whole 
 British fleet. In return, Com. Perry volunteered with 
 Gen. Harrison, and assisted him in the capture of the Brit- 
 ish army. 
 
 In the following letter justice is done to the zeal of Gen. 
 Harrison and his gallant soldiers. 
 
 Sir, U. S. Schooner Ariel, Sept. 15, 1813. 
 
 The very great assistance, in the action of the 10th inst. 
 derived from those men you were pleased to send on board 
 the squadron, renders it a duty to return you my sincere 
 thanks for so timclv a reinforcement. In fact, Sir, I may 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 95 
 
 say, without those men the victory could not have been 
 achieved ; and equally to assure you, that those officers and 
 men behaved as became good soldiers and seamen. Those 
 who were under my immediate observation, evinced great 
 ardour and bravery. Capt. Prevort, of the 2d company of 
 infantry, serving on board the Niagara, I beg leave to re- 
 commend particularly to your notice : he is a brave and 
 gallant officer, and as far as I am capable of judging, an 
 excellent one. I am convinced you will present the merit of 
 this officer to the view of the Hon. Secretary of War, as I 
 shall to the Hon. Secretary of the Navy. 
 Very respectfully, I am, sir, 
 
 your obedient servant, 
 Maj. Gen.W. H. Harrison, 0. H. PERRY. 
 
 Commander in chief of the JV. W. army. 
 
 An officer on board the Lawrence, and a volunteer on 
 board the same vessel, having circulated a report, that the 
 Niagara, commanded by Capt. Jesse D. Elliott, had not ta- 
 ken an active part in the battle, the following notes of Cap- 
 tains Perry and Elliott are inserted, which prove the report 
 to have been totally false. 
 
 United States Brig Niagara, 
 Sir, Put-in-Bay, September 18, 1813. 
 
 I am informed a report has been circulated by some ma- 
 licious person, prejudicial to my vessel, when engaged with 
 the enemy's fleet. I will thank you, if you will, with can- 
 dour, state to me the conduct of myself, officers and crew. 
 
 Respectfully your obedient servant, 
 Capt. O. H. Perry. JESSE D. ELLIOTT. 
 
 United States Schooner Ariel, 
 My dear sir, Put-in-Bay, September 18, 1813. 
 
 I received your note last evening after I had turned in, 
 or I should have answered it immediately. I am indig- 
 nant that any report should be circulated, prejudicial to 
 your character, as respects the action of the 10th instant. 
 
9G NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 It affords me great pleasure that I have it in my power to 
 assure you, that the conduct of yourself, officers, and crew 
 was such as to meet my warmest approbation. And I con- 
 sider the circumstance of your volunteering and bringing 
 the small vessels into close action, as contributing largely to 
 o ur victory. I shall ever believe it a premeditated plan to 
 destroy our commanding vessel. I have no doubt had not 
 the Queen Charlotte run from the Niagara, from the superi- 
 our order I observed her in, you would have taken her in 
 twenty minutes. 
 
 With sentiments of esteem I am, dear Sir, 
 
 your friend and obedient servant, 
 Capt. J. D. Elliott. O. H. PERRY. 
 
 The following is the opinion of the court of inquiry, 
 held on board the United States sloop of war Ontario, in 
 the harbour of New York, in pursuance of the following 
 orders. 
 
 Sir, Navy Department, April 20, 1815. 
 
 It has been stated to this department, that by the proceed- 
 ings of a court of inquiry, in Great Britain, ordered to in- 
 vestigate the causes of the loss of the British fleet on Lake 
 Erie, on the 10th of September 1813, the conduct of Capt. 
 Jesse D. Elliott, of the United States navy, who command- 
 ed the brig Niagara on that day, is misrepresented ; justice 
 to the reputation of Capt. Elliott, and to the navy of the 
 United States, requires that a true statement of the facts in 
 relation to his conduct on that occasion, be exhibited to the 
 world. The court therefore, of which you are president, 
 will immediately proceed to inquire into the same, to as- 
 certain the part he sustained in the action of that day, and 
 report its opinion thereon to this department. 
 
 I am very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 Com. Alex. Murray, B. W. CROWNINGSHIELD. 
 New York. 
 
 The court of inquiry, convened at the request of Capt. 
 Jesse D. Elliott, having deliberately examined all the evi- 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 97 
 
 denccs produced before them, for the purpose of investiga- 
 ting his conduct in the glorious battle on Lake Erie, on the 
 10th of September 1813, in which he bore so conspicuous a 
 part, sincerely regret, that there should have been any di- 
 versity of opinion respecting the events of that day ; and 
 imperious duty compels the court to promulgate testimony 
 that appears materially to vary in some of its important 
 points. The court however feel convinced, that the at- 
 tempts to wrest from Capt. Elliott the laurels he gained in 
 that splendid victory, as second in command under that gal- 
 lant and highly meritorious officer, Capt. Perry, ought in 
 no wise to lessen him in the opinion of his fellow citizens, 
 as a brave and skilful officer, and that the charge made in 
 the proceedings of the British court martial, by which Capt. 
 Barclay was tried, of his attempting to withdraw from the 
 battle, is malicious, and unfounded in fact. On the contra- 
 ry, it has been proved to the satisfaction of this court, that 
 the enemy's ship, Queen Charlotte, bore off from the fire of 
 the Niagara, commanded by Capt. Elliott. 
 
 ALEXANDER MURRAY, Pres. 
 
 HENRY WHEATON,J M %e^. 
 Approved, B. W. Crowningshield. 
 
 LOSS OF THE ESSEX. 
 
 COPY OF A LETTER FROM CAPTAIN PORTER, TO THE 
 
 SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. 
 
 Sir, Essex Junior, at sea, July 3, 1814. 
 
 I have done myself the honour to address you repeatedly, 
 since I left the Delaware ; but have scarcely a hope that one 
 of my letters has reached you ; therefore consider it ne- 
 cessary to give a brief history of my proceeding since that 
 period. 
 
 I sailed from the Delaware on the 27th of October 1812, 
 and repaired, with all diligence, (agreeably to instruction 
 from Com. Bainbridge) to Port Praya, Fernando de Noron- 
 ho, and Cape Frio ; and arrived at each place on the day 
 
 15 
 
98 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 appointed to meet him. On my passage from Port Pray a 
 to Fernando de Noronho, I captured H. B. M. packet Noc- 
 ton ; and after taking out about 11,000/. sterling in specie, 
 sent her under command of Lieut. Finch, for America. I 
 cruised off Rio de Janeiro, and about Cape Frio, until the 
 12th January 1813, hearing frequently of the Commodore, 
 by vessels from Bahia. I here captured but one schooner, 
 with hides and tallow. I sent her into Rio. The Montague, 
 the admiral's ship, being in pursuit of me, my provisions 
 now getting short, and finding it necessary to look out for a 
 supply, to enable me to meet the commodore by the 1st of 
 April off St. Helena, I proceed to the Island of St. Cathar- 
 ines, (the last place of rendezvous on the coast of Brazil) 
 as the most likely to supply my wants, and at the same time 
 afford me that secrecy necessary to enable me to elude the 
 British ships of war on the coast, and expected there. I 
 here could procure only wood, water and rum, and a few 
 bags of flour ; and hearing of the commodore's action with 
 the Java, the capture of the Hornet by the Montague, and a 
 considerable augmentation of the British force on the coast, 
 and of several being in pursuit of me, I found it necessary 
 to get to sea as soon as possible. I now, agreeably to the 
 commodore's plan, stretched to the southward, scouring the 
 coast as far as Rio de la Plata. I heard that Buenos Avres 
 was in a state of starvation, and could not supply our 
 wants ; and that the government of Montevideo was very 
 inimical to us. The commodore's instructions now left it 
 discretionary with me what course to pursue, and I deter- 
 mined on following that which had not only met his appro- 
 bation, but the approbation of the then secretary of the 
 navy. I accordingly shaped my course for the Pacific ; and 
 after suffering greatly from short allowance of provisions 
 and heavy gales off Cape Ho mi (for which my ship and 
 men were illy provided) I arrived at Valparaiso on the 14th 
 March 1813. I here took in as much jerked beef, and oth- 
 er provisions, as my ship would conveniently stow, and run 
 down the coast of Chili nnd Peru ; in this track, I fell in 
 
rem a 
 
 NAVAL MONUMENT 
 
 99 
 
 with a Peruvian corsair, which had on beard 24 American* 
 as prisoners, the crews of 2 whale ships, which she had 
 taken on the coast of Chili. The captain informed me, 
 that as the allies of Great Britain, they would capture all 
 they should meet with, in expectation of a war between 
 Spain and the United States. I consequently threw all his 
 guns and ammunition into the sea, liberated the Americans, 
 wrote a respectful letter to the Vice Roy, explaining the 
 cause of my proceedings, which I delivered to her captain. 
 I then proceeded for Lima, and re-captured one of the ves- 
 sels as she was entering the port. From thence I proceed- 
 ed for the Gallapagos islands, where I cruised from the 17th 
 April, until the 3d October, 1813 ; during which time I 
 touched only once on the coast of America, which was for 
 the purpose of procuring a supply of fresh water, as none 
 is to be found among those islands ; which are perhaps the 
 most barren and desolate of any known. 
 
 While among this group, I captured the following Brit- 
 ish ships, employed chiefly in the spermaceti whale fishery 
 — viz. 
 
 LETTERS OF MARQUE. 
 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Men. 
 
 Guns. 
 
 Pierced for 
 
 Montezuma, 
 
 270 
 
 21 
 
 2 
 
 
 Policy, 
 
 175 
 
 26 
 
 10 
 
 18 
 
 Georgiana, 
 
 280 
 
 25 
 
 6 
 
 18 
 
 Greenwich, 
 
 338 
 
 25 
 
 10 
 
 20 
 
 Atlantic, 
 
 353 
 
 24 
 
 8 
 
 20 
 
 Rose, 
 
 220 
 
 21 
 
 8 
 
 20 
 
 Hector, 
 
 270 
 
 25 
 
 11 
 
 20 
 
 Catharine, 
 
 270 
 
 29 
 
 8 
 
 18 
 
 Seringapatam, 
 
 357 
 
 31 
 
 14 
 
 26 
 
 Charlton, 
 
 274 
 
 21 
 
 10 
 
 18 
 
 New Zealander 
 
 , 259 
 
 23 
 
 8 
 
 13 
 
 Sir A. Hammon 
 
 id, 301 
 
 31 
 
 12 
 
 18 
 
 $369 
 
 302 
 
 107 
 
100 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 As some of those ships were captured by boats, and oth- 
 ers by prizes, my officers and men had several opportunities 
 of shewing their gallantry. 
 
 The Rose and Charlton were given up to the prisoners ; 
 the Hector, Catharine, nm\ JlTontezuma, I sent to Valparaiso, 
 where they were laid up ; the Policy, Georgiana, and New- 
 Zealandcr I sent for America ; the Greenwich I kept as a store 
 ship, to contain the stores of my other prizes, necessary for 
 us ; and the Atlantic, now called the Essex-Junior, I equip- 
 ped with 20 guns, and gave command of her to Lieut. 
 Downes. 
 
 Lieut. Downes had convoyed the prizes to Valparaiso, 
 and on his return brought me letters informing me, that a 
 squadron under the command of Com. James Hillyar, con- 
 sisting of the frigate Phccbe, of 36 guns, the Racoon and 
 Cherub sloops of war, and a store ship of 20 guns, had sail- 
 ed on the 6th of July for this sea. The Racoon and Cherub 
 had been seeking me for some time on the coast of Brazil, 
 and on their return from their cruise, joined the squadron 
 sent in search of me to the Pacific. My ship, as it may be 
 supposed, after being near a year at sea, required some re- 
 pairs to put her in a state to meet them ; which I determin- 
 ed to do, and to bring them to action, if I could meet them 
 on nearly equal terms. I proceeded now, in company with 
 the remainder of my prizes, to the island of Nooaheevah, 
 or Madison Island, lying in the Washington groupe, disco- 
 vered by Capt. Ingraham of Boston : here I caulked and 
 completely overhauled my ship, made for her a new set of 
 water casks, her old ones being entirely decayed, and took 
 on board from my prizes provisions and stores for upwards 
 of four months, and sailed for the coast of Chili on the 12th 
 December, 1813. Previous to sailing, I secured the Seren- 
 gapatam, Greenwhh, and Sir JUndrew Hammond under the 
 guns of a battery, which I erected for their protection. Af- 
 ter taking possession of this fine island for the United States, 
 and establishing the most friendly intercourse with the na- 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 101 
 
 tives, I left them under the charge of Lieut. Gamble of the 
 marines, with twenty-one men, with orders to repair to 
 Valparaiso, after a certain period. 
 
 I arrived on the coast of Chili on the 12th January, 1814 ; 
 looked into Conception and Valparaiso, found at both pla- 
 ces only three English vessels, and learned that the squadron, 
 which sailed from Rio de Janeiro for that sea, had not been 
 heard of since their departure ; and were supposed to be 
 lost in endeavouring to double Cape-Horn. 
 
 1 had completely broken up the British navigation in the 
 Pacific ; the vessels which had not been captured by me, 
 were laid up, and dared not venture out. I had afforded 
 the most ample protection to our own vessels, which were 
 on my arrival, very numerous and unprotected. The valu- 
 able whale fishery there is entirely destroyed, and the actu- 
 al injury we have done them may be estimated at two and a 
 half millions of dollars, independent of the expenses of the 
 vessels in search of me. They have furnished me amply 
 with sales, cordage, cables, anchors, provisions, medicines, 
 and stores of every description ; and the slops on board 
 them have furnished clothing for the seamen. We have in 
 fact lived on the enemy since I have been in that sea, every 
 prize having proved a well found store-ship for me. I had 
 not yet been under the necessity of drawing bills on the de- 
 partment for any object, and had been enabled to make con- 
 siderable advances to my officers and crew on account of 
 pay. 
 
 For the unexampled time we had kept the sea, my crew 
 had been remarkably healthy ; I had but one case of the 
 scurvy ; and had lost only the following men by death, viz. 
 John S. Cowan, lieutenant ; Robert Miller, surgeon ; Levi 
 Holmes, Edward Sweeney, ord. seamen ; Samuel Groce, 
 seaman ; James Spafford, gunner's mate ; Benjamin Geers, 
 John Rodgers, quarter-gunners ; Andrew Mahan, corporal 
 of marines ; Lewis Price, private marine. 
 
 I had done all the injury that could be done the British 
 commerce in the Pacific, and still hoped to signalize iny 
 
102 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 cruise by something more splendid before leaving that sea. 
 I thought it not improbable that Com. Hillyar might have 
 kept his arrival secret, and believing that he would seek me 
 at Valparaiso, as the most likely place to find me, I there- 
 fore determined to cruise about that place, and should I fail 
 of meeting him, hoped to be compensated by the capture of 
 some merchant ships, said to be expected from England. 
 
 The Plutbe, agreeably to my expectations, came to seek 
 me at Valparaiso, where I was anchored with the Essex, and 
 my armed prize the Essex-Junior, under the command of 
 Lieut. Dowries, on the look out of the harbour ; but con- 
 trary to the course I thought he would pursue, Com. Hill- 
 yar brought with him the Cherub sloop of war, mounting 
 twenty-eight guns, eighteen 32 pound carronades, eight 24s, 
 and two long 9s on the quarter deck and forecastle, and a 
 complement of 180 men. The force of the Pluebe is as fol- 
 lows : — thirty long 18 pounders, sixteen 32 pound carron- 
 ades, one howitzer, and six three pounders in the tops, in 
 all fifty-three guns, and a complement of 320 men ; making 
 a force of eighty-one guns and 500 men ; in addition to 
 which, they took on board the crew of an English letter of 
 marque lying in port. Both ships had picked crews, and 
 were sent into the Pacific in company with the Racoon of 22 
 guns, and a store ship of twenty guns, for the express pur- 
 pose of seeking the Essex, and were prepared with flags, 
 bearing the motto, " God and country ; British sailor's best 
 rights; traitors offend both." This was intended as a re- 
 ply to my motto, " free trade and sailor's rights," under 
 the erroneous impression that my crew were, chiefly Eng- 
 lishmen, or to counteract its effect on their own crews. The 
 force of the Essex was 46 guns, forty 32 pound carronades, 
 and six long 12s, and her crew, which had been much re- 
 duced by prizes, amounted only to 256 men. The Essex- 
 Junior, which was intended chiefly as a store ship, mounted 
 20 guns, ten 18 pound carronades, and ten short 7s, with on- 
 ly 60 men on board. In reply to their motto, I wrote nl 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 103 
 
 my mizen, " God, our country, and liberty : tyrants offend 
 them." 
 
 On getting- their provisions on board, they went off the 
 port for the purpose of blockading me, where they cruised 
 for near six weeks ; during which time I endeavoured to 
 provoke a challenge, and frequently, but ineffectually, to 
 bring the Phcebe alone to action, first with both my ships, 
 and afterwards with my single ship, with both crews on 
 board. I was several times under way, and ascertained that 
 I had greatly the advantage in point of sailing, and once 
 succeeded inclosing within gun-shot of the Pluebe, and com- 
 menced a fire on her, when she ran down for the Cherub, 
 which was two miles and a half to leeward. This excited 
 some surprize and expressions of indignation, as previous 
 to my getting under way, she hove to off the port, hoisted 
 her motto flag and fired a gun to windward. Com. Hill- 
 yar seemed determined to avoid a contest with me on near- 
 ly equal terms, and from his extreme prudence in keeping 
 both his ships ever after constantly within hail of each oth- 
 er, there were no hopes of any advantages to my country 
 from a longer stay in port. I therefore determined to put 
 to sea the first opportunity which should offer ; and I was 
 the more strongly induced to do so, as I had received cer- 
 tain intelligence that the Tagus^ rated 38, and tAvo other fri- 
 gates, had sailed for that sea in pursuit of me ; and I had 
 reason to expect the arrival of the Racoon from the N. W. 
 coast of America, where she had been sent for the purpose 
 of destroying our fur establishment on the Columbia. A 
 rendezvous was appointed for the Essex-Junior and every 
 arrangement made for sailing, and I intended to let them 
 chase me off, to give the Essex-Junior an opportunity of es- 
 caping. On the 28th March, the day after this determina- 
 tion was formed, the wind came on to blow fresh from the 
 southward, when I parted my larboard cable, and dragged 
 my starboard anchor directly out to sea. Not a moment 
 was to be lost in getting sail on the ship. The enemy were 
 close in with the point forming the west side of the bay : 
 
104 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 but on opening them, I saw a prospect of passing to wind- 
 ward, when I took in my top-gallant sails, which were set 
 over single-reefed top-sails, and braced up for this purpose ; 
 but on rounding the point, a heavy squall struck the ship 
 and carried away her main top mast, precipitating the men 
 who were aloft into the sea, who were drowned. Both ships 
 now gave chase to me, and I endeavoured in my disabled 
 state to regain the port ; but finding I could not recover 
 the common anchorage, I ran close into a small bay about 
 three cmarters of a mile to leeward of the battery on the 
 cast side of the harbour, and let go my anchor within pistol 
 shot of the shore, where I intended to repair my damages 
 as soon as possible. 
 
 The enemy continued to approach, and shewed an evi- 
 dent intention of attacking, regardless of the neutrality of 
 the place where I was anchored ; and the caution observed 
 in their approach to the attack of the crippled Essex, was 
 truly ridiculous, as was their display of their motto flags, 
 and the number of jacks at their mast heads. I, with as 
 much expedition as circumstances would admit of, got my 
 ship ready for action, and endeavoured to get a spring on 
 my cable, but had not succeeded when the enemy, at 54 
 minutes after 3, P. M. made his attack, the Plmbe placing 
 herself under my stern, and the Cherub on my starboard 
 bow ; but the Cherub soon finding her situation a hot one, 
 bore up and ran under my stern also, where both ships kept 
 up a hot raking fire. I had got three long 12 pounders out 
 of the stern ports, which were worked with so much bra- 
 very and skill, that in half an hour Ave so disabled both as 
 to compel them to haul off to repair damages. In the course 
 of this firing, I had by the great exertions of Mr. Edward 
 Barnewell, the acting sailing master, assisted by Mr. Lins- 
 cott, the boatswain, succeeded in getting springs on our ca- 
 ble three different times ; but the fire of the enemy was so 
 excessive, that before we could get our broadside to bear, 
 they were shot away, and thus rendered useless to us. My 
 -hip had received many injuries, and several had been kill- 
 
will 
 
 iliiii 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 105 
 
 ed and wounded ; but my brave officers and men, notwith- 
 standing the unfavourable circumstances under which we 
 were brought to action, and the powerful force opposed to 
 us, were no ways discouraged ; and all appeared determin- 
 ed to defend their ship to the last extremity, and to die in 
 preference to a shameful surrender. Our gaff, with the en- 
 sign, and the motto flag at the mizen, had been shot away, 
 but " free trade and sailors' rights" continued to fly at the 
 fore. Our ensign was replaced by another ; and to guard 
 against a similar event, an ensign was made fast in the mizen 
 rigging, and several jacks were hoisted in different parts of 
 the ship. The enemy soon repaired his damages for a fresh 
 attack : he now placed himself with both his ships, on my 
 starboard quarter, out of the reach of my carronades, and 
 where my stern guns could not be brought to bear : he 
 there kept up a most galling fire, which it was out of my 
 power to return, when I saw no prospect of injuring him 
 without getting under way and becoming the assailant. My 
 top-sail sheets and haliards were all shot away, as well as 
 the jib and fore-top-mast stay-sail haliards. The only rope 
 not cut away was the flying-jib haliards ; and that being 
 the only sail I could set, I caused it to be hoisted, my cable 
 to be cut, and ran down on both ships, Avith an intention of 
 laying the PJioibe on board. The firing on both sides was 
 now tremendous ; I had let fall my fore-top-sail and fore- 
 sail, but the want of tacks and sheets rendered them almost 
 useless to us — yet we were enabled, for a short time, to 
 close with the enemy ; and although our decks were now 
 strewed with dead, and our cock-pit filled with wounded — 
 although our ship had been several times on fire, and was 
 rendered a perfect wreck, we were still encouraged to hope 
 to save her, from the circumstance of the Cherub, from her 
 crippled state, being compelled to haul off. She did not 
 return to close action again, although she apparently had it 
 in her power to do so, but kept up a distant firing with 
 her long guns. The Phcebe, from our disabled state, 
 
 was enabled, however, bv edging off, to choose the dis- 
 
 16 * 
 
106 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 tance which best suited her long guns, and kept up a 
 tremendous fire on us, which mowed down my brave com- 
 panions by the dozen. Many of my guns had been render- 
 ed useless by the enemy's shot, and many of them had their 
 whole crews destroyed. We manned them again from 
 those which were disabled, and one gun in particular was 
 three times manned — fifteen men were slain at it, in the 
 course of the action ! But, strange as it may appear, the 
 captain of it escaped with only a slight wound. Finding 
 that the enemy had it in his power to choose his distance, I 
 now gave up all hopes of closing with him, and, as the 
 wind, for the moment, seemed to favour the design, I deter- 
 mined to endeavour to run her on shore, land my men, 
 and destroy her. Every thing seemed to favour my wish- 
 es. 
 
 We had approached the shore within musket shot, and I 
 had no doubt of succeeding, when, in an instant, the wind 
 shifted from the land (as is very common in this port in the 
 latter part of the day) and payed our head down on the 
 Phcebe, where we were again exposed to a dreadful raking 
 fire. My ship was now totally unmanageable ; yet as her 
 head was toward the enemy, and he to leeward of me, I 
 still hoped to be able to board him. At this moment, Lieut. 
 Commandant Downes came on board to receive my orders, 
 under the impression that I should soon be a prisoner. He 
 could be of no use to me in the then wretched state of the 
 Essex — and finding (from the enemy's putting his helm up) 
 that my attempt at boarding would not succeed, I directed 
 him, after he had been about 10 minutes on board, to re- 
 turn to his own ship, to be prepared for defending and des- 
 troying her in case of attack. He took with him several 
 of my wounded, leaving three of his boat's crew on board 
 to make room for them. The Cherub now had an oppor- 
 tunity of distinguishing herself, by keeping up a hot fire 
 on him during his return. The slaughter on board my ship 
 had now become horrible, the enemy continuing to rake us, 
 and we unable to bring a gun to bear. I therefore directed 
 
NATAL MONUMENT. 107 
 
 a hawser to be bent to the sheet anchor, and the anchor to 
 be cut from the bows to bring her head round : this suc- 
 ceeded. We again got our broadside to bear, and as the 
 enemy was much crippled and unable to hold his own, I 
 have no doubt he would soon have drifted out of gun shot 
 before he discovered we had anchored, had not the hawser 
 unfortunately parted. My ship had taken fire several times 
 during the action, but alarmingly so forewardand aft at this 
 moment — flames were bursting up each hatchway, and no 
 hopes were entertained of saving her. Our distance from 
 the shore did not exceed three quarters of a mile, and I 
 hoped many of my brave crew would be able to save them- 
 selves, should the ship blow up, as I was informed the fire 
 was near the magazine, and the explosion of a large quanti- 
 ty of powder below served to increase the horrors of our 
 situation — our boats were destroyed by the enemy's shot ; 
 I therefore directed those who could swim to jump over- 
 board, and endeavour to gain the shore — some reached it — 
 some were taken by the enemy, and some perished in the 
 attempt ; but most preferred sharing with me the fate of the 
 ship. We, who remained, now turned our attention whol- 
 ly to extinguishing the flames : and when we had succeed- 
 ed, went again to our guns, where the firing was kept up 
 for some minutes, but the crew had by this time become so 
 weakened, that they all declared to me the impossibility of 
 making further resistance, and entreated me to surrender 
 my ship to save the wounded, as all further attempt at op- 
 position must prove ineffectual, almost every gun being dis- 
 abled by the destruction of their crews. I now sent for the 
 officers of divisions to consult them ; but what was my 
 surprise to find only acting Lieutenant Stephen Decatur 
 M'Knight remaining, (who confirmed the report respecting 
 the condition of the guns on the gun-deck — those on the 
 spar-deck were not in a better state.) Lieut. Wilmer, after 
 fighting most gallantly throughout the action, had been 
 knocked overboard by a splinter while getting the sheet 
 anchor from the bows, and was drowned. Acting Lieuten- 
 
108 NAVAL MONUiMENT. 
 
 ant John G. Cowell had lost a leg ; Mr. Edward Barnewell, 
 acting sailing master, had been carried below, after receiv- 
 ing tAVo severe wounds, one in the breast and one in the 
 face ; and acting Lieutenant William H. Odenheimer had 
 been knocked overboard from the quarter an instant be- 
 fore, and did not regain the ship until after the surrender. 
 I was informed that the cockpit, the steerage, the ward 
 room, and the birth deck could contain no more wounded ; 
 that the wounded were killed while the surgeons were dres- 
 sing them ; and that unless something was speedily done to 
 prevent it, the ship would soon sink from the number of 
 shot holes in her bottom. On sending for the carpenter, he 
 informed me that all his crew had been killed or wounded, 
 and that he had once been over the side to stop the leaks, 
 when his slings had been shot a\vay, and it was with diffi- 
 culty he was saved from drowning. The enemy, from the 
 smoothness of the water, and the impossibility of our 
 reaching him with our carronades, and the little apprehen- 
 sion that was excited by our fire, which had now become 
 much slackened, was enabled to take aim at us as at a tar- 
 get : his shot never missed our hull, and my ship was cut 
 up in a manner, which was, perhaps, never before witnessed 
 — in fine, I saw no hopes of saving her, and at 20 minutes 
 after 6 P. M. gave the painful order to strike the colours. 
 Seventy-five men, including officers, were all that remained 
 of my whole crew, after the action, capable of doing duty, 
 and many of them severely wounded, some of whom have 
 since died. The enemy still continued his fire, and my 
 brave, though unfortunate companions, were still falling 
 about me. I directed an opposite gun to be fired, to shew 
 them we intended no farther resistance ; but they did not 
 desist ; four men were killed at my side, and others at dif- 
 ferent parts of the ship. I now believed he intended to 
 show us no quarter, and that it would be as well to die with 
 my flag filing as struck, and was on the point of again hois- 
 ting it, when about 10 minutes after hauling the colonic 
 down he ceased firing. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 109 
 
 I cannot speak in sufficiently high terms of the conduct 
 of those engaged for such an unparalleled length of time 
 (under such circumstances) with me in the arduous and un- 
 equal contest. Let it suffice to say, that more bravery, skill, 
 patriotism and zeal, were never displayed on any occasion. 
 Every one seemed determined to die in defence of their 
 much loved country's cause, and nothing but views of hu- 
 manity could ever have reconciled them to the surrender of 
 the ship ; they remembered their wounded and helpless 
 shipmates below. To acting Lieutenants M'Knight and 
 Odenheimer, I feel much indebted for their great exertions 
 and bravery throughout the action, in fighting and encour- 
 aging the men at their divisions, for the dexterous manage- 
 ment of the long guns, and for their promptness in reman- 
 ning their guns as their crews were slaughtered. The con- 
 duct of that brave and heroic officer, acting Lieutenant 
 John G. Cowell, who lost his leg in the latter part of the 
 action, excited the admiration of every man in the ship, and 
 after being wounded, would not consent to be taken below, 
 until loss of blood rendered him insensible. Mr. Edward 
 Barnewell, acting sailing-master, whose activity and cour- 
 age were equally conspicuous, returned on deck after re- 
 ceiving his first wound, and remained after receiving his 
 second, until fainting with loss of blood. Mr. Samuel B. 
 Johnston, who had joined me the day before, and acted as 
 marine officer, conducted himself with great bravery, and 
 exerted himself in assisting at the long guns ; the musketry 
 after the first half hour being useless from our long dis- 
 tance. 
 
 Mr. M. W. Bostwick, whom I had appointed acting pur- 
 ser of the Essex-Junior, and who was on board my ship, 
 did the duties of aid in a manner which reflects on him the 
 highest honour : and Midshipmen Isaacs, Farrugut, and 
 Ogden, as well as acting Midshipmen James Terry, James 
 R. Lyman and Samuel Duzenbury, and Master's Mate Wil- 
 liam Pierce, exerted themselves in the performance of their 
 respective duties, and gave an earnest of their value to the 
 
110 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 service ; the three first are too young to recommend for 
 promotion ; the latter I beg leave to recommend for con- 
 firmation, as well as the acting lieutenants and Messrs. Barne- 
 well, Johnston and Bostwick. 
 
 We have been unfortunate, but not disgraced — the defence 
 of the Essex has not been less honourable to her officers 
 and her crew, than the capture of an equal force ; and I now 
 consider my situation less unpleasant, than that of Com. 
 Hillyar, who, in violation of every principle of honour and 
 generosity, and regardless of the rights of nations, attacked 
 the Essex in her crippled state, within pistol shot of a neu- 
 tral shore, when for six weeks I had daily offered him fair 
 and honourable combat, on terms greatly to his advantage. 
 The blood of the slain must rest on his head ; and he has yet 
 to reconcile his conduct to heaven, to his conscience, and to 
 the world. The annexed extracts of a letter from Com. 
 Hillyar, which was written previous to his returning me 
 my sword, will shew his opinion of our conduct. 
 
 My loss has been dreadfully severe, 58 killed, or have 
 since died of their wounds, and among them Lieut. Cowell ; 
 39 were severely wounded, 27 slightly, and 31 are missing ; 
 making in all 154 killed, wounded, and missing, a list of 
 whose names is annexed. 
 
 The professional knowledge of Dr. Richard Hoffman, act- 
 ing surgeon, and Dr. Alexander Montgomery, acting sur- 
 geon's mate, added to their assiduity and the benevolent at- 
 tentions and assistance of Mr. D. P. Adams, the chaplain, 
 saved the lives of many of the wounded ; those gentlemen 
 have been indefatigable in their attentions to them ; the two 
 first I beg leave to recommend for confirmation, and the lat- 
 ter to the notice of the department. 
 
 I must in justification of myself observe, that with our six 
 12 pounders only, we fought this action — our carronades 
 being almost useless. 
 
 The loss in killed and wounded has been great with the 
 enemy ; among the former is the first lieutenant of the Phm- 
 fcc, and of the latter Capt. Tucker of the Cherub, whose 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. Ill 
 
 wounds are severe. Both the Essex and Phcebe were in a 
 sinking state, and it was with difficulty they could be kept 
 afloat until they anchored in Valparaiso next morning. 
 The battered state of the Essex will, I believe, prevent her 
 ever reaching England, and I also think it will be out of 
 their power to repair the damages of the Phoebe, so as to en- 
 able her to double Cape Horn. All the masts and yards of 
 the Phcebe and Cherub are badly crippled, and their hulls 
 much cut up ; the former had eighteen 12 pound shot through 
 her, below her water line, some three feet under water. 
 Nothing but the smoothness of the water saved both the 
 Phcebe and Essex. 
 
 I hope, Sir, that our conduct may prove satisfactory to 
 our country, and that it will testify it by obtaining our spee- 
 dy exchange, that we may again have it in our power to 
 prove our zeal. 
 
 Commodore Hillyar, I am informed, has thought proper 
 to state to his government that the action lasted only 45 min- 
 utes ; should he have done so, the motive may be easily dis- 
 covered — but the thousand of disinterested witnesses who . 
 covered the surrounding hills, can testify that we fought 
 his ships near two hours and an half; upwards of fifty 
 broadsides were fired by the enemy agreeably to their own 
 accounts, and upwards of seventy-five by ours ; except the 
 few minutes they were repairing damages, the firing was in- 
 cessant. 
 
 Soon after my capture I entered into an agreement with 
 Com. Hillyar to disarm my prize, the Essex- Junior, and pro- 
 ceed with the survivors of my officers and crew in her to 
 the United States, taking with me all her officers and crew. 
 He consented to grant her a passport to secure her from re- 
 capture. The ship was small, and we knew we had much 
 to suffer, yet we hoped soon to reach our country in safety, 
 that we might again have it in our power to serve it. This 
 arrangement was attended with no additional expense, as 
 she was abundantly supplied with provisions and stores for 
 the voyage. 
 
[12 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 In justice to Com. Hillyar, I must observe, that, although 
 I can never be reconciled to the manner of his attack on the 
 Essex, or to his conduct before the action, he has, since our 
 capture, shown the greatest humanity to my wounded, whom 
 he permitted me to land, on condition that the United States 
 should bear their expenses, and has endeavoured as much as 
 lav in his power to alleviate the distresses of war by the 
 most generous and delicate deportment towards myself, my 
 officers and crew ; he gave orders that the property of ev- 
 ery person should be respected — his orders, however, 
 were not so strictly attended to as might have been expect- 
 ed ; besides being deprived of books, charts, &c. &c. both 
 myself and officers lost many articles of our clothing, some 
 to a considerable amount. I should not have considered 
 this last circumstance of sufficient importance to notice, did 
 it not mark a striking difference between the navy of Great 
 Britain and that of the United States, highly creditable to 
 the latter. 
 
 By the arrival of the Tagus, a few days after my capture, 
 1 was informed that besides the ships which had arrived in 
 the Pacific in pursuit of me, and those still expected, others 
 were sent to cruise for me in the China seas, oft" New Zea- 
 land, Timour, and New Holland, and that another frigate 
 was sent to the river La Plata. 
 
 To possess the Essex, it has cost the British government 
 near six millions of dollars ; and yet, Sir, her capture was 
 owing entirely to accident ; and if we consider the expedi- 
 tion with which naval contests are now decided, the action 
 is a dishonour to them. Had they brought their ships bold- 
 ly to action with a force so very superiour, and having the 
 choice of position, they should either have captured or de- 
 stroved us in one fourth the time they were about it. 
 
 During the action, our Consul General, Mr. Poinsett, cal- 
 led on the governour of Valparaiso, and requested that the 
 batteries might protect the Essex. The request was refused, 
 but he promised that if she should succeed in fighting her 
 way to the common anchorage, he would send an officer to 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 113 
 
 the British commander and request him to cease firing, but 
 declined using force under any circumstances, and there is 
 no doubt a perfect understanding - existed between them. 
 This conduct added to the assistance given to the British, 
 and .their friendly reception after the action, and the strehg 
 bias of the faction which governs Chili in favour of the 
 English, as well as their hostility to the Americans, induced 
 Mr. Poinsett to leave that country. Under such circum- 
 stances, I did not conceive that it would be proper for me 
 to claim the restoration of my ship, confident that the claim 
 would be made by my government to more effect. Finding 
 some difficulty in the sale of my prizes, I had taken the Hec- 
 tor and Catharine to sea, and burnt them with their cargoes. 
 
 I exchanged Lieut. M'Knight, Mr. Adams and Mr. Ly- 
 man, and eleven seamen, for part of the crew of the Sir 
 Andrew Hammond, and sailed from Valparaiso on the 27th 
 April, where the enemy were still patching up their ships 
 to put them in a state for proceeding to Rio de Janeiro, pre- 
 vious to going to England. 
 
 Annexed is a list of the remains of my crew to be ex- 
 changed, as also a copy of the correspondence between 
 Com. Hillyar and myself on that subject. I also send you 
 a list of the prisoners I have taken during my cruise, amoun- 
 ting to 343. I have the honour to be, &c. 
 
 Hon. Secr'y of the navy D.PORTER. 
 
 of the United States, Washington. 
 
 P. S. To give vou a correct idea of the state of the 
 Essex at the time of her surrender, I send you the boat- 
 swain's and carpenter's report of damages ; I also send you 
 a report of the divisions. 
 
 A return of the killed, wounded and missing on board of 
 the late United States frigate Essex, of 32 guns, 255 men, 
 David Porter, Esq. commander, in an action fought on the 
 28th March, 1814, in Valparaiso Bay, with the British frig- 
 ate Phcebe, of 36 guns, 320 men, James Hillyar, Esq. com- 
 mander, and the sloop of war Cherub, mounting 28 guns. 
 180 men, commanded by T. Tucker, Esq. 
 
 17 
 
ill NAVAL MONUMENT 
 
 Killed in action and have since died of their wounds — James 
 P. Wilmer, 1st lieutenant ; John G. Cowell, 3d do.; Henry 
 Kennedy, boatswain's mate; William Smith, do.; Francis 
 Bland, quarter master ; Reuben Marshal, quarter gunner ; 
 Thomas Bailey, boatswain's yeoman ; John Adams, coop- 
 er ; William Johnson, carpenter's crew : Henry Vickers, 
 do ; Z. Mayfield, armourer's crew ; William Christopher, 
 captain forecastle ; Nath. Jones, capt. mast ; Joseph Thom- 
 as, captain main top ; John Russell, do.; F. Green, George 
 Hill, W. R. Cook, George Wine, seamen ; Joseph Ferrill, 
 do.; Samuel Miller, Thomas Johnson 1st, do.; Philip 
 Thomas, do.; Thomas Nordyb, do.; William White, do.; 
 Thomas Mitchell, quarter ; William Lee 1st, ordinary sea- 
 man ; Peter Allen, seaman ; John Alvason, do.; John C. 
 Kneeling, do.; Benjamin Hazen, do.; Peter Johnson 1st, 
 do.; Thomas Bennock, do.; Thomas Brown, do.; Corneli- 
 us Thomson, do.; John Linghan, do.: George Douglass, 
 do.; Frederick Hall, do.; James Anderson, do.; George 
 Hallet, ordinary seaman ; Thomas Terry, seaman ; Charles 
 Norgren, do. ; John Cowell, do.; Thomas Davis, do.; 
 James Seller, do.; John Clinton, do.; R. Brown, do.; J. 
 Jackson, do.; J. Rippley, do.; J. Folger, do.; Daniel F. 
 Cassimer, ordinary seaman ; William Jenning, do.; Mark 
 Hill, do.; William Lee 2d, do.; George Beaden, do.; Thom- 
 as Russell, do.; Lewis Earl, boy; Henry Ruffe, do.; Wil- 
 liam Williamson, do. 
 
 Severely wounded — Edward Barnewell, sailing-mas- 
 ter ; Edward Linscott, boatswain ; William Kingsbury, 
 boatswain Essex jun. George Kinsingen, master at arms; 
 Bennet Field, armourer ; John M'Kinsey, Otis Gale, arm- 
 ourer's crew ; Jasper Reed, Isaac Valence, captain's stewart ; 
 Leonard Green, quarter gunner ; Enoch M. Miley, do.; 
 William Whitney, captain fore top ; Thomas Milburn, cap- 
 tain of mast ; John Stone, seaman ; Ephraim Baker, capt. 
 waist ; John Lazaro, seaman ; Enno Males, capt. waist ; 
 William Wood, seaman ; Francis Trepany, do.; John 
 Peim,do.; George Williams, do.; William Cole, do.; Hen- 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 115 
 
 ry Barker, do.; John Glasscan, do.; James Goldsborough, 
 do.; Lawnderwise, do.; Peter Anderson, do.; John John- 
 son, do.; Peter Ripple, do.; Thomas Oliver, do.; George 
 Shields, do.; William Hamilton, ordinary seaman ; Thom- 
 as Andrews, do.; William Nichols, do.; Benjamin Barslett, 
 do.; Daniel Gardiner, do.; Samuel M'Isaacs, boy. 
 
 Slightly wounded — David Narano, sail-maker ; David 
 G. Farragut, midshipman ; George W. Isaacs, do.; John 
 Langley, carpenter ; John Wible, carpenter's mate ; John 
 Reicess, carpenter's crew ; William Boyd, do.; Benjamin 
 Wadden, carpenter's yeoman ; John Francis, capt. cox wain ; 
 Levi M'Cabe, quarter master ; George Stoutenburg, Wil- 
 liam M'Donald, George W. Browne, Shubal Cunningham, 
 Robert Scattudes, Antonio Sailer, George Love, William 
 Matthews, William Concord, Daniel Hyde, Joseph Will- 
 iams, Frederick Hartwell, William Burton, John Sacks, 
 
 William Deacon. 
 
 Missing — George Martin, gunner's mate ; Adam Roach, 
 
 quarter gunner ; John Thomson, quarter master ; Francis 
 Davis, seaman ; James Chace, do.; Bartholomew Truhom- 
 on, Matthew Lawder, William Holmes, John Bagnel, Thom- 
 as Hobbs, Robert Harrison, Edward Leford, Thomas Par- 
 sons, Hugh Gibson, James Donnas, Henry Humphries, Wil- 
 liam Taylor, Charles Macarty, James M'Crac, James Ma- 
 honny, John Deacon, Simon Rogers, Elias W. Saddus, 
 John Owens, William Forsyth, George Schlossard, John 
 Ayres, George Cable, Thomas Carrol, Charles Moore, Wil- 
 liam Holland. 
 
 RECAPITULATION. 
 
 Killed, ... 60 
 
 Severely wounded, - - - 37 
 
 Slightly wounded, - - 25 
 
 Missing, - - - - 31 
 
 Total - 153 
 
U6 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 During the action, the Essex-Junior lay in the port of 
 Valparaiso, under the guns of a Spanish fort, unable to take 
 any part in the contest. After the action, Capt. Porter 
 and his crew were paroled, and by arrangement permitted 
 to come home in the Essex-Junior, and a cartel, with his 
 crew. Off the Hook they were detained 24 hours by the 
 British razee Saturn, in company with the frigate Narcissus. 
 Capt. Porter ieft the Essex-Junior on the 6th of July, in one 
 of her yawls, with six men, about thirty miles outside of 
 the Hook, and landed on the 7th at Babylon on Long-Island, 
 where he procured a waggon, took on board his yawl 
 and jolly tars, and reached Brooklyn about five o'clock 
 P. M. 
 
 The Essex had landed all her specie, amounting to two 
 millions, at Valparaiso previous to her being captured. 
 
 EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM COM. HILLY AR TO ME. 
 
 My dear Sir, Phoebe, April 4, 1814. 
 
 Neither in my conversations nor the accompanying let- 
 ter, have I mentioned your sword. Ascribe my remissness 
 in the first instance to forgetful ness ; I consider it only in 
 my servant's possession with my own, until the master may 
 please to call for it ; and although I omitted, at the moment 
 of presentation, from my mind being much engrossed in, 
 attending to professional duties, to offer its restoration, the 
 hand that received will be most gladly extended, to put it 
 in possession of him who wore it so honourably in defend- 
 ing his country's cause. 
 
 Believe me, my dear Sir, 
 
 Very faithfully your?, 
 
 JAMES HILLYAR. 
 Capt. Porter. 
 
 After some conversation on the subject the following 
 correspondence took plscp. 
 
naval monument. i 1 7 
 
 Sir, Valparaiso, April 4, 1814. 
 
 Taking into consideration the immense distance we are 
 from our respective countries, the uncertainty of the future 
 movements of his majesty's ships under my command, which 
 precludes the possibility of my making a permanent arrange- 
 ment for transporting the officers and crew, late of the Es- 
 sex, to Europe ; and the fast approaching season which ren- 
 ders a passage round Cape Horn in some degree dangerous : 
 I have the honour to propose for your approbation the fol- 
 lowing articles, which, I hope, the government of the Unit- 
 ed States, as well as that of Great Britain, will deem satis- 
 factory ; and to request, that should you conceive them so, 
 you will favour me with the necessary bond for their fufill- 
 ment. 
 
 First. The Essex-Junior to be deprived of all her arma- 
 ment and perfectly neutralized ; to be equipped for the voy- 
 age solely and wholly at the expense of the American gov- 
 ernment ; and to proceed with a proper American officer 
 and crew (of which I wish to be furnished with a list, for the 
 purpose of giving the necessary passport) to any port of the 
 United States of America that you may deem most proper. 
 
 Second. Yourself, the officers, petty officers, seamen, ma- 
 rines, &c. composing your crew, to be exchanged immedi- 
 ately on their arrival in America, for an equal number of 
 British prisoners of similar rank. — Yourself and officers to 
 be considered on their parole of honour until your and their 
 exchange shall be effected. 
 
 In case of the foregoing articles being accepted, the Essex- 
 Junior, will be expected to prepare immediately for the voy- 
 age, and to proceed on it before the expiration of the pres- 
 ent month : should any of the wounded at [that period be 
 found incapable of removal, from not being sufficiently ad- 
 vanced in their recovery, the most humane attention shall 
 be paid them ; and they shall be forwarded home by the first 
 favourable conveyance that may offer. 
 
 I have the honour to be, &c. 
 
 Capt. David Porter, JAMES HILLYAR. 
 
 1*te commander of the U. S. frigate Essex. 
 
1 18 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 Sir, Valparaiso, 5 April, 1814. 
 
 1 have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your 
 everal favours of yesterday's date. 
 
 The conditions offered by you for our return to the Unit- 
 ed States are perfectly satisfactory to me, and I entertain no 
 doubts of their being aqually so to my country ; I therefore 
 do not hesitate to pledge my honour (the strongest bond I 
 can give) that every article of the arrangement shall on our 
 part be fully complied with. A list of the Essex- Junior 's 
 crew shall be furnished you as soon as it ©an be made out, 
 and her disarmament effected with all possible dispatch. 
 I have the honour to be, &c. 
 Com. James Killyar, D. BORTER. 
 
 commanding H. B. 31. frigate Phoebe 
 
 Com. Hillyar sent me a paper, certifying that he had ex 
 changed certain individuals therein named, making part of 
 the crew of the Sir, Andrew Hammond, for an equal num- 
 ber of the most severely wounded of my crew : this occa- 
 sioned the following letters. 
 
 Sir, Valparaiso, 4 April, 1814. 
 
 I have received a paper signed by you, dated yesterday, 
 stating, that you had exchanged certain wounded prisoners, 
 making part of my crew, for the captain and crew of the 
 prize ship Sir Andrew Hammond ; which paper I have taken 
 the liberty to return to you, and protest in the strongest 
 terms against such an arrangement. 
 
 In the first place the wounded and helpless individuals, 
 therein named, do not wish such exchange : one died last 
 night, and several others expect to share his fate. 
 
 Secondly, should I from any circumstances be separated 
 
 from them, wnich would be more likely to be the case than 
 if they remained prisoners, their situation would be more 
 
 deplorable than it is at present. Thirdly, this arrangement 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 11 'J 
 
 has been made without my consent, and on terms far from 
 offering equal advantages to the United States. 
 I have the honour to be, &c. 
 Com. James Hillyar, D. PORTER. 
 
 commanding H. B. M. ship Phasbe. 
 
 Sir H. B. M. Ship Phcebe, Valparaiso, April, 4 1814. 
 
 I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your let- 
 ter of this day's date, protesting against the arrangement 
 made in the paper you returned, and to express a regret 
 that my wish, which was to alleviate and not increase the 
 affliction of your wounded officers and crew, has failed of 
 being gratified. I am sorry you have thought proper to 
 mention the dead and dying, as I so fully explained to you 
 this morning, that in the event of the loss of any, other 
 names should be added to the list. I shall now direct Capt. 
 William Porter to consider himself still a prisoner of war 
 on his parole ; but as I have ordered the people to go on 
 board the Essex to work, under the impression that no diffi- 
 culty would arise, will liberate in exchange for them an 
 equal number of prisoners, &s their names, being seamen, 
 shall be found to follow each other on your late ship's book, 
 and give up also two mates or midshipmen for the two 
 mates which are of the English party. I hope this may 
 prove satisfactory to your government and self. 
 
 I am yours, &c. 
 
 Capt. D. Porter. JAMES HILLYAR. 
 
 Sir Valparaiso, 5 April, 181 4. 
 
 The arrangement which you have suggested respecting 
 the exchange of the seamen of the Sir Andrew Hammond for 
 an equal number of seamen of the late United States frigate 
 Essex, as they stand on the list furnished you, is perfectly 
 satisfactory. It will be great satisfaction to the three offi- 
 cers, who accompany the Essex, to know, that after your 
 object in taking them with you shall be effected, there will 
 be no difficulty in their proceeding immediately for the 
 United States. I take the liberty therefore to suggest, that 
 they might be exchanged here fov Captain William Porter 
 
J 20 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 and his three mates. This will he an accommodation to all 
 parties, and reconcile the officers so exchanged to a separa- 
 tion from their~friends. 
 
 I have the honour to be, &c. 
 Com.'JAMES HiLLYAR, D. PORTER. 
 
 commanding H. M. frigate Phcebe. 
 
 COPY OF A LETTER FROM CAPTAIN PORTER TO THE 
 SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. 
 
 Sir, Mw-York, July 13, 1814. 
 
 There are some facts relating to our enemy, and although 
 not connected with the action, serve to shewhis perfidy, and 
 should be known. 
 
 On Com. Hillyar's arrival at Valparaiso, he ran the Phce- 
 be close along side of the Essex, and inquired politely after 
 my health, observing, that his ship was cleared for action, 
 and his men prepared for boarding, I observed, u Sir, if 
 you by any accident, get on board of me, I assure you that 
 great confusion will take place ; I am prepared to receive 
 you, but shall only act on the defensive." He observed, 
 cooly and indifferently, "Oh, Sir, I have no such intention ;" 
 at this instant his ship took aback on my starboard bow, 
 her yards nearly locking with those of the Essex. — I called 
 all hands to board the enemy ; and in an instant my crew 
 were ready to spring on her decks. Com. Hillyar exclaim- 
 ed, with great agitation, u I had no intention of getting on 
 board of you ; — I had no intention of coming so near you ; 
 I am sorry I come so near you.' 1 His ship fell off with her 
 jib-boom over my decks ; her bows exposed to my broad- 
 side, her stern to the fire of the Essex-Junior, her crew in 
 the greatest confusion, and in fifteen minutes, I could have 
 taken or destroyed her- After he had brought his ship to 
 anchor, Com. Hillyar andCapt. Tucker of the Cherub, vis- 
 ited me on shore ; when I asked him if he intended to re- 
 spect the neutrality of the port ; " Sir," said he, " you have 
 paid such respect to the neutrality of this port, that I feel 
 myself bound, in honour, to do the came." 
 I have the honour to be, &c. 
 
 DAVID PORTER. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 121 
 
 After the capture of the Essex, Capt. Porter entered into 
 an arrangement with Com. Hillyar, to transport the servi- 
 vors of his crew to the U. States in the Essex-Junior on pa- 
 role, on condition that she should receive a passport to se- 
 cure her from recapture and detention. On the 5th of July, 
 fell in with H. B. M. ship Saturn, Capt Nash, who exam- 
 ined the papers of the Essex-Junior, treated Capt. Porter 
 with great civility, furnished him with late newspapers, and 
 sent him on board some oranges ; and at the same time made 
 him an offer of services. The boarding officer endorsed 
 the passport, and permitted the ship to proceed. She stood 
 on the same tack with the Saturn ; and about 2 hours after- 
 wards was again brought to, the papers examined, and the 
 ship's hold overhauled by the boat's crew and an officer. 
 Capt. Porter expressed his astonishment at such proceedings, 
 and was informed that Capt. Nash had his motives. It was 
 stated that Com. Hilivar had no authority to make such ar- 
 rangement ; that the passport must go on board of the Sat- 
 urn again, and the Essex-Junior be detained. Capt. Porter 
 then insisted that the smallest detention would be a violation 
 of the contract on the part of the British, and that he should 
 consider himself as the prisoner of Capt. Nash, and no lon- 
 ger on his parole ; at the same time offering his sword, 
 which was refused, assuring the officer he would deliver it 
 up with the same feelings he had presented it to Com. Hill- 
 yar. — The officer went on board, returned and informed 
 Capt. Porter, that the Essex-Junior must remain all night 
 under the lee of the Saturn. Then, said Capt. Porter, I am 
 your prisoner ; 1 do not feel myself bound by any contract 
 with Com. Hillyar, and I shall act accordingly. 
 
 At 7 o'clock next morning, the wind being light from the 
 soutlnvard, the ships being about 30 or 40 miles from the 
 land off the eastern part of Long Island, and about musket 
 shot from each other, there appearing no disposition on the 
 part of the enemy to liberate the Essex-Junior, Capt. Porter 
 determined to attempt his escape. A boat was lowered 
 
 18 
 
122 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 down, manned and armed ; he desired Capt. Downesto in- 
 form Capt Nash, that he was now satisfied that most Brit- 
 ish naval officers were not only destitute of honour, but 
 regardless of the honour of each other ; that he was armed 
 and prepared to defend himself against their boats, if sent 
 in pursuit of him ; and that they must hereafter meet him 
 as an enemy. He now pulled off from the ship, keeping the 
 Essex-Junior in a direct lino between him and the Saturn, 
 and o-ot near sun-shot from them before he was discovered : 
 at this instant a fresh breeze sprung up, and the Saturn made 
 all sail in pursuit of him, but fortunately a thick fog set in 
 and concealed him, when he changed his course, and eluded 
 them. During the fog he heard a firing, and on its clearing 
 up discovered the Saturn in chase of the Essex-Junior, who 
 soon brought her to. After rowing and sailing about 60 
 miles, Capt. Porter succeeded, with great difficulty and haz- 
 ard, in reaching the town of Babylon, (Long Island) where, 
 being strongly suspected to be an English officer, he was 
 closely interrogated, and his story appearing so extraordi- 
 nary, none gave credit ; but on showing his commission all 
 doubts were removed, and he met from all the inhabitants 
 the most friendly and hospitable reception. 
 
 The following is a copy of the arrangement, concluded 
 between Capt. Porter, in behalf of himself and crew, with 
 Capt. Hillyar. 
 
 By James Hillyar Es(/. captain of H. B. M. Ship Phoebe, 
 and senior officer of his majesty's ships in Valparaiso Bay. 
 
 I hereby certify, that I have on the part of his Britannic 
 Majesty, entered into an agreement with Capt. David Por- 
 ter, of the United States navy, and late commander of the 
 frigate Essex, who, on the part of his government, engages 
 as follows, to wit : That himself, his officers and crew will 
 proceed to the United States, in tiic ship called the Essex-Jun- 
 ior, as a cartel, commanded by Lieutenant John Downes, of 
 the United States navy, and having a crew, consisting of the 
 officers and men, named in the annexedlist. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 123 
 
 The said Capt. Porter, his officers and crew, a List of 
 which is subjoined, will remain as prisoners of war on pa- 
 role, not to take arms against Great Britain until regularly 
 exchanged, and that he pledges his honour to fulfil the fore- 
 going conditions. I therefore request, that said ship, the 
 Essex-Junior, may be permitted to pass freely to the United 
 States without any impediment, and that the officers 
 commanding the ships of war of his Britannic Majesty, as 
 well as those of private armed vessels, and all others in au- 
 thority under the British government, also those in alliance 
 with his said majesty, will give the said David Porter, his 
 officers and crew, and the crew of the aforesaid ship called 
 the Essex-Junior, every aid and assistance to enable them to 
 arrive at the place of their destination. 
 
 And as it may become necessary for the Essex-Junior to 
 touch at one or more places for the purpose of obtaining re- 
 freshment and supplies, it is requested, that in such case all, 
 to whom this passport may be presented, will give the persons 
 on board said ship every facility in supplying their wants, 
 and permit them to depart with her without hindrance. 
 
 Given under my hand, on board his majesty's ship Phoe- 
 be, at Valparaiso, April, 1814. 
 
 A gentleman, who took part in the engagement, has relat- 
 ed the following anecdotes exemplary of that fearless and 
 patriotic spirit which animated the whole crew of the Essex, 
 and which has characterized our hardy sailors in all their 
 combats with the enemy. To the memory of these brave 
 fellows their publicity is due ; and we doubt not many more 
 instances of chivalrous heroism, resulting from a noble Jove 
 of country, might be obtained and recorded, to tbe lasting 
 honour of the American name. 
 
 John Ripley, after losing his leg, said 
 I can be of no use to you ;" and lea}: of the bo- 
 
 John Alvinson received a cannon ball ( 1 8 pounder) through 
 the body ; in the agony of death he exclaimed, "never 
 mind, shipmates : T die in defence of 'Free trade and sai- 
 lors' r-i-g-h-t-s ; ' ' -dud expired with the word rights quiver- 
 ing on his lips. 
 
\2i NAVAL MONUMENT 
 
 James Anderson had his left leg shot off, and died animat- 
 ing his shipmates to fight bravely in defence of liberty. 
 
 After the engagement, Benjamin Hazen, having dressed 
 himself in a clean shirt and jerkin, addressed his remaining 
 messmates, and telling; them he never could submit to be a 
 prisoner to the English, threw himself into the sea. 
 
 LETTER FROM CAPTAIN HILL YAK. TO COMMODORE 
 
 BROWN, STATIONED AT JAMAICA. 
 
 His Majesty's Ship Phcebe, 
 Sir, Valparaiso Bay, 30 March, 1814. 
 
 I have the honour to acquaint you that, at 3 o'clock in the 
 afternoon of the 28th instant, after nearly four months, anx- 
 ious watching with his majesty's brig Cherub, for the Unit- 
 ed States frigate Essex and her companion to quit the port of 
 Valparaiso, we saw the former under way, and immediately 
 the two ships made sail to close with her. 
 
 On rounding the outer point of the bay, and hauling her 
 wind, for the purpose of endeavouring to weather U9 
 and escape, she lost her main top-mast, and afterwards, 
 not succeeding in an effort to regain the limits of the port, 
 she bore up and anchored so near the shore (a few mijesto 
 leeward of it) as to preclude the possibility of either of his 
 majesty's ships passing ahead of her without risk. As we 
 drew near, my intention of going close under his stern was 
 frustrated, from the ship's broaching off, and from the wind 
 blowing extremely fresh. Our first fire commenced a little 
 past 4, and continued about 10 minutes, but produced no 
 visible effect ; our second, a few random shot only, from 
 having increased our distance by wearing, was not apparent- 
 ly more successful ; andhaving lost the use of our main-sail, 
 jib, and main-stay, appearances were a little inauspicious, 
 in standing again towards her. I hailed the Cherub, and 
 signified my intention of anchoring, to Capt. Tucker, for 
 which we were not ready before with springs, directing 
 him to keep. under sail, and take - i convenient station for 
 annoying our' opponent. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 125 
 
 On closing the Essex, at 35 minutes past 5, the firing com- 
 menced, and before I gained my intended position, her ca- 
 bles were cut, and a serious conflict ensued, the guns of his 
 majesty's ship becoming gradually more destructive ; and 
 when it pleased the Almighty to bless the effort of my gal- 
 lant companions, and my personal, very humble ones, with 
 victory. My friend, Capt. Tucker, an officer worthy of 
 their lord-ship's best attention, was most severely wounded 
 at the commencement of the action, but remained on deck 
 till it terminated ; he also informs me that his officers and 
 crew, of whose loyalty, zeal, and discipline I entertain the 
 highest opinion, conducted themselves to his satisfaction. 
 I have to lament the death of four of my brave compan- 
 ions, and one of his, and my first lieutenant among the 
 number : he fell early. Our list of wounded is small. The 
 conduct of my officers, &c. was such as became good and 
 loyal subjects. 
 
 The defence of the Essex, taking into consideration our 
 great superiority of force, the very discouraging circum- 
 stances of having lost her main top-mast, and being twice 
 on fire, did honour to her defender, and must fully prove 
 the courage of Capt. Porter. 
 
 I was much hurt on hearing that her men had been en- 
 couraged, when the result of the action was evidently de- 
 cided, some to take to their boats, and others to swim to 
 the shore, many of whom were drowned in the latter at- 
 tempt : sixteen were saved by the exertions of our people, 
 and others, I believe between thirty and forty, effected 
 their landing. I informed Capt. Porter, that I considered 
 the latter, in point of honour, as my prisoners. He said 
 the encouragement was given when the ship was in danger 
 from fire, and I have not pressed the point. 
 
 The Essex is completely stored and provisioned for six 
 months, and although much injured in her upper works, 
 masts, and rigging, is not in such a state as to give the sligh- 
 
126 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 test cause of alarm respecting her being able to perforin a 
 voyage to Europe with perfect safety. 
 I have the honour to be &c. 
 
 JAMES HILL YAR, Captain. 
 
 SEQUEL OF CAPTAIN PORTER'S EXPEDITION IN THE 
 
 SOUTH SEA. 
 
 On the 19th of November 1813, Capt. Porter took formal 
 possession of the island, called by the natives Nooaheevah,- 
 generally known by the name of Sir Henry Martin's island, 
 but now called Madison Island. It is situated between lat. 
 •J o and 10 o S. and in long. 140 o W. from Greenwich. 
 
 The following is a letter from Capt. Gamble to Capt. Porter. 
 Capt. Gamble, the reader will recollect, was left by 
 Capt. Porter with a few men, in charge of two or three 
 vessels and some public property, when lie sailed from 
 Madison Island for Valparaiso, previous to his ever memo- 
 rable battle in the Essex. The following letter comprises all 
 the subsequent occurrences : 
 
 Sir, New York, August 30, 1815. 
 
 With regret I have to inform you, the frigate had not got 
 clear of the Marqueses, before we discovered in the natives 
 a hostile disposition towards us, who in a few days became 
 so insolent, that I found it absolutely necessary, not only 
 for the security of the ships, and property on shore, but 
 for our personal safety, to land my men, and regain by 
 force of arms the many things they had, in the most dar- 
 ing manner, stolen from the encampment ; and what was of 
 still greater importance, to prevent, if possible, their put- 
 ting threats into execution, which might have been attended 
 with the most serious consequences on our part from duty 
 requiring my men to be so much separated. 
 
 I however had the satisfaction to accomplish my wish 
 without firing a musket, and from that time lived in the 
 mo*t perfect amity with them, until the 7th May following, 
 -ivhen my distressed situation placed me in their power. 
 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 127 
 
 Before mentioning the lamentable events of that day, and 
 the two succeeding ones, I shall give you a brief account of 
 a few preceding occurrences, which were sources of great 
 uneasiness to me. The first was the death of John Wetter, 
 marine, who was unfortunately drowned in the surf, on the 
 afternoon of the 28th February, and the desertion of four 
 of my men. They took the advantage of a dark night, 
 and left the bay unobserved by any person, all excepting 
 one, a prisoner, having the watch on deck. — They took 
 with them several muskets, a supply of ammunition, and 
 many articles of but little value. My attempt to pursue 
 them was prevented by their destroying partially the. only 
 boat (near the beach) at that time sea-worthy. 
 
 On the 12th April, began to rig the ships Seringapatam and 
 Sir Andrew Hammond, which, as I calculated, employed the 
 men until the 1st of May. All hands were then engaged in 
 getting the remainder of the property from the Greenwich 
 to the Seringapatam, as I began to despair of your rejoining 
 me at that place. 
 
 The work went on well, and the men were obedient to 
 my orders, though I discovered an evident change in their 
 countenances, which led me to suppose there was some- 
 thing wrong in agitation, and under that impression, had 
 all the muskets, ammunition, and small arms of every de- 
 scription, taken to the Greenwich, the ship I lived on board, 
 from the other ships, as a necessary precaution against a 
 surprise from my own men. 
 
 On the 7th May, while on board the Seringapatam, on du- 
 ty, which required my being present, a mutiny took place, 
 in which I was wounded, and the mutineers succeeded in 
 getting the Seringapatam out of the bay- • Two days after, 
 when making the necessary preparations to depart for Val- 
 paraiso, we were attacked by the savages, and I have, with 
 the deepest regret, to inform you, sir, that Midshipman, 
 William Felters, John Thomas, Thomas Gibbs, and William 
 Brudinell, were massacred, and Peter Coddington, marine 
 dangerously wounded. After bending the jib and spanker 
 
128 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 we cut our moorings, and fortunately had a light breeze, 
 that carried the ship clear of the bay, with six cartridges 
 remaining out of the only barrel left us by the mutineers. 
 
 After getting out of the bay, we found our situation most 
 distressing. In attempting to run the boat up, it broke in 
 two parts, and we were compelled to cut away from the 
 bows the only anchor, not being able to cat it. We mus- 
 tered altogether eight souls, out of which there was one 
 cripple, one dangerously wounded, one sick, one just recov- 
 ering from the scurvy, and myself confined to the bed with 
 a high fever, produced by my wound. 
 
 In that state, destitute of charts, and almost of every 
 means of navigating the ship, I reached the Sandwich Islands, 
 after a passage of seventeen days, and suffering much from 
 fatigue and hardships. I was there unfortunately captured 
 by the English ship Cherub, remained a prisoner on board 
 of her seven months, during which time my men were trea- 
 ted in a most shameful manner. We were then put on shore 
 at Rio de Janeiro, without the possibility of getting away 
 until after hearing of the peace. I then, by the advice of 
 the physician who attended me, embarked on board a Swe- 
 dish ship bound to Havre de Grace, (there being no oth- 
 er means of my getting away at that time,) leaving behind 
 Midshipman Clapp and five men, having lost one soon after 
 my arrival in that place with the small pox. 
 
 On the 1st inst. lat. 47 o N. long. 18 o W. we fell in with 
 the American ship Oliver Ellsworth, from Havre, bound to 
 this port. I took a passage on board of her, and arrived 
 here two days since, after being upwards of an hundred 
 days at sea. I am at present unable to travel, and shall 
 therefore await either your orders, or the orders of the 
 commandant of the marine corps at this place. 
 
 I have the honour to remain, with the highest 
 
 respect and esteem, sir, your obed't serv't, 
 \ JOHN M. GAMBLE. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 123 
 
 PEACOCK AND EPERVIER. 
 
 EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROMCAPT. CHARLES MORRIS, 
 COMMANDING THE U. S. SHIP ADAMS AT SAVANNAH 
 TO THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. 
 
 Sir, Savannah, May 2, 1814. 
 
 1 have the honour to inform you, that a line brig of 18 
 guns, prize to the United States sloop Peacock, anchored 
 here this morning. She is much shattered in her hull, and 
 damaged in her rigging, having fought 45 minutes — her 
 loss 8 killed and 15 wounded. The Peacock, 2 slightly 
 wounded. She was chased on the 30th April, by a frigate, 
 but escaped by running close in the shore in the night. 
 Lieut. Nicholson, prize master, will forward you a more 
 detailed account of this handsome affair. I am &c. 
 
 Hon. W. Jones &c. C. MORRIS. 
 
 LETTER FROM LIEUT. NICHOLSON TO THE SECRETARY 
 
 OF THE NAVY. 
 
 Sir, Savannah, May 1, 1814. 
 
 I have the honour to inform you of my arrival here in 
 late his Britannic majesty's brig Epervier, of eighteen 32 
 pound carronades, Capt. Wales, captured by the sloop Pea- 
 cock, on Friday morning, the 29th, off Cape Carnaveral, 
 after an action of 45 minutes, in which time she was much 
 cut up in hull, spars, rigging, and sails, with upwards of five 
 feet of water in her hold, having the weathergage. 
 
 She has lost 8 killed and 15 wounded ; among the latter 
 her first lieutenant, who has lost his arm. lam happy to 
 say, the Peacock received no material injury — her fore-yard 
 and two men slightly wounded — she received not one shot 
 in her hull. The brig had upwards of one hundred thou- 
 sand dollars on board. 
 
 I have the honour to be &c. 
 
 JOHN B. NICHOLSON. 
 Hon- William Jones, 
 Scc'y of the navy. 
 19 
 
130 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 COPIES OF LETTERS FROM CAPTAIN WARRINGTON TO 
 THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. 
 
 U. S. Sloop Peacock, at sea, lat. 27 o 47/, long. 80 o 9/, 
 
 29 April, 1814. 
 
 I have the honour to inform you that we have this morn- 
 ing captured, after an action of 45 minutes, his majesty's 
 brig Epervier, rating and mounting 18 thirty-two pound car- 
 ronades, with 128 men, of whom 8 were killed and 15 
 wounded (according to the best information we could ob- 
 tain :) among the latter is her 1st lieutenant, who has lost an 
 arm, and received a severe splinter wound on the hip. Not 
 a man in the Peacock was killed, and only two wounded ; 
 neither dangerously so. The fate of the Epervier would 
 have been determined in much less time, but for the circum- 
 stance of our foreyard being totally disabled by two round 
 shot in the starboard quarter from her first broadside, which 
 entirely deprived us of the use of our fore and fore-top 
 sail, and compelled us to keep the ship large throughout the 
 remainder of the action. This, with a few top-mast and 
 top-gallant back-stays cut away, and a few shot through 
 our sails, is the only injury the Peacock has sustained. Not 
 a round shot touched her hull ; our masts and spars are as 
 sound as ever. When the enemy struck, he had five feet 
 water in his hold, his main top-mast was over the side, 
 his main-boom shot away, his fore-mast cut nearly in two 
 and tottering, his fore rigging and slays shotavray, his bow- 
 sprit badly wounded, and 45 shot holes in his hull, 20 of 
 which were within a foot of his water line. By great exer- 
 tion we got her in sailing order just as dark came on. 
 
 In fifteen minutes after the enemy struck, the Peacock was 
 ready for another action, in every respect but her fore-yard, 
 which was sent down, fished, and had the fore-sail set again 
 in 45 minutes — such were the spirit and activity of our gal- 
 lant crew. The Epervier had under convoy an English 
 hermaphrodite brig, a Russian and a Spanish ship, all which 
 hauled their wind and stood to the E. N. E. I had deter- 
 mined upon pursuing the former, but found that it would 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 131 
 
 not answer to leave our prize, in her then crippled state and 
 the more particularly so, as we found she had in $120,000 
 in specie, which we soon transferred to this sloop. Every 
 officer, seaman, and marine did his duty, which is the high- 
 est compliment I can pay them. 
 
 I am respectfully, 
 
 L. WARRINGTON. 
 
 P. S. From Lieut. Nicholson's report, who was counting 
 up the Epervier's crew, there were 1 1 killed and 15 wounded. 
 
 L. W- 
 
 Sir, Savannah, May 4, 1814. 
 
 1 have great satisfaction in being able to report to you the 
 arrival of the Peaeock at this anchorage today, and also, the 
 arrival of the Epervier on Monday last. I have now to de- 
 tail to you the reason of our separation. We made sail as 
 mentioned in my last, on the evening of the 29th of April. 
 The next afternoon we were, at | past 6, abreast the centre 
 of Amelia Island, with the vessels in sight over the land, 
 •when two large ships, which had been seen some time pre- 
 vious a little to the northward of the island, were clearlv 
 ascertained to be frigates in chase of us. In this situation, 
 at the suggestion of Lieut. Nicholson, I took out all but 
 himself and sixteen officers and men, and stood to the south- 
 ward along shore, on a wind, leaving him to make the 
 best of his way for St. Mary's ; which place I felt confident 
 he would reach, as the weather frigate was in chase of the 
 Peacock, and the other was too far to the leeward to fetch 
 him : at 9 we lost sight of the chaser, but continued stand- 
 ing all night to the southward, in hopes to get entirely clear 
 of him. At day light we shortened sail and stood to the 
 nortlvward, and again made the frigate ahead, who gave 
 chase the second time, which he continued until 2 P. M 
 when finding he could not come up, he desisted. In the 
 evening we resumed our course, and sxw nothing until day 
 light on Tuesday morning, when a large ship, supposed to 
 
132 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 be the same, was again seen in chase of us, and again run 
 out of sight. 
 
 This morning, at \ past 3, we made Tybee light, and at 
 half past 8 anchored near the United States ship Adams. — 
 As the enemy is hovering near to St. Mary's, I concluded 
 he had received information of, and was waiting to inter- 
 cept us. Accordingly we steered for this place, where we 
 received intelligence of the Epervier^a arrival, after fright- 
 ening off a launch which was sent from the enemy's ship to 
 leeward on Saturday evening to cut him off from the land. 
 From the 18th of April to the 24th we saw but one neu- 
 tral, and two privateers, both which were chased without 
 overhauling although we ran one among the shoals of Cape 
 Carnaveral, and followed him into four fathoms water. — 
 We have been to the southward as far as the Great Isaacs, 
 and have cruised from them to Maranilla reef, and along the 
 Florida shore to Cape Carnaveral. Not a single running 
 vessel has been through the Gulf in all this time. The fleet 
 sails from Jamaica under convoy of a 74, two frigates, and 
 two sloops, from the 1st to the 10th of May. They are so 
 much afraid of our cruisers, that several ships in the Ha- 
 vanna ready for sea, which intended to run it (as it is called) 
 were forced to wait the arrival of the convoy from Jamai- 
 ca. 
 
 The Epervier and her convoy were the first English ves- 
 sels we had seen. 
 
 We shall proceed in the execution of your further in- 
 structions, as soon as we can get a fore yard, provisions, and 
 water. 
 
 The Epervier is one of their finest brigs, and is well cal- 
 culated for our service. She sails extremely fast, and will 
 require but little to send her to sea, as her armament and 
 stores are complete. 
 
 I enclose you a list of the brig's crew, as accurately as we 
 can get it. 
 
 I am respectfully, 
 
 L. WARRINGTON- 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 133 
 
 Sift, U. S. Sloop Peacock, Savannah, 5 May, 1814. 
 
 As my letter of yesterday was too late for the mail, I ad- 
 dress you again in the performance of a duty which is plea- 
 sing and gratifying to me in a high degree, and is but doing 
 justice to the merits of the deserving officers under my 
 command, of whom I have hitherto refrained from speak- 
 ing, as I considered it most correct to make it the subject of 
 a particular communication. 
 
 To the unwearied and indefatigable attention of Lieut. 
 Nicholson (1st) in organizing and training the crew, the 
 success of this action is in a great measure to be attributed. 
 
 I have confided greatly in him, and have never found my 
 confidence misplaced. For judgment, coolness, and deci- 
 sion in times of difficulty, few can surpass him. This is 
 the second action in which he has been engaged this war, 
 and in both he has been successful. His greatest pride is. to 
 earn a commander's commission by fighting for, instead of 
 fairing it. 
 
 From Lieut. Henley (2d,) and Lieut. Voorhees, (acting 
 3d, who has also been twice successfully engaged,) I receiv- 
 ed every assistance that zeal, ardour, and experience could 
 afford. The fire from their two divisions was terrible, and 
 directed with the greatest precision and coolness. 
 
 In Sailing Master Percival, whose great wish and pride 
 it is to obtain a lieutenant's commission, and whose unremit- 
 ting and constant attention to duty, added to his profession- 
 al knowledge, entitles him to it in my opinion, I found an 
 able, as well as willing assistant. He handled the ship, as if 
 he had been working her into a roadstead. Mr. David 
 Cole, acting Carpenter, I have also found such an able and 
 valuable man in his occupation, that I must request in the 
 most earnest manner, that he may receive a warrant ; for I 
 feel confident, that to his uncommon exertion, we in a 
 great measure owe the getting our prize into port. From 
 
 II A. M. until 6 P. M. he was over her side, stopping shot 
 holes, on a grating, and, when the ordinary resources failed 
 of success, his skill soon supplied him with efficient ones. 
 
134 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 Mr Philip Myers, master's mate, has also conducted him- 
 self in such a manner as to warrant my recommendation of 
 him as a master. He is a seaman, navigator, and officer • 
 his family in New York is respected, and he would prove 
 an acquisition to the service. My clerk, Mr. John S. Town- 
 send is anxious to obtain through my means a midshipman's 
 warrant, and has taken pains to qualify himself for it by 
 volunteering, and constantly performing a midshipman's 
 duty — indeed, I have but little use for a clerk, and he is as 
 great a proficient as any of the young midshipmen, the 
 whole of whom behaved in a manner that was pleasing to 
 me, and must be gratifying to you, as it gives an earnest of 
 what they will make in time — 3 only have been to sea be- 
 fore, and 1 only in a man of war, yet they were as much at 
 home, and as much disposed to exert themselves as any of- 
 ficer in the ship. Lieut. Nicholson speaks in high terms'of 
 the conduct of Messrs. Greeves and Rodgers, midshipmen, 
 who were in the prize with him. 
 I have the honour to be, 
 
 Sir, very respectfully, your obe't serv't, 
 
 L. WARRINGTON. 
 Hon. William Jones, &c. 
 
 4 
 
 UNOFFICIAL PARTICULARS. 
 
 The Epcrvier, being to windward, gallantly met the Pea- 
 cock ; but the battle would have ended very soon, had not 
 Capt. Warrington hailed, to ascertain whether she had 
 struck, (her colours being shot away,) by the time spent in 
 which he lost a commanding position ; for the action ap- 
 peared to have ceased for the moment, and the brave War- 
 rington would not shed blood wantonly. The force of the 
 vessels in guns and weight of metal is the same, each rating 
 18, and carrying 22 ; but in men we had some superiority, 
 the British having only 128, and we about 160 ; but the 
 disparity of the execution done excites anew our wonder. 
 The hull of the Peacock was not struck by a round shot 
 whereas on the larboard wide of the Epervier between 50 and 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 135 
 
 GO took effect, many of them within a foot of the water 
 line, and she was otherwise dreadfully mauled, and had one 
 of her guns dismounted, with 5 feet water in her hold. 
 She is one of the finest vessels of her class in the British 
 navy, built in 1812. It is said, that " when she left London, 
 bets were three to one, that she would take an American 
 sloop of war or small frigate." 
 
 The Peacock's length is 118 ft.— breadth of beam 32 ft.— 
 depth of hold 14ft. — tonnage 509 — she mounts 20 guns — 
 had 160 men — killed none, wounded 2, shots in her hull, 
 none. The Epervier's length — 107 ft. — breadth of beam 32 ft. 
 depth of hold 14 ft. — tonnage 477. She mounted 18 guns, 
 same calibre with those of the Peacock — had 128 men — kill- 
 ed 1 1, wounded 15, shots in her hull 45 ! 
 
 The Epervier was sold at Savannah and purchased by 
 government for fifty five thousand dollars. 
 
 WASP AND REINDEER. 
 
 LETTER FROM JOHNSTON BLAKELEY TO THE SECRE- 
 TARY OF THE NAVY. 
 
 Sir, U. S. Sloop Wasp, V Orient, 8 July, 1314. 
 
 On Tuesday, the 28th ult. being then in lat. 48 o 36* N. 
 and long. 11 o 15/ W. we fell in with, engaged, and after 
 an action of 19 minutes, captured, his Britannic Majesty's 
 sloop of war the Reindeer, William Manners Esq. com- 
 mander. Annexed are the minutes of our proceedings pri- 
 or to, and during the continuance of the action. 
 
 Where all did their duty, and each appeared anxious to 
 excel, it is very difficult to discriminate. It is, however, 
 only rendering them their merited due, when it is declared 
 of Lieutenants Reilly and Bury, 1st and 3d of this vessel, 
 and whose names will be among those of the conquerors of 
 the Guerriere and Java ; and of Mr. Tillinghast, 2d lieuten- 
 ant, who was greatly instrumental in the capture of the 
 Boxer, that their conduct and courage on this occasion ful- 
 
136 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 filled the highest expectation and gratified every wish. 
 Sailing Master Carr is also entitled to great credit for the 
 zeal and ability with which he discharged his various du- 
 ties. 
 
 The cool and patient conduct of every officer and man, 
 while exposed to the fire of the shifting guns of the ene- 
 my, and Avithout an opportunity of returning it, could on- 
 ly be equalled by the animation and ardour exhibited, when 
 actually engaged, or by the promptitude and firmness with 
 which every attempt of the enemy to board was met and 
 successfully repelled. Such conduct many be seen, but 
 cannot well be described. 
 
 The Reindeer mounted sixteen 241b. carronades, two long 
 G or 9 pounders, and a shifting 12 pound carronade, with a 
 complement on board of 1 18 m«n. Her crew were said to 
 be the pride of Plymouth. 
 
 Our loss in men has been severe, owing in part to the 
 proximity of the two vessels and the extreme smoothness of 
 sea, but chiefly in repelling boarders. That of the enemv, 
 however, was infinitely more so, as will be seen by the list 
 of killed and wounded on both sides. 
 
 Six round shot struck our hull, and many grape which 
 did not penetrate far. The fore-mast received a 241b. shot, 
 which passed through its centre, and our rigging and sails 
 were a good deal injured. 
 
 Th« Reindeer was literally cut to pieces in aline with her 
 ports ; her upper works, boats, and spare spars were one 
 complete wreck. A breeze springing up next afternoon, 
 her fore-mast went by the board. 
 
 Having received all the prisoners on board, which from 
 the number of wounded occupied much time, together with 
 their baggage, the Reindeer was on the evening of the 29th 
 set on fire, and in a few hours blew up. 
 
 I have the honour to be, 
 
 very respectfully, your most obe't serv"t. 
 
 J. BLAKE LEY, 
 
 Hon. William Jonks, &c. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 137 
 
 Minutes of the action between the U. S. Sloop IVasp, and II. B. 
 
 M. Sloop Reindeer on the 2&th of June 1,814, in lat. 48 o 
 
 36/ JV. and long. 11 o 15/ W. 
 
 At 4 A. M. light breezes and cloudy ; at \ after 4, dis- 
 covered two sails, two points before the lee-beam, kept 
 away in chase ; shortly after discovered one sail on the 
 weather beam ; altered the course and hauled by in chase 
 of the sail to windward ; at 8, sailed to windward, bore E. 
 N. E. wind very light ; at 10, the stranger sail, bearing E. 
 by N. hoisted an English ensign and pendant, and display- 
 ed a signal at the main (blue and yellow diagonally.) 
 Meridian, light airs and cloudy ; at \ past 12, the enemy 
 showed a blue and white flag diagonally at the fore, and 
 fired a gun ; 15 minutes after 1, called all hands to quar- 
 ters and prepared for action ; 22 minutes after 1, believing 
 we could weather the enemy, tacked ship and stood for 
 him; 50 minutes after 1, the enemy tacked ship and stood 
 from us ; 56 minutes after 1, hoisted our colours and fired 
 a gun to windward, which was answered by the enemy with 
 another to windward ; 20 minutes after 2, the enemy still 
 standing from us, set the royals ; 25 minutes after 2, set the 
 flying gib ; 29 minutes after 2, set the upper stay -sails ; 32 
 minutes after 2, the enemy having tacked for us, took in 
 the stay-sails ; 37 minutes after 2, furled the royals : 51 
 minutes after 2, seeing that the enemy would be able to 
 weather us, tacked ship ; 3 minutes after 3, the enemy 
 hoisted his flying gib ; brailed up our mizen ; 15 minutes 
 after 3, the enemy on our weather quarter, distant about 
 sixty yards, fired his shifting gun, a 121b. carronade, at us, 
 loaded with round and grape shot, from his top-gallant 
 fore-castle ; 17 minutes after 3, fired the same gun a second 
 time ; 19 minutes after 3, fired it a third time ; 21 minutes 
 after 3, fired it a fourth time, 24 minutes after 3, a fifth shot, 
 all from the same gun. Finding the enemy did not get 
 sufficiently on the beam to enable us to bring our guns to 
 bear, put the helm a-lee, and at 26 minutes after 3, com- 
 menced the action Aviththe after carronade on the starboard 
 
 20 
 
m NAVAL MONUMENT 
 
 side, and fired in succession ; 34 minutes after 3, hauled up 
 the main-sail ; 40 minutes after 3, the enemy having his 
 bow in contact with our larboard quarter, endeavoured to 
 board us, but was repulsed in every attempt ; at 44 minutes 
 after 3, orders were given to board in turn, which were 
 promptly executed, when all resistance immediately ceased ; 
 and at 45 minutes after 3, the enemy hauled down his flag. 
 
 J. BLAKELEY. 
 
 List of killed and wounded on board the United States sloop of 
 war Wasp, in the action with the Reindeer. 
 
 Killed — Timothy Stephens, Thomas R. Peel, seamen ; 
 Joseph Vorse, Thomas Knight, John Brown 2, ordinary 
 seamen. 
 
 Wounded — Henry S. Langdon, midshipman, dangerous- 
 ly ; Frank Toscan, do. do.; John Swett, master's mate, 
 slightly ; William Thompson, boatswain's mate, severely ; 
 John Dick, quarter master, do.; Nathaniel Scammon, sea- 
 man, do.; Jotham Perkins, do. dangerously, (since dead ;) 
 William Preston, do. slightly ; Charles Green, do. danger- 
 ously, (since dead ;) Charles Clinton, do. slightly ; Andrew 
 Passenger, do. severely ; John Rowe, do. slightly ; Joseph 
 Atkins, do. dangerously, (since dead ;) Robert Lowther, 
 do. slightly; Morrel Roberts, do. do.; Rotin Javis, ord. 
 seaman, severely ; Henry Herbert, do. dangerously ; Simon 
 Cassalis, do. severely ; John Ball, boy, dangerously, (since 
 dead.) 
 
 RECAPITULATION. 
 
 Killed - - 5 
 
 Wounded - - 21 
 
 List of the killed and wounded on board his B. J\L sloop 
 
 of icar Reindeer. 
 
 Killed — William Manners, Esq. commander ; John 
 Thos. Barton, and 23 petty officers and seamen. 
 
I KB . 
 
 ordinary 
 
 
 John 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 139 
 
 Wounded — Thos. Chambers, 1st lieutenant ; Richard 
 Jones, master, and 40 petty officers and seamen. 
 
 RECAPITULATION. 
 
 
 Killed 
 
 25 
 
 Wounded — dangerously 
 
 10 
 
 Severely 
 
 17 
 
 Slightly 
 
 15 
 
 Whole number wounded 42 
 
 N. B. More than half the wounded were, inconsequence 
 
 of the severity and extent of their wounds, put on board a 
 
 Portuguese brig, called the Lisbon Packet, on the third day 
 
 afteraction, to wit, 1st July, bound to Plymouth, England. 
 
 COPY OF A LETTER FROM CAPTAIN J. CLAKELEY TO 
 THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. 
 
 Sir, U. S. Sloop Wasp, V Orient, 8 July, I SI 4. 
 
 I have the honour to announce to you the arrival of this 
 ship today at this place. — By the pilot who carried us out 
 of Portsmouth N. H. I had the satisfaction to make you ac- 
 quainted with our having left that place, and again had the 
 pleasure of addressing you by the French national brig 
 Olive, and which was the first vessel we had spoken since 
 our departure from the United States. From the time of 
 our sailing I continued the rout pointed out in your in- 
 structions, until our arrival at this place, during which Ave 
 have been so fortunate as to make several captures ; a list of 
 which will accompany this. — These with their cargoes were 
 wholly destroyed, with one exception. This was the Gall- 
 iott Henrietta, which was permitted to return with prison- 
 ers, 38 in number, after throwing overboard the greater 
 part of her cargo, leaving only sufficient to ballast her. 
 When arrived on our cruising ground, I found it impossi- 
 ble to maintain any thing like a station, and was led, in 
 chase, farther up the English channel than was intended 
 After arriving on soundings, the number of neutrals, which 
 
140 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 are now passing, kept ns almost constantly in pursuit. It 
 gives me much pleasure to state to you the very healthy 
 condition of the crew of the Wasp during the cruise : some- 
 times without one on the sick list, and at no time any who 
 remained there more than a few days. Great praise is due 
 to Dr. Clark for his skill and attention at all times ; but 
 particularly after the action with the Reindeer, his unweari- 
 ed assiduity to the necessities of the wounded was highly 
 conspicuous. 
 
 The ship is at present under quarantine, but we expect to 
 be released from it tomorrow, when the wounded will be 
 sent to the hospital, and every exertion made to prepare the 
 Wasp for sea. 
 
 I have the honour to be, very respectfully, 
 
 your most obedient servant, 
 
 Hon. Wm. Jones, J. BLAKELEY. 
 
 Secretary of the navy. 
 
 LETTER FROM CAPTAIN BLAKELEY TO THE SECRE- 
 TARY OF THE NAVY. 
 
 Sir, U. S. Sloop Wasp, V Orient, 10 July,l8l4. 
 
 After the capture of his B. M. sloop of war, the Reindeer, 
 it was my wish to have continued the cruise, as directed by 
 you. I was however necessitated to relinquish this desire 
 after a few days, from a consideration of the wounded of 
 our crew, whose wounds had at this season become offen- 
 sive, and aggravated by the number of prisoners on board 
 at the time, being seventy-seven in number. Fearing, from 
 the crowded state of the Wasp, that some valuable lives 
 might be lost, if retained on board, I was compelled, 
 though with reluctance, to make the first neutral port. 
 Those belonging to the Reindeer, who were dangerously 
 wounded, were put on board a Portuguese brig bound to 
 England three days after the action, and from the winds 
 which prevailed, arrived probably in two or three days af- 
 ter their departure. Their surgeon, the captain's clerk, 
 and officers' servants, and the crew of the Orange Boven. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. Ill 
 
 were put on board of the same vessel to attend upon them. 
 Since our arrival at this place we have experienced every 
 civility from the public authorities. Our quarantine was 
 only for a few hours, and our wounded, fourteen in num- 
 ber, were carried yesterday to the hospital, where they 
 were comfortably situated. Our fore-mast, although bad- 
 ly wounded, can be repaired, and will be taken on shore as 
 soon as possible. All other damages sustained can be re- 
 paired by ourselves. 
 
 I have the honour to be, very respectfully, 
 
 your most obedient servant, 
 
 Hon. W. Jones, &c. J. BLAKELEY. 
 
 LETTER FROM J. BLAKELEY ESQ. TO THE SECRETARY 
 
 OF THE NAVY. 
 
 U. S. Sloop Wasp, at sea, off Belle Isle, 
 Sir, 27 August, 1814. 
 
 It is with sincere sorrow that I have to announce to you 
 the decease of Midshipmen Henry S. Langdon and Frank 
 Toscan. They were wounded in the rencontre with the 
 Reindeer, and all our efforts to save them, after our arrival, 
 proved unavailing. It was their first essay, and although 
 wounded, remained at their posts until the contest termina- 
 ted. The constancy and courage with which they bore 
 their sufferings leads to the melancholy, though proud re- 
 flection, of what they might have been, had Providenee or- 
 dained otherwise. Every respect due to worth was shewn 
 to their memory. 
 
 It is with regret that I have to inform you of the delays 
 we have experienced at this place, but had they been of 
 shorter duration, we could not possibly have sailed, as one 
 continued westerly wind has prevailed from the hour of 
 our arrival up to the present day. 
 
 The course pointed out in your instructions having been 
 interrupted, I shall endeavour to fulfil your further inten- 
 tions as far as possibly be in my power. 
 
112 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 With great satisfaction, I add, that every aid in the pow- 
 er of Mr. Crawford has been promptly afforded, and that I 
 feel under many obligations to him for his attention and as- 
 sistance. 
 
 We are now off this place with a fair wind and favorable 
 prospects. 
 
 I have the honour to be, very respectfully, 
 your most obedient servant, 
 Hon. W. Jones, &c. J. BLAKELEY. 
 
 WASP AND AVON. 
 
 LETTER FROM CAPT. BLAKELEY TO THE SECRETARY 
 
 OF THE NAVY. 
 
 U. S. Sloop Wasp, at sea, lat. 41 o iW. long. 1 1 o W. 
 Sir, lift Sept. 1814. 
 
 After a protracted and tedious stay at L'Orient, had at 
 last the pleasure of leaving that place on Saturday, 27th of 
 August. On the 30th, captured the British brig Lettice, 
 Henry Cockbain master ; and on the 31st of August, the 
 British brig Bon Accord, Adam Durno master. In the mor- 
 ning of the 1st of September, discovered a convoy of 10 
 sail to leeward, in charge of the Jlrmada 74, and a bomb 
 ship ; stood for them and succeeded in cutting out the Brit- 
 ish brig Mary, John D. Allan master, laden with brass can- 
 non, taken from the Spaniards, iron cannon and military 
 stores from Gibraltar to England: removed the prisoners, 
 set her on fire, and endeavoured to capture another of the 
 convoy, but was chased off by the Jlrmada. On the evening 
 of the same day at | past 6, while going free, discovered four 
 vessels, nearly at the same time, two on the starboard, and 
 two on the larboard bow, being the farthest to windward. 
 At 7, the chase, a brig, commenced making signals, with 
 flags, which could not be distinguished, for want of light, 
 and soon after made various ones, with lanterns, rocket- 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 143 
 
 and guns. At 29 minutes after 9, having the chase under 
 our leebow, the 131b. carronade was directed to be fired in- 
 to him, which he returned ; ran under his lee-bow to pre- 
 vent his escaping, and commenced the action. At 10 o'clock, 
 believing the enemy to be silenced, orders were given to 
 cease firing, when I hailed and asked if he had surrendered. 
 No answer being given to this, and his firing having recom- 
 menced, it was agained returned. At 12 minutes after 10, 
 the enemy having suffered greatly, and having made no 
 return to our last two broadsides, I hailed him the second 
 time to know if he had surrendered, when he answered in 
 the affirmative. The guns were then ordered to be secured, 
 and the boat lowered to take possession. In the act of low- 
 ering the boat, a second brig was discovered a little dis- 
 tance astern and standing for us. Sent the crew to their 
 quarters, prepared every thing for another action, and 
 awaited his coming up. At 36 minutes after 10, discovered 
 two more sails astern, standing towards us. I now felt my- 
 self compelled to forego the satisfaction of destroying the 
 prize. Oar braces having been cut away, we kept off the 
 wind until others could be rove, and with the expectation of 
 drawing the second brig from his companions ; but in this 
 last we were disappointed. The second brig continued to 
 approach us until she came close to our stern, when she 
 hauled by the wind, fired her broadside, which cut our 
 rigging and sails considerably, and shot away a lower main 
 cross tree, aud retraced her steps to join her consorts ; when 
 we were necessitated to abandon the prize. He appeared in 
 every respect a total wreck. He continued for some time 
 firing guns of distress, until probably delivered by the two 
 last vessels who made their appearance. The second brig 
 could have engaged us if he thought proper, as he neared 
 us fast : but contented himself with firing a broadside, and 
 immediately returned to his companions. 
 
 It is with real satisfaction I have again the pleasure of 
 bearing testimony to the merits of Lieutenants Reilly, Til- 
 linghast, Baury and Sailing Master Carr : and to the good 
 
144 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 conduct of every officer and man on board the Wasp. — 
 Their divisions and departments were attended and suppli- 
 ed with the utmost regularity and abundance, which, with 
 the good order maintained, together with the vivacity and 
 precision of their fire, reflects on them the greatest credit. 
 Our loss is two killed, and one slightly wounded with a wad. 
 The hull received four round shot, and the fore-mast many 
 grape shot. Our rigging and sails suffered a great deal. 
 Every damage has been repaired the day after, with the ex- 
 ception of our sails. 
 
 Of the vessel with whom we were engaged, nothing posi- 
 tive can be said with regard to her name or force. While 
 hailing him previous to his being fired into, it was blowing 
 fresh (then going ten knots) and the name was not distinct- 
 ly understood. Of her force, the four shot which struck us 
 are all 32 pounds in weight, being a pound and three quar- 
 ters heavier than any belonging to this vessel. From this 
 circumstance, the number of men in her tops, her general 
 appearance and great length, she is believed to be one of the 
 largest brigs in the British navy. 
 
 I have the honour to be, very respectfully, 
 
 your most obedient servant, 
 Hon. W. Jones, &c. J. BLAKELEY. 
 
 P. S. I am told the enemy, after his surrender, asked for 
 assistance, and said he was sinking — the probability of this 
 is confirmed by his firing single guns for some time after his 
 capture. 
 
 List of killed and teounded on board the U. S. Sloop of war the 
 Wasp Johnston Blakcley, Esq. commander, in the action with 
 
 his Britannic Majesty 's Sloop of war , on the 1st of 
 
 September 1814. 
 
 Killed. Joseph Martin, boatswain ; Henry Staples, 
 quarter gunner. 
 
 Wounded. James Snellings, seaman, clavicle or collar 
 bone fractured by a wad. j 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 145 
 
 RECAPITULATION. 
 
 Killed .... % 
 
 Wounded . - - - 1 
 
 Total 3 
 
 Extract of a private letter from an officer of the United States 
 
 Sloop Wasp. 
 
 At sea, September 23, 1814. 
 
 " Capt. Blakeley, I believe, sends official accounts up to 
 this date, doubtless for publication. To his letters therefore 
 I refer you for correct particulars regarding our cruise. 
 
 " The Wasp has been one of the most successful cruisers 
 out of the United States. — She has been the favourite of 
 Fortune, and we offer thanks to divine Providence for its 
 support and protection. 
 
 " She has now been three months and five days at sea, 
 with a complement of 173 men, whose ages average only 23 
 years. The greatest part so green, that is, unaccustomed to 
 the sea, that they were sea sick for a week. In that time 
 however she has destroyed twelve British merchant vessels 
 and their cargoes, the whole value of which, I presume, was 
 not less than 200,000 pounds sterling. The thirteenth mer- 
 chantman.we are now despatching to the United States. — 
 She is the first we have attempted to send in, but being an 
 uncommon fast sailer, we have great hopes of her safe arri- 
 val ; and for my part, with judicious management, I have 
 no doubt of it. She is a very beautiful brig of 253 tons, 
 coppered to the bends and copper fastened, and has a very 
 valuable cargo on board, consisting of brandy, wines, cam- 
 brics, &c. She was from Liverpool bound to Bordeaux, 
 thence to Pensacola. 
 
 " The Wasp is a beautiful ship, and the finest sea boat, I 
 believe in the world ; our officers and crew, young and am- 
 bitious — they fight with more cheerfulness than they do any 
 other duty. Capt. Blakeley is a brave and discreet officer ; 
 as cool and collected in action as at table." 
 
 21 
 
146 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 BRITISH ACCOUNT. 
 
 Cork, September 7, 1814. 
 
 On Thursday last, his Majesty's ships Castilian, Lieut, 
 Lloyd, (acting) and Avon Hon. Capt. Arbuthnot, having 
 sailed hence about a month ago, gave chase to an Ameri- 
 can schooner privateer, (having previously recaptured a 
 vessel taken by her,) but owing to the superior sailing of 
 the Castilian, she left the Avon a considerable distance be- 
 hind, who, after a short time, found herself in sight of a 
 vessel, which she hailed and demanded who she was ; 
 upon which she replied, "heave to, and I'll let you know 
 who I am ; (this was about 9 at night,) and fired a gun at 
 the Avon, when a most sanguinary action commenced, 
 which continued until 11 o'clock ; she then sheared off, and 
 said, " this is the Wasp." She appeared in a sinking state, 
 and glad to get off. The Avon then fired signal guns to the 
 Castilian. LTpon the Castilian coming to the Avon, she fell 
 in with the Wasp, and demanded who she was ; to which 
 she made no answer. The Castilian luffed under her lee 
 quarter and gave her a broadside, and then hailed again — 
 but no answer, nor yet a single musket fired. The Castili- 
 an finding the sinking state of the Avon, made every effort 
 to save the lives of her brave crew : fortunately the whole 
 were saved. As the last boat with the wounded had got 
 about half way to the Castilian, the Avon went down head 
 foremost 
 
 We lament to say, that between the second and third 
 broadside, Lieut. Prendergast, the gallant first lieutenant of 
 the Avon received a mortal wound across the belly, from a 
 grape shot, while in the act of cheering the crew. The 
 Avon had nine killed and thirty three wounded. As soon 
 as the Castilian had discharged the duties of humanity, in 
 taking on board the Avonh crew, she made all sail for the 
 Wasp, who appeared so cut up, as to be in a sinking state ; 
 but could not make out any trace whatever of her. 
 
 Names of the superior officers on board the Avon : Hon. 
 John James Arbuthnot, captain ; John Harvey, first lieu- 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 147 
 
 tenant ; John Prendergast, second do. ; and James Allen, 
 master. 
 
 The Tartarus sloop of war, joined the Castilian as the 
 Avon was sinking, and took on board forty of her men. 
 
 VICTORY ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 
 
 COPIES OF LETTERS FROM COMMODORE MACDONOUGH 
 TO THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. 
 
 U. S. Ship Saratoga, off Plattsburg, 
 Sir, September 1 1 , 1814. 
 
 The Almighty has been pleased to grant us a signal vic- 
 tory on Lake Champlain, in the capture of 1 frigate, 1 
 brig, and 2 sloops of war of the enemy. 
 I have the honour to be, very respectfully, 
 
 Sir, your most obedient servant, 
 Hon. William Jones, T. MACDONOUGH. 
 
 Sec'y of the navy. 
 
 Sir, September 13, 1814. 
 
 By Lieut. Commandant Cassin, I have the honour to 
 convey to you the flags of his Britannic Majesty's late 
 squadron, captured on the 11th inst. by the United States 
 squadron under my command. Also my despatches rela- 
 ting to that occurrence, which should have been in your 
 possession at an earlier period, but for the difficulty in ar- 
 ranging the different statements. 
 
 The squadron under my command now lies at Plattsburg. 
 It will bear considerable diminution, and still leave a force 
 sufficient to repel any attempt of the enemy in this quarter. 
 I shall wait your order what to do with the whole or ^ny 
 part thereof. 
 
 I have the honour to be, &c 
 
 Hon. W. Jones, T. MACDONOUGH. 
 
 Secretary of the navy. 
 
148 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 Sir, . September 13, 1814. 
 
 I have the honour to give you the particulars of the ac- 
 tion which took place on the 11th instant on this lake. 
 
 For several days the enemy were on their way to Platts- 
 burg, by land and water, and it being well understood that 
 an attack would be made at the same time by their land and 
 naval forces, I determined to await at anchor the approach 
 of the latter. 
 
 At 8 A. M. the look-out boat announced the approach of 
 the enemy. At 9 he anchored in a line ahead, at about 800 
 yards distance from my line ; his ship opposed to the Sara- 
 toga, his brig to the Eagle, Captain Robert Henly, his gal- 
 leys, 13 in number, to the schooner, sloop, and a division 
 of our galleys- ; 1 of his sloops assisting their ship and brig, 
 the other assisting their galleys : our remaining galleys with 
 the Saratoga and Eagle. 
 
 In this situation the whole force on both sides became en- 
 gaged, the Saratoga suffering much from the heavy fire of 
 the Confiance. I could perceive at the same time, however, 
 that our fire was very destructive to her. The Ticondero- 
 ga, Lieut. Com. Cassin, gallantly sustained her full share of 
 the action. At \ past 10 o'clock, the Eagle, not being able 
 to bring her guns to bear, cut her cable and anchored in a 
 more eligible position, between my ship and the Ticon- 
 deroga, where she was much annoyed by the enemy, but un- 
 fortunately leaving me exposed to a galling fire from the en- 
 emy's brig. Our guns on the starboard side being nearly 
 all dismounted, or not manageable, a stern anchor was let 
 go, the bow cable cut, and the ship winded with a fresh 
 broadside on the enemy's ship, which soon after surrender- 
 ed. Our broadside was then sprung to bear on the brig, 
 which surrendered in 15 minutes after. 
 
 The sloop that was opposed to the Eagle had struck some 
 time before and drifted down the line, the sloop which was 
 with their galleys having struck also. Three of their gal- 
 leys are said to be sunk ; the others pulled off. Our galleys 
 were about obeying with alacrity the signal to follow them. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT.. 149 
 
 ■when all the vessels were reported to me to be in a sinking 
 state ; it then became necessary to annul the signal to the 
 galleys and order their men to the pumps. 
 
 I could only look at the enemy's galleys going off in a 
 shattered condition, for there was not amast in either squad- 
 ron that could stand to make sail on ; the lower rigging 
 being nearly all shot away, hung down as though it had been 
 just placed over the mast heads. 
 
 The Saratoga had 55 round shot in her hull, the Conjiancc 
 105. The enemy's shot passed principally just, over our 
 heads, as there were not 20 whole hammocks in the net- 
 tings at the close of the action, which lasted without inter- 
 mission 2 hours and 20 minutes. 
 
 The absence and sickness of Lieut. Raymond Perry, left 
 me without the services of that excellent officer ; much 
 ought fairly to be attributed to him for his great care and 
 attention in disciplining the ship's crew as her 1st Lieuten- 
 ant. His place was filled by a gallant young officer, Lieut. 
 Peter Gambled who, I regret to inform you, was killed ear- 
 ly in the action. Acting Lieut. Valette worked the 1st and 
 2d divisions of guns with able effect. Sailing-Master 
 Brum's attention to the springs, and in the execution of the 
 order to wind the ship, and occasionally at the guns, meets 
 with my entire approbation, also Capt. Youngs, command- 
 ing the acting marines, who took his men to the guns. Mr. 
 Beale, purser, was a great service at the guns, and in carry- 
 ing my orders throughout the ship, with Midshipman 
 Montgomery. Master's Mate Joshua Justin, had command 
 of the 3d division : his conduct during the action was that 
 of a brave and correct officer. Midshipmen Monteath, 
 Graham, Williamson, Piatt, Thwing, and acting Midship- 
 man Baldwin, al] behaved well, and gave evidence of their 
 making valuable officers. 
 
 The Saratoga was twice set on fire by hot shot from the 
 enemy's ship. 
 
 I close, sir, th'is communication with feelings of gratitude 
 for the able support I received from every officer and man 
 
150 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 attached to the squadron which I have the honour to com- 
 mand. 
 
 I have the honour to be, with great respect, 
 Sir, your most obedient servant, 
 
 Hon. W. Jones, T. MACDONOUGH. 
 
 Secretary of the navy. 
 
 P. S. Accompanying this is a list of killed and wounded, 
 a list of prisoners, and a precise statement of both forces 
 engaged. Also letters from Capt. Henley and Lieut. Com. 
 Cassin. T. M. 
 
 Return of killed and wounded on board the United States squad- 
 ron on Lake Champlain, in the engagement with the British 
 fleet on the 11th' of September, 1814. 
 
 , Ship Saratoga. Killed — Peter Gamble, lieutenant ; 
 Thomas Butler, quarter gunner ; James Norberry, boat- 
 swain's mate ; Abraham Davis, quarter master ; William 
 Wyer, sail maker ; William Brickell, Peter Johnson, and 
 John Coleman, seamen ; Benjamin Purrill and Andrew 
 Parmlee, ordinary seamen ; Peter Post, David Bennet, and 
 Ebenezer Johnson, seamen ; Randal M'Donald and John 
 White, ordinary seaman ; Samuel Smith, seaman ; Thomas 
 Malony, ord. seaman ; Andrew Nelson, John Sellack, Peter 
 Hanson, Jacob Laraway and Edward Moore, seamen ; Je- 
 rome Williams, ord. seaman ; James Carlisle, marine ; John 
 Smart and Earl Hannemon, seamen ; Joseph Couch, lands- 
 man ; Thomas Stevens, seaman — 28. 
 
 Wounded — James M. Baldwin, acting midshipman ; Jo- 
 seph Barton, pilot ; Robert Gray, quarter gunner ; George 
 Cassin, quarter master ; John Hollingsworth, Thomas Rob- 
 inson, Purnal Smith, John Ottiwell, and John Thompson, 
 seamen ; Edward Rowland, William Williams, ord. seamen ; 
 John Robertson, seaman ; John Towns, landsman ; John 
 Shays, John S. Hammond and James Barlow, seamen ; 
 James Nagle, ord. seaman ; John Lanman and Peter Col- 
 berg, seamen ; William Newton, ord. seaman ; Neil J 
 Heldmont, and James Steward, seamen ; John Adams, lands- 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 151 
 
 man ; Charles Rasche, seaman ; Benjamin Jackson, Jesse 
 Vanhorn, Joseph Ketter and Samuel Pearson, marines ; 
 William Fabee, ord. seaman — 29. 
 
 Brig Eagle. Killed — Peter Vandermere, master's mate ; 
 John Ribero and Jacob Landman, seamen ; Perkins Moore, 
 James Winship, Thomas Anwright and Nace Wilson, ord. 
 seamen ; Thomas Lewis, boy ; John Wallace, Joseph Hea- 
 ton, and Robert Stratton, marines ; James M. Hale and 
 John Wood, musicians — 13. 
 
 Wounded — Joseph Smith, lieutenant ; William A. Spen- 
 cer, acting lieutenant ; Francis Breeze, master's mate ; 
 Abraham Walters, pilot ; William C. Allen, quarter mas- 
 ter ; James Duick, quarter gunner ; Andrew M'Ewen, 
 Zebediah Concklin, Joseph Valentine, John Hartley, John 
 Miclan, and Robert Buckler, seamen ; Aaron Fitzgerald, 
 boy ; Purnell Boice, ord. seaman ; John N. Craig, seaman ; 
 John M'Kenney, Matthew Scriver, George Manwaring, 
 Henry Jones, and John M'Carty, marines — 20. 
 
 Schooner Ticonderoga. Killed — John Stansbury, lieuten- 
 ant ; John Fisher and John Atkinson, boatswain's mates ; 
 Henry Johnson, seaman ; Deodrick Think and John Sharp, 
 marines — 6. 
 
 Wounded — Patrick Cassin, Ezekiel Goud, Samuel Saw- 
 yer, William Le Count, and Henry Collins, seamen ; John 
 Condon, marine — 6. 
 
 Sloop* Preble. Killed — Rogers Carter, acting sailing 
 master ; Joseph Rowe, boatswain's mate — 2. 
 
 Wounded — none. 
 
 Gun-boat Borer. Killed — Arthur W. Smith, purser's ste- 
 ward ;Thomas Gill, boy ; James Day, marine — 3. 
 
 Wounded — Ebenezer Cobb, corporal marines — 
 
 Gun-boat Centipede. Wounded — James Taylor, lands- 
 man — 1 . 
 
 Gun-boat Wilmer. Wounded — Peter Frank, seaman — 1. 
 
152 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 RECAPITULATION. 
 
 
 Killed. 
 
 Wounded 
 
 Saratoga 
 
 - 28 
 
 29 
 
 Eagle 
 
 - 13 
 
 20 
 
 Ticoncleroga 
 
 - 6 
 
 6 
 
 Preble 
 
 - 2 
 
 
 
 Borer 
 
 - 3 
 
 1 
 
 Centipede 
 
 - 
 
 1 
 
 Wilmer 
 
 - 
 
 1 
 
 Total 52 58 
 
 Gun-boats Mule, Men, Viper, Burrows, Ludlow, Ahoyn, 
 Ballard — none killed or wounded. 
 
 GEORGE BEALE, jun. Purser. 
 
 Statement of the American force engaged on the llth Sept. 1814. 
 Saratoga, eight long 24 pounders, six 42 pound carronades, 
 and twelve 32 pound carronades 26 
 
 Eagle, twelve 23 pound carronades, and eight long 18s 20 
 Ticonderoga, eight long 12 pounders, four long 18 pound- 
 ers, and five 32 pound carronades - - 17 
 Preble, seven long 9 pounders ... 7 
 10 galleys, viz. — Allen, Burrows, Borer, Nettle, Viper, Cen- 
 tipede, one long 24 pounder and one 18 pound colum- 
 biad each - - - - - 12 
 Ludloio, Wilmer, Alwyn, Ballard, 1 long 12 pr. each, 4 
 
 Guns, 86 
 
 Recapitulation — fourteen long 24 pounders, six 42 pound 
 
 carronades, twenty-nine 32 pound carronades, twelve long 
 18 pounders, twelve long 12 pounders, seven long 9 pound- 
 ers, six 18 pound columbiads. Total 86 guns. 
 
 T. MACDONOUGH. 
 
 Statement of the enemy'' s force engaged on the llth of Septem- 
 ber, 1814. 
 Frigate Confiance, twenty-seven long 24 pounders, four 32 
 pound carronades, six 24 pound carronades, and two 
 long 18 pounders on the birth deck - - 39 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT 153 
 
 Brig Linnet, sixteen long 12 pounders - - 1G 
 
 Sloop Chub,* ten 18 pound carronades, one long 6 pounderl 1 
 Sloop Finch,* six 18 pound carronades, one 18 pound 
 
 columbiad, and four long 6 pounders - - 11 
 
 13 galleys, viz. — Sir James Yeo, Sir George Prevost, Sir 
 Sidney Beckwith, one long 24 pounder, and one 32 lb. 
 carronade each ----- G 
 Broke, one 18 pounder, and one 32 lb. carronade - 2 
 
 Murry, one 18 pounder, and one 181b. carronade - 2 
 
 Wellington, Teeumseh, and one other, name unknown, 
 one 18 pounder each - - - - 3 
 
 Drummond, Simcoc and 3 others, names unknown, one 
 32 lb. carronade each 5 
 
 Total, guns, 95 
 
 Recapitulation — thirty long 24 pounders, seven 18 pound- 
 ers, sixteen 12 pounders, five 6 pounders, thirteen 32 pound 
 carronades, six 24 pound carronades, seventeen 18 pound 
 carronades, one 18 pound columbiad. Total 95 guns. 
 
 T. MACDONOUGH. 
 
 COPY OF A LETTER FROM LIEUT. CASSIN TO COM. MAC- 
 DONOUGH. 
 
 U. S. Schooner Ticonderoga, Plattsburg Bay, 
 Sir, September 12, 1814. 
 
 It is with pleasure I state, that every officer and man un- 
 der my command did their duty yesterday. 
 
 Your's respectfully, 
 Com. T. Macdonough. STEPHEN CASSIN, 
 
 Lieut, commanding. 
 
 COPY OF A LETTER FROM LIEUTENANT HENLEY TO 
 COMMODORE MACDONOUGH. 
 
 Sir, U. S. Brig Eagle, Plattsburg, Sept. 12, 1814. 
 
 I am happy to inform you that all my officers and men 
 acted bravely, and did their duty in the battle of yesterday 
 with the enemy. 
 
 * These sloops were formerly the U. S. Growler and Eagle. 
 
 22 
 
154 NAVAL MONUiMENT. 
 
 I shall have the pleasure of making a more particular 
 representation of the respective merits of my gallant offi- 
 cers to the honourable the secretary of the navy. 
 I have the honour to be, respectfully, 
 
 Sir, your most obedient servant, 
 
 R. HENLEY. 
 
 P. S. We had 39 round shot in our hull (mostly 24 
 pounders) 4 in our lower masts — and we were well pepper- 
 ed with grape. I enclose my boatswain's report. 
 
 R. H. 
 
 COPY OF A LETTER FROM GEORGE BE ALE, JUN. TO 
 COMMODORE MACDONOUGH. 
 
 Sir, U. S. Ship Saratoga, Sept. 13, 1814. 
 
 I have the honour to enclose you a list of the killed and 
 wounded on board the different vessels of the squadron 
 under your command, in the action of the 11th inst. 
 
 It is impossible to ascertain correctly the loss of the ene- 
 my. From the best information received from the British 
 officers, from my own observations, and from various lists 
 found on board the Confiance, I calculate the number of 
 men on board that ship at the commencement of the action 
 at 270, of whom at least 180 were killed and wounded, and 
 on board the other captured vessels at least 80' more, mak- 
 ing in the whole, killed and wounded, 2G0: This is doubt- 
 less short of the real number, as many were thrown over- 
 board from the Confiance during the engagement. 
 
 The muster books must have been thrown overboard, or 
 otherwise disposed of, as they are not to be found. 
 I am, sir, very respectfully, 
 
 your obedient servant, 
 
 GEORGE BEALE, jun. Purser. 
 Com. T. Macdonough. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 155 
 
 List of British officers captured on the Mlh September, on 
 Lake Champlain, and sent to Greenbush. 
 
 Captain Daniel Pring, on parole ; Lieutenants Hicks, 
 Creswick, Robinson, M'Glie, DreAv, Hornby, Child, and 
 Fitzpatrick ; Sailing Master Bryden ; Masters' Mates Clark 
 and Simmonds ; Surgeon Todd ; Purser Gile ; Captain's 
 Clerk Guy ; Midshipmen Aire, Boudell, Toorke, Kewstra ; 
 Davidson, boatswain ; Elvin, gunner ; Mickell, gunner ; 
 Cox, carpenter ; Parker, purser ; Martin, surgeon ; M'Cabe, 
 assistant surgeon. 
 
 COPY OF A LETTER FROM COMMODORE MACDONOUGH 
 TO BRIG. GEN. MACOMB. 
 
 U. S. Ship Saratoga, off Plattsburg, 
 Dear sir, September 13, 1814. 
 
 Enclosed is a copy of a letter from Capt. White Youngs, 
 and a list of killed and wounded attached to his command. 
 I beg leave to recommend 'Capt. Youngs to your particu- 
 lar notice ; during the action his conduct was such as to 
 meet with my warmest approbation. I feel much indebted 
 to him for his personal valor and example of coolness and 
 intrepidity to his own men, as well as to the sailors. He 
 volunteered in a sinking boat to carry my order to the gal- 
 lies, for close action, in the hottest part of it ; and supplied 
 the guns with his men as fast as the sailors were disabled. 
 I am with much respect and esteem, 
 
 your obedient servant, 
 Brig. Gen. Macomb, T. MACDONOUGH. 
 
 of U. S. army. 
 
 LETTER FROM GEN. MACOMB TO THE SECY OF WAR. 
 
 Capt. Youngs of the 15th, is an officer of distinguished 
 merit, and has conducted himself with the greatest propri 
 ety on board the fleet. By his example and attention we 
 have been able to keep the fleet manned from the line 
 
156 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 which has been the means of contributing to the result of 
 the naval engagement ; I therefore recommend him to the 
 particular notice of the war department. 
 
 September \8, 1814. ALEX. MACOMB. 
 
 COPY OF A LETTER FROM CAPT. YOUNGS TO COM. MA C- 
 
 DONOUGH. 
 
 United States Ship Saratoga, Lake Champlain, 
 Sir, September 13, 1814. 
 
 I have the honour of enclosing to you a list of killed and 
 wounded troops of the line (acting marines on board the 
 squadron, Lake Champlain) in the action of the 11th in- 
 stant. 
 
 In attempting to do justice to the brave officers and men 
 I have had the honour to command, my feeble abilities fall 
 far short of my wishes — First Lieut. Morrison, 33d infan- 
 try, stationed on board theU. S. brig Eagle, was wounded, 
 but remained on deck during the action, animating his men 
 by his honourable conduct. Second Lieut. James Young, 
 6th infantry, on board the U. S. schooner Ticonderoga, 
 merits my warmest thanks : 1 would particularly recom- 
 mend him to your notice. Second Lieut. William B. How- 
 ell, 15th infantry in the U. S. ship Saratoga, rendered me 
 every assistance ; notwithstanding his having been confin- 
 ed, for ten days of a fever, yet, at the commencement of 
 the action, he was found on deck, and continued until the 
 enemy had struck, when he was borne to his bed. I would 
 also recommend him to your notice. 
 
 The conduct of the non-commissioned officers and pri- 
 vates was so highly honourable to their country and them- 
 selves, it would be superfluous to particularize them. 
 I have the honour to be, 
 
 Sir, your obedient servant, 
 Com. T. Macdonough, &c. WHITE YOUNGS, 
 
 Capt. loth Inf. cojnHng detach 
 of acting marines. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 157 
 
 COPY OF A LETTER FROM LIEUT. HENLEY TO THE 
 SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. 
 
 Sir, U. S. Ship Eagle, off Platlshurg, Sept. 10, 1814. 
 
 Permit me to make you acquainted with that part of the 
 action of yesterday, which was particularly borne by the 
 vessel which I have the honour to command, as it may not 
 appear in the official report of Capt. Macdonough, whose 
 duty it is to make a true and impartial statement of facts. 
 
 Being at anchor in the harbour of Plattsburg, in a line 
 north and south, at the distance of about 100 yards, the 
 Eagle north, the Saratoga in the centre, and the Ticonderoga 
 south, the enemy approached, in a line abreast, with a fav- 
 ourable wind, which enabled him to choose his position ; 
 his brig taking her station on the starboard bow of the 
 Eagle, at the distance of about a mile, his ship about one 
 point abaft her [the Eagle's] beam, and the sloop Linnet, of 
 1 1 guns, making an effort to obtain a raking position under 
 our stern. Perceiving the object of the sloop, I ordered 
 her a broadside, which compelled her immediately to strike 
 her colours. 
 
 At the moment when the enemy's ship had approached 
 within point-blank distance, the Eagle commenced upon her 
 a most destructive fire of her whole broadside, excepting 
 the two long 18s forward, which were occasionally dischar- 
 ged at the enemy's brig, who frequently relieved her posi- 
 tion and kept up a raking and most destructive fire upon this 
 vessel. 
 
 I was confident that it was of the highest importance, in 
 order to insure success, to endeavour first to carry the ene- 
 my's ship. For a great length of time after the commence- 
 ment of the action, the ship levelled her whole force upon 
 the Eagle, dealing forth destruction. 
 
 After having sustained the severest of the action for more 
 than one hour — having my springs shot away — many of my 
 starboard guns disabled, and not being in a situation to bring 
 one of them to bear upon either the enemy's ship or brig, I 
 ordered the cable cut and cast the brig, taking an advanta- 
 
158 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 geous/position a little south of the Saratoga, bringing my lar 
 board broadside to bear upon the ship, which was very sooni 
 compelled to haul down her colours. Our fire was now di- 1 
 rected at the brig, which struck in the space of eight minutes,! 
 and our contest terminated in victory. We now turned ourn 
 attention toward the gallies, some of which, it is believed, . 
 sunk, and the residue made their escape. The Eagle was 
 in too shattered a condition to pursue them. 
 
 I have the honour to enclose the surgeon's report of the 
 killed and wounded on board the Eagle, by which you will 
 perceive there were 13 killed and 27 wounded, most of them 
 severely : also a copy of the report of the meritorious 
 conduct of my officers and men, which I made to Capt. 
 Macdonough, for your information, and which he has since 
 informed me he had lost. 
 I have the honour to be, 
 
 Sir, with high respect, your obe't serv't, 
 
 ROBERT HENLEY. 
 
 Another letter from Capt. Henley to the Secretary of war, 
 of the above date, encloses his report of killed and wound- 
 ed, and recommends Lieut. Joseph Smith, Acting Lieut. 
 Spencer, Acting Sailing-master Record, Acting Lieut. Loo- 
 mis, Midshipmen Chamberlain, Machesny and Tardy, Sur- 
 geon Stoddard, Volunteer Loomis, Mr. Smith the gunner, 
 Mr. Johnson the carpenter and Mr. Willson the boatswain, 
 as having discharged their duties as became Americans. 
 
 PARTICULARS. 
 
 Commodore Macdonough is the son of Dr. Macdonough, 
 late of New-Castle county, state of Delaware. He was a 
 midshipman under Com. Decatur, at Tripoli, and one of 
 the gallant band that destroyed the Philadelphia. At the 
 time of the battle on Lake Champlain, he was about 28 years 
 of age. He is a religious man, as well as a hero, and pray_ 
 ed with his brave men on the morning of the victory. 
 All the officers on board the commodore's ship were either 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 159 
 
 killed or wounded. He was asked how he escaped amid 
 such carnage, and replied, pointing to heaven, " There 
 was a power above which determined the fate of man.". 
 
 He had repeatedly to work his own guns, when his men 
 at them were shot and three times he was driven across the 
 deck by splinters. 
 
 At one time during the battle, Macdonough had all his 
 guns on one side but two dismounted, when he wore his ship. 
 The enemy endeavouring to do the same, failed, and gave 
 us an opportunity to rake him. Our superiour gunnery is 
 again proved, as the enemy had two to one of ours killed or 
 wounded ; and they had locks to their guns, which we had 
 not. 
 
 The gallies did but little, and the enemy's gallies, which 
 were distant spectators, pulled off when they saw their fleet 
 was beaten. 
 
 The battle was exceedingly obstinate ; the enemy fought 
 gallantly ; but the superiority of our gunnery was irresisti- 
 ble. We fired much oftener than they did. All the vessels 
 were much wrecked. 
 
 The killed on both sides have a very unusual proportion 
 to the wounded — on ours 52 to 58 ! This is perhaps unpre- 
 cedented, and may serve to shew the warmth and close- 
 ness of the action. 
 
 In the hottest of the action, a cock in the commodore's 
 ship flew into the shrowds, and crowed three times ! The 
 crew seized the happy omen, and shouted victory ! This lit- 
 tle incident must have had a powerful effect on the seamen. 
 
 A sailor, who had been hard at work from the commence- 
 ment until the conclusion of the fight, seeing the British flag- 
 lowered, with a smile on his countenance, addressed a com- 
 panion, " Well, Jack, this is all the fun I have had this war," 
 at the same time very leisurely wiping the sweat from his 
 face. " I am more lucky," said the other, " for this is the 
 second Frolic* I have had !" 
 
 The schooners Growler and Tigress*, captured from us 
 the year preceding, were desperately defended. When the 
 * He was with Capt. Jor " at the taking of the Frolic. 
 
160 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 former was towed into Plattsburg, she had only five men 
 on board on their legs. 
 
 The British loss was immense. On board the Conjiance 
 alone 190 were killed. Com. Downie fell in the early part 
 of the action. Capt. Preng, who had been censured by Sir 
 George Prevost, fought his brig 15 minutes after the other 
 vessels had struck. 
 
 The British certainly supposed that the battle would have 
 terminated in their favour. It appears evident, that they 
 expected to defeat our squadron, to proceed to the upper 
 end of the lake, and to establish themselves on shore. For 
 this purpose they had provided heavy cannon for mounting, 
 and put them on board their vessels to be landed and station- 
 ed after the engagement. Com. Macdonough found, on ex- 
 amining the prizes, concealed under the platform of the ves- 
 sels, where they served for ballast, 25 pieces, 6, 9, 12, and 
 long 13 pounders, and a large quantity of grape andcannis- 
 ter shot — so happily diverted from their original purpose 
 by the glorious victory of the 11th of September. 
 
 LOSS OF THE PRESIDENT. 
 
 COPY OF A LETTER FROM COMMODORE DECATUR TO 
 THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. 
 
 Sir, H. B. M. Skip Eni\xjmion, at sea, Jan. 18,1814. 
 
 The painful duty of detailing to you the particular causes 
 which preceded and led to the capture of the late United 
 States frigate Pwsidcnt, by a squadron of his Britannic Majes- 
 ty's ships (as per margin) has devolved upon me. In my 
 communication of the 14th, I made known to you my in- 
 tention of proceeding to sea on that evening. Owing to 
 some mistake of the pilot, the ship in going out grounded 
 on the bar, where she continued to strike heavily for an 
 hour and a half : although she had broken several of her 
 rudder braces, and had received such other material injury 
 as to render her return into port desirable, I was unable to, 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT l(il 
 
 do so from the strong westerly wind which was then blow- 
 ing. It being now high water, it became necessary to force 
 her over the bar before the tide fell ; in this we succeeded 
 by 10 o'clock, when we shaped our course along the shore 
 of Long-Island for 50 miles, and then steered S. E. by E. 
 At 5 o'clock, three ships were discovered ahead : we imme- 
 diately hauled up the ship, and passed two miles to the north- 
 ward of them. At day light we discovered four ships in 
 chase, one on each quarter, and two astern, the leading ship 
 of the enemy a razee. She commenced a fire upon us, but 
 without effect. At meridian the wind became lisht and baf- 
 fling ; we had increased our distance from the razee, but the 
 next ship astern, which was also a large ship, had gained and 
 continued to gain upon us considerable ; we immediately 
 occupied all hands to lighten ship, by starting water, cut- 
 ting away the anchors, throwing overboard provisions, ca- 
 bles, spare spars, boats, and every article that could be got 
 at, keeping the sails wet from the royals down. At 3, we 
 had the wind quite light ; the enemy, who had now been 
 joined by a brig, had a strong breeze, and were coming up 
 with us rapidly. The Endymion (mounting 50 guns, 24 
 pounders on the main deck) had now approached us within 
 gun-shot, and had commenced a fire with her bow guns, 
 which we returned from our stern. At 5 o'clock, she had 
 obtained a position on our starboard quarter, within half 
 point-blank shot, on which neither our stern nor quarter 
 guns would bear ; we were now steering E. by N. the wind 
 N. W. I remained with her in this position for half an 
 hour, in the hope that she would close with us on our broad- 
 side, in which case I had prepared my crew to board ; but 
 from his continuing to yaw his ship to maintain his position, 
 it became evident that to close was not his intention. Eve- 
 ry fire now cut some of our sails or rigging. To have con- 
 tinued our course under these circumstances, would have 
 been placing it in his power to cripple us, without being 
 subject to injury himself; and to have hauled up more 
 to the northward to bring our stern guns to bear, would 
 
 23 
 
 a 
 
(62 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 have exposed us to his raking fire. It was now dusk, when 
 I determined to alter my course south, for the purpose of 
 bringing the enemy abeam, and although their ships astern 
 were drawing up fast, I felt satisfied I should be enabled to 
 throw him out of the combat before they could come up, 
 and was not without hopes, if the night proved dark, (of 
 which there was every appearance) that I might still be enable 
 to effect my escape. Our opponent kept off at the same in- 
 stant we did, and our fire commenced at the same time. We 
 continued engaged, steering south, with steering sails set, 
 two hours and a half, when we completely succeeded in dis- 
 mantling her. Previously to her dropping entirely out of 
 the action, there were intervals of minutes, when the ships 
 were broadside and broadside, in which she did not fire a 
 gun. At this period, (half past 8 o'clock) although dark, 
 the other ships of the squadron were in sight, and almost 
 within gunshot. We were of course compelled to abandon 
 her. In resuming our former course for the purpose of 
 avoiding the squadron, we were compelled to present our 
 stern to our antagonist — but such was his state, though we 
 were thus exposed and within range of his guns for half an 
 hour, that he did not avail himself of this favorable oppor- 
 tunity of raking us. We continued this course until 1 1 
 o'clock when two fresh ships of the enemy (the Pomone and 
 Tenedos) had come up. The Pomone had opened her fire on 
 the larboard bow, within musket shot ; the other about two 
 cables' length astern, taking a raking position on our quar- 
 ter ; and the rest (with the exception of the Endymion) 
 within gun-shot. Thus situated, with about one fifth of 
 my crew killed and wounded, my ship crippled, and a more 
 than four-fold force opposed to me, without a chance of es- 
 cape left, I deemed it my duty to suvrender. 
 
 It is with emotions of pride I bear testimony to the gal- 
 lantry and steadiness of every officer and man I had the 
 honour to command on this occasion ; and I feel satisfied 
 that the fact of their having beaten a force equal to them- 
 selves, in the presence and almost under the guns of so 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 163 
 
 vastly a superior force, when, too, it was almost self-evi- 
 dent, that whatever their exertions might be, they must ul- 
 timately be captured, will be taken as evidence of what 
 they would have performed, had the force opposed to them 
 been in any degree equal. 
 
 It is with extreme pain I have to inform you that Lieu- 
 tenants Babbit, Hamilton, and Howell fell in the action. — 
 They have left no officers of superior merit behind them. 
 
 If, Sir, the issue of this affair had been fortunate, I should 
 have felt it my duty to have recommended to your atten- 
 tion Lieutenants Shubrick and Gallagher. They main- 
 tained throughout the day the reputation they had acquired 
 in former actions. 
 
 Lieut. Twiggs, of the marines, displayed great zeal, his 
 men were well supplied and their fire incomparable, so 
 long as the enemy continued within musket range. 
 
 Midshipman Randolph, who had charge of the forecastle 
 division, managed it to my entire satisfaction. 
 
 From Mr. Robinson, who was serving as a volunteer, 1 
 received essential aid, particularly after I was deprived of 
 the services of the master, and the severe loss I had sustain- 
 ed in my officers on the quarter deck. 
 
 Of our loss in killed and wounded, I am unable at pres- 
 ent to give you a correct statement ; the attention of the 
 surgeon being so entirely occupied with the wounded, that 
 he was unable to make out a correct return when I left the 
 President ; nor shall I be able to make it until our arrival 
 in port, we having parted company with the squadron yes- 
 terday. The enclosed list, with the exception, I fear, of its 
 beincr short of the number, will be found correct. 
 
 For 24 hours after the action, it was nearly calm ; and 
 the squadron were occupied in repairing the crippled ships. 
 Such of the crew of the President as were not badly woun- 
 ded, were put on board the different ships: myself and a 
 part of my crew were put on board this ship. On the 17th 
 we had a gale from the eastward, when this ship lost hoi 
 bowsprit, fore and main-masts andmizen top-mast, atl of 
 
164 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 which were badly wounded, and was, in consequence ol 
 her disabled condition, obliged to throw overboard all her 
 upper deck guns. Her loss in killed and wounded must 
 have been very great. I have not been able to ascertain 
 the extent. Ten were buried after I came on board (36 
 hours after the action) ; the badly wounded, such as are 
 obliged to keep their cots, occupy the star board side of the 
 gun deck from the cabin bulk-head to the main-mast. — 
 From the crippled state of the President's spars, I feel satis- 
 fied she could not have saved her masts, and I feel serious 
 apprehensions for the safety of our wounded left on board. 
 
 It is due to Capt. Hope to state, that every attention has 
 been paid by him to myself and officers who have been 
 placed on board his ship, that delicacy and humanity could 
 dictate. 
 
 I have the honour to be, with much respect, 
 
 Sir, your obedient servant, 
 STEPHEN DECATUR. 
 
 Hon. B. W. Crowninshield, 
 Secretary of the navy. 
 
 British squadron referred to in the letter. 
 
 Majestic (razee,) Endymion, Pomone, Tenedos, Despatch 
 (brig). 
 
 List of killed and wounded on board the United States Frigate 
 
 President. 
 
 Killed — Lieutenants F. H. Babbit, A. Hamilton, E. F. 
 Howell ; Henry Hill, Samuel Gaines, Samuel De Coster, 
 H. Lamphiere, Michael Barton, John Weary, John Briggs, 
 Charles Conway, Win. Smith 3d, Wm. Keeler, James Chap- 
 man, Geo. W. Swift, Francis Deo, Edward James, Amos 
 Peasly, Wm. Barrett, Charles Pratt, Thomas Kelly, An- 
 drew Sestrom, Wm. Moore, Aaron Lynn. 
 
 Wounded — Sailing-Master Rogere, Mr. Robinson, Mid- 
 shipmen Dale and Brewster, Master's Male Parker, Joseph 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 165 
 
 Fitch, John Godfry, Jas. Nickerson, Wm. Nesbet John 
 Butler, Wm. Rogers, Alex. Gordon, John Liescot, David 
 Jacob, James Hill, John Regan, John Melville, Samuel Tur- 
 ner, Thos. Core, D. Lampriere, M. Madder, Ralph Ash- 
 wood, Thos. Davis, John Moran, James C. Nicholson, 
 Samuel Davis, Hans. Harvey. Alex. Murray, Stephen Ham- 
 mond, Wm, Hill, Wm. Edgell, James Matthews, Stewart 
 Griffin, John Keating, John Perry, Joseph Potter, John 
 Peterson, John Haynes, Nathl. Dutton, John Meigs, Nathl. 
 Bliffins, Wm. Keys, Adam Hyer, Frs. Joseph, George Cole- 
 man, Rhomantry Rhodes, Wm. Smyth, Jacob Darling, 
 John Gore, James Anderson, Wm. Davidson, Jos. Tuck, 
 John Ryan, Wm. Williams, Thomas Coleman. 
 
 FURTHER PARTICULARS. 
 
 When the President first saw the British ships at day 
 light, directly astern of her, and knowing them of course to 
 be enemies, crowded all sail to escape — but. owing to the 
 misfortune which she sustained the night before of beating 
 on the bar, off New-York, being deeply laden with water 
 and provisions for a long cruise- and not having her proper 
 trim, the enemy's leading ship the Endymion, succeeded in 
 getting close along side of her, and brought her to action 
 about sun-set. Both ships were under a press of sail. The 
 Endymion was disabled and silenced, and the President, when 
 she finally struck to the Pomone and Tenedos, was carrying 
 royal studding sails, still endeavouring to effect her escape. 
 
 Remaining two hours on the bar was the primary cause of 
 the loss of this noble ship — for had she passed over with- 
 out difficulty, she would have been out of sight of the 
 rBritish ships before day-light. 
 
 The President, after her capture, lost all her masts by the 
 oard in a violent gale of wind, and arrived at Bermuda 
 under jury masts, on .the 28th of January, just a fortnight 
 from the date of her sailing from New York. The Endy- 
 mion arrived two days before, with the loss of her fore and 
 main-masts, (considerably above deck by wounds) and 
 bowsprit. 
 
166 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 The Endymion's loss, according to the report of the Brit- 
 ish officers, was 11 killed and 14 wounded. 
 
 Our brave commodore received a severe contusion on 
 the breast, which knocked him down, but he soon recov- 
 ered. 
 
 The lamented Lieut. Babbit, 1st of the President, was 
 from Brookfield, Mass. He was mortally wounded early 
 in the action by a round shot in the thigh, which shattered 
 it so dreadfully, that he expired in about an hour. He was 
 in his 25th year, and was justly esteemed one of the best 
 officers in the service. 
 
 Lieut. Hamilton, 4th, served on the gun-deck, and was 
 instantaneously killed towards the close of the action, by a 
 24lb. shot, which struck him in the abdomen, and cut him 
 in pieces. He was the son of Paul Hamilton Esq. of South 
 Carolina, late secretary of the navy, and was a youth of 
 such gentlemanly deportment, and amiable manners, as to 
 win and retain the esteem of all who knew him. He was a 
 great favourite in the navy, and will be long affectionately 
 remembered by many, both in and out of the service. Mr. 
 Hamilton was a midshipman on board the United States, 
 when that ship took the Macedonian, and was the officer, 
 who had the honour of bearing her colours to the city of 
 Washington. 
 
 Lieut. Howell, 5th, lost his life by a splinter, which 
 struck him on the head and fractured his skull. He was 
 from New Jersey, and was, like Hamilton, a most excellent 
 and exemplary youth. 
 
 In that trying engagement, the crew of the President be- 
 haved most nobly. The marines in particular, under { 
 Lieut. Twigs, acquitted themselves with the highest hon- 
 our. 
 
 However we may lament the loss of the brave men, who* 
 fell in this contest, the services of those wounded or car- 
 ried into captivity, or of the vessel herself, we rejoice that 
 our naval glory remains untarnished, and that this capture 
 of Decatur, like Porter's, will add to his own fame, and 
 the renown of his country. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 167 
 
 In the Bermuda paper of the 3d of April, is inserted a 
 correspondence between the governor of those islands, and 
 Mr. Ward, the editor of the Royal Gazette, which closes on 
 the part of the governor by withdrawing from that paper 
 its title of Royal Gazette, and from Mr. Ward the office of 
 his Majesty's printer. The governor appears to have been 
 determined in this course by the pertinacious adherence of 
 Mr. Ward to a false statement, published in his paper, of 
 the circumstances attending the capture of the United States 
 frigate President, which statement was at first corrected by 
 him, but afterwards reasserted and adhered to. 
 
 The editor, in giving the reports of the capture, stated, 
 among other things, that the Prsident struck to the Endy- 
 mion ; and that after the President struck, Com. Decatur 
 concealed 68 men in the hold of the President, for the pur- 
 pose of rising on the prize crew, and recapturing her. On 
 the appearance of this account, Capt. Hope, of the Endy- 
 mion, immediately sent an officer to Com. Decatur, dis- 
 claiming any participation in the article ; and the governor 
 of the island demanded of the editor of the Gazette, that 
 he should immediately contradict the statement ; which was 
 complied with. 
 
 The editor then repeats, that the retraction spoken of 
 was inserted merely as an act of generosity, and a palliative 
 for the irritated feelings of prisoners of war. He had pre- 
 viously declared that he had, " subsequently to the publi- 
 cation of the retracting article, ascertained, that the origin- 
 al statement was correct ; and we do not (he says) hesitate 
 unequivocally to declare, upon the best authority, that 68 
 men were concealed on board the President, and from other 
 information we have obtained, we are convinced the act 
 was authorized by Com. Decatur." 
 
 Immediately on the appearance of the above remarks, 
 the governor of Bermuda directed a letter, of which the 
 following are extracts, to be sent to the editor. 
 
168 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM AN OFFICIAL LETTER FROM C. COOP- 
 ER ESQ. PRIVATE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNOR 
 AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF. 
 
 Sir, Government- Hovse, Bermuda, Jlpril 15, 1815. 
 
 In your paper of Thursday last, which calls for his excel- 
 lency's animadversion, you have ventured to assert, that 
 your puhlication in contradiction to your original para- 
 graph above alluded to, was issued in consequence of your 
 having been " requested to smooth it over ;" and you go on 
 to insinuate that the statement contradicted was " founded 
 in truth." It is impossible for his excellency to permit 
 such a direct and positive misrepresentation to stand uncon- 
 tradicted, and more especially as his excellency himself 
 communicated to you Capt. Hope's pointed declaration, 
 that there was not the slightest foundation whatsoever for 
 the assertion which you had published, and that he himself 
 and every officer in his majesty's service, felt the utmost in- 
 dignation and regret at the wanton insult offered thereby to 
 an enemy, who then being a prisoner under the protection 
 of the British flag, was entitled to peculiar marks of delica- 
 cy and attention, of which Capt. Hope, with the nicety of 
 honourable feeling, natural to an officer of the British na- 
 vy, had felt so truly sensible, as to have sent a brother offi- 
 cer the moment the indecorous paragraph referred to meet 
 his eye, to express to Com. Decatur his indignation and re- 
 gret at its having appeared. 
 
 His excellency at the same time stated to you his own 
 opinion, and that of the officers of his majesty's service, 
 that the reprehensible paragraph should be instantly and 
 unequivocally contradicted, and not merely " smoothed 
 over," as you have now thought proper to declare ; though 
 at the time you seemed fully impressed with the propriety 
 of contradicting a statement, which you had erroneously 
 put forth, and of thereby making the only retribution 
 which it was then in your power to offer to those, whose 
 characters had been so unjustly defamed. His excellency 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 169 
 
 felt anxious that the disavowal to be published should be 
 couched in terms the least disagreeable to your own feel- 
 ings, or hurtful to the paper, of which you are the editor. 
 
 His excellency has since seen with pail? and regret, that 
 you have subsequently, on more than one occasion, endeav- 
 oured to retract the correction then made by you of your 
 prior misstatement, and to impress the readers of the Gaz- 
 ette with a belief, that your original statement was estab- 
 lished in fact, though you had the highest authority, (that 
 of Capt. Hope himself,) for knowing it to be completely 
 unfounded. These attempts his excellency has hitherto 
 passed over — but your publication of Thursday imposes it 
 upon him as a duty to himself, to Capt. Hope, and to the 
 British nation, and in common justice to Com. Decatur, 
 who is not present to defend himself from the aspersion 
 which you have cast upon him, of " uttering with reference 
 to yourself as base a falsehood as ever was imposed upon 
 the world," not to admit of such a document standing un- 
 contradicted in a paper, professed to be published under the 
 immediate authority of his majesty's government. 
 
 His excellency is thoroughly aware of the great impor- 
 tance of preserving to the utmost extent perfect freedom of 
 discussion, and the fullest liberty of the press, in every part 
 of the British dominions, and undoubtedly therefore noth- 
 ing could be further from his intentions than the most dis- 
 tant desire to " compel a British editor to retract a state- 
 ment founded in truth" — but when a statement is founded 
 in falsehood, his excellency conceives it to be incumbent up- 
 on him, equally in duty to the British public and in support 
 of the true character of the British press, to demand that 
 that falsehood, whether directed against friend or foe, should 
 be instantly contradicted, or that the paper which thinks 
 fit to disgrace its columns by persevering in error, should 
 no longer be distinguished by the royal protection — and I 
 am therefore commanded to signify to you his excellency's 
 desire, that your ensuing publication may contain a due and 
 
 respectful contradiction of those parts of your comments 
 
 24 
 
110 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 upon Com. Decatur's letter, which have now. called for his 
 excellency's censure, or his excellency will feel it his 
 bounden duty to remove you from the office of his majes- 
 ty's printer, which now gives a degree of weight to obser- 
 vations contained in your paper, to which otherwise they 
 might not be entitled. 
 
 I have the honour to be, Sir, 
 
 your obedient servant, 
 
 C. COOPER, Private Sec'y. $ 
 Edmund Ward, Esq. 
 Editor of the Royal Gazette, Bermuda. 
 
 EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM COM. DECATUR TO THE 
 SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. 
 
 New York,J\Iarch6, 1815. 
 
 In my official letter of January 18, I omitted to state, that 
 a considerable number of my killed and wounded was from 
 the fire of the Pomone, and that the Endymion had on board, 
 in addition to her own crew, 1 lieutenant, 1 marter's mate, 
 and 50 seamen, belonging to the Saturn, and when the ac- 
 tion ceased, was left motionless and unmanageable until she 
 bent new sails, rove new rigging, and fished her spars ; nor 
 did she join the squadron until six hours after the action, 
 and three hours after the surrender of the President. My 
 sword was delivered to Capt. Hays, of the Majestic, the 
 senior officer of the squadron, on his quarter deck, which 
 he with great politeness immediately returned. I have the 
 honour to enclose to you my parole, by which you will per- 
 ceive the British admit the President was captured by the 
 squadron. I should have deemed it unnecessary to have 
 drawn your attention to this document, had not the fact 
 been stated differently in the Bermuda Gazette, on our ar- 
 rival there ; which statement, however, the editor was com- 
 pelled to retract, through the interference of the governor 
 and some of the British officers of the squadron. 
 
 The great assiduity of Dr. Trevettand Surgeon's Mates 
 Dix and Wickes to the wounded, merits the highest appro- 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 171 
 
 bation. The only officer badly wounded is Midshipman 
 Richard Dale, who lost a leg, a circumstance to be particu- 
 larly regretted, as he is a young man possessed of every 
 quality to make a distinguished officer. 
 
 I have the honour to be, &c, 
 
 STEPHEN DECATUR. 
 
 The following extract from a Bermuda paper was repub- 
 lished at New York, in the Commercial Advertiser. 
 
 " On Wednesday evening last, Mr. Randolph, of the 
 United States navy, late of the President frigate, in company 
 with some other officers of the ship, attacked the editor of 
 the Royal Gazette in a most violent and unprovoked man- 
 ner, with a stick, while he was walking unarmed. The 
 timely arrival of some British officers prevented his pro- 
 ceeding to further acts of violence. A guard shortly after 
 came up, when the offender had decamped ; and the next 
 morning, we understand, he was hoisted into a boat at the 
 crane, from the market wharf, and absconded — an honour- 
 able way truly for an officer to quit a place, where he had 
 been treated with civility and politeness." 
 
 The following is a letter jrom Mr. Randolph to the editors of the 
 Commercial ' Advertiser. 
 
 New York, April 3, 1815. 
 Messrs. Lewis & Hall, 
 
 Having observed in your paper of Saturday last, an ex- 
 tract from the Bermuda Gazette, containing a false and 
 scandalous account of an affair in which I had an agency, I 
 send you for publication the subjoined statement, which I 
 declare to be correct. 
 
 As soon as I read the scurrilous remarks in the Royal 
 Gazette of the 15th ult. in relation to the capture of the 
 late U. S. frigate President, I walked to the King's Square, 
 with a determination to chastise the editor. I soon fell in 
 with him and executed my purpose, in the most ample and 
 satisfactorv manner. 
 
H2 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 There was no American officer in company, except Mid- 
 shipman Emmet. Mr. Ward, the editor, was attended by 
 Lieut. Sammon, of the royal navy ; but by neither of these 
 officers was I interrupted or assisted in the operation. 
 
 Having previously obtained my passport, and being ad- 
 vised that the editor of the Royal Gazette was taking meas- 
 ures to employ the civil authority against me, I left the 
 island the next day, for the United States. 
 I am gentlemen, &c. &c. 
 
 R. B. RANDOLPH, Midshipman, 
 Late of the United States frigate President- 
 
 Copy of a letter from Com. Alexander Murray, president of a 
 court of inquiry, held at JVeic York, to investigate the causes of 
 the capture of the United States frigate Prsident, to the Secre- 
 tary of the navy. 
 
 "Sir, New York, April 17, 1815. 
 
 " I herewith transmit to you the result of the court of 
 inquiry, respecting the capture of the frigate President, with 
 the opinion of the court. 
 
 "We have been more minute in our investigation than 
 might, at first view, have been deemed necessary ; but as 
 there has been a diversity of opinion prevailing among the 
 British commanders, concerned in her capture, it was de- 
 sirable in our view, to lay before the world, in the most cor- 
 rect manner, every circumstance, that led to that event ; 
 which has afforded another high proof of American hero- 
 ism, and so highly honourable to her commander, officers 
 and crew, that every American citizen must feel a pride in 
 knowing that our flag has been so nobly defended." 
 
 The minutes of the court having peen read and approv- 
 ed, the court was cleared, and after due deliberation, resol- 
 ved to express the sentiments and opinions of the members, 
 on the matters submitted to them, as follows : 
 
 " In the execution of the orders of honourable the sec- 
 retary of the navy, we have (with the exception of two 
 very young midshipmen) examined every officer belong- 
 
ill 
 
 : --- 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 17;> 
 
 ing to the President, within the reach of the court, who sur- 
 vived the late glorious contest between the frigate President 
 and a squadron of his Britannic majesty. 
 
 " We are of opinion, that the primary cause of the loss 
 of the President was her running on the bar, as she was leav- 
 ing this port. The violence and the continuance of the 
 shocks she received for an hour and a half or more, consid- 
 ering that she was laden with stores and provisions for a 
 very long cruise, could not but have injured her greatly, 
 and must have impeded her sailing. Her hogged and 
 twisted appearance after she arrived at Bermuda, must have 
 been the effects of this unfortunate accident. We are con- 
 vinced, that it was owing to this that the enemy were able 
 to overtake her. 
 
 " The striking of the President on the bar cannot be im- 
 puted to the fault of any officer who was attached to her. 
 On the contrary, we think every possible precaution was ta- 
 ken, and the utmost exertions Avere used by her commander 
 and officers, to insure her safe passage over the bar, and to 
 relieve her after she had struck. The accident was occa- 
 sioned by some mistake in placing the boats, which were to 
 serve as beacons to the President, through a channel always 
 dangerous for a vessel of her draught, but particularly so 
 at such a time as she was obliged to select for passing it ? 
 when the land marks could not be distinguished. 
 
 " From the time that the superiority of the enemy's force 
 was ascertained, and it became the duty of the President to 
 evade it, we are convinced, that the most proper measures 
 were pursued, and that she made every possible effort to es- 
 cape. No means, in our opinion, were so likely to be at- 
 tended with success, as those which were adopted by Com. 
 Decatur. Any suggestion, that different measures would 
 have been more proper or more likely to accomplish the 
 object, we think, are without foundation, and may be the 
 result of ignorance or the dictates of a culpable ambition, 
 or of envy. 
 
174 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 " We consider the management of the Presid ent, from 
 the time the chase commenced till her surrender, as the 
 highest evidence of the experience, skill, and resources of 
 her commander, and of the ability and seamanship of her 
 officers and crew. We fear that we cannot express, in a 
 manner that will do justice to our feelings, our admiration 
 of the conduct of Com. Decatur, and his officers and crew, 
 while engaged with the enemy, threatened with a force so 
 superiour, possessing advantages, which must hare appear" 
 ed to render all opposition unavailing, otherwise than 
 might affect the honour of our navy, and the character of 
 our seamen. They fought with a spirit, which no pros- 
 pect of success could have heightened, and if victory had 
 met its common reward, the Endymion's name would have 
 been added to our list of naval conquests. In this unequal 
 conflict the enemy gained a ship, but the victory was ours. 
 When the President was obliged to leave the Endymion to 
 avoid the other ships, which were fast coming up, the En- 
 dymion was subdued ; and if her friends had not been at 
 hand to rescue her, she was so entirely disabled, that she 
 soon must have struck her flag. A proof of this is, that 
 "she made no attempt to pursue the President, or to annoy 
 her by a single shot, while the President was within her 
 reach, when, with the hope of escape from the overwhelm- 
 ing force, which was nearly upon her, the President present- 
 ed her stern to the Endymion's broadside. A farther proof 
 that the Endymion was conquered is, the shattered condi- 
 tion in which she appeared, while the President, in the 
 contest with her, had sustained but little injury ; and the 
 fact, that the Endymion did not join her squadron till many 
 hours after the President had been surrounded by the other 
 four enemy ships, and had surrendered to them, is strong 
 corroborative evidence of the disabled state in which the 
 President left the Endymion. 
 
 " We think it due to Com. Decatur and his heroic offi- 
 cers and crew, to notice the proposition he made to board 
 the Endymion, when he found she was coming up, and the 
 
NATAL MONUMENT. 175 
 
 manner in which this proposition was received by his gal- 
 lant crew. 
 
 " Such a design, at such a time, could only be conceived 
 by a soul without fear, and approved with enthusiastic 
 cheering by men regardless of danger. Had not the enemy 
 perceived the attempt, and availed himself of the power he 
 had in the early part of the action to shun the approach of 
 the President, the American stars might now be shining on 
 the Endymion. In the subsequent part of the engagement, 
 the enemy's squadron was too near to permit the execution 
 of this design, and the disabled state of the Endymion would 
 have frustrated the principal object which Com. Decatur 
 had in making so bold an attempt, which was to avail him- 
 self of the Endymion's superior sailing to escape with his 
 crew from his pursuers. 
 
 " We conclude by expressing our opinion, that Com. De- 
 catur, as well during the chase, as through his contest with 
 the enemy, evinced great judgment and skill, perfect cool- 
 ness, the most determined resolution and heroic courage — 
 that his conduct, and the conduct of his officers and crew, 
 are highly honourable to them, and to the American navy, 
 and deserve the warmest gratitude of their country — that 
 they did not give up their ship till she was surrounded and 
 overpowered by a force so superiour, that further resist- 
 ance would have been unjustifiable, and a useless sacrifice of 
 the lives of brave men. 
 
 "The order of the secretary of the navy requires us to 
 express an opinion as to the conduct of the officers and 
 crew of the President after the capture. The testimony of 
 all the witnesses concurs in enabling us to give it our decid- 
 ed approbation. By the Court. 
 
 " ALEX. MURRAY, Pres. 
 "Codwalader D. Colden, Judge Advocate. 
 
 " April 20, 1815. Approved, B. W. Crowninshield." 
 
176 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 LETTER FROM THE SECY OF THE NAVY TO COMMO» 
 
 DORE DECATUR. 
 
 Sir, Navy Department, April 20, 1815. 
 
 In the course of official duty, it is my highest satisfac- 
 tion to render justice to the gallantry and good conduct of 
 the brave officers and seamen of the United States navy. 
 
 In giving an official sanction to the recent proceedings of 
 the court of inquiry, instituted at your request, to investi- 
 gate the cause of the loss by capture of the frigate President, 
 late of the navy of the United States, while under your 
 command ; and to inquire into the conduct of the com- 
 mander, officers, and crew of said frigate, before and after 
 the surrender to the enemy ; it would be equally unjust to 
 your merit, as well as to my sentiments and feelings , to pass 
 over this investigation with a formal approbation. I have 
 therefore, sir, to express to you, in the fullest manner, the 
 high sense of approbation, which the President of the Uni- 
 ted States and this department entertain for your profes- 
 sional character as an officer, who, in every instance has ad- 
 ded lustre to the stars of the union ; and whose brilliant ac- 
 tions have raised the national honour and fame, even in the 
 moment of surrendering your ship to an enemy's squadron 
 of vastly superiour force, over whose attack, singly, you 
 were decidedly triumphant ; and you will be pleased to 
 present to each of your gallant officers and crew, the 
 thanks of your government, for their brave defence of the 
 ship, and the flag of the United States. 
 
 The proceedings and opinions of the court of inquiry, of 
 which Com. Alexander Murray is president, are approved. 
 
 B. W. CROWNINSHIELD. 
 
 Com. Stephen Decatur. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 177 
 
 CONSTITTUION AND CYANE & LEVANT. 
 
 LETTER FROM LIEUT. HOFFMAN TO THE SECRETARY 
 
 OF THE NAVY. 
 
 His) Britannic Majesty's late ship Cyane, 
 Sir, JVew York, April 10, 1815. 
 
 I have the honour to inform you that on the evening of 
 the 28th of February last, while cruising off Madeira, the 
 United States frigate Constitution fell in with this Britannic 
 Majesty's ships Cyane and Levant, which she captured after 
 an action of 40 minutes. 
 
 The Cyane is a frigate built ship, mounting 34 carriage 
 guns, viz. twenty-two 321b. carronades on the main deck, 
 eight 181b. carronades on the quarter deck, two 181b. car- 
 ronades and two long 9s on the forecastle, and from the 
 best information I could obtain, carrying a complement of 
 175 men, commanded by Gordon Falcon Esq.; the Levant 
 mounting twenty-one carriage guns, viz. eighteen 241b. car- 
 ronades, two long 6s and a shifting 12 pounder on the top- 
 gallant forecastle, with a complement of 150 men, com- 
 manded by the Hon. George Douglass — both ships suffered 
 severely in their spars, rigging and sails. The Constitution 
 received but trfling injury, having only 4 men killed and 
 10 wounded. As to the loss of the enemy, I cannot possibly 
 ascertain, but should presume it was very severe. 
 
 On the 9th of March the Constitution, with her two pri- 
 zes in company, anchored off the Isle of May, (one of the 
 Cape de Verd Islands.) On the 10th at 5 A. M. got under 
 way and made sail for St. Jago, where we anchored at '45 
 minutes past 10. On the 12th, at \ past meridian, discov- 
 ered three sail in the offing — at 10 minutes past 1, made 
 them to be frigates — at which time the Constitution made sig- 
 nal to get under way. At 20 minutes past 1, cut our cable 
 and made sail to the southward and eastward, close on a 
 wind. At 30 minutes past 1, the forts on shore commenced 
 firing on us. At 2, the Constitution made signal to tack, 
 which I did to the northward and westward. At 5 minutes 
 
 25 
 
178 NAVAL MONUMENT 
 
 past 2, the sternmost frigate commenced firing on us, and 
 hoisted English colours, distance about two mijes. At 20 
 minutes past 2, lost sight of the Constitution and Levant, who 
 were standing on a wind to the southward and eastward; 
 the frigates in chase. At 35 minutes past 2, lost sight of 
 the enemy. At 3, heard a heavy cannonading, which con- 
 tinued at intervals until \ has 4. At sun-down shaped my 
 course for the United States. For the further particulars 
 of our cruise, I beg to refer you to Capt. Stewart's official 
 account, on his arrival in the United States. 
 
 I cannot conclude my letter without particularly recom- 
 mending to your notice Midshipman Joseph Cross, for 
 whose unremitted attention and exertions I feel myself great- 
 ly indebted ; and he is a young man who, I think, would 
 do honour to a commission. 
 
 As to Midshipmen James Delany, and James F. Curtis, 
 and the few men I have under my command, words would 
 be insufficient to express my gratitude towards them. 
 Very respectfully, I have the honour 
 
 to be, your obedient servant, 
 
 B. V. HOFFMAN. 
 
 COPY OF A LETTER FROM LIEUTENANT BALLARD TO 
 THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. 
 
 Sir, Baltimore, May 2, 1815. 
 
 I have the honour to make known to you my arrival at 
 this place with a part of the officers and crew of the U. S. 
 frigate Constitution, captured in a prize, the Levant, in the 
 harbour of Porto-Praya, in the Island of St. Jago, by a 
 squadron of his Britannic Majesty's ships, consisting of the 
 Leander, Sir George Collier ; the Newcastle, Lord George 
 Stuart ; and the Jlcasla, Capt Kerr. For the particulars of 
 my recapture, I beg leave to refer you to the enclosed ex- 
 tract from the log-book of the Levant. 
 
 Having caused the destruction of my own papers, as 
 well as those of the officers with me, I can only say to you 
 relative to the Constitution, that, after leaving the port of 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 179 
 
 doston, she successively cruised oft' the Islands of Bermu- 
 da and Madeira, in the Bay of Biscay, and for some time in 
 sight of the Rock of Lisbon, without having met with but 
 two of the enemy's vessels, one of which was destroyed, 
 the other ordered in ; and that, on the evening of the 20th 
 February, the Island of Madeira bearing W. S. W. distant 
 70 leagues, fell in with, engaged, and after a close action of 
 40 minutes, captured his Britannic Majesty's ships Cyane, 
 Capt. Gordon Falcon, and Levant, Hon. Capt. Douglass. 
 
 It would, sir, be deemed presumption in me to attempt to 
 give you particular details respecting the nature of this ac- 
 tion. I shall, therefore, only remark generally, that ev- 
 ery officer seaman and marine on board did their duty. I 
 cannot, however, deny myself the pleasure, that this oppor- 
 tunity affords me, of noticing the brilliant management of 
 Capt. Charles Stewart, through whose unerring judgment 
 every attempt of an ingenious enemy to gain a raking posi- 
 tion was frustrated. 
 
 I have the honour to be, 
 
 very respectfully, sir, your obe't serv't, 
 
 HENRY E. BALLARD 
 
 The Cyane mounted on her main deck twenty-two 321b. 
 carronades- — on her upper decks, ten 181b. carronades, two 
 long 9s, and one 121b. carronade on a travelling carriage, 
 with a complement of 175 men. The Levant mounted 
 eighteen 32fb. carronades, two long 9s, and one 121b. car- 
 ronade, with 138 men on board. The Constitution had 4 
 killed and 10 wounded — the Cyane 7 killed and 17 wound- 
 ed — the Levant 9 killed and 1 7 wounded. 
 
 COPY OF A LETTER FR031 CAPTAIN STEWART TO THE 
 SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. 
 
 Sir, U. S. Frigate Constitution, May — , 1815. 
 
 On the 20th of February last, the island of Madeira 
 bearing about W. S. W. distant 60 leagues, we fell in with 
 his Britannic Majesty's two Ships of war, the Cyane and Le- 
 
180 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 vant, and brought them to action about 6 o'clock in the ev- 
 ening, both of which, after a spirited engagement of 40 
 minutes, surrendered to the ship under my command. 
 
 Considering the advantages derived by the enemy, from 
 a divided and more active force, as also their superiority in 
 the weight and number of guns, I deem the speedy and de- 
 cisive result of this action the strongest assurance which 
 can be given to the government, that all under my command 
 did their duty, and gallantly supported the reputation of 
 American seamen. 
 
 Enclosed you will receive the minutes of the action, and 
 a list of the killed and wounded on board this ship ; also 
 enclosed you will receive for your information a statement 
 of the actual force of the enemy, and the number killed 
 and wounded on board their ships, as near as could be as- 
 certained. 
 
 I have the honour to remain, very respectfully, 
 
 sir, your most obedient servant, 
 
 CHARLES STEWART. 
 
 Statement of the actual forte of his Britannic Majesty's ships Le- 
 vant, Capt. the Hon. Gordon Douglass commander — and Cy- 
 ane, Capt. Gordon Falcon commander ; with the number kill- 
 ed and wounded onboard each ship, on the 20th Feb. 1815, as 
 near as could be ascertained, while engaged with the United 
 States frigate Constitution : — 
 
 Levant — Eighteen 32 pounders, carronades ; one 12 
 pounder, do. ; two 9 pounders, long guns. Total SPguns, 
 156 officers, seamen, and marines. Prisoners, 133 officers, 
 seamen ancT marines. Killed, 23; wounded, 16. Total 
 killed and wounded, 39. 
 
 Cyane — Twenty two 32 pounders, carronades ; ten 18 
 pounders, do.; two 12 pounders, long guns. Total 34 guns 
 (besides 2 brass swivels,) 180 officers, seamen, and marines. 
 Prisoners, 168 officers, seamen, and marines. Killed, 27 ; 
 wounded. 26. Total killed and wounded, 38. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 181 
 
 JMinutes of the action between the United Stales frigate Constitu- 
 tion and his Majesty'* ships Cyane and Levant, on the 20th 
 February 1815. 
 
 Commences with light breezes from the east, and cloudy 
 weather. At 1 P. M. discovered a sail two points on the 
 larboard bow — hauled up, and made sail in chase. At | 
 past 1 , made the sail to be a ship ; at \ past 1 , discovered 
 another sail ahead ; made them out, at 2, to be both ships, 
 standing close hauled, with their starboard tacks on board ; 
 at 4, the weathermost ship made signals, and bore up for 
 her consort, then about ten miles to leeward ; we bore up af- 
 ter her, and set lower top-mast, top-gallant and royal stud- 
 ding sails, in chase ; at half past 4, carried away our main 
 royal-mast ; took in the sails, and got another prepared. At 
 5, commenced firing on the chase from our two larboard 
 bow guns ; our shot falling short, ceased firing : at ^ past 
 5, finding it impossible to prevent their junction, cleared 
 ship for action, then about 4 miles from the two ships : at 
 40 minutes past 5, they passed within hail of each other, 
 and hauled by the wind on the starboard tack, hauled up 
 their courses, and prepared to receive us : at 45 minutes 
 past 5, they made all sail close hauled by the wind, in hopes 
 of getting to windward of us : at 55 minutes past 5, find- 
 ing themselves disappointed in their object, and we were 
 closing with them fast, they shortened sail, and formed on 
 a line of wind, about half a cable's length of each other : 
 at 6, having them under command of our battery, hoisted 
 our colours, which was answered by both ships hoisting 
 English ensigns : at 5 minutes past 6, ranged up on the star- 
 board side of the sternmost ship, about 300 yards distant, 
 and commenced the action by broadsides,'both ships return- 
 ing our fire with great spirit for about 15 minutes ; then 
 the fire of the enemy beginning to slacken, and the great 
 column of smoke collected under our lee, induced us to 
 cease our fire to ascertain their positions and conditions : in 
 about three minutes, the smoke clearing away, we found 
 
182 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 ourselves abreast of the headmost ship, the sternmost ship 
 luffed up for our larboard quarter ; we poured a broadside 
 
 into the , headmost ship, and then braced aback our main 
 and mizen top-sails, and backed astern under cover of the 
 smoke, abreast the sternmost ship, when the action was con- 
 tinued with spirit and considerable effect, until 35 minutes 
 past 6, when the enemy's fire again slackened, and we dis- 
 covered the headmost bearing up ; filled our topsails, shot 
 ahead, and gave her two stern rakes ; we then discovered 
 the sternmost ship wearing also ; wore ship immediately 
 after her, and gave her a stern rake — she luffed to on our 
 starboard bows, and gave us her larboard broadside : we 
 ranged up on her larboard quarter, within hail, and were 
 about to give her our starboard broadside, when she struck 
 her colours, fired a lee gun, and yielded. At 50 minutes 
 past 6, took possession of his majesty's ship Cyane, Capt. 
 Gordon Falcon, mounting 34 guns. At 8, filled away after 
 her consort, which was still in sight to leeward. At \ past 
 8, found her standing towards us, with her starboard tacks 
 close hauled, with top-gallant sails set, and colours flying. 
 At 6 minutes past 8, ranged close along side to windward of 
 her, on opposite tacks, and exchanged broadsides — wore 
 immediately under her stern, and raked her with' a broad- 
 side : she then crowded all sail, and endeavoured to escape 
 by running — hauled on board our tacks, set spanker, and 
 flying jib in chase. At \ past 9, commenced firing on her 
 from oar starboard bow chaser ; gave her several shot, 
 which cut her spars and rigging considerably. At 10, find- 
 ing she could not escape, fired a gun, struck her colours, and 
 yielded. We immediately took possession of his majesty's 
 ship Levant, Hon. Capt. George Douglass, mounting 21 
 guns. At 1 A. M. the damages of our rigging were repair- 
 ed, sails shifted, and the ship in fighting condition. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 183 
 
 Minutes of the chase oj the U. S. frigate Constitution, by an 
 English squadron of three ships, from out the harbour of Port 
 Pray a, Island of St. Jago :-r- 
 
 Commences with fresh breezes and thick foggy weather. 
 At 5 minutes past 12, discovered a large ship through the 
 fog, standing in for Port Praya. At 8 minutes past 12, dis- 
 covered two other large ships astern of her, also standing 
 in for the port. From their general appearance supposed 
 them to be one of the enemy's squadrons, and from the little 
 respect hitherto paid by them to neutral waters, I deemed 
 it most prudent to put to sea. The signal was made to the 
 Cyane and Levant to get under way. At 12 minutes past 12, s 
 with our topsails set, we cut our cable and got under way? 
 (when the Portuguese opened a lire on us from several of 
 their batteries on shore) the prize ships following our mo- 
 tions, and stood out of the harbour of Port Praya, close 
 under East Point, passing the enemy's squadron about gun- 
 shot to windward of them ; crossed our top gallant yards, 
 and set foresail, mainsail, spanker, flying-jib and top-gallant 
 sails. The enemy seeing us under way, tacked ship and 
 made all sail in chase of us. As far as we could judge of 
 the rates, from the thickness of the weather, supposed them 
 two ships of the line and one frigate. At \ past 12, cut 
 away the boats towing astern — first cutter and gig. At 1 
 P.M. found our sailing about equal with the ships on our 
 lee quarter, but the frigate luffing up, gaining our wake 
 and rather dropping astern of us ; finding the Cyane drop- 
 ping astern and to leeward, and the frigate gaining on her 
 fast, I found it impossible to save her if she continued on 
 the same course, without having the Constitution brought to 
 action by their whole force. I made the signal at 10 min- 
 utes past 1, to her to tack ship, which was complied with. 
 This manoeuvre, I conceived, would detach one of the ene- 
 my's ships in pursuit of her, while at the same time, from 
 her position, she would be enabled to reach the anchorage 
 at Port Praya, before the detached ship could come up with 
 
184 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 her ; but if they did not tack after her, it would afford her 
 an opportunity to double their rear, and make her escape 
 before the wind. They all continued in full chase of the 
 Levant and this ship ; the ship on our lee quarter firing 
 broadsides, by divisions — her shot falling short of us. At 
 3, by our having dropped the Levant considerably, her situ- 
 ation became (from the position of the enemy's frigate) 
 similar to the Cyane. It became necessary to separate also 
 from the Levant, or risk this ship being brought to action 
 to cover her. I made the signal at 5 minutes past 3, for her 
 to tack, which was complied with. At 12 minutes past 3, 
 the whole of the enemy's squadron tacked in pursuit of 
 the Levant, and gave up the pursuit of this ship. This sac- 
 rifice of the Levant became necessary for the preservation 
 of the Constitution. Sailing Master Hixon, Midshipman 
 Varnum, one boatswain's mate, and 12 men, were absent on 
 duty in the 5th cutter, to bring the cartel brig under our 
 
 stern. 
 
 ANECDOTES. 
 
 The Constitution is so deservedly a favourite with the 
 public, that a few anecdotes of her last cruise will not be 
 uninteresting. The modest, plain letter of Capt. Stewart, 
 with the accompanying extracts from the log-book, have 
 given the clearest official accounts of the action. The mas- 
 terly manoeuvring of his ship so as to prevent either of the 
 enemy's ships from raking him, and the final capture of 
 them both, in such a neat and workmanlike manner, the 
 prompt decision at Port Praya, when in 7 minutes after the 
 British squadron were first discovered, the whole of the 
 ships had cut their cables and were at sea ; the judgment in 
 the time of giving orders to the prizes to tack, which secur- 
 ed the Cyane first, and afterwards the the Constitution, speak 
 for themselves, and are fully appreciated by the public. It 
 should not be forgotten, that this same Cyane engaged a 
 French 44 gun frigate last year, and kept her at bay, till a 
 ship of the line came up and captured her ; and a few years . 
 since in the bay of Naples, that she engaged a frigate, a 
 brig of 14 guns, and 5 gun boats, and beat them off, for 
 
'WWKfe llikiftafcSSl 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 185 
 
 which Capt. Benton, who commanded her, was knighted ; 
 yet, with the known skill of British officers, this same ves- 
 sel, and a sloop of war of the largest class, with full crews 
 of picked men, were captured by an American frigate, after 
 a short action. 
 
 But it is not only to skilful officers that praise is due ; to 
 be successful, they must be aided by brave and excellent sea- 
 men. The crew of the Constitution were all yankee sea- 
 men, as docile and obedient to the ordinary discipline of 
 the service, as^they were intrepid in action. It would be 
 easy to mention a number of anecdotes of the heroic char- 
 acter of our common sailors. There are two in this action 
 that are particularly striking. A man by the name of To- 
 bias Fernall, of Portsmouth, had his arm shattered by a 
 ball ; after the surgeon had amputated it, when he had tak- 
 en up the arteries, and before the dressing was completed, 
 the cheers on deck were heard for the surrender of the Cy- 
 ane ; the brave fellow twitched the bleeding stump from 
 the surgeon, and waved it, joining the cheers ! He is since 
 dead. Another, John Lancey, of Cape Ann, was brought 
 below, one thigh shattered to pieces, and the other severely 
 wounded; the surgeon said to him, "my brave fellow, 
 you are mortally wounded ;" " yes, sir, I know it, I only 
 want to hear, that the other ship has struck." Soon after 
 the cheers were given for the surrender of the Levant ; he 
 raised his head, echoed the cheer, and expired a minute af- 
 ter. The wounds were generally severe ; and much credit 
 is due to the skill and humanity of Mr. Kearney, the sur- 
 geon, for saving so many of the wounded. 
 
 The Cyane was first discovered at the distance of three 
 or four leagues ; the Levant, Capt. Douglass, the seniour, 
 being to the leeward. The first signal from the Cyane was, 
 that it was an American sloop of war ; afterwards, when 
 they came within four miles of the Constitution, and the 
 course was so altered, that she discovered her broadside, 
 she made a signal that it was a heavy American frigate, su- 
 periour to one of them, but inferiour to both. The signal 
 
 26 
 
1 86 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 from the Levant to her consort was, to join company. The 
 Constitution was not able to prevent their junction. The 
 action was invited on the part of the Constitution, by firing 
 a signal shot across the bow of the Cyane. The two ships 
 cheered, and fired their broadsides : after receiving both 
 she returned it, and such was the eagerness of the men to 
 fire, that when the word was given, they discharged the 
 whole broadside, at the same instant. In commencing the 
 action, there was perfect silence onboard the Constitution — 
 the cheers were returned when the ships surrendered. The 
 weight of shot, fired by the British ships, was superiour 
 by about 90 pounds, taking their shot at their nominal 
 weight, though it was found, on weighing some of the 
 English shot, that came on board, that they weighed full 
 S21bs. while the American of the same rate weighed only 
 291bs.; the action was so close, that their carronades had 
 their full power. One of their shot came through the 
 side of the ship, killed one and wounded four men, and 
 lodged in the galley ; another killed two men in the waist, 
 went through a boat in which two tigers were chained, and 
 lodged in the head of a spar in the chains. In the action 
 of the Guerriere the Constitution was hulled three times ; in 
 that of the Java, four times ; and in this engagement, thir- 
 teen times. The British ships were fully officered, and 
 manned with picked men, and fired better than they have 
 usually done in their engagements with our ships. 
 
 During the chase by Sir George Collier's squadron, when 
 the Cyane was ordered to tack, all the three ships kept af- 
 ter the Constitution and Levant. After sufficient time had 
 been allowed to the Cyane to make her escape, as none of 
 the enemy pursued her, orders were given to the Levant to 
 tack. The Leander, Sir George Collier, who was the most 
 astern, then made signal to the Acasta to tack, and the 
 Newcastle, Lord George Stewart, to continue the chase. 
 The Jlcasta sailed faster than the Constitution, and was gain- 
 ing on her ; the Neiocastlc about the same rate of sailing, 
 and the latter fired several broadsides, but the shot fell short 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 187 
 
 from one to two hundred yards. After the other ships 
 tacked, the Newcastle made a signal that her fore-top-sail 
 yard was sprung, and tacked also. The British officers on 
 board, who had expressed the most perfect confidence that 
 the Constitution would be taken in an hour, felt the greatest 
 vexation and disappointment, which they expressed in very 
 emphatic terms. The Levant ran into port so as to run her 
 jib-boom over the battery ; the Jlcasta and Newcastle came 
 in, and though her colours were hauled down, fired at her 
 a number of times. They were obliged to hoist and lower 
 their colours twice ; yet not a gun was fired from the Le- 
 vant. Lieut. Ballard, who commanded, had ordered his 
 men to lay on the decks, by which they all escaped injury, 
 though considerable damage was done to the town. It 
 seemed unnecessary for two heavy frigates to fire into one 
 sloop of war, who neither did nor could make any resist- 
 ance. After the escape of the Constitution from this squad- 
 ron, till she arrived at the Brazils, the greatest watchfulness 
 was necessary. With a very diminished crew, she had on 
 board 240 prisoners, and the number of British officers was 
 more than double her own. 
 
 It is known, that sailors are apt to be superstitious. 
 Lieut. Hoffman had a fine terrier, who was a great favour- 
 ite on board the ship : when he was transferred to the Cy- 
 «ne, be took the dog with him. At Port Praya, the dog, 
 being much attached to Old Ironsides, jumped over to swim 
 to her. A boat was lowered down from the Constitution to 
 try to save him ; but the poor animal was drowned. The 
 sailors then said, that they should have a fight, or a run, in 
 twenty-four hours. The next morning the British squad- 
 ron hove in sight. This was not likelv to lessen their belief 
 
 in omens. 
 
 At Maranham, all the principal people asked leave to vis- 
 it the Constitution. They had heard much of her, and had 
 been told by the English, that she was a ship of the line. 
 They were requested to examine and count her guns, which 
 they found to be 52, as she carried two less than in her 
 
188 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 former cruise. The American character was roost highly 
 respected at Porto-Rico, where a boat was sent in. The 
 governor made the most earnest entreaties, that the ship 
 would come into port, that he might see her, and offered 
 every kind of refreshment, and expressed the highest re- 
 gard for our country. How much has our little navy done 
 to elevate the character of the nation ! 
 
 In a hurricane, when the ship made much water, a petty 
 officer called on Lieut. Shubrick, who was the officer on 
 the deck, and said, " Sir, the ship is sinking" — " well, sir," 
 said this cool and gallant officer, "as every thing in our 
 power is made tight, we must patiently submit to the fate 
 of sailors, and all of us sink or swim together." 
 
 When the officer from the British squadron, which re- 
 took the Levant, went on board of her he advanced briskly 
 towards the quarter deck, and observed, that he presumed 
 he had the proud satisfaction of receiving the sword of 
 Capt. Blakeley, commander of the American sloop of war 
 the Wasp. No, sir, was the reply ; but if there is any 
 pride in the case, you have the honour of receiving the 
 sword of Capt. Ballard, 1st of the Constitution frigate, and 
 now prize officer of his Britannic Majesty's ship the Levant. 
 
 According to the British mode of calculation, the Consti- 
 tution ought to have been captured. The Cyane and Levant 
 could discharge from all their cannon at once, 1514lbs. of 
 shot. The Constitution 1424. Difference, 901bs. 
 
 The Constitution has captured, in her three victories, 154 
 gun carriages ; made upwards of 900 prisoners ; killed and 
 wounded 298 of the enemy ; and the value of property 
 captured, including the stores, provisions, &c. cannot be 
 estimated at less than 1 ,500,000. 
 
 The first escape of the Constitution in 1812, was from a 
 British squadron, consisting of the African 64, Shannon 38, 
 Guerriere 38, Belvidere 38, and JEolus 32. The chase con- 
 tinued 51 hours. Her last escape was from the Leander 50, 
 Newcastle 50, and Jlcasta 40. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 189 
 
 In 1804, the Constitution made several daring attacks on 
 the batteries before the town of Tripoli, mounting 115 pie- 
 ces of heavy cannon. She repeatedly, and for hours, en- 
 gaged their forts, within musket shot, and her bold move- 
 ments and destructive fire most essentially assisted in wrest- 
 ing from captivity 300 of our countrymen, as the Bashaw 
 was compelled to submit to terms of peace. 
 
 HORNET AND PENGUIN. 
 
 COPY OF A LETTER FROM C APT. BIDDLE TO COM. DE- 
 CATUR. 
 
 United States Sloop Hornet, off Tristan d J Acuna, 
 Sir, March 25, 1815. 
 
 I have the honour to inform you, that on the morning of 
 the 23d inst. at half past 10, when about to anchor off the 
 north end of the Island of Tristan d' Acuna, a sail was 
 seen to the southward and eastward, steering to the west- 
 ward, the wind fresh from S. S. W. In a few minutes she 
 had passed on to the westward so far that we could not see 
 her for the land. I immediately made sail for the westward 
 and shortly after getting in sight of her again perceived 
 her to bear up before the wind. I hove to for him to come 
 down to us. When she had approached near, I filled the 
 main-top-sail, and continued to yaw the ship, while she 
 continued to come down, wearing occasionally to prevent 
 her passing under our stern. At 10 minutes past 1 P. M. 
 being within nearly musket shot distance, she hauled her 
 wind on the starboard tack, hoisted English colours and fi- 
 red a gun. We immediately luffed to, hoisted our ensign, 
 and gave the enemy a broadside. The action being thus 
 commenced, a quick and well directed fire was kept up 
 from this ship, the enemy gradually drifting nearer to us, 
 when at 55 minutes past 1, he bore up apparently to run us 
 on board. As soon as I perceived he would certainly fell 
 
1 90 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 on board, I called the boarders so as to be ready to repel 
 any attempt to board us. At the instant every officer and 
 man repaired to the quarter deck, when the two vessels 
 were coming in contact, and eagerly pressed me to permit 
 them to board the enemy ; but this I would not permit, as 
 it was evident from the commencement of the action, that 
 our fire was greatly superior both in quickness and in effect. 
 The enemy's bowsprit came in between our main and mizen 
 rigging, on our starboard side, affording him an opportuni- 
 ty to board us, if such was his design ; but no attempt was 
 made, There was a considerable swell on, and as the sea 
 lifted us ahead, the enemy's bowsprit carried away our 
 mizzen shrouds, stern davits, and spanker boom, and he 
 hung upon our larboard quarter. At this moment an officer 
 who was afterwards recognized to be Mr. M'Donald, the 
 1st lieutenant and the then commanding officer, called out 
 that they had surrendered. I directed the marines and 
 musketry-men to cease firing, and while on the taffril, ask- 
 ing if they had surrendered, I received a wound in the 
 neck. The enemy just then got clear of us, and his fore- 
 mast and bowsprit being both gone, and perceiving us 
 wearing to give him a fresh broadside, he again called out, 
 that he had surrendered. It was with difficulty I could re- 
 strain my crew from firing into him again, as he had cer- 
 tainly fired into us after having surrendered. From the 
 firing of the first gun, to the last time the enemy cried out 
 he had surrendered, was exactly twenty-two minutes by 
 the watch. She proved to be his Britannic Majesty's brig 
 Penguin, mounting sixteen 321b. carronades, two long 12s, a 
 121b. carronade on the top-gallant fore-castle, with a swivel 
 on the capstern in the tops. She had a spare port forward, 
 so as to fight both her long guns of a side. She sailed from 
 England in September last. She was shorter upon deck 
 than this ship by two feet, but she had a greater length of 
 keel, greater breadth of beam, thicker sides, and higher 
 bulwarks than this ship, and was in all respects a remarka- 
 bly fine vessel of her class. The enemy acknowledged a 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 191 
 
 complement of 132 ; 12 of them supernumerary marines 
 from the Medway 74, received on board in consequence of 
 their being ordered to cruise for the American privateer 
 Young Wasp. They acknowledge also a loss of 14 killed 
 and 28 wounded ; but Mr. Mayo, who was in charge of the 
 prize, assures me, that the number of killed was certainly 
 greater. Among the killed are Capt. Dickenson, who fell 
 at the close of the action, and the boatswain ; among the 
 wounded are the 2d lieutenant, purser, and two midship- 
 men. Each of the midshipmen lost a leg. We received on 
 board, in all, 118 prisoners, 4 of whom have since died of 
 their wounds. Having removed the prisoners, and taken 
 on board such provisions and stores as would be useful to us 
 I scuttled the Penguin, this morning, before day light, and she 
 went down. As she was completely riddled by our shot, her 
 foremast and bowsprit both gone, and her mainmast so 
 crippled as to be incapable of being secured, it seemed in- 
 advisable, at this distance from home, to attempt sending 
 her to the United States. 
 
 This ship did not receive a single round shot in her hull, 
 nor any material wound in her spars ; the rigging and sail* 
 were very much cut ; but having bent a new suit of sails, 
 and knotted and secured our rigging, we are now complete- 
 ly ready in all respects, for any service. We were 8 men 
 short of a complement, and had 9 upon the sick list the 
 morning of the action. 
 
 Enclosed is a list of killed and wounded. I lament to 
 state, that Lieut. Conner is wounded dangerously. I feel 
 great solicitude on his account, as he is an officer, of much 
 promise, and his loss would be a serious loss to the service. 
 
 It is a most pleasing part of my duty to acquaint you, 
 that the conduct of Lieutenants Conner and Newton, Mr. 
 Mayo, Acting Lieut. Brownlow of the marines, Sailing 
 Master Rommey, and the other officers, seamen, and ma- 
 rines, 1 have the honour to command, was in the highest 
 degree creditable to them, and calls for my warmest recom- 
 mendation. I cannot indeed do justice to their merits. 
 
192 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 The satisfaction which was diffused throughout the ship, 
 when it was ascertained, that the stranger was an enemy's 
 sloop of war, and the alacrity with which every one re- 
 paired to his quarters, fully assured me, that their conduct 
 in action would be marked with coolness and intrepidity. 
 I have the honour to be 
 
 your obedient servant, 
 
 J. BIDDLE. 
 Loss on board the Hornet, 1 killed and 1 1 wounded. 
 
 Extract of a Utter from an officer on board the sloop of war 
 Peacock off Tristan cV Acuna. 
 
 April, 10, 1815. 
 
 The Hornet separated in chase, two days out, and we fell 
 in, off here, a few days since. We were delighted to hear 
 of her good fortune — so superiourto our own. She had 
 captured, two days previous, his Britannic Majesty's brig 
 Penguin, after an action of 20| minutes. The Penguin was 
 fitted out by Admiral Tyler at the Cape of Good Hope, ex- 
 pressly to capture the privateer Young Wasp, who had cap- 
 tured an Indiaman in that neighborhood, and landed the 
 prisoners ; and was supposed to have brought her prize 
 here to strip her and to refresh. The Penguin was com- 
 manded by Capt. Dickenson, a distinguished young man in 
 their chronicles : and it appears from some of his papers, 
 of respectable connexions, and a great favorite in the navy. 
 
 Admiral Tyler loaned him 12 marines from the Medway, 
 and was very minute in his instructions, and grave to a de- 
 gree, in his injunctions, upon Dickenson, as to the manner 
 of engaging the privateer : to get close enough was the great 
 desideratum. What a man seeks earnestly he is almost sure 
 to find, and Capt. Dickenson supposed he had the Wasp, 
 when he only saw the Hornet, a vessel considerably smaller 
 in all her dimensions, and decidedly inferiour in h er arma- 
 ment to the privateer. The Hornet, on perceiving that the 
 brig bore up for her, laid all aback ; the brig came stern on, 
 Jest the Hornet, might discover her guns and be off, and 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 193 
 
 brushing close along side of her, fired a gun, and ran upher 
 St. George. An entire broadside from the Hornet, every 
 shot of which told, opened the eyes of John Bull upon a 
 yankee man of war : just what they had been wishing ev- 
 er since thev left England. In 20 minutes the Penguin had 
 her fore-mast over the side — her bowsprit in two pieces — 
 her broadside nearly diven in — 20 men killed, including 
 the captain, and one of Lord Nelson's boatswains, and 35 
 wounded, including the second lieutenant, 2 midshipmen, 
 and master's mate, &c. The Hornet, untouched in her hull, 
 was severely cut up in her rigging, especially about her 
 main and fore-top-gallant masts, her mizzen being a vast 
 deal too low for British gunnery — one marine killed, the 
 captain and 1st lieutenant Conner, (severely) and 9 others 
 wounded. The officers of the Penguin ascribed their mis- 
 fortune entirely to the superiority of the men belonging to 
 the Hornet ; and have repeatedly said, they would be glad 
 to try it again with her, if the Penguin were manned with 
 such men. 
 
 Now these gentlemen left England last September, and 
 the prisoners are as stout, fine looking fellows, as I ever 
 saw. One fact, which is probable, is worth all speculation 
 in such an inquiry. On examining her guns after the ac- 
 tion, a 321b. carronade, on the side engaged, was found with 
 his tompion as nicely puttied and stopped in as it was the day 
 she left Spithead ! Capt. Dickenson, towards the close of 
 the fight, told his 1st lieutenant, M'Donold, that "the fel- 
 lows are giving it to us like hell ; we must get on board:" 
 and on being asked by Biddle why he did not, as there ne- 
 ver had been a better opportunity — he said, " he did try, 
 but found the men rather backward — and so, you know, 
 we concluded to give it up." After M'Donald had repeat- 
 edly called out that they had surrendered, and Biddle had 
 ceased his fire, two fellows on board the Penguin fired upon 
 him and the man at the wheel. Biddle was struck on the 
 chin, and the ball passing round the neck, went off through 
 the cape of his surtout, wounded him, however, severely. 
 
 27 
 
194 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 but not dangerously ; the man escaped but the ruffians did 
 not, for they were observed by two of Biddle's marines, 
 who levelled and laid them dead upon the deck in an in- 
 stant. 
 
 ANECDOTES. 
 
 In this action a private marine of the Hornet, named Mi- 
 chael Smith (who had served under the gallant Porter in 
 the Essex) received a shot through the upper part of the 
 thigh, which fractured the bone, and nearly at the same 
 moment had the same thigh broken immediately above the 
 knee by the spanker boom of the Hornet, which was carried 
 away by the enemy's bowsprit, while afoul of her. In this 
 situation, while bleeding upon the deck and unable to rise, 
 he was seen to make exertions to discharge his musket at 
 the enemy on the top-gallant forecastle of the Penguin — this, 
 however the poor fellow was unable to accomplish ; and 
 was compelled to be carried below. 
 
 The officers of the Penguin relate, that, during the ac- 
 tion with the Hornet, a 321b. shot came in at the after port 
 of the Penguin, on the larboard side, carried away six legs, 
 killed the powder boy of the division, capsized the oppo- 
 site gun on the starboard side, passed through the port, and 
 " sunk in sullen silence to the bottom." 
 
 ESCAPE OF THE HORNET. 
 
 COPY OF A LETTER FROM CAPT. DIDDLE T O COM. DE- 
 CATUR. 
 
 Sir, U. S. Sloop Hornet, St. Salvador, June 10, 1815. 
 
 I have the honour to report, that the Peacock and this 
 ship, having continued off Tristan d' Acuna the number of 
 days directed by you in your letter of instructions, proceed- 
 ed in company to the eastward on the 12th of April, bound 
 to the second place of rendezvous. Nothing of any impor- 
 tance occurred to us until the 27th of April, when at 7 A 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 195 
 
 M. in lat. 38 o 30/ S. and Ion. 33 o E. we made a strange 
 sail in the S. E. to which we gave chase. The wind was 
 from the N. E. by N. and light throughout the day, and by 
 sundown we had neared the chase considerably. It was 
 calm during the night, and at day-light on the 28th, he was 
 yet in sight. A breeze springing from the N. W. we 
 crowded sail with steering sails on both sides ; the chase 
 standing to the northward upon a wind. At 45 minutes 
 past 2 P. M. the Peacock was about six miles ahead of this 
 ship ; and observing that she appeared to be suspicious of 
 the chase, I took in starboard steering sails, and hauled up 
 for the Peacock — I was still, however, of opinion, that the 
 chase was an Indiaman, though indeed the atmosphere was 
 quite smoky and indistinct, and I concluded, as she was 
 very large, that Capt. Warrington was waiting for me to 
 join him, that we might together go along side of her. At 
 22 minutes past 3 P. M. the Peacock made the signal, that 
 the chase was a ship of the line, and an enemy. I immedi- 
 ately took in all steering sails, and hauled open a wind ; the 
 enemy then upon our lee-quarter, distant about 8 miles. — 
 By sun-down I had perceived, that the enemy sailed remark- 
 ably fast, and was very weatherly. 
 
 At 9 P. M. as the enemy was gaining upon us, and as 
 there was every appearance that he would be enabled to 
 keep sight of us during the night, I considered it necessary 
 to lighten this ship. I therefore threw overboard 12 tons 
 of kentledge, part of our shot, some of our heavy spars, 
 cut away the sheet anchor and cable, and started the wedges 
 of the masts. At 2 A. M. the enemy being rather before 
 our lee-beam, I tacked to the westward ; the enemy also 
 tacked, and continued in chase of us. At day light on the 
 29th, he waswithin gun-shot upon our lee-quarter. At 7 A. 
 M. having hoisted English colours, and a rear admiral's 
 flag, he commenced firing from his bow guns. As his shot 
 went over us, I cut away the remaining anchor and cable, 
 threw overboard the launch, six of our guns, more of our 
 shot, and every heavy article that was at hand ; the enemy 
 fired about thirty shot, not one of which took effect. 
 
196 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 though most of them passed over us. While he was firing, 
 I had the satisfaction to perceive, that we slowly dropped 
 him, and at 9 A. M. he ceased his fire. 
 
 At 11 A. M. the enemy was again coming up with us. 1 
 now, therefore, threw overboard all our remaining guns but 
 one long gun, nearly all our shot, all our spare spars, cut 
 away the top-gallant fore-castle, and cleared every thing off 
 deck, as well as from below, to lighten as much as possible. 
 At noon the enemy again commenced firing. He fired ma- 
 ny shot, only three of which came on board ; two strik- 
 ing the hull, and one passing" through the jib. It is, how- 
 ever, extraordinary, that every shot did not take effect ; for 
 the enemy, the second time he commenced firing, was cer- 
 tainly within three quarters of a mile of the ship, and the 
 sea quite smooth. 
 
 I perceived from his sails that the effect of his fire was to 
 deaden his wind, and at 2 P. M. the wind which had previ- 
 ously, and greatly to our disadvantage, backed to the 
 southeast, hauled to the westward, and freshened up. At 
 sun-down the enemy was about four miles astern. The wind 
 was fresh, and we went at the rate of nine knots through- 
 out the night. We saw the enemy at intervals through 
 the squalls during the night and at day light, on the 30th, 
 he was about 12 miles astern, still in chase of us. At 30 
 minutes after 9 A. M. he took in steering sails, reefed his 
 top-sail and hauled to the eastward, and at 1 1 he was entire- 
 ly out of sight. 
 
 During the chase the enemy appeared to be very crank, 
 and I therefore concluded he must have been lightened 
 while in chase of us. I did not at any time fire our stern 
 chasers, because it was manifest that the enemy injured his 
 sailing by his firing. 
 
 As we had now no anchor, no cable, no boat, and but one 
 gun, there was of course an absolute necessity of relinquish- 
 ing our intended cruise ; and as in our then condition, it 
 would have been extremely hazardous on account of the 
 enemy's cruisers, to approach our own coa»t, I considered. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 197 
 
 it most advisable to proceed for this port. I arrived here 
 yesterday, and on my arrival I received information of the 
 peace between the United States and Great Britain. Per- 
 mit me to state, that it was with the most painful reluct- 
 ance, and upon the fullest conviction that it was indispensa- 
 ble, in order to prevent a greater misfortune, that I could 
 bring my mind to consent to part with my guns ; and I beg 
 leave to request, that you will be pleased to move the hon- 
 ourable secretary of the navy, to call a court of inquiry to 
 investigate the loss of the armament of this ship. It will 
 be very satisfactory to me to have such an investigation. 
 I have the honour to be, 
 
 respectfully, your obe't serv't, 
 Com. Decatur. J. BIDDLE. 
 
 Narrative! of the escape of the Hornet from a British 74, after 
 a chase of 24 hours — extracted from a private journal of one 
 of the officers on board the Hornet. 
 
 U. S* Ship Hornet, off the Cape of Good Hope, 
 
 May 9, 1815. 
 Jlpril21, 1815. At 7 P. M the Peacock made a signal 
 for a strange sail, bearing S. E. by S. We immediately 
 made all sail in chase. Friday 28th commenced with light 
 breezes and pleasant weather, all sail set in chase ; at sun 
 down we had neared the stranger considerably, when it fell 
 perfectly calm, and remained so during the whole of the 
 night ; the stranger ahead, and could just discern his top- 
 sails out of the water. At day light the sail not to be seen 
 from the deck ; at 5 A. M. a breeze sprung up from the N. 
 W. we immediately crowded all sail, in order if possible to 
 get sight of the chase again ; soon after descried him stand- 
 ing to the northward and eastward on a wind. Saturday 
 29th, at | past 2 P. M. the Peacock was about 10 miles 
 ahead of the Hornet ; we observed Capt. Warrington ap- 
 proaching the stranger with much precaution ; we there- 
 fore took in all our larboard steering-sails, set the stay-sails, 
 and hauled up for the Peacock, still under the impression the 
 
198 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 sail in sight was an English Indiaman, and from the appar- 
 ent conduct of the commander of the Peacock, we were un- 
 der the impression (as the ship looked very large) that 
 Capt. W. was waiting until we came up with him in order 
 to make a joint attack. At half past 3, the Peacock made 
 the signal, that the chase was a line-of-battle ship, and an 
 enemy ; our astonishment may easily be conceived ; we 
 took in all steering-sails and hauled upon the wind, bring- 
 ing the enemy upon our lee-quarter, and about 3 leagues 
 distant ; the Peacock on his weather bow and apparently 
 not more than 3 miles from the enemy. At sun-down the 
 enemy bore E. \ S. the Peacock E. by N. We soon per- 
 ceived the enemy sailed remarkably fast, but the Peacock 
 left him running off to the eastward. The enemv contin- 
 uedby the wind and evidently in chase of us, at 6, loosed 
 the wedges of the lower masts ; at 8, Ave discovered the 
 enemy weathered upon us fast, and that there was every 
 appearance he would, if not come up with us, continue in 
 siorht all night. It was thought necessary to lighten the 
 ship ; at 9 we cut away the sheet-anchor, and hove over- 
 board the cable, a quantity of rigging, spars, &c. At half 
 past 9, scuttled the ward-room deck to get at the kentledge, 
 hove overboard 90 pieces, weighing about 50 tons. At 2 
 A. M. tacked ship to the southward and westward, which 
 the enemy no sooner discovered, than he tacked also. At 
 day-light he was within shot distance, on our lee-quarter ; 
 at 7, he hoisted English colours and a rear admiral's flag at 
 his mizzen-top-gallant masthead, and commenced firing 
 from his bow guns, his shot overreaching us about a mile. 
 We therefore commenced again to lighten the ship, by cut- 
 ting away our remaining anchors and throwing overboard 
 the cable, cut up the launch and hove it overboard, a quan- 
 tity of provisions with more kentledge, shot, capstern, 
 spars, all rigging, sails, guns, and in fact every heavy article 
 that could possibly tend to impede the ship's sailing. The 
 enemy continued to fire very heavy and in quick success- 
 ion ; but his British thunder could neither terrify the yan- 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 199 
 
 kee spirit, diminish yankee skill, nor compel us to show 
 him the yankee stripes, which must have irritated him ex- 
 cessively. None of his shot as yet had taken effect, al- 
 though he had been firing for near 4 hours incessantly, his 
 shot generally passing between our masts. We thought at 
 this period we discovered that we were dropping him, as 
 his shot began to fall short, ; this stimulated our gallant crew 
 to fresh exertion. At 11, his firing ceased, and the breeze 
 began to freshen ; we discovered the enemy was again com- 
 ing up with us fast, which induced a general belief he had 
 made some alteration in the trim of his ship. At meridian 
 squally and fresh breezes, wind from the westward. Sun- 
 day (30th) fresh breezes and squally, the enemy still gaining 
 on the Hornet ; at 1 P. M. being within gun-shot distance, 
 he commenced a very spirited and heavy fire with round 
 and grape, the former passing between our masts, and the- 
 latter falling all around us. The enemy fired shells, but 
 were so ill directed as to be perfectly harmless. 
 
 From 2 to 3, threw overboard all the muskets, cutlasses, 
 forge, &c. &c. and broke up the bell — also cut up the top- 
 gallant fore-castle. It was now our capture appeared inev- 
 itable — the enemy | of a mile on the lee-quarter, pouring 
 in his shot and shells in great numbers all around us — con- 
 tinued to lighten the ship, by heaving every thing over- 
 board that could either be of service to the enemy, or an 
 impediment to the Hornet's sailing. The men were order- 
 ed to lay down on the quarter-deck, in order to trim ship, 
 and to facilitate the ship's sailing. At 4, one of the shot 
 from the enemy struck the jib-boom, another struck the 
 starboard bulwark, just forward of the gangway, and a 
 third struck on the deck forward of the main hatch, on the 
 larboard side, glanced off and passed through the foresail. 
 At \ past 4, we again began to leave the enemy, and to ap- 
 pearance, by magick — set the larboard lower steering sail, 
 the wind drawing more aft. At 5, the enemy's shot fell 
 short. At 6, fresh breezes — the enemy hull down in our 
 wake. At 7, could just see his lower steering sail above 
 
200 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 horizon — from 8 to 12, descried him at intervals, with night 
 glasses. At day-light, discovered the enemy astern of us, 
 distant 5 leagues. At 9 A. M. the enemy shortened sail, 
 reefed his top-sail, and hauled upon a wind to the eastward, 
 after a chase of 42 hours. During this tedious and anxious 
 chase, the wind was variable, so as to oblige us to make a 
 perfect circle round the enemy. Between 2 and 3 o'clock 
 yesterday not a person on board had the most distant idea 
 that there was a possibility of escape. We all packed up 
 our things, and waited until the enemy's shot would compel 
 us to heave to and surrender, which appeared certain. Nev- 
 er has there been so evident an interposition of the good- 
 ness of a Divine Father — my heart with gratitude acknowl- 
 edges his supreme power and goodness. On the morning of 
 the 28th, it was very calm, and nothing but murmurs were 
 heard throughout the ship, as it was feared we should lose 
 our anticipated prize — many plans had been formed by us 
 for the disposal of our plunder. The seamen declared they 
 would have the birth deck carpeted with East India silk, 
 supposing her an Indiaman from India ; while the officers, 
 under the impression she was from England, were making 
 arrangements how we should dispose of the money, por- 
 ter, cheese, &c. &c. Nothing perplexed us more than the 
 idea that we should not be able to take out all the good 
 things before we should be obliged to destroy her. We 
 were regretting our ship did not sail faster, as the Peacock 
 would certainly capture her first, and would take out many 
 of the best and most valuable articles before we should get 
 up — (this very circumstance of our not sailing as fast as the 
 Peacock, saved us in the first instance from inevitable cap- 
 ture, for when Capt. W. made the signal for the sail to be 
 an enemy of superiour force, we were 4 leagues to wind- 
 ward.) We all calculated our fortunes were made, but 
 alas, " we caught a Tartar." During the latter part of the 
 chase, when the shot and shells were whistling about our 
 ears, it was an interesting sight to behold the varied coun- 
 tenances of our crew. They had kept the deck during all 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 20) 
 
 the preceding night, employed continually in lightening the 
 ship, were excessively fatigued, and under momentary ex- 
 pectation of falling into the hands of a barbarous and en- 
 raged eneny. The shot that fell on the main deck, (as be- 
 fore related) struck immediately over the head of one of 
 our gallant fellows, who had been wounded in our glorious 
 action with the Penguin, where he was lying in his cot, 
 very ill with his wounds ; the shot was near coming 
 through the deck, and it threw innumerable splinters all 
 around this poor fellow, and struck down a small paper, 
 American Ensign, which he had hoisted over his bed — de- 
 struction apparently stared us in the face, if we did not 
 soon surrender, yet no officer, no man, in the ship shewed 
 any disposition to let the enemy have the poor little Hornet. 
 Many of our men had been impressed and imprisoned for 
 years in their horrible service, and hated them and their 
 nation with the most deadly animosity ; while the rest of 
 the crew, horrour-struck by the relation of the sufferings 
 of their ship-masts, who had been in the power of the 
 English, and now equally flushed with rage, joined hearti- 
 ly in execrating the present authors of our misfortune. 
 Capt. Biddle mustered the crew, and told them he was 
 pleased with their conduct during the chase, and hoped 
 still to perceive that propriety of conduct which had al- 
 ways marked their character, and that of the American tar 
 generally ; that we might soon expect to be captured, &c. 
 Not a dry eye was to be seen at this mention of capture ; 
 the rugged hearts of the sailors, like ice before the sun, 
 warmed by the divine power of sympathy, wept in unison 
 with their brave commander. About 2 o'clock, the wind, 
 which had crossed us, and put to the test all our nautical 
 skill to steer clear of the enemy, now veered in our favour 
 (as before stated) and we left him. This was truly a glori- 
 ous victory over the horrors of banishment and terrours of 
 a British floating dungeon. Quick as thought, every face 
 was changed from the gloom of despair to the highest 
 smile of delight, and we beoan once more to breathe the 
 
 28 
 
202 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 sweets of liberty — the bitter sighs of regret were now 
 changed, and I put forth my expression of everlasting grat- 
 itude to him, the supreme Author of our being, who had 
 thus 'signally delivered us from the power of a cruel and 
 vindictive enemy. 
 
 COURT OF INQUIRY. 
 
 A naval court of inquiry was held by order of the secre- 
 tary of the navy, on board the U. S. ship Hornet, in the 
 harbour of New York, on the 23d of August 1815, to in- 
 vestigate the causes of the return of that ship into port and 
 to inquire into the circumstances attending the loss of arm- 
 ament, stores, &c. during her cruise ; and the following 
 opinion has been pronounced by the court : 
 
 The court, after mature deliberation on the testimony 
 adduced, are of opinion, that no blame is imputable to 
 Capt. Biddle, on account of the return of the Hornet into 
 port, with the loss of her armament, stores, &c. and that 
 the greatest applause is due to him for his persevering gal- 
 lantry and nautical skill, evinced in escaping, under the 
 most disadvantageous circumstance, after a long and ardu- 
 ous chase by a British line-of-battle ship. 
 
 SAMUEL EVANS, Prat. 
 Henry Wheaton, Special Judge Advocate. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 203 
 
 FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE LATE WAR. 
 
 PRESIDENT AND BELVIDERA. 
 
 COPY OF A LETTER FROM CAPT. HULL TO THE SECRE- 
 TARY OF THE NAVY! 
 
 United States Frigate Constitution, 
 Sir, August 28, 1812. 
 
 ThE enclosed account of the affair between the President, 
 Com. Rodgers, and the British frigate Belvidera was taken 
 by an officer, on board the Belvidera, and fell into my hands 
 by accident. It clearly proves that she only escaped the 
 commodore by superiour sailing, after having lightened her, 
 and the President being very deep. 
 
 As much has been said on this subject ; if Com. Rodgers 
 has not arrived, to give you his statement of the affair, if 
 it meet your approbation, I should be pleased to have this 
 account published, to prevent people from making up their 
 minds hastily, as I find them willing to do. 
 
 I am confident, could the commodore have got along 
 side the Belvidera, she would have been his, in less than one 
 hour. 
 
 I have the honour to be, with great respect, 
 
 Sir, your obedient servant. 
 Hon. Paul Hamilton, &c. ISAAC HULL. 
 
 An account of the proceedings of his Majesty's ship Belvidera, 
 Richard Byron Esq. captain, 23d of June, 1812. 
 
 At 40 minutes past 4 A. M. off Nantucket Shoal, saw 
 several sail bearing S. W. made sail towards them : at 30 
 minutes past 6, they bore S. W. by S. made them out to be 
 three frigates, one sloop, and one brig of war, standing to 
 the S. E. under a press of sail. Observed them to make 
 signals, and haul up in chase of us, hauling down their 
 steering sails, in a confused, and irregular manner. Tacked 
 
204 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 ship, made the private signal, which was not answered ; 
 made all sail possible, N. E. by E.; at 8, moderate and fine 
 weather, the headmost ship of the chase S. S. W. \ W. ap- 
 parently gaining ground on us at times, and leaving her con- 
 sorts. At 30 minutes past 1 1 , hoisted our colours and pend- 
 ant ; the chase hoisted American colours, two of them 
 hoisted commodore's broad pendants ; at noon the commo- 
 dore and the second headmost ship of the chase S. W. § W. 
 about 2 and | of a mile, Nantucket Shoal N. 4 o E. 48 
 miles ; -moderate and fine weather, cleared ship for action, 
 commodore of chase grining, the other ships dropping ; 
 observed the chase pointing her guns at us ; at 40 minutes 
 past 3 P. M. the commo-dore fired 3 shot, one of which 
 struck the rudder coat, and came into the after gun room ; 
 the other two came into the upper, or captain's cabin, one 
 of which struck the muzzle of the larboard chase gun, the 
 other went through the beam under the skylight, killed 
 William Gould, seaman ; wounded John Hill, armourer, 
 mortally ; Joseph Lee, seaman, severely ; George Marlon, 
 ship's corporal, badly ; Lieut. Bruce, and James Kelly and 
 James Larmont, seamen, slightly. At 45 minutes past 3, 
 commenced firing with our stern guns, shot away her lar- 
 board lower steering sail, keeping our ship a steady course 
 N. E. by E. at 4, the chase bore up and fired her larboard 
 broadside, which cut our rigging and sails much, the long 
 bolts, breeching-hooks, and breechings of guns and carron- 
 ades frequently breaking (by one of which Capt. Byron 
 was severely wounded in the left thigh) all of which was 
 instantly replaced. Kept up a constant fire, which was re- 
 turned by our opponent with bow-chase guns, and at times 
 by her broadsides, which by her superiority of sailing she 
 was enabled to do till 45 minutes past 6, when we cut away 
 our spar sheet and small bower anchors, barge, yawl, and 
 jolly boats, and started 14 tons of water ; we then gained 
 on him, when he bore up and fired three broadsides, part 
 of which fell short of us ; at 7, opponent ceased firing, and 
 the second frigate commenced, but finding her shot fell 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 205 
 
 short, ceased again. Employed fishing our cross-jack yard, 
 and main top-mast (both badly wounded,) knotting and 
 splicing our rigging, which was much cut and damaged. 
 At 11, altered our course to E. by S. \ S. and lost sight of 
 our opponents. 
 
 AMERICAN SQUADRON. 
 
 Boston Sept. 1, 1812. 
 We with pleasure announce the safe arrival in this port 
 on Monday last of the United States squadron commanded 
 by Commodore Rodgers, which sailed from New York, on 
 the 21st June, on a cruise. The squadron, composed of the 
 President, of 44 guns, bearing Com. Rodgers' flag : the 
 United States 44, bearing Com. Decatur's flag ; Congress 36 
 Capt. Smith ; Hornet 16, Capt. Lawrence ; and brig Argus 
 16, Capt. Sinclair ; came into harbour in a handsome style. 
 The squadron had been seventy days at sea, during which 
 time they had been nearly to the chops of the English Chan- 
 nel, along the coast of France, Spain, and Portugal; to with- 
 in ten leagues of the Rock of Lisbon ; to the vicinity of the 
 Western Islands ; and back by the Banks and Coast of No- 
 va Scotia to Boston ; during which they did not even see a 
 single British national vessel, excepting the Belvidera, with 
 whom the President had a running fight of some hours. — 
 They have captured seven English merchantmen, two of 
 which they burnt, and sent the other five for American 
 ports, none of which, as we have learnt, have been fortun- 
 ate enough to arrive. 
 
 The running fight between the President and Belvidera is 
 thus stated :— The latter was descried on the 23d June, 
 when the squadron gave chase. The President, by superi- 
 ority of sailing, got within gun-shot of the Belvidera, be- 
 tween four and five o'clock P. M. when finding the breeze, 
 which had enabled the President to overhaul the chase, was 
 moderating, and that the chase was preparing to fire on the 
 President, the latter commenced firing for the purpose of 
 
206 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 crippling the spars of the Belvidera, in order to come up 
 with her. The fire was kept up two hours ; the President 
 yawing, and firing two or three broadsides to effect her ob- 
 ject, and keeping up a constant fire of the chase guns, 
 which though it cut the sails and rigging, did not stop the 
 way of the Belvidera, which, as the wind became light, was 
 accelerated by her crowding all sail, starting her water, cut- 
 ting away her anchors, and by staving and throwing over 
 her boats. The chase continued until near midnight ; dur- 
 ing which the Congress frigate came so near the Belvidera as 
 to fire three or four shot at her. The JJornet, as reported, 
 had no share in the firing. Early in the chase a very seri- 
 ous accident occurred on board the President — one of the 
 forward guns, in being fiied, burst, tore up the decks, kill- 
 ed several seamen, and wounded 1 1 or 12 others — among 
 whom was Com. Rodgers, who had stepped forward to di- 
 rect the firing of the chase guns, and who was blown up, 
 and in the fall had the bone of his leg fractured. He has since 
 recovered. This accident also prevented the chase guns 
 being: used for some time. The loss of the President we 
 have not accurately ascertained. We understand 4 were 
 killed by the bursting of the gun, and 3 by the shot of the 
 Belvidera; and 19 were wounded, mostly slightly, and by 
 the bursting gun. 
 
 We lament to learn, that the crews of the ships are very 
 sickly, mostly of scurvy — occasioned by short allowance of 
 provisions and water, made necessary in consequence of 
 the sudden departure of the squadron from New York, and 
 the length of her cruise. Many have died. [Centinel.] 
 
 FR03I COM. RODGERS TO THE SECR'Y OF THE NAVY. 
 
 Sir, U. S. Frigate President, Boston, Sept. 1, 1812. 
 
 I had the honour yesterday of informing you of the ar- 
 rival of the squadron, and now to state the result and par- 
 ticulars of our cruise. 
 
 Previous to leaving New York on the 21st of June, I 
 heard that a British convoy had sailed from Jamaica for 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 307 
 
 England on or about the 20th of the preceding month, and 
 on being informed of the declaration of war against Great 
 Britain, I determined, in the event of Coin. Decatur join- 
 ing- me with the United States, Congress, and Argus, as you 
 had directed to go in pursuit of them. 
 
 The United States, Congress, and Argus did join me on 
 the 21st ; with which vessels, this ship and the Hornet ac- 
 cordingly sailed in less than an hour after I received your 
 orders of the 18th of June, accompanied by your official 
 communication of the declaration of war. 
 
 On leaving New York I shaped our course southeasterly 
 in the expectation of falling in with vessels, by which I 
 should hear of the before mentioned convoy, and the"^ fol- 
 lowing night met with aj American brig that gave me the 
 sought -for information ; the squadron now crowded sail in 
 pursuit, but the next morning was taken out of its course 
 by the pursuit of a British frigate, that I since find was the 
 Belvidera, relative to which I beg leave to refer you to the 
 enclosed extract from my journal. After repairing as far as 
 possible the injury done by the Belvidera to our spars and 
 rigging, we again crowded all sail, and resumed our course 
 in pursuit of the convoy, but did not receive further intel- 
 ligence of it until the 29th of June, on the western edge of 
 the banks of Newfoundland, where we spoke an American 
 schooner, the master of which reported that he had two 
 days before passed them in latitude 43 o , longitude 55 o, 
 steering to the eastward. I was surprised to find that the 
 convoy was still so far to the eastward of us, but was urg- 
 ed, however, as well by what I considered my duty as by 
 inclination, to continue the pursuit. 
 
 On the 1st of July, a little to the eastward of Newfound- 
 land Bank, we fell in with quantities of cocoa nut-shells, 
 orange-peels, &c. which indicated that the convoy were not 
 far distant, and we pursued it with zeal, although frequent- 
 ly taken out of our course by vessels it was necessary to 
 chase, without gaining any further intelligence until the 9th 
 of July, in lat. 45 o 30/, long 23 o , we captured the British 
 
208 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 private armed brig Dolphin, of Jersey, aud were informed 
 by some of her crew that they had seen the convoy the pre- 
 ceding evening ; the weather was not clear at the time, 
 but that they had counted 85 sail, and that the force 
 charged with its protection consisted of one two-decker, a 
 frigate, a sloop of war, and a brig. 
 
 This was the last intelligence I received of the before- 
 mentioned convoy, although its'pursuit was continued until 
 the 13th of July, being then within 18 or 20 hours sail of 
 the British channel. 
 
 From this we steered for the Island of Madeira, passed 
 close by it on the 21st of July ; thence near the Azores, 
 and saw Corvo and Flores ; thence steered for the banks of 
 Newfoundland ; and from the latter place, by the way of 
 Cape Sable, to this port, it having become indispensably ne- 
 cessary, by the time we reached our own coast, to make the 
 first convenient port in the United States ; owing, I am sor- 
 ry to say, to that wretched disease, the scurvy, having 
 made its appearance on board of the vessels, most generally 
 to a degree seriously alarming. 
 
 From the western part of the banks of Newfoundland to 
 our making the island of Madeira the weather was such, at 
 least six days out of seven, as to obscure from our discovery 
 every object that we did not pass within four or five miles of, 
 and indeed for several days together the fog was so thick as 
 to prevent our seeing each other, even at cable's length a- 
 sunder, more than twice or thrice in 24 hours. 
 
 From the time of our leaving the United States until our 
 arrival here we chased every vessel we saw, and you will 
 not be a little astonished when I inform you, that, although 
 we brought to every thing we did chase, with the exception 
 of four vessels, we only made seven captures and one recap- 
 ture. 
 
 It is truly an unpleasant task to be obliged to make a com- 
 munication thus barren of benefit to our country ; the only 
 consolation I individually feel on the occasion being derived 
 from knowing, that our being at sea obliged the enemy to 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 209 
 
 concentrate a considerable portion of his most active. force, 
 and thereby prevented his capturing an incalculable amount 
 of American property that would otherwise have fallen a sac- 
 rifice. 
 
 I am aware of the anxiety you must have experienced at 
 not hearing from me for such a length of time ; but this I 
 am sure you will not attribute in any degree to neglect, 
 when I inform you, that not a single proper opportunity oc- 
 curred from the time of leaving the United States until our 
 return. 
 
 Mr. Newcomb, who will deliver you this, you will find, 
 an intelligent young man, capable of giving such further in- 
 formation as you may deem of any moment : He will at 
 the same time deliver you a chart, showing the tract in 
 which we cruised. Annexed is a list of vessels captured, 
 recaptured, and burnt. 
 
 The four vessels we chased and did not come up with, were 
 the Belvidera, a small pilot-boat schooner, supposed to be 
 an American privateer, the hermaphrodite privateer Yankee, 
 which we lost sight of in a fog, but whose character we af- 
 terwards learnt, and a frigate supposed to be British, that 
 we chased on the 28th ult. near the shoal of George's bank, 
 and should certainly have come up with, had we had the 
 advantage of two hour's more day-light. 
 
 On board of the several vessels of the squadron there are 
 between 80 and 100 prisoners, taken from the vessels we 
 captured during our late cruise. The government not hav- 
 ing any agent for prisoners here, I shall send them to Com. 
 Bainbridge, to be disposed of in such manner as best ap- 
 pears with the interest of the United States, and which I 
 hope may meet your approbation. 
 
 With the greatest respect, I have the honour 
 
 to be, sir, your obedient servant, 
 Hon. Paul Hamilton, JOHNRODGERS. 
 
 Sec r y of the navy. 
 
 29 
 
210 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 EXTRACT FROM COMMODORE RODGERS' JOURNAL, 
 
 Sailed from New York June 21. The 23d, 6 A. M. dis- 
 covered and gave chase to an English frigate, supposed to 
 be the Belvidera. The superiority of the President's sailing, 
 while the breeze continued fresh, enabled her to get within 
 gun-shot between 4 and 5 P. M. when it had moderated so 
 much as to give very faint hopes of getting along side. At 
 this time perceiving she was training her guns to bear upon 
 the President, the latter commenced a fire at her spars and 
 rigging, with the view to cripple and get abreast of her, a 
 fire was kept up about two hours. The President gave her 
 two or three broadsides, and kept up a well directed fire 
 from the chase guns, which cut her sails and rigging very 
 much, but did not succeed in destroying any of her spars, 
 although some of them were much wounded. The Presi- 
 dent all this time was exposed to a running fire from her 
 four stern-chasers ; and once the British frigate commenc- 
 ed afire from her main deck, with an intention of raking 
 the President with a broadside, but at that moment receiving 
 one from the President, continued the course under a press 
 of sail, and used only her stern guns. All sail Avas crowd- 
 ed in pursuit, but in vain. The chase was now throwing 
 overboard every thing that could be spared, to increase her 
 sailing, and escaped by lightness of the wind ; four of her 
 boats were seen floating by the President, completely knock- 
 ed to pieces, together with a great number of casks, spars, 
 &c. and it was supposed most of her guns were also thrown 
 overboard. 
 
 The President received a considerable number of shot in 
 her sails and rigging, but was not materially injured. The 
 chase was continued till about midnight, when it was relin- 
 q uished as hopeless, and the President hove to for the squad- 
 ron to come up. Early in the chase, one of the President's 
 chase guns, on the gun-deck, burst, and injured the upper 
 deck so much, as to prevent the use of the chase guns on 
 that side for a considerable time. The President had three 
 killed, and 19 wounded ; most of the latter slightly ; of the 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 211 
 
 wounded, 16 were by the bursting of a gun. It was by the 
 same gun Com. Rodgershad his leg fractured ; but has re- 
 covered. 
 
 The squadron afterwards pursued the Jamaica fleet; but 
 owing to uncommonly foggy weather, missed them, although 
 at times very near. 
 
 After the renconter above related, Capt. Byron, of the 
 Belvidera, in conversation with an American gentlemen, ob- 
 served, that, in his opinion, Com. Rodgers had done every 
 thing on board the President, which could have contributed 
 to the capture of his ship. When the squadron first gave 
 chase to the Belvidera, they gained upon her very fast ; and 
 Capt. Byron considered his vessel as lost ; but as a last 
 resort, when the President was coming up within gun-shot of 
 the Belvidera, orders were given to cut away the anchors, 
 stave the water casks, and throw overboard the boats, 
 and every thing moveable, which could be spared, and 
 which could tend to lighten the ship. As soon as this 
 had been^done, it was observed that the Belvidera be- 
 gan to draw from the chase ; which being discovered 
 by Com. Rodgers, he opened his fire upon her, in hope 
 of disabling some of her spars, and thereby enable 
 him to come up with her. Capt. Byron declared, that the 
 fire from the President was extremely well directed, almost 
 every shot taking effect ; and that to the circumstance above 
 related, and the wind at the same time becoming more 
 light, was his escape to be attributed. 
 
 A declaration, like this, coming from an enemy, is con- 
 clusive evidence of the good conduct of Com. Rodgers. 
 
 BRIG NAUTILUS. 
 
 TheU. S. brig Nautilus, 12 guns, Capt. Crane, (the loss 
 of which was mentioned on page 7,) 16 hours from New- 
 York, on a cruise, was captured the 16th of July by the 
 British frigate Shannon, after a hard chase of six hours, du- 
 
212 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 ring which the Nautilus was obliged to start her water, and 
 throw over all her lee-guns. She was ordered to Halifax, 
 with Lieutenant Crane on board ; the remainder of the of- 
 ficers and crew (106 in number) were sent on board the Af- 
 rica. 
 
 LETTER FROM A WARRANT OFFICER OF THE NAUTI- 
 LUS TO HIS FATHER. 
 
 On board his Britannic Majesty's ship Africa, 
 
 at sea, lat. 37 o , long. 69 o , July 23, 1812. 
 Honoured Sir, 
 
 I have to inform you that we sailed from New York 
 the 15th July on a cruise. On the 16th at sun-rise discov- 
 ered five sail to windward, which proved to be the British 
 ships Africa, Shannon, Guerriere, Bckidera, and AEolus, and 
 which gave us chase, we then standing E. We immediate- 
 ly wore ship to the W. and made all sail, it then blowing 
 fresh, and used every exertion to get clear by throwing 
 overboard our anchors, part of our guns, and starting wa- 
 ter in the hold ; all which proved fruitless. At half past 12, 
 after a chase of six hours, the Shannon came within half 
 gun-shot ; when we had no alternative but to strike our 
 colours to a force so superiour to ours. The officers and 
 crew behaved like men, and would not have submitted but 
 to a greatly superior force. Great praises are due to Capt. 
 Crane for his officer and seamanlike conduct ; and the lieu- 
 tenants and other officers merit the attention of a grateful 
 country. 
 
 Since we have been prisoners we have been treated with 
 the utmost politeness and humanity by the officers of this 
 ship. We have every indulgence which we could expect, 
 and can hardly realize that we are prisoners. We expect in 
 a few days to be sent to Halifax, to remain until we are ex- 
 changed, which we hope will be soon, and that in the mean 
 time our country will not forget us. I am, &c. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 213 
 
 ESSEX AND ALERT. 
 
 LETTER FROM CAPT. PORTER OF THE ESSEX FRIGATE 
 TO THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. 
 
 Sir, At sea, August 17, 1812. 
 
 I have the honour to inform rou, that on the 13th his 
 Britannic Majesty's sloop of were Alert, Capt. T. L. P. 
 Laugharne, ran down on our weather quarter, gave three 
 cheers, and commenced an action (if so trifling a skirmish 
 deserves the name) and after eight minutes firing struck her 
 colours, with seven feet water in her hold, much cut to pie- 
 ces, and 3 men wounded. 
 
 I need not inform you that the officers and crew of the Es- 
 sex behaved as I trust all Americans will in such cases, and 
 it is only to be regretted, that so much zeal and activity 
 could not have been displayed on an occasion that would 
 have done them more honour. The Essex has not received 
 the slightest injury. 
 
 The Alert was out for the purpose of taking the Hornet ! 
 I have the honour to be with great respect, 
 
 vour obedient servant, 
 Hon. Paul Hamilton, D. PORTER. 
 
 Sechj of navy. 
 The Alert mounted twenty 181b. carronades, [rated in 
 Steel's list 16,] and had 130 men. 
 
 Sir, At sea, August 20, 1812. 
 
 Finding myself much embarrassed by the Alert from the 
 great number of prisoners we have already made (about 
 500) I concluded that before our arrival in America the 
 number would be considerably augmented, and as I found 
 my provisions and water getting short, and being well satis- 
 fied that a plan had been organized by them for rising on 
 the ship in the event of an engagement ; I considered it to 
 be for the interest of my country to get clear of them as 
 speedily as possible, particularly as I was well assured that 
 immediately on their arrival at St. Johns, an equal number 
 of my countrymen would be released and find a sure and 
 
214 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 immediate conveyance. I therefore drew up written stip- 
 ulations corresponding with the accompanying letters ; 
 threw all the guns of the Alert overboard ; withdrew from 
 her all the men belonging to the Essex ; appointed Lieut. 
 J. P. Wilmer to command her as a cartel, put all my pris- 
 oners on board her, and despatched her for St. Johns, in 
 Newfoundland, with orders to proceed from thence to 
 New York with such Americans as he may receive in ex- 
 change. 
 
 At a more suitable opportunity I shall do myself the hon- 
 our to lay before you copies of every paper relative to this 
 transaction, and sincerely hope that my conduct in this af- 
 fair may meet with your approbation. 
 
 As the Essex has been so annoying about Bermuda, Nova 
 Scotia, and Newfoundland, I expect I shall have to run the 
 gauntlet through their cruisers ; you may however rest as- 
 sured, that all a ship of her size can do shall be done, and 
 whatever may be our fate our country shall never blush for 
 us. 
 
 I have the honour to be, &c. 
 Hon. Paul Hamilton, D. PORTER. 
 
 Sec'?/ of navy. 
 
 We are obliged to omit the correspondence between Cap- 
 tains Porter and Laugharne, in which it was finally agreed 
 that the Alert, after being disarmed, should go to Newfound- 
 land, as a cartel, with British prisoners. The Alert after- 
 wards returned to New York with American prisoners. 
 
 EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM ADMIRAL DUCKWORTH 
 TO THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. 
 
 St. Johns, Newfoundland, Aug. 31, 1812. 
 A vessel captured as the Alert has been, could not have 
 been vested with the character of a cartel, until she had en- 
 tered a port of the nation by which she had been captured, 
 and been regularly fitted out from thence. For every 
 prize might otherwise be provided with a flag of truce, and 
 proposals for an exchange of prisoners ; and rendered thus 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 215 
 
 effectually secure against the possibility of recapture ; while 
 the cruising ship would be enabled to keep at sea with an 
 undiminished crew ; the cartels being always navigated by 
 the prisoners of war. 
 
 It is utterly inconsistent with the laws of war to recog- 
 nise the principle upon which this arrangement has been 
 made. 
 
 Nevertheless I am willing to give a proof at once of my 
 respect for the liberality which the captain of the Essex has 
 acted, in more than one instance, towards the British sub- 
 jects who have fallen into his hands ; of the sacred obliga- 
 tion that is always felt, to fulfil the engagements of a Brit- 
 ish officer ; and of my confidence in the disposition of his 
 royal highness the Prince Regent, to allay the violence of 
 war by encouraging a reciprocation of that courtesy by 
 which its pressure upon individuals may be so essentially 
 diminished. 
 
 On the 4th of this month, a midshipman of the Essex ar- 
 rived, and presented to me a letter from his captain, pro- 
 posing an exchange for 86 British prisoners. The midship- 
 man had however been placed alone in the charge of one of 
 the captured vessels, with 86 prisoners, to conduct them to 
 this port. A list of 40 prisoners of the same description, 
 disposed of in the same manner, has been sent to me by the 
 commander of the American private armed schooner the 
 
 Rossie. 
 
 It is incumbent upon me to protest in the strongest man- 
 ner against the practice of conducting exchanges upon 
 terms like these ; and to signify to you that it will be utter- 
 ly impossible for me to incur, in future, the responsibility 
 of assenting to them. 
 
 WASP AND FROLIC. 
 
 The capture of the Frolic by the Wasp has been already 
 given. Seepage 14. After Capt. Jones had manned his 
 
g46 NAVAL MONUMENT 
 
 prize, the Wasp and the Frolic had the misfortune to fall in 
 with the Poictiers 74, Capt. Beresford, and both were cap- 
 tured and sent to Bermuda. Lieut. James Biddle was on 
 board the Wasp as a volunteer, and has briefly narrated the 
 occurrence in the following letter to his father. 
 
 His Britannic Majesty's Ship Poictiers 74, at sea, 
 
 My dear father, Oct. 21, 1812. 
 
 The fortune of war has placed us in the hand of the ene- 
 my. We have been captured by this ship, after having our- 
 selves captured his Britannic majesty's brig Frolic. 
 
 The Frolic was superiour in force to us ; she mounted 
 eighteen 321b . carronades, and two long 9s. The Wasp you 
 know has only 16 carronades. The action lasted 43 min- 
 utes ; we had 5 killed, and the slaughter on board the Frolic 
 was dreadful. We are bound into Bermuda. I am quite 
 unhurt. In haste, &c. J. BIDDLE. 
 
 A court of inquiry, convened to investigate the conduct 
 of Capt. Jones in surrendering the Wasp, gave the follow- 
 ing opinion, which was approved by the secretary of the 
 navy. 
 
 " The court, having heard the statement and evidence in 
 this case, and having maturely considered the circumstan- 
 ces attending the surrender of the U. S. ship of war, the 
 Wasp, of 16 guns, to his Britannic majesty's ship of the 
 line, the Poictiers, of 74 guns ; particularly the crippled 
 and disabled state of the Wasp from the brilliant and suc- 
 cessful action with his Britannic majesty's ship, the Frolic, 
 of superiour force to the Wasp about two hours before the 
 Poictiers hove in sight, and the force and condition of the 
 Poictiers, which made it useless for them to contend, and 
 rendered them unable to escape, are unanimously of opin- 
 ion, that there was no impropriety of conduct on the part 
 of the officers and crew of the said ship Wasp during the 
 chase by the Poictiers, or in the surrender ; but that the 
 conduct of the officers and crew of the Wasp on said occa- 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 217 
 
 sion was eminently distinguished for firmness and gallant- 
 ry, in making every preparation and exertion, of which 
 their situation would admit." 
 
 VIXEN 
 
 The United States brig Vixen, Capt. Reed, was captured 
 in November 1812, by the Southampton 32, commanded by 
 Sir James Lucas Yeo, after a chase of nine hours. Both 
 vessels were afterwards totally lost on the island of Concep- 
 tion (Bahamas,) but the crews were saved and carried to 
 Nassau. 
 
 Copy of a letter from Capt. Sir James Lucas Yro, of his Majes- 
 ty's Ship Southampton, to Vcie Admiral Stirling, 
 His Majesty's Ship Southampton, at sea, 
 Sir, JVw. 22, 1812. 
 
 His majesty's ship under my command, this day captur- 
 ed the United States brig Vixen, Capt. George Reed, mount- 
 ing twelve 18 pounders, carronades, two long 9s, and 130 
 men. She had been out five weeks, and I am happy to say, 
 had not made any capture. I have, &c. 
 
 JAMES LUCAS YEO, Capt. 
 Charles Stirling, Esq. 
 Vice Admiral of the white, <^c. 
 
 CAPTURE OF THE SWALLOW. 
 
 EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM COMMODORE RODGERS 
 TO THESECR'Y OF THE NAVY. 
 
 United States, Frigate President, at sea, 
 Sir, October 17, 1812. 
 
 I have the honour to acquaint you, that on the 15th inst. 
 near the Grand Bank, this ship, the Congress in company, 
 captured the British king's packet Sicalloio, Joseph Mor- 
 
 30 
 
218 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 phew commander, bound from Kingston, Jamaica, to Fal- 
 mouth. The rank of the commander of this vessel is that 
 of a master and commander in the navy. She had no car- 
 go on board except twenty boxes of gold and silver, amount- 
 ing to between one hundred and fifty and two hundred 
 thousand dollars. The specie I took out of her, and had 
 intended sending her to England in the character of a car- 
 tel with her own crew ; but having fallen in with the Amer- 
 ican schooner Eleanor, bound from Baltimore to France, 
 dismasted, induced me to change mv determination. 
 
 With the greatest respect, &c. 
 
 JOHN RODGERS. 
 
 The President and Congress arrived at Boston on the 31st 
 of December, after an active cruise of between 80 and 90 
 days. The President brought in about 50 prisoners. The 
 cash taken from the packet Swallow was carried to the bank 
 from the navy yard, with drums beating, and colours fly- 
 ing, in several waggons, escorted by a part of the crews of 
 the frigates, and a detachment of marines, amidst the huz- 
 zas of a large concourse of spectators. The specie and 
 gold dust deposited amounted to nearly three hundred thou- 
 sand dollars. 
 
 Richard Moss, quarter-master-gunner, died on board the 
 President, Oct. 16. A few hours before his death, he in- 
 formed Com. Rodgers, that he had a wife and three chil- 
 dren in Boston, dependent on him for support ; and express- 
 ed considerable anxiety for them, knowing he had but little 
 time to live. Soon after his death, at the suggestion of 
 Com. Rodgers, a subscription paper was opened, which he 
 headed, and was handed through the ship to the officers and 
 crew for subscription, when upwards of seven hundred dol- 
 lars were immediately subscribed by the generous officers 
 and tars, for the relief of the widow and children. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 219 
 
 ESCAPE OF THE ARGUS. 
 
 The nautical skill of the officers of our navy has often 
 been acknowledged by the British. The following instance 
 cannot but gratify the friends of the navy and of the offi- 
 cer who conducted the escape. 
 
 The United States brig Argus, Capt. Sinclair, sailed from 
 Boston in company with the United States. After parting 
 with her consort, she proceeded to the coast of Brazil, down 
 the north coast of the country from St. Roquo to Surrin- 
 am ; thence she passed to the windward of the island, and 
 in every direction between the Bermudas, Halifax, and the 
 continent. She arrived at New York in the month of De- 
 cember, after a cruise of 96 days, having made five prizes, 
 valued at $200,000. During her cruise she fell in with a 
 squadron of the enemy, consisting of six sail, two of which 
 were of the line, one of them a remarkably fast sailer. 
 The favour of the moon enabling them to chase by night 
 as well as in the day, the chase was continued for three 
 days, without intermission, and under various circumstan- 
 ces, but the unremitted exertions of his officers and crew 
 enabled him to elude the pursuit. Pressed on all sides by 
 the number of the enemy, and the baffling and unsettled 
 state of the weather, the Argus was at onetime within musk- 
 et shot of a 74, and at another surrounded. The determin- 
 ed vigilance of Capt. Sinclair rescued her from the diffi- 
 culty. They had joined in the chase an armed transport, 
 with a view no doubt of distracting the attention and de- 
 ceiving the chase, which being discovered, he bore down 
 upon her, and compelled her to clear the way. Such was 
 the confidence of Capt. Sinclair in the sailing of the Argus, 
 that during the chase, although at one time so closely press- 
 ed as to be compelled to lighten his vessel, by throwing over 
 his spare anchors and spars and deck boats, and starting the 
 salt water with which his casks had been filled as the fresh 
 had been used, and reduced to the last necessity of wetting 
 his sails ; yet did he preserve all his guns, and one night, 
 during the chase, he found time to capture, man, and des- 
 
220 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 patch a prize. So close were they upon him, that when he 
 again made sail, two of the ships opened their batteries up- 
 on him. 
 
 NAVAL ANECDOTE. 
 
 On board the United States, Capt. Decatur, was a little 
 boy, about nine years old. He was not considered one of 
 the regular crew ; but he shared the mess of a generous sail- 
 or, who had, two years before, taken him from his wid- 
 owed mother. The spirit of his father, who had also been 
 a seaman, had long since gone aloft, and left his wife and 
 little ones on the shoals of poverty. 
 
 When the Macedonian hove in sight, and all hands were 
 clearing ship for action, the little fellow stepped up to Com. 
 Decatur — " And it please you, Captain," said he, " I wish 
 my name might be put down on the roll." — " And what 
 for, my lad ?" — inquired the commodore. " So that I can 
 draw a share of the prize money, sir," answered he. Pleas- 
 ed with the spirit and confident courage of the little hero, 
 his name was ordered on the list ; but the moment was too 
 important to say more. 
 
 After the prize was taken, Decatur thought of the little 
 sailor boy, and called him up — " Well, Bill," said he, " we 
 have taken her, and your share of the prize, if we get her 
 safe in, may be about two hundred dollars ; what will you 
 do with it ?" — " Til send one half to my mother, sir, and 
 the other half shall send me to school." "That's noble," 
 cried the commodore, delighted with the spirit of the lad, 
 took him under his immediate protection, and obtained fol- 
 ium the birth of a midshipman. Every attention has been 
 paid to his education, and he gives great promise of mak- 
 ing an accomplished officer. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 221 
 
 EXTRACT OF A PRIVATE LETTER FROM COM. BAIN- 
 BRIDGE. 
 
 Jit sea, January 24, 1813. 
 
 11 The Java was exceedingly well fought and bravely de- 
 fended. Poor Lambert, whose death I sincerely regret, 
 was a distinguished, gallant officer, and worthy man. He 
 has left a widow and two helpless children ! But his coun- 
 try makes provision for such events. 
 
 " We are now homeward bound. The damage the Con- 
 stitution received in the action, and the decayed state she is 
 in makes it necessary for me to return to the United States 
 for repairs ; this I much regret ; my crew participate in 
 this sentiment ; they are however consoling themselves 
 with the hope of receiving their prize money. One says, 
 he will buy himself a snug little ship on the highest hill he 
 can find, that he may thence, in his old age, view all our 
 sea-fights. Another, that now he will marry his Poll — an- 
 other, that he will send his little Jack to school, &c. 
 
 " Poor fellows, I trust they will not be disappointed in 
 their expectations. Twice have they willingly and gal- 
 lanntly encountered the enemy, and twice have they suc- 
 ceeded. To return home now, and find they have nothing 
 but a remnant of pay coming to them, would be extremely 
 mortifying. It would inevitably depress their spirits, and 
 damp that noble ardour which they have hitherto felt and 
 displayed. The officer may feel differently. For the 
 performance of his duty he feels a reward in his own bo- 
 som, and in his country's thanks. Patriotism and a lauda- 
 ble thirst for renown, will lead him to court perils in defence 
 of his country's rights. These feelings operate upon the 
 sailor also : but to keep up the high tone of his ardour, he 
 must have prize money in view. 
 
 True policy, in my humble opinion, dictates the destruc- 
 tion of the enemy's ships after capture ; for by manning 
 them, even if they are left in a manageable situation, our 
 ships would be so weakened in their crews, that they would 
 be liable to be captured by an equal, or insulted by an infe- 
 
222 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 riour force. The act of destruction is done by the command 
 of the captain only — the crew, who have exposed their 
 lives equally with him, have not the right of opposition. — 
 When I ordered the Java to be destroyed, these considera- 
 tions presented themselves to my mind with great force. — 
 Surely justice'and sound policy obviously recommend a li- 
 beral provision in their favour. In making these obser- 
 vations I am not influenced by any selfish motive. The ap- 
 plause of my countrymen has for me greater charms than 
 all the gold that glitters. But justice to those who have 
 bravely fought under my command, and assisted me in 
 gaining this victory, requires at my hands an exertion in 
 their behalf ; and should it please heaven to conduct us safe 
 to our native shores, I shall not fail to use my best endea- 
 vours, solemnly believing, as I do, that the principle is all 
 important to the continued suceess of our navy. For if it 
 is, as I hold it, the indispensable duty of the commander to 
 destroy the capture on account of the gauntlet he would 
 have to run with both the prize and his own ship (except 
 he should be very near one of our own ports) and the cap- 
 tain to receive (which is almost always the case) all the 
 honour, and the others no compensation — is it not natural 
 to suppose, that the ardent desire which our seamen, at 
 present, so strongly manifest, to get into battle, would di- 
 minish ? Let that once take place, and your naval fights 
 will not, I prophecy, be so decisive as they would be by 
 keeping the ardour up. And how trifling an expense the 
 compensations would be in a national view ! The schooer 
 that I am now despatching (a prize to the Hornet) will give 
 to the public treasury upwards of one hundred thousand 
 dollars." 
 
 In the month of February, the letter-of-marque schooner I 
 Lottery, Capt. Southcomb, of Baltimore, outward bound, 
 was taken in the Chesapeake, by nine large boats, heavily 
 armed, and having 240 men, after a gallant fight of an hour 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 223 
 
 and a half. The Lottery carried 6 guns and had about 35 
 men. 
 
 The following correspondence relates to Capt. South- 
 comb. 
 
 Sir, U. S. Frigate Constellation Feb. 16, 1813. 
 
 At the solicitation of Capt. Southcomb's friends, I sent a 
 flao- down to the squadron of the enemy in Lynnhaven 
 roads, to bring him and his two wounded men up to Nor- 
 folk where their situation could be rendered more comfort- 
 able. 
 
 Enclosed you will receive a copy of Capt. Byron's note 
 to Capt. Gould on the subject, and also copies of my letter 
 to Capt. Byron and his answer. The cartel returned last 
 evening with the body of Capt. Southcomb ; he was woun- 
 ded in five places, gallantly defending his vessel against a 
 number of armed boats. 
 
 While such instances of bravery cannot but inspire the 
 enemy with respect for the American character, I trust this 
 instances, among many others of the humanity and generosi- 
 ty of Capt. Byron, will not be forgotten by our countrymen. 
 
 I have the honour to be, &c. 
 Hon. W. Jones, &c. CHARLES STEWART. 
 
 Sir, February 11, 1813. 
 
 I am glad in being able to get the little box of China for 
 Mrs. Gould. Rest assured of every attention being paid to 
 the unfortunate Capt. John Southcomb and his two woun- 
 ded men. Whatever vessel comes for them shall be treated 
 with due respect, for which I have the senior captain's au- 
 thority. I am your humble servant, 
 
 Capt. Gould. R. BYRON. 
 
 U. S. Frigate Constellation, Norfolk harbour, 
 Sir, February 13, 1813. 
 
 Capt. Gould has handed me a note you addressed to him 
 of the 11th inst. in which you state, " by authority of the 
 senior captain of his Britannic Majesty's squadron in Lynn- 
 
224 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 haven bay, that Captain Southcomb, and his two wound- 
 ed men, will be delivered to any vessel that may come for 
 them." 
 
 I send a flag down to you for the purpose of receiving 
 those unfortunate men, and avail myself of this opportuni- 
 ty to thank you for your attention and humanity to the un- 
 fortunate. I have the honour to be, &c. 
 
 CHARLES STEWART. 
 
 Capt. Richard Byron, &c. 
 
 Belvidera, Lynnhaven anchorage, 
 Sir, February 13, 1813. 
 
 I received your letter of this morning by Dr. Ray : it is 
 with extreme concern I acquaint you, that the unfortunate 
 and gallant Capt. Southcomb expired this morning. It will 
 be satisfactory in some degree to his widow, to know, he 
 had a truly religious sense of his situation, latterly deliri- 
 ous, without the excess of pain that might have been expec- 
 ted. Capt. Gould and his steward have charge of his ef- 
 fects. His body will be placed in the cartel so soon as the 
 coffin can be prepared. The two wounded men at their own 
 request went up in the former cartel, which I am sorry to 
 hear got on shore. I am extremely flattered with the part 
 of your letter, thanking me for attention and humanity to 
 the unfortunate, which gives me the most perfect assurance 
 of the generous feelings of Capt. Charles SteAvart. 
 
 I have the honour to be, &c. 
 
 Capt. C. Stewart, &c. R. BYRON. 
 
 GENEROSITY. 
 
 By the humanity of Capt. Smith, the officers and crew 
 of the Congress frigate, lying in Boston harbour, a subscrip- 
 tion of one hundred and fifty dollars was raised and presen- 
 ted to Richard Dunn, who lost his leg in bravely fighting 
 for "free trade and sailors' rights," on board the Constitu- 
 tion, in her engagement with the British frigate Guerricre. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 825 
 
 Heroism — A Card. 
 
 It. Dunn takes this method publicly to acknowledge the 
 receipt of the above subscription, and to present his hearty 
 thanks to Capt. Smith, his officers and crew, for their kind 
 remembrance of him. He would also assure them, that 
 though he has lost one leg, he is willing to fight on the other 
 for the liberty of his enslaved brethren, and the honour of his 
 country. 
 
 March 1813. 
 
 COMMODORE DECATUR'S SQUADRON. 
 
 On the 1 1 tli of June, Com. Decatur and his squadron at- 
 tempted to go to sea from New York, but were prevented 
 by two 74s and a frigate, and driven into the harbour of 
 New London, where they were blockaded until the close of 
 the war, except the Hornet, which made her escape in Nov. 
 1814. The American squadron consisted of the United States 
 44 Macedonian 38, and Hornet 16. 
 
 REVENUE CUTTER SURVEYOR. 
 
 The Baltimore Revenue Cutter Surveyor was captured 
 by the barges of the Narcissus frigate, in York river, on the 
 night of the 12th of June. The enemy was discovered 
 when about 150 yards distant. Capt. Travis could not 
 brino- his guns to bear, and therefore furnished each of his 
 men with two muskets. They held their fire until the 
 British were within pistol shot ; but the enemy pushed on 
 and finally carried the vessel by boarding, with 3 men kil- 
 led, and a number wounded. Capt. Travis and his crew, 
 15 in number, were all taken on board t4ie Junon, and the 
 next day the senior officer of the Narcissus returned the 
 captain his sword, with the following complimentary letter. 
 
 Sir, His Majesty's Ship Narcissus, June 13, 1813. 
 
 Your gallant and desperate attempt to defend your vessel 
 against more than double your number, on the night of the 
 
 31 
 
226 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 12th inst. "excited such admiration on the part of your op- 
 ponents, as I have seldom witnessed, and induced me to re- 
 turn you the sword you had so no nobly used, in testimony 
 of mine. Our poor fellows have severely suffered, occa- 
 sioned chiefly, if not solely, by the precaution you had ta- 
 ken to prevent surprise ; in short, I am at a loss which to 
 admire most, the previous engagement on board the Sur- 
 veyor^ the determined manner by which her deck was dis- 
 puted, inch by inch. 
 
 I am, sir, with much respect, &c. 
 Capt. S. Travis, JOHN CRERIE. 
 
 U. S. Cutter Surveyor. 
 
 ATTACK ON A BRITISH SQUADRON BY A FLOTIL- 
 AL OF GUN-BOATS. 
 
 LETTER FROM COM. JOHN CASSIN TO THE SECRETARY 
 
 OF THE NAVY. 
 
 S IR> Navy Yard, Gosport, June 21, 1813. 
 
 On Saturday at 11 P. M. Capt. Tarbell moved with 
 the flotilla under his command, consisting of 15 gun-boats, 
 in two divisions, Lieut. John M. Gardner 1st division, and 
 Lieut. Robert Henley the 2d — manned from the frigate, and 
 50 musketeers, ordered from Craney Island by Gen. Tay- 
 lor, and proceeded down the river ; but adverse winds and 
 squalls prevented his appoaching the enemy until Sunday 
 morning at 4, when the flotilla commenced a heavy galling 
 fire on a frigate, at about three quarters of a mile distance, 
 lying well up the roads— two other frigates lying insight. 
 At half past 4, a. breeze sprung up from E. N. E. which 
 enabled the two frigates to get under way— one a razee or 
 very heavy ship, and the other a frigate— and to come 
 nearer into action. The boats, in consequence of their ap- 
 proach, hauled off, though keeping up a well directed fire 
 on the razee and the other ship, which gave us several 
 broadsides. The frigate first engaged, supposed to be the 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 227 
 
 Junoriy was certainly severely handled — had the calm con- 
 tinued one half hour, that frigate must have fallen into our 
 hands, or been destroyed. She must k have slipped her 
 mooring so as to drop nearer the razee, who had all sail 
 set, coming up to her with the other frigate. The action 
 continued one hour and a half with three ships. Shortly 
 after the action, the razee got along side of the ship, and 
 had her upon a deep careen in a little time, with a number 
 of boats and stages round her. I am satisfied considarable 
 damage was done to her, for she was silenced some time, 
 until the razee opened her fire, when she commenced again. 
 Our loss is very trifling. Mr. Allison, master's mate, on 
 board 139, was killed early in the action, by an 181b. ball, 
 which passed through him and lodged in the mast. No. 
 154 had a shot between wind and water. No. 67 had her 
 franklin shot away, and several of them had some of 
 their sweeps and their stuncheons shot away — but two 
 men slightly injured from the sweeps. On the flood tide 
 several ships of the line and frigates came into the roads, 
 and we did expect an attack last night. There are now in 
 the roads 13 ships of the line and frigates, one brig and sev- 
 eral tenders. 
 
 I cannot say too much for the officers and crews on this 
 occasion ; for every man appeared to go into action with so 
 much cheerfulness, apparently to do their duty, resolved to 
 conquer. I had a better opportunity of discovering their 
 actions than any one else, being in my boat the whole of 
 the action. 
 
 1 have the honour to be, &c. 
 Hon. W. Jone£, &c. JOHN CASS1N, 
 
226 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 4 
 
 LOSS OF THE ASP. 
 
 COPY OF A LETTER FROJI MIDSHIPMAN M'CLINTOCK 
 
 TO THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. 
 
 Sir, Kinsale, Virginia, July 13, 1813. 
 
 I have to inform you of the unfortunate event which oc- 
 curred here on the 14th ; the action between the British 
 barges and the United States schooner »#.<?jj, commanded by 
 Mr. Segourney. At 9 A. M. the Scopion and Jlsp got under 
 way from Yeocomico river and stood out. At 10, discover- 
 ed a number of sail, which proved to be the enemy ; the 
 Scorpion then made signal to act at discretion, and stood up 
 the river ; the schooner being a bad ^sailor and the wind 
 ahead, we were not able to get out. Finding the enemy ap- 
 proaching us, wc thought it best to return. Immediately 
 two of the brigs stood towards us, and anchored a short 
 distance from the bar, where they manned their boats. — 
 Mr. Segourney thought it would be for our advantage to 
 run further up the creek, which we did, but finding the en- 
 emy had left their vjcssels, we had not time to weigh anchor, 
 therefore we were obliged to cut our cables. We were at- 
 tacked by three boats, well manned and armed ; we contin- 
 ued a well directed fire on them, and after a short time they 
 were compelled to retreat, and obtain a reinforcement. — 
 About an hour after they retired, avc were attacked by five 
 boats ; we continued doing the same as before, but having 
 so few men, we were unable to repel the enemy. When 
 they boarded us, they refused giving us any quarter. — 
 There were upwards of 50 men on our decks, which com- 
 pelled us to leave the vessel, as the enemy had possession. 
 They put her on fire and retreated. A short time after 
 they left her, we went on board, and with much difficulty 
 extinguished the flame-. — But it is with deep regret that I 
 inform you of the death of Mr. Segourney, who fought 
 most gallantly in defence of the vessel ; and the utmost ex- 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 329 
 
 ertion was used by every man on board. Our crew con- 
 sisted only of 21. There arc ten killed, wounded and mis- 
 sing, your obedient servant, 
 Hon. W. Jones, H. M. M'CLINTOCK, 
 
 Sec'y of navy. Midshipman in the U. S. navy. 
 
 VIPER. 
 
 The United States brig Viper, 14 guns, commanded by 
 Lieut. Henley, was captured by the British frigate Narcis- 
 sus. The customary court of inquiry was held in June on 
 the conduct of Lieut. Henley. He was honourably ac- 
 quitted, as having done all in his power to escape a superi- 
 our force. The court gave the same opinion respecting 
 the conduct of Capt. Reed, late commander of the Vixen- 
 See page 217. 
 
 The Viper was captured Jan. 1813. 
 
 REPULSE OF THE BRITISH AT CRANEY ISLAND. 
 
 Extract of a letter from Com. Cassin to the Sec'ry of the navy. 
 
 Sir, Navy Yard, Gosport, June, 23, 1813. 
 
 I have the honour to inform you, that on the 20th the 
 enemy got under way, in all 13 sail, and dropped.up to the 
 mouth of James' river, one ship bearing a flag at mizzen. — 
 At 5, P. M. they were discovered making great prepara- 
 tion with troops for landing, having a number of boats for 
 the purpose. Finding Crancy island rather weakly man- 
 ned, Capt. Tarbell directed Lieuts. Neal, Shubrick, and 
 Sanders, with 100 seamen, on shore, at 11, P. M. to a small 
 battery on the N. W. side of the island. 
 
 Tuesday 22d, at dawn, the enemy were discovered land- 
 ing round the point of Nansemond river ; at 8 A. M. the 
 barges attempted 10 land in front of the island, out of reach 
 of the shot from the gun-boats, when Lieuts. Neal, Shub- 
 rick, and Sanders with the sailors, and Lieut. Brcckenridge 
 
230 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 with the marines of the Constellation, 150 in number, open- 
 ed the fire which was so well directed, that the enemy were 
 glad to get off, after sinking three of their largest boats. — 
 One of them called the Centepede. Admiral Warren's boat, 
 50 feet in length, carried 75 men, the greater part of whom 
 were lost, by her sinking. Twenty soldiers and sailors were 
 saved, and the boat hauled up. 
 
 The officers of the Constellation fired their 18 pounder 
 more like riflemen than artillerists. I never saw such 
 shooting, and seriously believe they saved the island. 
 
 I have the honour to be &c. 
 Hon. W. Jones, &c. JOHN CASSIN. 
 
 The number of the enemy engaged in the attack was 
 nearly 3000. 
 
 On the 25th of June the British, about 2500, attacked 
 and took possession of the town of Hampton, after a brave 
 resistance, by 400 Americans, under the command of Maj. 
 Crutchfield. The atrocities of the enemy at this place are 
 well known. 
 
 SCHOONER EAGLE. 
 
 Mv> York, June 27, 1813. 
 The schooner Eagle, which sailed from this port on the 
 15th, was taken by the enemy's barges at New London on 
 the 25th. Owing to adverse winds the enemy were unable 
 to tow the schooner along side of the squadron. While the 
 enemy were attempting to take out the cargo, an explosion 
 took place, which killed a considerable number of the ene- 
 my. One barge first approached to capture the Eagle, 
 but she was beat off. Three others came, and the schooner 
 was abandoned by the crew. The cask, containing the 
 powder had a lock, with which was connected a string, 
 that was fastened to some of the articles of spoil tli^ enemy 
 moved. The explosion took place by their means, and im- 
 mediately the schooner and barges disappeared ! 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 231 
 
 A fishing vessel arrived at Salem with the following en- 
 dorsement on her papers. 
 
 " His Majesty' } s Ship La Houge, at sea, 
 
 JulyS, 1818. 
 " I have warned the fishing boat Sally, of Barnstable, im- 
 mediatly to proceed to her own coast, in consequence of 
 the depredations committed by the Young Teazer, and other 
 American privateers: on the British and coasting vessels be- 
 longing to Nova Scotia ; but more particularly from the 
 inhuman and savage proceedings of causing the American 
 schooner Eagle to be blown up after she had been taken 
 possession of by his majesty's ship Ramilies — an act not to 
 be justified on the most barbarous principles of warfare. — 
 I have directed his Britannic majesty's cruisers on the coast 
 to destroy every description of American vessels they may 
 fall in with, flags of truce only excepted. Given under my 
 
 hand. 
 
 « THOMAS B. CAPEL, Capt." 
 
 EAGLE. 
 
 BETTER FROM COM. LEWIS TO THE SECR'Y OF TIIE 
 
 NAVY. 
 
 Sir, Off Sandy Hook, July 6, 1818. 
 
 I have the pleasure to inform you of the capture of the 
 British sloop tender Eagle, which for some time had been 
 employed, by Com. Beresford, for the purpose of burning 
 the coasters, &c. Her force was two officers and 11 men, 
 with a 321b. brass howitzer. This service was performed 
 in the most gallant and officer like manner by Sailing Mas- 
 ter Percival, who, with volunteers from the flotilla, which 
 I have the honour to command, jumped on board a fishing 
 smack, ran along side the enemy; and carried him by a 
 coup de main. I am sorry to add, that in this little affair the 
 enemy lost the commanding officer, one midshipman mor- 
 
232 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 tlaly wounded, and two seamen badly. I am happy to say, 
 we suffered, no injury ; whieh is to be attributed to the su- 
 periour management of Sailing Master Percival, and the 
 coolness with which his men fired ; for which they all de- 
 serve well of their country. 
 
 I have the honour to be, &c. 
 Hon. William Jones, &c. J. LEWIS. 
 
 P. S. The capture was on Sunday, the 4th inst. 
 
 FURTHER PARTICULARS. 
 
 The fishing smack, named the Yankee, was borrowed of 
 some fishermen at Fly Market, in the city of New York, 
 and a calf, a sheep, and a goose purchased, and secured on 
 deck. Between 30 and 40 men, well armed with muskets, 
 were secreted in the cabin and fore-peake of the smack. 
 Thus prepared, she stood out to sea, as if going on a fish- 
 ing trip to the banks, three men only being on deck, dressed 
 in fishermen's apparel, with buff caps on. The Eagle, on 
 perceiving the smack, immediately gave chase, and after 
 coming up with her, and finding she had live stock on deck, 
 ordered her to go down to the commodore, then about five 
 miles distant. The helsmman answered, aye, aye, Sir, and 
 apparently put up the helm for that purpose, which brought 
 him along side of the Eagle, not more than three yards dis- 
 tant. The watch-word Laiorence was then given, when the 
 armed men rushed on deck from their hiding places, and 
 poured into her a volley of muketry, which struck the crew 
 with dismay, and drove them all down so precipitately in- 
 to the hold of the vessel, that they had not time to strike 
 their colours. The Eagle, with the prisoners, was carried 
 to the city and landed at Whitehall, amidst the shouts and 
 pleudits of thousands ef spectators, assembled on the bat- 
 cry, celebrating the 4th of July. 
 
 Henry Morris, commander of the Eagle, was buried at 
 Sandy Hook with military honours, and in the most res- 
 pectful manner. Mr. Price, who died soon after, was bu- 
 ried in Trinity Church yard, with every testimony of re- 
 
 gard. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 233 
 
 TORPEDO. 
 
 Mr. E. Mix of the navy, a gentleman of ingenuity anil 
 enterprise, constructed a torpedo for the purpose of des- 
 troying some of the enemy's shipping in Lynnhaven bay. 
 The British 74 gun ship Plantagenct, which for some months 
 had been lying abreast of Cape Henry light house, appear- 
 ed to Mr. Mix, as the most favourable object on which to 
 try his experiment. Accordingly, on the night of the 18th, 
 and the four following, accompanied by Capt. Bowman of 
 Salem and Midshipman M'Gowan, of the U. S. navy, he 
 made the attempt, which proved fruitless, in consequence 
 of being discovered by the enemy, who, suspecting some 
 mischief, changed her position every night. On the night 
 of the 24th however, Mr. Mix succeeded in finding her out, 
 and having taken his position 100 yards distance, in a di- 
 rection with her larboard bow, he dropped the fatal ma- 
 chine into the water just as the centinel was crying aWs well. 
 It was swept along with the tide, and very nearly effected 
 its purpose. It exploded a few seconds too soon. 
 
 The scene was awfully sublime. It was like the concus- 
 sion of an earthquake, attended with a sound louder and 
 more terrific than the heaviest peal of thunder. A pyra- 
 mid of water, 50 feet in circumference, was thrown up 40 
 or 50 feet ; its appearance was a vived red, tinged at the 
 sides with beautiful purple. On ascending to its greatest 
 height it burst at the top with a tremendous explosion, and 
 fell in torrents on the deck of the ship, which rolled into 
 the chasm and nearly upset. The light, occasioned by the 
 explosion, though fleeting, enabled Mr. Mix and his com- 
 panions to discover, that the fore-channel of the ship was 
 blown off, and a boat, which lay along side with several 
 men in her, was thrown up in the convulsion. 
 
 EXPLOIT AT GARDNER'S ISLAND. 
 
 On the evening of the 28th of July, two boats from the 
 Macedonian and two from the United States, under Lieut. 
 32 
 
2M NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 Gallager, made an excursion into the sound. In the night 
 a small boat, under the direction of Midshipman Ten Eyke, 
 being separated by a strong wind and tide from the others, 
 landed on Gardner's Island. In the morning, finding them- 
 selves under the guns of the Ramilies, the boat was hauled 
 ashore. Soon after a boat came ashore from the Rumilies 
 and the officers went to a dwelling house. Midshipman 
 Ten Eyke seized the favourable moment, made prisoners of 
 those who were left with the English boat, and then with 
 two men proceeded to the house, where he took two lieu- 
 tenants, making in all, prisoners of two lieutenants one mid- 
 shipman, one master's mate, and five seamen. Finding they 
 were discovered by the Ramilies, the captives were paroll- 
 ed, and Mr. Ten Eyke and crew made their escape to Long 
 Island. The succeeding night the other boat took them off. 
 
 DELAWARE FLOTILLA.— LOSS OF GUN-BOAT NO. 121. 
 
 Extract of a letter from Lieut. Angus, commanding the U. 8. 
 Delaware flotilla, to the Secr'yof the navy. 
 
 Sir, Cape May, July, 29, 1813. 
 
 Lying off Dennes' creek this morning, I discovered, that 
 an enemy's sloop of war had chased a small vessel, and ta- 
 ken her near the Overfalls. I immediately got under 
 way, and stood down the bay. The sloop of war stood so 
 near the Overfalls, that she grounded slightly on the outer 
 ridge of Crow's shoals. I thought proper to endeavour to 
 bring him to action. I succeeded, and got within three 
 quarters of a mile, and anchored the boats (consisting of 8 
 gun-boats and two black ships) in aline ahead. A heavy 
 frigate had by this time anchored about half^a mile further 
 out. After a cannonade of 1 hour and 45 minutes, in which 
 the ships kept up a constant and heavy fire, heaving their 
 shot from a half to three quarters of a mile over us, they 
 doing us but little damage ; the sloop of war and frigate, 
 finding our shot to tell on their hulls, manned their boats, 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 235 
 
 ten in number, (2 launches, the rest large barges and cut- 
 ters,) with from 30 to 40 men in each, and despatched them 
 after gun-boat No. 121, Sailing Master Shed, which had 
 unfortunately fell a mile and a half out of the line, although 
 it had been my positive and express orders to anchor at half 
 cable length apart, and not further. From the strong ebb 
 tide they succeeded in capturing her, after a gallant resist- 
 ance, (for three times did No. 121 discharge her long gun, 
 apparently full of canister, among the whole line of boats, 
 when at a very short distance, which must have done exe- 
 cution, and not till after she was boarded, did the colours 
 come down, before any assistance could be given her. How- 
 ever, we got near enough to destroy 3 or 4 of their boats, 
 and must have killed a vast number of men. It being a 
 calm, they succeeded in getting her away by sending all 
 their boats ahead and towing her ; but they have paid dear 
 for their temerity. They must at least have had one third 
 of their men killed and wounded. I am happy to say, that 
 not a man was wounded in any of our boats, except the 
 one captured, whose fate I have not yet learnt. I feel much 
 indebted to Lieut. Mitchel, and officers commanding gun- 
 boats, for their spirited conduct in carrying into execution 
 my orders ; and if I may judge from the gallant resistance, 
 made by sailing Master Shed, in engaging when surrounded 
 by the boats of the enemy, that every officer and man of 
 the flotilla will do his duty in all situations. 
 
 I have the honour to be, &c. 
 Hon. W. Jones, &c. SAMUEL ANGUS. 
 
 From Lieut. Shed's official letter it appears, that 7 of our 
 men were wounded, 5 slightly. The loss of the enemy was 
 7 killed and 12 wounded. 
 
 COMMODORE RODGER'S CRUISE. 
 
 On the 26th of September, the U. S. frigate President, 
 Com. Rodgers, arrived in the harbour of Newport, after a 
 cruise of more than five months. This ship left Boston on 
 the 30th of April, in company with the U. S. frigate Congress 
 
236 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 from which she separated on the 30th of the same month. 
 She pursued her course to the Grand Bank, the Azores, 
 Shetland isles, and to North Bergen, where she put in for 
 water. She left this place on the 2d of July, shaped her 
 course towards the Orknev Islands, and from thence to the 
 north seas. July 19th off North cape, White sea, was chas- 
 ed 86 hours by 2 line-of-battle ships, took a circuit round 
 Ireland, got into the latitude of Cape Clear, proceeded to 
 the Grand Banks, and from thence to the United States. 
 
 The following is the concluding part of the commodore'' s official 
 
 account. 
 
 " During my cruise, although I have not had it in my 
 power to add any additional lustre to the character of our 
 little navy I have nevertheless rendered essential service to 
 my country, I hope, by harassing the enemy's commerce, 
 and employing to his disadvantage more than a dozen times 
 the force of a single frigate. 
 
 a My officers and crew have experienced great privations 
 since I left the United States, from being nearly five months 
 at sea, and living the last three months of that time upon a 
 scanty allowance of the roughest fare ; and it is with pecu- 
 liar pleasure that I acquaint you, that they are all in better 
 health than might be expected, although you may well sup- 
 pose that thek scanty allowance has not been of any advan- 
 tage to their strength or appearance. 
 
 " The High Flyer was commanded by Lieut. Hutchinson, 
 second of the St. Domingo. She is a remarkably find ves-. 
 sel of her class, sails very fast, and would make an excel- 
 lent light cruiser, provided the government have occasion 
 for a vessel of her description. 
 
 " Just at the moment of closing my letter, a news-paper 
 has been handed 'me, containing Capt. Broke's challenge to 
 my late gallant friend, Capt. Lawrence, in which he men- 
 tions, with considerable emphasis, the pains he had taken 
 to meet the President and Congress, with the Shannon and 
 Tenedos. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 237 
 
 " It is unnecessary at present to take furtlihr notice of 
 Capt. Broke's observations, than to say, if that was his dis- 
 position, his conduct was so glaringly opposite, as to au- 
 thorize a very contrary belief. Relative to Capt. Broke, 
 I have only further to say, that I hope he has not been so 
 severely wounded as to make it a sufficient reason to pre- 
 vent his reassuming the command of the Shannon at a fu- 
 ture day." 
 
 Here follow the names of 1 1 merchantmen, and the 
 High Flyer schooner of 5 guns, captured during his cruise. 
 
 The capture of the schooner High Flyer, of 5 guns, by 
 Com. Rodgers, was very extraordinary. On making the 
 schooner to the southward of Nantucket Shoals, she hoisted 
 the private British signal, which was answered by- Com. 
 Rodgers, and fortunately proved the private British signal 
 of that day. Upon seeing this, the High Flyer came imme- 
 diately to him. Com. Rodgers ordered one of his officers 
 to dress in a British uniform, and manned out a boat and 
 boarded him. The lieutenant of the schooner did not wait 
 to be boarded, but manned his own boat and boarded the 
 President, supposing her to be a British frigate. The Brit- 
 ish Lieut, was on board for some time, before he discovered 
 his mistake. The officer that boarded the schooner from 
 the President, asked the officer, lefi in charge of the schoon- 
 er for his private signals and instructions, which were im- 
 mediately handed to him ; by this stratagem, Com. Rod- 
 gers has obtained possession of the British private signals, 
 and Ad. Warren's instructions. On examining Ad. War- 
 ren's instructions, Com. Rodgers discovered the number of 
 British squadrons, stationed on the American coast — their 
 force, and relative position — with pointed instructions to 
 311 of them, if possible to capture the President. 
 
238 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 CHALLENGE. 
 
 Copy of a letter from Lieut. Claxton to his father. 
 
 Macedonian, .Weto London," Jan. 19, 1814. 
 Dear father, 
 
 For the two last days we have been all anxiety ; an Amer- 
 ican captain returned on parole from the Ramilies 74, a few 
 days since, and communicated to Com. Decatur, a consulta- 
 tion he had with Capt. Hardy, in which the letter said, 
 " that now that two frigates were off, of equal force to the 
 United States and Macedonian, that he should have no ob- 
 jection to a meeting taking place, but that he could not al- 
 low the challenge to come from the English commanders." 
 The hint was embraced in a moment, and Capt. Biddle des- 
 patched with a challenge from our commanders. In the 
 mean time every preparation was made, on our side, for an 
 immediate engagement, which we all supposed no objection 
 could be made to : the crews of both ships were called to- 
 gether, and addressed by their commanders, who made 
 known to them the substance of the business then on foot ; 
 they were answered by three hearty cheers. Capt. Jones 
 concluded his short and pertinent address in the following 
 words, spoken with great modesty : " My lads, our cruise 
 will be short, and, I trust, a very profitable one." Capt. 
 Biddle went on board the 74 ; a signal was immediately 
 made for the two commanders of the English frigates, and 
 they went on board. Capt. Hardy addressed them, " gen- 
 tlemen, here are two letters for you ; it rests altogether with 
 you to decide on the matter." Stackpole, of the Statira, 
 answered with the greatest affection, " pon honour, sir, it is 
 the most acceptable letter I ever received." The final an- 
 swer was to be given yesterday. Capt. Biddle returned, 
 and related the circumstance as I have mentioned. For 
 myself, I thought from the manner of Stackpole, that he 
 would be first to flinch. I am not able to say that he did ; 
 it is enough, that the captain of the Borer (sloop of war,) 
 came in yesterday, and made known that they had declin- 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 239 
 
 ed meeting us. This circmstance has made a vast deal of 
 conversation here, much to the credit of our commanders 
 — it will probably be distorted into a hundred different 
 shapes before it is done with ; I have therefore given you 
 a correct though brief account of it. The Endymion 
 mounts the same weight of metal with the United States, and 
 three or four guns more, and the Statira is superiour to us 
 by one or two guns. The disappointment is very great 
 with us, for every soul calculated on taking her with ease. 
 You see we must trust altogether to our heels. 
 
 Yours affectionately, 
 
 A. CLAXTON. 
 
 GALLANT DEFENCE OF THE ALLIGATOR. 
 
 The following is Mr. Basset? s report. 
 
 Sir, U. S. Schooner Alligator, Wappo, Jan. 31, 1814. 
 
 I have the honour to inform you, that the U. S. schoon- 
 er Alligator, under my command, was attacked on the even- 
 ing of the 29th inst. then lying at anchor in Stono river 
 and abreast of Coles' Island, by six boats from the enemy's 
 squadron, off the mouth of the river, and succeeded in 
 beating them off, after a warm action of 30 minutes. I 
 have to regret on this occasion the loss of 2 men killed and 
 2 wounded ; one of the latter, the pilot, Mr. Robert Hatch 
 severely. This brave man fell at the helm, exhorting those 
 around him to take good aim at the enemy. I hope his 
 conduct will entitle him to your notice. It is impossible to 
 ascertain what loss the enemy sustained ; but from suddenly 
 ceasing their fire from the two large launches, and the other 
 boats joining them immediately, I am induced to believe 
 they suffered severely, as the schooner grounded, and they 
 did not renew the action. The sails and rigging of the 
 schooner are much cut, but no damage sustained in the hull. 
 I cannot conclude without rendering my thanks to the gal- 
 lant officers and men you did me the honour to place under 
 
240 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 my command, for their meritorious conduct, which alone 
 preveuted the schooner from falling into the hands of an 
 enemy of more than treble our number. 
 J- H. Dent, Esq. R. BASSETT. 
 
 Capt Dent in communicating this report says, great credit 
 is due to Sailing Master Bassett, his officers and crew, for 
 defeating a force so greatly superior in numbers, as there 
 could not have been less than 140 men opposed to 40. 
 
 — 
 
 LOSS OF THE FERRET. 
 
 OFFICIAL ACCOUNT. 
 
 Sir, Folly- Island, Feb. 3, 1814. 
 
 1 am sorry to acquaint you of the entire loss of the U. S. 
 schooner Ferret. This unfortunate circumstance occurred 
 last evening, on the North Breakers of Stony Inlet. 
 
 I am happy to say, none of her officers or men were lost 
 or injured. They have lost every thing belonging to 
 them, and would suffer much, were it not for the kindness 
 of Mr. D arley and Mr. Heoland, who have rendered many 
 services. 
 
 I am making preparations to proceed to the wreck with 
 a vessel, to save what articles of rigging and sails I can get 
 at. I am in hopes to get some of her guns, which I threw 
 into the hold. Finding the vessel half full of water, I ap- 
 prehended her drifting out in deep water, should she be 
 lightened, would render our situation more hazardous. 
 
 Mr. Brailsford, whom I have sent on with a proportion of 
 my crew, will inform you more particularly of the circum- 
 stance which the present haste I am in will not allow me to 
 do, as fully as I could wish. 
 
 I have the hoiitour to be, 
 
 most respectfully, your obe't serv't, 
 
 LAWRENCE KEARNEY. 
 Lieut. Com. U. States schooner Ferret. 
 Com. J. H. Dent, Com' g Naval Officer, Charleston. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 241 
 
 CRUISE OF THE PRESIDENT. 
 
 The United States frigate President, Com. Rodgers, ar- 
 rived an Sandy Hook, on the 18th of February 1814, after 
 a cruise of 75 days. She passed most of the West-India 
 islands ; lay off Charlestown 48 hours, and was chased by 
 a 74, two frigates, and two sloops of war. During the 
 cruise she captured three English merchantmen, which 
 were sunk, after taking out their cargoes. She had on 
 board 30 prisoners. A private letter from an officer on 
 board the President states, 
 
 u Situations in which we have been placed this cruise, 
 will, I think, add lustre to the well established character of 
 Com. Rodgers. 
 
 " After passing the light, saw several sail- one large sail to 
 the windward ; backed our main top-sail and cleared ship 
 for action. The strange sail came down within gun-shot — 
 hauled her wind on the larboard tack. We continued with 
 our main top-sail to the mast three hours, and seeing no pro- 
 bability of the 74 gun ship's bearing down to engage the 
 President, gave her a shot to windward and hoisted our col- 
 ours — when she bore for us reluctantly — when within half 
 gunshot, backed his maintop-sail. At this moment, all 
 hands were called to muster aft ; and the commodore said 
 a few, but impreseive words, though it was unnecessary ; 
 for what other stimulent could true Americans want, than 
 fighting gloriously in sight of their native shore, where 
 hundreds were assembled to witness the engagement ? Wore 
 ship to engage, but at this moment the cutter being discov- 
 ered coming off, backed again to take in the pilot^; and the 
 British 74 (strange as it must appear) making sail to the 
 southward and eastward — orders were given to haul aboard 
 the fore and main tack?, to run in ; there being then in 
 sight from our deck, a frigate and gun-brig. 
 
 "The commander of the 74 had it in his power for five 
 hours to bring us at any moment to an engagement ; our 
 main top-sail to the mast during that time." 
 
 33 
 
242 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 It was afterwards ascertained, that the ship which de- 
 clined battle with the President was the Plantagenet 74, Capt. 
 Lloyd. The reason given by Capt. Lloyd for avoiding an 
 engagement was, that his crew were in a state of mutiny 
 
 RATTLESNAKE AND ENTERPRIZE. 
 
 The. U. S. brigs, Rattlesnake, Lieut. Creighton, and En- 
 terprise, Lieut. Renshaw, arrived at Wilmington N. C. the 
 former on the 9th, and the latter on the 7th of March, 
 from a cruise. Three times they were chased by a superi- 
 our force of the enemy. On the 25th of February the En- 
 terprize was chased 70 hours, and escaped by throwing over 
 her guns, cutting away her anchors, and starting her water. 
 
 DEATH OF MIDSHIPMAN HALL. 
 
 Extract of a letter Jrom Capt. C. Gordon to the Sec'ry of the navy. 
 
 Constellation, off Craney Island, March, 10, 1814. 
 
 " I have to report to you the loss of one of my midship- 
 men, Mr. William C. Hall. He was quite young, and the 
 smallest on board ; but a youth of great promise, who had 
 so much interested himself with the officers and crew, that 
 his loss has spread a momentary gloom over the ship. He 
 fell from^the mizzen top-mast head, to the quarter deck, yes- 
 terday evening, while we were in the act of sending down 
 top-gallant yards, and expired instantly. 
 
 " He had been much accustomed to going aloft, and had 
 gone up to the mast-head, on that occasion, as he said to 
 the captain of the top, to observe how they unrigged the 
 yard ; having hold of the top-gallant shroud, the yard must 
 have struck him in canting. He will be buried in the 
 church yard at Norfolk this day at noon, with the ceremo- 
 nies due to his grade. He is from Queen Ann county, east- 
 ern shore of Mary land ; no parents and only a sister living. 
 This family is known to Governor Wright, the representa- 
 tive in congress from that district. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 24S 
 
 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 On the 3d of April, the U. S. frigate Constitution, Capt- 
 Stewart, arrived at Marblehead, having been chased in by 
 the British frigate Junon and Tencdos, of 38 guns each, 
 which had been in chase of her from day light. The frig- 
 ates, or one of them it is said got within 2 or 3 miles of the 
 Constitution, at one time, and to effect her escape she was 
 obliged to throw overboard her provisions, &c. and every 
 thing moveable, and started all her water. Some prize 
 goods were likewise thrown over. 
 
 She immediately anchored above Fort Sewall, in a pos- 
 ture of defence, her exposed situation rendering her liable 
 to an attack, should she remain there long. In order to the 
 protection of the frigate and the town, a number of heavy 
 cannon were sent over from Salem, and Maj. Gen. Hovey 
 issued an order for the Marblehead battalion of artillery to 
 hold itself in readiness to act. Com. Bainbridge, to whom 
 an express had been sent, despatched assistance from the na- 
 vy yard in Charleston, and the company of New England 
 Guards began their March from Boston, to afford such aid 
 as might be required of them. But towards evening the 
 Constitution weighed anchor and came round into this har- 
 bour, where she is considered in a state of securitv. The 
 Constitution's cruise has been about three months. In the 
 Mona passage, she chased a frigate, without being able to 
 come up with her. Her crew is in fine condition, and her 
 safe return is hailed with joy. [Salem Gaz.] 
 
 ATTACK ON VESSELS AT PETIPAGUE. 
 
 At 4 o'clock in the morning of the 8th of April, six Brit- 
 ish barges, containing 300 men, entered the port of Peti- 
 pague, and burnt about twenty sail of vessels. Many of 
 them were ships worth from fifteen to twenty thousand dol- 
 lars each. They did their business effectually, for the ves- 
 sels were all burnt to the water's edge. They gave out 
 
244 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 word to the inhabitants, that if they made the least resist- 
 ance, they would fire the town. 
 
 The property destroyed was owned in New York, Mid- 
 dletown, Hartford and Petipague. A fine cutter brig they 
 attempted to get out, but failed, and she shared the fate of 
 the others. She was from 3 to 400 tons, and was worth 
 about 18,000 dollars. The British force is stated, by gen- 
 tlemen from near the scene of action, to have been about 
 150, which is probably as great a number as six boats could 
 carry. It is added, that the enemy remained on shore all 
 day, unmolested, and went off about 8 in the evening. — 
 They came from a frigate and a gun-brig lying off Say- 
 brook. 
 
 The enemy took possession of a store, where they re- 
 mained all day, part of the time amusing themselves, an d 
 at night about 1000 men had been collected, who fortified 
 both sides of the river, just above the ferry, intending to 
 surprize the enemy as they returned, but the British, having 
 waited until it was dark, passed unobserved, by muffling 
 their oars, or laying concealed in their boats, and letting 
 them float down with the tide. A number of small vessels, 
 which were in the rear of the enemy, were not molested. 
 
 LOSS OF THE FROLIC. 
 
 On the 21th of April, the United States sloop of war 
 Frolic, J. Bainbridge commander, was captured by the Or- 
 pheus frigate, without firing a gun, her armament having 
 been thrown overboard in the chase. By this event, we 
 have lost a fine vessel and a gallant crew, but we have lost 
 no honour. 
 
 CRUISE OF THE ADAMS. 
 
 The U. S. ship Adams, Capt. Charles Morris, sailed from 
 the Chesapeake in January 1813 — passed to the southward 
 of Bermuda, crossed the Atlantic, captured a number of 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 245 
 
 prizes and arrived home in safety, in the month of April. — 
 The official account of Capt. Morris concludes thus : 
 
 •' After a long chase on the 25th of March, the last four 
 hours of which was in thick weather, we captured the En- 
 glish India ship Woodbridge, with a cargo of rice and dye 
 wood, but had barely taken possession of her, when the 
 weather cleared up, and we discovered a fleet of 25 sail im- 
 mediately to the windward of us, and two ships of war 
 standing for us. We were compelled to abandon the prize 
 with precipitation, and attend to our own safety." 
 
 NAVAL ARCHITECTURAL ENTERPRIZE* 
 
 Capt. Nathaniel M. Perley, late commander of the ship 
 Volant, which was captured on her passage from Bayonne 
 to Boston, and carried into Halifax, has constructed and 
 nearly completed, within eight weeks, a schooner, of about 
 110 tons, which for beauty, strength and utility, is not excel- 
 led in the world. She was built near Rowley Green, one 
 mile and a half from the water. No object of this nature 
 and magnitude has ever created more speculation of opin- 
 ion, than the building of this vessel ; and it was generally 
 conceived that she could never be transported to her destin- 
 ed element ; but to the surprize of many, and joy of all, on 
 the 2d day of May, she was started from her building place, 
 at about 10 o'clock, A. M. and before 5 P. M. was landed 
 at the water's edge. The whole apparatus for the operation 
 was prepared under Capt. Perley's immediate direction. — 
 She was borne by a set of trucks, of four wheels each, 
 about 2 feet in height, and 16 inches broad. These were 
 drawn by 100 yokes of oxen, in four strings, two of which 
 were to the forward trucks, and two attached to a cable, 
 prepared for the purpose. The subject is rendered more 
 interesting by the fact, that neither man, beast, nor pro- 
 perty received any essential injury. The Aveight is estima- 
 ted at from 100 to 120 tons. Improvements may probably 
 be made on this invention, Avhich will prove highly useful 
 to the mechanic, f merchant, and man of enterprize. 
 
246 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 On the 23 and 25 of May the flotilla of gun boats, under 
 the command of Com. Lewis, attacked a part of the British 
 blockading squadron near New London, and opened a pas- 
 sage for 40 or 50 sail of coasters. This flotilla has been of 
 essential service on the coast, rescuing many vessels from 
 the grasp of the English with the most determined courage. 
 It is stated in a way that seems entitled to credit, that 17 
 were killed and 47 wounded on board the Maidstone frigate, 
 in one of the engagements with the gun-boats. The vessel 
 was much injured. 
 
 The U. S. schooner Nonsuch, Lieut. Kearney, stationed 
 off Charlestown S. C. in June narrowly escaped from cap- 
 ture by a frigate. During the chase she threw overboard 
 11 of her guns. 
 
 On the 26th of June, a combined attack of artillery, ma- 
 rine corps, and flotilla, under Com. Barney, was made on 
 two of the enemy's frigates near Pawtuxent. An officer 
 on board the flotilla thus writes : 
 
 " We moved down with the flotilla, and joined in the cho- 
 rus with the artillery. Our fire was terrible. At 6 o'clock 
 they began to move, and made sail down the river, leaving 
 us masters of the field. Thus we have again beat them 
 and their rockets, which they did not spare. First, we 
 beat off a few boats, then they increased the number, then 
 they added schooners, and now, behold the two frigates ! 
 all have shared the same fate. We next expect ships of t 'the 
 line. No matter, we will do our duty. Our loss was 6 
 killed and 4 wounded. Young Asqueth (midshipman,) who 
 had just joined us, was killed." 
 
 ALLIGATOR. 
 
 On the 1st of July the U. S. schooner Alligator was up- 
 set by a violent tornado, and snuk in 4 fathoms water. She 
 was at anchor in Port Royal sound when the blast struck 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 247 
 
 her : 23 were drowned. Among them were 2 promising 
 young officers, Midshipmen Brailsford and Rogerson. The 
 Alligator was afterwards got up, by the assistance of two 
 vessels. 
 
 LOSS OF THE RATTLESNAKE. 
 
 Extract of a letter from Joseph Wikon, jun. purser of the late 
 U. S. brig Rattlesnake to the Secr'y of the navy. 
 
 Sir, Boston, July 29. 1814. 
 
 I have the honour of making known to you the fol- 
 lowing circumstances relative to the cruise and capture of 
 the late U. S. brig Rattlesnake, by order of James Renshaw 
 Esq. commander. May 31, lat. 40 o N. long. 33 o W. fell 
 in with a frigate, and very narrowly escaped, by throwing 
 over all the guns, except two long 9s. June 9th, lat. 47 o 
 N. long. 8 o W. received information by a Russian brig 
 from England of the Revolution in France, and destroyed 
 the English brig John, laden with English goods. 
 
 June 22, lat. 42 o N. long. 33 o W. destroyed English 
 brig Crown Prince, laden witli fish. July 11th at day-light, 
 wind south, discovered a frigate, on the weather, and Cape 
 Sable on the lee bow ; the frigate proved to be the Leander, 
 to which ship the Rattlesnake was surrendered at 8 A. M. 
 after every exertion had been made to escape. 
 
 The Rattlesnake arrived in Halifax on the 13th, and the 
 Leander on the 14th inst. 
 
 I have the honour to be &c. 
 
 JOSEPH WILSON jun. 
 
 Between the 16th and 20th of August, a large force of 
 the enemy, in all about 60 sail, several of them ships of the 
 line, arrived in the bay of Chesapeake. More than 50 of 
 them entered the Patuxent, and landed their troops and ma- 
 
248 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 rines about Benedict (the head of frigate navigation,) about 
 40 miles S. E. of Washington. Others landed their troops 
 at Port Tobacco, on the Potomac. Their line stretched 
 across the country between the two rivers. On the 22d 
 Com. Barney's flotilla, lying near Point Pleasant, at the 
 head of the sloop navigation of the Patuxent, consisting of 
 1 cutter, 1 gun-boat, and 13 barges, was blown up, and the 
 men drawn off by the gallant commodore for the protection 
 of the city of Washington. On the same day, the British 
 flankers approached near the " Wood yard," 12 miles from 
 the city, where the main body of the American forces under 
 Brig. Gen. Winder were posted. The line of battle was 
 formed, and our advance guard offered to engage, but the 
 enemy filed off to the left without noticing them. On the 
 evening of the 23d, Gen. Winder's head quarters were at 
 the " Battalion Fields," near Bladensburg, 8 miles from the 
 city. The enemy continued their march towards the bridge, 
 which they passed under a heavy fire from our artillery 
 and riflemen. When the enemy approached the cityjon. 
 the 24th, they met with a most obstinate resistance. It was 
 here, that they came within reach of Barney and his gallant 
 spirits,who had just gained the ground from a station near the 
 navy yard, and fromhis three 18 pounders he opened an ac- 
 tive, and most destructive fire. The fire continued till the 
 enemy had nearly reached the muzzle of the guns. Greater 
 exertions, or more determined courage could not have been 
 exhibited. But resistance was vain. Under Com. Barney 
 were about 400. The force of the enemy amounted to be- 
 tween 5 and 6000. The veteran commodore, who has yet 
 all the fire and spirit that distinguished him when he cap- 
 tured the General Monk, in the early part of the revolution- 
 ary war, fell badly wounded, and many of his brave follow- 
 ers were killed ; yet he encouraged his men, and cautioned 
 them not to waste their powder until the last moment that 
 it appeared possible for them to escape, when he ordered 
 a retreat. He was taken prisoner, with some of his men, 
 and was treated in the handsomest manner by the enemy. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 249 
 
 On the evening of the 24th, the British took possession of 
 the capital. The public property destroyed was the capi- 
 tal ; the president's house ; the war office ; the treasury 
 office ; the fort and magazine at Greenleaf's point ; the pub- 
 lic stores, &c. at the marine barracks. The navy yard was 
 set on fire by order of the secretary of the navy. A new 
 frigate on the stocks, nearly ready to be launched, rating 44 
 guns, which was to be called the Essex, and to be command- 
 ed by Capt. Porter, and "a new sloop of war, the Jlrgus, 
 were destroyed. The guns for the Independance 74, then 
 rigging in Boston, were saved. 
 
 Alexandria capitulated on the 28th. A series of desper- 
 ately daring exertions were made by Rodgers, Porter, and 
 Perry with the men of the two former and some of the 
 Virginia militia, to prevent the escape of the enemy's frig- 
 ates from Alexandria, with their booty. All that men could 
 do with the means they had, by fire ships, barges, and has- 
 tily erected batteries, was done ; but the enemy got off, tak- 
 ing with him 14 of our vessels, laden with from 15 to 18000 
 barrels of flour, 800 hogsheads tobacco, 1 50 bales cotton, and 
 a small quantity of sugar. Twelve men were killed, and 
 several wounded at Porter's battery ; at Perry's only one 
 was wounded, at Rodgers' none were injured. As the cap- 
 ture of Washington, the capitulation of Alexandria, and the 
 repulse of the British from Baltimore belong to the military 
 history of the war, they are here omitted, except those par- 
 ticulars, which are connected with the honourable deeds of 
 our navy officers and sailors. 
 
 LOSS OF THE ADAMS. 
 
 On the 1st of September, a large British force, about 40 
 gail of vessels with troops, under the command of Admiral 
 Criffith, and Sir John Sherbrooke, Governor of Nova Sco- 
 tia, entered the Penobscot. The small garrison in the fort 
 at Castine discharged their guns and retired. The enemy 
 then took possession without opposition. The following 
 
 34 
 
350 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 day they proceeded up the river to Hamden, distant 35 miles 
 where lay the Mams frigate, Capt Morris, just returned 
 from a cruise. Capt. Morris prepared himself to receive 
 them as well as he could, by landing his guns and erecting 
 batteries. A considerable militia force had by this time as- 
 sembled ; but they fled at the approach of the enemy. He 
 therefore, after a few fires, spiked his guns, burnt his stores 
 and prize goods, and blew up the ship. He and his crew 
 escaped. Capt. Morris was the last man who left the ves- 
 sel. He made his escape, after firing the train by swim- 
 ming. 
 
 OFFICIAL ACCOUNT. 
 
 Letter from Capt. C. Morris to the Sea , y of the navy. 
 Sir, Portland Sept. 8, 1814. 
 
 It is with regret that I inform you, we were compelled to 
 destroy the Jldams, at Hamden, on the morning of the 3d 
 inst. to prevent her falling into the hands of the enemy. 
 
 All the officers effected their escape, and I believe the 
 crew, with the exception of a very few, who were unable 
 to travel. Their precise number cannot be ascertained, as 
 we were obliged to pursue different routs, for the purpose 
 of obtaining provisions, through the woods between the 
 Penobscot and Kennebeck. 
 
 I am now engaged collecting and forwarding the men 
 with the utmost despatch to Portsmouth, from which 
 place I hope soon to forward a detailed account of our pro- 
 ceedings. 
 
 In the mean time, I request you to believe, that the offi- 
 cers and crew of this ship neglected no means in their pow- 
 er for her defence. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 Hon. William Jones, C. MORRIS. 
 
 Secr'y of the navy. 
 
 A letter from Capt. Morris to the secretary of the navy, 
 dated Sept. 20th, giving a more particular account of the 
 loss of the Adams, concludes as follows : 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 251 
 
 " The ^character of my first lieutenant, Wadsworth, was 
 already too well established to require the additional evi- 
 dence he gave of richly deserving the entire confidence of 
 the department and his country. His brother officers of 
 the navy and marines, equally zealous and and attentive, 
 are also entitled to my thanks and their country's approba- 
 tion. The bravery of the seamen and marines is unques- 
 tioned ; their uncommonly good conduct upon their march, 
 those feelings which induced them to rally round their flag, 
 at a distance of 200 miles from the place of their dispersion, 
 entitle them to particular approbation, and render them an 
 example, which their brother tars may ever be proud to 
 imitate." 
 
 LOSS OF THE SYREN. 
 
 COPY OF A LETTER FROM CAPT. BRINE, OF HIS MAJES- 
 TY'S SHIP MEDWAY 74, TO VICE ADMIRAL TYLER. 
 
 His Majesty's Ship Medway, at sea, 
 Sir, July 12, 1814. 
 
 I have the honour to acquaint you, that cruising in the 
 execution of your orders, I this day fell in with and cap- 
 tured, after a chase of 1 1 hours, nearly on a wind, the Uni- 
 ted States brig of war Syren, commanded by J. N. Nich- 
 olson, who succeeded to the command by the death of her 
 captain (Parker) at sea. The (Syren is pierced for 18 guns, 
 had 16 mounted, viz. two 42 and twelve 241b carronades, 
 with two long 9 pounders, and had a complement of 137 
 men ; all her guns, boats, anchors, cables, and spars were 
 thrown overboard during the pursuit. The Syren had re- 
 ceived a most complete repair, previous to her sailing, and 
 
 is newly coppered. I have &c. 
 
 AUG. BRINE. 
 
 A court of inquiry, convened at New York on the 2d of 
 September 1815, after mature deliberation on the evidence 
 
252 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 adduced, and on all the circumstances attending the capture, 
 were of opinion, "that no censure can be attached to Lieut. 
 Com. Nicholson for the loss of the Syren; but, on the con- 
 trary, that his conduct was that of a cool, vigilant, zealous, 
 and active officer. The court were also of opinion, that 
 the conduct of the officers and crew during the chase was 
 perfectly correct and free from censure." 
 
 SAMUEL EVANS, Prest. 
 Samuel R. Marshall, Acting Judge Advocate. 
 
 REPULSE OF THE BRITISH AT MOBILE. 
 
 Extract of a letter from Gen. Jackson to the secr r y of the navy. 
 
 Sir, September 17, 1814. 
 
 With lively emotions of satisfaction, I communicate, 
 that success has crowned the efforts of our brave soldiers in 
 resisting and repulsing a combined British naval and land 
 force, which on the 15th inst. attacked Fort Bowyer, on 
 the point of Mobile. 
 
 I enclose a copy of the official report of Maj. William 
 Lawrence, of the 2d infentry, who commanded. In ad- 
 dition to the particulars communicated in his letter, I have 
 learnt, that the enemy's ship which was destroyed, was the 
 Hermes, of from 24 to 28 guns, Capt. the Hon. William H. 
 Percy, senior officer in the gulf of Mexico ; and the brig 
 so considerably damaged is the Sophie, 18 guns, Capt. 
 William Lockyer. The other ship was the Carron, of from 
 24 to 28 guns, Capt. Spencer, son of Earl Spencer ; the 
 other brig's name unknown. On board the Carton, 85 
 men were killed and wounded. 
 
 An achievement so glorious in its consequences, should 
 be appreciated by the government ; and those concerned 
 in it are entitled to and will doubtless receive, the most 
 gratifying evidence of the approbation of their country- 
 men. 
 
 In the words of Major Lawrence, " where all behaved 
 so well, it is unnecessary to discriminate." But all being 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 25S 
 
 meritorious, I beg leave to annex the names of the officers, 
 who were engaged and present, and hope they will individ- 
 ually, be deemed worthy of distinction. 
 
 Maj. William Lawrence, 2d infantry; commanding ; Capt. 
 Walsh of the artillery ; Captains Chamberlain, Brownlow, 
 and Bradley of the 2d infantry Capt. Sands, deputy com- 
 missary of ordnance ; Lieutenants Villerd, Sturges, Conway, 
 H. Sanders, T. R. Sanders, Brooks, Davis, and C. Sanders, 
 all of the 2d infantry. 
 
 I am confident that your own feelings will lead you to 
 participate in my wishes on this subject. Permit me to sug- 
 gest the propriety and justice of allowing to this gallant lit- 
 tle band the value of the vessel destroyed by them. 
 
 I have the honour, &c. 
 
 A. JACKSON. 
 
 CAPTURE OF THE PIRATES OF BARRATARIA. 
 
 Extract of a letter from Com. Patterson to the secr'y of the navy. 
 
 Sir, New Orleans, Oct. 10, 1814. 
 
 I have very great satisfaction in reporting to you, that 
 the contemplated expedition against the pirates, so long and 
 strongly established among the western islands and waters of 
 this state, of which I had the honour to inform you in my 
 letter of the 10th ult. has terminated in the capture and de- 
 struction of all their vessels in port — their establishments on 
 the islands of Grand Terre, Grand Isle, and Cheniere, and 
 the dispersion of the band themselves. The successful issue 
 of this attack upon them will, I trust, prevent their ever 
 collecting again, in force sufficient to injure the commerce 
 of this state. 
 
 The force of the pirates was 20 pieces of cannon mount- 
 ed, of different calibers, and as I have learnt since my ar- 
 rival, from 800 to 1000 men of all nations and colours. I 
 
254 . NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 have brought with me to this city six fine schooners and one 
 felucca, cruisers and prizes of the pirates, and one armed 
 schooner under Carthagenion colours found in campany, 
 and ready to oppose the force under my command. 
 
 I have the honour, &c. 
 
 DANIEL PATTERSON. 
 
 In another letter from Com. Patterson to the secretary of 
 the navy, honourable mention is made of Lieut. Alexis, T. 
 Shields, purser, J. D. Ferris, commander of vessel No. 5, 
 Lieut. T. A. C. Jones, Acting Lieut's Spedder and M'Kee- 
 ver, Sailing Masters Ulrick and Johnson, and Acting Lieut . 
 Cunningham. 
 
 On t the 23d of September, by some accident, gun-boat 
 No. 140 was blown up at Ocracock. Nine persons lost 
 their lives by this disaster. 
 
 The United States tender, Franklin, commanded by Mr. 
 Hammersley, master's mate, was captured on the 6th of 
 November by a tender and 14 barges and boats of the ene- 
 my, off Back River point, after a very gallant defence of 
 an hour and a half. The Franklin was afterwards recap- 
 tured. 
 
 LOSS OF A FLOTILLA IN LAKE BORGNE. 
 
 Letter from Jlcting Surgeon Marshall to Com. Patterson. 
 Sir, New Orleans, Dec. 17, 1814. , 
 
 I have the honour to inform you, that on Tuesday even- 
 ing, the 13th inst. at 10 o'clock A. M. the enemy landed at 
 Pass Christianne with one hundread and six barges from 
 the squadron off Ship Island. At 2 P. M. got under way, 
 and directed their course towards the U. S. gun vessels, 
 then laying at onohor off Bay St. Louis. They did not 
 however come up with our squadron that night, which, in 
 the mean time retreated to the Malheraux Islands, wher e 
 the wind and tide forced them to remain. Wednesday, the 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 255 
 
 14th inst. the weather being calm, at 10 o'clock. A. M. an 
 engagement ensued, which continued about 2 hours, when 
 the enemy closed and surrounded the gun vessels in every 
 direction, keeping up a constant fire from their great guns 
 and musketry, and making frequent attempts to carry by 
 boarding. In this situation, our gallant officers and men, 
 resolving never to give up their ships, fought with the most 
 distinguished bravery, for the incredible space of one hour, 
 against such an overwhelming force ; when the action ter- 
 minated in the capture of gun vessels No. 156, 162, 163, 23, 
 5, and despatch boat Alligator, which were immediately 
 carried to the eastward. I immediately proceeded with 
 Mr. Johnson, to the Petitte Coquilles, where I received in- 
 structions to join the enemy, and render such aid as their 
 prisoners might require. On Friday morning I arrived at 
 the Bay of St. Louis, and discovered that the British had 
 succeeded, without difficulty, in getting one large ship, sev- 
 eral brigs and schooners through Pass Mary Ann, and oth- 
 ers rapidly following them, amounting to at least 50 in num- 
 ber. Having made this discovery, I deemed it prudent to 
 dispense with my instructions, in order to acquaint you with 
 this circumstance. I accordingly employed a guard to con- 
 vey me in the most expeditious route to New Orleans, (the 
 direct communication being in possession of the enemy.) 
 Friday evening I discovered 10 schooners in the mouth of 
 Pearl river, and five gun vessels at the east entrance of the 
 Rigolets, under way and steering towards the Petit Coquil- 
 les. 
 
 I have no doubt the above vessels are constructed for 
 those waters, and that in ten days the British will have from 
 20 to 40 sail in Lake Ponchartrain. 
 
 I have the honour &c. 
 
 GEORGE MARSHALL. 
 
 The American flotilla carried in all 23 guns and 182 men. 
 The British, 42 guns and 1200 men. Capt. Lockyer receiv- 
 ed three wounds in the action. From the nature of the 
 engagement, and the observations made by our officers 
 
256 . NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 while prisoners, the enemy's loss in killed and wounded 
 may be estimated at more than 300, among whom are an 
 unusual proportion of officers. Our loss was comparative- 
 ly small. 
 
 In May 1815, a court of inquiry was held in the naval 
 arsenal, at New Orleans, for the purpose of investigating 
 the conduct of the officers and men, late of the late divis- 
 ion of United States gun-vessels, under Lieut. T. A. C. 
 Jones, captured by the enemy December 14, 1814. They 
 were acquitted in the most honourable manner. The opin- 
 ion of the court concludes as follews : " With the clearest 
 evidence for their guide, the court experience the most 
 heartfelt gratification in declaring the opinion, that Lieut. 
 Com. Jones, and his gallant supporters — Lieutenants Sped- 
 der and M'Keever, Sailing Masters Ulrich and Ferris — 
 their officers and men, performed their duty on this occas- 
 ion, in the most able and gallant manner, and that the action 
 has added another and distinguished honour to the naval 
 character of our country." 
 
 LOSS OF U. S. SCHOONER CAROLINA. 
 
 Extract of a letter from Capt. Henley to Com. Patterson, 
 Sir, New Orleans, Dec. 28, 1814. 
 
 I have the honour to inform you, that after you left here 
 on the 26th inst. in pursuance to your order, every possible 
 exertion was made to move the schooner Carolina higher 
 up the river, and near Gen. Jackson's camp, without suc- 
 cess ; the wind being at N. N. W. and blowing fresh, and 
 too scant to get under way, and the current too rapid to 
 move her by warping, which I had endeavoured to do with 
 my crew. 
 
 At day light, on the morning of the 27th, the enemy 
 opened upon the Carolina a battery of five guns, from 
 which they threw shells and hot shot ; we returned their 
 fire with the long 12 pounder, the only gun on board, 
 which could reach across the river. The air being light 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 257 
 
 rendered it impossible to get under way. Finding the ves- 
 sel in a sinking condition, and expecting every minute she 
 would blow up, at a little after sunrise I reluctantly gave or- 
 ders for the crew to abandon her, which was effected with 
 the los9 of one killed and six wounded : a short time after 
 I had succeeded in getting the crew on shore, I had the ex- 
 treme mortification of seeing her blow up. It affords me 
 great pleasure to acknowledge the able assistance I received 
 from Lieuts. Norris and Crowley and Sailing Master Hat- 
 ter, and to say that my officers and crewbehaved on this 
 occasion as well as on the 23d, when under your own eye, 
 in a most gallant manner. I have &c. 
 
 JOHN D. HENLEY. 
 
 The naval officers and sailors, of the New Orleans, sta- 
 tion, fought with uncommon bravery in the glorious battle 
 of the 8th of January 1815, of which honourable notice is 
 taken in the following letter. 
 
 LETTER FROMW. C. C. CLAIBORNB TO COM. PATTERSON. 
 
 Sir, New Orleans, Jan. 28, 1815. 
 
 I have been a witness of your unwearied exertions and 
 steady firmness during the late struggle ; I am very sensi- 
 ble of the obligations Louisiana is under to you and to the 
 portion of the U. S. navy, which you command, for a most 
 zealous and effectual cooperation in the defence of its capi- 
 tal. Receive then yourself, and be good enough to convey 
 to the officers and men under your orders, my warmest 
 thanks. The misfortune which attended our gun-boats on 
 the lakes is, on account of the many brave men who fell on 
 the occasion, cause of sincere regret ; but we know that 
 the unequal conflict was for a length of time, gloriously 
 maintained ; nor was the flag of our country struck, until 
 our gallant tars had added still more lustre to the naval 
 character of America ; a character, which I sincerely hope 
 
 35 
 
258 . NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 you may long live to sustain, and in those conspicuous sta- 
 tions, which you so well deserve to occupy. 
 I have the honour to be &c. 
 
 WILLIAM C. C. CLAIBORNE. 
 
 PEACOCK. 
 
 The United States sloop of war Peacock, Capt. L. War- 
 rington, arrived at New York on the 30th of October 1815, 
 after a successful cruise of nine months. During her cruise 
 she touched at the Islands of St. Paul, Amsterdam, Java, 
 and Bourbon. From her different captures she obtained 
 about 15,000 dollars in silver-and 4 or 5,000 more in gold, 
 besides a large quantity of valuable goods. Among the 
 vessels captured by the Peacock was the ship Nautilus, 14 
 guns and 130 men, taken after a sinaje broadside, which 
 killed 7 and wounded 16 men. 
 
 A FACT WORTHY OF RECORD. 
 
 The arrival of the United States sloop Peacock, from her 
 last cruise against the British, and the conclusion of the war 
 against the States of Barbary, by the squadron under the 
 command of Com. Decatur, have given rise to the follow- 
 ing unprecedented historical fact, to wit : The declaration, 
 prosecution, and successful termination of one naval Avar, 
 before all the cruisers of a previous naval war had come in. 
 
 LAKE HURON. 
 
 In the summer of 1814, the squadron under Com. Sin- 
 clair, on Lake Huron, captured the British schooner Mink, 
 laden Avith flour. The Mink was built on Lake Superiour, 
 and was a new vessel ; also, his Britannic majesty's schoon- 
 er Nancy, of 3 guns ; a fine vessel and richly laden with 
 valuable stores. The schooner Perseverance, laden with 
 provisions, was captured on Lake Superiour by Com. Sin- 
 clair, and was destroyed in passing down the falls of St. 
 Mary's. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 259 
 
 Com. Sinclair, having destroyed all the naval force of the 
 enemy above the size of batteaux, on the upper lakes, in 
 August returned to Erie, leaving the U. S. schooner Scorpi- 
 on and Tygress, under the command of Licuts. Turner and 
 Champlin, for the purpose of blockading Nattawasauga riv- 
 er. On the night of the 3d of September, the Tygress was 
 captured by the barges of the enemy, and on the 5th the 
 Scorpion shared the same fate. 
 
 Extract from the opinion of a court of inquiry, held on board 
 the United States Ship Independence, in Boston harbour, to 
 investigate the causes of the capture of the Scorpion and Ty- 
 gress. 
 
 " The court find, that after Lieut. Turner had proceed- 
 ed to cruise off French river, on the night of the 3d of 
 September last, the Tygress was attacked by the enemy in 
 five large boats, (one of them mounting a 6 pounder, and 
 the others a 3 pounder each,) and by 19 canoes, carrying 
 about 300 sailors, soldiers, and Indians, under the command 
 of an English naval officer : that owing to the extreme 
 darkness of the night, the enemy were not perceived until 
 they were close on board ; nor were they then discovered 
 but by the sound of their oars. 
 
 " After they were discovered, every exertion was made 
 by Lieut. Champlin, his officers and men, to defend his 
 schooner, that bravery and skill could suggest ; and not un- 
 til all the officers were cut down, did the overwhelming- 
 numbers of the enemy pravail. The enemy, having thus 
 captured the Tygress, and having mounted on her their 6 
 and 3 pounders, and placed on board a complement of from 
 70 to 100 picked men, remained at St. Joseph's until the 
 5th of September. On the evening of that day the court 
 find, that the Scorpion returned from cruising off French 
 river, and to anchor within five miles of the Tygress, with- 
 out any information having been received, or suspicion en- 
 tertained by Lieut. Turner, of her capture. At the dawn 
 of the next day, it appears that the gunner having charge 
 
260 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 of the watch, passed word to the sailing master, that the 
 Tygress was bearing down under American colours. In a 
 few minutes after, she ran along side of the Scorpion, fired, 
 boarded, and carried her. 
 
 " It appears to the court, that the loss of the Scorpion is, 
 in a great measure, to be attributed to the want of signals ; 
 and owing to this deficiency, no suspicions were excited as 
 to the real character of the Tygress ; and from some of the 
 English officers and men on board of her being dressed in 
 the clothes of her former officers and men, and the residue 
 of the enemy's crew being concealed, a surprise was effect- 
 ed, which precluded the possibility of defence. 
 
 t( The court are therefore of opinion, from the whole 
 testimony before them, that the conduct of Lieut. Turner 
 was that of a discreet and vigilant officer. 
 
 JOHN SHAW, Pres. 
 W. C. Aylwyn, Judge Advocate. 
 Approved, B. W. Crowninshield. 
 
 LAKE ERIE. 
 
 On the afternoon of the 8th of October 1812, two British 
 armed vessels, the Caledonia and Detroit (formerly the Amer- 
 ican brig Adams) arrived at fort Erie, from Maiden, and 
 anchored under the guns of the fort. Capt. Elliot, the na- 
 val commander on Lake Erie, immediately conceived the 
 project of cutting these vessels out of the harbour in the 
 course of the succeeding night : Accordingly, the necessa- 
 ry arrangements having been made, about 100 volunteers, 
 consisting principally of sailors, under the command of 
 Capt. Elliott, armed with sabres and pistols, embarked in 
 two boats about midnight, and rowing into the lake above 
 the vessels, drifted down with the current till they were 
 hailed by a centinel from one of the vessels, when they 
 sprang to their oars, and closing in upon the vessels, they 
 boarded them, drove the British below the decks, cut the 
 cables, and towed them down the lake. 
 
NaVaL MONUMENT. 261 
 
 The night being dark and cloudy, the vessel run aground; 
 the Caledonia ran close into the ferry at Black Rock, and 
 the Detroit on the upper end of Squaw Island, near the mid- 
 dle of Niagara river. In their passage down and while 
 they were aground, the British opened their batteries upon 
 them, and the Americans returned the fire from the Detroit; 
 but finding they could not bring the guns to bear upon the 
 enemy to advantage, they left her. About 10 o'clock next 
 morning, a company of British regulars from Fort Erie 
 boarded the Detroit, with an intention to destroy the mili- 
 tary stores with which she was principally laden ; but they 
 were dislodged by a detachment of volunteers, under the 
 command of Capt. Cyrenus Chapin, who crossed over to 
 Squaw Island for that purpose. 
 
 About 3 o'clock in the afternoon of the same day the 
 British boarded the Detroit a second time, and were again 
 dislodged. In this second attempt three of the British 
 were taken prisoners, and a considerable number of them 
 wounded. During the principal part of the day the Brit- 
 ish kept up a heavy fire from their batteries, upon the ves- 
 sels for the purpose of destroying them, and to prevent them 
 from falling into our hands. 
 
 The Caledonia, however, with her cargo of fur, estimated 
 at $150,000, was secured by our men, who, after remov- 
 ing the principal part of the military stores from the De- 
 troit set her on fire and abandoned her. 
 
 In this gallant enterprize, about 50 of the British were 
 taken prisoners, and 28 prisoners of the 4th regiment of 
 Gen. Hull's army, retaken. On our part, 4 were killed 
 and 7 wounded ; one killed in boarding, and the others 
 from the batteries on the British shore. Among the killed 
 was the brave Maj. Cuyler, aid to Gen. Hull. He was bu- 
 ried with the honours of war. 
 
 The Detroit mounted six 61b. long guns, and had 56 men. 
 On board her were the Americans mentioned above. The 
 Caledonia mounted 2 small guns, and had a crew of 12 men 
 The Detroit, formerly the United States vessel of war Jldams, 
 
262 WAVAfc MONUMENT. 
 
 was captured by the British, on the 16th of August 1812, 
 when Gen. Hull's army, and the town of Detroit were sur- 
 rendered to the enemv. 
 
 * » 
 
 For an account of Perry^s victory?* see page 84. 
 
 LAKE CHAMPXAIN. 
 LOSS OF THE GROWLER AND EAGLE. 
 
 On the morning of the 2d of June 1813, the Groicler and 
 Eagle were ordered from Plattsburg to the lines, under the 
 command of Lieut. Sidney Smith, in consequence of Brit- 
 ish gun-boats coming into our waters, and annoying our 
 small water craft. Next morning they discovered a British 
 wun-boat and immediately gave her chase ; she fired an 
 alarm gun, and in fifteen minutes four others came up to 
 her assistance, and commenced firing upon our vessels, at 
 the lower end of Ash Island, (six miles within the prov- 
 ince.) In an hour and a half the enemy had landed one 
 hundred regulars from the Isle-aux-Noix, on each side of 
 the river, opposite our vessels, within musket shot. The 
 current being strong., and wind southerly, it was impossi- 
 ble for our vessels to get back. They, however, contin- 
 ued an incessant and heavy fire, and kept the enemy on 
 shore at such a respectable distance, that their fire had no 
 effect. 
 
 The action lasted from five to half past nine o'clock, A. 
 
 M. when the Eagle, being no longer able to support her 
 
 weight of metal, (she being very old) went down on firing 
 
 her last broadside ; the Growler was at length compelled to 
 
 yield to superior force. 
 
 * Immediately after Com. Perry left the Lawrence, a sailor, who was 
 left behind, determining not to fall into the hands of the enemy, leaped 
 overboard and swam to the Niagara. The brave tar reached the Niagara 
 almost as soon as the commodore. This anecdote was mentioned by the 
 commodore himself who was an eye witness of it. The sailor is exhidited 
 in the plate representing the buttle. 
 
 •• 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 263 
 
 Our loss was one killed, six wounded, and 10G taken 
 prisoners. The loss of the enemy is not known. 
 
 The Grmcler carried ten 121b carronades : the Easrle 10 
 guns. 
 
 In August 1813, a considerable British force landed at 
 Plattsburg, destroying the public buildings and stores, and 
 immediately afterwards abandoned the place. 
 
 Soon after the battle of the 11th of September,* a quan- 
 tity of shells &c. were taken out of the lake, of which 
 mention is made in the following extract of a letter from 
 Com. Macdonough to the secretary of the navy. 
 
 November 6, 1814. 
 
 " I have the honour to inform you, that about six tons 8 
 inch shells have been taken out of the lake by us at this 
 place, which were thus secreted by the enemy in his late 
 incursion into this country. 
 
 " A transport sloop has also recently been raised at Isle 
 La Motte, which was sunk by the enemy, loaded with their 
 naval stores, and various instruments of war. On weigh- 
 ing the powder taken on board the enemy's squadron, we 
 find 17,0001bs. with shot in proportion, besides much fixed 
 ammunition." 
 
 LAKE ONTARIO. 
 
 On the morning of the 19th of July 1812, Capt. M. T. 
 Woolsey, of the Oneida, lying in Sacket's harbour, discov- 
 ered from the masl-head of his brig five British sail, viz. 
 the Royal George of 24 guns, the Prince Regent of 22, the 
 Elmira of 20, the Seneca of 18, and one other, about five 
 leagues distant, beating up for the harbour, with a wind 
 ahead. Soon after sun-rise, the Prince Regent brought to, 
 and captured the custom-house boat about 7 miles from the 
 harbour, on her return from Gravelly Point. The boat's 
 crew were liberated and set on shore, with a message to 
 Col. Bellenger, the commandant at the harbour, demanding 
 * For an account of Macdonongli's victory, see page 147. 
 
264 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 the surrender of the Oneida, and the late British schooner 
 Nelson, seized of a breach for the revenue laws, and fitting 
 for a privateer, and declaring, that in case of a refusal to 
 surrender the vessels, the squadron would burn the village, 
 or lay the inhabitants under contribution. Soon after this, 
 Capt. Woolsey left the harbour in the Onedia, and ran down 
 within a league of the squadron, when he returned and moor- 
 ed his vessel on a line with the battery. Capt. Woolsey, be- 
 ing the most experienced engineer present, left the Onedia 
 under the command of a lieutenant, went on shore, and took 
 the command of a 32 pounder, mounted the day before on 
 the battery, the other guns of which consisted of 9 pounders. 
 By this time the enemy had arrived within gun-shot, the 
 Royal George, as a flag ship, ahead, and firing was commen- 
 ced from the 32 pounder. This was returned by the squad- 
 ron, which stood off and on — and a brisk cannonading 
 was reciprocally continued for more than two hours. All 
 our guns were well manned and served, and it was plainly 
 discovered, that the Royal George and Prince Regent were 
 much injured. As the flag ship was wearing to give an- 
 other broadside, a ball from the 32 pounder was seen to 
 strike her and rake her completely ; after which the squad- 
 ron fired a few guns, and bore away for Kingston. 
 
 On the 31st of July, the Julia of 3 guns was fitted out at 
 Sacket's harbour with orders to proceed to Ogdensburg. 
 After entering the St. Lawrence, she was attacked by the 
 Earl Moira of 18 guns, and the Duke of Gloucetter of 10 
 guns. The action continued 3 hours and a half, during 
 which time the Duke hauled up within half a mile of the 
 Julia, and seemed preparing to board her, when two well 
 directed shots from the Julia's 32 pounder forced her to 
 abandon the idea. At 8 o'clock in the evening she weigh- 
 ed anchor, and proceeded to Ogdensburg. 
 
 In October 1812 Com. Chauncey took the command of 
 the American fleet on this lake 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 265 
 
 On the 7th of November, Com. Chauneey's squadron 
 sailed from Sacket's harbour on a cruise ; on the 8th fell in 
 with the Royal George, and chased her into the Bay of 
 Quanti ; on the morning of the 9th, she was discovered 
 lying in Kingston channel. Our vessels gave chase and 
 pursued her into the harbour of Kingston, and fought her 
 and the batteries for one hour and forty-five minutes. The 
 Royal George being well protected and the wind blowing 
 directly in, it was thought prudent to desist. American 
 loss in this engagement was 1 killed and 3 wounded. On 
 the 10th the enemy's schooner Governor Simcoe was chased 
 into Kingston. She narrowly escaped under a heavy fire 
 from the Governor Tompkins, the Hamilton, and the Julia, 
 which cut her very much. The commodore returned on the 
 12th. In this cruise our squadron captured 3 British trad- 
 ing schooners, on board one of which was Capt. Brock, of 
 the 49th British regiment, brother of the late Gen. Brock. 
 An interesting private letter, describing the engagement at 
 Kingston harbour, from an officer under Com. Chaunecy, 
 concludes as follows : " Just as we were going into action, 
 
 Lieut. W , taking a little packet out of his pocket, said 
 
 to me, ' My good fellow, here is a cigar for you ; I heard 
 you wish for one to day ; If I should be popped off, when 
 you puff one of them, think of me :' The gift was a trifle, 
 but the time, and the manner, and the circumstances, which 
 accompanied it, and the great alterations, which a minute 
 might produce, were all such as to excite sensations, which 
 before I have never felt. I have a thousand similar anec- 
 dotes to tell you, when we meet again. Throughout the 
 action this officer was as cool, brave, and gallant as Nelson. 
 Our sailors had no grog ; they want no stimulus of that 
 kind ; they seem to have no fear of death. I was by the 
 side of Garnet a few minutes before he fell. He was laugh- 
 ing heartily, and in that act was cut in two by a nine pound 
 shot. I afterwards saw his countenance ; it seemed as if 
 the smile had not yet left it. This disaster only exasperated 
 
 our seamen ; they prayed and entreated to be laid close 
 
 36 
 
2G6 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 aboard the Royal George only five minutes, ' just to revenge 
 Garnet's death.' When I look back upon the scene, I can- 
 not but acknowledge that a kind Providence has kept us 
 under his special care and protection." 
 
 CAPTURE OF YORK. 
 
 The American fleet left Sacket's harbour on the 25th of 
 April 1813, for the purpose of conveying Gen. Dearborn, 
 and the expedition under his command, against the British 
 post at York, where the fleet arrived on the 27th. The ex- 
 pedition was completely successful. The most important 
 particulars relative to this event are given in the following 
 extracts of a letter from Com. Chauncey to the secretary of 
 the navy. 
 
 United States ship Madison, at anchor off York, 
 Sir, April 28, 1813. 
 
 The debarcation commenced about eight o'clock A. M. 
 and was completed about 10. The wind blowing heavy 
 from the eastward, the boats fell to leeward of the position 
 fixed upon, and were in consequence exposed to a galling 
 fire from the enemy, who had taken a position in a thick 
 wood near where the first troops landed ; however, the cool 
 intrepidity of the officers and men overcame every obstacle. 
 Their attack upon the enemy was so vigorous, that he fled 
 in every direction, leaving a great many of his killed and 
 wounded upon the field. As soon as the troops were land- 
 ed I directed the schooner to take a position near the fort, 
 in order that the attack upon them by the army and navy 
 might be simultaneous. The schooners were obliged to 
 beat up to their position, which they did in very handsome 
 order under a heavy fire from the enemy's batteries, and, 
 taking a position within six hundred yards of their princi- 
 pal fort, opened a heavy cannonade upon the enemy, which 
 did great execution, and very much contributed to their 
 final reduction. 
 
 The troops as soon as landed were formed under the im- 
 mediate order of Brig. Gen. Pike, who led in a most gal- 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT 267 
 
 lant manner the attack upon the forts, and after having 
 carried two redoubts, in their approach to the principal 
 work the enemy having previously laid a train, blew up his 
 magazine, which in its effects upon our troops was dreadful, 
 having killed and wounded a great many, and amongst the 
 former, the ever to be lamented Brig. Gen. Pike, who fell 
 at the head of his column by a contusion received by a 
 heavy stone from the magazine. His death at this time is 
 much to be regretted, as he had the perfect confidence of 
 the major general ; and his known activity, zeal and expe- 
 rience make his loss a national one. 
 
 The enemy set fire to some of his principal stores, con- 
 taining large quantities of naval and military stores, as well 
 as a ship upon the stocks nearly finished. The only vessel 
 found here is the Duke of Gloucester undergoing repairs — 
 the Prince Regent left here on the 24th for Kingston. 
 
 I have to regret the death of Midshipman Thompson and 
 Hatfield, and several seamen killed — the exact number I do 
 not know, as the returns from the different vessels have not 
 yet been received. 
 
 I cannot speak in too much praise of the cool intrepidity 
 of the officers and men generally under my command, and 
 I feel myself particularly indebted to the officers command- 
 ing vessels, for their zeal in seconding all my views. 
 
 I have the honour to be, &c. 
 
 ISAAC CHAUNCEY. 
 
 Hon. William Jones. 
 
 List of killed and wounded on board Com. Chaunccifs squadron 
 in the attack on York, Canada. 
 
 Killed — John Hatfield, midshipman ; Benjamin Que 
 reau, sailmaker ; Israel Clark, seaman ; Mr. Thompson, 
 midshipman. 
 
 Wounded — John Caulpbell, seaman, badly ; Richard 
 Welsh, blackmail slightly ; David C. Burrill, seaman, slight- 
 ly ; Benjamin Hacker, seaman, badly JohnRatler, do. do. 
 
368 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 Jno. Stimas, do. slightly ; John Patterson, do. badly ; Lem- 
 uel Bryant, do. do. 
 
 William Buckley was wounded in the attack on Fort 
 George, (since dead ;) William Wills was also wounded. 
 
 CAPTURE OF FORT GEORGE. 
 
 Com. Chauncey, having returned to Sacket's harbour., 
 sailed again on the 22d of May for Fort George. Our land 
 and naval forces united captured this place on the 28th. 
 Com. Chauncey's official account of this expedition con- 
 cludes as follows : 
 
 "Where all behaved so well, it is difficult to select any 
 one for commendation ; yet in doing justice to Lieut. M' 
 Pherson I do not detract from the merits of others. He 
 was fortunate in placing himself in a situation, where he 
 rendered very important services in covering the troops so 
 completely, that their loss was trifling. 
 
 Capt. Perry joined me from Erie on the evening of the 
 25th, and very gallantly volunteered his services ; and 1 
 have much pleasure in acknowledging the great assistance 
 which I received from him in arranging and superintending 
 the debarcation of the troops — he was present at every 
 point where he could be useful, under showers of musketry, 
 but fortunately escaped unhurt. We lost but 1 killed and 
 2 wounded, and no injury done to the vessels." 
 
 ATTACK ON SACKET'S HARBOUR. 
 
 The British fleet, having on board 1200 men under Sir 
 George Prevost, arrived off Sacket's harbour on the 29th 
 of May. At this time the American squadron were cruising 
 in a distant part of the lake. On the 29th, the enemy made 
 a bold attack, but were completely repulsed by the troops 
 under the command of Gen. Brown, with the loss of about 
 200, in killed and wounded. Among the former were an 
 adjutant general, two majors, several captains, &c. The 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 269 
 
 American loss was about 150 killed and wounded. Among 
 the killed were two excellent officers, Col. i Mills and Col. 
 Backus. On the evening preceding the attack the British 
 captured 12 of our barges. 
 
 The officers left in charge of this station, unfortunately set 
 fire to the naval store-houses, hospital, and marine barracks, 
 by which the valuable stores taken at York, and the stores 
 for the use of our fleet, were consumed. Soon after this af- 
 fair, Com. Chauncey returned to Sacket's harbour. 
 
 On the 16th of June, Lieut. Wolcott Chauncey, with the 
 Lady of the Lake^feW in with and captured the schooner La- 
 dy Murray, from Kingston, bound to York, with an ensign 
 (Geo. Charles Merce) and 15 non-commissioned officers and 
 privates, belonging to the 41st and 104th regiments, loaded 
 with provisions, powder, shot, and fixed ammunition. 
 
 On the 17th of July a small expedition, aided by 40 sol- 
 diers, lent to Com. Chauncey by Gen. Lewis, sailed from 
 Sacket's harbour on board two small row-boats, with a' 16 
 pounder in each, to the head of the St. Lawrence where 
 they captured a fine gun-boat, mounting a 24 pounder 14 bat- 
 teaux loaded, 4 officers and 61 men. 
 
 The American fleet arrived at York on the 31st of July. 
 Com. Chauncey's official account of their proceedings con- 
 cludes as follows: " We run the schooner, into the upper 
 harbour, landed the marines and soldiers under the command 
 of Col. Scott, without opposition, found several hundred 
 barrels of flour and provisions in the public store-house, five 
 pieces of cannon, eleven boats, and a quantity of shot, shells, 
 and other stores, all which were either destroyed or brought 
 away. On the 1st of August just after receiving on board all 
 the vessels could take, I ordered the barracks and the pub- 
 lic store-house to be burnt." 
 
210 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 LOSS OF THE HAMILTON AND SCOURGE. 
 
 On the 7th of August the British fleet appeared off Sack- 
 et's harbour. Com. Chauncey immediately set sail with 
 his squadron, and made every exertion to bring the enemy 
 to action. The British however declined an engagement. 
 The principal occurrences during this cruise are related in 
 the following extracts from commodore's official account: 
 " On the 8th, at 2 A. M. missed two of our schooners ; at 
 day-light discovered the missing schooners to be the Hamil- 
 ton and Scourge. Soon after spoke the Governor Tompkins, 
 who informedjthat the Hamilton and Scourge both overset and 
 sunk in a heavy squall, about 2 o'clock, and, distressing to 
 relate, every soul perished except sixteen. This fatal acci- 
 dent deprived me at once of the services of two valuable offi- 
 cers, Lieut. Winter and Sailing Master Osgood, and two of 
 my best schooners, mounting together 19 guns. 
 
 " On the 9th, about half past 10, the enemy tacked and 
 stood after us. At 11, the rear of our line opened his fire 
 upon the enemy ; in about 15 minutes the fire became gen- 
 eral from the weather line, which was returned from the 
 enemy. At half past 11, the weather line bore up and pas- 
 sed to the leeward, except the Groicler and Julia, which soon 
 after tacked to the southward, which brought the enemy 
 between them and me. Filled the main top-sail and edged 
 away two points to lead the enemy down, not only to en- 
 gage him to more advantage, but to lead him from the 
 Growler and Julia. He, however, kept his wind until he 
 completely separated those two vessels from the rest of the 
 squadron, exchanged a few shot with this ship (the General 
 Pike) as he passed, without injury to us, and made sail after 
 our two schooners. Tacked and stood after him. At 12 
 (midnight) finding that I must either separate from the rest 
 of the squadron, or relinquished the hope of saving the two 
 which had separated, I reluctantly gave up the pursuit. 
 The firing was continued between our 2 schooners and the 
 enemy's fleet until about 1 A. M. when, I presume, they 
 were obliged to surrender to a force so much their superi- 
 our." 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 27 1 
 
 Extract of a letter from Com. Isaac Chauncey to the Secretary of 
 
 the navy. 
 
 On board the U. S. ship Gen. Pike, off Duck Island, 
 Sir, Sept. 13, 1813. 
 
 On the 7th, at day light, the enemy's fleet was discovered 
 close in with Niagara river, wind from the southward. 
 Made the signal, and weighed with the fleet (prepared for 
 action) and stood out of the river after him ; he immediate- 
 ly made all sail to the northward. We made sail in chase 
 with our heavy schooners in tow, and have continued the 
 chase all round the lake night and day, until yesterday mor- 
 ning when she^succeeded in getting into Amherst Bay, which 
 is so little known to our pilots, and said to be full of shoals, 
 that they'are not willing to take me in there. I shall how- 
 ever (unless driven from my station by a gale of wind) en- 
 deavour to watch him so close as to prevent his getting out 
 upon the lake. 
 
 During our long chase we frequently got within from one 
 to two miles of the enemy, but our heavy sailing schooners 
 prevented our closing with him, until the 11th, off Gennes- 
 see river, we carried a breeze with us while he lay becalmed 
 to within about three quarters of mile of him, when he took 
 the breeze and we had a running fight of three and a half 
 hours, but by his superiour sailing he escaped me and run 
 into Amherst Bay yesterday morning. In the course of our 
 chase on the 11th, I got several broadsides frtm this ship 
 upon the enemy, which must have done him considerable 
 injury, as many of the shot were seen to strike him, and 
 people were observed over the sides plugging shot holes. 
 A few shot struck our hull, and a little rigging was cut, but 
 nothing of importance — not a man was hurt. 
 
 I was much disappointed that Sir James refused to fight 
 me, as he was so much superiour in point of force both in 
 guns and men — having upwards of 20 guns more than we 
 have, and having a greater weight of shot. 
 
 This ship, the Madison, and the Sylph have each a schoo- 
 ner constantly in tow, yet the others cannot sail as fast as 
 
272 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 the enemy squadron, which gave him decidedly the advan- 
 tage, and puts it in his power to engage me when and how 
 he chooses. 
 
 I have the honour to be, &c. 
 Hon. William Jones, ISAAC CHAUNCEY. 
 
 Secr^y of the navy. 
 
 The British squadron was blockaded four days in Am- 
 herst Bay, when, by the aid of a heavy wind from the west- 
 ward, they escaped and succeeded in getting into Kingston. 
 
 Com. Chauncey, having ascertained that the British 
 squadron was in York Bay, sailed from Niagara on the 27th 
 of September. The most important events of this cruise 
 are related in the following extracts from the commodore's 
 official letter : 
 
 " On the 28th, at 10 minutes past meridian, the enemy, 
 finding that we were closing fast with him, and that he must 
 either risk an action, or suffer his two rear vessels to be cut 
 off, tacked in succession, beginning at the van, hoisted his 
 colours and commenced a well directed fire at this ship, for 
 the purpose of covering his rear, and attacking our rear as 
 he passed to the leeward. Perceiving his intention, I was 
 determined to disappoint him ; therefore as soon as the Wolf 
 (the leading ship) passed the centre of his line, and abeam of 
 us, I bore up in succession (preserving our line) for the ene- 
 my's centre. This manoeuvre not only covered our rear, 
 but hove him into confusion ; he immediately bore away ; 
 we had however closed so near as to bring our guns to bear 
 with effect, and in 20 minutes the main andmizzen top-mast 
 and main yard ofthe Wolf were shot away. He immediately 
 put before the wind, and set all sail upon his fore-mast. I 
 made the signal for the fleet to make all sail ; the enemy, 
 however, keeping dead before the wind, was able to outsail 
 most of our squadron. I continued the chase until near 3 
 o'clock, during which time I was enabled in this ship (the 
 General Pike) with the Jlsp in tow, to keep within point 
 blank shot of the enemy, and sustained the whole of his fire 
 during the chase. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 273 
 
 "At 15 minutes before 3 o'clock A. M. I very reluctantly 
 relinquished the pursuit of a beaten enemy. The reasons 
 that led to this determination, were such as I flatter myself 
 you will approve. 
 
 "The loss sustained by this ship was considerable, owing to 
 her being so long exposed to the fire of the whole of the en- 
 emy's fleet ; but our most serious loss was occasioned by the 
 bursting of one of our guns, which killed and wounded 22 
 men, and tore up the top-gallant forecastle, which rendered 
 the gun upon that deck useless. We had 4 other guns crack- 
 ed in the muzzle, which rendered their use extremely doubt- 
 ful. Our main top-gallant mast was shot away in the early 
 part of the action, and the bowsprit, fore and main mast 
 wounded, rigging and sails much cut up, and a number of 
 shot in our hull, several of which were between wind and 
 water, and 27 men killed and wounded, including those by 
 the bursting of the gun. We have repaired nearly all our 
 damages and are ready to meet the enemy. During our 
 chase one, if not two, of the enemy's small vessels were com- 
 pletely in our power, if I could have been satisfied with so 
 partial victory, but I was so sure of the whole, that I passed 
 them unnoticed, by which means they finally escaped." In 
 this letter mention is made of the conduct of Capt. Crane, 
 Lieut. Brown, Lieut. Finch, Capt. Woolsey and Capt. Sin- 
 clair. 
 
 CAPTURE OF THE HAMILTON AND CONFIANCE. 
 
 Letter from Com. Chauncey to the Secr\j of the navy. 
 
 U. S. skip Gen. Pike, SackeFs harbour, 
 Sir, Oct. 6, 1813. 
 
 I have the pleasure to inform you, that I arrived here 
 this morning, with 5 of the enemy's vessels, which I fell in 
 with and captured last evening, off the Ducks. They were 
 part of a fleet of seven sail, which left York on Sunday with 
 234 troops on board, bound to Kingston. Of this fleet five 
 were captured, one burnt, and one escaped ; the prisoners 
 
 37 
 
274 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 amounting to nearly 300, besides having upwards of 300 
 of our troops on board from Niagara, induced me to run 
 into port for the purpose of landing both. 
 
 I have the additional pleasure of informing you, that 
 amongst the captured vessels are the Hamilton and Confiance, 
 late U. S. schooners Julia and Growler ;* the others are gun 
 vessels. I have the honour to be, &c. 
 
 ISAAC CHAUNCEY. 
 
 LETTER FROM COWL. CHAUNCEY TO THE SECY OF THE 
 
 NAVY. 
 
 Sir, Socket's harbour, May 1, 1814. 
 
 I am happy to have it in my power to inform you, that 
 the United States ship Superiour was launched this morning 
 without accident. The Superiour is an uncommonly beau- 
 tiful and well built ship, something larger than the Pres- 
 ident, and could mount 64 guns, if it was thought advisable 
 to put as many upon her. This ship has been built in the 
 short space of 80 days, aud when it is taken into view, that 
 two brigs of 500 tons each have also been built, rigged, and 
 completely fitted for service since the first of February, it 
 will be acknowledged that the mechanics employed on this 
 station have done their duty. 
 
 I have the honour to be, &c 
 
 ISAAC CHAUNCEY. 
 
 ATTACK ON OSWEGO. 
 
 On the 5th of May a British force appeared off Oswego 
 from Kingston, consisting of 3 ships, 2 brigs, 2 schooners and 
 a number of gun-boats, commanded by Com. Yeo. They 
 were twice repulsed in attempts to land. On the 6th they 
 succeeded in capturing the place with a considerable quan- 
 tity of military stores. They evacuated the place on the 8th, 
 after having set fire to the barracks. 
 *See page 270. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 'W& 275 
 
 LETTER FROM COM. CHAUNCEY TO THE SECY OF THE 
 
 NAVY. 
 
 Sir, Sachet's harbour, May 11, 1814. 
 
 The enemy has paid dearly for the little booty which he 
 obtained at Oswego. From the best information which I 
 can collect, both from deserters and my agents, the enemy 
 lost 70 men killed, and 165 wounded, drowning, and mis- 
 sing — in all, 231 ; nearly as many as were opposed to them. 
 Capt. Mulcaster is certainly mortally wounded ; a captain 
 of marines killed, and a number of other officers killed and 
 wounded. I have the honour &c. 
 
 ISAAC CHAUNCEY. 
 
 CAPTURE OF THE GUN-BOATS AT SANDY CREEK. 
 
 Eighteen boats, under the command of Capt. Woolsey, 
 from Oswego for Sacket's harbour, loaded with guns and 
 naval stores put into Sandy Creek on the 29th of May. 
 Capt Woolsey, apprehending an attack, placed a number of 
 riflemen and Indians (under the command of Maj. Appling) 
 in the woods on each side of the creek, and sent a few raw 
 militia, with a show of opposing the enemy's landing. The 
 militia retreated on the first fire, pursued by the enemy ; 
 but as soon as they had passed the Indians and riflemen, 
 who were in ambush, these last attacked them in the rear, 
 while a battery of 4 field pieces opened upon them in front. 
 Thus cut off in their retreat, the whole force of the enemy, 
 137 in number, surrendered, with their gun-boats, 5 in num- 
 ber, after a smart action of 20 minutes, in which they lost 20 
 killed and 40 or 50 wounded. 
 
 Among the enemy's killed were 1 lieutenant of marines, 
 and 1 midshipman ; among the prisoners were 2 post 
 captains, Popham and Spelsburg, one the commander of 
 the Wolf, 4 lieutenants, and 4 midshipmen. 
 
 On the 19th of June, Lieut. Gregory, with a small force 
 surprised and captured, on the St. Lawrence, a gun-boat, 
 
276 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 (the Black Snake, or No. 9) mounting one 18 pounder, and 
 manned with 18 men, chiefly royal marines. Being discov- 
 ered and pursued by the enemy, Lieut. Gregory, after ta- 
 king out the prisoners, scuttled the prize and arrived at Sack- 
 et's harbour the next morning with his prisoners. In Com. 
 Chauncey's official letter, honourable notice is taken of 
 Lieut. Gregory, Sailing Master Vaughan, and Mr. Dixon. 
 
 EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM COMMODORE CHAUNCEY 
 
 TO THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. 
 United States Ship Supcriour, Sackefs harbour, 
 Sir, July 7, 1814. 
 
 I am happy that I have it in my power to detail to you 
 another brilliant achievement of Lieut. Gregory with his 
 brave companions. 
 
 On the 29th ult. I directed Lieut. Gregory to take with 
 him Messrs. Vaughan and Dixon — proceed with the two 
 largest gigs to Nicholas Island, (within about seven miles 
 of Presque Isle harbour) and there conceal his boats and 
 wait for some transports there to take up provisions and 
 munitions of war, which had been sent up the Bay of Quinte 
 for the troops at York and Fort George, but if these trans- 
 ports did not make their appearance in three or four days, 
 then to proceed to Presque Isle, and burn a vessel on the 
 stocks ; but with positive orders not to injure a private buil- 
 ding or any private property. The day after Lieut. Greg- 
 ory arrived on the coast he discovered a vessel beating up, 
 but just as he shoved off to board her, a large gun-boat have 
 in sight a little below him. This boat made a signal to the 
 vessel in the offing, upon which she tacked and stood for the 
 gun-boat. Lieut. Gregory secreted his boats as well as he 
 could, but was apprehensive that he had been discovered. 
 The gun-boat and her convoy (which was full of troops) 
 stood into Presque Isle. Lieut. Gregory was determined to 
 ascertain whether he had been discovered — accordingly he 
 sent one of his boats in the next night and took off one of 
 the inhabitants who informed him, that it was knowu that 
 he was on the coast, and that two expresses had been sent to 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 277 
 
 Kingston in consequence. He therefore determined upon 
 executing the latter part of his instructions, and made his 
 arrangements accordingly ; landed, placed sentinels at the 
 house to prevent alarm, and set fire to the vessel, which 
 was nearly ready to launch ; she was a stout, well built vessel, 
 to mount 14 guns, and would probably have been launched 
 in about ten days. A small store-house, which contained 
 stores for the vessel, was unavoidably burnt, as it was so 
 near the vessel that it took fire from her. The few militia, 
 which had been left to guard the vessel and property, retrea- 
 ted upon the approach of our boats. As soon as the vessel 
 was entirely consumed, Lieut. Gregory re-embarked his men, 
 without having permitted one of them to enter a house. 
 Finding the alarm so general he thought prudent to cross 
 the lake immediately: he stopped one day at Oswego for 
 refreshment, and arrived here last evening, having perform- 
 ed a most difficult service with his usual gallantry and good 
 conduct. 
 
 Lieut. Gregory speaks in the highest terms of commenda- 
 tion of Sailing Master Vaughan and Mr. Dixon, as well as 
 the men under his command, for their patient endurance of 
 hunger and fatigue aud the zeal with which they performed 
 every part of their duty. 
 
 I think in justice to these brave men, that they ought to 
 be allowed something for the destruction of this vessel — they 
 have, however, every confidence in the justice and liberali- 
 ty of the government, and submit their case most cheerfully 
 to its decision. I have the honour to be, &c. 
 Hon. William Jones, ISAAC CHAUNCEY. 
 
 EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM COMMODORE CHAUNCEY 
 TO THE SECR'Y OF THE NAVY. 
 
 United States Ship Superiour, off Kingston, 
 Sir, August 10, 1814. 
 
 Great anxiety of mind and severe bodily exertions have 
 at length broken down the best constitution^ and subjected 
 me to a violent fever, that confined me for eighteen days. 
 
278 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 This misfortune was no more to be foreseen than prevented, 
 but was particularly severe at the moment it happened, as it 
 induced a delay of five or six days in the sailing of the fleet. 
 
 In the afternoon on the 31st of July, I was taken on board, 
 but it was calm, and I did not sail before the next morning. 
 To satisfy once whatever expectations the public had been 
 led to entertain of the sufficiency of this squadron to take 
 and maintain the ascendancy on this lake, and at the same 
 time to expose the futility of promise, the fulfilment of which 
 had been rested on our appearance at the head of the lake, 
 I got under way at 4 o'clock in the morning of the 1st inst. 
 and steered for the mouth of the Niagara. Owing to light 
 winds, I did not arrive off there before the 5th. There we 
 intercepted one of the enemy's brigsrunning over from York 
 to Niagara with troops, and run her on shore about six 
 miles to the westward of Fort George. I ordered the Sylph 
 in, to anchor as near to the enemy as he could with safety, 
 and to destroy her. Capt. Elliott ran in, in a very gallant 
 manner, to within from 300 to 500 yards of her, and was 
 about anchoring when the enemy set fire to her and she soon 
 after blew up. This vessel was a schooner the last year, 
 and called the Beresford — since they altered her to a brig they 
 changed her name, and I have not been able to ascertain it. 
 She mounted 14 guns, twelve 241b. carronades and two 
 long 9 pounders. 
 
 My anxiety to return to this end of the lake was increas- 
 ed by the knowledge I had of the weakness of Sacket's har- 
 bour, and the apprehension that the enemy might receive 
 large reinforcements at Kingston, and, embarking some of 
 the troops on board his fleet, make a dash at the Harbour 
 and burn it with all my stores during our absence. When 
 I left the Harbour there were but about 700 regular troops 
 fit for duty. It is true a few militia had been called in, but 
 little could be expected of them, should an attack be made. 
 My apprehension, it seems, was groundless, the enemy hav- 
 ing contented himself with annoying in some trifling degree 
 the coasters between Oswego and the Harbour in his boats. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 279 
 
 I cannot forbear expressing the regret I feel that so much 
 sensation has been excited in the public mind, because this 
 squadron did not sail so soon as the wise heads, that conduct 
 our newspapers, have presumed to think it ought. I need 
 not suggest to one of your experience, that a man-of-w a r 
 may appear to the eye of a landsman perfectly ready for sea, 
 when she is deficient in many of the most essential joints of 
 her armament, nor how unworthy I should have proved 
 myself of the high trust reposed in me, had I ventured to 
 sea in the face of an enemy of equal force, without being 
 ready to meet him in one hour after my anchor was weighed. 
 
 It ought in justice to be recollected, that the building 
 and equipment of vessels on the Atlantic are unattended by 
 any of the great difficulties which we have to encounter on 
 this lake — there every department abounds with facilities ; 
 a commander makes a requisition, and articles of every de- 
 scription are furnished in twelve hours ; but this fleet has 
 been built and fitted in the wilderness, where there are no 
 agents and chandler's shops and founderies, &c. &c. to sup- 
 ply our wants, but every thing is to be created ; and yet I 
 shall not decline a comparison of what has been done here, 
 with anything done on the Atlantic, in the building or 
 equipment of vessels. The Guerriere, for instance, has been 
 building and fitting upwards of twelve months in the city 
 of Philadelphia, and is not now ready. The President fri- 
 gate went into the navy yard at New York for some partial 
 repairs, a few days after the keel of the Superior was laid : 
 since then two frigates of a large class, and two sloops of 
 the largest class, have been built and fitted here, and have 
 sailed before the President is ready for sea, although everv 
 article of their armament and rigging has been transported 
 from New York in despite of obstacles almost insurmount- 
 able. I will go farther, sir/for it is due to the unremitted 
 and unsurpassed exertions of those who have served the 
 public under my command, and will challenge the world 
 to produce a parallel instance, in which the same number of 
 vessels of such dimensions have been built and fitted in 
 the same time by the same number of workmen. 
 
380 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 I confess that I am mortified in not having succeeded in 
 satisfying the expectations of the public ; but it would be 
 infinitely more painful, could I find any want of zeal or ex- 
 ertion'in my endeavors to serve them, to which I could in 
 any degree impute their disappointment. 
 
 I have the honour to be, sir, with 
 
 the utmost respect, your most obed't 
 
 and very humble servant, 
 Hon. William Jones. ISAAC CHAUNCEY. 
 
 Secr^y of the navy. 
 
 Letter from Com. Chauncey to the Secretary oj the navy. 
 
 United States Ship Superiour off the Ducks, 
 Sir, October 2, 1814, 
 
 Having a very commanding breeze yesterday, I sent the 
 Lady of the Lake into Kingston to reconnitre. She stood 
 close in with the forts and shipping, keeping just within the 
 range of their shot, and had a fair view. The ships lay in 
 the same position as on the 29th ult. and the large ship still 
 without her sails bent — no visible preparations to embark 
 troops. I shall watch them in this position as long as pos- 
 sible without endangering the fleet. 
 
 I have the honour &c 
 
 ISAAC CHAUNCEY. 
 
 TESTIMONIES OF RESPECT. 
 
 On Saturday, Sept. 5, 1812, in pursuance to previous ar- 
 rangements, a public entertainment at Faneuil Hall was giv- 
 en to Capt. Hull, in celebration of the achievement of the 
 Constitution frigate in the destruction of the British frigate 
 Guerriere. An unusual assembly of the citizens, amounting 
 to nearly six hundred, without distinction of party, were 
 present on the occasion. Among the distinguished guests, 
 were the officers of Com. Rodgers's squadron [the commo- 
 dore was too much indisposed to attend]. Brig. Gen. Boyd 
 and staff, Judge Benson of N. York, and many gentlemen 
 from the southward. 
 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT 281 
 
 At an early hour in the morning,"; State-street, and the 
 way in continuation quite clown to the end of Long wharf, 
 off which the squadron was lying at anchor, was beautifully 
 decorated by a display of flags, from the tops and windows 
 of the buildings on both sides, and from the masts of vessels. 
 At 3 o'clock the procession was formed at the Exchange 
 Coffee House, and went from thence, preceded by an excel- 
 lent band of music, to the hall of entertainment. The Hon. 
 John C. Jones, president of the day, with Capt. Hull on his 
 right, and immediately followed by 6 vice-presidents, formed 
 the head of the procession on its way to the hall. The con- 
 course of citizens in the streets, through which the procession 
 moved, notwithstanding the unpleasant wetness of the day 
 was larger than known on almost any other occasion. They 
 gave three cheers as the procession passed down State Street. 
 The decorations of the hall which were conducted by Col. 
 Henry Sargeant, were in the highest degree brilliant and ap- 
 propriate. All the arrangements of the day were splendid and 
 elegant, and such as did great credit to the committees by 
 whom they were superintended. So large and respectable 
 a convention of citizens of different political sentiments 
 having mingled together indiscriminately in celebration of 
 an achievement so honourable to their country, was indeed 
 a most interesting spectacle ; and in the highest degree hon- 
 ourable to the town of Boston. 
 
 The citizens of Philadelphia presented to Capt. Hull a large 
 and elegant piece of plate, on which was the following in- 
 scription : The citizens of Philadelphia, at a meeting conven- 
 ed on the v of Sept. mdcccxii, voted this urn, to be presented in 
 their name to Captain Isaac Hull, commander of the United 
 States frigate Constitution, as a testimony of their sense of his dis- 
 tinguished gallantry and conduct in bringing to action and subdu- 
 ing the British frigate Guerriere, on the xix day of August, 
 mdcccxii, and of the eminent servicehe has rendered to his coun- 
 try, by achieving, in the first naval conflict of the war, a most sig- 
 nal and decisive victory over a foe, that had, till then, challenged 
 an unrivalled superiority on the ocean, and thus establishing the 
 
 38 
 
282 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 claim of our navy to the affection and confidence oj the nation , 
 
 Engraved by W. Hooker. 
 
 They also gave a handsome piece of plate to C. Morris, 
 lieutenant. 
 
 The national legislature voted $50,000 and their thanks 
 to Capt. Hull, officers and crew ; also, to Capt. Hull a gold 
 medal, and to each of the officers silver medals, with appro- 
 priate devices. 
 
 The order of Cincinnati admitted Capt. Hull an honoura- 
 ry member of their society. 
 
 The legislatures of New York and Massachusetts voted 
 their thanks to Capt. Hull, officers and crew. 
 
 The common council of the city of New-York gave a pub- 
 lic dinner, and the freedom of the city, in a gold box, to 
 Capt. Hull ; and their thanks to the officers and crew. The 
 citizens of New York also gave a public dinner to Capt 
 Hull. 
 
 The councils of Albany voted the freedom of the city to 
 Capt. Hull, and thanks to officers and crew. 
 
 The councils of Savannah voted their thanks to Capt. 
 Hull, officers and crew. 
 
 The citizens of Charleston S. C. presented to Capt. Hull 
 a handsome piece of plate. 
 
 The citizens of Portland presented to Lieut. Wadsworth, 
 a native of that place, a handsome sword with suitable de- 
 vices, in testimony of their high sense of his gallantry in the 
 action with the Guerriere. 
 
 The legislature of Virginia presented to Lieut. Morgan 
 and Midshipman Tayloe, natives of that state, a valuable 
 sword each, in honour of their valour in the same action. 
 
 Congress voted $25,000 and their thanks to Capt. Jacob 
 Jones, officers and crew of the Wasp, also a gold medal to 
 Capt. Jones, and silver medals to each of the officers, in 
 testimony of their high sense of the gallantry displayed by 
 them in the capture of the British sloop Frolic. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 283 
 
 The legislature of Delaware presented to Capt. Jones, a 
 native of that state, a rich piece of plate, in testimony of 
 their gratitude for his services in the cause of his country. 
 The plate was designed and executed by Fletcher and Gardi- 
 ner of Philadelphia, and cost $500. , 
 
 The citizens of Philadelphia gave a sword, an elegant sil- 
 ver urn, and a public dinner to Capt. Jones, and a sword to 
 each of the lieutenants. 
 
 The legislature of Pennsylvania gave a handsome sword 
 to Lieut. Biddle. 
 
 The common council of New York gave an elegant sword 
 and the freedom of the city to Capt. Jones, and also a public 
 dinner and thanks to the officers and crew — The citizens of 
 New York also gave a public dinner. 
 
 The order of Cincinnati at New York admitted Capt. Jones 
 
 as a member. 
 
 The legislatures of New York and Massachusetts, and the 
 
 councils of Savannah voted their thanks to Capt. Jones, 
 
 officers and crew. 
 
 The national legislature voted their thanks to Com. De- 
 catur, officers and crew of the frigate United States, also a 
 gold medal to Com. Decatur, and silver medals to each of 
 the officers, in honour of the brilliant victory gained by the 
 frigate United States over the British frigate Macedonian. 
 
 The legislatures of New York, Pennsylvania, and Massa- 
 chusetts, and the councils of New London and Savannah 
 voted their thanks to Com. Decatur, officers and crew. 
 
 A splendid ball and entertainment were given to Com. 
 Decatur and officers on their arrival at New London. 
 
 The common council of New York voted a public dinner 
 and the freedom of the city in a gold box to Com. Decatur, 
 that his portrait be procured and set up in the gallery of 
 portraits belonging to the city, and that thanks be given to 
 the commodore, officers and crew. 
 
 A ball was given to Com. Decatur at the City Hotel, Niew 
 York, on the 2d of Januarv 1813. The decorations of the 
 
284 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 hall surpassed any thing of the kind ever before witnessed 
 in this country. 
 
 On the 7th of January 1813, in pursuance to arrangements 
 made by the corporation of the city of New York, a dinner 
 was given at the City Hotel, to the crew of the frigate Unit- 
 ed States, who had so nobly supported the character of Amer- 
 ican seamen in the late engagement with the British frigate 
 Macedonian. The assembly room was decorated precisely 
 in the same style as at the previous naval entertainment, 
 with this difference, that the reservoir in which floated the 
 miniature frigate, instead of containing water, was filled 
 with grog. 
 
 The crew were landed at New Slip precisely at 2 o'clock, 
 and marched in good order to the City Hotel, through 
 Pearlstreet, Wall-street, and Broadway, preceded by a band 
 of music, amid the loud and reiterated huzzas of their fel- 
 low citizens. 
 
 On their arrival at the hotel, they were ushered into the 
 room by the committee of the corporation, and took their 
 seats with perfect regularity at the call of the boatswain's 
 whistle, whilst the band struck up the inspiring tune of Yan- 
 kee Doodle. After which a handsome address was deliver- 
 ed by Alderman Vanderbilt. To which the boatswain re- 
 plied nearly in the following words : 
 
 " In behalf of my shipmates, I return our sincere thanks 
 to the corporation of the city of New York, for the honour 
 which they have this day done us. Rest assured,that it will be 
 always our wish to deserve the good opinion of our coun- 
 trymen." 
 
 When the boatswain had finished this reply, his shipmates, 
 in token of their approbation, made the room ring with three 
 hearty cheers. 
 
 At this moment the transparent paintings, exhibiting our 
 three glorious naval victories, were suddenly displayed by 
 the dropping of the canvas, which before had concealed 
 them. It is impossible for pen to describe the effect which 
 jt had upon the minds of the astonished sailors : their admi- 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 285 
 
 ration was expressed by repeated huzzas, and enthusiastic 
 acclamations. Silence was in a few minutes restored by the 
 boatswain's whistle, when the whole crew, to the number of 
 400 and upwards, commenced their attack upon an excellent 
 dinner, which was soon demolished, and in such a manner 
 as left no room to doubt, " that thexj could have done much more y 
 if more had been required.'''' 
 
 After dinner the boatswain piped for silence, when the 
 president gave the following toast : 
 
 " Jlmcricans ships all over the ocean." 
 Com. Decatur and his first lieutenant, Mr. Allen, shortly 
 after entered the room, and were received by the seamen in 
 a manner that evinced the affection and delight with which 
 they beheld their brave commander. After remaining a 
 few minutes, the commodore gave as a toast, 
 " Free trade and no impressment.'''' 
 After the commodore retired, a variety of volunteer toasts 
 were given by different seamen, in true nautical style, and 
 at 6 o'clock the company, obedient to the boatswain's call, 
 adjourned to the theatre, without having been guilty of un- 
 seaman-like conduct, or a single excess, and perfectly satis- 
 fied with the attention that had been shown them. 
 
 The jolly tars marched in regular procession to the thea- 
 tre, in compliance with an invitation from the managers. 
 The front of the theatre was illuminated, and exhibited a 
 transparency of the engagement between the United States 
 and Macedonian. The house was more crowded than was 
 ever before known. The pit was entirely occupied by the 
 gallant crew of the frigate United States, who behaved 
 through the evening with the utmost decorum. 
 
 The citizens of New York and Philadelphia gave a pub- 
 lic dinner to the commander and officers of the frigate 
 United States. 
 
 The citizens of Philadelphia presented to Com. Decatur 
 a sword of solid gold, 36 inches in length, and weighing 
 21 oz. 10 pwts. it cost $700. 
 
 The legislature of Virginia presented swords to Com. 
 Decatur, Lieut. W. H. Allen, and Lieut. J. B. Nicholson. . 
 
286 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 The United States frigate Constitution, Com. Bainbridge, 
 after the destruction of the British frigate Java, arrived at 
 Boston on the 18th of February 1813. On the following 
 Thursday at 12 o'clock, Com. Bainbridge landed at the long 
 wharf from the frigate Constitution, amidst acclamations, 
 and roaring of cannon from the shore. All the way from 
 the end of the pier to the Exchange Coffee House was de- 
 corated with colours and streamers. In State-street they 
 were strung across from the opposite buildings, while the 
 windows and balconies of the houses were filled with ladies, 
 and the tops of the houses were covered with spectators, 
 and an immense crowd filled the streets, so as to render it 
 difficult for the military escort to march. The commodore 
 was distinguished by his noble figure, and his walking un- 
 covered. On his right hand was the veteran, Com. Rod- 
 gers, and on his left, Brig. Gen. Welles ; then followed the 
 brave Capt. Hull, Col. Blake, and a number of officers and 
 citizens ; but the crowd was so immense that it was difficult 
 to keep the order of procession. The band of music in the 
 balcony of the State Bank, and the music of the New-Eng- 
 land Guards had a fine effect. 
 
 DINNER IN HONOUR OF COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 
 
 On the 2d of March a splendid public dinner was given 
 in the Exchange Coffee House, Boston, to Com. Bainbridge 
 and the officers of the United States frigate Constitution, for 
 their gallant achievement in the capture of the British first- 
 rate frigate Java ; — to which Com. Rodgers, Capts. Hull 
 and Smith, and the officers of the squadron then in port 
 were invited. The procession was formed in Fanueil Hall, 
 by Maj. Tilden, and was escorted, amidst the applauses of 
 the citizens, to the Coffee House, by a battalion, composed 
 of the Boston Light Infantry and the Winslow Blues, com- 
 manded by Col. Sargeant. The hall was completely filled. 
 The Hon. Christopher Gore presided. The Hon. Harri- 
 son G. Otis, Hon. Israel Thorndikc, Arnold Welles Esq. 
 Thomas L. Winthrop Esq. Hon. Peter C. Brooks, and Wil- 
 liam Sullivan Esq. assisted as Vice Presidents. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 281 
 
 The entertainment was sumptuous, and the style in which 
 it was got up did credit to Mr. Jones, who provided it. 
 
 Before sitting down to table the blessing of Almighty 
 God was asked in a most impressive manner by the Rev. 
 Mr. Holley. 
 
 After thanks were returned, the Hon. Mr. Gore address- 
 ed the gentlemen preient on the occasion in a very elegant 
 and impressive manner. Seepage 22. 
 
 Monday the 8th of March was appointed by the city 
 council of Charleston S. C. as a clay of general festival and 
 joy in honour of our splendid naval victories. It was us- 
 hered in by the ringing of bells, firing of cannon &c: all 
 business was suspended. At 3 o'clock a grand procession 
 was formed. Banners, exhibiting the names of our most 
 eminent statesmen and naval officers were borne by the most 
 distinguished citizens. About 600 sat down to a splendid 
 entertainment. The room was suitably decorated for the 
 occasion. Back of the president's chair was a colossal 
 bust of Washington, decorated with flags ; and festoons of 
 stars and stripes connected the pillars that support the ceil- 
 ing. At the bottom of the hall was a transparency, on 
 which was inscribed, " the defenders of the Constitution" — 
 " Bain." the remainder was supplied by the representation 
 of a bridge, at the end of which was represented the Hull 
 of a ship. Directly under the transparency was an elegant 
 painting, from the pencil of JohnB. White Esquire. 
 
 In the evening the city was illuminated. Many of the 
 houses were adorned with beautiful transparencies. 
 
 The congress of the United States voted $50,000 and 
 their thanks to Com. Bainbridge, officers and crew — also a 
 gold medal to Com. Bainbridge, and silver medals to each 
 of the officers of the Constitution, with suitable devices. 
 
 The corporation of the city of New York bestowed upon 
 Com. Bainbridge the freedom of the city, accompanied 
 with a gold box. 
 
 The citizens of Philadelphia subscribed an elegant piece 
 of plate to Com. Bainbridge. 
 
288 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 The legislatures of New York and Massachusetts voted 
 their thanks to Com. Bainbridge, officers and crew. The 
 resolve of the legislature of Massachusetts was as follows : 
 " That Commodores Bainbridge and Decatur, Captains 
 Hull and Jones of the U. S. navy, their officers and crews, 
 in the splendid victories by them obtained over the British 
 ships of war, the Java, Macedonian, Guerriere, and Frolic, 
 and in their generous conduct to their captured enemies, 
 have acquired for themselves a distinguished title to that 
 consideration and applause of their fellow citizens, which 
 is due to an heroic and able discharge of duty, and which 
 is the legitimate reward of the brave man, who devotes his 
 life to the services of his country." 
 
 The crew of the Constitution frigate were treated with a 
 theatrical entertainment on the evening of the 9th of April. 
 The brave fellows enjoyed it with great glee. They march- 
 ed to the theatre in regular order, and returned in the same 
 manner to the ship, as their chosen home. They behaved 
 with great decency and decorum. The stage box was fill- 
 ed with the navy officers, Rodger s, Bainbridge, Smith, and 
 their lieutenants. Com. Bainbridge addressed the crew, 
 previous to their leaving the ship, in the following terms. 
 
 " Sailors, in the action with the Java you have shown 
 yourselves men. You are this evening invited to partake of 
 the amusements of the theatre ; conduct yourselves well. 
 Suffer me not to experience any mortification from any dis- 
 orderly conduct on your part. Let the correctness of your 
 conduct equal your bravery, and I shall have additional 
 cause to speak of you in terms of approbation." 
 
 The honest tars replied — 
 
 " Commodore, we will put out of the pit the first man 
 that misbehaves." 
 
 The pit was never more orderly than when it was filled 
 with the sailors and marines of the Constitution. The neat- 
 ness of their dress, (blue jackets, scarlet waistcoats, new- 
 neck-handkerchiefs, and glazed hats) was a pleasing sight. 
 The marines were extremely neat, and conducted them- 
 
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NAVAL MONUMENT. 289 
 
 selves with the silence and composure of officers. Our cit- 
 izens saw with delight, what discipline and self-respect could 
 produce upon the hardy sons of the ocean. 
 
 At Portland a public dinner was given to Com. Bainbridge. 
 
 The citizens of Georgetown, Col. gave a public enter- 
 tainment to Com. Bainbridge. Among the guests were GapU 
 Morris, and Lieutenants M'Call and Forrest. 
 
 Com. Bainbridge was received at Philadelphia with a mil- 
 itary escort amidst the ac clamations of the citizens. 
 
 In April our naval victories were splendidly celebrated at 
 the city of Washington. Upwards of 200 gentlemen of the 
 first distinction partook of an elegant entertainment, at 
 which a number of patriotic toasts were drank, accompani- 
 ed by music and discharge of artillery. 
 
 The congress of the United States passed a resolution, 
 "That the president be requested to present to the nearest 
 male relative of Capt. James Lawrence a gold medal, and a 
 silver medal to each of the commissioned officers who ser- 
 ved under him in the sloop of war Hornet, in her conflict 
 with the British vessel of war Peacock, in testimony of the 
 high sense entertained by congress, of the gallantry and good 
 conduct of the officers and crew in the capture of that ves- 
 sel ; and that the president be also requested to communi- 
 cate to the nearest relative of Capt. Lawrence, the sense 
 which congress entertains of the loss the naval service of the 
 United States has sustained in the death of that distinguish- 
 ed officer." 
 
 The crew of the Hornet were treated with a dinner and a 
 seat at the theatre by the corporation of New York, in hon- 
 our of their good conduct in the battle with the Peacock. 
 
 The citizens of Philadelphia subscribed a rich and beau- 
 tiful piece of plate for the lamented Capt. Lawrence. He 
 did not live to receive this token of respect and affection. 
 It was however finished and presented to Mrs. Lawrence. 
 
 The following is the answer of Mrs. Lawrence, to a re- 
 spectful note, addressed to her from a committee of the citi- 
 zens of Philadelphia. 
 
 39 
 
290 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 Gentlemen, New York, Jan. 16, 1816. • 
 
 Your letter, accompanying "two elegant pieces of plate, 
 intended to commemorate the capture of the sloop of war 
 Peacock by the American sloop Hornet, under Capt. Law 
 rence's command," has been received. 
 
 From the enlightened citizens of Philadelphia, celebrated 
 for their patriotism, this testimony of respect for the services 
 of my lamented husband is peculiarly grateful ; and as the 
 applause of his fellow citizens was the most acceptable re- 
 ward he could, while living, receive ; so it is the greatest 
 consolation which my widowed heart is capable of enjoying, 
 that his memory is thought worthy of being cherished with 
 esteem by those for whose rights he offered up his life. 
 
 Accept, I pray you, gentlemen for yourselves, and be pleas- 
 ed to communicate to those on whose behalf you act, my sin- 
 cere thanks and respectful consideration. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 George Harrison, and JULIA LAWRENCE. 
 
 Daniel William Cox, Esq'rs. 
 Committee in behalf of the citizens of Philadelphia. 
 
 The congress of the United States presented to the near- 
 est male relative of Lieut. William Burrows and to Lieut. 
 M'Call of the brig Enterprise, a gold medal, with suitable 
 emblems and devices, and a silver medal to each of the com- 
 missioned officers, in honour of their gallantry and good 
 conduct in the conflict with the Boxer. 
 
 The citizens of Portland gave a dinner to the crew of the 
 Enterprise in honour of their bravery in capturing the 
 Boxer. 
 
 An entertainment was given at Baltimore to Lieut. M'Call 
 on whom the command of the Enterprize devolved, after 
 the death of Lieut. Burrows. Among the guests invited, 
 were Capts. Ridgley and Spence, of the United States sloops 
 Erie and Ontario. 
 
 The legislature of South Carolina presented a sword to 
 Lieut. M'Call, as a mark of respect entertained by his native 
 state for his distinguished gallantry and good conduct in the 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 291 
 
 battle with the Boxer. They also voted a sword to Lieut. 
 Tillinghast, a native of that state, in honour of the good 
 conduct he exhibited in the same engagement. Also the 
 citizens of Columbia, S. C. the native place of Lieut. Til- 
 linghast, presented to him an elegant sword. 
 
 Matthew L. Davis Esq. of New 7 York, passing through 
 Portland on a tour to the eastward, accidentally took a walk 
 into the burying ground. His attention was attracted to the 
 neglected grave of the late Lieut. Burrows. The only guide 
 to the spot, where are deposited the remains of one who 
 deserved so much of his country, was the tomb stone of his 
 deceased competitor, Capt. Blythe. This was erected two 
 years since by the surviving officers of the Boxer. Mr. Da- 
 vis immediately gave orders for an elegant marble monu- 
 ment to be erected over the grave of Burrows, to be finish- 
 ed by his return, and without sparing labour or expense. 
 It was soon completed and put up. Its style of execution 
 does much credit to the ingenious artist, Mr. Bartlett Adams 
 of Portland. The inscription is highly creditable to the 
 taste, judgment and modesty of the generous donor, and 
 worthy the hero, whom it is designed to commemorate. 
 
 The congress of the United States voted their thanks to 
 Com. Perry, and through him to the officers, petty offi- 
 cers, seamen, marines, and infantry, serving as such, attach- 
 ed to the squadron under his command, for the decisive and 
 and glorious victory of Lake Erie, also gold medals to Com. 
 Perry and Lt. J. D. Elliott, and silver medals with suitable 
 devices, to each of the corfimissioned officers, either of the 
 navy or army, serving on board, and a sword to each of the 
 midshipmen and sailing masters, who so nobly distinguished 
 themselves on that memorable day ; also, a silver medal to 
 the nearest male relative ofLt. John Brooks, of the marines, 
 a sword to the nearest male relative of Midshipmen Henry 
 Laub, Thomas Claxton, jun. and John Clark, and three 
 month's extra pay to all the petty officers, seamen, marines, 
 and infantry, who were in the engagement. 
 
 A splendid public dinner was given by the citizens of 
 Boston to Com. Perry. The company assembled in the 
 
292 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 Senate Chamber of the State house, from whence the whole 
 proceeded to the Exchange Coffee House. 
 
 The dinner was served up in Mr. Jones' best style, and 
 the hall was very elegantly and appropriately decorated. 
 After dinner appropriate toasts, occasionally relieved by 
 songs sung by Messrs. Stebbins and Messinger, were drank 
 amidst cheers of applause, and followed by airs from a full 
 band of musick. 
 
 Com. Perry was received with the greatest respect by the 
 citizens of Albany. The common council voted him the 
 freedom of the city in a gold case, with an elegant sword. 
 
 The legislature of Pennsylvania voted their thanks to 
 Com. Perry with a gold medal ; to Lieut. Elliott their 
 thanks, with a like medal; and to those citizens of Pennsyl- 
 vania, who volunteered their services, a silver medal of the 
 weight of two dollars, with each person's name subscribed 
 thereon. 
 
 A spendid entertainment was given to Com. Perry at 
 Tammany Hall, New York. 
 
 An entertainment was given to Com. Perry at Barney's 
 " Fountain Inn," Baltimore. The room was decorated with 
 elegant transparent paintings, representing the battle of 
 Lake Erie, and exhibiting the names of our naval heroes, &c. 
 The cities of Hudson, N. Y. Philadelphia, Richmond 
 and Charleston, S. C. were splendidly illuminated in honour 
 of Perry's victory. 
 
 The citizens of Newport R. I. presented to Com. Perry, a 
 
 native of that place, a rich piece of plate of the value of $700. 
 
 The legislature of South Carolina gave an elegant sword 
 
 to Lieut. Thomas Holdup, for his gallantry in the battle of 
 
 Lake Erie. 
 
 The citizens of Boston presented to Com. Perry a service 
 of plate, consisting of nearly forty pieces, which cost $1600. 
 A piece of plate of the value of $300 was subscribed for 
 Com. Perry by the citizens of Fredicksburgh, Va. 
 
 The citizens of Philadelphia and Savannah presented to 
 Com. Perry ahand&ome sword> with appropriate engravings 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 29S 
 
 The congress of the United States resolved, that their 
 thanks be presented to Com. Macdonough, and through 
 him to the officers, petty officers, seamen, marines, and in- 
 fantry serving as marines, attached to the squadron under 
 his command, for the decisive and splendid victory gained 
 on Lake Champlain ; that gold medals be struck, emblem- 
 atical of the actions between the two squadrons, and presen- 
 ted to Com. Macdonough, Capt. Robert Henley, and Lieut. 
 Stephen Cassin ; that silver medals, with appropriate devi- 
 ces be bestowed on each of the commissioned officers of the 
 navy and army, who were in the engagement, and a sword 
 on each midshipman and sailing master. A silver medal 
 was also voted to the nearest male relative of Lieut. Peter 
 Gamble and Lieut. John Stansbury, who fell in the action. 
 
 The legislature of New York gave to Com. Macdonouo-h 
 a thousand acres of land. 
 
 The legislature of Vermont gave to Com. Macdonough a 
 tract of land adjoining Lake Champlain, from which may 
 be seen that part of the lake where the battle was fought. 
 
 The common council of New York presented to Com. 
 Macdonough the freedom of the city in a gold box, and 
 their thanks to his officers and crew. They also requested 
 of the commodore his portrait to be placed in the gallery of 
 paintings. 
 
 The citizens of Plattsburg gave a public dinner to Com. 
 Macdonough. 
 
 The citizens of Salem gave a public entertainment to 
 Capt. Charles Stewart, of the frigate Constitution. The offi- 
 cers of the frigate were among the guests. Every thing 
 was conducted in an elegant style. Com. Rodgers and our 
 naval victors were honourably complimented, and the la- 
 mented dead, Lawrence, Burrows, Alwyn, and Budd were 
 not forgotten. 
 
 Capt. Porter, on his return from the Western ocean, land- 
 ed at New- York, where he was received with enthusiasm. 
 The people took the horses from his carriage, and, amidst 
 the shouts of thousands, hauled him to his lodgings. 
 
294 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 A part of the crew, late of the Essex, received a public 
 entertainment at Tammany Hall, New York. Some of the 
 wounded attended the procession in carriages. Their 
 whole number was 184. The toasts of these men shew their 
 love to their country and to their commander. 
 
 Capt. Porter was received at Philadelphia by tens of 
 thousands. He entered the city in a carriage with the may- 
 or, preceded and followed by an immense cavalcade of offi- 
 cers, civil and military, and citizens of all ranks. The 
 streets were hung with stripes and stars. When the crowd 
 arrived opposite Christ's Church in Second-street, it was 
 met by a large body of respectable seamen, who fastened an- 
 other rope to the carriage in which the people were hauling 
 the 'gallant captain ;~*(for long before'they had unharnessed 
 the horses) and the whole moved through the city with 
 continual shouts. When they arrived at the mansion house 
 hotel, the sailors took him on their shoulders and carried 
 him in with huzzas. 
 
 Congress voted their thanks to Capt. Lewis Warrington, 
 officers and crew of the Peacock, for the skill and bravery 
 displayed in the capture of the Epervier. They also gave 
 to Capt. Warrington a gold medal with emblematic devices : 
 to each of the commissioned officers, a silver medal, with 
 like devices, and to each of the midshipmen and sailing 
 masters a sword. 
 
 The president of the United States, at the request of 
 congress presented to Capt. Johnston Blakeley of the sloop- 
 of-war Wasp, a gold medal with suitable devices, and a sil- 
 ver medal, with like devices, to each of the commissioned 
 officers ; and also a sword to each of the midshipmen and 
 sailing masters of that vessel, in testimony of the high sense 
 entertained by the legislature of the nation, of their gal- 
 lantry and good conduct in the action with the British 
 sloop of war Reindeer. 
 
 A public dinner was given to Capt. Biddle of the sloop- 
 of-war Hornet, at Tammany Hall, New York. The compa- 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 295 
 
 ny was numerous, the guests distinguished, and the toasts 
 American. 
 
 The congress of the United States passed a resolution 
 expressive of the high sense entertained by that body of the 
 gallantry and good conduct of Com. Daniel T. Patterson 
 andMaj. D. Carmick, and of the officers, seamen, and ma- 
 rines under their command, in the defence of New Orleans. 
 
 The corporation of New York voted the freedom of that 
 city in a golden box, to Capt. Charles Stewart, of the frig- 
 ate Constitution, for his gallantry and nautical skill displayed 
 in the capture of the British ships Cyane and Levant ; and 
 also the thanks of the corporation to the officers and crew 
 of the frigate for the brave manner in which they engaged, 
 fought and conquered on that occasion. 
 
 The Constitution, when entering Boston harbour, fired a 
 salute, whieh was immediately returned from Fort Indepen- 
 dence. On anchoring, this glorious vessel was welcomed to 
 her native place by federal salutes from the Washington Ar- 
 tillery, and a company of citizens. Capt. Stewart then 
 left the ship in his barge, accompanied by several officers 
 belonging to the squadron under a salute ; and was received 
 at Long Wharf, by his assembled fellow citizens, with re- 
 peated huzzas, and other hearty demonstrations of gratitude 
 and respect. The officers of the Boston brigade, being 
 that day on duty, proceeded in a body to the place of land- 
 ing, and through their commander, Gen. Welles, paid their 
 respects and congratulations to their gallant and meritori- 
 ous fellow countrymen. An escort, composed of the Bos- 
 ton Fusiliers and Winslow Blues, under Capt. Fairbanks, 
 conducted Capt. Stewart, and the other officers of the ship, 
 to the Exchange Coffee House, amidst the repeated cheers of 
 citizens of both sexes, who filled the streets, wharves and ves- 
 sels, and occupied the houses. The procession was closed 
 by a large number of citizens. A repast was provided at the 
 Coffee House, (where Capt. Stewart received the congratu- 
 lations of a great number of citizens and strangers) during 
 which a full band of music played national ai^s and mar- 
 
296 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 ches ; and the ships, wharves, and State-street were beauti- 
 fully decorated with the colours of all nations. 
 
 WAR WITH ALGIERS. 
 
 This war was declared on the 2d of March, 1815, and 
 was brought to an honourable termination in the short 
 space of four months. We have room to insert only the 
 following documents relative to it. 
 
 COPY OF A LETTER FROM COM. DECATUR TO THE SEC- 
 RETARY OF THE NAVY. 
 
 Sir, U. S. Ship Guerriere, Bay of Tunis, July 31, 1815. 
 
 I have the honour to inform you, that upon my arrival 
 at this anchorage, I was made acquainte d with the following 
 transactions, which had tal en place here during our late 
 war with Great Britain. 
 
 Two prizes, which had been taken by the Jlbazllino priva- 
 teer, and sent into this port, were taken possession of by a 
 British vessel of war while lying within the protection of 
 the Bey of Tunis. The consul having communicated to me 
 information of this violation of our treaty with Tunis, I de- 
 manded satisfaction of the Bey. After some hesitation, and 
 proposing a delay of payment for one year, my demand was 
 acceded to, and the money amounting to $ 46,000, was paid 
 into the hands of the consul, Mr. Noah, agent for the priva- 
 teer. 
 
 I shall proceed immediately for Tripoli, and will give you 
 early information of the further proceedings of this squad- 
 ron. The Bey of Tunis has now lying in this harbour, 
 nearly ready for sea, three frigates and several small vessels 
 of war. 
 
 I have the honour to be, 
 
 with great respect, sir, your obe't serv't, 
 
 STEPHEN DECATUR. 
 
 Hon. B. W. Crowninshield, 
 
 Secretary of the navy. __ _ 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 297 
 
 EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM COM. DECATOR TO TUB 
 SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. 
 
 U. S. Ship Gucrriere, Messina Aug. 31, 1815. 
 
 I have the honour to inform you, that immediately after 
 the date of my last communication I proceeded to Tripoli. 
 Upon my arrival off that place, I received fro m our consul 
 a letter; in consequence of the information contained in this 
 letter, I deemed it necessary to demand justice from the Ba- 
 shaw. On the next day the governour of the city of Tri- 
 poli came on board the Guerriere, to treat in behalf of the 
 Bashaw. He objected to the amount claimed by us, but 
 finally agreed to our demands The money, amounting to 
 the sum of $25,000, has been paid into the hands of the 
 consul, who is agent for the privateer. 
 
 The Bashaw also delivered up to me ten captives, two 
 of them Danes, and the others Neapolitans. 
 
 During the progress of our negotiations with the states 
 of Barbary, now brought to a conclusion, there has appear- 
 ed a disposition on the part of each of them, to grant as far 
 as we were disposed to demand. 
 
 I trust that the successful result of our small expedition, 
 so honourable to our country, will induce other nations to 
 follow the example ; in which case the Barbary states will 
 be compelled to abandon their piratical system. 
 
 I shall now proceed with the squadron to Carthagena, at 
 which place I hope to find the relief squadron from Ameri- 
 ca. | 
 
 COPY OF A LETTER FROM COM. BAINBRIDGE TO THE 
 SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. 
 
 U. S. Ship Independence, off the Bay of Tunis, 
 
 September 6, 1815. 
 1 had the honour of making communications to you from 
 Carthagena on the 10th ultimo, from which place I sailed 
 with the Independence, Congress, Erie, Chippewa, and Spark, 
 destined for Tripoli, having learned that a misunderstand- 
 ing existed between the Bashaw of that place, and our con- 
 
 40 
 
298 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 sul residing there. On my way I called at Algiers to exhi- 
 bit this additional force off there, presuming it would have 
 some weight in preserving the peace which had just been 
 made ; for the only mode of convincing these people is by 
 ocular demonstration. 
 
 On my arrival off Tripoli, I learned that Com. Decatur 
 had been there with the first squadron, and had adjusted 
 our differences, which existed at that place. Our consul at 
 Tripoli informed me, that the exhibiting of our naval force 
 before Tripoli had produced a most favourable change in 
 the disposition of the Bashaw for preserving the peace with 
 us. 
 
 At Tripoli, learning that the Bey of Tunis was restless 
 towards the United States, I immediately proceeded with 
 the vessels with me for that place. 
 
 On my arrival at Tunis, I learned by a letter from our 
 consul there, that the Bey and his officers were friendly dis- 
 posed towards us. 
 
 Having, agreeably to your instructions, exhibited the 
 force under my command to all the Barbary powers, (and 
 which, I believe, will have a tendency to prolong our trea- 
 ties with them,) I have only now, in further obedience to 
 those instructions, to return with the squadron to the Unit- 
 ed States. 
 
 EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE SAME TO THE SAME. 
 
 U. S. Ship Independence, Malaga, September 14, 1815. 
 
 I arrived here yesterday, under the expectation of meet- 
 ing here the first squadron ; but to my regret, Com. Deca- 
 tur has not yet come down the Mediterranean, and where 
 the squadron with him is, I know not ; for the last I learn- 
 ed of them was off Tripoli, which place they left on the 
 9th ultimo. 
 
 As the squadron has to return this autumn, in pursuance 
 of your orders, it is very desirable that it should leave this 
 sea as soon as possible, to avoid the inclemency of the win- 
 ter on our coast, particularly on account of the smaller ves- 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 299 
 
 sels. The Independence, Congress, Boxer, Saranac, Chippewa, 
 and Spark are here ; the Erie I expect every hour from 
 Malta, where I had sent her ; the Torch and Lynx are at 
 Carthagena. — All these vessels will be prepared immediate- 
 ly to return ; but they cannot sail till the other squadron 
 has joined us. 
 
 Copy of a letter from Com. Decatur to his excellency the Marquis 
 Cercello, Secretary of Stale and Minister of Foreign affairs 
 to his Majesty the King of Naples. 
 
 Sir, U. S, Ship Gucrriere, Naples, Sept. 8, 1815. 
 
 I have the honour to inform your excellency, that in my 
 late negociation with the Bashaw of Tripoli, I demanded 
 and obtained the release of eight Neapolitan captives, sub- 
 jects of his majesty the king of the two Sicilies. These I 
 have landed at Mesina. It affords me great pleasure to 
 have had it in my power, by this small service, to evince to 
 his majesty the grateful sense entertained by our govern- 
 ment of the aid formerly rendered to us by his majesty, 
 
 during our war with Tripoli. 
 
 With great respect and consideration, I have the honour 
 to be your excellency's most obedient servant, 
 
 STEPHEN DECATUR. 
 His Excellency the Marquis Cercello, 
 Secretary of State, <^c. <^c. 
 
 Sir, Naples, Sept. 12, 1815. 
 
 Having laid before the king my master, the paper which 
 you have directed me, dated the 8th inst. in which you 
 were pleased to acquaint me, that in your last negociation 
 with the Bey of Tripoli, you had freed from the slavery of 
 that Regency eight subjects of his majesty, whom you had 
 also set on shore at Messina ; his majesty has ordered me 
 to acknowledge this peculiar favour, as the act of your gen- 
 erosity, which you have been pleased to call a return for 
 
300 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 the trifling assistance which the squadron of your nation* 
 formerly received from his royal government during the 
 war with Tripoli. 
 
 In doing myself the pleasure of manifesting this sentiment 
 of my king, and of assuring you in his name, that the brave 
 American nation will always find in his majesty's ports the 
 best reception — I beg you will receive the assurances of my 
 most distinguished consideration. 
 
 Marquis CERCELLO, 
 Secretary of State and Minister of 
 Foreign Affairs. 
 Com. Decatur, Commander of the 
 Squadron of U. S. of America. 
 
 EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM AN OFFICER OF THE U. 
 
 S, NAVY. 
 
 Bay of Naples, Sept. 10, 1815. 
 This being the first opportunity since we left Algiers, I 
 use it. We left Algiers the 8th J11I3 , and on the 15th arri- 
 ved at Cagliari, for water and refreshments ; on the 25th 
 sailed for Tunis, and on the following day anchored in the 
 bay, in a fine position. The commodore immediately made 
 his compliments to the Bey, signifying .j him that, as he 
 had permitted two brigs, prizes to the United States flag, to 
 be taken from under his batteries by an English ship of war, 
 contrary to the usages of war and civilized nations, he ha- 
 ving power to resist this violation of this port ; the pur- 
 pose of his visit was to demand indemnity for this breach 
 of good faith, and he would expect it to be sent an board 
 by a given hour on the day named : the commodore sent an 
 estimate of the value of the prizes, and although there ap- 
 pears to have been great consternation, the demand was 
 promptly complied with, and the indemnity sent on board ; 
 having accomplished this service by the 2d of August, we 
 sailed for, and on the 5th anchored before Tripoli, where 
 we ha.d a similar ceremony to perform, and which was con- 
 ducted in the same smooth, cool, decided wav without any 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 301 
 
 palavar, which would leave room to doubt that we should 
 do as we said. The Bey of Tripoli appears not to have 
 had so much of the ready at command, but showed equal 
 readiness with his neighbour to comply with the demand : 
 falling short of the indemnity required, he signified that 
 there was a Danish family in his possession, consisting of 
 nine persons, and two other Europeans, whom he was wil- 
 ling to deliver up to make good the indemnity demanded ; 
 the commodore did not hesitate a moment, and we had the 
 satisfaction to see them soon after arrive on board our 
 squadron. I need not say how gratifying this cruise must 
 be to every American soul : how delightful it was to see the 
 stars and stripes holding forth the hands of retributive jus- 
 tice to the barbarians, and rescuing the unfortunate, even of 
 distant but friendly European nations, from slavery. 
 
 On the 10th, we arrived at Syracuse, and on the 20th at 
 Messina, where we underwent some repairs, and on the 2d 
 September arrived at this place. 
 
 Extract of a letter from an officer on board the United States 
 
 Brig Enterprise. 
 
 " We remained at Malaga about two days, and then re- 
 turned to Gibralter — here we were joined by all Com. Deca- 
 tur's squadron, excepting his own ship. Our fleet now 
 consisted of the Independence, Macedonian, United States, 
 Constellation, Congress, Ontario, Erie, Enterprize, Chippewa, 
 Saranac, Boxer, Firefly, Flambeau, Torch, Spitfire, Spark, and 
 Lynx. It was a proud sight for an American to see in a 
 British port just at the close of a war with her, which the 
 English thought would have been the destruction of our na- 
 vy, a squadron of seventeen sail, larger perhaps than our 
 whole navy at the commencement of that war. At Malaga 
 the governour waited on Com. Bainbridge on board his 
 ship an honour which he had never deigned to pay to any 
 admiral before. On our arrival at Gibralter the commodore 
 fired a salute of seventeen guns, which was returned. 
 
302 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 " You have no idea of the respect which the American 
 character has gained by our late wars. The Spaniards es- 
 pecially, think we are devils incarnate : — as we beat the 
 English, who beat the French, who beat them, whom no- 
 body ever beat before — and the Algerines whom the devil 
 himself could not beat. 
 
 ANECDOTES. 
 
 At the time Decatur arrived in sight of Gibralter, a great 
 number of British officers and citizens, and among them an 
 American gentleman, were assembled on an eminence to view 
 the American fleet. Decatur entered the harbour with his 
 squadron in a very handsome style ; sailed round, and went 
 out again, without coming to anchor — his object being 
 merely to make signals to the sloop of war Ontario. The 
 British officers were very desirous of knowing the different 
 names of the vessels of the squadron as they approached. 
 The shrewd American pretended to know every vessel the 
 moment he saw her broadside, and they crowded around 
 him for information. The first frigate, he said, was the 
 Guerrierc ; the second, the Macedonian ; the third, the Java; 
 the next was the Epervier ; the next the Peacock ; and the 
 nex t — « oh, damn the next," they exclaimed, and immedi- 
 ately moved off, highly disgusted with the names of the 
 vessels of the Yankee squadron. 
 
 It is said the Dey of Algiers very reluctantly gave up all 
 idea of receiving tribute from the Americans, and alleged 
 among other things, that other nations, if he consented, 
 might take advantage of it, and perhaps unite and occasion 
 his destruction. It was not the amount or value of the 
 sum he was particular about, but the receiving something 
 annually of the Americans would add to his security, if it 
 were only a little powder. Com. Decatur observed, that 
 he thought it very probable, if he insisted upon receiving 
 powder of the Americans as tribute, his wishes would be 
 gratified, but he must certainly expect to receive balls with 
 it. His Deyship very wisely gave up the point. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 303 
 
 When Com. Decatur's squadron was before Tunis, exact- 
 ing payment from the Bey, for the restored prizes, ther e 
 were in the harbour 6 Tunisian frigates, 6 corvettes and 
 brigs, and 50 gun-boats. Capt. Gordon was employed to 
 receive the money of the Bey. 
 
 The American Commissioners to the Dey of Algiers. 
 
 The undersigned have the honour to inform his highness, 
 the Dey of Algiers, that they have been appointed, by the 
 president of the United States of America, commissioners 
 plenipotentiary to treat of peace with his highness, and that 
 pursuant to their instruction, they are ready to open a ne- 
 gotiation for the restoration of peace and harmony between 
 the two countries, on terms just and honourable to both 
 parties; and they feel it incumbent on them to state expli- 
 citly to his highness, that they are instructed to treat upon 
 no other principle than that of perfect equality, and on 
 the terms of the most favoured nations ; no stipulation for 
 paying any tribute to Algiers, under any form whatever, 
 will be agreed to. 
 
 The undersigned have the honour to transmit herewith 
 a letter from the President of the United States, and avail 
 themselves of this occasion to assure his highness of their 
 high consideration and profound respect. 
 
 Documents accompanying the message of the President transmit- 
 ting to the senate the treaty of peace with Algiers. 
 
 U. S. Ship Guerriere, Bay of Algiers, 
 Sir, July 4, 1815. 
 
 We have the honour to refer you to the official reports 
 of Com. Decatur to the navy department, for an account of 
 the operations of this squadron previous to our arrival off 
 Algiers on the 28th ultimo. 
 
 Having received information, that the Algerine squadron 
 had been at sea for a considerable time longer than that to 
 which their cruises usually extend, aud that a despatch boat 
 had been sent from Gibraltar to Algiers to inform them of 
 
304 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 our arrival in the Mediterranean, we thought that they 
 might have made a harbour where they would be in safety. 
 We therefore, whilst they were in this state of uncertainty, 
 believed it a proper moment to deliver the President's let- 
 ter, agreeably to our instruction. Accordingly, on the 20th 
 ult, a flag of truce was hoisted on board theGuerriere with 
 the Swedish flag at the main. A boat came off about noon 
 withMr.Norderling, consul of Sweden, and the captain of the 
 port who confirmed the intelligence we had before received, 
 and to whom we communicated information of the capture 
 of their frigate and brig. The impression made by these 
 events was visible and deep. We were requested by the 
 captain of the port (Mr. Norderling declaring he was not 
 authorized to act,) to state the conditions on which we 
 would make peace , to which we replied, by giving the let- 
 ter of the President to the Dey, and by a note from us to 
 him, a copy of which ( No. 1) we have the honour to trans- 
 mit herewith. The captain of the port then requested that 
 hostilities should cease, pending the negotiation, and that 
 persons authorized to treat should go on shore, he and Mr. 
 Norderling both affirming that the minister of marine had 
 pledged himself for our security and return to our ships 
 when we pleased. Both these propositions were rejected, 
 and they were explicitly informed that the negotiation must 
 be carried on board the fleet, and that hostilities, as far as 
 they respected vessels, could not cease — They returned on 
 shore. On the followiug day the same persons returned and 
 informed us, that they were conmmissioned by the Dey to 
 treat with us on the proposed basis, and their anxiety ap- 
 peared extreme to conclude the peace immediately. We 
 then brought forward the model of a treaty, which we de- 
 clared would not be departed from in substance, at the same 
 time declaring, that although the United States would nev- 
 er stipulate for paying tribute under any form whatever, yet 
 that they were a magnanimous and generous nation, who 
 would upon the presantation of consuls do what was cus- 
 tomary with other great nations, in their friendly inter- 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 305 
 
 course with Algiers. The treaty was then examined and 
 they were of opinion, that it would not be agreed to in its 
 present form, and particularly requested [that the article, 
 requiring the restitution of the property they had captured, 
 and which had been distributed, might be expunged, alleg- 
 ing that such a demand had never before been made upon 
 Algiers. To this it was answered, that the claim was just, 
 and would be adhered to. They then asked whether, if the 
 treaty should be signed by the Dey, we would engage to re- 
 store the captured vessels, which we refused. They then 
 represented that it was not the present Dey who had declar- 
 ed the war, which they acknowledged to be unjust, conce- 
 ding that they were wholly in the wrong, and had no ex- 
 cuse, and requested we would take the case of the Dey in- 
 to consideration, and upon his agreeing to terms with us 
 more favorable than had ever before been made with any 
 other nation, to restore the ships, which they stated would 
 be of little or no value to us, but would be of great impor- 
 tance to him, as they would satisfy the people with the con- 
 ditions of the peace we were going to conclude with him. 
 
 We consulted upon this question, and determined that, 
 considering the state of those vessels, the sums that would 
 be required to fit them for a passage to the United States, 
 and the little probability of selling them in this part of the 
 world, we would make a compliment of them to his high- 
 ness in the state thev then were, the commodore eKgaffin 0- to 
 furnish them with an escort to this port. This however, 
 would depend upon their signing the treaty as presented to 
 them, and could not appear as an article of it, but must be 
 considered as a favour conferred on the Dey by the United 
 States. 
 
 They then requested a truce, to deliberate upon the terms 
 of the proposed treaty, which was refused ; they then plea- 
 ded for three hours. The reply was, "not a minute ; if 
 your squadron appears in sight before the treaty is actually 
 signed by the Dey, and the prisoners sent off, ours would 
 capture them." It was finally agreed that hostilities should 
 
 41 
 
306 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 cease, when we perceived their boat coming off with a 
 white flag hoisted ; the Swedish consul pledging his word 
 of honour not to hoist it unless the treaty was signed and 
 the'prisoners in the boat. They returned on shore, and al- 
 though the distance was full five miles, thev came back 
 within three hours, with the treaty signed, as we had con- 
 cluded it, and the prisoners. 
 
 During the interval of their absence, a corvette appear- 
 ed in sight, which would have been captured if they had 
 been detained one hour longer. The treaty has since been 
 drawn out "anew, translated by them, and duly executed by 
 the Dey, which we have the honour to transmit herewith. 
 
 Mr. Shaler has since been on shore, and the cotton and 
 money mentioned in the fourth article, have been given up 
 to him. They now show every disposition to maintain a 
 sincere peace with us, which is doubtless owing to the dread 
 of our arms ; and we take this occasion to remark, that, in 
 our opinion, the only secure guarantee we can have for the 
 maintenance of the peace just concluded with these people, 
 is the presence, in the Mediterranean, of a respectable na- 
 val force. 
 
 As this treaty appears to us to secure every interest with- 
 in the contemplation of the government, and as it really 
 places the United States on higher ground than any other 
 nation, we have no hesitation on our part, in fulfilling such 
 of its provisions as are within our power, in the firm be- 
 lief that it will receive the ratification of the President and 
 
 Senate. 
 
 We have the honour to be, with respect, 
 
 Sir, your obedient servants. 
 
 STEPHEN DECATUR. 
 Hon. James Monroe, WILLIAM SHALER. 
 
 Secretary of State. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 307 
 
 JAMES MADISON, 
 
 PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 
 
 To all and singular to whom these Presents shall come.... Greeting : 
 
 WHEREAS a Treaty of Peace and Amity, between the 
 United States of America and His Highness Omar Bashaw, 
 Dey of Algiers, was concluded at Algiers on the thirtieth 
 day of June last, by Stephen Decatur and William Shaler, 
 citizens of the United States, on the part of the United 
 States and the said Omar Bashaw, Dey of Algiers, and was 
 duly signed and sealed by the said parties, which Treaty is 
 in the words following, to wit : 
 
 TREATY of Peace and Amity, concluded between the United 
 States of America and His Highness Omar Bashaw, Dey of 
 Algiers. 
 
 Art. 1 . There shall be, from the conclusion of this trea- 
 ty, a firm, inviolable aud universal peace and friendship be- 
 tween the President and the citizens of the United States of 
 America, on the one part, and the Dey and subjects of the 
 Regency of Algiers in Barbary on the other, made by the 
 free consent of both parties, on the terms of the most favor- 
 ed nations : and if either party shallTiereafter grant to any 
 other nation any particular favour or privilege in naviga- 
 tion or commerce, it shall immediately become common to 
 the other party, freely when it is freely granted to such 
 other nations ; but when the grant is conditional, it shall be 
 at the option of the contracting parties to accept, alter, or 
 reject such conditions, in such manner as shall be most 
 conducive to their respective interests. 
 
 Art. 2. It is distinctly understood between the contract- 
 ing parties, that no tribute, either as biennial presents, or 
 under any other form or name whatever, shall ever be re- 
 quired by the Dey and Regency of Algiers from the United 
 States of America, on any pretext whatever. 
 
 Art. 3. The Dey of Algiers shall cause to be immediately 
 delivered up to the American squadron, now off Algiers, all 
 
308 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 the American citizens, now in his possession, amounting to 
 ten, more or less ; and all the subjects of the Dey of Algiers, 
 now in possession of the United States, amounting to five 
 hundred, more or less, shall be delivered up to him, the 
 United States, according to usages of civilized nations, 
 requiring no ransom for the excess of prisoners in their fa- 
 vours. 
 
 Jlrt. 4. A just and full compensation shall be made by the 
 
 Dey of Algiers, to such citizens of the United States, as have 
 been captured and detained by Algerine cruisers, or.\vho 
 have been forced to abandon their property in Algiers in vi- 
 olation of the twenty-second article of the treaty of peace 
 and amity concluded between the United States and the 
 Dey of Algiers, on the 5th of September, 17G5. 
 
 And it is agreed between the contracting parties, that in 
 lieu of the above, the Dey of Algiers shall cause to be de- 
 livered forthwith into the hands of the American consul, 
 residing at Algiers, the whole of a quantity of bales of cot- 
 ton, left by the late consul general of the United States in 
 the public magazines in Algiers, and that he shall pay into 
 the hands of the said consul the sum of ten thousand Span- 
 ish dollars. 
 
 Jlrt. 5. If any goods, belonging to any nation with which 
 either of the parties is at war, should be loaded on board 
 vessels belonging to the other party, they shall pass free and 
 unmolested, and no attempts shall be made to take or detain 
 them. 
 
 Art. G. if any citizens or subjects with their effects, be- 
 longing to either party, shall be found on board a prize ves- 
 sel taken fiom an enemy by the other party, such citizens 
 or subjects shall be liberated immediately, and in no case, 
 on any other pretence whatever, shall any American citizen 
 be kept in captivity or confinement, or the property of any 
 American citizen, found on board of any vessel belonging to 
 any other nation, with which Algiers may be at war, be 
 detained from its lawful owners after the exhibition of suf- 
 ficient proofs of American citizenship and of American. 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. S09 
 
 property by the consul of the United States, residing at Al- 
 
 giers 
 
 Art. 7. Proper passports shall immediately be given to 
 the vessels of both the contracting parties, on condition 
 that the vessels of war belonging to the Regency of Al- 
 giers, on meeting with merchant vessels belonging to the 
 citizens of the United States of America, shall not be per- 
 il jtnitted to visit them with more than two persons besides 
 the rowers ; these only shall be permitted to go on board, 
 withou* first obtaining leave from the commander of said 
 vessel, who shall compare the passport, and immediately 
 permit said vessel to proceed on her voyage ; and should 
 any cf the subjects of Algiers insult or molest the com- 
 mander or any other person on board a vessel so visited, or 
 plunder any of the property contained in her, on complain): 
 being made by the consul of the United States residing in 
 Algiers, and on his producing sufficient proof to substanti- 
 ate the fact, the commander of Rais of said Algerine ship 
 or vessel of war, as well as the offenders, shall be punished 
 in the most exemplary manner. 
 
 All vessels of war belonging to the United States of Amer- 
 ica, on meeting a cruiser belonging to the Regency of Al- 
 giers on having seen her passports and certificates from the- 
 consul of the United States, residing in Algiers, shall per- 
 mit her to proceed on her cruise unmolested, and without 
 detention. No passport shall be granted by either party to 
 any vessel, but such as arc absolutely the property of citi- 
 zens or subjects of the said contracting parties, on any pre- 
 tence whatever. 
 
 Jlrt. 8. A citizen or subject of either of the contracting 
 parties having bought a prize vessel condemned by the oth- 
 er party, or by any other nation, the certificates of con- 
 demnation and bill of sale shall be a sufficient passport for 
 such vessel for six montlis, which, considering the distance 
 between the two countries, is no more than a reasonable 
 time for her to procure proper passports. 
 
310 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 Art. 9. Vessels of either of the contracting parties, pat- 
 ting into the ports of the other, and having need "of provi- 
 sions or other supplies, shall be furnished at the market 
 price ; and if any such vessel should so put in from a dis- 
 tance at sea, and have occasion to repair, she shall be at 
 liberty to land and re-embark her cargo without paying any 
 customs or duties whatever ; but in no case shall she be com- 
 pelled to land her cargo. 
 
 Art. 10. Should a vessel of either of the contracting 
 parties be cast on shore within the territories of the other, 
 all proper assistance shall be given to her crew : no pillage 
 shall be allowed. The property shall remain at the dispos- 
 al of the owners, and if re-shipped on board of any vessel 
 for exportation, no customs or duties whatever shall be re- 
 quired to be paid thereon, and the crew shall be protected 
 and secured, until they can be sent to their own country. 
 
 Art. 11. If a vessel of either of the contracting parties 
 shall be attacked by an enemy within cannon shot of the forts 
 of the other, she shall be protected as much as possible. If 
 she be in port she shall not be seized or attacked, when it is 
 in the power of the other party to protect her ; and when she 
 proceeds to sea, no enemy shall be permitted to pursue her 
 from the same port, within twenty-four hours after her de- 
 parture. 
 
 Art. 12. The commerce between the United States of 
 America and the Regency of Algiers, the protections to be 
 given to merchants, masters of vessels, and seamen, the re- 
 ciprocal rights of establishing consuls in each country, and 
 the privileges, immunities and jurisdiction to be enjoyed by 
 such consuls, are declared to be on the same footing in eve- 
 ry respect with the most favoured nations respectively. 
 
 Art. 13. The consul of the United States of America shall 
 not be responsible for the debts contracted by citizens of his 
 own nation, unless he previously gives written obligations 
 so to do. 
 
 Art. 14. On a vessel or vessels of war, belonging to the 
 United States, anchoring before the city of Algiers, the con- 
 
NAVAL MONUMENT. 311 
 
 sul is to inform the Dey of her arrival, when she shall re- 
 ceive the salutes which are by treaty or custom given to the 
 ships of war of favoured nations, on similar occasions and 
 which shall be returned gun for gun ; and if after such ar- 
 rival, so announced, any Christians whatsoever, in Algiers, 
 make their escape and take refuge on board any of the ships 
 of war, they shall not be required back again, nor shall the 
 consul of the United States, or commander of said ships, 
 be required to pay any thing for the said Christians. 
 
 Art. 15. As the government of the United States of Amer- 
 ica has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, re- 
 ligion, or tranquility of any nation, and as the said States 
 have never entered into any voluntary war or act of hostili- 
 ty, except in defence of their just rights on the high seas, it 
 is declared by the contracting parties,that no pretext arising 
 from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption 
 of the harmony existing between the two nations ; and the 
 consuls and agents of both nations shall have liberty to cele- 
 brate the rites of their respective religions in their own 
 houses. 
 
 The consuls respectively shall have liberty and personal 
 security given them to travel within the territories of each 
 other both by land and sea, and shall not be prevented from 
 going on board any vessels they may think proper to visit ; 
 they shall likewise have the liberty to appoint their own 
 drogoman and broker. 
 
 Art. 16. In case of any dispute arising from the violation 
 of any of the articles of this treaty, no appeal shall be made 
 to arms, nor shall war be declared on any pretext whatever ; 
 but if the consul, residing at the place where the dispute 
 shall happen, shall not be able to settle the same, the gov- 
 ernment of that country shall state their grievance in writing, 
 and transmit the same to the government of the other, and 
 the period of three months shall be allowed for answers to 
 be returned, during which time no act of hostility shall be 
 permitted by either party ; and in case the grievances are 
 not redressed, and a war should be the event, the consul and 
 
312 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 citizens, and subjects of both parties respectively, shall be 
 permitted to embark with their effects unmolested, on board 
 of what vessel or vessels they shall think proper, reasona- 
 ble time being allowed for that purpose- 
 
 Art. 1 7. If in the course of events, a war should break out 
 between the two nations, the prisoners captured by either 
 party shall not be made slaves ; they shall not be forced to 
 hard labour, or other confinement than such as may be nec- 
 essary to secure their safe keeping, and shall be exchanged 
 rank for rank ; and it is agreed that prisoners shall be ex- 
 changed in twelve months after their capture, and the ex- 
 change may be effected by any private individual legally 
 authorized by either of the parties. 
 
 Art. 18. If any of thcBarbary states or other powers at war 
 with the United States, shall capture any American vessel 
 and send it into anv port of the Regency of Algiers, thev 
 shall not be permitted to sell her, but shall be forced to de- 
 part the port, o:i procuring the requisite supplies of provi- 
 sion : But the vessels of war of the United States, with any 
 prizes they may capture from their enemies shall have liberty 
 to frequent the port of Algiers, for refreshment of any kind 
 and to sell such prizes, in the said ports, without any other 
 customs or duties, than such as are customary on ordinary 
 commercial importation. 
 
 Art. 19. If anv of the citizens of the United States, or anv 
 person under their protection, shall have any disputes with 
 each otiier, the consul shall decide between the parties, and 
 whenever the consul shall require any aid or assistance from 
 the government of Algiers to inforce his decisions, it shall 
 be immediately granted to him ; and if any disputes shall 
 arise between any citizens of the United States and the citi- 
 zens or subjects of any other nation having consul or agent 
 in Algiers, such disputes shall be settled by the consuls or 
 agents of the respective nations ; and any disputes or suits at 
 law that may take place between any citizens of the United 
 States and the subjects of the Regency of Algiers, shall be 
 decided by the Dey in person and no other. 
 
1NAVAL MONUMENT. 313 
 
 Art. 20. Ifa citizen of the United States should kill, wound, 
 or strike a subject of Algiers, or, on the contrary a sub- 
 ject of Algiers should kill, wound, or strike a citizen of the 
 United States, the law of the country shall take place, and 
 equal justice shall be rendered, the consul assisting at the 
 trial ; but the sentence of punishment against an American 
 citizen shall not be greater, or more severe, than it would 
 be against a Turk in the same predicament, and if any de- 
 linquent should make his escape, the consul shall not be re- 
 sponsible for him in any manner whatever. 
 
 Art. 21. The consul of the United States of America shall 
 not be required to pay any custom or duties whatever on 
 any thing he imports for a foreign country for the use of his 
 house and family. 
 
 Art. 22. Should any of the citizens of the United States of 
 America die within the limits of the Regency of Algiers, the 
 Dey and his subjects shall not interfere with the property 
 of the deceased, but it shall be under the immediate direc- 
 tion of the consul, unless otherwise disposed of by will. 
 Should there be no consul, the effect shall be deposited in 
 the hands of some person worthy of trust, until the party 
 shall appear who has a right to demand them, when they 
 shall render an account of the property ; neither shall the 
 Dey or his subjects give hindrance in the execution of any 
 will that may appear. 
 
 Now therefore be it known, that I James Madison, Presi- 
 dent of the United States of America, having seen and con- 
 sidered the said Treaty, have by and with the advice and 
 consent of the Senate, accepted, ratified and confirmed the 
 same, and every clause and article thereof. 
 
 In testimony wherefore I have caused the seal of the Uni- 
 ted States to be hereunto affixed, and have signed the 
 (l. s.) same with my hand. Done at the City of Washing- 
 ton this twenty-sixth day of December, A. D. one 
 42 
 
314 
 
 NAVAL MONUMENT. 
 
 thousand eight hundred and fifteen, and of the Inde- 
 pendence of the United States the^fortieth. 
 
 JAMES; MADISON. 
 
 By tho President, JAMES MONROE, Secretary of State. 
 
 The following list comprises the names of all^the vessels 
 belonging to the United States navy in 1812, before the late 
 war with Great Britain. Those'marked in italics were lost 
 during the war. The Boston, burnt at Washington, was a 
 
 mere hulk, not worth 
 
 repair, 
 
 Jas'was also the JVe? 
 
 o York y 
 
 which escaped the flames. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Rate. 
 
 
 
 Rate. 
 
 Ship United States 
 
 - 44 
 
 Ship Hornet 
 
 - 
 
 - 18 
 
 President 
 
 .- 44 
 
 Wasp 
 
 - 
 
 - 18 
 
 Constitution - 
 
 - 44 
 
 Brig Adams 
 
 - 
 
 - 18 
 
 Chesapeake 
 
 - 86 
 
 Oneida 
 
 - 
 
 - 16 
 
 Constellation - 
 
 - 36 
 
 Syren 
 
 - 
 
 - 16 
 
 Congress 
 
 - 36 
 
 Jlrgus 
 
 - 
 
 - 16 
 
 New York - 
 
 - 32 
 
 Enterprize 
 
 - 
 
 - 14 
 
 Mams 
 
 - 42 
 
 Rattlesnake 
 
 - 
 
 - 14 
 
 Boston . - 
 
 - 32 
 
 Nautilus - 
 
 - 
 
 - 14 
 
 Essex 
 
 - 32 
 
 Vixen 
 
 - 
 
 - 14 
 
 John Adams - 
 
 - 24 
 
 Viper 
 
 - 
 
 - 12 
 
 Louisiana 
 
 - 18 
 
 Sch'r Vixen 
 
 _ 
 
 8 
 
 Besides gun-boats, bombs, &c. 
 
JSAVALi REGISTER FOR 1815. 
 
 Names and Rank. 
 
 ■ Dates of Com- 
 missions. 
 
 i n i [Dates of Com 
 Names and Rank. „•„„•„„_ 
 
 mission*. 
 
 CAPTAINS. 
 
 Alexander Murray 
 John Rodgers 
 James Barron 
 William Bainbridge 
 Hugh G. Campbell 
 Stephen Decatur 
 Thomas Tingey 
 Charles Stewart 
 Isaac Hull 
 Isaac Chauncey 
 John Shaw 
 John H. Dent 
 David Porter 
 John Cassin 
 Samuel Evans 
 Charles Gordon 
 Jacob Jones 
 Charles Morris 
 Joseph Tarbell No. 1 
 Arthur Sinclair No. 2 
 Oliver Hazard Perry 
 Thomas Macdonough 
 Lewis Warrington 
 Joseph Bainbridge 
 William Crane 
 Johnston Blakeley 
 James T. Leonard 
 James Biddle No. 1 
 Chs. G. Ridgley No. 2 
 R. T. Spence No. 3 
 Dan. T. Patterson 
 
 MASTERS COM- 
 MANDANT. 
 
 Samuel Angus No. 4 
 M. T. Woolsey No. 7 
 J. O. Creighton No. 9 
 Ed. Trenchard No. 10 
 John Downes No. 11 
 J. D. Henley No. 14 
 Jesse D.Elliott No. 15 
 Robert Henley 
 Stephen Cassin 
 
 1 July 
 
 5 March 
 
 22 May 
 20 do 
 16 Oct 
 16 Feb 
 
 23 Nov 
 
 22 April 
 
 23 do 
 
 24 do 
 
 27 Aug 
 2,9 Dec 
 
 2 July 
 
 3 do 
 
 4 July 
 
 2 March 
 
 3 do 
 
 5 do 
 24 July 
 24 do 
 
 10 Sept 
 
 11 do 
 
 22 Nov 
 
 23 do 
 
 24 do 
 
 25 do 
 
 4 Feb 
 
 28 do 
 2S do 
 28 do 
 2S do 
 
 24 July, 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 12 Aug 
 11 Sept 
 
 179S 
 1799 
 
 t 
 
 1800 
 
 6 
 
 1S04 
 
 C 
 
 1S06 
 
 1S07 
 1811 
 1812 
 
 1812 
 1813 
 
 1814 
 
 1815 
 
 1S13 
 
 |Dan'l S. Dexter No. 1 
 I James RenshawNo. 2 
 I David Deacon No. 3 
 JLewis Alexis No. 4 
 |M. B. Carroll No. 
 I Sidney Smith 
 Thomas Brown 
 William Lewis 
 
 LIEUTENANTS. 
 
 1814 
 
 10 Dec 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 
 4 Feb 
 28 do 
 
 1 March 
 
 3 do 
 
 1814 
 
 1815 
 
 Nathaniel Haraden 31 March 
 
 Francis I. Mitchell 18 Feb 
 
 George Merrill 30 April 
 Samuel Woodhouse 4 May 
 
 Chs. C. B. Thompson 15 do 
 
 Joseph Nicholson 15 June 
 
 Alex. S. Wadsworth 21 April 
 
 John Pettigrew 22 do 
 
 George W. Rodgers 24 do 
 
 George C. Read 25 do 
 
 Henry E. Ballard 26 do 
 
 Thomas Gamble 27 do 
 
 William Carter, Jr. 28 do 
 B. I. Neale No. 2 4 June 
 J. I. Nicholson No. 3 4 do 
 Walter Stewart No. 4 4 do 
 
 Wolcott Chauncey \ 7 do 
 John H. Elton 8 do 
 
 Edmund P. Kennedy 9 do 
 
 Jesse Wilkinson 10 do 
 
 Alexander J. Dallas 13 do 
 
 John B. Nicholson 20 May 
 
 Bekman V. Hoffman 21 do 
 
 George Budd 23 do 
 
 Thomas A. C. Jones 24 do 
 Joseph S. Macpherson 26 do 
 
 John Porter 27 do 
 
 John T. Shubrick 2S do 
 William Finch 4 Jan 
 
 William B. Shubrick 5 do 
 Henry Wells 6 do 
 
 Benjamin W. Booth 7 do 
 Alexander Claxton 8 do 
 
 1807 
 1809 
 
 1810 
 
 1812 
 
 1813 
 
316 
 
 NAVAL REGISTER. 
 
 Names and Rank. 
 
 I Dates of Com- 
 missions. 
 
 Names and Rank. 
 
 j Dates of Com- 
 missions. 
 
 Enos R. Davis 
 Charles W. Morgan 
 Samuel P. Macomber 
 Kaymond H. J. Perry 
 Lawrence Kearney 
 William H. Watson 
 Thomas Hendry, Jr. 
 Foxall A. Parker 
 Edward R. M'Call 
 Daniel Turner 
 
 Wm.H. Allen No. l| 24 July 
 S. D. M'Knight No. 2 24 do 
 David Cannon No. 3 24 do 
 John Gallagher No. 4 24 do 
 Thomas Holdup No. 5 24 do 
 Jas. A. Dudley No. 7 24 do 
 Jas. P. Oellers No. 8 1 24 do 
 Wm. M. Hunter No. 9|24 do 
 John D. Sloat No. 10 24 do 
 
 IS 
 No. 19 
 No. 21 
 No. 22 
 
 John Packett No. 
 W.H.Cocke No. 
 J. J. Yarnall No. 
 Mat. C. Perry No. 
 
 C. W. Skinner No. 15 
 Joseph Wragg No. 16 
 James Sanders No. 17 
 James Reilly No. 
 S. W. Adams 
 J. R. Madison 
 
 D. Taylor 
 
 George Pierce No. 23 
 Fred.W. Smith No. 24 
 H.S.NewcombNo. 25 
 N.D.Nicholson No. 26 
 T. Tillinghast No. 27 j 
 OthoNorris No. 29124 do 
 J. T. Newton No. 30 24 do 
 P.A.J.P. Jones No. 3l|24 do 
 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 1424 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 
 Samuel Henlev No. 32 
 
 A. Conckling No. 33 
 Joseph Smith No. 34 
 L. Rousseau No. 36 
 G. W. Storer No. 37 
 Henry B. Rapp No. 40 
 Lewis German No. 41 
 Joseph Cassin No. 42 
 Rob. M. Rose No. 43 
 
 B. Kennon No. 44 
 Edward Shubrick 
 Charles A. Budd 
 Francis II. Gregory 
 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 9 Oct 
 \8 June 
 28 do 
 
 10 May 1813!j\Vm H. Odenheimer 
 
 3 March ' / Edward Barnewell 
 
 4 do ' j.Tohn M. Maury* 
 
 5 do I ! Frederick Baury 
 
 6 do I {Benjamin Cooper 
 ' 7 do [Philip F Voorhees 
 I 8 do [Henry Gilliam 
 I 9 do ' John II. Clack 
 ill do William h Salter 
 112 do William A.Spencer 
 
 ■ William L Gordon 
 David Geisinger 
 Richard Winter 
 John T Wade 
 John Percival 
 James Ramage 
 William V. Taylor 
 Mervine Mix" 
 Thomas M. Newell 
 Edward Haddaway 
 Charles F. M'Cawley 
 JohnH Bell 
 Dulany Forrest 
 Bladen Dulany 
 Tho. W Magr'nder 
 Francis B. Gamble 
 Richard Dashiel 
 John Tayloe 
 George B M'Culloch 
 Robert Spedder 
 Thomas T Webb 
 (Walter G. Anderson 
 Stephen Champlin 
 [Charier T Stallings 
 James M'Gowan 
 William Lowe 
 E A. F Vallette 
 John II. Aulick 
 Charles T. Clarke 
 Silas Duncan 
 Thomas Cunningham 
 Isaac M'Keeper 
 Robert F. Stockton 
 Nat L. Montgomery 
 Walter N.Monteath 
 A. C. Stout 
 Silas II. Stringham 
 George Vancleave 
 Paul Zantzinger 
 1 John W. Gibbs 
 i John T. Drury 
 
 commissions 
 
 * The relative rank of those officers whose 
 of December, IS 14, has not been established 
 
 16 July 1S14 
 22 do 
 9 Dec 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9dd 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 
 are dated the 9th 
 
NAVAL REGISTER. 
 
 S\l 
 
 .- , u„„7. I Dates of Com- 
 
 J\ames ana Kunh. . „..__.. J ._ 
 
 Charles E. Cowley 
 William Laughton 
 Nelson Webster 
 Wm A. C. Farragut 
 Richard G. Edwards 
 William Merwin 
 William K. Latimer 
 Gustavus W. Spooner 
 Isaac Mayo 
 William H. Brailsford 
 William Elliott 
 Thomas Crabb 
 Edward B. Babbit 
 George Hamersley 
 
 SURGEONS. 
 
 Edward Cutbush 
 Peter St. Medard 
 Samuel R. Marshall 
 Lewis Ileerman 
 Joseph G. P. Hunt 
 Jonathan Cowdery 
 Samuel D. Heap 
 Robert L. Thorn 
 Samuel R. Trevett, Jr. 
 Wm P. C. Barton 
 Joseph W. New 
 Joseph S. Schoolfield 
 George Logan 
 Amos A. Evans 
 Robert Morrell 
 Robert S. Kearney 
 James Page 
 John D. M'Reynolds 
 Thomas Harris 
 William Turk No 1 
 Hyde Ray No 
 
 William Baldwin No 
 Wr. W.Buchanan No 
 
 1S14 
 
 missions. 
 JFDecT 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 
 do 
 
 Feb. 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 4 do 
 1 May 
 
 5 do 
 
 24 June. 1799 
 
 14 July, 
 
 16 Jan. 1800 
 27 Nov. 1804 
 27 do ' 
 
 27 do 
 
 27 do 
 3 March, 18091 
 3 do 
 
 28 April, 
 18 June, 
 
 15 do 
 
 14 April, 1810 
 
 20 do 
 
 31 May 
 
 28 July, « 
 
 5 March, IS 11 
 2 Oct. 
 
 6 July, 1312 
 24 July, 1813 
 
 Names and Rank. 
 
 Dates of Com- 
 missions. 
 
 jSamuel Horsley 
 i Robert C. Randolph 
 j Charles B. Hamilton 
 I Usher Parsons 
 j William Swift 
 1815; ' J- M S O. Conway 
 j j Richard K Hoffman 
 |Richmond Johnson 
 Thomas B Salter 
 
 15 April, 
 15 da ■ 
 15 do 
 15 d» 
 
 15 do 
 |27 June, 
 
 16 July, 
 
 1 March, 
 22 May, 
 
 1814 
 
 surgeons' mates. I 
 
 Ik 
 
 Samuel Ayer No 
 
 E L. Lavrton No 
 
 Charles Cotton No 
 Gerard Dayers No 
 William Caton No 
 Robert A. Barton No 10 
 Benj P. Kissam No 11 
 John A Kearney No 13 
 Richard C. Edgar No 14 
 B. Washington No 15 
 Wm. M. Clarke No 16 
 Tho's Chidester No 17 
 Jas Indervvicke No 18 
 Geo. T. Kennon No 19 
 Walter W. New I 
 
 Oct. 
 
 John Harrison 
 Stith Lewis 
 I Gustavus R. Brown 
 j Manuel Philips 
 ; William Barnwell 
 ; William Belt 
 j Donaldson Yeates 
 John D. Armstrong 
 William C Whittlesey 
 Peter Christie 
 (John Young, Jr. 
 (Samuel Jackson 
 Andrew B. Cook 
 James C Garrison 
 E. D. Morrison No 2 
 Horatio S. Waring No 3 
 John H. Gordon, Acting 
 Surgeon No 5 
 
 Samuel M Kissam No 6 
 Leonard Osborne No 7 
 Tho's Williamson No 9 
 John Dix No 10 
 
 Benj. Austin. Jr. No 15 
 Thomas Cadle 
 Leuco Mitchell 
 Silas D. Wickes 
 Isaac Baldwin, Jr No 19 
 Wilmot F.Rogers No 20 
 Thomas Rogerson 
 George S. Sproston 
 John C Richardson 
 John W. Peaco 
 Archimedes Smith 
 Ale'r M. Montgomery 
 Oliver LeChevalier 
 William Butler 
 Thomas M*Kissoch 
 John Wise 
 Thomas I H. Cush 
 John II Steel 
 S B. Whittington 
 i Francis Gerrish 
 I Edward Woodward 
 
 No 16 
 No 17 
 
 No 18 
 
 ins 
 
 16 Jan. 
 23 do 
 
 1 March, 
 18 July, 
 28 do 
 
 23 Sept. 
 14 May, 
 27 do 
 
 7 July, 
 
 8 do 
 
 9 do 
 10 do 
 
 21 Dec. 
 
 22 do 
 
 24 July, 
 24 do 
 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 
 24 do 
 
 25 Oct. 
 8 Nov. 
 
 17 May, 
 
 23 June, 
 5 July, 
 
 16 do 
 10 Dec. 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 
 1815 
 
 1805 
 1S09 
 
 1810 
 1S11 
 1812 
 
 1813 
 
 1814 
 
31 S 
 
 NAVAL REGISTER. 
 
 Names and Rank. 
 
 Benjamin A. Welles 
 Frederick P. Markhain 
 William D. Conway 
 James N. Turnstale 
 Davis G. Tuck 
 Robert C. Wardle 
 James Norris 
 Thomas C. Gardner 
 William F. Bradbury 
 Benajah Tickner 
 William P. Jones 
 Thomas G. Peachy 
 John Mairs 
 John M'Adam 
 John S. Mershon 
 Charles Chase 
 Thomas V. Wiesentbal 
 George B. Doane 
 Amos King 
 Pliny Morton 
 Benjamin S Tyler 
 Nathaniel Miller 
 William Burchmore 
 Solomon D. Townsend 
 Richard Derby, Jr. 
 John R. Martin, acting 
 
 Surgeon 
 James R. Boyce, acting 
 
 Surgeon's Mate 
 David H. Fraser, acting 
 
 Surgeon's Mate 
 
 PURSERS. 
 
 Isaac Garreston 
 ClernentS. Hunt 
 Gwinn Harris 
 John H. Care 
 Nathaniel Lyde 
 James R. Wilson 
 Samuel Robertson 
 Samuel Hambleton 
 Robert C. Ludlow 
 Robert Pottinger 
 John B. Timberlake 
 Thomas I. Chew 
 Thomas Shields 
 Richard C Archer 
 Lewis Deblois 
 George S. Wise 
 Francis A. Thornton 
 Edwin T. Satteiwhite 
 James M Halsey 
 Edward Fitzgerald 
 Alexander P. Darragh 
 
 Dates of Com- 
 missions. 
 
 10 Dec. 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 10 do 
 
 6 Jan. 
 10 do 
 
 3 May, 
 
 3 do 
 
 9 May, 
 10 Jan. 
 21 Feb. 
 
 25 April, 
 25 do 
 25 do 
 25 do 
 25 do 
 25 do 
 25 do 
 25 do 
 25 do 
 25 do 
 25 do 
 25 do 
 25 do 
 25 do 
 25 do 
 25 do 
 25 do 
 25 do 
 25 do 
 25 do 
 25 do 
 
 1814 
 
 IS 
 
 Names and Rank 
 
 15 
 
 1812 
 
 (Edward W. Turner 
 iRobertOrmshy 
 i Henry Dennison 
 I Ludlow Dashwood 
 I WilliamS. Rogers 
 Henry Fry 
 John R. Shaw 
 Samuel P. Todd 
 Nathaniel W/Rothwell 
 George Beall 
 James H. Clark 
 William P. Zantzinger 
 Joseph North 
 Joseph Wilson. Jr. 
 Herman Thorn 
 Thomas Waine 
 Lewis Faircbild 
 John S. Skinner 
 Joseph B. Wilkinson 
 Ezekiel Solomon 
 Benjamin F. Bourne 
 William Sinclair 
 Richard T. Timberlake 
 Samuel Livermore 
 Matthew C. Atvvood 
 Gerome K. Spence 
 Melancton W. Bostwick 
 John N. Todd 
 Timothy Winn 
 William M. Sands 
 Thomas Breese 
 Joseph II. Terry, acting 
 Purser 
 
 CHAPLAINS. 
 
 Andrew Hunter 
 David P Adams 
 John Cook 
 William H. Briscoe 
 < "olden Cooper 
 fheever Felch 
 A. Y. Humpreys, acting 
 Chaplain 
 
 Bates of Com- 
 missions. 
 
 25 April, 1812 
 25 do ' 
 
 25 do ' 
 
 25 do ' 
 
 26 Feb. 1813 
 
 27 do 
 
 27 do ' 
 
 1 March, < 
 
 2 do 
 24 July, 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 24 do 
 
 24 do ' 
 
 26 March, 1814 
 26 do 
 26 do 
 26 do 
 26 do 
 26 do 
 26 do 
 
 26 do ' 
 
 S April, 
 
 16 July, ' 
 
 1 March, 1815 
 
 17 May, 
 20 tlo " 
 
 8 July, 
 
 MIDSHIPMEN. 
 
 5 March, 1811 
 
 10 May, 
 19 do" 
 
 11 July, 
 24 April, 
 
 12 May, 
 
 1812 
 
 isir. 
 
 Adams. James 
 Adam, Robert 
 Armstrong James 
 Alexander, Albert A- 
 Abbot, Walter 
 Allison, William K. 
 Abbot, Joel 
 Avery. George 
 i \shbridge Joseph II 
 
 I, 
 
 ; 1 6 Jan 
 IS May, 
 ,. 15 Nov. 
 1 Sept. 
 1 Jan. 
 1 do 
 do 
 28 do 
 14 Aug 
 
 I 
 
 1S09 
 
 1811 
 
 1S12 
 
 1813 
 
NAVAL RFGISTER. 
 
 319 
 
 Names and Rank. 
 
 Dates of Com- 
 missions. 
 
 Adams, Henry A. 
 Andrews, Alexr.M'Kim 
 Armistead, Robert 
 Allen, William H. 
 Alexander, Nathaniel 
 Armstrong, William II. 
 Abbot, Thomas C. 
 Adams, Roderick R. 
 Bond, Samuel 
 Brown, Thomas S. 
 Brown, I. A. D. 
 Berry, William 
 Breeze, Samuel L Jl.L. 
 Boarman, Charles 
 Belt, William I. 
 Belches, John A. A. L. 
 Berry, Charles 
 Boerum, William 
 Barron, Samuel 
 Bryden, John 
 Bowyer, Thomas H, 
 Bryan, Benjamin 
 Beatty, Horatio 
 Brashears, Richard 
 Ballinger, Franklin 
 Baldwin, William 
 Bonneville, Thomas N. 
 Baker, Yorrick 
 Bell, William H. 
 Ball, Eliphalet 
 Biglow, Abraham 
 Boden, William 
 Benson, John C. 
 Beck, Samuel 
 Baldwin, Russell 
 Brown, Thomas H. 
 Bruce, Henry 
 Bnbier, John 
 Byrne, Edmund 
 Bird, John D. 
 Benham, Timothy G. 
 Brewster, Benjamin 
 Branch, Cyius A. 
 Bartholomew, Benjamin 
 Barr, James 
 Babbidge, John P. 
 Boughan, James 
 Buchanan, Franklin 
 Bainbridge, Arthur 
 Boardley, John M. 
 Bowman, Joseph 
 Cutler, William 
 Chaille, William H. 
 Caton, Richard, Jr. 
 
 14 March, 1814 
 
 13 April, 
 
 30 July, 
 
 30 Nov. 
 
 30 do « 
 
 30 do ' 
 
 6 Dec. 
 
 2 March, 
 20 Jan. 
 17 Dec. 
 17 do 
 17 do 
 17 do 
 
 9 June, 
 
 1 Sept. 
 
 do 
 do 
 
 1 do 
 
 Jan. 
 do 
 do 
 do 
 do 
 do 
 1 do 
 1 do 
 1 do 
 18 July, 
 18 do 
 18 do 
 18 do 
 18 do 
 22 Aug. 
 12 April, 
 17 May, 
 9 Nov. 
 9 do 
 9 do 
 1 Feb. 
 
 16 April, 
 30 Nov. 
 30 do 
 30 do 
 30 do 
 30 do 
 30 do 
 1 1 Jan. 
 28 do 
 22 Feb. 
 
 7 March, 
 
 8 July, 
 15 Nov 
 
 17 Dec. 
 
 9 June, 
 
 1815 
 1806 
 
 1810 
 
 1811 
 
 1S12 
 
 1813 
 
 1814 
 
 1815 
 
 1809 
 1810 
 1811 
 
 Names and Bank. 
 
 I Cross, Joseph 
 Caldwell, Charles II. 
 Cook, John A. 
 Chauncey, John S. 
 Conover, Thomas A. 
 Campbell, Archibald 
 Cranston, Robert 
 ( imy, Lodowick 
 Cornwall, Joseph S. 
 Cuthbert, Lachlan 
 Cocke, Harrison 
 Childs, Enos 
 Curtis, James F. 
 Cambreling, John P. 
 Carter, Nathaniel, Jr. 
 Cooke, John, Jr. 
 Connor, James 
 Cutts, James M 
 Curtis, Thomas B. 
 'Cummings, John L. 
 I Carpenter, Edward 
 I Carpenter, Benjamin 
 iChannings, John M. 
 j Carter, Hill 
 Cutts, Augustus 
 iCottineau, Hercules 
 |Chew,John (orBenj.) 
 I Carson, Robert 
 Conyngham, David 
 ■ Cochran, Joshua W. 
 Cannon, Joseph S. 
 Campbell, James 
 Colter, James 
 Cunningham, Robert B, 
 Corlis, Charles 
 Collier, John 
 Cutts, Joseph 
 Coxe, James S. 
 Childs, Charles B. 
 Cochran, Richard 
 Cambridge, William E. 
 Crowninshield, Jacob 
 Clinton, James H. 
 Doyle, Thomas 
 De Hart, Gosen 
 De Lion, Abraham 
 Dowse, Edward 
 Dayton, T. W. H. 
 Downing, Samuel W. 
 Dulany, James W. 
 De Vaux, Maximilian 
 Dunham, Peleg K. 
 Davis, Oscar 
 Dale, John Montgomery 
 
 Dates of 
 
 Com- 
 
 missions. 
 
 9 June, 
 
 1811 
 
 1 Sept. 
 1 Jan. 
 
 E 
 
 1812 
 
 1 do 
 
 
 1 do 
 
 
 1 do 
 
 
 1 do 
 
 
 1 do 
 
 
 1 do 
 
 
 1 do 
 
 
 18 June, 
 
 
 18 do 
 
 
 18 do 
 
 
 18 do 
 
 
 18 do 
 
 
 IS do 
 
 
 18 do 
 
 
 18 do 
 
 
 28 Sept. 
 8 Oct. 
 
 
 10 July, 
 
 1813 
 
 10 do 
 
 
 9 Nov. 
 
 
 9 do 
 
 
 9 do 
 
 
 9 do 
 
 
 1 Feb. 
 
 1S14 
 
 1 do 
 
 
 1 do 
 
 
 1 do 
 
 
 26 do 
 
 
 30 Nov. 
 
 
 30 do 
 
 
 30 do 
 
 
 30 do 
 
 
 30 do 
 
 
 6 Dec. 
 
 
 10 Jan. 
 
 1S15 
 
 28 do 
 
 
 7 Feb. 
 
 
 6 March, 
 
 
 11 do 
 
 
 24 April, 
 
 4 July, 
 
 15 Nov. 
 
 1805 
 1809 
 
 17 Dec. 
 
 1810 
 
 17 do 
 
 C 
 
 1 Sept. 
 1 do 
 
 1811 
 
 1 do 
 
 C 
 
 1 do 
 
 K 
 
 1 Jan. 
 
 1812 
 
 1 Feb. 
 
 C 
 
 18 June, 
 
320 
 
 NAVAL REGISTER. 
 
 Names and Rank, 
 
 Dobbin, James H. 
 Dennis. John, Jr. 
 Daily, Thomas W. 
 Derby, Charles P. 
 De Sanssure, Daniel S. 
 Davis, Owen 
 Downing, Mahlon M. 
 Dominick, Kichard 
 Duzenberry, Samuel 
 Dangorfield, William 
 Dana, Charles 
 De Wolf, Francis L. 
 Dodd, George D. 
 Davezac, deCastera G, 
 Delany, Hugh 
 Dyson, Henry 
 Dodge, Edwin I. 
 Dornin, Thomas 
 Eli, Guy 
 Egerton, Richard 
 Essex, Edwin 
 Evans, John 
 Eastburn, Joseph 
 Elzy, James 
 Eskridge, Alexander 
 Ellery, Frank 
 Eakin, Samuel A. 
 Ellery, Charles 
 Emmet Christopher T. 
 Engle, Frederick 
 Field, Ambrose 
 Farragut, David G. 
 Forrest, French 
 Fitzhugh, Andrew 
 Freeman, Edgar 
 Field, Robert 
 Fischer, John D. 
 Freelon, T. W. 
 Fenimore, Thomas E. 
 Freeman, James M. 
 Follet, Benjamin 
 Goodwin, John D. 
 Gwinn, John A. L. 
 Greenwell, Edward 
 Gibbon, Frederick S. 
 Gaunt, Charles 
 Goodwyn, Peterson 
 Griffin, Allen 
 Gray, Henry 
 Greenlaw, James 
 Goodrum, James 
 Graham, John H. 
 Goldsborongh, Lewis M. 
 Gilmeyer, Jacob 
 
 Dates of Com- 
 missions. 
 
 TsTi 
 
 £ 
 
 1813 
 
 18 June, 
 18 do 
 
 9 Nov. 
 
 9 do 
 
 9 do 
 
 1 Feb. 
 
 8 March, 
 30 April, 
 16 July, 
 30 Nov. 
 30 do 
 
 30 do 
 30 do 
 30 do 
 30 do 
 
 1 Jan. 
 18 do 
 
 2 May, 
 
 16 Jan. 
 15 Nov. 
 15 do 
 
 17 Dec. 
 
 9 June, 
 1 Sept. 
 1 Jan. 
 
 1 do 
 IS June, 
 
 8 March, 
 lOct. 
 
 6 Dec. 
 1 Dec. 
 
 17 do 
 
 9 June, 
 9 do 
 
 9 do 
 1 Sept. 
 
 15 June, 
 
 18 do 
 20 Feb. 
 24 May, 
 
 6 Dec. 
 
 16 Jan. 
 18 May, 
 
 9 June, 
 
 9 do 
 
 1 Sept. 
 
 1 Jan. 
 
 1 do 
 
 1 do 
 18 Juno, 
 18 do 
 18 do 
 IS do 
 
 1 Jan. 
 
 1814 
 
 1815 
 
 1809 
 
 1S10 
 1S11 
 
 c 
 
 1812 
 
 1S14 
 
 1809 
 1810 
 1811 
 
 c 
 
 < 
 
 c 
 1812 
 
 C 
 
 1813 
 1814 
 
 1809 
 
 1811 
 
 1812 
 
 1813! 
 
 Names and Ra7ik. 
 
 Dates of Com- \ 
 
 
 missions. 
 
 Greeves, Thomas 
 
 9 Nov. 
 
 1813 i 
 
 Goodwin, Daniel 
 
 30 do 
 
 1814. 
 
 Grimke, Benj. Secundus 
 
 30 do 
 
 « 
 
 (Green, Willis M. 
 
 30 do 
 
 £ 
 
 JGerry, Thomas R. 
 
 6 Dec. 
 
 £ 
 
 Gardner, Walter 
 
 6 do 
 
 t 
 
 Gardner, William H. 
 
 6 do 
 
 t 
 
 Gaillard, Daniel S. 
 
 1 Feb. 
 
 1815 
 
 Gedney, Thomas R. 
 
 4 March 
 
 i 
 
 Humphrevs, Julius 
 
 16 Jan. 
 
 1809 
 
 Hill, John, Jr. A. L. 
 
 6 Feb. 
 
 £ 
 
 Hall, Warren 
 
 17 Dec. 
 
 1810 
 
 Heath, Richard 
 
 17 do 
 
 C 
 
 Haslett, Andrew 
 
 17 do 
 
 « 
 
 Harrison, Thomas P. 
 
 9 June, 
 
 1811 
 
 Hedges, F. E. 
 
 9 do 
 
 £ 
 
 Hunter, Richard 
 
 1 Sept. 
 
 C 
 
 Harper, William J. 
 
 1 do 
 
 1812 
 
 Higgins, Jesse 
 
 1 Jan. 
 
 C 
 
 Harrison, Benjamin 
 
 1 do 
 
 c 
 
 Hall, William 
 
 1 do 
 
 £ 
 
 Harper, Joseph E. 
 
 4 June, 
 
 c 
 
 Hunter, Moses 
 
 18 do 
 
 c 
 
 Hunter, David 
 
 IS do 
 
 c 
 
 House, William 
 
 IS do 
 
 6 
 
 Higinbothom, Delozier 
 
 18 do 
 
 6 
 
 Harby, Levi 
 
 IS do 
 
 * 
 
 Hardy, I. C. 
 
 18 do 
 
 i. 
 
 Hamilton, Edward W. 
 
 18 do 
 
 e 
 
 Hodges, James 
 
 9 Nov. 
 
 1813 
 
 Hall, A. S. 
 
 9 do 
 
 C 
 
 Hull, Joseph 
 
 9 do 
 
 ' 
 
 Handy, Thomas B. 
 
 28 Jan. 
 
 1814 
 
 Howell, John F. 
 
 1 Feb. 
 
 c 
 
 Hunter, George W. 
 
 1 do 
 
 c 
 
 Hollins, George N. 
 
 1 do 
 
 c 
 
 Hopkins, John L. 
 
 26 do 
 
 £ 
 
 Hart, Ezekiel B. 
 
 30 April, 
 
 6 
 
 Hayes, Thomas 
 
 16 June, 
 
 < 
 
 Heth, John 
 
 25 do 
 
 4- 
 
 Homer, William H. 
 
 30 Nov. 
 
 « 
 
 Horton, Samuel 
 
 30 do 
 
 C 
 
 Hunter, Harry D. 
 
 30 do 
 
 t 
 
 Harvey, William 
 
 30 do 
 
 £ 
 
 Hunt, John 
 
 30 do 
 
 C 
 
 Harris, John L. 
 
 30 do 
 
 C 
 
 Harris, William S. 
 
 30 do 
 
 c 
 
 Hobart, George 
 
 6 Dec. 
 
 t 
 
 Hoffman, Ogden 
 
 31 do 
 
 t 
 
 Howard, William L. 
 
 10 Jan. 
 
 1815 
 
 Hobbs, Hubbard II. 
 
 4 March, 
 
 ' 
 
 Jones, Charles 
 
 6 July, 
 
 1S03 
 
 Jasper, William 
 
 1 Jan. 
 
 1808 
 
 Johns, Enoch H. 
 
 16 do 
 
 1809 
 
NAVAL REGISTER 
 
 321 
 
 .Vames and Rank, \ Dat °?°f° om -\\ Wame, and Rank. \ Dates °f Com 
 
 missions. 
 
 Jamesson, William 
 Inman, William 
 Jackson, James T. 
 Isaacs, G. W. 
 Jarvis, Joseph R. 
 Jamesson, Skeffington 
 Jones, Richard A. 
 Ingraham, Duncan N. 
 Israel, Israel 
 Jarrett, Frederick 
 Jones, Walter F. 
 Justin, Joshua H. 
 Johnson, Edward S. 
 Jacobs, Edward 
 Keene, Lewis 
 Kuhn, Adam S. 
 Kelle, John 
 Keasbey, John R. 
 Knight, James D. 
 Keogh, Matthew 
 Lacv, Charles 
 Linch, Green 
 Lewis, John I. H. 
 Lecompte, Charles 
 Ludlow, James H. 
 Luckett, John M. 
 Lee, William A. 
 Lowe, Enoch 
 Leib, Thomas I. 
 Latimer, Arthur 
 Loveday, John 
 Lecompte, Samuel 
 Luf borough, Alex. W. 
 Lewis, William G. 
 Leverett, George H. 
 Long, John C. 
 Langdon, Henry S. Jr. 
 Lee, John H. 
 Lansing, Edward A. 
 Legare, James E. 
 Lovell, H. S. 
 Lord, William R. 
 Lyman, James R. 
 Lassalle, Stephen B. 
 Lowndes, Charles 
 Livingston, Richard P. 
 Myers, William 
 Motley, A. 
 M'Kinney, Wm. E. 
 M'Neir, Thomas 
 Morris, James L. 
 Mazyck, P. R. 
 M'Alister, John 
 M'Chesoey, William 
 
 1 Sept. 
 
 1 Jan. 
 
 1 do 
 
 ldo 
 18 June, 
 18 do 
 
 15 do 
 18 do 
 
 9 Nov. 
 
 8 March, 
 11 June, 
 30 Nov. 
 30 do 
 
 30 do 
 
 1 Jan. 
 
 1 Feb. 
 
 1 do 
 
 4 Nov. 
 30 do 
 
 6 Dec. 
 
 16 Jan. 
 
 16 do 
 15 May, 
 18 do 
 15 Nov. 
 
 17 Dec. 
 
 9 June, 
 1 Sept. 
 1 do 
 
 1 Jan. 
 ldo 
 4 June, 
 
 18 do 
 18 do 
 18 do 
 18 do 
 
 15 do 
 18 do 
 18 do 
 18 do 
 
 9 Nov. 
 1 Feb. 
 
 16 July, 
 4 Nov. 
 
 18 March, 
 29 do 
 16 Jan. 
 16 do 
 
 9 June, 
 
 9 do 
 
 9 do 
 
 9 do 
 
 1 Sept. 
 
 1 do 
 
 43 
 
 1S11 
 1812 
 
 1813 
 1814 
 
 1812 
 
 1814 
 
 1S09 
 
 1810 
 
 1811 
 
 1812 
 
 1813 
 1S14 
 
 1815 
 
 4 
 
 1809 
 
 C 
 
 1811 
 
 c 
 I 
 I 
 
 1811 
 
 M'Caw, John 
 M'Cawley, George 
 Mitchell, Robert 
 M'Intosh, James M'K 
 Minchin, Charles W. 
 M'Cluney, William 
 M'Clean, William 
 Mackall, Richard 
 Mott, William H. 
 M'Neil, Archibald 
 Morales, Joseph 
 Montgomery, John B. 
 Mitchell, David 
 Mason, James 
 M'Clintock, Henry 
 Mackey, Daniel H. 
 Moorehead, Joseph 
 M'Rorie, D. W. 
 M'Cauley. Daniel S. 
 Moore, Sharp D. 
 Mahoney, Michael 
 Mattison, Joseph 
 M'Kean, Wm. W. 
 M'Kenzie, William 
 M'Intosh, William A. 
 Marchand, Nicholas 
 Myers, Joseph 
 Mercer, Samuel 
 Martin, Robert F. 
 Nicholson, James 
 Nichols, Robert 
 Nicholson, James 
 Newcomb, Walter 
 Nixon, Z. W. 
 Newton, Henry C, 
 Nicholson, Wm. C. 
 Newman, Wm. D. 
 Nones, J. B. 
 Nicholson, Wm. B. 
 Nelson, Armistead 
 Nicholas, John S. 
 Olmstead, Edward 
 Ogden, Henry 
 Oneale, Richard 
 Overton, Patrick H. 
 Patton, George 
 Page, Benjamin 
 Perry, James Alex- 
 Paulding, Hiram 
 Pottinger. William 
 Page, KughN. 
 Patter, Richard M. 
 Pendergrast, Garret 
 Peitigrew, Thomas 
 
 missions. 
 
 1 Sep. 1811 
 1 do 
 
 1 do 
 
 « 
 
 1 do 
 
 4 
 
 1 Jan. 
 
 1812 
 
 1 do 
 
 < 
 
 1 do 
 
 ( 
 
 1 do 
 
 4 
 
 1 do 
 
 4 
 
 1 do 
 
 « 
 
 1 do 
 
 i 
 
 4 June, 
 
 4 
 
 18 do 
 
 i 
 
 18 do 
 
 4 
 
 IS do 
 
 4 
 
 16 April, 
 9 do 
 
 181S 
 
 I 
 
 1 Feb. 
 
 1S14 
 
 1 do 
 
 « 
 
 18 July, 
 30 Nov. 
 
 4 
 4 
 
 30 do ' 
 
 4 
 
 30 do 
 
 4 
 
 30 do 
 
 4 
 
 30 do 
 
 4 
 
 30 do 
 
 4 
 
 6 Dec. 
 
 { 
 
 4 March 
 
 1815 
 
 2 May, 
 1 Dec. 
 
 4 
 
 1809 
 
 1 Sept. 
 
 1811 
 
 1 Jan. 
 
 1812 
 
 1 do 
 
 < 
 
 18 June, 
 
 4 
 
 18 do 
 
 i 
 
 IS do 
 
 4 
 
 1 Feb. 
 
 1814 
 
 1 do 
 
 4 
 
 17 March, 
 
 4 
 
 10 Nov. 
 
 4 
 
 6 June, 
 
 1815 
 
 17 Dec. 
 
 1S10 
 
 1 Sept. 
 1 Jan. 
 
 1811 
 
 1812 
 
 30 Nov. 
 
 1814 
 
 15 Nov. 
 
 1809 
 
 17 Dec. 
 
 1810 
 
 9 June, 
 
 1811 
 
 1 Sept. 
 1 do 
 
 4 
 4 
 
 1 do 
 
 4 
 
 1 Jan. 
 
 1812 
 
 1 do 
 
 C 
 
 1 do 
 
 4 
 
322 
 
 NAVAL REGISTER. 
 
 Names and Rank. 
 
 Dates of Com- 
 missions. 
 
 JSTamea and Rank. 
 
 is of Com- 
 
 missions. 
 
 1812 
 
 1813 
 
 1814 
 < 
 
 18 June, 
 18 do 
 18 do 
 
 5 April, 
 20 May, 
 
 9 Nov. 
 
 9 do 
 
 9 do 
 
 1 Feb. 
 8 March, 
 
 10 June, 
 17 do 
 
 3 Aug. 
 
 4 do 
 30 Nov. ' 
 30 do ' 
 30 do 
 6 Dec. ' 
 
 2 March, 1815 
 
 11 March, ' 
 20 April, « 
 
 6 June, ' 
 
 4 July, 
 
 4 July, 
 16 Jan. 
 15 Nov. 
 
 Prentiss, Nathaniel A 
 Pratt, Shubal 
 Piatt, Charles T. 
 Price, Edward 
 Phelps, Samuel B. 
 Prentiss, John E. 
 Paine, John H. S. 
 Pattern, Thomas 
 Paterson, William 
 Pollard, William 
 Pelot, John F. 
 Pinkham, Alex. B. 
 Pinckney, Richard S. 
 Porter, David H. 
 Picket, Richard 
 Postell, Edward 
 Palmer, John W. 
 Potter, William H. 
 Potter, Robert 
 Pearson, Frederick 
 Pennock, William H. 
 Parker, George 
 Renshaw, Samuel 
 Roney, Jame3 
 Roberts, L. Q,. C. 
 Rogere, James 
 
 Randolph, R. B. 15 Aug. 
 
 Ritchie, John T. 17 Dec. 
 
 Ramsay, William W. 1 Sept. 
 Ray, James W. H. 1 do 
 
 Roberts, James 1 do 
 
 Randolph, William B. 1 Jan 
 Ridgeway, Ebenezer 1 do 
 Russel, Edmund M. 18 June, 
 Russel, Charles C. 18 do 
 Randall, Henry 18 do 
 
 Rogers, Samuel 9 Nov. 
 
 Rodgers, William T. 9 do 
 Rice, William 9 do 
 
 Ritchie, Robert 1 Feb. 
 
 Rutter, Solomon 26 do 
 
 Ross, Thoma9 17 March, 
 
 Rogers, Clement 16 April, 
 
 Randolph, Victor M. 11 June, 
 Rudd, John 30 Nov. 
 
 Roane, William 30 do 
 
 Rutgers, Herman SO do 
 
 Rittenhouse, W. W. 30 do 
 Rutledge, Edward 30 do 
 
 Reed, John 30 do 
 
 Rousseau, JohnB. 30 do 
 Wand, Isaac H. 25 Jan. 
 
 Randolph, Burw»Il S. 2 Feb. 
 Smith, Edward 16 Jan. 
 
 1805 
 1807 
 1809 
 
 Stewart, James 
 Saunders, John 
 Stewart, Richard 
 Smoot, Joseph 
 Suggette, Thomas 
 Smith, Charles 
 Stevens, Clement 
 Springer, Charles L. 
 Spiknall, Joseph 
 Swartwout, Augustus 
 Searcy, Robert 
 Snelson, Robert L. 
 Steele, William 
 Simonds, L. E- 
 Sawyer, Horace B. 
 Street, Miles 
 Stribbling, Cornelius 
 Sands, Joshua R. 
 Stallings, Otho 
 Scott. Beverly R. 
 Sweeney, Hugh S. 
 Sullivan, John M. 
 Shute, John B. 
 Skiddy, William 
 Spaulding, James 
 Swartwout, John 
 Stewart, Archibald M 
 Stout, Matthew W. 
 Stevenson. John 
 Stewart, David R. 
 ' jlSummers. R M. 
 18l2i'shields, William 
 ' Smith William P. 
 Shubrick, Irvine 
 Stearns, Joshua B. 
 Storer, Frederick 
 Strong, Peter Y. 
 Shaler, Egbert 
 Sherburne, Jona. W. 
 Street, Miles 
 Shaw. Roger C. 
 Scott Merit 
 Somerville, G. W. 
 Stockton, Horatio 
 Sanderson, Francis 
 Smith, Jesse 
 Story. Frederick W.C 
 Tippet, Thomas A. 
 Ten Eick, Abraham 
 Temple, William 
 Titus, Ira 
 Taylor, James B. 
 Tyler, Tobias 
 (Thompson, Joseph 
 
 1810 
 i 
 
 1813 
 
 1814 
 
 1815 
 1809 
 
 1820 
 
 181) 
 
 US 
 
 1814 
 
 1815 
 
 1811 
 
 1812 
 
NAVAL REGISTER. 
 
 SIS 
 
 Names and Rank. 
 
 Dates of Com- 
 missions. 
 
 Names and Rank. 
 
 Taylor, William 
 
 Tatnall, Josiah 
 
 Toscan, Frank 
 
 Tilton, Nehemiah Jov. 
 
 Tardy, Henry 
 
 Thwing, Samuel 
 
 Toscan, Messidor 
 
 Townsend, Jolin S. 
 
 Tuttle, John P. 
 
 Turner, Henry E. 
 
 Toole, John 
 
 Tompkins, John 
 
 Thorniley, Wm. F. 
 
 Tilden, Thomas B. 
 
 Tallmage, Benj. Jr. 
 
 Taylor, Wm.G.B. 
 
 Vanzandt, Ira 
 
 Voorhees, Ralph 
 
 Voshell, James 
 
 Varnum, Frederick 
 
 Vallette, James Kirk 
 
 Washington,Sam'l W. 
 
 Wayne, William C. 
 
 Wish, John 
 
 Wyman, Thomas W. 
 
 Weaver, Wm. A. 
 
 Walker, Daniel R. 
 
 Williams, James 
 
 Williamson, J. D. 
 
 Williamson, Chag. L. 
 
 Wall, Albert G. 
 
 Whitlock, Ephraim 
 
 Wilson, Stephen B. 
 
 Washington, W. S. I. 
 
 Whetmore, Wm. C. 
 
 Whittington, Clement 
 
 Wolbert, Frederick 
 
 Watts, Edward 
 
 Whipple, Pardon M. 
 
 White, Joshua 
 
 Warner, Henry R. 
 
 Ward, Henry 
 
 Wheaton, Seth 
 
 White, James 
 
 Walker, William 
 
 Wood, Oliver W. 
 
 Wilson, Cesar R. 
 
 Wright, Edward 
 
 Watkins, Erasmus 6 June 1815 
 
 Yates, Charles 1 Jan 
 
 Young, John 
 
 SAILING MASTERS. 
 
 Anmdell, Rob«t 20 May 1812 
 
 1 Jan. 
 1 do 
 
 15 June 
 9 Nov. 
 9 do 
 
 14 May 
 1 Sept 
 
 18 Nov 
 30 do 
 30 do 
 30 do 
 30 do 
 30 do 
 
 1 Jan 
 
 4 do 
 
 13 Feb 
 
 16 Jan 
 11 Sept 
 
 1 Jan 
 
 18 June 
 
 1 do 
 
 15 Not 
 
 17 Deo 
 17 do 
 
 17 do 
 
 14 Feb 
 9 June 
 
 Sept 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Jan 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Feb 
 
 18 Juna 
 18 do 
 18 do 
 18 do 
 18 do 
 18 do 
 28 do 
 
 1 Oct 
 
 4 March 
 20 Aug 
 30 Nov 
 30 do 
 30 do 
 30 do 
 
 6 June 
 
 1 Jan 
 
 1 do 
 
 1815 
 
 1809 
 1811 
 1812 
 
 C 
 
 1815 
 1809 
 1S10 
 
 1S11 
 
 1S12 
 ■ 
 
 1812 
 1814 
 
 Almy, Thomas C 
 Adams, James H. 
 Adams, Samuel W. 
 Arnold, John 
 Brooke, Samuel 
 Barry, Edward 
 Brown, Eli 
 Bloodgood, Abraham 
 Bennet, Cornelius 
 Briggs, Samuel R. 
 Biker, Nicholas 
 Brum, Philip 
 Bassett, James 
 Bowie, Henry 
 Carr, James E. 
 Catalano, Salvadore 
 Chambers, Thomas 
 Carter, John K. 
 Coit, William 
 Cox, Richard J. 
 Cooper, Jas. B. A. L 
 Caldwell, W. M. A.L 
 Clough, John 
 Chamberlain, S. P. 
 Collins, William 
 Cansler, William 
 Croft, George 
 Dudley, Linton 
 Dealy, Richard 
 Doxey, Biscoe 
 Davis, George 
 Dove, Marmaduko 
 Dobbins, Daniel 
 Dill, J. H. 
 Dodge. Billy 
 De la Roche, Geo. F. 
 Dorgan, Andrew 
 Downes, Shubal 
 Drew, John 
 Dunston, William 
 Ellison, Francis H. 
 Ferris, Jonathan D. 
 Ford, Augustus 
 Fisk, Squire 
 Fleetwood, William 
 Ferguson, James 
 Gerry, Samuel R. 
 Green, William 
 Godfrey. Thomas 
 Herbert, Joshua 
 Halburd, John 
 Hutton, John S. 
 Hamersley, Thomas 
 Henry, Hwiry A, L. 
 
 Dates of Com- 
 missions. 
 
 26 June 1812 
 
 10 July * 
 
 3 do 1818 
 
 3 do ' 
 
 17 Oct 130* 
 
 28 Feb 
 
 25 April 181* 
 
 25 June « 
 9 Dec 
 
 3 July 18 It 
 
 3 do 
 
 15 Feb ISIS 
 
 18 April 1814 
 Act'g. S. master 
 
 4 Aug 1807 
 9 do 1809 
 
 24 Feb 1812 
 9 May ' 
 
 26 do ' 
 
 23 Jun& 
 
 9 July « 
 
 21 March ISIS 
 
 3 July « 
 
 8 Jaa 1814. 
 3 Feb 
 
 29 March « 
 17 Aug * 
 
 25 Jan 1809 
 14 Feb 1811 
 
 24 June 1812 
 20 July 
 
 29 Aug 
 
 16 Sept 
 
 10 April 181S 
 3 July 
 
 3 Aug • 
 
 11 Sept 
 
 12 do ' 
 
 6 Dec 1814 
 3 April 1815 
 
 3 July 1818 
 28 Feb 1809 
 28 March 1810 
 
 7 May 1812 
 7 do 
 
 27 do 1814 
 
 17 Jan 1809 
 
 26 June 1812 
 
 18 April 1815 
 
 4 Aug 1807 
 11 Feb 1809 
 24 do « 
 14 Jan 1812 
 
 1 July 
 
£34 
 
 NAVAL REGISTER. 
 
 JVames and Rank. 
 
 Dates of Com- 
 missions. 
 
 Hallowell, George 
 Hixon, Samuel C. 
 Hill, Henry D. 
 Haller, Isaac 
 Hawksworth, G. T. 
 Heartie, Isaac T. 
 Jones, Edward 
 Jennings, Nathaniel 
 Jones, Daniel 
 Jenkins, John D. 
 Johnston, Robert 
 Johnson, William 
 Kingston, Simon 
 Knox, Robert 
 Kemper, Sylvester 
 Kitts, John - 
 Levy, Uriah 
 Loomis, Jairus 
 Luckett, Alexander 
 Lowe, Vincent 
 Lindsey, Joseph 
 Lee, William 
 Mooney, John 
 Mull, Jacob 
 Mork, James A. L. 
 M'Carty, William D. 
 Moliere, Henry 
 Moliere, Lucas 
 M'Connell, William 
 Mix, Elijah 
 Mullaby, Francis 
 Mulford, Richard 
 Malbone, William F. 
 M'Lachlin, Philip 
 Meyers, Stuben 
 Miller, William 
 M'Night, William 
 Maynadier, Daniel 
 Nantz, John 
 Nicholson, William 
 Northrop. Job 
 Nichols, Thomas 
 Owings, JohnC. 
 Osgood, Joseph 
 
 5 Dec 1812 
 30 April 1814 
 
 16 Juno ' 
 
 7 July 
 Actg S 
 
 do 
 26 Jan 
 30 March 
 
 8 May 
 26 do 
 
 10 do 
 
 6 June 
 
 29 June 
 
 20 July 
 
 30 Oct 
 15 Mav 
 
 21 Oct 
 
 11 Nov 
 15 Dec 
 20 March 
 
 17 do 
 30 April 
 23 Jan 
 
 13 Feb 
 
 14 July 
 
 18 do 
 1 Aug 
 
 1 do 
 
 2 Nov 
 
 12 Juno 
 
 3 July 
 
 3 do 
 
 4 April 
 28 July 
 18 Nov 
 28 Jan 
 Act'g. S 
 
 do 
 
 7 July 
 14 Aug 
 
 22 Jan 
 
 JVames and Rank \ Dates °f Com ~ 
 
 missions. 
 
 master, 
 do 
 1809 
 1812 
 
 1813 
 1815 
 1812 
 
 4 
 
 C 
 
 1813 
 1812 
 
 1813 
 1814 
 1815 
 18091 
 
 C 
 
 1812 
 
 181! 
 
 1814 
 
 1815 
 
 Phillips, David 
 
 Prentiss, Jabez 
 
 Page, Lewis B. 
 
 Potts, James B. 
 |Payne. Thomas 
 iPolk, William W. 
 
 Rogers, James 
 iRobins, William M. 
 
 Romey, Edward 
 
 Rinker, Samuel 
 
 Sountag, George S. 
 
 Stevens, Joseph 
 :Smith, Horace 
 
 Smith, William P. 
 IStory, Thomas W. 
 ISheed, William W. 
 |Stoodley, Nathaniel 
 
 Stellwagen, D. S. 
 
 Shoemaker, David, Jr 
 
 Spilman, James 
 
 'Irani, James 
 
 mastei 
 
 do I 
 
 1812J 
 
 18131 
 
 1815] 
 
 Act'g. S. master 
 
 15 Sept 18061 
 
 3 July 1813| 
 
 |Tay lor, James 
 Taylor, Joseph 
 Topham, Philip M. 
 Tew, Henry 
 Tatem, Robert S. 
 Terry, James 
 Ulrich, George 
 Van Voorhis,Rob'tB. 
 Vaughan, William 
 Verney, Henry 
 Williamson, James L. 
 Watts, Thomas 
 Wilkinson, Henry 
 Wilson, George M. 
 Waldo, Charles F. 
 Warner, John 
 Wright, James B. 
 White, John 
 Williston, Joseph 
 Warren, Nahum 
 Worthington, Henry 
 Young, Edward L. 
 
 1 Jan 
 
 4 Feb 
 
 9 March 
 24 July 
 10 Oct 
 
 18 July 
 6 April 
 
 18 Nov 
 
 3 Sept 
 
 4 Aug 
 3 May 
 
 J17 July 
 
 26 Dec 
 
 27 April 
 
 5 May 
 J 4 Aug 
 14 May 
 
 19 Oct 
 
 3 Feb 
 10 April 
 16 May 
 
 '14 July 
 
 27 do 
 128 March 
 !2l July 
 J20 April 
 
 I 4 Dec 
 
 28 Feb 
 22 Aug 
 
 5 Dec 
 
 4 Aug 
 9 Feb 
 
 1 Jan 
 
 1 24 July 
 1 10 March 
 i 1 5 Sept 
 19 Nov 
 
 2 Dec 
 26 Nov 
 
 6 Feb 
 2 May 
 9 May 
 
 1801 
 1809 
 
 t 
 
 1812 
 
 I 
 
 1814 
 1810 
 1812 
 
 i 
 
 1813 
 1807 
 1812 
 
 1813 
 
 1814 
 
 1815 
 1799 
 1812 
 
 1813 
 
 1814 
 
 i 
 
 1815 
 1809 
 
 1812 
 < 
 
 1807 
 
 1809 
 
 1812 
 i 
 
 1813 
 i 
 
 1814 
 
 1815 
 
 1S12 
 
NAVAL REGISTER. 
 
 326 
 
 MARINE ( 0RP3. 
 
 _ . j D i I -Dares of Com- 
 
 Worries and Rank. | mi J ons _ 
 
 Names and llitnh. 
 
 LT. COL,. COMMAND- 
 ANT. 
 
 Franklin Wharton 
 
 MAJORS. 
 
 Daniel Carmicb 
 John Hall 
 
 CAPTAINS. 
 
 Anthony Gale 
 
 Robert Greedeaf 
 Archibald Handerson 
 
 Richard Smith 
 
 Robert Wainwrighi 
 Wm. Anderson No 1 
 Tho's R. Swift No 2 
 
 Samuel Miller No 3 
 
 7 March 1804 
 
 7 March 
 
 8 June 
 
 1809 
 1814 
 
 John Crabb No 4 
 
 Henry H. Ford No 5 
 John M. Gamble No 6 
 Charles S. Hanna No 7 
 
 Alexander Sevier No 8 
 
 Alfred Grayson No 9 
 
 William Strong No 10 
 James Heath No 1 1 
 Samuel Bacon No 12 
 H.B.Breckenridge Nol 
 William Hall No 2 
 F.W.Sterne No 3 
 
 1st lieutenants. 
 
 F.B.D. Bellevite No 1 
 J. R. Montegul No 2 
 
 C 24 Apr 1804 
 I Brev. Major 
 19 Jan 1811 
 1 April ' 
 C 13 Mar. 1812 
 \ Brev. Major 
 29 Sept 
 
 18 June 1S14 
 IS do 
 C 18 do 
 ( Brev. Major 
 « 18 do 
 I and Payrn'r 
 18 do ' 
 
 18 do ' 
 
 18 do ' 
 
 ( 18 do 
 ( Brev. Major 
 (18 do 
 
 ( & Q.r. Masfer 
 18 do ' 
 
 18do 
 
 IS do ' 
 
 10 Deo 
 10 do « 
 
 10 do 
 
 18 June 
 18 do 
 
 1815 
 
 PB.D. GrandpreNo3 
 Lyman Kellogg No 5 
 Sam'l E.Watson No 6 
 W. L Brownlovv No 7 
 Leon'd J. Boone No 8 
 Tho's W. LeggeNo 9 
 W. H Freeman No 10 
 Jos L. Kuhne No 1 1 
 Henry Olcott No 12 
 C; M Broome No 13 
 B. Richardson No 15 
 F. B White No 16 
 William Nicoll No 17 
 Wm. L. Boyd No IS 
 I Charles Lord No 19 
 j Levi Twiggs No 20 
 I Edmund Brooke No 2 I 
 [John Harris No 22 
 {Samuel B. Johnson 
 
 2nd- lieutenants. 
 
 I Henry Stephens Nol 
 
 jThosA. Linton No 2 
 
 JRichd Auchmuty No 3 
 
 Joseph Bosque No 4 
 
 James Edelen No 5 
 
 Christopher Ford No 6 
 
 James J. Mills No 7 
 
 Francis A Bond No 8 
 
 Park G. Howie No 9 
 
 Geo B. English No 10 
 
 II. W. Kennedy No 11 
 
 R. D. Green No 12 
 
 iS. Duvall No 13 
 
 Chas Snowden No 14 
 
 J. G SingeltaryNo 15 
 
 jlVm.F. Swift No 16 
 
 |Gillies Thompson 
 
 Edward S. Nowell 
 
 Dates of Com- 
 missions. 
 
 13 June"" 18T(> 
 
 18 do 
 
 18 do 
 
 IS do 
 
 18 do 
 
 18 do 
 
 18 do 
 
 18 do 
 
 15 do 
 18 do 
 18 do 
 18 do 
 18 do 
 18 do 
 18 do 
 1 8 do 
 18 do 
 18 do 
 
 16 July 
 
 28 Feb 18 
 
 2S do * 
 
 28 do * 
 
 28 do 
 
 1 March ' 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 !2 April 
 
 9 May 
 
 LIST OF THE AMERICAN NAVY. 
 
 a 
 U 
 
 Names of Vessels. Commanders. 
 
 I 
 
 § I Names o. Vessels. 
 
 Commanders. 
 
 74 (Independence 
 
 I 
 74 1 Washington 
 
 74lFranklin 
 
 Com. Bain- ^ 
 jbridge, Capt. > 
 I Crane y 
 
 jCapl.Chauncey 
 
 (Lieut. Morgan 
 [first officer since 
 | the death of 
 I Capt Smith 
 
 74!New-Orleans 
 
 74lChippewa 
 
 44JGuerriere, flagship Com. ' 
 
 44|United State* 
 44 1 Constitution 
 44|Java 
 44'Plattsburgfe 
 
 Deca- ' 
 tur, Cap. Lewis 
 J. Shaw 
 
 O. H P«ny 
 
326 
 
 NAVAL REGISTER. 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 O 
 
 Names of Vessels. 
 
 44iSuperior 
 
 36l Constellation 
 
 36 Congress 
 
 36 Macedonian, late B. 
 
 82 Mohawk 
 
 32 Confiance, late B. 
 
 28 Cyane, do 
 
 24 Saratoga 
 
 24 John Adams 
 
 24 General Pike 
 
 20 Madison 
 
 20 Alert, late British 
 
 18 Hornet* 
 
 IS Wasp* 
 
 J 8 Peacock 
 
 18 Ontario 
 
 18 Erie 
 
 15 Louisiana 
 18 Niagara 
 
 18 Detroit, late British 
 
 18 Lawrence 
 
 18 Eagle 
 
 18 Jefferson 
 
 18 Jones 
 
 18 Epervier,* late B. 
 
 16 Chippewa 
 16 Saranac 
 16 Boxer 
 
 16 Linnet, late British 
 16 Troup 
 16 Sylph 
 
 16 Qu. Charlotte, I. B, 
 14 Enterprize 
 
 14 Oneida 
 12 Flambeau 
 12 Firefly 
 12 Spark 
 1 1 Spitfire 
 10 Torch 
 14 Nonsuch 
 
 17 Ticonderoga 
 
 10 Lady Prevost, /. B. 
 9 Prometheus 
 9 Tom Bowline 
 
 Commanders. 
 
 C. Gordon 
 C. Morris 
 J. Jones 
 
 E. Trenchard 
 
 W. Stewart 
 J. Riddle 
 J. Blakeley 
 L. Warrington 
 J. D. Elliott 
 C. Ridgeley 
 
 J. T. Shubnck 
 G. C. Read 
 J. Elton 
 J. Porter 
 
 L. Kearney 
 
 J. B. Nicholson 
 G. W. Rogers 
 F. Gamble 
 A. J. Dallas 
 W. Chauncey 
 Trant 
 
 A. S. Wadsworth 
 Hoffman 
 
 09 
 
 e 
 
 3 
 
 Names of Vessels. 
 
 Com'a'd'rs 
 
 O 
 
 
 
 9~ 
 
 Alligator 
 
 
 7 
 
 Roanoke 
 
 
 10 
 
 Hunter, late Brit. 
 
 
 7 
 
 Firebrand 
 
 
 7 
 
 Surprise 
 
 
 5 
 
 Hornet 
 
 
 5 
 
 Ghent 
 
 
 3 
 
 Caledonia, late B. 
 
 
 5 
 
 Lynx 
 
 
 3 
 
 Despatch 
 
 
 3 
 
 Asp 
 
 
 3 
 
 Porcupine 
 
 
 2 
 
 Gov. Tompkins 
 
 
 8 
 
 Conquest 
 
 
 1 
 
 Ranger 
 
 
 3 
 
 Lady of the Lake 
 
 
 1 
 
 Ontario 
 
 • 
 
 — 
 
 Raven 
 
 
 — 
 
 Asp 
 
 
 3 
 
 Pert 
 
 i 
 
 4 
 
 Fair America 
 
 
 1 
 
 Amelia 
 
 
 11 
 
 Finch, late British 
 
 
 11 
 
 Chubb, do 
 
 
 7 
 
 Preble 
 
 
 6 
 
 Montgomery 
 
 
 5 
 
 Camel 
 
 
 5 
 
 Buffalo 
 
 
 
 
 Tickler 
 
 
 12 
 
 President 
 
 
 2 
 
 Galley Centipede 
 
 
 2 
 
 Nettle 
 
 
 2 
 
 Viper 
 
 
 2 
 
 Borer 
 
 
 2 
 
 Allen 
 
 
 2 
 
 Burrows 
 
 
 1 
 
 Alwyn 
 
 
 1 
 
 Ballard 
 
 
 1 
 
 Ludlow 
 
 
 1 
 
 Wilmer 
 Ketch Spitfire 
 Vesuvius 
 
 Vengeance 
 
 
 • Lost at Ka. 
 
TabU of the pay and euUistenee allowed to offieere w the Aaty of the 
 
 United States. 
 
 RANK OB STATION. 
 
 Capt. of a vessel of 32 or more 
 
 guns 
 Capt. of a vessel of 20 and 
 
 under 32 
 Master commandant 
 Lieutenant do 
 Lieutenant 
 Chaplain 
 Surgeon 
 Surgeon's mat* 
 Master 
 Purser 
 Boatswain 
 
 pay 
 
 Ra. 
 
 per 
 
 per 
 
 mo. 
 
 day 
 
 100 
 
 8 
 
 75 
 
 6 
 
 60 
 
 5 
 
 50 
 
 4 
 
 40 
 
 3 
 
 40 
 
 2 
 
 50 
 
 2 
 
 30 
 
 2 
 
 40 
 
 2 
 
 40 
 
 2 
 
 20 
 
 2 
 
 Gunner 
 
 Sail-maker 
 
 Carpenter 
 
 Midshipman 
 
 Master's mate 
 
 Captain's Clerk 
 
 Boatswain's mate 
 
 Cockswain 
 
 Yeoman of gun-room 
 
 Quarter Gunner 
 
 Carpenter's mate 
 
 Armourer 
 
 Steward 
 
 Cooper 
 
 Master at Arm9 
 
 Cook 
 
 20 
 
 2 
 
 20 
 
 2 
 
 20 
 
 
 19 
 
 
 20 
 
 
 25 
 
 
 19 
 
 
 18 
 
 
 18 
 
 
 18 
 
 
 19 
 
 
 18 
 
 
 18 
 
 
 18 
 
 
 18 
 
 
 1 18 
 
 
 Note. Whenever any officer shall be employed in the command of a squad- 
 ron on separate service, the allowance of rations shall be double during the con- 
 tinuance of such command, and no longer, except in case of the commanding 
 officer of the navy, whose allowance, while in service, shall always be at the 
 j-ate of sixteen rations per day, agreeably to an act of Congress, passed the t 25th 
 of February, !799 ; and agreeably to an act passed the 3d of March, 1801, such 
 officers as shall not be under orders for actual service, shall only be entitled to 
 one half of their monthly pay during such time ; and without rations. 
 
 N. B. Applications for appointments must be made to the Secretary of Uie 
 Navy, accompanied with recommendatory letters. 
 

 li JL* 
 
 Adams, cruise of 
 
 escape of 
 
 loss of 
 
 Allen, funeral of 
 
 Alligator 239 
 
 Asp, loss of 
 
 Argus and Pelican 
 
 escape of 
 
 Algiers, war with 
 
 Burrows, funeral of 
 
 Blythe, do 
 
 Bainbridge, private letter of 
 
 Barney, 
 
 Barrataira, pirates of 
 
 Champlain, Lake, victory on 
 
 Carolina, loss of 
 Challenge to Decatur 
 
 to Capt Greene 
 
 to Capt Lawrence 
 
 Chesapeake and Shannon 
 Constitution and Guerriere 
 
 and Java 
 
 and Cyane and Levant 
 
 . escape of 
 
 cruise of 
 
 Craney Island 
 Eagle 
 
 capture of 
 
 Enterprize and Boxer 
 Erie, Lake 
 
 battle of 
 
 Essex and Alert 
 
 . loss of 
 
 Ferret, loss of 
 Flotilla, Delaware Bay 
 
 Lake Borgne 
 
 Corn. Barney 
 
 Fort George, capture of 
 Frolic, loss of 
 Gun-boats, attack oa 
 Gardiner's Island 
 Huron, Lake 
 
 244 
 245 
 249 
 
 71 
 246 
 223 
 
 67 
 219 
 296 
 
 81 
 
 81 
 221 
 248 
 253 
 147 
 262 
 256 
 238 
 
 36 
 
 65 
 
 42 
 7 
 
 26 
 177 
 1 
 243 
 229 
 230 
 231 
 
 76 
 260 
 
 84 
 213 
 
 97 
 240 
 234 
 254 
 247 
 268 
 244 
 226 
 233 
 258 
 
 Hamilton and Scourg* 270 
 
 ■ and Confiance 278 
 
 Hall, death of 242 
 
 Hornet and Bonne Citoyenne 35 
 
 and Peacock 37 
 
 and Penguin 189 
 
 escape of 194 
 
 Lawrence, funeral of 47 
 
 Lewis, commodore 246 
 
 Lottery, schooner 222 
 
 Mobile, 252 
 Nautilus, loss of 7, 211 
 
 Navy in 1812 314 
 
 in 1S15 825 
 
 pay of 327 
 
 Naval Register 318 
 
 Non Such, schooner 246 
 
 Ontario, Lake 263 
 
 Oswego, attack on 274 
 
 Peaeock and Epervier 129 
 
 cruise of 258 
 
 President and Belvidera 203 
 
 loss of 160 
 
 Pitipague, attack on, repulse at 243 
 
 Rattlesnake and Enterprize 242 
 
 loss of 247 
 
 Rodgers' cruise 235, 241 
 
 Sacket's Harbor, attack on 26S 
 Sandy Creek, capture of gun-boats 269 
 
 Swallow, capture of 217 
 
 Surveyor, revenue cutter 225 
 
 Syren, loss of 251 
 
 Testimonies of respect 280 
 
 Torpedo 233 
 
 United States and Macedonian 21 
 
 Viper, loss of 229 
 
 Vixen, do 217 
 
 Washington city 247 
 Wasp and Frolic 14, 215 
 
 and Reindeer 235 
 
 and Avon 142 
 
 York, capture of 265 
 
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 GUSTINE J?" *, 
 
 
 
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