Some Stories of Old Ironsides by Holloway Halstead Frost

Author:Holloway Halstead Frost [Frost, Holloway Halstead]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anboco
Published: 2017-04-17T22:00:00+00:00

From the painting by Thomas Birch

Constitution AND Guerriere

Macpherson Collection

Capture of the British Frigate Java by the U.S. Frigate Constitution off the Coast of Brazil, December 29, 1812

Moses Smith, sponger of No. 1 gun, describes how the Constitution went into action. “Hull was now all animation. He saw that the decisive moment had come. With great energy, yet calmness of manner, he passed around among the officers and men, addressing to them words of confidence and encouragement. ‘Men,’ said he, ‘now do your duty. Your officers cannot have entire control over you now. Each man must do all in his power for his country.’ The Stars and Stripes never floated more proudly than they did at that moment. All was silent beneath them, save the occasional order from an officer, or the low sound of the movement of our implements of war. Every man stood firm to his post. ”

By 6:05 the Constitution was two hundred yards on the Guerriere’s port quarter. Hull then yawed his ship’s head slightly away from the enemy and threw his broadside full upon her. As the guns bore on the target they fired in rapid succession. “We instantly followed the thunder of our cannon with three loud cheers, which rang along the ship like the roar of waters, and floated away rapidly to the ears of the enemy.”

The cannonading was terrific. Our gunners, in the heat of battle, looked well to their aim. By 6:20 the Constitution was abreast the British frigate, distant one hundred yards. Then with a splintering crash came down Dacres’ mizzenmast. “Huzza, boys! We’ve made a brig of her!” The mast, with its tangle of sails and rigging, dragged in the water and checked the Guerriere’s headway. Here was Hull’s chance, and he was not the man to miss it. Spinning his wheel to the right, he charged across his enemy’s bow. Those terrible 24’s raked her with great effect. As the Constitution shot past and her guns would no longer bear there was a brief lull in the fight. Seaman Daniel Hogan climbed to the dizzy height of the fore truck to replace the battle ensign which had been shot away.

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