Part 19
DESCRIPTION OF THE MEDAL.
OCCASION.--Capture of the British sloop-of-war Boxer.
DEVICE.--An urn, with the inscription, W. Burrows, on the pedestal; military emblems tastefully arranged on each side; one is a coronal wreath hanging from a trident.
LEGEND.--Victoriam tibi claram patriæ mæstam.
REVERSE.--Two brigs engaged. The Boxer on the larboard side of the Enterprise. Main-topmast of the Boxer shot away.
LEGEND.--Vivere sat vincere.
EXERGUE.--Inter Enterprise nav. Ameri. et Boxer nav. Brit. 4th of September, 1813.
LIEUT. EDWARD R. M’CALL.
Edward Rutledge M’Call was born at Charleston, South Carolina, August 5th, 1790.
Having lost his father at an early age, he was placed under the care of a guardian who superintended his education, and upon learning the determination of his young charge to lead a seafaring life, he directed his studies accordingly. At the age of fifteen years, Edward R. M’Call received a midshipman’s warrant, and was ordered to join the sloop-of-war Hornet, Captain John H. Dent. In 1811, he was ordered to join the Enterprise, Captain Blakeley, with the promotion of a lieutenancy on board that ship, where he remained till after the conflict with the Boxer, in which conflict Burrows, who had only a few days previous taken the command, was killed. The following letter from Lieutenant Edward R. M’Call to Commodore Hull, commanding naval officer on the eastern station, gives some account of the action.
_United States Brig Enterprise, Portland, Sept. 7th, 1813_,
“SIR:--In consequence of the unfortunate death of Lieutenant-Commandant William Burrows, late commander of this vessel, it devolves on me to acquaint you with the result of our cruise. After sailing from Portsmouth on the 1st instant, we steered to the eastward, and on the morning of the 3d, off Wood Island, discovered a schooner which we chased into this harbor, 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 privateers being off Manhagan, we stood for that place, and on the following morning, in the bay near Penguin-Point, discovered a brig getting under way, which appeared to be a vessel of war, and to which we immediately gave chase. She fired several guns, and stood for us, having four ensigns hoisted. After reconnoitering and discovering her force, and the nation to which she belonged, we hauled upon a wind, to stand out of the bay, and at three o’clock, shortened sail, tacked, and run down, with an intention to bring her to a close action.
“At twenty minutes past three, P. M., when within half pistol shot, the firing commenced from both sides, and after being warmly kept up, and with some manœuvring, the enemy hailed and said they had surrendered, about four P. M.--their colors being nailed to the masts, could not be hauled down. She proved to be his British-Majesty’s brig Boxer, of fourteen guns, Samuel Blythe, Esquire, commander, who fell in the early part of the engagement, having received a cannon shot through the body; and, I am sorry to add, that Lieutenant Burrows, who had gallantly led us to action, fell also, about the same time, by a musket ball, which terminated his existence in eight hours. The Enterprise suffered much, in spars and rigging; and the Boxer both in spars, rigging, and hull, having many shots between wind and water.
“It would be doing injustice to the merit of Mr. Tillinghast, second lieutenant, were I not to mention the able assistance I received from him, during the remainder of the engagement, by his strict attention to his own division and other departments; and the officers and crew, generally. I am happy to add, their cool and determined conduct have my warmest approbation. As no muster-roll, that can be fully relied on, has come into my possession, I cannot exactly state the number killed on board the Boxer, but from information received from the officers of that vessel, it appears that there were between twenty and twenty-five killed, and fourteen wounded. On board the Enterprise there was one killed and fifteen wounded, two since dead-sixty-six prisoners.
“I have the honor, &c.
“EDWARD R. M’CALL, _Sen. Officer_.
“ISAAC HULL, ESQ., _Commanding on the Eastern Station_.”
After the action with the Boxer, Lieutenant M’Call was transferred from the Enterprise to the sloop-of-war Ontario, Captain Robert T. Spence, and subsequently to the Java, Commodore Perry, preparing for a cruise in the Mediterranean, on which cruise he remained till 1817. On his return home, Lieutenant M’Call was ordered to Charleston to take the command of the sloop-of-war Peacock, also preparing to cruise in the Mediterranean. On his return, in 1831, he obtained leave of absence, and since that time has been waiting orders, till his country is disposed to employ again his admirable capacities for service.
By a resolution of Congress, January 6th, 1814, which states the gallantry and good conduct displayed by Lieutenant Edward R. M’Call, as second in command of the Enterprise, in the conflict with the Boxer, a gold medal (_see_ Plate XII.) was ordered to be struck and presented to him with the thanks of that body.
DESCRIPTION OF THE MEDAL.
OCCASION.--Capture of the British sloop-of-war Boxer.
DEVICE.--A bust of Lieutenant M’Call.
LEGEND.--Edward M’Call, navis Enterprise præfectus.
EXERGUE.--Sic itur ad astra.
REVERSE, and the _inscription_ on the _exergue_, the same as those of the medal of Lieutenant Burrows.
CAPT. JAMES LAWRENCE.
James Lawrence was the youngest son of John Lawrence, Esq., of Burlington, New Jersey, and was born on the 1st of October, 1781. Having lost his mother a few weeks after his birth, his two eldest sisters, by their most tender attention, endeavored to supply her place. His affection for his sisters was in a measure filial, as well as fraternal, being bound to them by the double ties of blood and education. Their assiduities were directed to the cultivation of his feelings and his principles, and they were only relieved from responsibility when they gave him to society, liberal, humane and virtuous. At the age of twelve years he exhibited a passion for the sea, but his father was anxious that he should be educated for the law, a profession in which he was himself considerably distinguished; and in consequence of his limited means, his son James received his education at a grammar-school in his native town. At the age of fourteen he removed to Woodbury, and commenced a course of law studies with his brother John Lawrence, who was at that time a lawyer of some distinction there. Soon after his removal his father died. James was now wholly an orphan, and long and severe were his sufferings at the loss of so good a parent, but in time they wore away, and he made an urgent appeal to his brother in favor of the path to which his genius had directed him.
The faithful and affectionate brother had discovered that the pursuits of law were loathsome to his pupil, and that sedentary habits suited not a frame formed for activity, nor study a mind that gloried in action, nor the land a heart whose only delight was the broad ocean. It was, therefore, thought best, on the whole, to surrender him at once to the prerogative of his nature. At his own request he returned to Burlington, and commenced the study of navigation. He remained there only sufficiently long to attain the elements of the theory of that science; but it was all he required. His mind, once receiving a proper direction, could go forward at leisure, of its own motion; a guide was wanting only to show the path and to mark out the course; it was for Lawrence alone to arrive at the goal. It was not long before he was pronounced a most finished seaman, and this character could not have been acquired otherwise than by devoting himself exclusively to the acquisition of nautical science, including combination of practice with theory.
In the seventeenth year of his age--in the bloom of youth and the pride of his strength--full of hope, he applied for a station in the navy. Such was the correctness of his character, the promise of his life, and the interest felt for him, that many of the oldest and most respectable citizens of the state came forward with alacrity, in aid of his application. The mail that carried it returned with a warrant for midshipman Lawrence; and he entered his country’s service on the 5th of September, 1798. His first voyage was to the West Indies, in the ship Ganges, Captain Tingey. Nothing of consequence occurred to our young officer for the two first years of his seafaring life, until his promotion to a lieutenancy on board the Adams, Captain Robinson, where he remained until March, 1801. In the war with Tripoli, Lawrence was a commissioned lieutenant and attached to the Enterprise as first officer. In the bombardment of Tripoli, he acted a very conspicuous part, which was acknowledged by Decatur in his official reports. After his return from the Mediterranean, he was some time at New York, attached to the navy yard in that city. While there the attention of the naval gentlemen of that place was attracted by some “queries” in the “Public Advertiser,” the object of which was to call Commodore Rogers to account for not having used the gun-boats in a particular manner on a recent occasion. One query alluded to the inferior officers, and particularly the commanders of gun-boats. “Why,” asks the writer, “are the commanders of these gun-boats suffered to be swaggering through our streets, while they should be whetting their sabres?” So much insolence incensed the whole corps; and Lawrence, being the senior officer then on that station, in behalf of them, addressed the following note to the printer.
“_To Mr. Frank, Editor of the Public Advertiser._
“Your queries in the Public Advertiser of Monday, were of a nature to excite indignation in the coldest bosom, and procure for you the chastisement which a scoundrel deserves. In answer to your ‘Queries,’ which immediately relate to the navy, if you wish to be informed why Commodore Rodgers did not employ the _apparent force_ with which government has invested him, I would refer you to the constituted authorities. On this subject they _alone_ can gratify your curiosity. In regard to the commanders of gun-boats, whom you term _swaggerers_, I assure you their ‘sabres’ are sufficiently keen to cut off your ears, and will inevitably be employed in that service, if any future remarks, injurious to their reputation, should be inserted in your paper.
“JAMES LAWRENCE, _Lieut. U. S. N._, “_In behalf of the officers_.
“_Navy Yard, N. York, 6th Sept., 1807._”
The editor, having too much respect for his ears, let the matter rest. Lawrence was next appointed first lieutenant to the Constitution, where he remained until he was promoted to the rank of master and commander, and directed to take command, in succession, of the Vixen, Wasp, Argus and Hornet; was twice sent with dispatches to Europe--once to London and once to Paris.
In 1808 he married a Miss Montandevert, of New York. At the declaration of war in 1812, he sailed in command of the Hornet, in the squadron commanded by Commodore Rodgers, consisting of the United States, Congress and Argus, and after a cruise not distinguished by any signal success, returned to Boston on the 31st of August in the same year.
Captain Lawrence went to sea again in October, 1812, as commander of the Hornet under Commodore Bainbridge, who commanded for this cruise in the Constitution. Their destination was the East Indies, but near Brazil Captain Lawrence captured the English brig Resolution with ten guns and twenty-five thousand dollars, but being a dull sailer, after securing the crew and the money he burnt her. Captain Lawrence then sailed towards Demerara, and in passing round the Corobano bank he espied a sail on his weather-quarter and about to approach him. It was the Peacock, Captain William Peake, with English colors.
The Hornet was immediately cleared for action, and kept close to the wind to get the weather-gage of the enemy; shortly they exchanged broadsides at half pistol-shot distance. Finding the enemy in the act of wearing, Captain Lawrence bore up, and gave him a well directed and tremendous fire, and in less than fifteen minutes from the commencement of the action, the signal of distress had taken the place of the British flag. In an instant a lieutenant boarded her and found her cut to pieces, her captain killed, many of her crew killed or wounded, her mizzen-mast by the board, six feet water in the hold, and the vessel fast sinking. The two ships were immediately brought to anchor, the Hornet’s boats dispatched to bring off the wounded, the guns thrown overboard, the shot holes that could be got at plugged, every thing done, by pumping and bailing, to keep her afloat; yet she went down before all her wounded seamen could be removed. The Hornet had one man killed and lost three brave fellows while attempting to rescue the vanquished from a watery grave; four of her seamen were taken from the tops just before the Peacock had entirely disappeared. Captain Lawrence now determined to sail for New York; no sooner had he arrived there, than the officers of the Peacock honorably made public their grateful feelings for the kindness of Captain Lawrence and the officers under him. They said, “_we ceased to consider ourselves prisoners_.” The crew most heartily vied with their captain in generosity as well as bravery. The sailors of the Peacock were left destitute of a change of apparel, so suddenly had their vessel sunk. The crew of the Hornet most kindly contributed to their wants. Such conduct is worthy heroic sailors! these brave hearts from opposite extremities of the ocean, mingling together on the same deck, beat with but one common pulsation. On the meeting of the next Congress, this battle was thus officially noticed by the President of the nation:--
“In continuance of the brilliant achievements of our infant navy, a signal triumph has been gained by Captain Lawrence and his companions, in the Hornet sloop-of-war, which destroyed a British sloop-of-war with a celerity so unexampled, and with a slaughter of the enemy so disproportionate to the loss in the Hornet, as to claim for the conqueror the highest praise.”
Captain Lawrence, after remaining in New York a short time, received orders to repair to Boston and take command of the Chesapeake, to sail on the 1st day of June. On his arrival there, he was informed that a British ship had been cruising around in sight of the harbor for the last three days. He accordingly, on the 1st, proceeded in chase of her, and was informed by pilots they believed it to be the British frigate Shannon. About four o’clock, P. M., she came in sight; he accordingly directed his course towards her; at half past four, P. M., she hove to, with her head to the southward and eastward; at five, P. M., she took in the royal and top-gallant sails, and at about fifteen minutes before six the action commenced within pistol-shot distance. The first broadside killed, among others, the sailing master, and wounded Captain Lawrence; in about twelve minutes afterwards, the Chesapeake fell on board of the Shannon, and immediately thereupon, an armed chest, on the quarter-deck of the Chesapeake, was blown up by a hand grenade from the enemy, and every officer, on whom the charge of the ship could devolve, was either killed or wounded previous to the capture. Captain Lawrence, who, bleeding, had still kept the deck, supporting himself against the companion-way, in the act of giving orders, was levelled by a second ball; he was carried below, making a particular request that the ship should not be surrendered. The surgeon hurried to his captain in the cockpit, to relieve the most excruciating pains from his wounds both in the body and the leg. But, “No--serve those who came before me, first; I can wait my turn,” said the noble-hearted sailor--greater even below than above deck. The wounds of Captain Lawrence confined him to his bed until the moment of his death; he lingered in much pain and suffering until the 5th of June, when, in the thirty-second year of his age, he expired. He died young; he gave himself to glory and his country; not to dwell upon public recollection mangled and mutilated, but leaving in the fond eye of faithful memory the whole image of a perfect hero, unimpaired by age or by accident, in all the freshness of youth and the fair fullness of his admired proportions. Funeral solemnities were rendered to Captain Lawrence and his Lieutenant, Ludlow, at Halifax. “By strangers honored and by strangers mourned.” His enemies were his mourners, or rather the enemies of his country, for personal enemies he had none. The tears of Britons evinced how much more gratefully they would have shown homage to his person than every 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 winding sheet.” In the month of August following the remains of Lawrence and Ludlow were removed from Halifax and arrived at Salem on the 18th, where a public funeral service and eulogy were pronounced by the Hon. Judge Story, and from thence, at the request of the relatives, were removed to New York; there the city council took charge of the funeral in a manner worthy the munificence which they had promptly manifested on every naval occasion. They gave the two children of Captain Lawrence one thousand dollars each, to be vested in the sinking-fund of the corporation, and paid, with the interest, to the daughter at eighteen, and to the son at twenty-one years of age.
His remains were interred in St. Paul’s burying-ground, in that city, where a suitable monument is erected. Captain Lawrence was amiable in private as he had made himself 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 Christian, his proof of faith in our Heavenly Father was love to every brother upon earth. His country wears the laurel to his honor, the cypress for his loss.
A monument has been erected in Trinity churchyard, New York, of which the following is a description:--
The design is simple and affectingly appropriate. It is a broken column of white marble, of the pure Doric, the cap broken off and resting on the base. The inscription is, we think, singularly beautiful, and does great honor to the author. It presents a fine contrast to the unfeeling and inflated bombast which so often disgraces this species of composition, exhibiting a rare specimen of that sweet yet dignified simplicity which so well accords with the records and the emblems of perishing mortality. The introduction of the dying words of this gallant officer, is in the highest degree affecting.
In Memory of Captain James Lawrence, of the United States Navy, who fell on the first day of June, 1813, in the 32d year of his age, in the action between the frigates Chesapeake and Shannon. He distinguished himself on various occasions; but particularly when he commanded the sloop-of-war Hornet, by capturing and sinking His Britannic Majesty’s sloop-of-war Peacock, after a desperate action of 14 minutes. His bravery in action, was only equaled by his modesty in triumph and his magnanimity to the vanquished. In private life he was a gentleman of the most generous and endearing qualities; and so acknowledged was his public worth, that the whole nation mourned his loss; and the enemy contended with his countrymen, who most should honor his remains.
ON THE REVERSE.
The Hero, whose remains are here deposited, with his expiring breath, expressed his devotion to his country. Neither the fury of battle; the anguish of a mortal wound; nor the horrors of approaching Death, could subdue his gallant spirit. His dying words were, “DON’T GIVE UP THE SHIP.”
Description of the gold medal presented by Congress to the nearest male relative of Captain James Lawrence.
OCCASION.--Capture of the British sloop-of-war Peacock.
DEVICE.--Bust of Captain Lawrence.
LEGEND.--Jac. Lawrence. Dolce et decorum est pro patria mori.
REVERSE.--A vessel in the act of sinking, mizzen-mast shot away; a boat rowing towards her from the American ship.
LEGEND.--Mansuetud. Maj. quam Victoria.
EXERGUE.--Inter Hornet nav. Ameri. et Peacock nav. Ang. die 24th February, 1813.
CAPTAIN THOMAS MACDONOUGH.
For the biography and exploits of this brave officer, we are indebted to that valuable work entitled “The Portrait Gallery.”
“Thomas Macdonough was born in the county of Newcastle, in the state of Delaware, in December, 1783. His father was a physician, but inspired with a love of liberty, he entered the army of the revolution as a major; he did not, however, remain long in the service, but returned to private life and his professional pursuits, until the close of the war, when he was made a judge; in which office he remained until his death, which happened in 1795. He left three sons. His eldest son, James, was a midshipman with Commodore Truxton when he took the Insurgent.
“In that battle he was so severely wounded, that his leg was obliged to be amputated. He soon afterwards left the navy with the reputation of a brave officer. In 1798, the subject of this memoir obtained a warrant as a midshipman, and commenced his career as a naval officer.