Chapter 26

SECTION 2. _And be it further resolved_, That the President of the United States be, and he hereby is, requested to present to Lieutenant Elliott of the navy of the United States, an elegant sword, with suitable emblems and devices, in testimony of the just sense entertained by Congress of his gallantry and good conduct in boarding and capturing the British brigs Detroit and Caledonia, while anchored under the protection of Fort Erie.

Approved January 29, 1813.

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_Captain Hull to the Secretary of the Navy._ (p. 155)

To the Honourable United States frigate Constitution, Paul HAMILTON, at Sea, July 21, 1812. Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.

Sir: In pursuance of your orders of the 3d instant, I left Annapolis on the 5th instant, and the Capes on the 12th, of which I advised you by the Pilot that brought the ship to sea.

For several days after we got out the wind was light and ahead, which with a strong southerly current prevented our making much way to the northward. On the 17th at 2 P.M., being in 22 fathoms water off Egg Harbour, four sail of ships were discovered from the mast head to the northward and in shore of us; apparently ships of war. The wind being very light, all sail was made in chase of them, to ascertain whether they were enemy's ships or our squadron having got out of New York waiting the arrival of the Constitution, the latter of which I had reason to believe was the case.

At 4 in the afternoon a ship was seen from the mast head bearing about N. E., standing for us under all sail, which she continued to do until sundown, at which time she was too far off to distinguish signals, and the ships in shore were only to be seen from the tops, they were standing off to the southward, and eastward. As we could not ascertain before dark what the ship in the offing was, I determined to stand for her and get near enough to make the night signal. At 10, in the evening, being within six or eight miles of the strange sail, the Private Signal was made, and kept up nearly one hour, but finding she could not answer it, I concluded she and the ships in shore were enemies. I immediately hauled off to the southward and eastward, and made all sail, having determined to lay off till day light, to see what they were. The ship that we had been chasing, hauled off after us, showing a light, and occasionally making signals, supposed to be for the ships in shore.

_July 18th._ At daylight, or a little before it was quite light, saw two sail under our lee, which proved to be frigates of the enemy--one frigate astern, within about five or six miles, and a line-of-battle ship, a frigate, a brig and schooner, about ten or twelve miles directly astern, all in chase of us, with a fine breeze, and coming up very fast, it being nearly calm where we were. Soon after sunrise the wind entirely left us, and the ship would not steer, but fell round off with her head towards the two ships under our lee. The boats were instantly hoisted out and sent ahead to tow the ship's head round, and to endeavour to get her farther from the enemy, being then within five miles of three heavy frigates. The boats of the enemy were got out, and sent ahead to tow, which, with the light air that remained with them, they came up very fast. Finding the enemy coming fast up, and but little chance of escaping from them, I ordered two of the guns on the gun deck, ran out at the cabin windows for stern guns on the gun deck, and hoisted one of the 24-pounders off the gun deck, and run that, with the forecastle gun, an 18-pounder, out at the ports on the quarter deck, and cleared the ship for action, being determined they should not get her without resistance on our part, notwithstanding their force and the situation we were placed in.

At about seven in the morning the ship nearest us (p. 156) approaching within gunshot and directly astern, I ordered one of the stern guns fired to see if we could reach her, to endeavour to disable her masts, found the shot fell a little short, would not fire any more. At 8 four of the enemy's ships nearly within gunshot, some of them having six or eight boats ahead towing, with all their oars and sweeps out to row them up with us, which they were fast doing. It now appeared that we must be taken, and that our escape was impossible, four heavy ships nearly within gunshot and coming up fast, and not the least hope of a breeze to give us a chance of getting off by outsailing them.

In the situation, finding ourselves in only twenty-four fathoms water (by the suggestion of that valuable officer, Lieutenant Morris), I determined to try and warp the ship ahead by carrying out anchors and warping her up to them. Three or four hundred fathoms of rope was instantly got up, and two anchors got ready and sent ahead, by which means we began to gain ahead of the enemy. They however soon saw our boats carrying out the anchors, and adopted the same plan, under very advantageous circumstances, as all the boats from the ship furthermost off were sent to tow and warp up those nearest to us, by which means they again came up, so that at 9 the ship nearest us began firing her bow guns, which we instantly returned by our stern guns in the cabin and on the quarter deck. All the shots from the enemy fell short, but we have reason to believe that some of ours went on board her, as we could not see them strike the water. Soon after 9 a second frigate passed under our lee and opened her broadside, but finding her shot fell short, discontinued her fire, but continued, as did all the rest of them, to make every possible exertion to get up with us.

From 9 to 12, all hands were employed in warping the ship ahead, and in starting some of the water in the main hold, to lighten her, by which, with the help of a light air, we rather gained of the enemy, or at least held on our own. About 2, in the afternoon, all the boats from the line of battle ship, and some of the frigates, were sent to the frigate nearest to us, to endeavour to tow her up, but a light breeze sprung up, which enabled us to hold way with her, notwithstanding they had eight or ten boats ahead, and all her sails furled to tow her to windward. The wind continued light until 11 at night, and the boats were kept ahead towing and warping to keep out of the reach of the enemy, three of the frigates being very near us. At 11, we got a light breeze from the southward, the boats came alongside, and were hoisted up, the ship having too much way to keep them ahead, the enemy still in chase and very near.

_July 19th._ At daylight passed within gun shot of one of the frigates, but she did not fire on us, perhaps for fear of becalming her as the wind was light. Soon after passing us she tacked and stood after us. At this time six sail were in sight under all sail after us. At 9, in the morning, saw a strange sail on our weather beam, supposed to be an American merchant ship. The instant the frigate nearest us saw her, she hoisted American colours, as did all the squadron, in hopes to decoy her down. I immediately hoisted English colours, that she might not be deceived. She soon hauled her wind, and it is to be hoped made her escape. All this day the wind increased gradually, and we gained on the enemy, in the course of the day, six or eight miles, they however continued chasing us all night under a press of sail.

_July 20th._ At daylight in the morning only three of them (p. 157) could be seen from the mast head, the nearest of which was about twelve miles off directly astern. All hands were set at work wetting the sails, from the royals down, with the engine and fire-buckets, and we soon found that we left the enemy very fast. At quarter past 8, the enemy finding that they were fast dropping astern, gave over the chase, and hauled their own wind to the northward, probably for the station off New York. At half-past 8, saw a sail ahead, gave chase after her under all sail. At 9, saw another strange sail under our lee bow. We soon spoke the first sail, discovered and found her to be an American brig from St. Domingo, bound to Portland. I directed the captain how to steer to avoid the enemy, and made sail for the vessel to leeward. On coming up with her, she proved to be an American brig from St. Bartholomews, bound to Philadelphia, but on being informed of war, she bore up for Charleston, S. C.

Finding the ship so far to the southward and eastward, and the enemy's squadron stationed off New York, which would make it impossible for the ship to get in there, I determined to make for Boston to receive your further orders, and I hope that my having done so will meet your approbation. My wish to explain to you as clearly as possible why your orders have not been executed, and the length of time the enemy were in chase of us, with various other circumstances, have caused me to make this communication much longer than I would have wished, yet I cannot (in justice to the brave officers and crew under my command) close it without expressing to you the confidence I have in them, and assuring you that their conduct whilst under the guns of the enemy was such as might have been expected from American officers and seamen.

I have the honour to be, with great respect, Sir, your obedient humble servant, Isaac HULL.

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_Captain Hull to the Secretary of the Navy._

To the Honourable United States Frigate Constitution, Paul HAMILTON, Off Boston Light, August 30, 1812. Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.

Sir: I have the honour to inform you that on the 19th instant, at 2 P.M., being in latitude 41° 42´, longitude 55° 48´, with the Constitution under my command, a sail was discovered from the masthead bearing E. by S. or E. S. E., but at such a distance we could not tell what she was. All sail was instantly made in chase, and we 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 half past 3 P.M. made her out to be a frigate; continued the chase until we were within about three miles, when I ordered the light sails taken in, the courses hauled up, and the ship cleared for action. At this time the chase had backed his main top-sail, waiting for us to come down. As soon as the Constitution was ready for action, I bore down with an intention to bring him to close action immediately; but on our coming within gunshot she gave us a broadside and filled away, and wore, giving us a broadside on the other tack; but (p. 158) without effect; her shot falling short. She continued wearing and manoeuvering for about three-quarters of an hour, to get a raking position, but finding she could not, bore up, and run under topsails and gib, with the wind on the quarter. Immediately made sail to bring the ship up with her, and five minutes before 6 P.M. being alongside 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 fifteen minutes her mizzen-mast went by the board, and her mainyard in the slings, and the hull, rigging and sails were very much torn to pieces. The fire was kept up with equal warmth for fifteen minutes longer, when her main-mast and fore-mast went, taking with them every spar, excepting the bowsprit; on seeing this we ceased firing, so that in thirty minutes after we got fairly alongside 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 Guerrière, 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 30 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 requesting to be laid close alongside 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 the killed and wounded on board the enemy, with his quarter-bill, &c.

I have the honour to be, with very great respect, Sir, your obedient servant,

Isaac HULL.

Killed and wounded on board the United States frigate Constitution, Isaac Hull, Esquire, Captain, in the action with His Britannic Majesty's frigate Guerrière, James A. Dacres, Esquire, Captain, on the 20th of August, 1812:

_Killed_: W. S. Bush, Lieutenant of Marines, and 6 seamen 7 _Wounded_: Lieutenant C. Morris, Master J. C. Aylwin, 4 seamen, 1 marine 7 -- Total killed and wounded 14

United States frigate Constitution, August 21st, 1812.

T. S. CHEW, _Purser_. Isaac HULL, _Captain_.

Killed and wounded on board His Britannic Majesty's frigate Guerrière:

_Killed_: 3 officers, 12 seamen and marines 15 _Wounded_: J. A. Dacres, Captain, 4 officers, 57 seamen and marines 62 _Missing_: Lieutenants Pullman and Roberts, and 22 seamen and marines, supposed to have gone overboard with the masts 24 --- Total killed, wounded and missing 101

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_Captain Hull to the Secretary of the Navy._ (p. 159)

To the Honourable United States Frigate Constitution, Paul HAMILTON, Boston, August 30, 1812. Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.

Sir: - - - - -

I cannot but make you acquainted with the very great assistance I received from that valued officer, Lieutenant Morris, in bringing the ship into action, and in working 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 thanks and gratitude of his country, for this and the many gallant acts he has done in its service. Were I to name any particular officer as having been more useful than the rest, I should do them great injustice; they all fought bravely, and gave me every possible assistance that I could wish. I am extremely sorry to state to you the loss of Lieutenant Bush, of marines; he fell at the head of his men in getting ready to board the enemy. In him our country has lost a valuable and brave officer. After the fall of Lieutenant Bush, Lieutenant Contee of the corps, took command of the marines, and I have pleasure in saying that his conduct was that of a brave, good officer, and the marines behaved with great coolness and courage during the action, and annoyed the enemy very much whilst she was under our stern.

I have the honour to be, with very great respect, Sir, your obedient servant, Isaac HULL.

No. 26. (p. 160) PLATE XXVII.

_October 18, 1812._

Jacobus Jones virtus in ardua tendit. [Rx]. Victoriam hosti majori celerrime rapuit.

CAPTAIN JACOB JONES.

[_Capture of the Frolic._]

IACOBUS JONES VIRTUS IN ARDUA TENDIT. (_Jacob Jones. Valor seeks difficulties._) Bust of Captain Jones, in uniform, facing the right. On edge of bust, FÜRST. F. (_fecit_).

VICTORIAM HOSTI MAJORI CELERRIME RAPUIT. (_He quickly snatched victory from a superior enemy._) Naval action between the United States sloop-of-war Wasp, of eighteen guns, Captain Jones, and the British sloop-of-war Frolic, of twenty-two guns, Captain Whinyates. The Wasp has lost her main-topmast, and is raking the Frolic as she lays her on board. The Americans are in possession of the enemy's forecastle. Exergue: INTER WASP NAV. AMERI. ET FROLIC NAV. ANG. DIE XVIII OCT. MDCCCXII. (_Inter Wasp navem Americanam et Frolic navem Anglicanam, die 18 Octobris, 1812: Between the American vessel Wasp and the English vessel Frolic, October 18, 1812._) On the platform, FÜRST. F. (_fecit_).

MORITZ FÜRST was born in Presburg, Hungary, and studied with Würt, a die sinker in the Imperial Mint of Vienna. He was for a time superintendent of the Royal Mint of Lombardy. In 1807 he was engaged by the American Consul at Leghorn as die sinker to the United States Mint, arrived the same year in America, and entered on his duties in the spring of 1808. He made nearly all the medals voted by Congress to the army and navy for the War of 1812-1815, and the Indian medals of Presidents Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, and Martin Van Buren. He resided for many years in New York.

JACOB JONES was born near Smyrna, Kent County, Delaware, in March, (p. 161) 1770. He first studied medicine, but entered the navy as midshipman in 1799, was lieutenant in 1801, was taken prisoner in the frigate Philadelphia, off Tripoli, 1803, and remained in captivity for twenty months. Having been commissioned as master-commandant in 1810, he was given, in 1811, the sloop-of-war Wasp, with which he captured the British sloop-of-war Frolic, Captain Whinyates, October 18, 1812. For this gallant action Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal. He became captain in 1813, and received the frigate Macedonian. He afterward commanded squadrons in the Mediterranean and in the Pacific; was a member of the Naval Board and governor of the Naval Asylum in Philadelphia, where he died, August 3, 1850.

[Footnote 78: The resolution of Congress voting this medal is given under No. 25, page 154.]

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ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.

_Captain Jacob Jones to the Secretary of the Navy._

To the Honourable Paul HAMILTON, New York, November 24th, 1813. Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.

Sir: I here avail myself of the first opportunity of informing you of the occurrences of our cruise, which terminated in the capture of the Wasp, on the 18th of October, by the Poictiers, of 74 guns, while a wreck from damages received in an engagement with the British sloop-of-war Frolic, of 22 guns; 16 of them 32-pound carronades, and four twelve-pounders on the main deck, and two twelve-pounders, carronades, on the top-gallant forecastle, making her superior in force to us by four twelve-pounders. The Frolic had struck to us, and was taken possession of, about two hours before our surrendering to the Poictiers.

We had left the Delaware on the 13th. The 16th had a heavy gale, in which we lost our jib-boom and two men. Half-past 11, on the night of the 17th, in the latitude of 37 degrees north, and longitude 65 degrees west, we saw several sail; two of them appeared very large. We stood from them for some time, then shortened sail, and steered the remainder of the night the course we had perceived them on. At daylight, on Sunday the 18th, we saw them ahead, gave chase, and soon discovered them to be a convoy of six sail, under the protection of a sloop-of-war, four of them large ships, mounting from 16 to 18 guns. At 30 minutes past 11, A.M., we engaged the sloop-of-war, having first received her fire at the distance of fifty or sixty yards, which space we (p. 162) gradually lessened until we laid her on board, after a well supported fire of 43 minutes; and although so near, while loading the last broadside, that our rammers were shoved against the side of the enemy, our men exhibited the same alacrity which they had done during the whole of the action. They immediately surrendered upon our gaining their forecastle, so that no loss was sustained on either side after boarding.

Our main-topmast was shot away between four and five minutes from the commencement of the firing, and falling, together with the main-topsail yard, across the larboard fore and fore-topsail braces, rendered our head-yards unmanageable the remainder of the action. At eight minutes the gaff and main-topgallant-mast came down, and at twenty minutes from the beginning of the action, every brace and most of the rigging was shot away. A few minutes after separating from the Frolic, both her masts fell upon deck, the main-mast going close by the deck, and the fore-mast twelve or fifteen feet above it.

The courage and exertions of the officers and crew fully answered my expectations 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 animating example he afforded the crew by his intrepidity. 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 promptitude highly honourable, and, I trust, have given assurance that they may be relied on whenever their services may be required.

I could not ascertain the exact loss of the enemy, as many 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 killed must have been about thirty, and that of the wounded about forty or fifty: of the killed is her first lieutenant and sailing master; of the wounded Captain Whinyates and the second lieutenant.

We had five killed and five wounded, as per list; the wounded are recovering. 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 shewed, by his composed manner of noting incidents, that we had lost, by his illness, the services of a brave officer.

I am, respectfully yours, etc., Jacob JONES.

No. 27. (p. 163) PLATE XXVIII.