STEWART AND "OLD IRONSIDES."
During the latter part of the war, as might have been foreseen, there
was little opportunity for American frigates to show that they could
keep up the fame they had so gloriously won. The British were determined
that none of them that ventured out to sea should escape; and by
stationing a squadron, which their great resources enabled them to do,
before each port where a frigate lay, they succeeded in keeping it
cooped up and inactive. No longer were offers made by British captains,
like that of the chivalrous Broke before Boston, to send away part of
their vessels, leaving one to fight a duel with the frigate that was in
the harbor. A steady watch was kept up before each port by the whole
blockading squadron. The "Constellation," which had won such high renown
under Truxtun in the French war, sailed from Washington down the
Chesapeake Bay; but falling in with the heavy squadron of the enemy near
Hampton Roads, composed of ships-of-the-line and frigates, she took
refuge at Norfolk, and here or in the river below she remained blockaded
till the end of the war. The "President" was lying at New York, and off
the port were the "Majestic" (razee) and three frigates,--the
"Endymion," "Pomone," and "Tenedos." The "United States" and
"Macedonian," after getting out from New York though Hell Gate,
encountered the British squadron of a line-of-battle ship and two
frigates at the eastern entrance of the Sound, and put in to New London,
where they lay in the mud for eighteen months unable to get out. The
"Constitution," under Captain Stewart at Boston, found herself checked
in the same way by a squadron of heavy frigates.
The "Adams," which had been a 28-gun frigate, but which was now a
corvette, managed to slip out from Washington in January, 1814, under
the command of Charles Morris, who had been promoted to a captain for
his service in the battle with the "Guerrière" seventeen months before.
Six months were passed in cruising, part of the time off the Irish
coast, but with no great success; for Morris was not fortunate in
meeting prizes of any value, and once or twice he narrowly escaped the
enemy's larger frigates. At length the scurvy showed itself among the
crew, and the ship was turned toward home. But it was almost as
difficult for American ships to get in as to get out. About the middle
of August Morris arrived off the coast of Maine, where unluckily for him
he sighted the English sloop "Rifleman," which he chased, but which
escaped in the fog. Soon after the "Adams" went ashore at the mouth of
the Penobscot River, and when she got off, Morris found her so much
injured that he resolved to go several miles up the river to Hampden,
where he could refit, as there were ship-yards all along the bank.
A short time before Morris's arrival a large force made up of
seventy-fours and frigates had left Halifax to make a descent on the
Maine coast, and near Castine it received news from the "Rifleman" of
the presence of the "Adams." This was exactly what the enemy wanted.
Some light vessels and boats, with about six hundred troops, were at
once detached and sent up the river to capture her. Morris had
dismantled the ship and landed her guns and stores preparatory to making
the needed repairs. By dint of hard work nine of the guns were mounted
in battery on a neighboring hill-top, but without protection, and the
remainder were placed in position on the wharf where the ship was lying.
Farther up the river was a creek crossed by a bridge; but the bridge was
not strong enough to allow the guns to be carried over, and the
Americans were thus prevented from taking up their position in rear of
the creek. There was a sufficient force of men to defend the position,
supposing that it had been well taken, with proper preparations, and
that the men were good men. But more than half of them were militia,
whose officers knew nothing of war, and whose men had no steadiness
under fire.
The enemy landed at sunset on the 2d of September, and early the next
morning made a sharp attack. The day was chill and rainy, and a heavy
fog hid the hill, which the militia were to defend, from the view of
Morris and his command on the wharf. Soon the enemy's bugles were heard
on the road below the hill-battery, followed by three discharges from
one of the guns. A few moments later word was passed by the marines, who
had been posted at intervals between the hill-battery and the wharf,
that the militia had broken and were fleeing in disorder. There was no
time to be lost; for if the enemy should gain the bridge in the rear,
the retreat of the sailors would be cut off. The ship was set on fire,
the guns were spiked, and Morris and his men retired to the creek. Here
they found the panic-stricken militia crowding over the bridge, and the
seamen, being without firearms, could make no real resistance. So they
forded the creek, and being now safe from pursuit, they marched through
the woods to the Kennebec. Here they separated into detachments, taking
different routes, as in this way it was easier to obtain provision on
the journey, and finally all arrived safely at Portsmouth.
* * * * *
At this time the "Constitution" was, as I have said, lying at Boston,
watched by a squadron of the enemy. She had proved a lucky ship, just as
the "Chesapeake" and "Adams" had proved unlucky; and her present
captain, Charles Stewart, who had been one of Preble's lieutenants at
Tripoli, was certainly a man well fitted to make the most of any chance
he had. The frigate had been in port since April, at first repairing,
and later unable to get out owing to the presence of the enemy's
squadron. In December, 1814, this squadron was composed of the
"Newcastle" of fifty guns, under Lord George Stuart, and the "Acasta" of
forty guns, under Captain Kerr. About the 12th of the month the
"Newcastle," for some unexplained reason, ran down into Cape Cod Bay,
where she grounded for a short time on a shoal. Here she was joined by
the "Acasta." Captain Stewart was on the watch, and when he found out
the situation, he did not wait long. All was quickly in readiness, and
having quietly weighed her anchor, the "Constitution," setting all her
sail with a fair wind, was soon dashing at full speed down the harbor
and out to sea; and before the enemy could learn of her flight, she was
ploughing the waves of the broad Atlantic. With what delight her
officers and men, after their long confinement and inaction in port,
felt once more the salt breezes speeding the good ship on her course,
the spray dashing from her bow as it cut the surging billows! Now at
last there was a hope that with such a ship and such a captain they
might win for the navy new victories, and add to the laurels which their
companions had already gathered.
[Illustration: CAPTAIN CHARLES STEWART.]
The "Constitution" stood across the Atlantic to the coast of Spain and
Portugal, and thence stretched over to the Azores and down to Madeira.
On the 20th of February, being then about sixty leagues distant from
Madeira, at one o'clock in the afternoon she sighted two vessels
sailing apparently in company, but at the moment some ten miles apart.
These were discovered after a time to be two British ships-of-war,--the
corvette "Cyane" of twenty-two guns, Captain Falcon, and the sloop
"Levant" of twenty guns, Captain Douglas. The "Constitution" made all
sail in chase, hoping to be able to engage the vessels separately. The
"Levant" was the nearer of the two, and soon she was seen straining
every nerve to join her consort, and making signals that the stranger
was an enemy. Captain Stewart had crowded on everything the ship would
carry, even to topmast, top-gallant, and royal studding-sails; indeed it
was a little more than she could carry, as the main royal mast presently
snapped off, and another had to be prepared.
The enemy's ships were thus enabled to effect a junction, and after
manoeuvring to delay the action until dark, which they thought would
give them an advantage, they hauled by the wind on the starboard tack,
and formed in column, the "Levant" leading. Their united force was not
so strong as that of the "Constitution," but as there were two of them,
the American frigate was required above all things to be alert in her
movements, so that she might not be taken at a disadvantage. For this
special purpose she could have no better commander than Stewart, who
excelled in skilful seamanship. Soon after six she ranged up on the
starboard or weather quarter of the "Cyane," the rearmost ship, and
fired her broadside at a distance of two hundred yards. The "Cyane"
replied with spirit; and as the "Constitution" forged ahead, the
"Levant" in turn opened on her, receiving her fire at the same time. The
ships were now in a triangular fight, but as the "Constitution" moved
on, she became engaged with the "Levant" alone. Presently the smoke
lifted, and Stewart saw the "Cyane" luffing up for his port quarter.
Without an instant's hesitation, without stopping to wear or tack, which
would have exposed his bow or stern to a raking fire, he simply braced
aback his topsails, at the same time giving the "Levant" a parting
broadside, and backed astern till he had the "Cyane" abeam, so that she
was compelled to bear up again to avoid a rake. A furious cannonade now
silenced her, and the "Levant" wore, to come to her assistance. But
Stewart was on the alert again, and seeing this manoeuvre he filled and
shot ahead, and catching the sloop in the midst of the operation he gave
her two terrific stern-rakes. Then, wearing himself in the smoke, his
movements as quick and as nimble as those of a trained gymnast, he bore
down again on the "Cyane," who, thinking him gone, was herself beginning
to wear, and arriving in the nick of time, he raked her stern as he had
just raked her consort's. Ranging up immediately after on her quarter,
Stewart had the satisfaction of receiving her surrender.
Lieutenant Hoffman and a few men were now thrown hastily on board the
prize, and the "Constitution" went in search of the "Levant," which had
made sail after her last encounter. But she had only hauled off to
repair damages, and coming back she passed the "Constitution" on the
opposite tack, the two ships exchanging broadsides. This last was
enough, and the sloop now sought to escape in good earnest. But it was
of no avail; the frigate was on her heels, and after receiving a few
shot from the bow guns of the "Constitution," the "Levant" struck her
colors.
Captain Stewart had now completed a good day's work, and putting
Lieutenant Ballard on board the "Levant," he proceeded to Port Praya, in
the Cape de Verde Islands, where he came to anchor. Here we must leave
him for a moment, to return to the blockading squadron which he had left
before Boston. The "Newcastle" and "Acasta" returned to their station,
and discovered to their dismay that the "Constitution" had given them
the slip, and had got off in their absence. This was a serious mishap.
Of all the American ships, the "Constitution"--"Old Ironsides," as she
was called--was the worst offender. She had captured two frigates, the
"Guerrière" and the "Java," and there was no telling what mischief she
might be up to now. At this juncture the squadron was reinforced by
another 50-gun ship, the "Leander," under Sir George Collier, K.C.B.;
and Sir George, being the senior officer, decided that there was but one
thing to be done, and that was to go in pursuit. It seemed like a
wild-goose chase, to search for a ship that might be anywhere on the
Atlantic Ocean. But fortune favored the pursuers in a most wonderful
manner; for it so happened that on one foggy morning at Port Praya, as
the "Constitution" was lying snugly at anchor, with a large part of her
crew at work on board the prizes, Lieutenant Shubrick, the officer of
the deck, as he was looking idly seaward, gazing at vacancy, was
startled at catching sight, through a rift in the fog, of the sails of a
great ship-of-war looming up distinctly, though her hull was hidden from
view. He rubbed his eyes, thinking that some illusion must have deceived
him; but there was the great spread of white canvas, and the ship that
bore it was making for the anchorage. He rushed below to tell the
captain.
"Well," said Stewart, calmly, as he repaired to the deck, "she is either
an English frigate or an Indiaman. Call all hands at once, and get the
ship ready to go out and attack her."
But when they came on deck it was a different story, for the fog had
lifted a little, and two more sail were seen following the first. Sure
enough; these were Stewart's old friends, the blockaders,--the
"Newcastle" and "Acasta,"--and with them was another and equally
formidable ship, the "Leander." They had started from the American coast
a week behind the "Constitution," and after cruising about vainly in
search of her for over two months, they had chanced upon the very spot
which she had chosen as the best place in which to refit.
Port Praya was in neutral territory, and by the established laws of war
the "Constitution" and her prizes, as long as they lay there, should
have been safe from molestation. But so little respect had been paid by
the British to these rules, that Captain Stewart decided in an instant
that he would place no reliance upon neutral protection. That settled,
there was not a moment to be lost, for the enemy would soon be at the
entrance of the harbor. Loosing his topsails, the captain signalled to
the prizes to follow him, and cutting his cable, in seven minutes from
the time when the first frigate was sighted the three ships were
standing out of the harbor. That was rare discipline and organization,
for not one crew in twenty could have accomplished the task.
It was blowing fresh as the "Constitution," followed by the prizes,
passed close under the point of land at the entrance, within gunshot of
the enemy's squadron, and being to windward of them, she crossed her
top-gallant yards, and set the foresail, mainsail, spanker, flying-jib,
and top-gallant sails. The enemy immediately tacked, and made sail in
chase. The six ships were now all upon the port tack, the "Constitution"
racing along at the head of the line. Next came the prizes. Of the
enemy, the "Newcastle" was leading, the "Leander" two miles astern of
her, and the "Acasta" on her weather quarter. At half-past twelve the
"Constitution" cut adrift the boats that she had been towing astern.
Half an hour later Captain Stewart perceived that the "Acasta" was
luffing up, and thereby gaining his wake. At the same time the "Cyane,"
the rearmost of the prizes, was dropping astern and to leeward. "If she
keeps on in this way," he reasoned, "it will be impossible to save her
without bringing the 'Constitution' into action, which will certainly
result in her capture. If the 'Cyane' tacks, the 'Acasta' may go off in
pursuit, but the prize will gain the anchorage at Port Praya before the
enemy can catch her; that is probably her only chance. On the other
hand, if the enemy fail to pursue her, she can escape." The signal was
therefore made to the "Cyane" to tack, which she accordingly did, and
finding that the English squadron took no notice of her, she went off in
good style, and laying her course for the United States, she arrived
there safely just a month later.
At three o'clock the "Levant" found herself losing ground, exactly as
the "Cyane" had been doing two hours before. She also was therefore
signalled to tack, which was immediately done. Now came the singular
part of this day's proceedings. Seeing the "Levant" making off, Sir
George Collier, instead of keeping on and attempting to come up with
the "Constitution," which, if he could have overtaken her, would surely
have become his prize, abandoned the pursuit, and tacking with all his
vessels, went off after the "Levant." The latter immediately made for
the harbor; but Stewart's surmises about British respect for the
neutrality of the port turned out to be correct. The prize anchored
close under the batteries of the port, and the "Leander" and "Acasta"
immediately opened fire with a broadside, most of which, however, passed
above her, and did more damage in the town than on board the vessel.
After this illegal attack the squadron completed its work by an
inglorious capture.
The British officers who were prisoners on board the "Constitution" had
all the while been eagerly watching the manoeuvres of the squadron,
which they expected presently to set them free. Great was their chagrin
and disappointment when they saw this overwhelming force diverting its
course in pursuit of the little prize sloop whose capture was of no
earthly moment to the British Navy, and leaving "Old Ironsides," the
frigate which more than any other under the American flag that navy
longed to take, to go on her way rejoicing. Yet so it happened; and the
"Constitution," now freed from all anxiety, shaped her course
comfortably for home, where she arrived in May without any further
mischances.
The only other frigate that left port in the last year of the war was
less fortunate than the "Constitution." This was the "President," now
under Commodore Decatur. She was at New York, and for some time had lain
at anchor off Staten Island watching for an opportunity to pass the
blockading squadron. On the 13th of January, 1815, a heavy snow-storm
drove the enemy off the coast; and next day, as the wind was favorable,
Decatur determined to make the attempt in the night. Unfortunately the
"President" in going out grounded on the bar, and by this accident lost
an hour or two of darkness. Unfortunately also the shrewdness of the
British commander, Captain Hayes, had led him to stand away to the
northward and eastward, in what would probably be the course of an
American ship if any such came out, in preference to closing the land to
the southward. Hence at daybreak, being then about fifty miles from
Sandy Hook, and steering southeast, the "President" found herself close
upon the very ships she was trying to avoid, and within two miles of the
largest of them, the "Majestic," a razee of sixty guns. The others were
the frigate "Endymion" of fifty guns, and the "Pomone" and the
"Tenedos," of forty-four each. Seeing such an overwhelming force
directly in his path, Decatur changed his course to the northeast, and
crowded sail to pass the enemy. The whole squadron immediately gave
chase, and when the pursuit was fairly begun, the "Majestic" was some
five miles astern, the "Endymion" following, and the "Pomone" a little
farther off on the "President's" port quarter.
For six hours the chase continued, with no change in the position of the
ships. The "President," laden with all the stores for her cruise, was
deep and sluggish in the water, and it was only by vigorous efforts that
she kept her distance from her pursuers. At length, about noon, the wind
became light and baffling. The "Majestic" was now falling astern, but
the "Endymion" began to gain rapidly. All hands on board the "President"
were busy lightening the ship, starting the water, cutting away the
anchors, and throwing overboard provisions, cables, spare spars,
boats,--everything, in short, that could be got at,--while the sails
were kept wet from the royals down. The uncertain wind now blew only for
the enemy; the "Endymion" had a good breeze, while it fell light upon
the sails of the "President." At five o'clock the English frigate got a
good position on the "President's" quarter, where none of Decatur's guns
could be brought to bear on her. Still she did not close, preferring to
yaw from time to time so that her broadside would bear, and then resume
the chase, rather than risk anything by a close action.
The pursuit had lasted all through the short winter's day, and it was
now dusk. Seeing that the "Endymion's" tactics must end in his being
crippled, Decatur suddenly altered his course to the southward, which
compelled the enemy to do the same, and so brought her abeam, and a
battle began between the two ships, broadside to broadside, Decatur
encouraging and cheering his men, and fighting as steadily as if there
were no other enemies in sight. His guns were aimed rather at the
"Endymion's" spars than at her hull, seeing that his object was to
destroy her power of sailing, and thus his loss in men was far greater
than that of the enemy. Nevertheless, after two hours of a running fight
the "Endymion" drew out of the battle, and dropped astern to repair her
injuries.
Decatur now continued on his course, hoping against hope that in the
darkness of the night he might yet escape. But his pursuers were close
at his heels and never lost sight of him for a moment. So well did he
hold his own, that for more than two hours after the fight with the
"Endymion" the enemy only gained on him inch by inch. At last, at eleven
o'clock, the "Pomone" ranged up alongside, and planting herself within
musket-shot on his port bow, she opened fire. At the same moment the
"Tenedos" had taken a raking position on his quarter. If this had been
the beginning of the action, it would have been right for the commodore
to resist the attack, even though his resistance had lasted but a few
moments and had accomplished no result. But in his two hours' action
with the "Endymion" he had upheld with gallantry the honor of the flag,
and with sixty men already killed or wounded it was probable that an
attempt to fight the new assailants would only cause a useless
slaughter. So he surrendered, and the "President" became from that day
forth what she still remains,--a British frigate. It was a defeat
indeed, but one which left the vanquished as much credit as the victors.
* * * * *
The actions of the "President" with the British squadron, and of the
"Constitution" with the "Cyane" and the "Levant," were the last frigate
engagements of the war. Indeed, the treaty of peace had already been
signed, and it only awaited ratification. What had been the results of
the naval war? The British Navy, numbering more than forty times our
own, had met in the battles on the ocean with more defeats than
victories, and on the lakes its squadrons had been twice annihilated.
Its naval prowess, of which the wars with Dutch and Danes and French and
Spaniards gave it so much cause to boast, was now matched by the naval
prowess of a new rival in the Western Continent. The people who for
twenty years had submitted to aggression, learned that those to whom
their defence upon the ocean was intrusted were worthy of the trust, and
would prove brave and efficient champions against a foreign foe, however
great his power or prestige; and from that time forward no political
party in the United States dared to rely for popular support upon a
platform of tame submission to foreign encroachment.