At the beginning of the war of 1812 there were but three first-class
frigates in our navy, and but five vessels of any description were
fit to go to sea. But the war with Tripoli and the gallant deeds of
the American officers had made the service popular with the public. In
March, 1812, an act was passed which appropriated money to put all these
vessels in condition to meet the enemy on a more equal footing, and a
naval committee was formed to deal with the emergency. Langdon Cheves
was appointed chairman, and he took hold of the great task of rebuilding
and regenerating the naval service with enthusiasm and good judgment.
The result was that the committee expressed the opinion “that it was the
true policy of the United States to build up a navy establishment, as the
cheapest, the safest, and the best protection to their sea-coast and to
their commerce, and that such an establishment was inseparably connected
with the future prosperity, safety, and glory of the country.”
When war was declared, the “Constitution” was in good condition, but
the “Chesapeake” and the “Constellation” were not seaworthy. These were
recommended to be immediately put in condition, and ten other frigates,
averaging thirty-eight guns each, to be built. There was no difficulty in
raising the crews for these vessels. Owing to the impressment of American
and other seamen into the British service, the Cross of St. George had
come to be so hated by the fishermen, coastwise sailors, and merchantmen
that they sailed, drove, or walked to Philadelphia, Baltimore, and the
other places where the frigates were fitting out, eager to sign the
articles which made them American men-o’war’s-men. They were not drafted
into the service like many of the British Jackies, at the point of the
pistol, but came because they wanted to, and because with the building up
of a new navy there came a chance to see the flag they hated trailed in
defeat. That and nothing else was the reason for the wonderful success of
American arms upon the sea during the war of 1812. The American officers,
smarting under past indignities to the service and to themselves, went
into the many actions with determination and enthusiasm, combined with
the experience of a rough-and-tumble sea,--experience which with anything
like an equal force meant either victory or absolute destruction.
The “Constitution,” under Hull, had escaped from the British squadron,
under Broke, off the Jersey coast, had defeated the frigate “Guerriere,”
and in all her history had shown herself to be a lucky ship. William
Bainbridge had been given the command of the “Constellation,” but,
arriving at Boston, Hull had found it necessary to give up his command,
and Bainbridge immediately applied for “Old Ironsides.”
The victories of the American frigates “Constitution” and “United States”
over the British “Guerriere” and “Macedonian” had aroused great enthusiasm
throughout the country, and the government had decided to change its
timorous policy. Hoping to draw some of the British vessels away from the
coast and cause them to be distributed over a wider horizon, expeditions
were arranged to strike the enemy at many distant points. Bainbridge’s
orders were to sail for the Indian Ocean and capture or destroy as
many English merchant-vessels as possible. His squadron, besides the
“Constitution,” 44, consisted of the “Essex,” 32, Captain David Porter,
and the “Hornet,” 18, Master-Commandant James Lawrence. Bainbridge and
Lawrence put to sea from Boston on the 26th of October, while Porter
left the Delaware on the 24th to rendezvous at Porto Praya, on the South
American coast.
A few days later, H. M. S. “Java,” a thirty-eight-gun frigate,
Captain Henry Lambert, having two merchant-ships under convoy, sailed
from Portsmouth, England, for India. She also had as passengers the
newly-appointed governor of India, Lieutenant-General Thomas Hislop, and
many naval and army officers, who were being carried out to their posts.
The “Constitution,” arriving at Porto Praya, and failing to find Porter
in the “Essex,” put to sea again, stopping at Fernando de Noronha in
the hope of meeting her there. Lawrence, in the “Hornet,” challenged the
British sloop-of-war “Bonne Citoyenne” to single combat; but her commander
declined, in view of the presence of the “Constitution.” Bainbridge
wrote that he would not interfere, and pledged him his honor to give the
Englishman the opportunity to fight the “Hornet” to the death. Hoping to
bring the action about, Bainbridge sailed away, and remained four days.
But the British captain was determined not to fight, and Lawrence was thus
denied the opportunity he afterwards had with the ill-fated “Chesapeake.”
Near the end of December, 1812, the “Constitution” was cruising off
the coast of Brazil, about thirty miles from Bahia. The wind was light
from the northeast, and Bainbridge was moving under short sail. “Old
Ironsides,” a ready sailer when in condition, had been off the stocks so
long and was so befouled by her stay in tropical waters that she moved
rather sluggishly, and had not the capacity for legging it that she had
when Hull had carried her from under the guns of the British squadron.
Her sails were patched and her rigging was old, but Bainbridge had done
all he could with her, and his men were full of confidence. She was
the “Constitution,” and that was enough for them. They only wanted an
opportunity to repeat or surpass some of her previous exploits.
They had not long to wait. At nine o’clock on the morning of December
29, the man at the fore-crosstrees passed the cry of “Sail-ho,” and soon
from the deck two sails could be seen to the north, near the coast. They
were both made out to be full-rigged ships, one standing in cautiously
for the land and the other keeping a course out to sea, pushing down
gallantly under a full press of canvas. The one inshore was the American
ship “William,” which had been captured by the British, and the other was
the “Java.” The jackies who lined the nettings of the “Constitution” soon
discovered that their wishes were to be granted, for the larger ship was
evidently determined to come up, and could be nothing but a man-of-war
looking for a fight.
By about eleven Captain Bainbridge took in his royals and went about
on the other tack. The Englishman was coming nearer now, and hoisted
the private signals, English, Spanish, and Portuguese, in succession.
Bainbridge hoisted the private signal of the day, and finding that it was
not answered, cleared ship for action immediately. Then, wishing to draw
his enemy from his consort, he set his mainsails and royals and stood out
to sea. The “Java” came up rapidly, and made sail in a parallel course.
Finding that the other ship did not follow, and desiring to make the other
vessel disclose her identity, Bainbridge showed his colors,--his broad
pennant at the main, the Stars and Stripes at the peak, another at the
maintop-gallant-mast, and the American jack at the fore. This was shortly
followed by his adversary, who hoisted an English ensign and displayed a
private signal.
All this time the “Java” was rapidly gaining on the “Constitution,” and
Bainbridge, finding that he was outsailed, took in his royals and went
about on the other tack, so as to pass within pistol-shot of the other.
The “Constitution,” still a mile to leeward, soon fired a shot across
the “Java’s” bows to induce her to show her colors, which she had hauled
down again. This had the desired effect, for the bits of bunting went up
with a run, and a whole broadside was fired at the “Constitution.” But
the range was too great for successful marksmanship, both these shots and
those fired by the “Constitution” in return dropping harmlessly alongside.
By a little after two o’clock the frigates were within half a mile of each
other, and the action then began with great spirit. The Englishman got
the range first, and sent in a broadside which hulled the “Constitution”
and killed and wounded several of her men. It soon became evident to
Bainbridge that Captain Lambert’s guns carried better than his own,
so began luffing up repeatedly in order to shorten the distance for an
effective broadside. He was sure of his marksmanship if once his men got
the range, for the same gun-captains were with him that had helped Hull
to her great victory over the “Guerriere.” It was difficult to draw up,
as the Englishman was forging ahead with the evident desire to sail close
to the wind and keep the weather-gage at all hazards. The “Constitution”
could only luff up at opportune moments, for Lambert’s position was one
which would enable him to rake the “Constitution” from stem to stern if
he luffed when the broadside was ready. But he edged up cautiously, and
soon the vessels were but musket-shot apart. A continuous fire now began,
and the wind being light, both vessels were soon so shrouded in smoke
that only at intervals could the gunners make out their adversaries.
Along they sailed, side by side, giving and receiving tremendous volleys.
About this time a solid shot went crashing along the quarter-deck of the
“Constitution” and, striking her wheel, smashed it to pieces. The gear had
been rove below, however, and the ship throughout the remainder of the
battle was steered by means of tackles on the berth-deck. The captain’s
orders were shouted down through the after-hatch and repeated by a line
of midshipmen to the men at the tackles.
Bainbridge, in full uniform, stood by the weather-rigging at the time
the disabling shot came aboard, and a small copper bolt drove through
the upper part of his leg, inflicting a bad wound. But fearing that if
he left the deck his men might lose some of the ardor with which they
were fighting, he would not go below though frequently urged so to do.
Instead of this he bound it up with his handkerchief, and remained at
his post, his epaulettes a fair mark for the sharpshooters in the tops
of the enemy. His men down in the waist of the “Constitution” looked now
and again at the imposing figure by the mizzen-mast, and bent to their
work with a will, firing as rapidly as their guns could be loaded. The
distance between the ships was now so short that all the smaller guns and
carronades could be used, and a rapid and well-directed fire was kept up
both upon the hull and the spars of their adversary.
The “Java,” by her superior sailing qualities, was enabled to reach well
forward on the “Constitution’s” bow when she eased off her sheets to
round down across the bows of the American and rake. But Bainbridge, in
spite of the disadvantage of wrecked steering-gear, was too quick for
her. He put his helm up, and wore around in the smoke, thus keeping his
broadside presented. The Englishman at last succeeded in getting under
the “Constitution’s” stern and pouring in a broadside at close range. But,
fortunately, comparatively little damage was done. The superiority of the
gunnery of the Americans, save for a few of the Englishman’s well-directed
shots, had been from the first far superior to that of the Englishmen. The
fire of the “Java” was far less rapid and less careful than that of the
“Constitution.” Had the gunnery been equal, the story of the fight would
have had a different ending.
But the Americans labored under a great disadvantage, and Captain
Bainbridge, determined to close with the enemy at all hazards, put his
helm down and headed directly for the enemy, thus exposing himself to
a fore-and-aft fire, which might have been deadly. But for some reason
the Englishman failed to avail himself of this opportunity, only one
9-pounder being discharged. When near enough, the “Constitution” rounded
to alongside and delivered her entire starboard broadside, which crashed
through the timbers of the “Java” and sent the splinters flying along the
entire length of her bulwarks. The shrieks of the injured could be plainly
heard in the lulls in the firing, and soon the bowsprit and jib-boom of
the enemy were hanging down forward, where they lay, with the gear of the
head-sails and booms in a terrible tangle. With this misfortune the “Java”
lost her superiority in sailing, and this was the turn in the action.
Quickly availing himself of this advantage, Bainbridge again wore in the
smoke before Captain Lambert could discover his intentions, and, getting
under the “Java’s” stern, poured in a rapid broadside, which swept the
decks from one end to the other, killing and wounding a score of men. Then
sailing around, he reloaded, and fired another broadside from a diagonal
position, which carried away the “Java’s” foremast and otherwise wrecked
her.
Captain Lambert, now finding his situation becoming desperate, determined
to close with the “Constitution” and board her. He tried to bear down
on her, but the loss of his head-yards and the wreck on his forecastle
made his vessel unwieldy, and only the stump of his bowsprit fouled the
mizzen-chains of the American vessel. The American topmen and marines
during this time were pouring a terrific fire of musketry into the mass of
men who had gathered forward on the English vessel. An American marine,
noting the epaulettes of Captain Lambert, took deliberate aim, and shot
him through the breast. Lambert fell to the deck, and Lieutenant Chads
assumed the command. The Englishmen, disheartened by the loss of their
captain, still fought pluckily, though the wreck of the gear forward and
the loss of their maintop-mast seriously impeded the handling of the guns.
At each discharge their sails and gear caught fire, and at one time the
“Java’s” engaged broadside seemed a sheet of flame. At about four o’clock
her mizzen-mast, the last remaining spar aloft, came down, and she swung
on the waves entirely dismasted. It seemed impossible to continue the
action, as but half a dozen guns could be brought to bear.
The “Constitution,” finding the enemy almost silenced and practically at
her mercy, drew off to repair damages and re-reeve her gear. Bainbridge
had great confidence in the _look_ of the “Constitution,” as, to all
outward appearances unharmed, she bore down again and placed herself in
a position to send in another broadside. His surmise was correct, for the
one flag which had remained aloft was hauled down before the firing could
be resumed.
Lieutenant George Porter, of the “Constitution,” was immediately
sent aboard the Englishman. As he reached the deck he found the
conditions there even worse than had been imagined by those aboard the
“Constitution.” Many of the broadside guns were overturned, and, though
the wreck had been partially cleared away, the tangle of rigging was
still such that the remaining guns were practically useless. The dead and
wounded literally covered the decks, and as the lieutenant went aboard
the dead were being dropped overboard. The loss of her masts made her
roll heavily, and occasionally her broadside guns went under. Lambert
was mortally wounded. Lieutenant Chads, too, was badly hurt. When he
had assumed command, in spite of the fact that he knew his battle was
hopeless, he had tried to refit to meet the American when she came down
for the second time. He only struck his colors when he knew that further
resistance meant murder for his own brave men. The “Java” was a mere hulk,
and the hulk was a sieve.
Comparison of the injuries of the “Java” and “Constitution” is
interesting. With the exception of her maintop-sail-yard, the
“Constitution” came out of the fight with every yard crossed and every
spar in position. The injuries to her hull were trifling. The “Java” had
every stick, one after another, shot out of her until nothing was left but
a few stumps. It might have been possible to have taken her into Bahia,
but Bainbridge thought himself too far away from home; and so, after the
prisoners and wounded had been removed to the “Constitution,” a fuse was
laid, and the American got under weigh. Not long after a great volume of
smoke went up into the air, and a terrific explosion was heard as the last
of the “Java” sunk beneath the Southern Ocean.
When the “Constitution” arrived at Bahia, Captain Lambert was carried
up on the quarter-deck, and lay near where Bainbridge, still suffering
acutely from his wounds, had been brought. Bainbridge was supported by
two of his officers as he came over to Lambert’s cot, for he was very
weak from loss of blood. He carried in his hand the sword which the dying
Englishman had been obliged to surrender to him. Bainbridge put it down
beside him on his bed, saying,--
“The sword of so brave a man should never be taken from him.”
The two noble enemies grasped hands, and tears shone in the eyes of
both. A few days afterwards the Englishman was put on shore, where more
comfortable quarters were provided for him, but he failed rapidly, and
died five days after.
The news of the capture of the “Java” created consternation in England.
The loss of the “Guerriere” and the “Macedonian” were thought to have been
ill-luck. But they now discovered an inkling of what they rightly learned
before the war was over,--that the navy of the United States, small as
it appeared, was a force which, man for man and gun for gun, could whip
anything afloat.
When Bainbridge arrived in Boston he and his officers were met by a
large delegation of citizens, and many festivities and dinners were held
and given in their honor. The old “Constitution,” rightly deserving
the attention of the government, was put in dry-dock to be thoroughly
overhauled. Of the five hundred merchantmen captured by Americans, she
had taken more than her share, and of the three frigates captured she had
taken two.