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 seamen9 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 indignities11 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[119] force meant either victory or absolute destruction.
The “Constitution,” under Hull12, had escaped from the British squadron, under Broke, off the Jersey13 coast, had defeated the frigate1 “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 applied14 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 decided15 to change its timorous16 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[120] put to sea from Boston on the 26th of October, while Porter left the Delaware on the 24th to rendezvous17 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 convoy18, sailed from Portsmouth, England, for India. She also had as passengers the newly-appointed governor of India, Lieutenant19-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 interfere20, 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 determined21 not to fight, and Lawrence was thus denied the opportunity he afterwards had with the ill-fated “Chesapeake.”
[121]
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 sluggishly23, 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 fore24-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 standing25 in cautiously for the land and the other keeping a course out to sea, pushing down gallantly26 under a full press of canvas. The one inshore was the American ship “William,” which had been captured by the British,[122] 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 tack27. The Englishman was coming nearer now, and hoisted28 the private signals, English, Spanish, and Portuguese29, 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 consort30, 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 vessel3 disclose her identity, Bainbridge showed his colors,—his broad pennant31 at the main, the Stars and Stripes at the peak, another at the maintop-gallant-mast, and the American jack10 at the fore. This was shortly followed by his adversary32, 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[123] royals and went about on the other tack, so as to pass within pistol-shot of the other.
The “Constitution,” still a mile to leeward33, 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 hulled34 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[124] at all hazards. The “Constitution” could only luff up at opportune35 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 shrouded36 in smoke that only at intervals37 could the gunners make out their adversaries38. 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 steered39 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 copper40 bolt drove through the upper part of his leg, inflicting41 a bad wound. But fearing that if he left the deck his men might lose some of the ardor42 with which they were fighting, he would not go below[125] 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 imposing43 figure by the mizzen-mast, and bent44 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 wrecked46 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[126] 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 labored47 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 bulwarks48. The shrieks49 of the injured could be plainly heard in the lulls50 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 tangle51. 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[127] his intentions, and, getting under the “Java’s” stern, poured in a rapid broadside, which swept the decks from one end to the other, killing52 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 wreck45 on his forecastle made his vessel unwieldy, and only the stump53 of his bowsprit fouled22 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 marine54, 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 pluckily55, though the wreck of the gear forward and the loss of their maintop-mast seriously impeded56 the handling of the guns. At each discharge their sails and gear caught fire, and[128] 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 entirely57 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 surmise58 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 partially59 cleared away, the tangle of rigging was still such that the remaining guns were practically useless. The dead and wounded literally60 covered the decks, and as the lieutenant went[129] 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 mere61 hulk, and the hulk was a sieve62.
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 trifling63. The “Java” had every stick, one after another, shot out of her until nothing was left but a few stumps64. 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[130] 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 consternation65 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[131] man and gun for gun, could whip anything afloat.
When Bainbridge arrived in Boston he and his officers were met by a large delegation66 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 thoroughly67 overhauled68. 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.
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1
frigate
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| n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰 | |
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frigates
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| n.快速军舰( frigate的名词复数 ) | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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7
regenerating
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| v.新生，再生( regenerate的现在分词 )；正反馈 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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10
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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indignities
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| n.侮辱，轻蔑( indignity的名词复数 ) | |
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hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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jersey
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| n.运动衫 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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timorous
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| adj.胆怯的，胆小的 | |
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rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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convoy
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| vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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fouled
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| v.使污秽( foul的过去式和过去分词 )；弄脏；击球出界；（通常用废物）弄脏 | |
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sluggishly
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| adv.懒惰地；缓慢地 | |
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fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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tack
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| n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝 | |
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hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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Portuguese
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| n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语 | |
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consort
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| v.相伴；结交 | |
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pennant
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| n.三角旗；锦标旗 | |
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adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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leeward
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| adj.背风的；下风的 | |
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hulled
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| 有壳的，有船身的 | |
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opportune
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| adj.合适的，适当的 | |
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shrouded
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| v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密 | |
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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adversaries
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| n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 ) | |
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steered
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| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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inflicting
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的现在分词 ) | |
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ardor
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| n.热情，狂热 | |
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43
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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45
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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labored
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| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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48
bulwarks
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| n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 )；保障；支柱；舷墙 | |
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49
shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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50
lulls
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| n.间歇期（lull的复数形式）vt.使镇静，使安静（lull的第三人称单数形式） | |
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51
tangle
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| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
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52
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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53
stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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54
marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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55
pluckily
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| adv.有勇气地，大胆地 | |
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56
impeded
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| 阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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58
surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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59
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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61
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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62
sieve
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| n.筛，滤器，漏勺 | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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64
stumps
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| （被砍下的树的）树桩( stump的名词复数 )； 残肢； （板球三柱门的）柱； 残余部分 | |
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consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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66
delegation
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| n.代表团；派遣 | |
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67
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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68
overhauled
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| v.彻底检查( overhaul的过去式和过去分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
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