University of Virginia Library

38. CHAPTER XXXVIII.
AMERICAN HEROISM.

In a few days O'Hara declared himself sufficiently
recovered to commence his intended journey,
and many were the pens which this declaration
put in motion. Few messengers of government
were ever charged with more numerous or (in
the estimation of those concerned) more important
dispatches. George wrote to his father and
to Catharine—Amelia did the same. Cushing and
Morse both wrote to the major, and Ellen added
a postscript to each of their letters. With all
my exertions, however, I have not been fortunate
enough to procure copies of these important documents;
the following brief extract from that written
by Morse, being all I have been able to obtain.
After granting a general assent to the major's
opinion on the subject of defensive war, the writer
proceeds to give the outlines of a few important
occurrences which could not have yet reached
his correspondent's ear; and this he does in the
following words, and under the following head—

WAR EVENTS.

“Another dazzling blaze of glory, my dear
sir, encircles the “stripes and stars” of Freedom.
On the thirteenth of October, the sloop of
war Wasp, commanded by captain Jones, sailed

from the Delaware, and on the eighteenth of the
same month, after a long and heavy gale, she fell
in with a number of strongly armed merchantmen,
under convoy of his Britannic majesty's
sloop of war Frolic, which was captured by the
Wasp, after a very desperate and sanguinary
conflict of forty-three minutes.

“The first lieutenant on board the Wasp, whose
name is Biddle, is a young gentleman to whom
captain Jones has been long attached by the
strong tie of friendship, arising from sympathy of
taste, profession, and valor. They served together
in the Mediterranean, and for twenty tedious
months were fellow-captives in the dungeons
of Tripoli. They are now rewarded with
never-fading wreaths of fame.

In four or five minutes after the commencement
of the action, the maintopmast of the Wasp was
shot away, and in falling, with the yard attached
to it, across the foretopsail braces, rendered
her head sails totally unmanageable during
the rest of the action. In two or three minutes
more her gaft and mizen-top-gallant-sail
fell before the fire of the enemy, but still she
continued the contest with unabated ardor. The
sea was so rough that the muzzles of their guns
were frequently in the water. At length the
Wasp shot ahead of her opponent, raked her and
then resumed her position on her larboard bow.
In a few minutes they closed with a most severe
concussion, when the jib-boom of the enemy crossed
the deck of the Wasp, directly above the
heads of Jones and Biddle, who were at that moment
standing together near the capstan. The
Frolic now lay so fair for raking, that they decided
to give her a closing broadside, and then

board. In loading for this broadside, the two vessels
were so near each other, that the rammers
of the American guns were pushed against the
Frolic's bows. Two of the Wasp's guns entered
the enemy's bow ports, and swept the whole
length of her deck.

“American valor is confined to no rank. A
common sailor of the Wasp, called Jack Lang,
(a native of New-Brunswick, in the state of New-Jersey,
who had been once impressed by a British
man of war) at this moment mounted a gun,
and, with a cutlass in his hand, sprang upon the
Frolic's bowsprit. Jones called to him to desist,
as he wished to give the enemy another broadside;
but the gallant tar's impetuosity could not
be restrained, and the whole crew were panting
to follow him. Unwilling to check such laudable
ardor and enthusiasm as his men evinced, Jones
consented to their wishes. Biddle mounted on
the hammock-cloth, and the crew followed; but
his feet got entangled in the rigging of the enemy's
bowsprit, and midshipman Baker, in his ardor
to get on board, laying hold of his coat, Biddle
fell backwards on the deck of the Wasp.
He sprang up, and as the next swell of the sea
brought the Frolic nearer, he got on her bowsprit,
passed Lang and another American seaman on
her forecastle, and was astonished to find not a
single man alive on the Frolic's deck, except the
seaman at the wheel, and three officers. The
deck was slippery with blood, and strewed with
the bodies and limbs of the dead. As he approached
the officers, on the quarter deck, they
threw down their swords, making at the same
time an inclination of the body indicating their
surrender. At this moment the colors were still

flying, and were now hauled down by Biddle, in
exactly forty-three minutes from firing the first
broadside.

“The Frolic's deck, and indeed every part of
her, presented a most shocking spectacle; the
birth-deck, particularly, was crowded with dead,
and wounded, and dying; there being but a small
proportion of her crew who had escaped. Jones
instantly sent on board his surgeon's mate, and
Biddle directed all the purser's blankets and
slops to be brought up for the use of the wounded;
every exertion that humanity could dictate,
was made to alleviate their sufferings.

“It now appeared that the Frolic was superior
in force to the Wasp, by exactly four twelve
pounders; her sails, masts and rigging, suffered
less than those of the Wasp; consequently the
enemy possessed superior advantages in manœuvring,
and his loss compared to ours, was on his
own estimate more than six to one killed, and
nearly twelve to one wounded. The exact number
of the enemy's killed and wounded could not
be ascertained; but it is not less than thirty killed
and fifty wounded. The commander, captain
Whinyates, and his second lieutenant, were
wounded, and two other officers were killed. The
Wasp had five men killed, and five slightly wounded.
Soon after taking possession of the prize,
both her masts fell by the board, covering
the mangled bodies on deck, rendering the most
horrid confusion still “worse confounded,” and
she lay a complete wreck, exposed to the tossings
of the turbulent billows.

“All hands were now employed in clearing
the deck, burying the dead, and taking care of
the wounded, when Jones sent orders to Biddle

to steer for Charleston, or any southern port of
the United States; and as there was a suspicious
sail to windward, the Wasp would continue her
cruise. The ships then parted, and the supsicious
sail approached very fast. It proved to be
the Poictiers, of seventy-four guns, commanded
by captain Beresford; and as the situation of
both vessels precluded every hope of escape or
resistance, both were surrendered and sent into
Bermuda.[1]

“Our cousin Aylwin is again on the ocean, in
the Constitution, but not under Hull, that hero
having been appointed to succeed Chauncey in
the command of the port and harbor of New-York.
Bainbridge now commands the Constitution,
and he sailed on the twenty-sixth day of last
month. That frigate has already made a lasting
impression on the minds of Englishmen, and this
cruise may perhaps produce a second edition.

“Hull `bears his blushing honors thick upon
him;' wherever he goes, rich testimonials of public
approbation are heaped upon him in the most
splendid profusion. In this town he was honored
with a public dinner, at which nearly six hundred
of the most respectable gentlemen of both
political parties united to pay a tribute of gratitude
and respect to American valor and skill. In
New-York, a fund has been raised for the purpose
of purchasing superb swords, to be presented
to captain Hull and the officers under his command.
The corporation of New-York have also
presented him with the freedom of that city, in a
gold box, with an appropiate inscription; and as
an additional tribute of respect, have requested

the captain to favor them with a sitting for his
portrait, to be deposited in the Picture-Gallery of
the City-Hall. In Philadelphia, at a general
meeting of the citizens, it was resolved, that a
piece of plate of the most elegant workmanship,
with appropriate emblems, devices and inscriptions,
be presented to captain Hull, and that a
like piece of plate be presented to lieutenant Morris,
in the name of the citizens of Philadelphia,
as a testimony of esteem and respect for their
gallant conduct; and also, that such other tokens
of esteem be presented to the other officers and
crew of the Constitution, as a committee appointed
for that purpose might deem proper.

“Hull, however, is only one bright star in a
constellation of heroes about to rise in the west,
to the astonishment of all the eastern world. Indeed,
sir, I feel confident that the present contest
will produce as many conspicuous naval heroes
as we have vessels afloat, and elecit flashes of
heroism from men of all ranks, unequalled for
brilliancy in the history of the world. Aylwin assured
me, that in the heat of the action with the
Guerriere, one of the crew of the Constitution, perceiving
that the flag at the foretopmast head had
been shot away, went up and lashed it in such a
manner as to make it impossible for a shot to take
it away without taking the mast with it. I understand
that the Secretary of the Navy intends
taking suitable notice of this heroic act.

“Among the heroes engaged in this brilliant
event, with whom I have the honor of being acquainted,
is lieutenant Morris, who received a
shot through his body, and for some time was not
expected to recover. He has since received the
promotion which his courage and good conduct

so eminently deserve, and has been appointed to
command the frigate Adams, now fitting at Washington.
Like most of our naval officers, he made
his debut on the Mediterranean station, where he
served several years. By his correct conduct,
his gentlemanlike demeanor, and his unremitted
attention to his duty, he obtained the confidence
of all the commanders with whom he sailed, and
the universal esteem of his brother officers.—
Among the chosen few, selected by lieutenant
(now commodore) Decatur, to accompany him in
his gallant expedition to burn the Philadelphia
frigate, midshipman Morris was one. He followed
lieutenant Decatur in boarding the ship, and
during the conducting of that masterly achievement,
manifested many proofs of the dauntless
bravery and intrepid spirit which he is well
known to possess.

“Lieutenant-colonel Miller, of the United
States army, who commanded the gallant fourth
regiment in the west, has been exchanged for
captain Dacres of the Guerriere. The colonel is
to join the sixth infantry, commanded by colonel
Simonds, on the Canada frontier.

“Admiral sir J. B. Warren arrived at Halifax
on the twenty-seventh September, on board the
San Domingo, of seventy-four guns, in company
with the Poictiers of seventy-four guns, and an
armed brig. The admiral expressed much surprise
to learn that the United States was still
continuing the war. It was generally believed
in England, that the repeal of the Orders in Council
would immediately produce a cessation of hostilities.
The admiral is not clothed with powers
to treat with the American government.

“Captain Porter has sailed on another cruise,
which will probably be long and hazardous, as
his cruising ground is said to extend along the
whole coast of South America, perhaps into the
Pacific ocean. He commands a brave crew of
American tars, and is himself a most daring and
enterprising officer, as you will perceive from the
following facts. He commenced his naval career
on board the Constellation, captain Truxton,
during the short contest we had with France.
In the action with the French frigate the Insurgent,
Porter was stationed in the foretop, and
distinguished himself by his good conduct. Want
of friends prevented his promotion at that time;
and to his merit alone he was finally indebted for
a commission. He afterwards signalized himself
in several gallant little affairs on the West-India
station, and also in the Mediterranean, where he
was first lieutenant of the Enterprise, captain
Stewart. In this cruise they encountered a Tripolitan
corsair of very superior force; a severe
battle ensued, in which the enemy suffered great
slaughter, and was compelled to surrender, while
the Americans received but little injury. In this
brilliant action Porter acquired much reputation
from the conspicuous part he acted. In another
engagement with the enemy, in the harbor of old
Tripoli, where he was sent to destroy some vessels
laden with wheat, he acquired fresh laurels,
and received a musket ball through his left thigh.

“Shortly after recovering from his wound, he
was transposed to the Philadelphia, commanded
by Bainbridge, and was made a captive with the
whole crew in the harbor of Tripoli, the frigate
having grounded and could not be got off.

“When peace was at length made, the captives
were restored from their long and dismal
confinement, and Porter was soon after appointed
to command the Enterprise. While at anchor
in the port of Malta, an English sailor came along
side, and insulted the officers and crew by very
abusive language; Porter overhearing him, ordered
a boatswain's mate to seize him, and give
him a flogging at the gangway; which order was
promptly obeyed. The governor of Malta, affected
to consider this a daring outrage, and gave
orders that the forts should not permit the Enterprise
to depart. No sooner was Porter informed
of it, than he got his vessel ready for action,
weighed anchor, and with lighted matches, and
every man at his station, with the avowed determination
of firing upon the town if attacked, sailed
between the silent batteries, and departed unmolested.

“Shortly after this occurrence, in passing
through the Straits of Gibraltar, he was attacked
by twelve Spanish gun-boats, who either mistook,
or pretended to mistake his vessel for a
British brig. The calmness of the weather, the
weight of their metal, and the acknowledged accuracy
of their aim, made the odds greatly against
him. As soon, however, as he was able to near
them, they were assailed with such rapid and
well-directed vollies, as quickly compelled them
to sheer off. This affair took place in sight of
Gibraltar, and in presence of several ships of
the British navy; it was, therefore, a matter of
notoriety, and spoken of in terms of the highest
applause.

“Such is the man who has now gone to shake the
southern hemisphere with Freedom's awful thun

der. Can he do otherwise than maintain the honor
of our flag, and reap laurels for himself? He has
already acquired the honor of taking the first
prize in the present war, and sent the first British
flag to the seat of government.

“The British packet Swallow, of eighteen guns,
(bound from Jamaica to Falmouth, with the mail
and specie to the amount of two hundred and
sixty thousand dollars) has arrived at Baltimore,
a prize to commodore Rodgers. The specie was
taken on board the President.

“Of transactions on the Niagara, I presume
you possess later accounts than I have seen. The
invasion of Canada, from that quarter, I believe,
remains in status quo, since the battle of Queenston.
Van Rensselaer has resigned his command
to Smyth, who has issued a very pompous address
to the men of New-York, inviting them to
join his standard, and promising to lead them to
conquest and glory. There has been some skirmishing
on the northern frontier, and several successful
little incursions into the enemy's territory,
particularly by the enterprising Forsyth, whose
affair at Gananoque, in Leeds, you are undoubtedly
acquainted with, and also the more recent
success of the gallant major Young at St. Regis.[2]

“General Brown has given a practical comment
on the subject of self-defence. Ogdensburgh,
I understand, has been bombarded three
times, and most gallantly defended by that friend
of liberty.

“In your next, I shall expect some information
from the southwest, and your opinion of the present
situation of that frontier, which from all the
intelligence that has reached us, appears to be a
very critical one. Both Spaniards and Indians
have assumed a menacing attitude; and many
dreadful outrages have been committed. The
Creeks were to hold a grand Council on the
twenty-second of October, to which they invited
the Choctaws, the Chickasaws and the Cherokees.
It is possible that the elation produced by
Indian successes in the north, may vanquish the
wavering, and arm the cowardly with a momentary
courage. If so, the times will be dreadful
to the settlements on the waters of the Mobile,
which lie insulated in the midst of an extensive
wilderness, between Georgia and the Mississippi,
and between Florida and the state of Tennessee.
News from the northern confederacy of the surrender
of Hull, reached the Creek nation by Indian
expresses, almost as soon as it was carried by the
American mail, and no doubt had considerable
influence on the minds of the Indians at the
general council.

“By an act of Congress of the United States,
passed on the twenty-ninth of May last, the town
of Mobile is declared to be a part of the Mississippi
territory, to be governed by the laws thereof,
and by the laws and ordinances of the United
States relating thereto. But the people of Mobile,
though generally anxious to become American

citizens, do not yet feel a conviction that it
is the intention of our government to make them
such; and there is some reason to apprehend
that, unless this part of the Mississippi territory
be speedily in the occupancy of an American
force, it will not be taken without a bloody
struggle. Adieu.”