Chapter XVIII: Gun-Boats Not Wholly Worthless 388

Even in the worst View of them they are Worth Consideration--The
Best of them Described--The Hopes of those who, like Jefferson,
Believed in them--Reasons for their General Worthlessness that should
have been Manifest before they were Built--Promoted Drunkenness
and Debauchery--They Protected Yankee Commerce in Long Island
Sound--A Fight with a Squadron in Chesapeake Bay--When the Braggart
Captain Pechell Met the Yankees--Sailing-master Sheed’s Brave
Defence of “No. 121”--Commodore Barney in the Patuxent River--When
Sailing-master Travis of the _Surveyor_ made a good Fight--A Wounded
Yankee Midshipman Murdered--Men who made Fame in Shoal Water below
Charleston.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE
THE _CONSTITUTION_ AND _GUERRIÈRE_. (From a French water-color
drawing in the possession of Mr. W. C. Crane), _Frontispiece._

ENGLISH VESSEL OF ONE HUNDRED GUNS. (From an engraving by
Verico), 3

A FRIGATE WITH HER SAILS LOOSE TO DRY. (From a wood-cut in the
“Kedge Anchor”), 5

JOHN RODGERS. (From the portrait by Jarvis at the Naval
Academy), 9

THE _LITTLE BELT_ BREAKING UP AT BATTERSEA. (From an engraving
by Cooke of a drawing by Francia), 12

THE SECTION OF A FIRST-RATE SHIP. (From an old engraving), 17

A BRIGANTINE OF A HUNDRED YEARS AGO AT ANCHOR. (From a picture
drawn and engraved by Baugean), 22

AN ENGLISH ADMIRAL OF 1809. (From an engraving at the Navy
Department, Washington), 24

REPRESENTATION OF A SHIP-OF-WAR, DRESSED WITH FLAGS, AND YARDS
MANNED. (From the “Kedge Anchor”), 27

THE INTERNAL ARRANGEMENTS AND STOWAGE OF AN AMERICAN
SLOOP-OF-WAR. (From the “Kedge Anchor”), 28

GUNS SECURED FOR A GALE. (From the “Kedge Anchor”), 30

DAVID PORTER. (From an engraving by Edwin of the portrait by
Wood), 35

FIGHT OF THE _ESSEX_ AND THE _ALERT_. (From an old wood-cut), 41

AN ENGLISH THIRTY-GUN CORVETTE. (From an engraving by Merlo in
1794), 45

SIR JOHN THOMAS DUCKWORTH. (From an English engraving), 48

ISAAC HULL. (From an engraving at the Navy Department,
Washington, of the painting by Stuart), 54

THE _CONSTITUTION’S_ ESCAPE FROM THE BRITISH SQUADRON AFTER A
CHASE OF SIXTY HOURS. (From an engraving by Hoogland of the
picture by Corné), 57

TOWING A BECALMED FRIGATE. (From a picture drawn and engraved
by Baugean), 59

CHASE OF THE _CONSTITUTION_ OFF THE JERSEY COAST. (From the
painting by Inch at the Naval Academy, Annapolis), 65

THE _CONSTITUTION_ BEARING DOWN FOR THE _GUERRIÈRE_. (From an
old wood-cut), 71

ACTION BETWEEN THE _CONSTITUTION_ AND THE _GUERRIÈRE_.--I.
(From the painting by Birch at the Naval Academy, Annapolis), 77

ACTION BETWEEN THE _CONSTITUTION_ AND THE _GUERRIÈRE_.--II.
(From the painting by Birch at the Naval Academy, Annapolis), 81

THE _CONSTITUTION_ IN CLOSE ACTION WITH THE _GUERRIÈRE_. (From
an old wood-cut), 83

ACTION BETWEEN THE _CONSTITUTION_ AND THE _GUERRIÈRE_.--III.
(From the painting by Birch at the Naval Academy, Annapolis), 85

DIAGRAM OF THE _CONSTITUTION-GUERRIÈRE_ BATTLE, 87

ACTION BETWEEN THE _CONSTITUTION_ AND THE _GUERRIÈRE_.--IV.
(From the painting by Birch at the Naval Academy, Annapolis), 89

SIR JAMES RICHARD DACRES. (From an English engraving published
in 1811), 93

MEDAL AWARDED TO ISAAC HULL AFTER THE CAPTURE OF THE
_GUERRIÈRE_ BY THE _CONSTITUTION_, 102

JACOB JONES. (From an engraving by Edwin of the portrait by
Rembrandt Peale), 105

DIAGRAM OF THE _WASP-FROLIC_ BATTLE, 108

THE _WASP_ BOARDING THE _FROLIC_. (From an old wood-cut), 111

THE _WASP_ AND _FROLIC_. (From an original water-color by H.
Rich, at the Naval Academy, Annapolis), 113

JAMES BIDDLE. (From an engraving by Gimbrede of the portrait by
Wood), 115

MEDAL AWARDED TO JACOB JONES AFTER THE CAPTURE OF THE _FROLIC_
BY THE _WASP_, 118

CAPTURE OF THE _MACEDONIAN_. (From an engraving in Waldo’s
“Decatur”), 123

DIAGRAM OF THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE _UNITED STATES_ AND
_MACEDONIAN_, 127

BATTLE BETWEEN THE _UNITED STATES_ AND THE _MACEDONIAN_. (From
an engraving by Duthie of the drawing by Chappel), 129

THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE _UNITED STATES_ AND THE _MACEDONIAN_.
(Drawn by a sailor who was on the _UNITED STATES_. From the
original drawing at the Naval Academy, Annapolis), 135

STEPHEN DECATUR. (From the portrait by Thomas Sully at the
Naval Academy, Annapolis), 145

MEDAL AWARDED TO STEPHEN DECATUR AFTER THE CAPTURE OF THE
_MACEDONIAN_ BY THE _UNITED STATES_, 150

BILLET-HEAD OF THE _CONSTITUTION_. (From the original at the
Naval Institute, Annapolis), 153

DIAGRAM OF THE BATTLE OF THE _CONSTITUTION_ AND _JAVA_, 158

THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE _CONSTITUTION_ AND THE _JAVA_.--I. (“At
five minutes past three o’clock, as the _Java’s_ foremast
fell.” From an engraving by Havel, after a sketch by
Lieutenant Buchanan), 159

THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE _CONSTITUTION_ AND THE _JAVA_.--II.
(“At half-past four o’clock, as the _Constitution_ began to
make sail.” From an engraving by Havel, after a sketch by
Lieutenant Buchanan), 163

THE _JAVA_ SURRENDERING TO THE _CONSTITUTION_. (From an old
wood-cut), 167

MEDAL AWARDED TO WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE AFTER THE CAPTURE OF THE
_JAVA_ BY THE _CONSTITUTION_, 175

THE _HORNET_ BLOCKADING THE _BONNE CITOYENNE_. (From an old
wood-cut), 180

DIAGRAM OF THE _HORNET-PEACOCK_ BATTLE, 183

JOHN T. SHUBRICK. (From an engraving by Gimbrede), 185

THE _HORNET_ SINKING THE _PEACOCK_. (From an old wood-cut), 186

MEDAL AWARDED TO JAMES LAWRENCE, AFTER THE CAPTURE OF THE
_PEACOCK_ BY THE _HORNET_, 191

JAMES LAWRENCE. (From an engraving by Edwin of the portrait by
Stuart), 195

SIR PHILIP BOWES VERE BROKE, BART. (From a lithograph of the
portrait by Lane), 201

JAMES LAWRENCE. (From an engraving by Edwin), 205

THE _CHESAPEAKE_ AND _SHANNON_.--COMMENCEMENT OF THE BATTLE.
(From an engraving at the Navy Department, Washington), 207

THE _CHESAPEAKE_ AND _SHANNON_.--AFTER THE FIRST TWO BROADSIDES
FROM THE LATTER. (From an engraving at the Navy Department,
Washington), 211

DIAGRAM OF THE _CHESAPEAKE-SHANNON_ BATTLE, 213

“DON’T GIVE UP THE SHIP!”--DEATH OF CAPTAIN LAWRENCE. (From an
engraving by Hall of the picture by Chappel), 215

THE _CHESAPEAKE_ AND _SHANNON_.--THE _SHANNON’S_ MEN BOARDING.
(From an engraving at the Navy Department, Washington), 219

THE FIGHT ON THE _CHESAPEAKE’S_ FORECASTLE. (From a lithograph
in the “Memoir of Admiral Broke”), 223

THE _SHANNON_ TAKING THE _CHESAPEAKE_ INTO HALIFAX HARBOR.
(From an engraving at the Navy Department, Washington), 227

“IN MEMORY OF CAPTAIN JAMES LAWRENCE.” (From an old engraving), 231

SHIP’S PAPERS OF THE _WILLIAM BAYARD_ IN 1810, SIGNED BY
NAPOLEON. (From the original at the Naval Institute,
Annapolis), 236–7

BATTLE BETWEEN THE SCHOONER _ATLAS_ AND TWO BRITISH SHIPS,
AUGUST 5, 1812. (From a lithograph in Coggeshall’s
“Privateers”), 243

THE _ROSSIE_ AND THE _PRINCESS AMELIA_. (From a lithograph in
Coggeshall’s “Privateers”), 249

BATTLE BETWEEN THE SCHOONER _SARATOGA_ AND THE BRIG _RACHEL_.
(From a lithograph in Coggeshall’s “Privateers”), 255

JESSE D. ELLIOTT. (From a lithograph at the Navy Department,
Washington), 260

SACKETT’S HARBOR, 1814. (After an old engraving), 264

MAP, SCENE OF NAVAL OPERATIONS ON LAKE ONTARIO, 1812–1813, 266

CAPTAIN WOOLSEY. (From a painting at the Naval Academy,
Annapolis), 269

WILKINSON’S FLOTILLA. (From an old wood-cut), 272

DETROIT IN 1815. (After an old engraving), 274

CAPTURE OF THE BRITISH BRIGS _DETROIT_ AND _CALEDONIA_, OCTOBER
12, 1812. (From a wood-cut prepared under the supervision of
Lieutenant Jesse D. Elliott himself), 277

O. H. PERRY. (From an engraving by Forrest of the portrait by
Jarvis), 281

PORT OF BUFFALO IN 1815. (After a contemporary engraving),
284–5

MAP OF THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE, 293

PERRY AND HIS OFFICERS ON BOARD THE FLAG-SHIP _LAWRENCE_,
PREPARING FOR THE ENGAGEMENT. (From an old wood-cut), 303

DIAGRAM OF PERRY’S VICTORY--THE APPROACH. (After Ward’s “Naval
Tactics”), 304

THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE. (From an old engraving), 308

FIRST VIEW OF PERRY’S VICTORY. (From an engraving of a drawing
by Corné), 310

“PERRY’S SIEG.”--A GERMAN VIEW OF THE VICTORY ON LAKE ERIE.
(From an old engraving), 312

DIAGRAM OF PERRY’S VICTORY.--POSITIONS AT HEIGHT OF BATTLE, 314

SECOND VIEW OF PERRY’S VICTORY. (From an engraving of a drawing
by Corné), 316

PERRY TRANSFERRING HIS COLORS. (After the painting by Powell), 319

“WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY AND THEY ARE OURS.” (From the “Naval
Monument”), 324

STEPHEN CHAMPLIN. (From a painting at the Naval Academy,
Annapolis), 327

THE MEDAL AWARDED TO OLIVER H. PERRY AFTER HIS VICTORY ON LAKE
ERIE, 334

MEDAL AWARDED TO JESSE D. ELLIOTT, 335

MAP OF NIAGARA RIVER, 340

THE DEATH OF GENERAL PIKE. (From an old wood-cut), 342

THE NIAGARA RIVER AND SCENES FROM THE WAR OF 1812. (From an
engraving in Hinton’s “History of the United States”), 343

ISAAC CHAUNCEY. (From an engraving by Edwin of the portrait by
Wood), 345

CAPTAIN SIR JAMES LUCAS YEO. (From an engraving by Cook of the
portrait by Buck), 347

BUFFALO, N. Y., BURNED BY THE BRITISH, DECEMBER 30, 1813. (From
an old wood-cut), 354

THE _ARGUS_ BURNING BRITISH VESSELS. (From an old wood-cut), 361

THE _ARGUS_ CAPTURED BY THE _PELICAN_, AUGUST 14, 1813. (From
an engraving by Sutherland of the painting by Whitcombe), 365

THE _ENTERPRISE_ AND _BOXER_. (From a wood-cut in the “Naval
Monument”), 377

DIAGRAM OF THE _ENTERPRISE-BOXER_ BATTLE, 378

MEDAL AWARDED TO EDWARD R. MCCALL AFTER THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE
_ENTERPRISE_ AND THE _BOXER_, 385

OLD-TIME NAVAL GUNNERY. (From a wood-cut), 391

JOHN CASSIN. (From a lithograph at the Navy Department,
Washington), 399

JOSHUA BARNEY. (From an engraving of the painting by Chappel), 404

MAP OF CHESAPEAKE BAY, 411

THE FLAG OF FORT MCHENRY--AFTER THE BRITISH ATTACK IN 1814.
(From a photograph at the Naval Academy, Annapolis), 415

THE CAPTURE OF WASHINGTON. (From an old wood-cut), 416

THE HISTORY OF OUR NAVY