The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 Part 65

_Captain Stewart to the Secretary of the Navy._

To the Honourable United States Frigate Const.i.tution, SECRETARY OF THE NAVY, May, 1815.

Washington, D. C.

Sir: On the 20th of February last, the island of Madeira bearing about west southwest, distant 60 leagues, we fell in with His Britannic Majesty's two ships-of-war, the Cyane and Levant, (p. 247) and brought them to action about 6 o'clock in the evening, both of which, after a spirited engagement of 40 minutes, surrendered to the ship under my command.

Considering the advantages derived by the enemy from a divided and more active force, as also their superiority in the weight and number of guns, I deem the speedy and decisive result of this action the strongest a.s.surance which can be given to the government that all under my command did their duty, and gallantly supported the reputation of American seamen.

Enclosed you will receive the minutes of the action, and a list of the killed and wounded on board this ship; also enclosed you will receive for your information a statement of the actual force of the enemy, and the number killed and wounded on board their ships, as near as could be ascertained.

I have the honour to be, &c., Charles STEWART.

American loss: 3 killed, 12 wounded. British loss: 35 killed, 42 wounded. Prisoners taken, 313.

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_Minutes of the action between the United States frigate Const.i.tution, and His Britannic Majesty's skips Cyane and Levant, on the 20th February, 1815._

Commences with light breezes from the east, and cloudy weather.

At one, discovered a sail two points on the larboard bow, hauled up and made sail in chase. At a quarter past one, made the sail to be a ship; at three-quarters past one, discovered another sail ahead; made them out at two P.M. to be both ships, standing close hauled, with their starboard tacks on board; at four P.M.

the weathermost ship made signals, and bore up to her consort, then about 10 miles to leeward; we bore up after her, and set lower top-mast, top-gallant, and royal studding-sails in chase; at half-past four, carried away our main royal mast; took in the sails and got another prepared; at five P.M. commenced firing on the chase from our two larboard bow guns; our shot falling short, ceased firing; at half-past five, finding it impossible to prevent their junction, cleared ship for action, then about four miles from the two ships; at forty minutes after five, they pa.s.sed within hail of each other, and hauled by the wind on the starboard tack, hauled up their courses, and prepared to receive us: at forty-five minutes past five, they made all sail close hauled by the wind, in hopes of getting to the windward of us; at fifty-five minutes past five, finding themselves disappointed in their object, and we were closing with them fast, they shortened sail, and formed on a line of wind, about half a cable's length from each other. At six P.M. having them under command of our battery, hoisted our colours, which was answered by both ships hoisting English ensigns. At five minutes past six, ranged up on the starboard side of the sternmost ship, about 300 yards distant, and commenced the action by broadsides, both ships returning our fire with the greatest spirit for about fifteen minutes, then the fire of the enemy beginning to slacken, and the great column of smoke collected under our lee, induced (p. 248) us to cease our fire to ascertain their positions and conditions.

In about three minutes the smoke clearing away, we found ourselves abreast of the headmost ship, the sternmost ship luffing up for our larboard quarter; we poured a broadside into the headmost ship, and then braced aback our main and mizzen topsails, and backed astern under cover of the smoke, abreast the sternmost ship, when the action was continued with spirit and considerable effect until 35 minutes past 6, when the enemy's fire again slackened, and we discovered the headmost bearing up; filled our topsails, shot ahead, and gave her two stern rakes. We then discovered the sternmost ship wearing also; wore ship immediately after her, and gave her a stern rake, she luffing to on our starboard bow and giving us her larboard broadside. We ranged upon her larboard quarter, within hail, and were about to give her our starboard broadside, when she struck her colours, fired a lee gun and yielded. At fifty minutes past six took possession of His Britannic Majesty's ship Cyane, Captain Gordon Falcon, mounting 34 guns. At 8 P.M. filled away after her consort, which was still in sight to leeward. At half-past eight found her standing towards us, with her starboard tacks close hauled, with top-gallant sails set and colours flying. At 50 minutes past 8 ranged close alongside to windward of her, on opposite tacks, and exchanged broadsides; wore immediately under her stern, and raked her with a broadside. She then crowded all sail and endeavoured to escape by running, hauled on board our tacks, set spanker and flying-jib in chase. At half-past 9 commenced firing on her from our starboard bow chaser; gave her several shot, which cut her spars and rigging considerably. At 10 P.M. finding they could not escape, fired a gun, struck her colours, and yielded. We immediately took possession of His Britannic Majesty's ship Levant, Hon. Captain George Douglas, mounting 21 guns. At 1 A.M. the damages of our rigging were repaired, sails shifted, and the ship in fighting condition.

No. 48. (p. 249) PLATE XLIX.

_March 23, 1815._

The Congress of the U. S. to Capt. James Biddle, etc. [Rx].

Capture of the British ship Penguin by the U. S. ship Hornet.

CAPTAIN JAMES BIDDLE.

[_Capture of the Penguin._]

THE CONGRESS OF THE U. S. (_United States_) TO CAPT. (_Captain_) JAMES BIDDLE. FOR HIS GALLANTRY GOOD CONDUCT AND SERVICES. Bust of Captain Biddle, in uniform, facing the right FuRST. F. (_fecit_).

CAPTURE OF THE BRITISH SHIP PENGUIN BY THE U. S. (_United States_) SHIP HORNET. Naval action between the United States sloop-of-war Hornet, of eighteen guns, Captain Biddle, and the British sloop-of-war Penguin, of nineteen guns, Captain d.i.c.kenson. The Hornet, to windward, is raking the Penguin. The British vessel has lost her main-top-gallant-mast In the distance the peak of Tristan d'Acunha.

Exergue: OFF TRISTAN D'ACUNHA MARCH XXIII MDCCCXV. On the platform, FuRST. F. (_fecit_).

JAMES BIDDLE was born in Philadelphia, February 28, 1783. He entered the navy as a midshipman in 1800, and went to the Mediterranean with Captain Bainbridge. He was wrecked in the Philadelphia, and was a prisoner in Tripoli for nearly two years; was a lieutenant in 1807, and first lieutenant of the Wasp in 1812, when she captured the Frolic. For his conduct on this occasion he was promoted to the rank of master-commandant. While in command of the sloop-of-war Hornet he captured the British sloop-of-war Penguin, Captain d.i.c.kenson, March 23, 1815, receiving for this gallant deed the thanks of Congress and a gold medal. He became a captain in the same year, and commanded (p. 250) the Mediterranean squadron, 1830-1832. He was governor of the Naval Asylum in Philadelphia, 1838-1842; commanded the East India squadron, 1845, and was on the west coast of Mexico during the Mexican war. He died in Philadelphia, October 1, 1848.

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ORIGINAL DOc.u.mENTS.

_Resolution of Congress Voting Medals to Captain Biddle, etc._

_Resolved unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress a.s.sembled_: That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, requested to present to Captain James Biddle, of the sloop of war Hornet, a gold medal, with suitable emblems and devices, and a silver medal,[107] with suitable emblems and devices, to each commissioned officer of the said sloop of war, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress, of the gallantry, good conduct, and services of Captain Biddle, his officers and crew, in capturing the British sloop of war Penguin, after a brave and skilful combat.

[Footnote 107: The silver medals are copies of the one in gold to Captain Biddle.]

Approved February 22, 1816.

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_Captain Biddle to the Secretary of the Navy._

To the Honourable United States sloop Hornet, SECRETARY OF THE NAVY, Off Tristan D'Acunha, March 25th, 1815.

Washington, D. C.

Sir: I have the honour to inform you, that on the morning of the 23d instant, at half past ten, when about to anchor off the north end of the island of Tristan d'Acunha, a sail was seen to the southward and eastward, steering to the westward, the wind fresh from the S. S. W. In a few minutes she had pa.s.sed on to the westward, so that we could not see her for the land. I immediately made sail for the westward, and shortly after getting in sight of her again, perceived her to bear up before the wind.

I hove to for him to come down to us. When she had approached near, I filled the main-topsail, and continued to yaw the ship, while she continued to come down, wearing occasionally to prevent her pa.s.sing under our stern. At 1.40 P.M. being within nearly musket shot distance, she hauled her wind on the starboard tack, hoisted English colours and fired a gun. We immediately luffed to, hoisted our ensign and gave the enemy a broadside. The action being thus commenced, a quick and well directed fire was (p. 251) kept up from this ship, the enemy gradually driving near to us, when at 1.05 minutes he bore up apparently to run us on board. As soon as I perceived he would certainly fall on board, I called the boarders, so as to be ready to repel any attempt to board us. At the instant every officer and man repaired to the quarterdeck, where the two vessels were coming in contact, and eagerly pressed me to permit them to board the enemy; but this I would not permit, as it was evident, from the commencement of the action, that our fire was greatly superior both in quickness and effect. The enemy's bowsprit came in between our main and mizzen rigging, on our starboard side, affording him an opportunity to board us, if such was his design, but no attempt was made. There was a considerable swell on, and as the sea lifted us ahead, the enemy's boom carried away our mizzen shrouds, stern davits, and spanker boom, and he hung upon our larboard quarter. At this moment an officer, who was afterwards recognized to be Mr.

M'Donald, the first lieutenant, and the then commanding officer, called out that they had surrendered. I directed the marines and musketry men to cease firing, and, while on the taffrail asking if they had surrendered, I received a wound in the neck. The enemy had just then got clear of us, and his fore-mast and bowsprit being both gone, and perceiving us wearing to give a fresh broadside, he again called out that he had surrendered. It was with difficulty I could restrain my crew from firing into him again, as he had certainly fired into us after having surrendered. From the firing of the first gun, to the last time the enemy cried out he had surrendered, was exactly 22 minutes by the watch. She proved to be His Britannic Majesty's sloop of war Penguin, mounting six 32 pound carronades, two long 12's, a 12 pound carronade on the top-gallant fore-castle, with swivels on the capstern in the tops. She had a spare port forward, so as to fight both her long guns a side. She sailed from England in September last. She was shorter upon deck than this ship, by two feet, but she had a greater length of keel, greater breadth of beam, thicker sides, and higher bulwarks than this ship, and was in all respects a remarkably fine vessel of her cla.s.s. The enemy acknowledge a complement of 132, 12 of them supernumerary marines from the Medway 74, received on board in consequence of their being ordered to cruise for the American privateer Young Wasp.

They acknowledge, also, a loss of 14 killed and 28 wounded; but Mr. Mayo, who was in charge of the prize, a.s.sures me that the number of killed was certainly greater. Among the killed is Captain d.i.c.kenson, who fell at the close of the action, and the boatswain; among the wounded is the second lieutenant, purser, and two midshipmen. Each of the midshipmen lost a leg. We received on board, in all, 118 prisoners, four of whom have since died of their wounds. Having removed the prisoners, and taken on board such provisions and stores as would be useful to us, I scuttled the Penguin this morning, before daylight, and she went down. As she was completely riddled by our shot, her foremast and bowsprit both gone, and her main-mast so crippled as to be incapable of being secured, it seemed unadvisable, at this distance from home, to attempt sending her to the United States.

This ship did not receive a single round shot in her hull, nor any material wound in her spars; the rigging and sails were very much cut; but having bent a new suit of sails and knotted and secured our rigging, we are now completely ready, in all (p. 252) respects, for any service. We were eight men short of complement, and had nine upon the sick list the morning of the action.

Enclosed is a list of killed and wounded. I lament to state that Lieutenant Conner is wounded dangerously. I feel great solicitude on his account, as he is an officer of much promise, and his loss would be a serious loss to the service.

It is a most pleasing part of my duty to acquaint you that the conduct of Lieutenants Conner and Newton, Mr. Mayo, Acting-Lieutenant Brownlow, of the marines, sailing master Romney, and other officers, seamen, and marines I have the honour to command, was in the highest degree creditable to them, and calls for my warmest recommendation. I cannot, indeed, do justice to their merits. The satisfaction which was diffused throughout the ship when it was ascertained that the stranger was an enemy's sloop of war, and the alacrity with which every one repaired to quarters, fully a.s.sured me that their conduct in the action would be marked with coolness and intrepidity.

The loss on board the Hornet, was 1 killed and 11 wounded.

I have the honour to be, &c., J. BIDDLE.

No. 49. (p. 253) PLATE L.

_March 4, 1817--March 4, 1825._

James Monroe President of the U. S. A. D. 1817. [Rx]. Peace and friendship.

PRESIDENT JAMES MONROE.

[_Fifth President of the United States of America._]

JAMES MONROE PRESIDENT OF THE U. S. (_United States_) A. D. (_Anno Domini: The year of our Lord_) 1817. Bust of President Monroe, facing the right. FuRST. F. (_fecit_).

PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP. Two hands clasped in token of amity; on the cuff of the left wrist three stripes, and b.u.t.tons with the American eagle on them; the other wrist bare; above the hands, a calumet and a tomahawk crossed--Indian emblems of peace and war.

JAMES MONROE was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, April 28, 1758. He was educated at William and Mary College, Virginia, served with distinction in the revolutionary war from 1776 to 1778; was member of the Virginia a.s.sembly, 1782; delegate to Congress, 1783-1786; senator of the United States, 1790-1794; minister to France, 1794-1796; governor of Virginia, 1799-1802; was sent on a special mission to France for the acquisition of Louisiana, 1802; was minister to England, 1803-1808; and to Spain, 1805; governor of Virginia, 1810; secretary of State under President Madison, 1811-1817; acting secretary of War, 1814-1815; President of the United States (first term), 1817-1821; (second term), 1821-1825. He died in the city of New York, July 4, 1831, on the fifty-fifth anniversary of the Independence of the United States.