File:American naval battles; (1837) (14741126216).jpg

Identifier: americannavalbat00kimb (find matches)
Title: American naval battles;
Year: 1837 (1830s)
Authors: Kimball, Horace. (from old catalog)
Subjects:
Publisher: Bsoton, C. Gaylord
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
The Constitu-tion continued the chase. At about three miles dis-tance, captain Hull ordered the light sails to be ta-ken in, the courses to be hauled up, and the ship tobe cleared for action. The chase now backed hermain-top-sail, and waited for the Constitution tocome down. As soon as the Constitution was readyfor action, she bore down, intending to bring imme-diately to close action the British frigate, which hadabout this time hoisted three English ensigns in tokenof defiance. As soon as the Constitution came with-in gun-shot, the British frigate fired her broadside ;then filled away, wore, and gave a broadside on theother tack. They however, produced no effect, hershot fell short. The British frigate manoeuvred andwore several times for about three quarters of anhour, in order to obtain a raking position. But notsucceeding in this, she bore up under her top-sailsand jib with the wind on the quarter. Captain Hullimmediately made sail to bring his ship up with her. NAVAL BATTLES. 53
Text Appearing After Image:
54 NAVAL BATTLES. At five minutes before six, p. m. the Constitutionbeing along side, within pistol-shot, he ordered abrisk firing to be commenced from all her guns, whichwere double-shotted with round and grape shot; andso well directed and so warmly kept up was the Amer-ican fire, that, in fifteen minutes, the mizzen-mast ofthe British frigate went by the board, and her main-yard in her slings. Her hull was much injured ; andher rigging and sails torn to pieces. The fire waskept up, in the same spirited manner, for fifteen min-utes longer, by the Constitution. She had now takena position for raking, on the bows of the British fri-gate ; when the latter could only bring her bow gunsto bear on the Constitution. The* grape-shot andsmall arms of the Constitution completely swept thedecks of the British frigate. Thirty minutes afterthe commencement of the action by the Constitution,the mainmast and foremast of the British frio;atewent by the board, taking with them every spar ex-cept tli

Note About Images