another, the words "Not the Little Belt," in allusion to the broadsides which the President had given that vessel before the war. The Guerriere had looked into several of our ports, and affected to be exceedingly anxious to earn the first laurel from the new enemy. The Constitution being made ready for action, now bore down, her crew giving three cheers. At first it was the intention of Captain Hull to bring her to close action immediately; but on coming within gun-shot she gave a broadside and filled away, then wore, giving a broadside on the other tack, but without effect. They now continued wearing and manoeuvring, on both sides, for threequarters of an hour, the Guerriere attempting to take a raking position; but, failing in this, she bore up, and ran with her top-sail and jib on the quarter. The Constitution, perceiving this, made sail to come up with her. Captain Hull, with admirable coolness, received the enemy's fire without returning it. The enemy, mistaking this conduct on the part of the American commander, continued to pour out his broadsides with a view to cripple his antagonist. From the Constitution not a gun had been fired: Already had an officer twice come on deck, with information that several of the men had been killed at their guns. The gallant crew, though burning with impatience, silently awaited the orders of the commander. The moment so long looked for, at last arrived. Sailingmaster Aylwin having seconded the views of the captain with admirable skill, in bringing the vessel exactly to the station intended, orders were given, at five minutes before 5 P. M., to fire broadside after broadside in quick succession. The crew instantly discovered the whole plan, and entered into it with all the spirit the circumstance was calculated to inspire. Never was any firing so dreadful. For fifteen minutes the vivid lightning of the Constitution's guns continued in one blaze, and their thunder roared with scarce an intermission. The enemy's mizen-mast had gone by the board, and he stood exposed to a raking fire, which swept his decks. The Guerriere had now become unmanageable; her hull, rigging and sails dreadfully torn; when the Constitution attempted to lay her on board. At this moment Lieutenant

Bush, in attempting to throw his marines on board, was killed by a musket-ball, and the enemy shot ahead, but could not be brought before the wind. A raking fire now continued for fifteen minutes longer, when his main-mast and fore-mast went, taking with them every spar excepting the bowsprit. On seeing this, the firing ceased, and at twenty-five minutes past five she surrendered. "In thirty minutes," says Captain Hull, "after we got fairly alongside of the enemy, she surrendered, and had not a spar standing, and her hull, above and below water, so shattered, that a few more broadsides must have carried her down." The Guerriere was so much damaged, as to render it impossible to bring her in; she was therefore set fire to the next day, and blown up. The damage sustained by the Constitution was comparatively of so little consequence, that she actually made ready for action, when a vessel appeared in sight the next day. The loss on board the Guerriere was fifteen killed and sixty-three wounded; on the side of the Constitution, seven killed and seven wounded. It is pleasing to observe, that even the British commander, on this occasion, bore testimony to the humanity and generosity with which he was treated by the victors. The American frigate was somewhat superior in force, by a few guns; but this difference bore no comparison to the disparity of the conflict. The Guerriere was thought to be a match for any vessel of her class, and had been amongst the largest in the British navy. The Constitution arrived at Boston on the 28th of August, having captured several merchant vessels.

Never did any event spread such an universal joy over the whole country. The gallant Hull, and his equally gallant officers, were received with enthusiastic demonstrations of gratitude wherever they appeared. He was presented with the freedom of all the cities through which he passed on his way to the seat of government, and with many valuable donations. Congress voted fifty thousand dollars to the crew as a recompense for the loss of the prize; and the Executive promoted several of the officers. Sailing-master Aylwin, who had been severely wounded, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant; and Lieutenant Morris, who had been also

wounded, was promoted to the rank of post-captain. This affair was not a little mortifying to Great Britain, who for thirty years had in no instance lost a frigate in any thing like an equal conflict. She was, however, destined soon to bear such mortifications very frequently, as this was the beginning of that series of glorious naval victories, which astonished the world, and compelled the greatest European powers to respect us on an element on which they had been accustomed to rule, often without much regard to the rights of our republic, the naval force of which had been treated with contempt. Such is the justice of tyrants, they respect force only, and that because they cannot avoid it. Captain Hull was an able officer, a good disciplinarian, and an honour to the American service.

CHAPTER IV.

Invasion of Canada-Achievements of Colonel Van Rensselaer.

"And made their routed squadrons feel

The temper of American steel."

UPON the declaration of war, the attention of the American general was turned towards the invasion of Canada; for which 8,000 or 10,000 men, and considerable military stores were collected at different points along the Canada line. Skilful officers of the navy were also despatched for the purpose of arming vessels on Lakes Erie, Ontario, and Champlain, to gain, if possible, the ascendency there, and to aid the operations of the American forces.

The American troops were distributed into three divisions. One under General Harrison, called the north-western army; a second under General Stephen Van Rensselaer, at Lewistown, called the army of the centre; and a third under the commander-in-chief, General Dearborn, in the neighbourhood of Plattsburg and Greenbush, called the army of the north.

Early on the morning of the 13th of October, 1812, a detachment of about 1000 men, from the army of the centre, crossed the river Niagara, and attacked the British at Queens

town heights. This detachment, under the command of Colonel Solomon Van Rensselaer, succeeded in dislodging the enemy; but not being reinforced by the militia from the American side, as was expected, they were ultimately repulsed, and were obliged to surrender. The British general, Brock, was killed during the engagement.

The forces designated to storm the heights, were divided into columns: one, of the 300 militia, under Colonel Van Rensselaer; the other, of the 300 regulars, under Colonel Christie: these were to be followed by Colonel Fenwick's artillery, and then the other troops in order.

Much embarrassment was experienced by the boats from the eddies, as well as by the shot of the enemy, in crossing the river. Colonel Van Rensselaer led the van, and landed first with 100 men. Scarcely had he leaped from the boat, when he received four severe wounds. Being, however, able to stand, he ordered his officers to move with rapidity, and storm the fort. This service was gallantly performed, and the enemy were driven down the river in every direction.

Both parties were now reinforced; the Americans by regulars and militia, the British by the forty-ninth regiment, consisting of 600 regulars, under General Brock. After a desperate engagement, the enemy were repulsed, and the victory was thought complete.

General Van Rensselaer now crossed over, for the purpose of fortifying the heights, preparatory to another attack, should the repulsed enemy be reinforced. This duty he assigned to Lieutenant Totten, an able engineer.

But the fortune of the day was not yet decided. At three o'clock in the afternoon, the enemy, being reinforced by several hundred Chippewa Indians, rallied, and again advanced, but were a third time repulsed. At this moment, General Van Rensselaer, perceiving the militia on the opposite side embarking but slowly, hastily recrossed the river to accelerate their movements. But what was his chagrin, on reaching the American side, to hear more than twelve hundred of the militia positively refuse to embark. The sight of the engagement had cooled that ardour which, previously to the

attack, the commander-in-chief could scarcely restrain. While their countrymen were nobly struggling for victory, they could remain idle spectators of the scene. All that a brave, resolute, and benevolent commander could do, General Van Rensselaer did he urged, entreated, commanded, but it was all in vain. Eight hundred British soldiers, from fort George, now appeared, and pressed on to renew the attack. The Americans, for a time, continued to struggle against this force, but were finally obliged to surrender themselves prisoners of war.

The number of American troops killed amounted to about sixty, and about one hundred were wounded. Those that surrendered themselves prisoners of war, including the wounded, were about seven hundred. The loss of the British is unknown, but it must have been severe.

Although the issue of this battle was unfortunate, seldom has American valour shone more conspicuously, or a victory been relinquished with more reluctance. Had but a small part of the "idle men" passed over at the critical moment when urged by their brave commander, revolutionary history can tell of few nobler achievements than this would have been.

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CHAPTER V.

The Wasp captures the Frolic-Terrible Havoc on board the Frolic-Reception of Captain Jones in the United States.

"Palmam qui meruit ferat."

ANOTHER brilliant victory was achieved by an American vessel over an enemy greatly superior in force, and possessing many other advantages, in October.

Captain Jones was transferred, by the Secretary of the Navy, to the command of the sloop of war Wasp, mounting eighteen twenty-four pound carronades, in 1811, and was despatched, in the spring of 1812, with communications from our government to its ministers at the courts of St. Cloud and