AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN SAVORDS 105 



lina. A sword in the name and behalf of the State in testimony of 

 the high sense of this legislature of his distinguished gallantry and 

 good conduct in the memorable engagement of the U. S. frigate, 

 Constitution, with his Britannic Majesty's two ships, Cyane and 

 Levant, which resulted in their capture on the 20 Feb. 1815 and for 

 the admirable skill and coolness displayed by him as first lieutenant 

 of the Constitution during the subsequent chase of that ship by the 

 whole British squadron otf the Island of St. Jago, as v>ell as for his 

 devoted and valued services during the whole war, which were so 

 well calculated to reflect lustre on his native state." The scabbard, 

 which is gold mounted, bears in the center on the obverse side, an 

 oval medallion with a design showing the engagement between the 

 U. S. S. Constitution and the British ships Gyane and Levant. The 

 reverse of the scabbard is inscribed in the center : " Defense of 

 Craney Island, Va., June 22, 1813; Capture of Cyane and Levant 

 20 Feb. 1815 ; escape off Port Praya, 11 March, 1815." 



Of the three events commemorated by this sword the first occurred 

 near the important port of Norfolk, Va., and the last two on the 

 high seas. In June, 1813, Admiral Sir J. Borlase Warren entered 

 the Chesapeake Bay with a number of British ships bearing land 

 troops and marines. A short time later this fleet assembled at the 

 mouth of the Nansemond Kiver and attacked the Americans posted 

 on Craney Island, a low-lying piece of land almost 5 miles below 

 the city of Norfolk. The island was defended by a combined land 

 and naval force. The latter contingent was commanded by Lieut. 

 B, J. Neale, W. B. Shubrick, and J. Sanders. The British ap- 

 proached in about 50 large barges filled with 1,500 sailors and 

 marines. They were repulsed and compelled to return to their ships 

 with considerable loss. They gave up hope of seizing Norfolk after 

 this defeat, and that city suffered no further from British attacks 

 during the war. 



The capture of the British ships Cyane and Levant by the 

 American frigate C onstitutioii in 1815 was one of the most notable 

 achievements of the War of 1812. The Constitution was then com- 

 manded by Capt. Charles Stewart. After being blockaded for a 

 long period in Boston Harbor she put to sea in December, 1814, and 

 on February 20, 1815, she sighted two British ships, the frigate 

 Cyane and the sloop of war Levant. Late in the afternoon the 

 x4.merican vessel, which was then to the windward about 300 yards 

 away, opened with her guns on the British ships, which were sep- 

 arated from each other by a distance of about 100 yards. Captain 

 Stewart managed his ship so adroitly that he raked both British 

 vessels several times. After a combat of three-quarters of an hour, 

 the Cyane struck her colors and was boarded by a prize crew from 

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