n8 Naval War of 1812 



3.30 A.M. on the 1 8th the Guerriere, going gradual 

 ly toward the Constitution on the port tack, and but 

 one half mile distant, discovered on her lee beam the 

 Belvidera and the other British vessels, and sig 

 nalled to them. They did not answer the signals, 

 thinking she must know who they were a circum 

 stance which afterward gave rise to sharp recrim 

 inations among the captains and Dacres, conclud 

 ing them to be Commodore Rodgers' squadron, 

 tacked, and then wore round and stood away from 

 the Constitution for some time before discovering 

 his mistake. 



At 5 A.M. Hull had just enough steerage way on 

 to keep his head to the east, on the starboard tack; 

 on his lee quarter, bearing N.E. by N., were the 

 Belvidera and Guerriere and astern the Shannon, 

 Lolus, and Africa. At 5.30 it fell entirely calm, 

 and Hull put out his boats to tow the ship, always 

 going southward. At the same time he whipped 

 up a 24 from the main-deck, and got the forecastle- 

 chaser aft, cutting away the taffrail to give the two 

 guns more freedom to work in and also running 

 out, through the cabin windows, two of the long 

 main-deck 24*5. The British boats were towing 

 also. At 6 A.M. a light breeze sprang up, and the 

 Constitution set studding-sails and stay-sails; the 

 Shannon opened at her with her bow guns, but 

 ceased when she found she could not reach her. At 

 6.30, the wind having died away, the Shannon be 

 gan to gain, almost all the boats of the squadron 

 towing her. Having sounded in 26 fathoms, Lieu- 



