124 Naval War of 1812 



the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where she took and burned 

 two brigs of little value. On the I5th she recap 

 tured an American brig from the British ship-sloop 

 Avenger, though the latter escaped; Capt. Hull 

 manned his prize and sent her in. He then sailed 

 southward, and on the night of the i8th spoke a 

 Salem privateer which gave him news of a British 

 frigate to the south; thither he stood, and at 2 P.M. 

 on the i Qth, in lat. 41 30' N. and 55 W., made 

 out a large sail bearing E.S.E. and to leeward, 19 

 which proved to be his old acquaintance, the frigate 

 Guerriere, Captain Dacres. It was a cloudy day 

 and the wind was blowing fresh from the north 

 west. The Guerriere was standing by the wind on 

 the starboard tack, under easy canvas; 20 she hauled 

 up her courses, took in her topgallant sails, and at 

 4.30 backed her maintopsail. Hull then very de 

 liberately began to shorten sail, taking in topgallant 

 sails, staysails, and flying- jib, sending down the 

 royal yards and putting another reef in the top 

 sails. Soon the Englishman hoisted three ensigns, 

 when the American also set his colors, one at each 

 masthead, and one at the mizzen peak. 



The Constitution now ran down with the wind 

 nearly aft. The Guerriere was on the starboard 

 tack, and at five o'clock opened with her weather- 

 guns, 21 the shot falling short, then wore round and 

 fired her port broadside, of which two shots struck 



19 Do., Aug. 3oth. 



90 Letter of Capt. James R. Dacres, Sept. 7, 1812. 



81 Log of Guerriere. 



