160 Naval War of 1812 



apart, and the Constitution inflicted great damage 

 while suffering very little herself. The British lost 

 many men by the musketry of the American topmen, 

 and suffered still more from the round and grape, 

 especially on the forecastle, 80 many marked instances 

 of valor being shown on both sides. The Java's 

 masts were wounded and her rigging cut to pieces, 

 and Captain Lambert then ordered her to be laid 

 aboard the enemy, who was on her lee beam. The 

 helm was put a-weather, and the Java came down 

 for the Constitution's main-chains. The boarders 

 and marines gathered in the gangways and on the 

 forecastle, the boatswain having been ordered to 

 cheer them up with his pipe that they might make a 

 clean spring. 81 The Americans, however, raked the 

 British with .terrible effect, cutting off their main 

 topmast above the cap, and their foremast near the 

 cat harpings. 82 The stump of the Java's bowsprit 

 got caught in the Constitution's mizzen-rigging, and 

 before it got clear the British suffered still more. 

 Finally the ships separated, the Java's bowsprit 

 passing over the taffrail of the Constitution; the lat 

 ter at once kept away to avoid being raked. The 

 ships again got nearly abreast, but the Constitution, 

 in her turn, fore-reached; whereupon Commodore 

 Bainbridge wore, passed his antagonist, luffed up 

 under his quarter, raked him with the starboard 



80 Testimony of Christopher Speedy, in minutes of the 

 Court-martial on board H. M. S. Gladiator, at Portsmouth, 

 April 23, 1813. 



81 Testimony of James Humble, in do., do. 



82 Log of Constitution. 



