On the Ocean 203 



was, in fact, supported by the people in its war 

 policy very largely on account of these excesses, 

 which were much exaggerated by American writers. 

 It was really a species of civil war, and in such a 

 contest, at the beginning of this century, it was im 

 possible that some outrages should not take place. 

 The American frigate Constellation had by this 

 time got ready for sea, and, under the command of 

 Captain Stewart, she prepared to put out early in 

 January. As the number of blockaders rendered a 

 fight almost certain within a few days of her depar 

 ture, her crew were previously brought to the high 

 est state of discipline, the men being exercised with 

 especial care in handling the great guns and in firing 

 at a target. 3 However, she never got out ; for when 

 she reached Hampton Roads she fell in with a Brit 

 ish squadron of line-of-battle ships and frigates. 

 She kedged up toward Norfolk, and when the tide 

 rose ran in and anchored between the forts ; and a 

 few days later dropped down to cover the forts 

 which were being built at Craney Island. Here she 

 was exposed to attacks from the great British force 

 still lying in Hampton Roads, and, fearing they 

 would attempt to carry her by surprise, Captain 

 Stewart made every preparation for defence. She 

 was anchored in the middle of the narrow channel, 

 flanked by gunboats, her lower ports closed, not a 

 rope left hanging over the sides ; the boarding net 

 tings, boiled in half-made pitch till they were as 



8 Life of Commodore Tatnall, by C. C. Jones (Savannah, 

 1878), p. 15. 



