22O Naval War of 1812 



Gate, as there was a large blockading force off the 

 Hook. Opposite Hunter's Point the main-mast of 

 the States was struck by lightning, which cut off 

 the broad pendant, shot down the hatchway into 

 the doctor's cabin, put out his candle, ripped up the 

 bed, and entering between the skin and ceiling of 

 the ship tore off two or three sheets of copper near 

 the water-line, and disappeared without leaving a 

 trace! The Macedonian, which was close behind, 

 hove all aback, in expectation of seeing the States 

 blown up. 



At the end of the Sound, Commodore Decatur 

 anchored to watch for a chance of getting out. Early 

 on June 1st he started; but in a couple of hours met 

 the British Captain R. D. Oliver's squadron, con 

 sisting of a 74, a razee, and a frigate. These chased 

 him back, and all his three ships ran into New Lon 

 don. Here, in the mud of the Thames River, the two 

 frigates remained blockaded till the close of the war ; 

 but the little sloop slipped out later, to the enemy's 

 cost. 



We left the Chesapeake, 38, being fitted out at 

 Boston by Captain James Lawrence, late of the 

 Hornet. Most of her crew, as already stated, their 

 time being up, left, dissatisfied with the ship's ill luck, 

 and angry at not having received their due share of 

 prize-money. It was very hard to get sailors, most 

 of the men preferring to ship in some of the numer 

 ous privateers where the discipline was less strict 

 and the chance of prize-money much greater. In 

 consequence of this an unusually large number of 



