130 Naval War of 1812 



of the Saratoga; the Finch was to leeward with the 

 twelve gunboats, and was to engage the rear of the 

 American line. 



As the English squadron stood bravely in, young 

 Macdonough, who feared his foes not at all, but his 

 God a great deal, knelt for a moment, with his offi 

 cers, on the quarterdeck ; and then ensued a few min 

 utes of perfect quiet, the men waiting with grim 

 expectancy for the opening of the fight. The Eagle 

 spoke first with her long i8's, but to no effect, for 

 the shot fell short. Then, as the Linnet passed the 

 Saratoga, she fired her broadside of long I2's, but 

 her shot also fell short, except one that struck a 

 hen-coop which happened to be aboard the Saratoga. 

 There was a game-cock inside, and, instead of being 

 frightened at his sudden release, he jumped up on 

 a gun-slide, clapped his wings, and crowed lustily. 

 The men laughed and cheered; and immediately 

 afterward Macdonough himself fired the first shot 

 from one of the long- guns. The 24-pound ball 

 struck the Confiance near the hawse-hole and ranged 

 the length of her deck, killing and wounding several 

 men. All the American long guns now opened and 

 were replied to by the British galleys. 



The Confiance stood steadily on without replying. 

 But she was baffled by shifting winds, and was soon, 

 so cut up, having both her port bow-anchors shot 

 away, and suffering much loss, that she was obliged 



