Harper's new monthly magazine . stof February, 1800, while cruising off the islandof Guadaloupe, he discovered a large ship whichhe took to be an English merchantman. Hehoisted British colors to entice her to come near,but she bore away and he gave chase. He soondiscovered that she was a large French vesselmounting not less than fifty-four guns. He de-termined to attack her, notwithstanding the dis-parity in strength. She was a good sailer, andthe chase continued until eight oclock in theevening of the 2d. Truxtun was then withinhailing distance. He ordered his ensign to behoisted, his battle-
Harper's new monthly magazine . stof February, 1800, while cruising off the islandof Guadaloupe, he discovered a large ship whichhe took to be an English merchantman. Hehoisted British colors to entice her to come near,but she bore away and he gave chase. He soondiscovered that she was a large French vesselmounting not less than fifty-four guns. He de-termined to attack her, notwithstanding the dis-parity in strength. She was a good sailer, andthe chase continued until eight oclock in theevening of the 2d. Truxtun was then withinhailing distance. He ordered his ensign to behoisted, his battle-lanterns to be lighted, and histrumpet to be brought. At that moment sheopened a fire from her stern and quarter gunsupon the Constellation. A few minutes after-ward the latter opened her fire; and for fivehours the combatants fought desperately in thegloom of night. At one oclock in the morningof the 3d of February Truxtuns antagonist be-came silent, but the Constellation was so muchinjured that she could not secure the COMMODORE TBTTXTTTNS MEDAL. 164 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. The latter escaped and sailed for Curacoa, whilethe Constellation sailed for Jamaica for parties were ignorant of the name of eachothers vessel, but it was subsequently ascertainedthat the French ship was La Vengeance, mannedwith four hundred men including passengers,among whom was the Governor of Guadaloupeand his family, and two general officers. Shewould have been a rich prize, for she had a fullcargo of coffee and sugar, and a large amountof specie. She had lost fifty killed and one hun-dred and ten wounded. The Constellation lostfourteen killed and twenty-five wounded. TheCongress of the United States voted thanks anda gold medal to Commodore Truxtun for his gal-lantry on that occasion.* Napoleon Bonaparte, with the title of FirstConsul, succeeded the weak Directory in theGovernment of France. War between Americaand that country was averted by his wisdom andjustice, and peac
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