. The naval history of the United States. sailors, who fearedthat their commander, Lieut. Burrows, whose character was unknown tothem, intended to avoid the enemy, and was rigging the long gun for astern-chaser. An impromptu meeting was held upon the forecastle ; and,after much whispered consultation, the people appointed a committee togo aft and tell the commander that the lads were burning to engage theenemy, and were confident of whipping her. The committee startedbravely to discharge their commission; but their courage failed thembefore so mighty a potentate as the commander, and they whis
. The naval history of the United States. sailors, who fearedthat their commander, Lieut. Burrows, whose character was unknown tothem, intended to avoid the enemy, and was rigging the long gun for astern-chaser. An impromptu meeting was held upon the forecastle ; and,after much whispered consultation, the people appointed a committee togo aft and tell the commander that the lads were burning to engage theenemy, and were confident of whipping her. The committee startedbravely to discharge their commission; but their courage failed thembefore so mighty a potentate as the commander, and they whisperedtheir message to the first lieutenant, who laughed, and sent word forward 444 BLUE-JACKET^ OF 1812. that Mr. Burrows only wanted to aret sea-room, and would soon give thejackies all the fighting they desired. The Americans now had leisure to examine, through their marine-glasses, the vessel which was soboldly following them to the placeof battle. She was a man-of-warbrig, flying the British ensign fromboth mastheads and at the THE FIGHT WITH THE BOXER. Her armament consisted of twelve eighteen-pound carronades and two longsixes, as against the fourteen eighteen-pound carronades and two long ninesof the Enterprise. The Englishman carried a crew of sixty-six men,while thj ;mrler-rolls of the American showed a total of one hundred and BLUE-JACKETS OF 1812. 445 two. But in the battle which followed the British fought with such desper-ate bravery as to almost overcome the odds against them. For some time the two vessels fought shy of each other, manoeuvringfor a windward position. Towards three oclock in the afternoon, theAmericans gained this advantage, and at once shortened sail, and edgeddown toward the enemy. As the ships drew near, a sailor was seen to climbinto the rigging of the Englishman, and nail the colors to the mast, givingthe lads of the Enterprise a hint as to the character of the receptionthey might expect. As the vessels came within range, both crews che
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookpublishernewyo, bookyear1896
