The loss on board the Guerriere was fifteen killed and sixty three wounded; on the side of the Constitution seven killed and seven wounded. It is pleasing to observe, that even the Brittsh commander, on this occasion, bore testimony to the humanity and generosity, with which he was treated by the victors. The American frigate was somewhat superior in force, by a few guns, but this difference bore no comparison to the disparity of the conflict. The Guerriere was thought to be a match for any vessel of her class, and had been ranked amongst the largest in the British navy. The Constitution arrived at Boston on the 28th of August, having captured several merchant vessels.

On the 7th of September, Commodore Porter, of the Essex, fell in with a fleet of merchantmen, and at night cut out a brig with a hundred and fifty soldiers on board, which was ransomed for 14000 dollars, On the 13th of August, the Essex fell in with the Alert, sloop of war, and captured her in eight minutes.

On the 8th of October, a squadron, consisting of the President, the United States, Congress, and the Argus, sailed from Boston on a cruise. On the 13th, the United States and Argus parted from the rest in a gale of wind. A few days afterwards, the President and Congress had the good fortune to capture the British packet Swallow, with 200,000 dollars on board, and on the 30th of December arrived at Boston, after a very successful cruise.

The Argus was not less fortunate; after parting from the squadron, she cruised in every direction, between the continent and the West Indies, and after being out ninety-six days, she returned to New-York, with prizes to the amount of two hundred thousand dollars. She made various hairbreadth escapes; at one time, she was chased by a British squadron for three days, and several imes almost surrounded; she was one moment within pistol shot of a seventy-four, and yet, in the midst of all this peril, she actually captured and manned one of her prizes.

The United States, commanded by that distinguished officer, Commodore Decatur, soon after her separation from the squadron, had the good fortune to add another

victory to our Naval Chronicle, not less glorious than that of the Constitution. On the 25th of October, off the Western Islands, she felt in with the Macedonian, Capt. Carden, a frigate of the largest class, carrying 49 guns and 300 men. The Macedonian, being to windward, she had it in her power to choose her distance, and at no time were they nearer than musket shot; from this circumstance, and the prevalence of a heavy sea, the action lasted nearly two hours. The superiority of the American gunnery, in this action, was very remarkable, both for its greater rapidity and effect. From the continued blaze of her guns, the United States was, at one moment, thought by her antagonist to be on fire; a mistake of very short duration. On board the Macedonian,

there were 36 killed and 68 wounded. She lost her mainmast, her main-topmast, and main yard, and was much cut up in her hull. The United States suffered so little, that a return to port was not necessary; she had only five killed, and seven wounded. Among the killed, was lieutenant Funk, of whom the Commodore spoke in the highest terms. Lieutenant Allen was on this occasion highly applauded. The commodore arrived at New York on the 4th of December, with his prize. Commodore Decatur, already a universal favorite, experienced the same demonstrations of gratitude as were shown to Capt. Hull; nor was there denied him that new species of praise, which the generous conduct of our heroic seamen has uniformly drawn forth, the praise of the enemy; all the private property belonging to the men and officers on board the Macedonian, was restored to the captured, with the most rigid exactitude; and their treatment was the most polite and humane.

An act of generosity and benevolence on the part of our brave tars, of the victorious frigate, deserves to be honourably recorded. The carpenter, who was unfortunately killed in the conflict with the Macedonian, had left three small children to the care of a worthless mothWhen the circumstance became known to the brave seamen, they instantly made a contribution amongst themselves, to the amount of eight hundred dollars, and

er.

placed it in safe hands, to be appropriated to the educa tion and maintenance of the unhappy orphans.

The feelings of the nation had scarce time to subside, when the welcome news of another victory was receiv ed; a victory over an enemy most decidedly superior in force, and under circumstances the most favorable to him. This was the capture of the brig Frolick, of 22 guns, by the sloop of war Wasp. Captain Jones had returned from France two weeks after the declaration of war, and on the 13th of October again put to sea. On the 16th, he experienced a heavy gale, in which the Wasp lost her jib boom and two men. On the evening of the following day, the Wasp found herself near five strange sail, and as two of them appeared to be ships of war, it was thought proper to keep at a distance. At day-light, on Sunday morning, they were discovered to be six merchant ships, from Honduras to England, under strong convoy of a brig and two ships, armed with sixteen guns each. The brig, which proved to be the Frolic, Capt. Whinyates, dropped behind, while the others made sail. The Wasp, being prepared for action, at 32 minutes past 11 o'clock, came down to the windward in handsome style, when the action was begun by the enemy's cannon and musketry. This was returned, and approaching still nearer, the enemy brought her to close action. five minutes the main-topmast of the Wasp was shot away, and falling down with the main-topsail yard across the larboard fore and fore-topsail, rendered her head yards unmanageable during the rest of the action. In two minutes more her gaft and mizzen top-gallant masts were shot away. The sea being exceedingly rough, the muzzles of the Wasp's guns were sometimes under water. The English fired as their vessel rose, so that their shot was either thrown away, or touched the rigging of the Americans; the Wasp, on the contrary, fired as she sunk, and every time struck the hull of her antagonist.— The Wasp now shot ahead, raked her, and then resumed her position. The Frolic's fire had evidently slackened, and the Wasp gradually neared her, until the last broadside, they touched her side with their rammers. It was determined to lay her by the board. The jib-boom of

In

the Frolic came in between the main and mizzen-mast rigging of the Wasp, and after giving a raking fire, which swept the whole deck, they resolved to board. Lieutenant Biddle sprang on the rigging of the enemy's bowsprit, where he was at first somewhat entangled, and midshipman Barker, in his impatience to be on board, caught hold of Biddle's coat, and fell back on the deck, but in a moment sprang up and leaped on the bowsprit, where he found one Lang and another seaman. His surprise can scarcely be imagined, when he found no person on deck except three officers and the seaman at the wheel. The deck was slippery with blood, and presented a scene of havoc and ruin, such as has been seldom witnessed.— As he advanced, the officers threw down their swords in submission. The colours were still flying, there being no seamen left to pull them down. Lieutenant Biddle leaped into the rigging, and hauled them down with his own hands, Thus, in forty-three minutes, complete possession was taken of the Frolic, after one of the most bloody conflicts any where recorded in naval history.The condition of this unfortunate vessel was inexpressibly shocking. The birth deck was crowded with the dead, the dying and the wounded; and the masts, which soon after fell, covering the dead and every thing on deck, leaving her a most melancholy wreck. Captain Jones sent on board his surgeon, and humanely exerted himself in their relief, to the utmost of his power. The loss on board the Frolic was thirty killed and fifty wounded; on board the Wasp, five killed, and five slightly wounded. This was certainly the most decisive action fought during the war. The Wasp and Frolic were both captured that very day by a British seventy-four, the Poictiers, captain Beresford.

On the 4th of March, 1813, Mr. Madison entered upon the second term of his office, Mr. George Clinton was elected vice-president, but soon after died, and was succeeded by Elbridge Gerry.

So great was the desire of the citizens of the western country to regain possession of the territory of Michigan, that, in order to effect it, general Harrison resolved to undertake a winter campaign. General Winchester

with a portion of the western army, proceeded in advance to Frenchtown, a village on the river Raisin, not far from Detroit. A British party, stationed in the village, was attacked, routed, and entirely dispersed.

The Americans encamped near the field of battle, a part of them being protected by close garden pickets.— Although near an enemy's post, but little precaution was taken to prevent a surprise. Early in the morning of the 22d of January, they were attacked by a large force of British and Indians, the former commanded by colonel Procter, the latter by the chiefs Roundhead and Splitlog. The troops in the open field were thrown into disorder. General Winchester, and other officers, made an ineffectual attempt to rally them. They fled, but while attempting to escape, were mostly killed by the Indians. general and colonel Lewis were made prisoners.

The

The troops behind the pickets maintained the contest with undaunted bravery. At length colonel Procter assured general Winchester, that if the remainder of the Americans would immediately surrender, they should be protected from massacre; but otherwise he would set fire to the village, and would not be responsible for the conduct of the savages. Intimidated by this threat, general Winchester sent an order to the troops to surrender, which they obeyed.

Colonel Procter, leaving the wounded without a guard, marched back immediately to Malden. The Indians accompanied them a few miles, but returned early the next morning. Deeds of horror followed. The wounded officers were dragged from the houses, killed and scalped in the streets. The buildings were set on fire.— Some who attempted to escape, were forced back into the flames. Others were put to death by the tomahawk, and left shockingly mangled in the highway. The infa

my of this butchery should not fall upon the perpetrators alone. It must rest equally upon those who instigated them to hostility, by whose side they fought, who were able and were bound by a solemn engagement to restrain them.

The battle and massacre at Frenchtown, clothed Kentucky and Ohio in mourning. Other volunteers, indig