commenced the same operation, bending all his hawsers to one another, and working two kedge anchors at the same time, by paying the warp through one hawse-hole as it was run in through another opposite. The effect of this was soon visible; and at noon the American, whose booms had just before been thrown overboard, was within gun-shot of the Belvidera. At 2 P.M. the enemy opened a fire from his stern-chasers, which was returned occasionally by Captain Byron’s bow-guns. At 3, a light breeze enabled the Constitution to gain ground, and the firing ceased; but the chase continued till day-light on the 18th, by which time she was four miles a-head, and being a clean ship she ultimately effected her escape. The pursuit was finally given up by the British at 8 A.M. on the 19th, a little to the southward of Delaware Bay, the wind at that time blowing very fresh, and the enemy’s hull being no longer visible[1]. The Belvidera’s situation when chased by Commodore Rodgers was far more critical than that of the Constitution on this occasion, she being ignorant of the war, and having to sustain the fire of a ship vastly superior in force.
On the 21st Aug. in the same year, the Belvidera captured the Bunker’s Hill schooner privateer of 7 guns and 72 men; and on the 8th Feb. 1813, her boats assisted at the capture of the Lottery letter of marque, mounting 10 guns, with a valuable cargo from Baltimore, bound to Bourdeaux. The active manner in which Captain Byron was employed at the latter period will be seen by reference to the copy of a memorandum issued by Rear-Admiral Cockburn, and inserted in our memoir of Captain George Burdett at p. 576. The following acknowledgment of his liberal and humane conduct towards the wounded men of the Lottery, was made by Captain Stewart of the Constellation frigate, dated in Norfolk Harbour, Feb. 15:
- ↑ The enemy being a clean ship just out of port, sailed much better than any of the British squadron, either in light or strong breezes.
