Contents

PAGE
SERAPIS AND BONHOMME RICHARD. A. D. 1779.
Remarkable Action; Sketch of the Hero, John Paul Jones; Receives a Commission in the United Colonial Navy; Hoists the First American Flag on Sea; The French Salute the “Stars and Stripes;” France Gives Him a Large Merchantman, which he Names the Bonhomme Richard; Sketch of Jones’ Later Life; Lafayette; Franklin; Additional Ships Fitted out for Jones in France; Description of the Bonhomme Richard; Sailing of the Fleet; Richard Dale; Cruises on the Coast of Scotland; Discovery of the Serapis Convoying About Forty Merchantmen; Description of Her; The Serapis Stands Out to Protect Her Convoy; The Two Vessels Engage as Night Comes On; Two of Jones’ 18 pounders Burst at the First Discharge; Captain Pearson, of the Serapis, Inquires whether the Bonhomme Richard has Struck; Jones Replies that He has Not yet Commenced to Fight; The Vessels Come Afoul Again; Jones Lashes Them Together; The Americans Drop Hand-grenades and Matches Down the Hatches of the Serapis and Cause a Terrific Explosion; The Serapis Finally Surrenders; Jones Transfers His Men to the Serapis; The Bonhomme Richard Sinks; Jones Carries His Force to the Texel; One of the Most Remarkable Sea Fights on Record.[II-13]
WASP AND FROLIC. A. D. 1812.
The American Sloop Wasp Encounters the English Sloop Frolic; The Fight Begins in a Rough Sea; Accurate Firing of the Americans; The Frolic Terribly Shattered; She Surrenders; The Wasp and Her Prize Overtaken and Captured by a British 74.[II-45]
CONSTITUTION. A. D. 1812.
Description of the English Squadron Sent to American Waters; They Discover the U. S. Frigate Constitution and Give Chase; She Escapes and Reaches Boston, by Good Seamanship; Puts to Sea again and Meets the Guerrière; A Sharp Conflict; The British Frigate Dismasted and Compelled to Surrender; Controversies Regarding the Relative Strength of the Two Frigates; An English View of the Fight.[II-50]
LAKE ERIE, 10th SEPTEMBER, A. D. 1813.
Importance of This Victory; Observations by Roosevelt; Sketch of Oliver Hazard Perry; He Equips a Fleet on Lake Erie; Strength of the Enemy’s Forces; Captain Robert Heriot Barclay in Command of the Latter; His Brilliant Career; Description of the American Fleet; The British Discovered Near Put-In-Bay; Perry Prepares to Meet Them; The Battle Opens; Perry’s Flag-ship Suffers Severely; Her Guns Disabled; Perry Leaves in an Open Boat, for the Niagara; He Brings Her Into Action and Forces the Enemy to Surrender in Short Order; Condition of Both Fleets; The Losses; Perry’s Famous Letter; Incidents Related by Surgeon Parsons.[II-67]
ESSEX, PHŒBE AND CHERUB.
A Remarkable Engagement; First Appearance of Farragut in History; Sketch of Captain Porter, Commander of the Essex; Sent to the South Sea to Destroy the English Merchant Marine; Success of His Mission; The English Send Commodore James Hillyar to Look After Him; Porter Goes Into Valparaiso Bay, a Neutral Port; The Phœbe and Cherub Appear in the Harbor; Friendly Salutations of the Opposing Commanders; Various Incidents; Hearing of Other English Vessels, Porter Determines to Escape to Sea; Meets with an Accident in Rounding a Point; Attacked by the Phœbe and Cherub while Attempting to Regain Her Former Anchorage; She is Terribly Cut Up, and Finally Surrenders; Later Incidents; Farragut’s Observations.[II-97]
BATTLE OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN, SEPTEMBER 11th, A. D. 1814.
Important Results of This Battle; Events Relating Thereto; Both Nations Begin the Building of a Fleet; Captain Thomas McDonough; The English Invade the Country by Land and Water; Relative Strength of the Two Armies and Navies; Captain Downie in Command of the English; The Hostile Fleets Meet Off Plattsburg, September 11th, 1814; Good Judgment of Captain McDonough in Selecting a Position; The Battle Begins; Steady and Accurate Firing on Both Sides; McDonough’s Flag-ship, after Having all the Guns on one side Silenced, Shifts Round, and with the Other Broadside Decides the Day; Concluding Remarks; Honors to McDonough.[II-124]
THE CONSTITUTION IN ACTION WITH THE CYANE AND LEVANT. A. D. 1815.
A Singular Action; Captain Charles Stewart; History of the Constitution Prior to this Event; She Meets the Cyane and Levant and Captures Both After a Short Action; Details of the Fight; Skillful Management of the Constitution by Captain Stewart; He Carries His Prizes to Porto Praya; Discovers a Large Vessel Outside the Harbor; He gives Instant Orders to Put to Sea; Three British Vessels of War Turn Up; The Cyane Escapes to New York; The Levant Returns to Porto Praya Harbor, where the English Recapture Her; Good Judgment of Captain Stewart; Later History of the Constitution.[II-150]
MONITOR AND MERRIMAC. MARCH 9TH, A. D. 1862.
Origin and History of the Merrimac; Strength of the Union Fleet at Hampton Roads; Government Preparations to Meet the Ironclad Merrimac; The Latter Makes Her Appearance; Sinks the Cumberland and Compels the Congress to Strike Her Colors; The Guns of the Union Fleet Harmless on the Armor of the Merrimac; The Monitor puts in an Appearance; Her History, and That of Captain Ericsson, Her Inventor; Details of Her Engagement With the Merrimac; The Latter Finally Retires; Armament of the Opposing Ironclads; Subsequent History of the Monitor.[II-165]
FARRAGUT AT NEW ORLEANS.
The Government Determines to Regain Possession of the Mississippi; Farragut sent to the Gulf; The Army Under Gen. Butler to Co-operate With Him; Description of the Approaches to New Orleans, the Obstructions and Fortifications; Strength of Farragut’s Fleet; He Determines to Pass the Forts; The Fleet Advances on the Night of April 23-24; Detailed Account of the Thrilling Incidents; New Orleans at His Mercy; The City Surrenders; Destruction of Property by the Confederates; The Forts Surrender; Minor Details.[II-182]
ATLANTA AND WEEHAWKEN. JUNE 17TH, A. D. 1863.
The Blockade-runner Fingal Converted Into the Ironclad Atlanta; Description of Her; Confidence in Her Ability to Destroy the Monitors; She Leaves Savannah to Break the Blockade and Encounters the Weehawken; A Trial of Heavy Artillery and Heavy Armor; The Atlanta Strikes Her Colors in Fifteen Minutes After the Battle Begins; Details of this Extraordinary Engagement; Practical Results of this Fight.[II-205]
KEARSARGE AND ALABAMA. JUNE 19TH, A. D. 1864.
Origin and History of the Alabama; Her Destruction of Our Commerce; Eludes Our Cruisers; Discovered in Cherbourg Harbor by Captain Winslow, of the United States Steamer Kearsarge; Semmes, of the Alabama, Challenges Winslow; The Former is Escorted Beyond the French Jurisdiction by the French Ironclad Couronne, June 19th, 1864; The Kearsarge Clears for Action; The Battle Opens; Terrible Effects of the Latter’s Guns; The Alabama Soon Disabled and Sinking; She Surrenders; An English Yacht, Permitted to Pick Up the Prisoners, Among Whom are Captain Semmes and Other Officers, Treacherously Makes Off With Them to England; Letter of Secretary Welles to Winslow; Other Interesting Particulars.[II-210]
MOBILE BAY. AUGUST 5TH, A. D. 1864.
Farragut’s Movements After the Battle of New Orleans; His Promotion; Prepares to Attack Mobile; Minor Incidents; Description of the Enemy’s Fleet and Fortifications; Names of Farragut’s Vessels and Their Commanders; The Order to Advance; Sinking of the Monitor Tecumseh by a Torpedo; Splendid Manœuvring of the Fleet; Heavy Cannonading on Both Sides; Surrender of the Confederate Ironclad Tennessee; Further Details of this Great Battle; Honors to Farragut.[II-226]
CUSHING AND THE ALBEMARLE. OCTOBER, A. D. 1864.
The Confederates Discovered Building an Ironclad on Roanoke River, North Carolina; She Makes Her Appearance, Destroys One Union Vessel, and Injures Several Others; Lieutenant Cushing; His Singular Character and Daring Adventures; He Sinks the Albemarle with a Torpedo, while she is Lying at a wharf; His Official Report; His Subsequent Career; His Death.[II-256]
FORT FISHER. DECEMBER A. D. 1864, JANUARY A. D. 1865.
Importance of the Place to the Confederates; The Largest Fleet That Ever Sailed Under the American Flag Invests It, Under Admiral Porter; The Army Co-operates With the Fleet; Failure of the First Attack; Gen. Terry Arrives With Reinforcements, and a Fresh Investment of the Place Begins January 13th, 1865; Details of This Famous Engagement; Fort Fisher Surrenders; Appearance After the Battle; Other Incidents; Blockade-runners.[II-273]
DEEDS OF VALOR ON THE SEAS.
Captain Silas Talbot; Ancestry; In the American Camp; Commands a Fire-Ship; Grapples the “Asia”; Promoted; Captures the “Pigot”; Again Promoted; Fits Out the “Pigot” and the “Argo”; Captures three Prizes from the West Indies; The “King George”; A Terror to the Coast; Talbot Captures the “King George”; “Argo” Returned to her Owners; Talbot in Command of a Private Armed Ship; Captured by an English Fleet; The Notorious Prison Ship “Jersey”; Taken to England; Dartmoor Prison; Three Attempts at Escape; Exchanged for an English Officer; At Paris; Sails for America; Captured by a Privateer; Reaches New York; Retires to a Farm; Selected to Command a New Frigate; In Command of “Old Ironsides”; Captures the “Sandwich”; Questions of Rank; Withdraws from the Service; Buys Land in Kentucky; Characteristics; Death; Burial in Trinity Church, New York; The Whaleboat Men of the Revolution; George Raymond; The Connecticut Fleet; A Terror to the British; Daring Leaders; Captain Mariner; Captain Hyde; Mariner Visits a Tavern in Disguise; Major Sherbook Denounces Mariner; Mariner Searches the Major’s House; Captures the Major; Captain Hyler at Egg Harbor; Captures an English Corvette; Hyler Visits New York in Disguise; Searches for a Notorious Tory; Captures an East Indiaman; Hyler on Land; Captures a Hessian Major; Captures four Trading Sloops; Usefulness of the Whaleboat Men ended with the War; Captain James Drew; In the English Service; Persecuted by a Lieutenant; Knocks his Persecutor Down; Escape by Swimming; Arrives at Philadelphia; Goes to France; In Command of the “De Brock”; Loaded with Gold and War Material; Lands in Maryland; Cargo Escorted to Wilmington; Arms to Headquarters; Treasure to a Mansion; The Gold Stolen; Drew Mans his Ship; Fights an English Ship; Drew’s Former Persecutor in Command; The Duel on the Deck; Drew Kills the Commander and Captures the Ship; Drew’s Marriage; Captures two Prizes of Immense Value; Drew’s Fatal Banquet; Loss of the “De Brock”; Drew’s Body Washed Ashore; The Churchyard at Lewes, Delaware; Stephen Decatur; Story of the Barbary Pirates; The Frigate “Philadelphia”; Captured by Pirates; The Bashaw of Tripoli; The “Philadelphia” added to the Bashaw’s Fleet; The “Mastico”; Decatur Burns the “Philadelphia”; Chased by Pirates; Commodore Preble; Submission of the Bashaw; McDougall and the “Wyoming”; Searching for the “Alabama”; In Japanese Seas; The Prince of Nagato; Independent Pirate; His Captures; Fires on the “Pembroke”; McDougall at Simonoseki; Fights three Japanese Vessels and Shore Batteries; Disables the Ships; Silences the Batteries; Demands Indemnity; The Share of the United States; Captain McGiffen; Graduate of Annapolis; In the Chinese Service; Battle of the Yalu; Battle between Modern Ships; The Chen Yuen; Desperate Fighting; McGiffen Thrashes a Coward; Five Hours Action; McGiffen Terribly Wounded; Returns to America a Physical Wreck; His Death.[II-289]
OUR NEW NAVY.
Use of Armor for Ships; Harveyized Nickel Steel; Modern Explosives; Vessels of the New Navy; The Question of Fuel; Torpedo Boats; Torpedo Catchers; Speed; The Navies of Europe; Of China and Japan; Need of a Better Navy; Merchant Vessels; Ship Yards; Machinery; Duty of Officers; Training of Officers; The Naval Academy; History of the Institution; Course of Instruction; Marine Corps; Revenue Marine; Marine Hospital Service; Light Houses; Training Ships; Life Saving Service; The Flag.[II-337]
THE EXPLOSION OF THE MAINE.
The Maine at Havana; The Explosion; Loss of Life; Captain Sigsbee’s Telegram; Description of the Maine; Divers and Wrecking Apparatus; The Flag Hauled Down; Naval Board of Inquiry; The Testimony; The Finding of the Court; Feeling in the United States; Forbearance of the Nation; Chaplain Chidwick; Rumors of Retaliation; The President and his Advisers.[II-398]
DEWEY’S ACTION AT MANILA.
First Serious Encounter between the United States and Spain; The Philippine Islands; Area and Population; Discovery of the Group; Religious Orders; Island of Luzon; City of Manila; Commerce and Manufactures; Bay of Manila; Arrival of the United States Squadron; Partial Destruction; Breakfast; Bombardment Resumed; Complete Destruction of the Spanish Ships and Forts; Dewey’s Despatch; Vessels Composing American Fleet; The Action in Detail; Secretary of the Navy Congratulates Dewey; Congress Votes a Sword for Dewey; Medals for Officers and Men; Dewey Made a Rear Admiral.[II-415]

List of Illustrations

Page
[0].Deck of Battleship IndianaFrontispiece.
[1].Engagement between Serapis and Bonhomme RichardII-16
[2].Medal Awarded to John Paul JonesII-43
[3].The Wasp Boarding the FrolicII-44
[4].Capture of the Guerriere by the ConstitutionII-51
[5].Perry’s Victory on Lake ErieII-66
[6].McDonough’s Victory on Lake ChamplainII-134
[7].Capture of the Cyane and Levant by the ConstitutionII-151
[8].Engagement between the Monitor and MerrimacII-170
[9].New Orleans—Fleet Passing Forts Jackson and St. PhilipII-187
[10].Sinking of the Alabama by the KearsargeII-211
[11].The New Battleship KearsargeII-218
[12].Farragut Entering Mobile BayII-242
[13].Le Solferino, 1865II-255
[14].Lieut. Cushing’s Torpedoboat Sinking the AlbemarleII-259
[15].Monitor Fleet in a Gale off Fort FisherII-278
[16].The MiantonomohII-295
[17].Gunboats on Western RiverII-295
[18].The Clermont—Fulton’s First Steamboat—1807II-319
[19].Fight with Algerine PiratesII-319
[20].Cruiser Following Torpedo into ActionII-330
[21].Battleship IndianaII-347
[22].Cruiser BaltimoreII-354
[23].Battleship TexasII-363
[24].Cruiser ChicagoII-370
[25].Battleship OregonII-375
[26].Cruiser CincinnatiII-386
[27].Cruiser NewarkII-391
[28].Blowing Up of the Maine in Havana HarborII-399
[29].Ram KatahdinII-405
[30].Admiral Dewey and his Flagship OlympiaII-414
[31].Map of Manila BayII-419
[32].The Battle of Manila—The American FleetII-424
[33].The Battle of Manila—The Spanish FleetII-425

Naval Battles of America.

SERAPIS AND BONHOMME RICHARD. A. D. 1779.

This remarkable action is interesting not only on account of its bloody and desperate character, and on account of the sensation it produced at the time, but because it illustrates one phase of our great struggle for independence; a considerable space is therefore devoted to it.