Captain Hull to the Secretary of the Navy.
United States Frigate Constitution,
Off Boston Light, August 30, 1812.
To the Honourable
Paul Hamilton,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.
Sir: I have the honour to inform you that on the 19th instant, at 2 p.m., being in latitude 41° 42´, longitude 55° 48´, with the Constitution under my command, a sail was discovered from the masthead bearing E. by S. or E. S. E., but at such a distance we could not tell what she was. All sail was instantly made in chase, and we soon found we came up with her. At 3 p.m. could plainly see that she was a ship on the starboard tack, under easy sail, close on a wind; at half past 3 p.m. made her out to be a frigate; continued the chase until we were within about three miles, when I ordered the light sails taken in, the courses hauled up, and the ship cleared for action. At this time the chase had backed his main top-sail, waiting for us to come down. As soon as the Constitution was ready for action, I bore down with an intention to bring him to close action immediately; but on our coming within gunshot she gave us a broadside and filled away, and wore, giving us a broadside on the other tack, but without effect; her shot falling short. She continued wearing and manœuvering for about three-quarters of an hour, to get a raking position, but finding she could not, bore up, and run under topsails and gib, with the wind on the quarter. Immediately made sail to bring the ship up with her, and five minutes before 6 p.m. being alongside within half pistol shot, we commenced a heavy fire from all our guns, double-shotted with round and grape, and so well directed were they, and so warmly kept up, that in fifteen minutes her mizzen-mast went by the board, and her mainyard in the slings, and the hull, rigging and sails were very much torn to pieces. The fire was kept up with equal warmth for fifteen minutes longer, when her main-mast and fore-mast went, taking with them every spar, excepting the bowsprit; on seeing this we ceased firing, so that in thirty minutes after we got fairly alongside the enemy she surrendered, and had not a spar standing, and her hull below and above water so shattered that a few more broadsides must have carried her down.
After informing you that so fine a ship as the Guerrière, commanded by an able and experienced officer, had been totally dismasted, and otherwise cut to pieces, so as to make her not worth towing into port, in the short space of 30 minutes, you can have no doubt of the gallantry and good conduct of the officers and ship's company I have the honour to command. It only remains, therefore, for me to assure you, that they all fought with great bravery; and it gives me great pleasure to say, that from the smallest boy in the ship to the oldest seaman, not a look of fear was seen. They all went into action giving three cheers, and requesting to be laid close alongside the enemy.
Enclosed I have the honour to send you a list of killed and wounded on board the Constitution, and a report of the damages she has sustained; also a list of the killed and wounded on board the enemy, with his quarter-bill, &c.
I have the honour to be, with very great respect, Sir, your obedient servant,
Isaac Hull.
Killed and wounded on board the United States frigate Constitution, Isaac Hull, Esquire, Captain, in the action with His Britannic Majesty's frigate Guerrière, James A. Dacres, Esquire, Captain, on the 20th of August, 1812:
| Killed: W. S. Bush, Lieutenant of Marines, and 6 seamen | 7 |
| Wounded: Lieutenant C. Morris, Master J. C. Aylwin, 4 seamen, 1 marine | 7 |
| — | |
| Total killed and wounded | 14 |
United States frigate Constitution, August 21st, 1812.
T. S. Chew, Purser.
Isaac Hull, Captain.