On that shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses;
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines in the stream?
'Tis the star-spangled banner, O, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."
[7]: Senator Smith, who had been appointed general, commanded the 10,000 militia who manned the works.
[8]: She had been built to take the place of the vessel captured by the Poictiers, after she had taken the Frolic. She did not disgrace the name and character she bore.
[9]: Vide Cooper.
[10]: One "Squib" represented King George as walking his lawn one morning, anxiously waiting to hear the success of this squadron, which he had sent out expressly to capture the Ironsides, when the three captains of the vessels that chased her presented themselves. King George, in his peculiar manner, asks:—
"with sparkling eyes,
'Hey! hey! what news? what news? hey! hey! he cries—
His Majesty to hear, was all agog;
When Stuart—Collins—Kerr—with crimsoned face
Thus spake—'We gave the Constitution chase,
And, oh! great sire, we lost her in a fog!'
"'Fog! fog! what fog? hey! Stuart, what fog? say!
So then the foe escaped you, Stuart? hey!'
'Yes, please your Majesty, and hard our fate'—
'But why not, Stuart, different courses steer?'
Stuart replied, (impute it not to fear,)
'We thought it prudent not to separate.'"
[11]: Mr. Alison asserts that the President was completely beaten before the arrival of the other vessels.
[12]: A most daring and successful attempt was made by one of the lieutenants of the privateer Rattlesnake. Having bribed one of the sentinels with six guineas, to give him the countersign, he let himself down with a rope, eighty feet, to the ground, and was just about to pass the gate, when the villain who had received the six guineas, informed against him. Enraged at the act, the lieutenant sprung on him with his dagger, but was seized and bound before he could plunge it in his heart. Arraigned before Capt. Shortland, he was asked how he obtained the countersign. Lieutenant G—— replied, that if the sentinel had behaved honorably to him, death itself could not have wrested his name from him, for it was the character of Americans always to keep their engagements; but, as he had deceived him, he should suffer for it. The culprit's name was then given, and he received three hundred lashes. Shortland then told the lieutenant he was a brave man, and pledged his honor, if he would not again attempt to escape, he would procure his exchange. The latter replied, that he had seen too much of the honor of British officers, ever to take their word, and he should escape that very night. The keeper assured him the attempt would be fatal, as he should double the sentinels, and if he made it he would most certainly be shot. Lieutenant G—— said he did not care—death was preferable to that detestable prison. Having obtained the countersign again, for three guineas, he that very night lowered himself down, and though challenged seventeen times, passed safely out. Keeping the fields he made his way to the sea-coast, where he found a boat eighteen feet long, with one oar in it. In this frail vessel, without provision or water, he determined to put to sea, and cross the channel, one hundred miles, to France. Sculling it till he got off shore, he converted his umbrella and clothes into a sail, and stood boldly away. When about half way over, he discovered a brig-of-war. The sea was running high at the time, but he immediately took down the sail, and laid himself flat in the boat, to avoid being seen. After the brig had passed him, he again hoisted sail, and after a passage of thirty-six hours, landed safely in France.
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