However, after his men had had their dinner and a comfortable smoke, Commodore Bainbridge cleared the ship for action and hoisted the American ensign to three prominent points, and his own pennant and the Union Jack as well. By the time all was ready the enemy had arrived within long range, and at fifty minutes past 1 o’clock he squared away to run across the Constitution’s stern and deliver a raking fire. At that the Constitution squared away also. So the Java luffed up once more on the port tack, followed by the Constitution, and then, at exactly 2 o’clock, the firing began.
The Java was estimated to be half a mile away. Whatever the exact distance, it was almost the limit of range, for when the Constitution opened fire, first with one gun and then with a broadside, the shots from her long twenty-fours fell short. The enemy soon replied, and with a better estimate of the distance, for her projectiles landed, and killed and wounded several of the Constitution’s crew. A continuous fire followed—a fire that filled the air with a covering fog of smoke that all but hid each ship from the eyes of the other crew.
Meantime the Constitution was luffing up and the Java running free and forging steadily ahead. The ships were soon within musket range. Commodore Bainbridge, a six-foot man, broad-shouldered and brawny, was pacing the quarter-deck, watching the enemy. He was an excellent target for the British marines, and they improved their opportunity. A musket-ball struck him in the thigh and stopped his pacing. But it had missed both bone and artery, and going to the wheel the commodore leaned upon the frame and continued to command his ship.
Reaching forward until off the Constitution’s port-bow and almost clear of her guns, the Java squared away to cross the bows of the Constitution. The Java was admirably handled, but the Constitution, though not so swift, was in as able hands, and around she too came in ample time to prevent a raking.
Both ships were now headed to the westward. To the eye they were in two cumulous, lightning-ribbed clouds on the sea, drifting along before the wind. They were now at a range where the short guns of both ships could be used with thorough effect, and it was a hot fight for a few minutes until the Java again forged ahead, and then she once more tried as before to cross the Yankee’s bows and rake her. Putting up her wheel her stern swung away from the Constitution while her bow turned down, bringing her guns to bear diagonally across the Constitution’s decks. Instantly her gunners fired a broadside, and one big round-shot struck the Constitution’s wheel, knocking it to pieces and, worse yet, driving a copper bolt deep into the leg of Commodore Bainbridge.
A brave old sailor-man was Commodore Bainbridge. The bullet in his thigh was ample excuse for going below, and now he had received a still more painful wound. But no thought of leaving the deck entered his mind. The bolt was cut from the wound and a bandage applied, when the commodore was again in the full swing of battle—indeed he had directed the movements of his ship while the surgeon attended the wound.
The Java was heading down across the Constitution’s bows, but the Constitution was kept turning as rapidly as needed. Her wheel was gone, but there was a tiller below decks with tackles to handle it, and a line of midshipmen passed the word from the quarter-deck to the men at the tackles.
Around came the two ships, and now as they stood to the eastward with their yards braced on the port tack, their head sails began to show clear of the towering smoke-clouds. “The Java kept the weather-gauge tenaciously, fore-reaching a little.” She could choose her position. If the Constitution tried to close the distance she would have to point her bows well-nigh straight at the broadside of the Java and so receive a raking, perhaps half a dozen, before getting yard-arm to yard-arm, but at last Commodore Bainbridge determined to take the risk and close, happen what might. Sheeting home the fore- and main-sails he put down his helm and stood up at pistol range on the Java’s lee beam. Had the gunnery of the Java at this time been at all worthy of the ship, the Constitution would have suffered frightfully. But the fact was the Englishmen blazed away like a “tenderfoot” when he sees his first deer in the Adirondacks—they blazed away, not knowing whether their guns were aimed at high heaven or the depths of the earth. On the other hand, the American gunners in this battle were not a little like a grizzled Adirondack guide out for meat. As the Constitution ranged up under the Java’s lee every shot told.
DIAGRAM OF THE BATTLE OF THE CONSTITUTION AND JAVA.