Shortly after, Lieutenant Biddle was promoted to the rank of master-commandant, and received command of the Hornet sloop-of-war. This ship, after cruising for some time in the vicinity of New York and New London, was attached to the command of Commodore Decatur, destined for a cruise to the East Indies.
On the third day after the sailing of this squadron, the Hornet separated in chase of a vessel which proved to be a Portuguese brig, and then proceeded singly towards the Island of Tristan d’Acunha, which was the first place of rendezvous for the squadron. On the passage she chased and boarded every vessel that came in sight. On the morning of the 23d of March, 1815, when about to anchor off the north end of that island, a sail was descried to the southward and eastward. The Hornet made sail immediately, and hove to for her to come down. When she had come down and shortened sail, she took in her steering sails in a very clumsy manner, purposely to deceive the Hornet, and came down stem on as near as possible, lest the Hornet should perceive her broadside and run. “At forty minutes past one, P. M.,” says Captain Biddle’s official letter, “being nearly within musket-shot distance, she hauled her wind on the starboard tack, hoisted English colors and fired a gun. We immediately luffed to, hoisted our ensign, and gave the enemy a broadside. The action being thus commenced, a quick and well-directed fire was kept up from this ship, the enemy gradually drifting nearer to us, when at fifty-five minutes past one he bore up apparently to run us on board. Expecting he would certainly board us, I ordered every officer and man to the quarter-deck, to be ready to repel the boarders if an attempt was made. The enemy’s bowsprit came between our main and mizzen rigging on our starboard side, affording him an opportunity to board us, if such was his design; but no attempt was made. There was a considerable swell, and as the sea lifted us ahead, the enemy’s bowsprit carried away our mizzen shrouds, stern-davits and spanker-boom, and he hung upon our larboard quarter. At this moment an officer, who was afterwards recognized to be Mr. McDonald, the first lieutenant and the then commanding officer, called out that they had surrendered. I directed the marines and musketry men to cease firing, and while on the tafferel, asking if they had surrendered, I received a wound in the neck. The enemy again called out that he had surrendered. It was with difficulty I could restrain my crew from firing into him again, as they persisted he had fired into us after having surrendered. From the firing of the first gun to the last time the enemy cried out he had surrendered, was exactly twenty-two minutes by the watch. She proved to be his Britannic majesty’s brig Penguin, mounting sixteen thirty-two pound carronades, two long twelves, a twelve pound carronade on the top-gallant forecastle, with swivels on the capstan and in the tops. She had a spare port forward so as to fight both her long guns of a side. The enemy acknowledge a complement of one hundred and thirty-two men, twelve of them supernumerary marines, from the Medway seventy-four. They acknowledge also a loss of fourteen killed and twenty-eight wounded; but Mr. Mayo, who was in charge of the prize, assures me that the number of killed was certainly greater.” Among the killed of the Penguin, was Captain Dickinson, her commander, who is represented to have been a deserving and favorite officer. The Hornet had but one man killed and eleven wounded. Among the wounded were Captain Biddle severely, and McConner, the first lieutenant, dangerously. It is always gratifying to notice the attachment of our brave tars to their commanders. Captain Biddle had his face much disfigured by being struck twice with splinters, and, when he received the wound in the neck, from which the blood flowed profusely, some of the crew insisted upon his retiring below for the purpose of having it dressed, two of whom seized him in their arms for that purpose, so that he could scarcely extricate himself from them; but finding he was determined to remain on the deck, one of them stript off his shirt, tore it into strips, and almost by force tied it tightly about Captain Biddle’s neck to prevent his bleeding. Captain Biddle would not have his own wound dressed until after all his men had theirs dressed.
Captain Biddle received his wound in the neck after the enemy had surrendered. He was standing upon the tafferel, and had ordered the musketry not to fire, when one of his officers called out to him that there was a man taking aim at him. Captain Biddle’s back being towards the officer, he did not hear this, but two of the marines perceiving the fellow taking aim at their commander, fired at him, and he fell dead the instant after he had discharged his piece. He was not more than ten or twelve yards from Captain Biddle when he shot him; the ball struck the chin directly in front with much force, and passing along the neck, tearing the flesh, went off behind through his cravat, waistcoat and coat collar. The Penguin being so completely riddled, her fore-mast and bowsprit gone, and her main-mast so crippled as to be incapable of being secured, she was accordingly scuttled and destroyed. Shortly after, peace with Great Britain was restored, and Captain Biddle returned to New York, much indisposed and debilitated by his wound. During his absence he had been promoted to the rank of post-captain. On his return, a public dinner was given to him by the citizens of New York, and a service of plate presented to him by the citizens of Philadelphia. It has been the distinguishing character of this gentleman, to exert in the public service an unwearied activity and an ardent enterprise, which surmounted every obstacle and commanded the events of his life. He was a party to two of the most decisive actions of the war, in which his persevering spirit led him forward in spite of every untoward event in the path of glory, and crowned his exertions with success. The capture of the Frolic by the Wasp, not only broke the charm of British naval superiority, but showed a decided superiority in favor of America. The capture of the Penguin was not less decisive; and if, at the commencement of the war, the British navy was surprised, from habits of security and contempt for their enemies, they had, before the victory of the Hornet, learned their error and corrected their conduct. In this instance, even the enemy was utterly unable to frame an apology for his defeat, since he had come out prepared, and with unusual means to pursue and capture an American ship-of-war. Congress voted a gold medal (see [Plate XIV.]) and the thanks of that body to Captain James Biddle, commander of the sloop-of-war Hornet, for the capture of the brig Penguin, Captain Dickinson, in twenty-two minutes, March 23, 1815.
DESCRIPTION OF THE MEDAL.
Occasion.—Capture of the brig Penguin.
Device.—Bust of Captain Biddle.
Legend.—The Congress of the U. S. to Capt. James Biddle for his gallantry, good conduct and services.
Reverse.—Two vessels engaged: the Peak of Tristan d’Acunha in sight.
Legend.—Capture of the British brig Penguin by the U. S. ship Hornet.
Exergue.—Off Tristan d’Acunha, March 23d, 1815.