Memoirs of the Generals, Commodores and other Commanders, who distinguished themselves in the American army and navy during the wars of the Revolution and 1812, and who were presented with medals by Congress for their gallant services

by Thomas Wyatt

LIEUT. WILLIAM BURROWS.

William Burrows was born at Kenderton, near Philadelphia, on the 6th of October, 1785. His father was wealthy, and not wishing to confine the genius of his son to any particular pursuit, apprehending that his wealth was amply sufficient to the support of his son in the style and character of a gentleman, he was accordingly left principally to his own guidance, dallying with books as he would with toys, regarding them rather as matters of amusement than as objects of serious concern.

Knowing how essential to the character of a gentleman it was to become familiar with the living languages, his father warmly exhorted him to turn his attention to them; in this he but partially succeeded. To the French language he betrayed an insurmountable reluctance. In the acquisition of German, Burrows was more successful, and at the age of thirteen years he could converse in that language with great fluency. This may be considered as the broad outline of his early years, as far as regards those pursuits which often have an important bearing in the formation of the future character of the man. In a boy so amiable, so retiring and reserved, little did his parents dream that the flame of ambition had ignited that bosom, and was burning strong and intense. This passion, which he had guarded with such scrupulous and jealous care, was discovered by his father by an incident which afforded an outlet to those passions which had so long occupied his musing and solitary hours. He was receiving instructions in drawing, but none seemed to arrest the attention of Burrows but the delineation of a ship of war. With astonishment and regret his father discovered the cause of his contemplations in retirement, and that indifference which he discovered to his allotted studies and pursuits. He labored to give his ambition another turn, but so deeply rooted was his passion for ocean chivalry, that his efforts were unavailing; he, therefore, found it best to lend his aid towards the gratification of a passion he was incapable of repressing, and accordingly seconded his application to the Secretary of the Navy for an appointment, and Burrows was appointed a midshipman in November, 1799. He now devoted his hours to the study of navigation, but the requisite proficiency could not be made in so short a time, for in January, 1800, he received orders to repair on board the sloop-of-war Portsmouth, Captain McNeil, bound to France.

The Portsmouth did not return to the United States for nearly a year. Burrows now became sensible of the necessity of becoming better acquainted with his preparatory studies, and obtained a furlough for the purpose of applying himself to the science of navigation with renewed ardor. From 1800 to 1803, he served on board different ships of war, in cruises, some of a longer and some of a shorter date, unimportant as far as regards the glory of the navy. This was, notwithstanding, a necessary school, which prepared him for more important services.

In the year 1803 he was transferred to the frigate Constitution, bound to the Mediterranean, commanded by Commodore Preble. This officer, famous for his sagacity in the discernment of character, soon discovered in our young midshipman, under a cold and repelling exterior, a character of noble and intrepid daring, waiting only a proper season to burst forth in all its resplendence. Under these impressions, Burrows was appointed an acting lieutenant, in which character he served during the war with Tripoli. In 1807, Lieutenant Burrows returned from the Mediterranean, and in the following year he was attached to the Philadelphia station, and employed in the bay and river Delaware, as commander of gun-boat No. 119. It became then his duty to enforce a rigid observance of the embargo law. In a service at once so delicate and invidious, he exhibited traits of character by which he was enabled to make a painful duty an amusement. The inhabitants found, while the laws of the Union were enforced, that this was done from higher and more honorable motives than personal hostility towards them. His moments of relaxation from duty were sedulously devoted to the acquisition of their confidence and good-will, and to render the obligations imposed upon him, by duty, less painful, irritating and severe. Alternately preventing the least infractions of the law, and then becoming, at their tables, a hospitable guest, he was enabled to conciliate the esteem, while he rigidly enforced the duties of his office. In 1809 he joined the President under Captain Bainbridge. From this ship he was transferred to the sloop-of-war Hornet, as first lieutenant, under Captain Hunt. In a dangerous and heavy gale, his brother officers have reported that, by his superior skill and intrepidity as an officer, the ship and the crew were both preserved from what they deemed inevitable destruction. In 1812 he found his circumstances were embarrassed, and that it was indispensable to extricate himself in the best possible way. He accordingly applied for a furlough, which was granted, and he went on board the merchant-ship, Thomas Penrose, from Philadelphia, bound to Canton, under the command of Captain Ansley. On the return passage the ship was captured and carried into Barbadoes; Lieutenant Burrows arrived in the United States in June, 1813.

Soon after his return, Lieutenant Burrows took the command of the United States sloop-of-war Enterprise, and left the harbor of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on the 5th of September. On the following day he fell in with his Britannic majesty’s brig Boxer, mounting sixteen eighteen pound carronades and two long nine pounders. The Boxer fired a shot as a challenge, hoisted English colors, and immediately bore down upon the Enterprise. The American vessel was now employed in tacking and making preparations for action. Having obtained the weather-gage, she manœuvred for some time to try her sailing, and to ascertain the force of her antagonist. At length she shortened sail, hoisted three ensigns, and fired three shot in answer to the challenge. The action now grew warm; the Boxer bore within half-pistol shot of the Enterprise, and, giving three cheers, fired her starboard broadside. She was answered by three cheers and a larboard broadside from the Enterprise, and the action became general.

The Enterprise, having the advantage of the wind, ranged ahead of her enemy, rounded to on the larboard tack, and commenced a raking broadside. The enemy’s main-topsail and topsail yards came down, and the Enterprise, taking a position on the starboard bow of the Boxer, and opening a raking fire, compelled the enemy to cry for quarter. Their colors were nailed to the mast and could not be hauled down. This action lasted for forty-five minutes, during which time the Boxer received much damage in sails, rigging, spars and hull. The Enterprise had but one eighteen pound shot in her hull, one in her main-mast, and one in her fore-mast. Her sails were much cut with grape shot, and a great number of grape were lodged in her side. The Boxer had twenty eighteen pound shot in her hull, most of them at the water’s edge, with several stands of eighteen pound grape in her side. Lieutenant M’Call states our loss to have been four killed, and ten wounded.

The number killed on board the Boxer is uncertain. The same officer states, from the best information which he was able to procure, that there were, of the enemy, between twenty and twenty-five killed, and fourteen wounded.

At the very first fire, Lieutenant Burrows was mortally wounded by a musket ball. He refused, notwithstanding, to be carried below, and during the whole of the action his life’s blood was streaming on the deck. With his dying lips he requested that the flag might never be struck. When the sword of his gallant enemy was presented to him, he clasped his hands together, and exclaimed, “I am satisfied! I die contented!” He was then carried below, and expired shortly after. The bodies of Captain Blyth of the Boxer, and of Lieutenant Burrows, were conveyed to Portland and interred at the same time with all the honors due to their rank and character. Having paid the debt which they owed to their respective countries, they now slumber side by side, awaiting the day of the resurrection together. The following resolution was unanimously passed by both houses of Congress.