1812: The Navy's War (28 page)
Porter arrived ten days later, posing as a British warship, as he and Bainbridge had previously arranged. A Portuguese official gave him Bainbridge’s message, and after Porter heated the paper, the invisible ink revealed: “I am bound off St. Salvador, thence Cape Frio, to the northward of Rio Janeiro, and keep a look out for me. Your Friend.”
ON DECEMBER 13 the
Constitution
and the
Hornet
arrived at St. Salvador in the Brazilian state of Bahia. Bainbridge’s attention was immediately drawn to the
Bonne Citoyenne
, a powerful British sloop of war sitting in the harbor. He soon learned that she was carrying an astonishing 500,000 pounds in specie. Although he was sorely tempted to capture her, he decided to scrupulously observe Portuguese neutrality.
Constitution
and the
Hornet
arrived at St. Salvador in the Brazilian state of Bahia. Bainbridge’s attention was immediately drawn to the
Bonne Citoyenne
, a powerful British sloop of war sitting in the harbor. He soon learned that she was carrying an astonishing 500,000 pounds in specie. Although he was sorely tempted to capture her, he decided to scrupulously observe Portuguese neutrality.
After anchoring off the city, Bainbridge sent Lawrence to confer with Henry Hill, the American consul, about a number of matters—the political situation in Brazil, the best places along the Brazilian coast to obtain provisions and water, where British men-of-war were operating, and where they were based. Hill submitted six detailed pages of information, explaining that although the Portuguese were allied with the British, they were neutrals in the war with the United States and would be hospitable to American warships. But to expect the governor of Bahia, Count dos Arcos, not to favor the British, which is what Bainbridge wanted, was asking too much. Portugal’s life, after all, was in British hands. Hill went on to report that few British warships were operating along the Brazilian coast; the most important was the 74-gun
Montagu
, based at Rio de Janeiro. He estimated that forty to fifty British merchantmen stopped at Brazilian ports each year, and the best place to intercept them was probably farther south around Cape Frio.
Montagu
, based at Rio de Janeiro. He estimated that forty to fifty British merchantmen stopped at Brazilian ports each year, and the best place to intercept them was probably farther south around Cape Frio.
Bainbridge decided to sail the
Constitution
out of the harbor but leave the
Hornet
to see if Lawrence could entice the
Bonne Citoyenne
’s skipper, Pitt Barnaby, out of the port for a fight. The
Hornet
and the
Bonne Citoyenne
appeared evenly matched. But when Lawrence challenged Barnaby to a one-on-one duel, Barnaby refused. He had no reason to risk his precious cargo, especially when he suspected that the
Constitution
, contrary to Bainbridge’s promise, would be waiting out of sight to pounce on him.
Constitution
out of the harbor but leave the
Hornet
to see if Lawrence could entice the
Bonne Citoyenne
’s skipper, Pitt Barnaby, out of the port for a fight. The
Hornet
and the
Bonne Citoyenne
appeared evenly matched. But when Lawrence challenged Barnaby to a one-on-one duel, Barnaby refused. He had no reason to risk his precious cargo, especially when he suspected that the
Constitution
, contrary to Bainbridge’s promise, would be waiting out of sight to pounce on him.
Barnaby was wrong, however. Bainbridge had indeed left and was cruising south along the Brazilian coast, searching for prey. On December 29 at nine o’clock in the morning, he was thirty miles off the coast when lookouts spotted two strangers off the weather bow. An hour later Bainbridge saw the two ships split up, one heading toward land, away from the
Constitution
, and the other, a much larger ship, steering toward her.
Constitution
, and the other, a much larger ship, steering toward her.
Aboard His Majesty’s 38-gun frigate
Java
, spyglasses had been trained on a strange sail to leeward, appraising her for almost an hour. Unlike Bainbridge, the
Java
’s veteran skipper Henry Lambert was not consumed with a desire to defeat an American frigate, but he was not reluctant to take one on either. He wasn’t expecting to meet one, however. He was on his way to Bombay with the new governor, General Hislop, and his staff, a few supernumerary officers, one hundred extra seamen, and civilian passengers. He also had a load of copper for Indian shipyards. The
Java
was crowded, but that did not mean Lambert was reluctant to fight—far from it: He was delighted with the opportunity.
Java
, spyglasses had been trained on a strange sail to leeward, appraising her for almost an hour. Unlike Bainbridge, the
Java
’s veteran skipper Henry Lambert was not consumed with a desire to defeat an American frigate, but he was not reluctant to take one on either. He wasn’t expecting to meet one, however. He was on his way to Bombay with the new governor, General Hislop, and his staff, a few supernumerary officers, one hundred extra seamen, and civilian passengers. He also had a load of copper for Indian shipyards. The
Java
was crowded, but that did not mean Lambert was reluctant to fight—far from it: He was delighted with the opportunity.
When Lambert spotted the
Constitution
, he was making for St. Salvador to resupply and give his passengers time ashore before resuming their journey. He might have kept right on sailing into St. Salvador, but he could not resist investigating who this stranger was. He had already captured the American merchantman
William
. She was the second ship Bainbridge had seen earlier. Lambert had a prize crew aboard her, and they made for St. Salvador, sailing right into the arms of Lawrence, who was just outside the port, blockading the
Bonne Citoyenne
.
Constitution
, he was making for St. Salvador to resupply and give his passengers time ashore before resuming their journey. He might have kept right on sailing into St. Salvador, but he could not resist investigating who this stranger was. He had already captured the American merchantman
William
. She was the second ship Bainbridge had seen earlier. Lambert had a prize crew aboard her, and they made for St. Salvador, sailing right into the arms of Lawrence, who was just outside the port, blockading the
Bonne Citoyenne
.
Bainbridge, in the meantime, hoping the stranger was the British frigate of his dreams, stood for the
Java
. Although he still did not know for sure who she was, he hauled up his mainsail and took in his royals in preparation for battle. At 11:30 he made the private signal for the day, and when it went unanswered, he knew he was dealing with an enemy frigate of some size. When he was four miles from the
Java
, he felt he was too close to neutral territory, and setting back his mainsail and royals, he tacked and made all sail away upon the wind to get “off the neutral coast.” Lambert chased him, and in doing so discovered he had a much faster ship. The
Java
was an excellent French-built frigate, only seven years old, captured by the British two and a half years before. The
Constitution
might be bigger, but Lambert expected his speed to give him a significant advantage.
Java
. Although he still did not know for sure who she was, he hauled up his mainsail and took in his royals in preparation for battle. At 11:30 he made the private signal for the day, and when it went unanswered, he knew he was dealing with an enemy frigate of some size. When he was four miles from the
Java
, he felt he was too close to neutral territory, and setting back his mainsail and royals, he tacked and made all sail away upon the wind to get “off the neutral coast.” Lambert chased him, and in doing so discovered he had a much faster ship. The
Java
was an excellent French-built frigate, only seven years old, captured by the British two and a half years before. The
Constitution
might be bigger, but Lambert expected his speed to give him a significant advantage.
Although not as fast as the
Java
, the
Constitution
was stronger—more guns, more men, a thicker hide, better gunnery, more experience, and better training. She had thirty twenty-four-pound long guns for a main battery on the gun deck and sixteen thirty-two-pound carronades on the quarterdeck. On her forecastle she had one eighteen-pound carronade and eight thirty-two-pound carronades. The
Java
had twenty-eight eighteen-pound long guns for a main battery on her gun deck, sixteen thirty-two-pound carronades on her quarterdeck, and two nine-pounders and one eighteen-pound carronade on the forecastle. The
Constitution
had 475 men, the
Java
426, 100 of them seamen she was carrying to other warships in the East Indies. Unlike other contests between American and British frigates, the
Java
was not undermanned, although the quality of her crew was not up to the
Constitution
’s. Lambert had an unusually large number of recently pressed men aboard, which made his fighters far less efficient. Lambert hoped to use the
Java
’s speed in the opening moments of battle, running up fast and raking the less maneuverable enemy, cutting her down to size and gaining a decisive edge.
Java
, the
Constitution
was stronger—more guns, more men, a thicker hide, better gunnery, more experience, and better training. She had thirty twenty-four-pound long guns for a main battery on the gun deck and sixteen thirty-two-pound carronades on the quarterdeck. On her forecastle she had one eighteen-pound carronade and eight thirty-two-pound carronades. The
Java
had twenty-eight eighteen-pound long guns for a main battery on her gun deck, sixteen thirty-two-pound carronades on her quarterdeck, and two nine-pounders and one eighteen-pound carronade on the forecastle. The
Constitution
had 475 men, the
Java
426, 100 of them seamen she was carrying to other warships in the East Indies. Unlike other contests between American and British frigates, the
Java
was not undermanned, although the quality of her crew was not up to the
Constitution
’s. Lambert had an unusually large number of recently pressed men aboard, which made his fighters far less efficient. Lambert hoped to use the
Java
’s speed in the opening moments of battle, running up fast and raking the less maneuverable enemy, cutting her down to size and gaining a decisive edge.
At 1:30 P.M. “being sufficiently from the land . . . [Bainbridge] took in the mainsails and royals, tacked ship, and stood for the enemy.” The two frigates came together fast, and when the
Java
was half a mile away, Bainbridge unleashed a full broadside with his larboard guns. Lambert did not immediately return fire. Trying to take advantage of his speed, he kept steering for the
Constitution
’s bow to rake her. Bainbridge countered by letting loose his main and fore course—an unusual and often fatal tactic—wearing ship and gaining speed, preventing Lambert from forereaching on him, thus neutralizing the
Java
’s main strength. General action now ensued with round and grape shot, each captain maneuvering to be in a position to rake the other, but neither succeeding.
Java
was half a mile away, Bainbridge unleashed a full broadside with his larboard guns. Lambert did not immediately return fire. Trying to take advantage of his speed, he kept steering for the
Constitution
’s bow to rake her. Bainbridge countered by letting loose his main and fore course—an unusual and often fatal tactic—wearing ship and gaining speed, preventing Lambert from forereaching on him, thus neutralizing the
Java
’s main strength. General action now ensued with round and grape shot, each captain maneuvering to be in a position to rake the other, but neither succeeding.
At 2:30 Lambert shot away the
Constitution
’s wheel entirely. As the battle roared, her superb crew had relieving tackles rigged fast, allowing Bainbridge to continue steering by shouting orders down through a grating to the men working the ropes two decks below.
Constitution
’s wheel entirely. As the battle roared, her superb crew had relieving tackles rigged fast, allowing Bainbridge to continue steering by shouting orders down through a grating to the men working the ropes two decks below.
Early in the action, a musket ball struck Bainbridge in the left hip, but he carried on, and a little later, during the same broadside that destroyed the ship’s wheel, a jagged slice of langrage tore into his upper leg and almost killed him. He refused to retire, however, and summoning all his strength, he continued to direct the battle.
The two ships slugged it out until three o’clock, when the
Constitution
shot away the head of
Java
’s bowsprit and with it her jib boom, making her headsails useless. With the rest of
Java
’s running rigging badly cut up, she could barely maneuver. Bainbridge was able to work the
Constitution
into a position to rake her by the stern with two devastating broadsides, which turned the tide of battle.
Constitution
shot away the head of
Java
’s bowsprit and with it her jib boom, making her headsails useless. With the rest of
Java
’s running rigging badly cut up, she could barely maneuver. Bainbridge was able to work the
Constitution
into a position to rake her by the stern with two devastating broadsides, which turned the tide of battle.
Feeling overwhelmed by the
Constitution
’s firepower, Lambert desperately sought to board her and fight it out hand to hand. It was his only chance. Just as he made the decision, however, his accomplished sailing master was struck down and had to be carried below. Lambert continued bringing his ship closer to the enemy, when his foremast was shot away. The remains of his bowsprit then passed over the
Constitution
’s taffrail, and at the same moment his main topmast toppled over, the wreckage sprawling over the starboard guns, rendering them useless. Lambert’s attempt to board had failed. All the while, Bainbridge kept up a deadly fire.
Constitution
’s firepower, Lambert desperately sought to board her and fight it out hand to hand. It was his only chance. Just as he made the decision, however, his accomplished sailing master was struck down and had to be carried below. Lambert continued bringing his ship closer to the enemy, when his foremast was shot away. The remains of his bowsprit then passed over the
Constitution
’s taffrail, and at the same moment his main topmast toppled over, the wreckage sprawling over the starboard guns, rendering them useless. Lambert’s attempt to board had failed. All the while, Bainbridge kept up a deadly fire.
At 3:30 a musket ball from a marksmen in one of the
Constitution
’s tops struck Lambert full in the breast, mortally wounding him. He was carried below, and the first lieutenant, Henry D. Chads, assumed command. The
Java
was shattered. Her crew was having to constantly extinguish fires that sprang up because of all the wreckage laying on the side engaged. Chads could not fire many guns, but he would not surrender. At 4:15 the
Java
’s mizzen mast was shot away, and the two combatants were once again brought broadside to broadside. They continued firing away for another twenty minutes, when the
Java
’s main yard went in the slings.
Constitution
’s tops struck Lambert full in the breast, mortally wounding him. He was carried below, and the first lieutenant, Henry D. Chads, assumed command. The
Java
was shattered. Her crew was having to constantly extinguish fires that sprang up because of all the wreckage laying on the side engaged. Chads could not fire many guns, but he would not surrender. At 4:15 the
Java
’s mizzen mast was shot away, and the two combatants were once again brought broadside to broadside. They continued firing away for another twenty minutes, when the
Java
’s main yard went in the slings.
Chads still refused to surrender, but his guns were now completely silent, and his colors had gone down with the rigging. Since no ensigns were flying, the wounded Bainbridge assumed the
Java
had struck her colors, and at ten minutes to five he hauled about to shoot ahead and repair damages to the rigging, which was badly cut up. After an hour passed, Bainbridge realized the
Java
had not struck, and he returned to the fray, intent on raking her one more time, which would finish her.
Java
had struck her colors, and at ten minutes to five he hauled about to shoot ahead and repair damages to the rigging, which was badly cut up. After an hour passed, Bainbridge realized the
Java
had not struck, and he returned to the fray, intent on raking her one more time, which would finish her.
She was lying helpless, floating like a log; only the mainmast was left, and it was tottering. In the hour’s reprieve that Bainbridge had given them, Chads and his men had worked feverishly to repair their ship and get her ready to continue the fight, but her heavy rolling caused the mainmast to finally topple. Chads still intended to fight on, but when he saw that Bainbridge had maneuvered into a position from which he could rake the
Java
by the bow without her having any possibility of replying, he called his officers together, and as he reported to the Admiralty, “[with] a great part of our crew killed and wounded, our bowsprit and three masts gone, several guns useless, . . . our colors were lowered from the stump of the mizzen mast.” It was 5:30. Bainbridge thought it a wise decision. Had he been forced to inflict the final blow, the “loss must have been extremely great,” he wrote.
Java
by the bow without her having any possibility of replying, he called his officers together, and as he reported to the Admiralty, “[with] a great part of our crew killed and wounded, our bowsprit and three masts gone, several guns useless, . . . our colors were lowered from the stump of the mizzen mast.” It was 5:30. Bainbridge thought it a wise decision. Had he been forced to inflict the final blow, the “loss must have been extremely great,” he wrote.
The butcher’s bill was heartrending. The
Java
suffered 83 wounded and 57 killed—a staggering number out of a crew of 426. Lambert, of course, was among the seriously injured, and he would soon die. Lieutenant Chads was also hurt, but he recovered. The
Constitution
had 9 killed and 26 wounded, Bainbridge among them.
Java
suffered 83 wounded and 57 killed—a staggering number out of a crew of 426. Lambert, of course, was among the seriously injured, and he would soon die. Lieutenant Chads was also hurt, but he recovered. The
Constitution
had 9 killed and 26 wounded, Bainbridge among them.
At 6:00 P.M. Bainbridge sent First Lieutenant George Parker in the
Constitution
’s last remaining boat (out of eight) to take possession of the
Java
. When he arrived, Parker discovered that in all the confusion Chads had forgotten to destroy his signal codes and dispatches. They were an unexpected gift. But the
Java
was too far gone for Bainbridge to take her home in triumph, as he dearly wanted to do. With great reluctance, he ordered Parker to remove the British prisoners, stuff all the supplies that could be retrieved into the
Constitution
, and burn the
Java
.
Constitution
’s last remaining boat (out of eight) to take possession of the
Java
. When he arrived, Parker discovered that in all the confusion Chads had forgotten to destroy his signal codes and dispatches. They were an unexpected gift. But the
Java
was too far gone for Bainbridge to take her home in triumph, as he dearly wanted to do. With great reluctance, he ordered Parker to remove the British prisoners, stuff all the supplies that could be retrieved into the
Constitution
, and burn the
Java
.
Bainbridge then returned to St. Salvador. On the way, he treated the
Java
’s officers, especially the dying Lambert, with the utmost civility, but he confined her crew below in cramped quarters under heavy guard. He did not want that many potential combatants left unrestrained. This was understandable, although extremely difficult for the British tars.
Java
’s officers, especially the dying Lambert, with the utmost civility, but he confined her crew below in cramped quarters under heavy guard. He did not want that many potential combatants left unrestrained. This was understandable, although extremely difficult for the British tars.
Bainbridge was taking a chance going back to San Salvadore; the 74-gun
Montagu
might have been there. He took the risk in order to relieve himself of the prisoners, whom he intended to put on parole. He also needed to repair the
Constitution
enough to get her home, and above all, he had to find out what happened to Lawrence, the
Hornet
, and the
Bonne Citoyenne
. Luckily, when Bainbridge arrived, the
Montagu
wasn’t in the harbor, but she had been there recently, and he had narrowly missed her. He didn’t see the
Hornet
, though, and he wondered if the
Montagu
had captured her. He soon found out that through some superb sailing at night, Lawrence had just managed to elude the battleship.
Montagu
might have been there. He took the risk in order to relieve himself of the prisoners, whom he intended to put on parole. He also needed to repair the
Constitution
enough to get her home, and above all, he had to find out what happened to Lawrence, the
Hornet
, and the
Bonne Citoyenne
. Luckily, when Bainbridge arrived, the
Montagu
wasn’t in the harbor, but she had been there recently, and he had narrowly missed her. He didn’t see the
Hornet
, though, and he wondered if the
Montagu
had captured her. He soon found out that through some superb sailing at night, Lawrence had just managed to elude the battleship.
Bainbridge spent the next five days making temporary repairs to the
Constitution
and then set out for Boston on January 6, 1813. He must have been disappointed in not being able to continue his original plan to rendezvous with the
Essex
. The
Constitution
was too banged up, and so was Bainbridge. He later gave this description of the ship’s condition:
Constitution
and then set out for Boston on January 6, 1813. He must have been disappointed in not being able to continue his original plan to rendezvous with the
Essex
. The
Constitution
was too banged up, and so was Bainbridge. He later gave this description of the ship’s condition:
The
Constitution
was a good deal cut—some shot between wind and water—Her upper bulwarks considerably shot—foremast and mizzen mast shot through—main and mizzen stays shot through, eight lower shrouds cut off—foremast stays and every topmast shroud—all the braces standing and preventers and bowlines, were three times shot away during the action—but once again in the very heat of it—all but one of eight boats destroyed by shot—our sails extremely cut to pieces—the main topmast, main topsail yards, jib boom, spanker boom-gaff and trysail mast were all so shot as to render them unserviceable. Yet this damage is incredibly inconceivable to the wreck we made the enemy.
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