James Barnes

“ It is with peculiar pride and pleasure that we are enabled at this time, to lay before our readers the following account of another most splendid Naval Victory, which was obtained by our good frigate the Constitution, commanded by commodore Bainbridge, over the British frigate Java, commanded by captain Lambert, a very distinguished officer. It is no less remarkable than true, that every disaster we have suffered upon the land, has been accompanied by a brilliant triumph upon the ocean. ”

“ No wonder the little American navy needed the assistance of the privateers, if for no other purpose than to divert attention.
On the regular navy list in 1812 were sixteen vessels, only six of which rated over thirty-two guns; three only were frigates of the first class, rating forty-four. These were the United States, the Constitution, and the President. They were the oldest on the list; built in the year 1797, in the ports of Philadelphia, Boston, and New York, in the order named. There is hardly a school-boy who does not recall their deeds. ”

“ We behold our seafaring citizens still the daily victims of lawless violence committed on the great common and highway of nations, even within sight of the country which owes them protection. We behold our vessels, freighted with the products of our soil and industry, or returning with the honest proceeds of them, wrested from their lawful destinations, confiscated by prize-courts no longer the organs of public law, but the instruments of arbitrary edicts; and their unfortunate crews dispersed and lost, or forced or inveigled, in British ports, into British fleets ”

“ What a subject for exultant verse was the career of the little privateer sloop Dart, which mounted two swivels and a brass six-pounder, could be propelled by sweeps, and came into port triumphantly mounted on the deck of her captured adversary, the British brig Diana! Many songs became historic: "Hull's Victory," "Bainbridge's Tid Ri Di," "Yankee Tars," "The Privateers"—good old sea songs they were. The newspapers were filled with highfalutin doggerel, and took on a rather gloating style in their news columns and editorials. ”

“ Even the advanced Federalists, who were supposed by some to be almost pro-British in their sympathies, backed up the government, and the Philadelphia Freeman's Journal, a decided Federal paper, came out with the following patriotic leader:
War is declared. It must be carried on with vigor and activity, commensurate with the expectations of the people. If any foreign nation has, for a moment, indulged a belief that they could profit by political divisions in this country they will now be convinced that such a belief was preposterous and that it must be abandoned forever. ”

“ They leave their ports when they please, and return to them when it suits their convenience; they traverse the Atlantic; they beset the West-India islands: they advance to the very chops of the channel; they parade along the coasts of South America; nothing chases, nothing intercepts, nothing engages them, but to yield them triumph. ”

“ The public will learn, with sentiments which we shall not presume to anticipate, that a third British frigate has struck to an American. This is an occurrence that calls for serious reflection—this, and the fact stated in our paper of yesterday, that Lloyd's List contains notices of upwards of live hundred British vessels captured in 7 months by the Americans. ”

“ The Guerriere was a French vessel taken in 1806, off the Faro Islands, by the Blanche, 38 guns, Capt. Lavie, after a spirited action of 45 minutes.
The prisoners taken from the Guerriere have been treated with every kindness and attention becoming the American character. Much better, we apprehend, than would have been experienced by our brave fellows if the chance of war had placed them in command of the enemy. ”

“ Despite this generous treatment and the display of grief on the enemy's part, England was sent into a mad rejoicing by the news that at last an American frigate had been taken in equal combat. Nearly two months later Woodworth's Journal referred to the singular demonstrations that took place in the following editorial:
OUR TRIUMPHS
According to the London newspapers, our enemies have paid higher compliments to the valor of our tars then we have done ourselves. Their lamentations over the Guerriere, Java, Macedonian, Frolic, &c., &c., have thundered our applause over the universe ”

“ All the officers and seamen, taken in the Java were paroled by Commodore Bainbridge, and landed on the 3d of January at San Salvador, Brazil—thirty-two officers and three hundred and twenty-nine petty officers, seamen, and marines. In a private letter commenting upon the action Commodore Bainbridge makes this generous observation: "The Java was exceedingly well fought and bravely defended. Poor Lambert, whose death I sincerely regret, was a distinguished, gallant officer and worthy man. He has left a widow and two helpless children. ”

“ On the 25th of October, early in the morning, lat. 30, lon. 36, the United States discovered the Macedonian to windward, and gave chase. The enemy bore down upon her, and about 10 o'clock a distant and partial exchange of shot commenced, when the Macedonian having her mizen topmast shot away, bore down for closer action. In seventeen minutes after she struck her colors to the United States.
The Macedonian was commanded by captain John S. Carden, esq., mounting 49 guns—had a full complement of men (about 300) , 104 of whom were killed and wounded, among them no officer of rank. ”