heir guns, and seeing the _Constitution_ standing off
to repair damages, cheered under the belief that she was taking to
flight. After the action had lasted rather more than three hours, the
_Constitution_ placing herself so as to rake the dismasted _Java_,
Lieutenant Chads ordered the colours to be lowered from the stump of the
mizzen-mast, and the frigate was taken possession of by the victor. The
whole of the _Java's_ boats, and all except one of the _Constitution's_,
were knocked to pieces. The operation of conveying the prisoners on
board the American frigate occupied a considerable time. As soon as it
was accomplished, the _Java_, being much shattered was set on fire.
Though the Americans behaved civilly to the British officers, the crew
complained bitterly of being handcuffed and otherwise severely treated.
The _Java_ had her captain, 3 masters' mates, 2 midshipmen, and I
supernumerary clerk killed, and 17 seamen and marines, and 102 officers
and men wounded, among whom was her gallant first lieutenant.

Several brig-sloops and other small craft were also captured during the
war by the Americans, who had every reason to be proud of the gallantry
displayed by their seamen. Success, however, did not always attend on
the "star-spangled banner," and, as was natural, the captains of the
British 38-gun frigates were eager to fall in with one of the famed
American forty-fours. Among others, Captain Philip Vere Broke,
commanding the _Shannon_ frigate, resolved, if possible, to show what a
well-disciplined crew could do. He had from the time he had been
appointed to her, several years before, diligently exercised his crew in
gunnery, so that those who knew him and his ship's company felt
confident of his success. The following lines, written soon after the
commencement of the war, prove this:--

"And as the war they did provoke,
We'll pay them with our cannon;
The first to do it will be Broke,
In the gallant ship the _Shannon_."

The following song well describes the far-famed action:--

The "Chesapeake" and the "Shannon."

At Boston one day, as the _Chesapeake_ lay,
The captain, his crew thus began on:
See that ship out at sea, she our prize soon shall be;
'Tis the tight little frigate the _Shannon_.
Oh, 'twill be a good joke
To take Commodore Broke,
And add to our navy the _Shannon_.

Then he made a great bluster, calling all hands to muster,
And said, Now boys, stand firm t