l shots had
taken effect in her hull, her foremast was almost shot away, and
several guns were dismounted. Three men beside her captain were
killed, and seventeen wounded. But she had not suffered these injuries
without inflicting some in return. The "Enterprise" was much cut up
aloft. Her foremast and mainmast had each been pierced by an
eighteen-pound ball. Her captain lay upon the deck, gasping in the
last agonies of death, but stoutly protesting that he would not be
carried below until he received the sword of the commander of the
"Boxer." At last this was brought him; and grasping it he cried, "Now
I am satisfied. I die contented."

The two shattered brigs were taken into Portland, where the bodies of
the two slain commanders were buried with all the honors of war. The
"Enterprise" was repaired, and made one more cruise before the close
of the war; but the "Boxer" was found to be forever ruined for a
vessel of war, and she was sold into the merchant-service. The fact
that she was so greatly injured in so short a time led a London
paper, in speaking of the battle, to say, "The fact seems to be but
too clearly established, that the Americans have some superior mode of
firing; and we cannot be too anxiously employed in discovering to what
circumstances that superiority is owing."

[Illustration: The Surrender of the "Boxer."]

This battle practically closed the year's naval events upon the ocean.
The British privateer "Dart" was captured near Newport by some
volunteers from the gunboats stationed at that point. But, with this
exception, nothing noteworthy in naval circles occurred during the
remainder of the year. Looking back over the annals of the naval
operations of 1813, it is clear that the Americans were the chief
sufferers. They had the victories over the "Peacock," "Boxer," and
"Highflyer" to boast of; but they had lost the "Chesapeake," "Argus,"
and "Viper." But, more than this, they had suffered their coast to be
so sealed up by British blockaders that many of their best vessels
were left to lie idle at their docks. The blockade, too, was growing
stricter daily, and the outlook for the future seemed gloomy; yet, as
it turned out, in 1814 the Americans regained the ground they had lost
the year before.

CHAPTER XIII.

ON THE LAKES. -- CLOSE OF HOSTILITIES ON LAKES ERIE AND HURON. --
DESULTORY WARFARE ON LAKE ONTARIO IN 1813. -- HOSTILITIES ON
ONTARIO IN 1814. -- THE BATTLE OF LAKE