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GLORIOUS NAVAL VICTORY
Obtained by Commodore
Bainbridge, of the
Frigate Constitution
over His Britannic Majesty's Frigate Java
By James Campbell, A
Boatswain's Mate on Board the Constitution
Come
listen to my story the truth I will unfold,
Concerning
of a frigate, she was man'd with hearts of gold,
We
took a cruise from
For
to maintain the freedom of our native land.
We
took a new Commander, and Bainbridge was his name,
Our
lot it was to save him, we could not deny the same,
He
proved a commander that was both firm and true,
You
shall find in the story of the Constitution's crew.
On
the 27th of October, as you shall understand,
We
steered for an
All
for to water ship my boys, and then to sail away,
Unto
the
On
the 29th of December, being early in the day,
A
frigate bore down on us, she was called the Java;
We
took her to be a seventy‑four, and from them bore away,
Thinking
the English Squadron to the windward of us lay.
At
eleven o'clock, we made the signal of the day,
Being
not directly answered, 'twas then we bore away,
At
twelve we made more sail my boys, but from them we did go,
But
our desire was to be alongside of our most daring foe.
Our
ensign and pendant we hoisted to let them understand,
They
hoisted their colors, they were them of old
With
their union jack being hoisted, it was their British pride,
Which
they were forc'd to strike to us, or sink along our side.
'Twas
one when we perceived she was a single deck ship,
It
being our intention their British bones to rip;
We
gave them three cheers, and then the
fray begun,
Each
loyal hearted seaman then serving at his gun.
It
was a little after she attempted to rake us,
But
we being not inclined to let them serve us thus;
We
giving them a broadside, which made them haul their wind,
To
meet such a reception, they were not much inclin'd.
It was at two o'clock the bloody fray begun,
Each
hardy tar and son of mars was active at his gun,
Until
their fore and mizzen‑mast was fairly shot away,
And
with redoubled courage, we gave them three huzzas.
Her
mainmast it was standing, and to windward of us lay,
And
on that stick her union jack, to us they did display,
Her
hull was sadly batter'd, and they being badly maul'd,
Unto
the Constitution, down her main jack soon she haul'd.
Our
Commodore at seeing that she had her colors struck,
He
wished to every officer the bravest and best luck;
Likewise
to every seaman that was both firm and
true,
Here's
to brave Commodore Bainbridge and the Constitution's crew.
Two
hours and three quarters, we engaged very hot,
Until
one hundred and four poor Britons, lay dead upon the spot,
Which
made them think the Yankees could shew them fair play,
And
made them strike the union, on the close of that great day.
Come
all you royal Englishmen, the truth of you I'll tell,
If
you can beat the French, we you can beat as well,
For
it ne'er shall be recorded, that Americans shall fly,
Great
Come
all of our brave citizens, your tribute to us bring,
For
this gallant achievement, in this great and glorious thing,
We
can beat all our enemys [sic], like lions that is stout,
So
come fill the can brave fellows, and let us drink it out.
Here's
to our wives and sweethearts, for whom we fought for fame, And when the lisping children shall sing forth their father's name,
And
the pretty girls of every stamp, what more then we can do?
So
may success attend these heroes of the
Constitution's crew.
Note: James Campbell was 1st Captain, #13 Long Gun,
in the Java engagement.
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The Captain’s Clerk |
