He gave the war-whoop, and, in tones of hatred and defiance, exclaimed, '_I am a warrior--I am not afraid to die._' As he uttered the words I pinned him down with my bayonet, and he followed his eleven comrades to the land of spirits. {193}"During this conflict, which was over in ten minutes, my brave companions, Smith and Austill, had been struggling with the current of the Alabama, endeavoring to reach me. Their guns had become useless, and their only paddle had been broken. Two braver fellows never lived. Austin's first shot saved my life. "By this time my men came running down the bank, shouting that Weathersford was coming. With our three canoes we crossed them all over, and got safely back to the fort." CHAPTER XI. NAVAL BATTLES OF 1813 {194} _The Hornet and the Peacock--The Chesapeake and the Shannon--The Argus and the Pelican--The Enterprise and the Boxer--Decatur blockaded at New London--A New Embargo._ |The brilliant victories achieved on the ocean in 1812 reversed the opinion the Government had entertained as to the value of the navy, and early in 1813 Congress authorized the building of four ships-of-the-line, six frigates, six sloops-of-war, and as many vessels on the lakes as the service might require. But in the second year of the war the American sailor did not meet with that uniform success which in the first year had surprised and confounded the self-styled Mistress of the Seas. One battle, in which a noble ship was lost and many lives were sacrificed, through drunkenness, was a grievous mortification to the whole American people. The commander of the defeated vessel was fortunate in not surviving the action, as he would probably have been court-martialled and disgraced. The first naval engagement of the year took place in West Indian waters. Lieutenant James Law{195}rence, in the _Hornet_, of twenty guns, was cruising up and down the coast of Guiana, and had taken few prizes, when on the 24th of February sighted the English brig _Peacock_, Captain Peake, which carried twenty guns. Both drew down upon each other. They passed within half pistol-shot; and as they passed, each delivered the full broadside of the larboard battery. The _Peacock_ then put her helm hard up, intending to wear round and rake the _Hornet_. But Lawrence quickly imitated the movement, got the better of his antagonist, and with all his guns blazing bore down upon her quarter. He then closed, and kept up so terrific a fire that in fifteen minutes from the beginning of the action the Englishman not only struck his colors, but hoisted them in the fore-rigging with the union down--which is a signal of distress. A few minutes later, the Peacock's main-mast tumbled.