There was hardly a second of time between the order and the opening of the guns of the Constitution. The guns were double shotted with round and grape shot, and the effect was terrible. The concussion of the broadside was so great as to cause the Guerrière to keel over as if a squall had struck her, the ships being only half a pistol-shot apart. It is said that those in the cockpit of the Guerrière were thrown from one side of the room to the other, and before they could adjust themselves the blood came streaming down upon them, and very speedily the place was filled with wounded men. Hull's broadside was quickly followed by another, and for twelve or fifteen minutes each vessel was firing away as rapidly as possible. At the end of fifteen minutes the mizzenmast of the Guerrière was shot away, her mainyard was in slings, her sails were ripped and torn in every direction, and her hull was riddled from one end to the other. The Constitution had suffered very little damage; a few holes through her sails, and several round shot in her hull, completed the list of her injuries. The Guerrière brought up in the wind as her mizzenmast gave way, when the Constitution went slowly ahead pouring in a tremendous fire, and luffed short around the bows of the Guerrière to prevent being raked. Then she ran foul of the Guerrière, dashing her bowsprit into her enemy's larboard quarter. The cabin of the Constitution was set on fire by the forward guns of the Guerrière, but the fire was soon put out. Both parties now attempted to board; the English boarders were ready first, and the three officers who led them sprang upon the Constitution's taffrail, where they met a severe fire. Two were seriously wounded, and one was killed; and just then the sails of the Constitution filled, and she separated from her antagonist. The Constitution hauled off a short distance, secured her own masts, rove new rigging, and at sunset wore around to take a favorable position for raking the Guerrière. The foremast of the latter fell just as the Constitution separated from her, and in falling it carried the mainmast with it. You will remember that the mizzenmast had already fallen, and so the Guerrière lay helpless on the water. The Union Jack had been kept flying from the stump of one of the masts, but as the Constitution came around to renew the fight, the flag was lowered, and a boat was sent from the American ship to take possession of the prize. Captain Dacres, the commander of the Guerrière, appeared at the gangway, and made formal surrender of his ship when the American boat arrived there. Lieutenant Read, the American officer, then said,-- "Commodore Hull's compliments, and wishes to know whether you need the assistance of a surgeon or surgeon's mate." Dacres answered, "Well, I should suppose you had on board your own ship business enough for all your medical officers." Read replied, "Oh, no; we have only seven wounded, and they were dressed half an hour ago."