On October 26, 1812, Commodore Bainbridge sailed from Boston with the _Constitution_, which he personally commanded, and the _Hornet_, 18, Captain Lawrence. The _Essex_, under Captain David Porter, was also to be part of Bainbridge’s squadron, but she was in the Delaware and did not get to sea until two days after Bainbridge left Boston. In anticipation of a long cruise, the ship carried an unusual number of both officers and men. Very unfortunately, she had to retain, against Porter’s protest, a battery of short-range carronades with but six long 12-pounders. She was given the island of Fernando de Noronha, off Brazil, as a rendezvous. She was not to meet her consorts, but to have adventures of her own of a very remarkable character. Bainbridge, touching at Fernando de Noronha, went into Bahia, Brazil, and found there a British sloop-of-war of the same force as the _Hornet_. Lawrence challenged her captain to a fight, pledging that the _Constitution_ would not interfere. The challenge, however, was not accepted, among the reasons being that the _Bonne Citoyenne_ had on board £500,000 in species. Bainbridge, leaving the _Hornet_ to watch the British ship, went to sea. December 29th, being still near Bahia, he sighted two ships: one turned out to be the frigate _Java_; the other a captured ship, the _William_, in company. The latter was directed to go into Bahia and the _Java_ stood toward the _Constitution_. The latter stood off to get clear of the land, in plain view, and thus get out of neutral waters. There was a mutual readiness to engage. The _Java_ came down with a light free wind, furling her mainsail and royals. The _Constitution_, with royal yards aloft, and which she carried throughout the battle, was under about the same canvas. The firing began at 2:00 P.M., with a shot at long range from the _Constitution_, but the two ships quickly neared to pistol range. They approached so near that they were less than 600 feet apart. The _Java_ was being so much cut up aloft that an attempt was made to board, but during this the _Constitution_ poured in a most destructive raking fire (i. e., lengthwise of the enemy), bringing down the _Java’s_ maintopmast and cutting away the foremast just under the foretop. The attempt to board failed, the ships fell apart and began anew as furiously as ever. Captain Lambert of the _Java_ was killed and the ship continued to be fought gallantly by her first lieutenant, Chads, who was already wounded. But the British, with the wreck of the maintopmast with its hamper over the side, the foretopmast gone, and a little later the mizzenmast and what remained of the foremast, could do no more; the _Java’s_ guns were completely silenced. At 4:05, the _Java’s_ flag being shot away, Bainbridge thought she had struck. He then hauled by the wind and crossed the _Java’s_ bows. The latter’s mainmast fell, leaving her a complete wreck. The _Constitution_ went