At noon on February 9, 1799, while the _Constellation_, Captain Truxton, was cruising between Nevis and St. Kitts at the northeast corner of the Caribbean Sea, the lookout discovered a sail to leeward. There was a fresh breeze from the northeast, and squaring away before it, the _Constellation_ spread studding-sails, and with the white foam roaring away from the bow and a swirling wake dragging astern, she went swooping down to reconnoitre. But no sooner had sail been spread than a black squall came down with the wind, and all hands had to turn to, as if for life, to shorten sail. There were lively lads aloft on the Yankee ships of those days, for the crews, down to the powder monkeys, were inspired by a sense of honor. They stripped the _Constellation_ in time to save her spars, but the other ship lost her main-topmast, and when the squall had passed, it was seen that she had changed her course, hoping to reach port at St. Eustatius. But the _Constellation_ was soon upon her. She hoisted American colors, but could not answer a private signal, and a little later sent up the French flag and fired a gun in defiance. Later still (it was at 3.15 o’clock), when the _Constellation_, with her canvas above the topsails furled, came bowling down, the enemy hailed, but no reply was made. Captain Truxton was not yet ready, but when he had arrived within ten yards just off the enemy’s weather quarter and the hail was repeated, Captain Truxton answered with a full broadside. The fire was instantly returned, and then the enemy shoved his helm hard down, intending to luff up yardarm to yardarm and board the _Constellation_. In that move lay his only hope for victory, for he carried a hundred men more than the _Constellation_. But Captain Truxton was not to be caught. The _Constellation_ being unhurt aloft, was able not only to steer clear of the crippled Frenchman, but to pass across his bows and rake him. Then the _Constellation_ dropped down on the starboard side and gave the Frenchman other broadsides, and following up the advantage of superior sailing power, she once more crossed his bows and raked again. Again she passed alongside, firing as she went, and this was so effective that every eighteen-pounder in the main-deck battery of the Frenchman was dismounted, leaving him nothing but twelve-pounders for continuing the fight. Nevertheless, the Frenchman held fast his colors until the _Constellation_ once more drew ahead in a position to rake. The fight was then absolutely hopeless and the Frenchman struck. [Illustration: DIAGRAM OF THE INSURGENT-CONSTELLATION BATTLE.] It was then learned that she was the _Insurgent_, Captain Barreaut.