In commemoration of the 200th anniversary of War of 1812, here’s an excerpt from Columbia’s Naval Victories, a poem about the naval victories of the Americans, written in 1813 by Benjamin Allen.
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In war a lion, though a lamb in peace,
Hull [1. A brief biography of Isaac Hull can be found here.] bears the flag of freedom o’er the seas;[2. A motto often flown on ship’s flags was “Free Trade and Sailors’ Rights.”]
Ready to vindicate his country’s fame,
And add new honours to her injur’d name.
Soon Albion’s banner rises on his view [3. A few weeks previous to this battle, the Constitution had successfully evaded the Guerriere, which had then been sailing in a squadron with several other warships. This time, on August 19, 1812, Hull decided to take the chance that the Guerriere was alone.]—
His dauntless soul impels him to pursue.
Of equal force, the ready foemen meet,
And with the cheer of gladness loudly greet.
Here England’s Dacres,[4. Captain James Richard Dacres, captain of the Guerriere] with a gallant band–
There the firm sons of blest Columbia’s strand.
Now roaring rolls the deathful cannon’s sound,
A novel thunder frights the floods around:
The pious soul attendant angels guard,
Or wait to waft him to his last reward.
Short is the contest, carnage soon is o’er,
For Albion’s banner falls, to rise no more.
Low in the briny deep the Guerriere lies ;
The finny tribes of ocean o’er her rise :
Like some forgotten wave she sinks to rest,[5. The author is taking some poetic license here: Though the Guerriere was indeed too badly damaged to be claimed as a prize, Hull ordered it burned, which did of course result in its sinking.]
In all her futile, fleeting, boastings drest.
Modest, but firm, the victor Hull is seen,
With sympathising kindness in his mien,
Aiding the vanquished: he receives them well,
And bide them with himself, like brethren, dwell.