My wish to explain to
you as clearly as possible why your orders have not been executed,
and the length of time the enemy were in chase of us, with various
other circumstances, have caused me to make this communication much
longer than I could have wished, yet I cannot in justice to the
brave officers and crew under my command, close it without
expressing to you the confidence I have in them, and assuring you
that their conduct while under the guns of the enemy was such as
might have been expected from American officers and seamen. I have
the honor to be, with very great respect, sir, your obedient humble
servant,
ISAAC HULL."
[Illustration: Hull's Victory]
Such is Captain Hull's modest account of this truly brilliant exploit.
Sailing on a cruise immediately after this, with the same frigate,
officers, and crew, on the 19th of August he fell in with His Britannic
Majesty's ship Guerriere, rated at thirty-eight guns, and carrying
fifty, commanded by Captain Dacres, who, sometime before, had politely
endorsed on the register of an American ship an invitation to Captain
Hull to give him a meeting of this kind.
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