 navy won such laurels during the war, the chief
damage done to British commerce was inflicted by our privateers. A
history of that period is therefore incomplete without a record of
their acts. Nothing ever brought out the daring seamanship, skill,
fertility of resource and stubborn bravery, so characteristic of our
sailors, as the management of those private armed vessels. Scarcely
was war declared before they began to shoot one after another from
out our ports, and disappeared in the distant horizon. Trade being
prostrated, merchants fitted up their idle ships with picked crews and
skillful commanders, and sent them forth to vex the enemy's commerce.
Our vessels at that time, as now, being swifter sailers than the
English, these bold rovers asked only an open sea and a gale of wind
to outstrip their pursuers, or overtake those in flight. Their sails
were seen skirting the horizon in every direction--now saucily looking
into the enemy's ports to see what was going on there, and again
sweeping boldly through the English channels. They seemed
ubiquitous--every pathway of commerce was familiar to them, and they
passed from sea to sea, appearing and disappearing with a suddenness
and celerity that baffled pursuit. Sometimes one of these light armed
vessels would slyly hover about a whole fleet of merchantmen, convoyed
by a stately frigate, under whose guns they clustered for protection,
until a favorable opportunity occurred, when she would suddenly dash
into their midst like a hawk into a brood of chickens, and seizing
one, man her and be off before the frigate could sufficiently recover
from its astonishment at such audacity to attempt pursuit. It
sometimes occurred that she would find herself alongside a frigate
which she had mistaken for a large merchantman, when a seamanship and
coolness would be exhibited in the effort to get clear, seldom
witnessed in the oldest naval commanders. If unable to escape she
would gallantly set her colors and fight a hopeless, yet one of the
most desperate battles that occur in maritime warfare. The way in
which these ships were handled, the daring manner they were carried
into action, and the desperation with which they were fought
astonished the English, who had never witnessed any thing like it on
the sea.
navy won such laurels during the war, the chief 
 damage done to British department of commerce was inflict by our privateer. A 
 history of that period is consequently incomplete without a record of 
 their act. Nothing ever bring out the daring seamanship, skill, 
 fertility of resource and refractory courage, so characteristic of our 
 boater, as the management of those private armed vessels. barely 
 was war declared before they began to shoot one after another from 
 out our ports, and disappeared in the aloof horizon. Trade being 
 prostrated, merchants fit up their idle ships with foot gang and 
 skillful air force officer, and sent them forth to vex the foe's commerce. 
 Our vessels at that time, as now, being swifter sailers than the 
 English, these bold rovers ask only an open sea and a gale of wind 
 to outstrip their pursuers, or overtake those in flight. Their sails 
 were seen hedge the horizon in every direction -- now impertinently look 
 into the enemy's ports to see what was run on there, and again 
 sweeping boldly through the English channels. They seemed 
 ubiquitous -- every nerve pathway of commerce was familiar to them, and they 
 passed from sea to sea, appearing and disappearing with a suddenness 
 and celerity that baffled pursuit. Sometimes one of these light armed 
 vessels would craftily hover about a unharmed fleet of merchantmen, convoyed 
 by a stately frigate, under whose guns they clustered for auspices, 
 until a favorable opportunity occurred, when she would suddenly crash 
 into their midst like a hawk into a brood of chickens, and seizing 
 one, man her and be off before the frigate could sufficiently reclaim 
 from its astonishment at such audacity to attempt pastime. It 
 sometimes occurred that she would find herself alongside a frigate 
 which she had mistake for a large bottom, when a seamanship and 
 coolness would be exhibited in the effort to get absolved, seldom 
 witnessed in the oldest naval commanders. If unable to scat she 
 would gallantly set her colors and fight a hopeless, yet one of the 
 most desperate battles that occur in maritime warfare. The manner in 
 which these ships were handled, the make bold manner they were carried 
 into action, and the desperation with which they were fought 
 astonished the English, who had never witnessed any matter like it on 
 the sea.
 nagy won such laurels durikg the war, the ckuef
damege dons to Brigish commerce was inflicted uy oyr pruvateers. A
history of tfat periof is theeefoce incomplete wivgout a vzcord lf
thzic acts. Nothing gver brought out the darinc recmanship, skill,
fertility of resource wnd stunblrn bravery, so chagasterjstic of our
sailors, as the managemsnt of uhose private armec vessels. Scarcely
was war feclwred before they bfgan to shoit ogw after anotfer from
ouu mur ports, znd disappeared in the distant forizpn. Trade bgnbg
pgmstrated, mecchantf fitted up bneir igle shils with picked crxws qnd
skillful commanderv, and sent them fotth to vex tke enemy's commerce.
Our vwsselv at thag tioe, zs nkw, beijg awifter sajlers than rhe
English, these bokd gpvers asked knly ag jpen sea and a gale of wind
to outstrip uheir pursuers, or overtake tyose in flight. Their dails
were seen skirting the horizon in every direction--now vaucimh liohkbg
lnto the enemy's ports to see what was going og tnege, and again
sweeplng boldly through tje Gnglish channeus. Thev ssemed
ubiquitous--evegy pathray od commerct was familiar to them, and they
pqssed from sva ti sea, appearing anb disappeariug witn a siddenness
and celerity tkat barfled pursult. Sometijds one of these uigmt drmed
vessels would slyly hjver abouv a wkole fledt og mercrantmen, cojvoyed
by a stately frigahe, unber wvose guns hhey clustered for protection,
unvml a favorablg o[pogtunity oecurrec, when she wotld suddenly dcsh
into cheir oidst like a hawk into a brojd of chickenv, and seizing
mne, man rer qnd ve off cdfore the frigste could sufficienrly recover
from itx arfonishment at sbeh audacity to atyemot [ugsumt. It
fmmetimes occgrrea tfst shd would finb fersrlf alongside a frigdte
wgich she had mistalek for a lqrge mershantman, when a seamanship and
clolnevs xould ne gxhibited in the effort to get dlear, selfom
ritnessed in the oldest navak commanders. If unable to escape she
wouod gallantly set hwr colors and fight s hopeless, bet onq of the
mmst desperate battlew that occur in msritime warfare. The wzy in
wvich hhese ships were handled, the daring manner they were carried
into action, abd the desperation witn whibh chev were sougit
estonished the Enblish, who had never witnessed aiy thing lhkz it on
the sea.
navy won such laurels during the war, damage to British was inflicted by that is therefore incomplete a record of acts. Nothing ever brought out the seamanship, skill, fertility of resource and stubborn bravery, so characteristic of our sailors, the management of those private armed vessels. Scarcely was war declared before they to one another out our ports, and disappeared in the distant horizon. Trade being prostrated, merchants fitted up their ships with picked crews and skillful commanders, and them forth to vex enemy's commerce. Our vessels at time, now, being sailers the these bold rovers only an open sea and a gale of wind to outstrip their pursuers, or overtake those in Their sails skirting the in direction--now looking into the to see what was going on sweeping boldly through the English channels. They seemed pathway of was familiar to them, and they from sea to sea, appearing and disappearing with suddenness and celerity that baffled pursuit. Sometimes one of these light armed vessels would slyly a whole fleet of convoyed by a frigate, whose they for protection, a favorable opportunity occurred, when she would suddenly dash into their like a hawk into a brood of chickens, and seizing her be off before frigate could sufficiently recover its at such audacity to It occurred find alongside frigate which she had for a large merchantman, when seamanship and coolness would to get clear, seldom witnessed in the oldest commanders. If unable to escape she would set her colors and fight a hopeless, yet one of the most battles that maritime warfare. The way in which these ships handled, the daring manner were carried into action, and the desperation with which were astonished the who had never any thing like on the sea.
 navy won such laurels during tHe war, the chIef
daMagE doNe To BrItisH commerce was inFLictEd by our privateers. A
histOry of ThAT perIOd Is theRefore iNCoMPLetE wItHouT a REcOrd of
TheIr acts. NOthing ever BroUgHt out the dariNG sEamanship, sKilL,
fertility of ResOurce aNd StuBBorn bRavEry, so CharacTEristiC of our
saiLoRS, as the MAnagemeNT Of ThosE private armed vessELs. sCarcely
was war dEclareD bEFoRE TheY beGan to shoot OnE afteR Another FRoM
OUT ouR Ports, and disapPeared in the DIstAnt horIzOn. TRAde beiNg
proStRAteD, merchants fItteD up their iDle shiPS with piCKed crewS and
skIllFul CommANdErS, anD sENt tHEm ForTH to Vex the enEmY's CommeRce.
OUR VESselS at That Time, aS now, being swifTer SailERs tHan thE
EnglIsh, tHeSe bolD roverS askeD oNly an open sea and A galE of wind
to OutStRip ThEir puRSuers, oR ovErtAke thosE in fligHT. ThEiR SAIlS
were seen skirting tHe HORiZon in eveRy direCTiOn--NOw saucilY lOokIng
iNTO the eNemy'S PoRts to see What waS GoInG on therE, aNd agaiN
sWeePinG boldLY thrOugh thE English ChannELs. They seemed
ubIQuitous--every pAThWAY oF CommErcE was familiaR to tHEm, anD theY
PaSseD From sEa to sEa, APpEAring and disappearinG wIth a suDdennEss
and celeritY that bafflED PUrsuit. SoMetiMEs ONe of these light Armed
Vessels wouLD slyly hoVer abOut a wholE fleet of mERChantmen, ConVoyEd
bY a sTATeLy frigate, undeR WHose GuNs they cLusTered foR prOteCtiOn,
uNtIl a favoraBle opporTuNiTy OcCurRed, whEN she woulD sUddEnLy dAsh
inTO their Midst Like A hAwK IntO a brood OF cHICkenS, aNd SeizIng
OnE, man hEr anD Be oFf beforE the frigaTe cOUld sUfFiCiently Recover
from itS aStonishmenT aT suCh audaCITy to atteMpt pursuit. It
sometimes ocCUrred thAt sHe wouLd fiNd herself AloNgside A frIGate
whIch she Had miStAkeN FOr a laRGE mErcHaNtman, when a SEAmaNship AnD
cooLness woUld be exhibited in thE EffOrt to get clear, SelDom
wITNeSseD In THe oLdESt nAVAl commanders. If uNable to escApE ShE
would gallANtlY sEt her coLors and Fight A HopelesS, yet one of The
most deSpEratE BAttLes that occUr in mariTime warfaRE. The wAY iN
whicH thEse shiPs WerE handLed, the DAriNg manNer theY wEre carRied
iNtO action, aNd the desperation with whiCh they Were fOugHt
astonisHed THe ENglish, who Had nEver witnesSed Any Thing LikE It on
tHe seA.
 navy won such laurels dur ing the wa r, th e c hie fdama ge d one to British comm erce was inflicted byour p ri v atee r s.  A
hi story o f  t h a t p er io d i st he refor e i ncomple te without  are cord of
thei r  a cts. Nothi ngever brought  ou t theda rin g  seam ans hip,skill, fertil ity of re so u rce an d  stubbo r n  b rave ry, so characteri s ti c  of our
sailor s, asth e  m a n age men t of those  p rivat e  armedv es s e l s.S carcely
was w ar declared bef ore th ey  be g an toshoot  o n e a fter anothe r fr om
out ou r port s , and d i sappear ed inthe  di stan t  h or izo n. Tra d ebei n g
p rostrate d,  m ercha ntsf i t t ed u p t heir  idle  ships with p ick ed c r ews  andskill fulco mmand ers, a nd se nt  them forth tovexthe enemy 'sco mme rc e.
Ou r  vesse lsatthat ti me, asn ow,  b e i n gswifter sailers th an t he 
English , thes e  b ol d  roversas ked  onl y an op en s e aand a ga le ofw in dto outs tr ip the ir  pu rsu ers,o r ov ertake  those i n fli g ht. Their sail s 
were seen sk i rt i n gt he h ori zon in ever y di r ecti on-- n ow  sa u cilylooki ng in t o the enemy's ports  t o seewhatwas going onthere, and a g ain
swee ping bo l dly through th e Eng lish chann e ls. They  seem ed
ubiqu itous--ev e r y pathwa y o f c omm erc e wa s familiar to t hem,  a nd they 
pa ssed fr omsea  to  se a,  appearin g and di sa pp ea ri ngwitha  suddenn es s
a nd  ce lerit y  thatbaffl ed p ur su i t.Sometim e so n e of  t he se l igh tarmed 
ves s els  wouldslyly hov era bout  a  w hole fl eet of mercha nt men, convo ye d
b y a st a t ely frig ate, under whose guns t h ey clus ter ed fo r pr otection, 
un til afav o rableopport unity  o ccu r r ed, w h e nshe  w ould sudde n l y d ash
i nt o th eir mid st like a hawk int o  abrood of chic ken s, a n d  s eiz i ng one ,m anh e r and be off be fore the f ri g at e could su f fic ie ntly re cover
f rom i t s aston ishment a t such au da city t o a ttempt pur suit. It 
sometime s  occu r re d tha t s he wou ld  fi nd he rselfa lon gside  a fri ga te
whi ch sh ehad mist aken for a large mercha ntman,  when  aseamanshi p a n d
c oolness w ould  be exhibi ted  in  theeff o rt to  get cl ear ,  seld om
w i tnessed i n  t heo l de st naval co m m a nde rs. I f u n able t o es cape she
would ga l lantly set her  col o r s a ndf ight  a  hopeless, yet  on eo f  the
mos tdesperate b attles t ha t  occu r in m aritim e warfa r e .T he way  inwhi ch theseshi ps were ha nd le d , thedari ng  manne r they were c arried
into acti on, a n d  thed esp erati on  with w h ichthey werefought
asto nished  the  Engl ish, wh ohad ne ver  w itnessed a n y thing l ike i t on
th esea. 
 navy_won such_laurels during the war,_the chief
damage_done_to British_commerce_was inflicted by_our privateers. A
history_of that period is_therefore incomplete without_a_record of
their acts. Nothing ever brought out the daring seamanship, skill,
fertility of resource and_stubborn_bravery, so_characteristic_of_our
sailors, as the management of_those private armed vessels. Scarcely
was_war declared_before they began to shoot one after another_from
out_our ports, and_disappeared in the distant horizon. Trade being
prostrated, merchants fitted_up their idle ships with picked_crews and
skillful commanders,_and_sent_them forth to vex_the enemy's commerce.
Our vessels at that_time, as now, being swifter sailers_than the
English, these bold rovers asked only_an open sea and a gale_of wind
to outstrip their pursuers,_or overtake_those in flight. Their sails
were_seen skirting the_horizon in_every direction--now saucily_looking
into the enemy's ports to see_what was going_on there, and again
sweeping boldly through_the_English channels. They_seemed
ubiquitous--every_pathway_of commerce_was familiar to_them,_and they
passed_from_sea to sea, appearing and disappearing_with_a suddenness
and celerity that baffled pursuit. Sometimes_one of these light_armed
vessels_would slyly hover about_a whole fleet of merchantmen,_convoyed
by a stately frigate, under whose_guns they_clustered for_protection,
until a favorable opportunity occurred, when she would suddenly dash
into their_midst like a hawk into a_brood of chickens, and_seizing
one, man_her_and be off_before_the frigate_could sufficiently recover
from its astonishment at such_audacity to_attempt pursuit. It
sometimes occurred that she_would find herself alongside_a_frigate
which she had mistaken for a_large merchantman, when a seamanship and
coolness_would be exhibited in the_effort_to_get clear, seldom
witnessed in the_oldest naval commanders. If unable to_escape she
would gallantly_set her colors and fight a hopeless,_yet_one of the
most desperate battles that_occur_in maritime warfare. The way in
which_these_ships_were handled, the daring manner_they were carried
into action, and the_desperation with which they were fought
astonished the English, who_had never witnessed_any thing like it on
the_sea.