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The National Music of America. 219
dence was never better displayed than in not forcing a surrender at once. He feared that there might be some consort of the Guerriere near by, which might come up, ' attracted by the firing; he had had one such experience the month before, and he was not in a condition to show a clean pair of heels, as on that occasion. He therefore leisurely took his time to clean up his ship, and only when he was ready to fight another battle, if necessary, with another foe, did he send his third lieutenant, George C. Read (afterward a commodore), to demand the surrender of the Guerriere. A jack that had been flying on the stump of the mizzenmast was lowered, but Lieutenant Read desired to make quite sure of matters; he therefore said, " Commodore Hull's compliments, and he wishes to know if you have struck your flag ?"
Poor and gallant Dacres! It was a bitter moment to one of the most courageous |
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