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222 The National Music of America.
and his officers to our men has been that of a brave enemy, the greatest care being taken to prevent our men from losing the smallest trifle, and the greatest attention being paid to the wounded."
It was customary in those days for the English commanders to send an occasional challenge to the American foe. In this matter, too, Captain Dacres was never very vindictive. Here is a challenge from Sir James Yeo, commanding the English frigate Southampton :
" Sir James Yeo presents his compliments to Capt. Porter of the American frigate Essex, and would be glad to have a tite-a-tete anywhere between the Capes of Delaware and the Havana, where he would have the pleasure to break his own sword over his damned head, and put him down forward in irons."
Not so a man of Dacres's stamp ; he captured Capt. W. B. Orne, of the American brig Betsy, and treated him with the greatest courtesy. He sent a challenge to an |
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