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Chapter IX (IV)

A A DECATUR BLOCKADED AT NEW YORK. - ATTEMPTS TO ESCAPE THROUGH LONG ISLAND SOUND. - THE FLAG-SHIP STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. - TORPEDOES. - FULTON'S STEAM FRIGATE. - ACTION BETWEEN THE "CHESAPEAKE" AND "SHANNON."

W HILE the "President" was thus roaming the seas, almost within sight of the shores of the British Isles, events were 3 occurring along the American coast which were little likely to raise the spirits of the people of the United States. From the "President," the "Congress," the "Essex," and the smaller vessels that were upholding the honor of the flag upon the ocean, they could hear nothing. But worse than this was it for the good people of New York or Boston to go down to the water-side and see stanch United States frigates kept in port by the overwhelming forces of the enemy, that lay watchfully outside the harbor's mouth.

For there was no doubt about it: the blockade was daily becoming closer; and in the months of April and May a ship would have found it a hard task to run out of New York Harbor without falling into the hands of the British fleet stationed there. But, at that very time, three stout men-of-war floated on the waves of that noble bay, under the command of an officer little used to staying quietly in port in time of war. The officer was Stephen Decatur: and the ships were the flag-ship "United States;" the captured "Macedonian," repaired, and flying the stars and stripes, under the command of the gallant Capt. Jacob Jones; and the sloop-of-war "Hornet," Capt. Biddle.