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Enterprise, the.

the Enterprise, fourteen guns, was an American brig that acquired the reputation of being “lucky.” She cruised for a long time off the New England coast, the terror of British provincial privateers, under Capt. Johnston Blakeley, until he was promoted to the command of the new sloop-of-war Wasp, when Lieut. William Burrows became her commander. On the morning of Sept. 1, 1813, she sailed from Portsmouth, N. H., in quest of British cruisers. On the morning of the 5th she discovered a British brig in a bay near Pemaquid Point, which, observing the Enterprise, bore down upon her in menacing attitude. Burrows accepted the challenge, cleared [248]

Graves of Burrows, Blyth, and waters.

his ship for action, and, after getting a proper distance from land to have ample sea-room for conflict, he edged towards the stranger, which proved to be the British brig Boxer, fourteen guns, Capt. Samuel Blyth. At twenty minutes past three o'clock in the afternoon the brigs closed within half pistol-shot of each other and both vessels opened fire at the same time. The wind was light, with very little sea, and the cannonading was destructive. Ten minutes later the Enterprise ranged ahead of the Boxer, and, taking advantage of her position, she steered across the bows of her antagonist, and delivered her fire with such precision and destructive energy that, at four o'clock, the British officer in command shouted through his trumpet that he had surrendered; but his flag being nailed to the mast, it could not be lowered until the Americans should cease firing. It was found that Capt. Blyth had been cut nearly in two by an 18-pound cannon-ball. Almost at the same moment when Blyth fell on the Boxer, Burrows, of the Enterprise, was mortally wounded. So also was Midshipman Kervin Waters. Blyth was killed instantly; Burrows lived eight hours. The latter refused to be carried below until the sword of the commander of the Boxer was delivered to him, when he grasped it and said, “Now I am satisfied; I die contented.” The command of the Enterprise devolved upon Lieut. E. R. McCall, of South Carolina, who conducted his part of the engagement to its close with skill. He took both Vessels into Portland Harbor on the morning of the 7th. The two young commanders were buried side by side in a cemetery at Portland. Congress presented a gold medal to the nearest masculine representative of Lieutenant Burrows; and another was presented to Lieutenant McCall.

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William Burrows (6)
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