CAPTURE OF L'INSURGENTE.

ON the 9th of February, 1799, Commodore Truxtun, in the Constellation, came in sight of a large ship, and immediately gave chase. The stranger hoisted American colours; but, unable to answer the Constellation's private signals, she ran up the French ensign, and fired a challenge. For the first time since the Revolution, one of our national vessels was in sight of an enemy. We had fought and triumphed on land; now we were to meet the powers of the Old World upon sea. Every man was eager to engage; and, as the gallant ship moved down upon the enemy, her speed seemed too small to meet the anxious longing of her crew. They were not disappointed. The Insurgente waited calmly for her opponent; and, when the latter opened her fire, returned it with spirit. The silence was broken; the eager antagonists had their wish; and one loud cannonade roared across the solitary waters, rocking the surface of ocean like an earthquake, and heaving the ships to and fro with mighty energy. Nearer and nearer they drew to each other, and louder and fiercer the conflict grew, until nothing was heard but the roar of heavy ordnance, and nothing seen except a thick black pall, shooting forth columns of flame. Volleys of heavy shot were poured into the American foretopmast, until it reeled and swung backwards under the terrible blows. The young midshipman who commanded it (David Porter), called again and again to his superior for leave to lower the sail and relieve the pressure; but his voice was lost in the uproar of battle. Feeling that the mast must fall, unless this were done, he assumed the responsibility, and thus saved the ship from a serious misfortune. Her broadsides now raked the enemy from stem to stern, crashing masts, sails, and rigging, and strewing the deck with dead and dying. The Constellation then glided from the shroud of smoke, sailed round to her opponent's rear, and was on the point of raking her again, when the latter struck her colours.

The Insurgente was one of the fastest sailers in the French navy, and was under the command of Captain Barreault. She carried forty French twelve-pounders, and four hundred and nine men. Her loss was twenty-nine killed, and forty-one wounded. The Constellation had thirty-eight guns (English calibre), three hundred and nine men, and had three of her crew wounded.

An incident subsequent to the battle deserves mention. The first lieutenant of the Constellation, Mr. Rodgers, with Midshipman Porter and eleven men, were placed on board the prize to superintend the removal of prisoners. While engaged in this duty, the wind arose almost to a hurricane, night set in, and one hundred and seventy-three of the crew still remained on board. So strong was the action of the waves, that the ships were often widely separated, and then driven with fearful violence almost to a collision. At length, notwithstanding every exertion, the prize was driven completely out of sight.

At this opportunity, so unexpectedly offered, the prisoners began to exhibit unequivoca' signs of revolt. To the handful who watched them this movement would have been fatal; but the intrepid Rodgers showed himself equal to the emergency. Ordering all the prisoners to the hold, he secured the fire-arms, and placed a sentinel at each hatchway, with positive orders to shoot every man who should attempt to mount the deck. In this unenviable situation he remained three days, watching his prisoners with sleepless vigilance, and exhorting his men never to surrender their prize. At the end of that time he arrived safely in St. Kitt's, where the Constellation was already anchored.