The two together carried 55 guns and 313 men, while the _Constitution_ had 51 guns and a crew of 456 men.

The _Cyane_ was properly a frigate, and she being at the rear, Stewart opened fire from the long guns of his port battery.

The response from the starboard guns of the enemy was prompt, and for a time the cannonade was deafening.

The _Constitution_ gave most of her attention to the rear ship.

The smoke around the American becoming so dense as to cloud the vision, Stewart slipped forward and quickly delivered a double-shotted broadside.