The gun quoted was weak, though the one on the deck of the Tallahatchie was vastly larger; but a correspondingly heavy force had been brought to bear upon it.
"I am satisfied that the enemy's long gun has been disabled; and while she continues the attempt to run away from us, she is unable to use her broadside guns to advantage, for she cannot bring them to bear upon us without coming to," said the commander.

"But we are gaining at least a knot and a half an hour on her, and she must soon change her tactics." "That is evident enough, sir," added Christy.
"The captain of that ship is a brave fellow, and I am confident he will fight as long as there is anything left of him," continued the captain as he occasionally directed his glass at the chase.
"He certainly will, sir, for I have seen his ship knocked out from under him, when he had abundant excuse for hauling down his flag before he did so; and we had hardly time on board of the Chateaugay to save his people before his vessel went to the bottom," continued Christy.

"More than that, he is a gentleman and a scholar." "You have told me about him, Christy; and I believe you suggested to Captain Chantor his best plan of action." "I simply indicated what I should do in his place, and he adopted the method I mentioned," added Christy modestly.
"We may find it advisable to resort to the same plan, though I must add that it is by no means original with you.

It was adopted in the war of 1812 with England." "I did not claim the method as original, and knew very well that it was not so," replied the lieutenant.
"The conditions on both sides must be favorable to the method or it cannot be adopted.

One of the ships must have heavier metal than the other, so that she can knock her enemy to pieces at her leisure, and at the same time greater speed, so that she can keep out of the reach of guns of shorter range." "I am sorry I could not obtain more definite information in regard to the broadside guns of the Tallahatchie," added Christy.