"He can see that the Chateaugay is of heavier metal than the Dornoch." "I should suppose that it would be his first care, as perhaps he regards it as his first duty, to put his passenger on board of a steamer bound to England," added the commander.

"It appears to be a question of speed just now." The Chateaugay was driven to her utmost, and it was soon clear that she was too much for her antagonist.

At two bells in the forenoon watch she was about a mile abreast of the chase, which had not yet shown her colors.

The flag of the United States floated at the peak, and the commander ordered a shot to be fired across the forefoot of the Dornoch.
This was an order for her to come to; but, instead of doing so, she flung out the Confederate flag, and fired a shotted gun, the ball from which whizzed over the heads of the Chateaugay's officers on the quarter-deck..