A hand-coloured aquatint depiciting the latter stages of the three-hour battle between 'Constitution', the US frigate, and 'Java', its British opponent. 'Java' was out-matched by 'Constitution's' highly experienced crew and the weight of her broadside and is shown hulked and totally dismasted, rendered so incapacitated that she was not worth taking as a prize. This single-ship combat, which took place on 29 December, 1812, was part of the War of 1812 in which the US had declared war on Britain as a result of, among other things, trade restrictions brought about by the British war with France, and the impressment of as many as 10,000 American merchant sailors into the Royal Navy.

This is the last in a series of three prints illustrating the capture of ‘Java’ by the ‘Constitution’. It shows the ‘Java’ (left, starboard broadside view) reduced to a hulk, all of her masts broken, and signalling her surrender. The ‘Constitution’ (right, starboard bow view) has suffered damage to her sails but is intact overall.

It is inscribed: "Plate 3d the Java totally dismasted endeavouring to Wear by the assistance of a Jury Staysail hoisted to the Stump of the Foremast & Bowsprit; the Constitution Crossing her Bow in a Raking Position, compels her to Surrender at 50 Min past 5."