Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-05-21
"a dollars per annum.

standing beside com, Perry, was struck in tho
breast by chain shot. The shot having
passed through the bulwark, had no other
effect than to knock him down, and lodged
in the bosom of his waistcoat. He fell with
an exclamation, and remained for moment
stunned by the violence of the blow. Perry
raised him up, and seeing no marks of
wound, told him he could not be hurt. The
lieutenant coming to himself, put his hand
INTO his bosom, pulled out the chain shot
and exclaiming no sir. but this is my shot,
thrust it with great sang troid, into his peck.
ct.
In the course of the action Perry noticed
prime and favorite sailor, who was capt.
OF one OF the guns. very much embarrassed
with MS piece, which, in consequence of the
hrelock being broken was rather unman.
ageabie and rebounded. Perry approached
him and In his usual and encouraging roa,,,-.
ner asked him what was tie matte, the
honest tar who had been shelving SIGNS ~
inmate scxation, turned round, and. as IL
speaking OF mistress, exclaimed reproach-
fuily, I" Sir my gun behaves shamefully--
shameful T. He then levelled it, and hay.
ing taken aim, raised up and squared him.
sea- In me martial style, when suddenly
cannon Dali struck him in the breast, passed
through him, and he fell dead, without a
groan !
Lieutenant Yarnell, of the Lawrence. be-
haved throughout with great bravery and
GOODNESS. He was dressed as common sea-
men, a red oandanna handkerchief tied round
MS neck, another round his head, to staunch
Two wounds which he had received. From
these the blood ricked down his face, and
splinter having passed through his nose, it
had swelled to a hideous magnitude. In this
trightful plight, looking like the very genius
OF carnage and ill luck, he came up to Per.
ry IN the hottest and bl.odiest of the fight.
and announced to him that all the officers
OF his division were killed Perry ordered
others IN their place. Shortly after Yarnel
returned with repetition oil the dismal it'd
inss that all the officer, were shot down,
then Sir, SAIL Perry, "you mpst endea-
sor 10 MAKE out ny yourself. Ihaye no
more to furnish you!''
ODe circumstance which Perry relates
deserves particular mention. II has in il
something of sentiment that is above com.
mon lie, and absolutely belongs to poetry;
when, IN the sweeping havoc that was
sometimes made, number of men were shot
away from around a gun, the survivors IookA
ca silently uro0nd TO Pe,ry-and then STEP
ped into their places. Whenever he look
ed at the poor fellows that lay wounded. &
weitering on the deck, he always found their
faces turned towards him, and their ewes
fxed on his counteuance. 1t is impossible
tor words to heigh,en the sample and affect
ing eioquence OF this aRecdose. II speaks
.6fu,ney ~ the ;1s:sisS of;..e h.Foisna of the
commander. and the loyal affection of his
followers.
When Perry went off from the Lawrence
to shItt his nag to the Niagara, he stood up
in the boat gallantly waving his sword, and
was heard cheerinsiy to exciaim, "Pull a
way my brave boys!" SO earnest was he
that tho the balls whistled round him he
could scarcely be made to take seat, and
an old sailor, who had been In botn battles
OF the Constitution, absolutely held him
down.
Just after he had got on board the Niapa.
ra, and was on the quarter deck, a sailor
who commanded ore of the guns, seeing all
his men shot down, turned with eaeeroess
to Perry, and. laying beth hands uson h,s
shoulders, exclaimed, (" For Gods sake. sir.
give me some more men |" Such was the
vivid animation that prevailed among all
ranks--Ihey had lost all sense of personal
danger, and thought Of nothing but victory.
When the Niagara dashed through the
enemy's line, as she passed the Lady Pre-.
vost, Lat Buchan, the commauder of that
vessel, was shot through the face by a mus.
pistol shot, so tina. every thing could be seen
distinctly from one 10 the other. The crew
of the Lady Provost unable in their crippled
state to stand the fire of the Niagara. ran
below but their uDfor'u nate Commander
remained on deck, and Perry saw him lean.
ing on the companion way, with his face on
his hand, looking with fixed stare at his enc.
| mics Perry Immediately silencsd the marines
on the quarter deck, and running forward
ordered hemen to cease firing He after
wards learnt that the strange Conduct of
Lieut.. Buchan was owing to sudden de.
raDgement, caused by his wound He was n
brave officer, and had distinguished himself
in the battle of the Nile.
While Perry was engaged at close ouar1
| tiers in the Niagara, Lieut.. Turner. a fine
| bold young sailor, who commanded the brio
| CALEDONIA, of three guns, spreading every
sail, endeayored to get into acton His fore,
| sail interfered between him and the enemy
but, rather than take in an inch of canvass.
he ordered his men to fire through it. See.
| ing the commodore engaged in the thickest
| OF the fight, he proposed TO the Commander
OF another small vessel to board the De.
| troit /; the other, however, prudently des
| clined the rash but gallan, proposal.
| Ii has been mentioned that two Ind;ans
| were on board the Detroit, stationed in n.
| tops, to pick off our officers with hair rifles
No sooner, however, did the ships come into
| close action than they were dis aayed b,,
| this new and tremendous speci 8 { bat,Is
and skunk into the hold. When the shin wa
Il 81 -.