Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1815-05-22

their fervices.
Among the volunteers was a young
man BY the -aae # JAMES BIRD, aged
about 2o oaars h- was born in Exeter.
where Els d. rs now reide Bird en-
lifted ii fac adrnss while at Erie and in
the M morso.l -rgag ement of Sept. 70,
(erved on board the ST. Lawrence. un
der the Immediate command of Com.
PERRY.
The following notice of his conduct in
that engagement was derived from Mr..
CLARKHuFF, one of the volunteers, and
appeared in the Cleaner Of Nov. 70,
1873,
"JAMEs BIRD, fon Of Mr.. ]. BIRD Of
Exeter, was on board the Lawrence with
the gallant PERRY on the glorious 10th Of
September The battle ragged many a
poor fellow fell around hlm BIRD did
his duty like hero. Toward the clofe
of the engagement, caniiter ihot ffruck
him on the ihoulder as he was looping
to his gun. He was initantIy covered
with blood, and his officer ordered him
below. He ventured to disobey, prefer
ing to do duty while he had life TO aban
doning his poit, but the blood flowed 70
fat another order was ii1ued TO go below
tie ran down, got hafy bandage on
the wound, cams again on deck, and al
though his left arm was ulelefs, yet he
handed cartridges, and performed the ut
mott fervice in his power with his right,
until the fars and ftripes waved glori-
ouny victorious over the foe"
The following extract of letter from
BIRD will fpeak for itfelf, and ihow the
fad viciiIitudes of fortune attending a
fate of war / called on his parents for
the letter. His father was not at ONE.
The anguifh and the tears Of his mother
made me almof regret that | had men,
toned the painful fubjed. IF you, reader.
had been there. think you would have
agreed with me that the public ought 10
reap great and certain benefits from war
that creates f. many caufes Of private
grief--l do not mean TO complain of any
officer, or OF any man +; but | could not
hep thinking that the bravery and good
conduct of BIRD in the battle, might
hare plead for lis pardon-HuLL gave
up whole army, yet he was pardoned -
BRAcK murdered poor Dixon, bur BRAcK
was not fentencec to die. BIRD had per
formed more fervices than either, and
his crime was much lefs injurious or ma
ligaant, bus there was no pardon for him.
1t was the fortune of war Indeed war is
a cruel monfer at lealt thought 70
when ! reflected on the death of the
brave BieD, and faw his mothers tears
But | detan you fror1 the letter -
Dear Parents-I take my pen in
hand to write few lines to you which
will bring bad news; but do not lament,
nor make fad means for the lofs Of your
hre beloved and dearef fon JAMES.
Dear parents, Brothers and Sifers,
relations and friends, do write you a
moi fad and difmal letter. fuch as never
before came from any of your beloved
children. have often fat down ana
wrote a few lines to you with p!eaiure !;
but | am forty at prelent to let you know
my fad and. deplorabIe Guation. |
am the mott mi(erable and defolate
child Of the family. Dear Parents, let
my brothers and Gners read this letter,
for it is the Ialt they can ever receive
from my hand, for by the laws of our
country | am fentenced to death, for de
iertipg from the marines at Lake Erie,
and am now confined on board the Uni
ted States brig Niagara.
And o ! loving parents, my time Is
but thor. here on earth have bur a
few moments to make my peace with my
Maker leave you only for a fhort
time here in this mott troublefome world /,
but | hope that by conllant prayer we
fhall meet in the world above, to part no
more"
THE remaining part Of the letter con-
Cts of urgent and prefling rsquells TO
his friends to prepare for their end. and
in expeditions Of q lively hope Of ialvation
for himlelfl
remain YOUR mott affcaionate and
beloved Ton until death so amen. This
from me, JAMES BIRD.
kovfRlbcr orb, 1874
Soon after the receipt of this letter
there came another from an officer on