The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-10-27

Sketches from the (" United States
| Naval Chronicle" published re-
Gently IN Washington. by Charles
". Goldshorough. and nairatiug
the progress y history of onr ma
w down 10 the peace with Iripo-
Ii. in June. 1905.
+" II would appear that, when re
sistancc was contemplated by the
colonies, a naval force was not ia
ken into consideration. Such an i
dca might have been discouraged,
by the utter hopelessncsl Of contend.
ing with the mistress otthe ocean. IL
was not until provoked by wanton
aggressions upon their deieneelcss
commerce, that they adopted meas
ures of retaliation. These measures.
for some time. We're not the result Of
any executive or legislative authori-
| ty, but sprang from the patriotic ar
dour of individuals or corporations.
One Of tie most conspicuous enter
prises occurred nj Machas, Maine,
soon after the battle Of Lexington.
A British armed schooner was at
that time Wing at MaChias. ConsI-
dcring hostiliries as now begun, a
plan was Immediately formed to cap
tIre the unsuspccting enemy. The
first intention was to selZc upon the
officers of the schooner. while attcn-
ding church on the following day,
which was Sunday ; but this design
was defeated by the vigilance on the
activity OF the officers. who made
their escape to the vessel. and. alter
firing few random shot at the town,
dropped down the bay. Unwilling
to lose the prize, party of yolun-
teers the next day took forClble pos
session of a lumber sloop, and IN
mcdiatcly began pursuit The whole
equipment for this sudden cruise
consisted, according 10 Mr.. Colds
borough, Of three charges of powder
and ball for twenty ioWlIng pieces,
4" thirteen pitchiorks, ten or twelve
axes, a few pieces Of salt pork. &c
| No circumstance could more stll-
kingly exhibit the reckless and
COnfding bravery Of this little band,
than that it should have been with
out any acknowledged leader, until
the moment of oveItaking the enemy;
when Mr.. Jeremiah O'Brien was
chosen by unanimous consent. Un-
appalled, by the disparity Of force he
at once laid his slo0p alongside of
the schooner, and after short but
severe contest. carried her by board
ing. The British vessel is said to
have had four siX-pounders. twenty
swivels, two small pieces, and an a
bundanCc of CutlasseS, fire arms am
munitlun, and a crew consisting 'oi
two commissioned officers, and thir-
ty-cight petty officers and men
The crew Of the lumber sloop IS sta
ted to have been less than forty.
With the armament of his prize, o.
Bricn fitted out a small vessel called
the Liberty. and soon after captured
two other British armed sChOoners,
sent on in pursuit of him, whose
crews he conducted prisoncrsto Bos-
ton, where. upon the recommendati-
on of General Washington, he was
appointed aCaptain by the ProNlnci-
al Congress. Of Massachusetts,. Re
turning to MaChias, he soon manned
two vessels. the Liberty and the Dl-
ligcnce, with volunteers, sailed for
New Brunswick, and took by sur
prise Fort Howe, with It's garrison
and military stores, and a loaded
brig, lying in the harbor, that was
destined for the British troops at
Boston"
1.-The declaration ofndcpendencc
had not yet been made. There was
still an opening for accommodation
lingering allegiance still existing
in the hearts OF the multitude, and a
! willingness To discriminate between
king and ministers and while the
contest was supposed to be only with
$ the latter. measures seldom extended
t bcyond defensive character. A
small Acet WAS however equipped by
the general Congress near the close
of the year 1775.~ith aNiew to more
energetic operations. This first
squadron that went forward upon
the deep, in defiance of "a power
whose unreasonable superiority gave
the character Of forIorn hope, con
sisted Of the Alfred, thirty ganG