Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-06-14
BATTLE OF THE NILE.

$50 - ~ N1I1Nh@f 80 %NfSNNN
dria, on the second day after we bad LEFT, the
French admiral learned that we had just
made our appearance, and hastily departed;
Information from which the arrogance ani
vanity of our enemy led them TO iater that
our Withdrawing so speedily was a conse
quenee OF fear, at having heard Of their nu
merclai superiority. THIS delusion no doubt,
made the French admiral less careful 10 be
IN readiness for action than he might other
wise have been, had be more Justly apprecI
ated the character Of British sea'nen.
On the morning OF the FIRST OF August, the
city OF Alexandria once more presented itself
to our view. Signal also was made by the
ship which had been despatched before. that
The harhor was full of Transports, and that the
French flag WIS floating II. the wind from
the towers OF the city. soon afterwards the
hect itself was descrled drawn up 10 line cf
battle IN Aboukir Bay. Instant signal was
made to clear away for action, whilst our
ships steered direct for the enemy. 70 give
a description Of the general battle is need
less; every one knows II; and the glory which
irradiated the British arms on the memora
bic night OF the first Of August, will shine re-
spiendent 10 the end of tlnle. Such, besides,
was the full occupation and eagerness with
winch every man was engaged, from the no
ment OF beginning TO clear away for action,
tii near the end Of the battle, that but few
individuals bad opportunity to take more
than q Tasty glance of the process OF the en-
gagenent, TO say nothing OF the darkness OF
the night, illuminated only by conflicting fr
Ing from the mouths Of the cannon; and the
smoke in which both fleets were involved
Leaving this, as most writers have described
1t, shall confine myself TO a description of
only such scenes as fell under my own oh
setvatlon, Immediately connected with the
Leandef, and which none could SO accurate
y describe as those who were on board. In
consequence OF being detained in the neigh
bofhood OF the Culloden-to assist, as far as
we were able, TO e~xtricate her from the IN
fortunate situation in which she was placed,
having at about seven o'clock in the evening
struck on a ridge of rocks, two miles from
the scene OF action we were late in coming
to an engagement 1t having been reported
among the crew that the admifel had given
strict orders, that the Leander, being a much
smaller ship, and OF much lighter metal, than
any oil The French ships of the line, was on
oe account TO lay any OF them alongside. our
men were almost IN a state OF nproar at the
disappointment, surprising The prohibition a
mounted TO an exclusion from participating
IN the glory Of the conflict, till they under
stood nom captain Thompson, that il we
could lind a situation in winch nc might lido
any good" we were at liberty 10 run IA our
snip We were not loi 4 before we discover
eu such a position: and accordingly we ran
the Leander betwIxt The stations OF the Peu
pie Souverain and The Franklin Of eighty
four guns, dropping a stern and bower aDch-
Or SO as to place our ship right athwaEt the
hawse OF the latter ship, within only a few
yards distance. into the bows OF which we
continued In nnIIf nur bpn4lEtia at tAypufv-
four Founders SO efieclually, that in less than
hall an hour she was completely dismasted.
The whole of her bows were soun laid open,
and our shots raked her decks with dreadful
precision, sweeping away the dense crew
winch fIlled them so that none OF the men
could at length be brought TO fight the bow
and iorecastle guns; the only ones WHICH
could be brought TO bear upon Us. lhe stern
cable OF the Defence having been shot away
by the peupie Sonverain, the former ship
swung round, so as 10 assume an admirable
position upon the star board quarter OF our
antagonist, and dealt her bfoadsides with
terrible effect. Soon afterwards we observed
a singular appearance on board OF the Frank
lin; on her forecastle an English color WAS
hoisted, but a French color was hoisted a.
bafl! at which our captain hailed her, and
shouted, Have you s,ruckpn
To which the Freneh capt replied ''Ges?.'
/ what do you mean, thes,' replied Cap
tain Ihompson. Shy keeping the French co,
lor flying abait''
81 cannot get any man ON my decks to ex-
pose himself while he is striking IT, was the
reply; ''bui j you cease firing, | will take IT
down myselE.p
This he forthwith did; and, bringing it and
bis sword on board our ship, presented them
TO captain thompson, saying, "You deserve
them. Tor you have done me all the mis-
chief.n
lie was, however, conveyed on board the
Defence, as being the larger ship, to make
his surrender; but not till he had requested
permission TO walk round our ship; which
having done. he expressed his amazement,
'sihat such a little box should have conquer
ed so large a shipl'
Ii was just after this event, and not, as has
been enormously stated, before, that the
dreadful catastrophe Of the blowing up OF the
Orient. in whose immediate neIshborhood
we we're, occurred We had for a consider
able time perceived her to be on fire, and.
anticipating the event, were adopting every
precaution in our power against danger from
tire explosion; removing every thing from
| the upper deck, which was easily combusu
! BILE. ~seiting the sails, and stationing men ~
! all! directions with buckets of water IN their
! hands. Even up to this tune, whist the low
or 1, elk in the after part of the ORIENT was ~
I fstnes, such was the fury OF the men, that
I they sftll continued To fire the guns on the