Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-09-26


W sslugtou, worthy OF their decent from our old
Communicable. Such Is the fortune Of many who
90 TO tie West IN youth. and feiufn IN manhood to
hold prominent stations III the councils Of the IA
ton. Such was The history OF Clay, Grundy and Of
many of The brilliant orators and able champions Of
popular liberty who have hailed iIom lie Wesl.
--
Tie late Commodore PaReyson.--The New Or
leans Bulletin Las the following bref but conlfas
ing sketch Of The important rendered by this
gallant officer during tlte assaults New Orleans by
the Bntisi, iorees in 1914
The deceased the naval service about forty
years aud was a mljshpman in the Philadelphia
lrig te, when she lost The Tnpoitan coast IN
The year SOL. With her officers and crew he endu-
red The evils of captivity IN tic capital Of that barbar
country tor about two years. At the conclusion
OF that war he WIS ordered TO New Orleans with a
naval force under Commodore PORTER, destined 10
cooperate with the army for the protection of this
capital against the designs OF Aaron BUR, who WIS
suspected ol being engaged IN a lot to dlsmcmber
the Union.
tho epoch of the INVASION Of Louisiana by the
EnghIsb in 1871, The naval forces on this station
under the command Of Commodore Patterson
and he gleay distinguished himselfty hi, zeal, his
courage and the efficiency with which he aided the
commander IN ohrt IN his plans for the defence Of
tho country the memorable night attack 90 the
English camp the 23d December. 1914, the com
modore commanded in person the schooner Carolina
attack in the dusk Of the evening, the enemy, not
aware NJ her character, hailed her repeatedly with
ont rcc,iy,os IN answer When she had obtained
her proper position the voice OF Patterson dis
tinclly heard from the shore, shouting to his crew
:" Gre then, His 'or the honor of Amtrjea.' close
and terrible hte Of canister shot followed, which
scattered the cnemey in all directions They rallied
however. and without beiug able to return the
schouner's fire. they sheltered themselves as well us
they could behind the leyee, where they lay nl
lhey were again disturbed by the advance q our
troops. The schooner then ceased firing.
-Four days afterwards Commodore Patterson was
abreast OF the lines in the slip Louisiana, which
had been purchased in the service and manned with
seancn Impressed IN the streets of New Orleans, and
when the British army advanced to the attack Of our
lines, she opened terrible fire upon the columns
and materially aided 10 repulslng them.
Allei this Hbortse attempt to carry The lines, the
scamen with their officers we've placed 1T the bate
ties on shore. Ga the 9Th January, when the final
attack was made, Commodore Patterson had com
manh OF a few heavy guns on the opposite side Of
the river, which we've intended 10 play upon the en-
envy = columns whilst matching 10 assault, Which
every me knew they threatened TO make on that day
strong detachment ot British troops was trans
ported across the Mississippi in boats and having
routed The feeble band of militia under General Da-
yJ Is. Morgan. Stationed there for the defence Of
the battery, Commodore Patterson having used The
utmost exciions, III vain 10 the 0ghl of the
i"AhN'o was lStu 10 sIlhc MS guns anu fellfe to
tins SIDE OF The river IA order preserve hmse and
his men from belng made prisoners. The assault on
the lines oil General jackson being rcpused IN a
most signal manner, the British evacuated their new
position on The opposite bank the same night, and
Commodore Patterson resumed his station the next
morning, aud continued 10 annoy the British camp
with AZ noessant fire Of his heavy guns TIL the end of
the campaign. In public orders aud in private corre.
popdence, General Jackson bestowed upon his
friend, the commodore, The warmest praise for the
zeal, activity aud ability with which lie had acted dur
ing thai trying period Since the peace Commodore
Patterson has commanded American squadrous in
various paits oil the globe, and always kept up the
efficiency OF the ancient discipline and maintained
with jealous cxacttude the honor OF the service.
His original education had been OF the kind best a.
dapted to The vocation for which he was intended
aud IN after years he carefully improved his mind
by study and observation. t.iko all men who pase
their lives IN The sllrinp seeots OF the naval
he was fun Information aud anccdotn, which he
knew how to detail with tact aud prupuety. He was
OF most amiable character IN private lie. and has
left widow (ss,er &c Garlic Pollock, Esquire, OF
Tins cltN) and numerous family Of children to de
plore his loss.
Com. II. was a n,tive Of Long Island, and at hi.
death was about IS.