The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-12-25

a somew hat similar eHect, ior aNhousn over
two hundred cases OF bilious fever were report
ed Just previous to the battle, only 70 we're ic-
ported unfit for action on the morning when il
was fought.
DIR. Parsons by the ~sy,-and the feet with
him,-bad narrow escape. which many would
call providentiaI. While he was STOPPING in
the cock pit. diligently dressing the wounded.
a shot. hulling the ship through and through.
passed lust ADORE his head. Had he been stand
ing M. nothing could have saved him and the
wounded in the fleet would have been left wirt-
ou, relief. The two other surgeons were dss-
blrd. From the Doctors very interesting let
Ter 10 Dr. Perry. The son Of The commander.
we cannot forbear quoting a passage which ap.
pears TO us sfriingly descriptive Of the horrors
Of battle. Few perhaps are aware how bloody
this one was
The snemy's fleet was discovered from the
sst-head at 5 O'Clock, A. NJ, and at z, all the
vessels could be seen from the deck. AT 8. be-
gan the busy scene Of casing loose guns. draw
ing around them supplies cf balls. grape and
canister. arranging pixies aad cuilasses, and grid
ing on pistols for boarding, hAmmering fints.
and lighting matches. Mutual requests passed
between individuals, for the survivor 10 notify
the friends Of the non-suryivor and TO take
charge Ct his effects and the Commodore han
led 10 the Surgeon package of papers, inclos-
Ell in lead. to be thrown overheard in the event
of his falling. The shallowncss Of the vessel,
allowing no place for the wounded, they were
received upon the floor Of the wardroom. whlrh
was on level with the surface OF the water,
aud about ten feet square. The haIchwsy lead
ing from his room to the deck WAS closed, leay
lng a small aperture for passing cartridges
through from The magazine to the deck. Men
were stationed forward al the main hatchway 10
receive the wounded and pass them through
Inc sirerage TO the wardroom; and to take them J
again from the Surgeon forward TO the berth
!erk. At 10 o'clock, the martial music struck |
up the ihiiing sound - all hands TO quarters :"
The fighting flag was then displayed at mast
head, and the yalor and patriotism Of the crew
appealed TO by the Commodore which h they re- /
'ponded TO with three hearty cheers. A breath /
css silllness now reigned through the ship. |
more dreary below deck from the dim twilight
,f the apartment. The dreaded scene too, so I
near a, hand, was painted by the imagination in
horrid forms; We, nEDgIed with buoyani hopes
,f victory and Of again seeing home aud kindred. |
But the scene changed. Suddenly we were !
reused from a long revery Of ioreboding sus-
rcnsc, By the electryiying sound Of the rnemy's
cannon; and soon follow ed the dcafenng thun-
iers OF our own broad sldes-thr crash Of balls !
hullia! our bulwaiks, and the shriehs Of the I
wOpnded upon deck The wounded poured /
down so fast that nothing further was attempted |
Tor them during the battle, than securing bleed !
INC arteries and applying splins TO shattered
limbs. aud scvering from tie body such limbs, !
~ hung by small portions of the flesh. Sever !
n after receiving this treatment were again !
wounded young officer while moving from
me with tournique, on the arm, received a
cannon bah IN the chest; and seaman with
both arms fractured was afterwards killed by a
cannon ball. The battle ragged with great fury
and III an hour and half had far swept the
decks that new appeals for surgical aid were
less frequent. remission at this Time most vel
come. as the repeated request Of the Commo-
dore to spare him another man, had taken the
last one stationed TO assist in moving the wound
ed and ii is worthy Of record, that several Of
ihe wounded. themselves, crawlcd upon deck
at this critical period TO lend a feeble hand at
the guns"
Things looked rather desperate at this junct-
ure, owing. as Mr.. B. Of course argues. and as
most people seem to believe, TO the holding
back Of Elliot in the Niagara. Perry howcv-
er, rec,ted that mistake IN sIylr oi galIantry
to which there is hardly parallel IN the hisIo-
~ OF the war. Ii was an act perfectly IN the
classical or the chivarous fashion one we
should ccrtnluly look for in the crude but he
roio s,irmishes Of the Fabulous or the Roman
ic ages, aud from such worthless as Achilles or
Captain John Smith. much sooner than among
he systematic movements and ctique,ical lead /
'r, of modern warfare. But Perry, though /
lisiplinarian, was also hero. ne anew the I
alue Of system and etiquette, and he knew as
veil the iropec occasions for letting them go.
lad he stood in Nelson's place at Copenhagen,
lie would have been too blind of one eye, like
i'm, to see what brave spirit could not brook.
Is it WIS, he disclosed the same soul, and it
lad the same effect One man might be said
o have won that battle. He fought for the
American Copenhagen. lie was the Nelson OF
lake Erie.