The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-06-08
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE FIRST AMERICAN SEA FIGHT.
PROM eooPrR's NAVAL HISTORY.

| FROM cooPER's NAVAL HISTORY
Within twenty years after the settlement Of
Plymouth, ship. building and navigation began
to occupy much Of the attention Of New En-
gland, and as every vessel Of any size carried
many light guns, the navigation of the period
had most of the chara cteristics of an armed
trade. In addition to the ships and banks that
| crossed the ocean, many decked boats, or
| small sloops, were used on the coast; cspe-
CHILLY by those who dealt with the Indians for
skins. The first engagement that probably
ever occurred between inhabitants of the Ame-
rIcan colonies, and enemies afoat, was con-
fllct between John Gallop, who was engaged
IN trade OF this nature, in sloop Of 20 tons,
and some Narragansett lndians, who had
seized upon small vessel belonging TO per-
son Of the name Of Oldham, known to have
been similarly occupied. As this, in certain
sense, may be deemed the earliest sea-fight
Of the nation, we consider it worthy to be re-
lated.
Some time in May, 1886, Gallop, in his lit
tie sloop, manned by two men and two boys,
himself included, was standing along the
Sound, near Plum Island, when he was COM
PEELED to bear up by stress of weather, for a re.
1857 ~ 'No"u'oS aiming tic tldt lOTtU
chain between Long Island and Connecticut.
on nearing the land, he discovered vessel
very similar TO his own, in size and equip
tnehts' which was Immediately recognised as
the Pinnace OF Mr.. Oldham, who had sailed
win crew oil two white boys, and two Mar
ra9ansett Indians. Gallop hailed on nearing
the other craft, but got no answer, and, on
running still nearer, no less than fourteen In
dians were discovered lying on her deck. A
canoe, conveying goods, and manned by In
dians, had also just started for the Shore
Gallop now began to suspect that Oldham had
been overpowered by the sayages suspi-
clon that was confirmed by the Indians slip
ping their cable, and running off before the
wind, or in the direction Of Narragansett- Bay.
Satisfied that robbery had been committed,
Gallop made sail in chase, and running along
side Of the pinnace, in a spirited manner, he
fired yolley Of duck-shot at. the savages.-
The latter had swords. spears, and some fire.
arms, and they attempted resistance, but
Gallop soon drove them below to a man.
Afraid to board in the face Of such odds, Gal
lop now had recourse to a novel exprdient to
dislodge his enemies. As the pinnace was
drifting with no one to manage her, she soon
fell TO lceward, while the sloop hauled by the
wind. As SION as the two vessels were far
enough asunder, Galop put his helm up and
ran directly down on the weather quarter Of
the pinnace, striking her with so much vio-
lence as to come near forcing her over on her
side. The shock SO much alarmed the In
dams. who were on an element and in craft
they did not understand, that six OF them rush.
ed irantically on deck, and leaped into the sea,
where they were all drowned The sloop
aaRa Fn to a efd 6s whes SUCH "In HAMMER 6a, BY
running down on the pnnace second time,
he forced the fules through the sides of the
latter, which are represented as having been
made Of boards.
The two vessels were now fast to each
other, and the crew Of the sloop began to fire
through the sides Of the pinnace, into her hold.
Finding it impossible, however, to drive his
enemies up, Gallop loosened his lasts, and
hauled up to windward third time, when four
or five more of the Indians jumped overheard
and shared the fate Of those who had preceded
them. One Indian now appeared on deck and
offered to submit. Gallop ran alongside, and
received this man in the sloop, when he was
bound hands and feet, and put into the hold.
Another soon followed this example, and he
WIS also received on DOuTu the alOOp anu
bound, but, fearful that if two Of his willy foes
were permitted TO commune together, they
would Iiberate themselves, the second prisoner
was thrown into the sea. But two Indians
now remained in the pinnace. They had got
into small apartment below, and being armed,
they showed a disposition to defend them
selves, when Gallop removed all the goods
that remained into his own sloop, stripped the
pinnace of her sails, took her in tow, and
hauled up for the islands again. But the wind
increasing, the pinnace was cut adrift, and she
disappeared in the direction of Narras ansett
Bay, where it is probable she was stranded in
the course of few hours.
On board the pinnace, Gallop found the
body of Mr.. Oldham. The head had been
cleft, the hands and legs were much mangled,
and the flesh was still warm. The corpse was
thrown into the sea.
Thus terminated this extraordinary conflict.
in which Gallop appears TO have shown as
much conduct as courage, and which in itself
illustrates the vast superiority that professional
skill gives on an element that requires practice
to be rendered successfully available.
CHARACTER OF FRANKLIN.