The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-01-29

much greater advantage In attacking FORMED
place, on shore, Than seamen; and am eIedioly
informed that the Marines were The most effective
force that could be brought against the Msays al the
time, when the Potomac was sent on that coast in
1892 To chasise them for their unproyoked attack
o; The ship Friendship Of Salem: and now, after
their eyes opened by experience, as 10 the mode
of assault adopted by the Potomac, and which will
haye 10 be resorted TO by the Columbia and John
Adams; those vessels have not a full and effective
Marine Corps 10 act as a corps de reserve, or in
support Of the saiormen, whose impeIuous attacks
on shore not unirequently, encounter repulses-and
10 rally them afterward so 10 make any show Of
order, would be very difficult act Of Generalship,
in my humble opinion II Is not many months since
an officer who commanded company Of sailors in
the Floridas, was len standing alone in the Pine
Barreus, on The second or third fire from The In
dians No one can be better satisfied OF the deter
mined bravery Of an American Sailor than am,
when in his place. fighting his gun on board ship,
with plenty Of sea-room and his enemy before him,
where hard knocks only can decide the controversy;
but on shore the routine of duty is entirely diff
ferent from that board ship, and the disposition
of Tar so al-averse 10 the small.arm manpuyering
Of soldier that il would be folly 10 expect the per-
Torrance OF a Marines duty by sailor, under any
circumstances But as an old Salt, who was one Of
those who "cul and run" in the Floridas observed,
"put me on board my ship, and III fight her while
there s ring bolt in her but damn me, i'll like this
plan of marching and counter .marching-backing
and filling among pine trees, with bloody minded
Indian popping at one, first on the bow and then on
the quarter from behind places where you can't see
him, and" continued he, God only knows what
kind of weather The Lieutenant would have made-of
ii, If squad Of sOdgers had not marched TO his
rescue as he could not have run if he had felt so
inclined, for copper colored imp of h had
drilled a hole through his RIBS and thus it was
and il company of Marines had not come TO the
aid Of that officer, he must have been len wounded
as he was, 10 the tender mercieS of the infatuated
Indians Thirdly, if it is contemplated 10 call out
the Marine Corps TO act with the army the occa-
sion of any sudden outbreak or other emergency,
throughout our extensive country, as has already
been the case in the Fioridas that branch Of our de-
fence ought certainly 10 be increased as to leave
fec at the different naval stations that the appear
ance of navy yard and public arsenal may be kept
up ii nothing more, while distinguished naval Com
manders, both English and French, are preegrinat-
ing through the different sections Of Republican
America. More anon.
am, &c. ONE OF THE Navy.
The following sentence occurred in No. 2 Of this
series of articles
"Then let me ask, if an efficient Marine Corps
can be expected to perform the highly important
duties required Of it,"
The word Efficient was enormously printed 1t
should have been inefficient"