The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-07-06
WHOLE NO. 242.

around the irigatc's stern. he pulled for the
harbor, and was soon lost sight Of.
For two hours, nothing was heard of the
adventurous officer or his boat, and the old
commodore began to grow quite anxious about
them. Already pale streak stretched itself
along the eastern waters, and the clouds'grew
thinner and fewer, while here and there star
peeped out, and was reflected back By the
waves below.
"Boa, ahoy p challenged the sentinel at
the gangway Of the Constitution, as the dash
Of oars at this moment fell upon his ear.
aye! aye" replied the officer of the
boat, and soon lieutenant Hull crossed the
gangway Of the ship.
1t is the Sandwich, sir" said the lieuten-
ant after reporting his return, and paying the
| customary salute
Are you certain :" said commodore Tai
bot
II am, sir" replied the officer, " for lny
directly under her stern, and heard through
the cabin windows, which were open, her off
GERS congratulatng themselves upon the de-
parture Of the Constellation, for such they
deem this ship to be. Beside. noticed her
nasts and bowspit, as swept along under the
guns OF the iort-they are asyou described
them To be.h ....,
"Pll have her, by -,' said commodore
Talbot as he looked again ut the harbor, which
began TO show itself amid the haze Of dawn
About ship, sr-set all the studding sails"
and bidding the lieutenant good night, the
commander in chief bounced into his cabin.
The trigate swiftly came about, and took
her departure from the land. Soon the stud
ding sails on both sides were spread out to the
wind, and, like a mountain of snow, she
danced along upon the bosom of the deep, I'M
til her morning watch looked out in vain for
the blue outline Of the island Of Sun Domingo
sail o." cried the look out.
"Where away 7" said the officer Of the deck.
/" On the lee bow. sir" replied the seaman.
Can you make her out p hailed the Off
Ger.
"she is a sloop, sir,' and shows American
colors"
Hoist our ensign" said the lieutenant.
"Aye, there C. aes the Sally i'll the nick of
time,' said the commodore, who had left the
cabin at the first hail. Mr.. Hull. make a
signal for her to run down and speak US; we
will soon proceed to business
In short time, the sail, which proved to be !
the American sloop Sally, came alongside of
the Constitution. Alter n conference with
her captain, he and his crew came on board
the fri late, while lieutenant Hull, with party
Of seamen and marines, the latter led by the
brave captain Carmick, Immediately repaired
on board Of the sloop. Having received or
ders from the Commodore, the sloop now put /
her helm up and ran for the island.
in.the course of the night, while running
down for her.port under easy sail, shot sud-
denly flew over the Sally, and soon after an
English frigate ranged up along side. Mr..
Hull hove 10, and when the boarding lieu
tenant gained the sloop's deck, where he found
so large a party Of men and officers in naval
uniforms, he was much surprised. lie was
told the object Of the expedition, however,
and expressed his disappointment, as his own
ship was only waiting to let the Sandwich
complete her cargo, in order to cut her out
also''* ~'.
1t was about noon of the following day
when the sloop stood in TO the harbor OF Port
Platte Before her lay the Sandwich, with
her broad,de bearing on the approach; and
in the rear Of her, at no great distance, bat
terry show, its long row of black teeth for
her protection.
Lieutenant Hull had sent nearly all the
men below, before he entered the harbor, and
now, having stern anchor ready, he bore
down, like short handed lubberly sloop, for
the bows Of the Sandwich. AS he drew
near the ship, he said, in a low voice, :" Stand
by to board" aud soon large number OF men
crouched under the bulwarks, ready for acton.
You will be afoul of me-" said the lieu
tenant of the Sandwich, who was leaning
carelesslv over the bulwark as the sloop came
down.
81 think | SHALL" was the laconc reply.
In a moment, the sloop struck the bows OF
the enemy.
"Let 90 the kedge,' Numbered the lieu
tenant-it was done like magic.
Boarders, away" cried he /; and Selling
his cutlass, he crossed the gangway of the
Sandwich, at the head OF his men, and car
ried her without struggle.
Captain Carmck, in the ships boats, now
landed, carried the battery, spiked the guns,
and retired without the loss Of man.
A great commotion was now perceptble
on shore but the commander and his crew
went swiftly to work to secure their prize,
and, though she was dismaatlrd above her
deck, and her guns slowed in the hold, before
sunset she had her royal yards crossed, her
guns scaled aud her crew quartered. She
now got under way, with the American flag
al the ensign peak, and stood ont Of the har-
Dor in company with the sloop,
Evening was slowly fading into night, as
ship, followed at some distance by 4 sloop,
bore down for the Constitution.
Hail the stranger" said Commodore Tai
bot.
what ship is that" Numbered the officer
of the deck, through his trumpet. -
THE United States ship Talbot, |. Hull,
commander" replied the victorious officer, as
he drew near enough to Ne distinguished By
the officers "f the frgate.
alt is Hull, by heavens !" said the en-
modore. IN a few minutes, lieutenant Hull
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