Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-08-29
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED WEEKLY.


Of ocean With her drums beating. and colors flying
! aud hear with pleasure the thunder OF the scowiing
wave as il closes over her "pennou, spar, and
SAIL
Ii is usual when men ofmighty genius, Of gallan,
! hearing, Of holy zeal, and OF noble ancestry appear
on this mundane sphere. for some contemporary 90
give a minute account of their lives and actions
| and so far is the Custom carried At The present day.
that the curtain Of domestic life IL ctewed up, and
we are shown the mysteries behind the scenes. =
Nil il be considered strange, then, il one shall
write a series Of sketches Of the deeds Of the rni-
liant Constitution Surely, IL each liitc great insi,
has his Boswell. Old Iron sides shall have her trutn
peter!
In the following pages, fac, viii be blended viii,
fancy in such a manner as mol 70 murder truth, md
tho author viii endeavor TO Irvine for himself a
wreath from the ineShaustiblc laurel that now
blooms from the stump Of her keel, and hangs
around her frame. Startling incidents from cacl.
cruise will be taken from authentic sources, and
what has been emitted hy the pen Of history. will
be added by that Of memory. In many instances,
the details OF Others will be copied, taking care
never to do 80 withot, making proper acknowledge
meni in the notes ri the bottom OF the page. Ha-
wing ircd the deck Of this noble f,igatc. and heard
ihe piping OF the gale through her rigging, and the
thunder Of her cannon above the shifting valleys OF
the ocean, the author feels confident that he shall
be able to serve up the dear old ship, like a skilful
cook, Ia a hundred different ways, and untold many
a deed Of high and noble daring.
CUTTING OUT A LETTER OF MARQuE.
OF all services Of danger which a naval officer
has 10 perform during a time Of war, AMI there are
many, the task OF cutting out an armed vessel from
under the guns OF an enemy 8 fort. and bringing her
out of the harbor in safety, IL considered the most
desperate. Goodness and courage must travel hand
in hand there; and the successful commander OF
such an expedition, under the most favorable cir
cumstanccs, must consider himself well OFT II he
earns his laureIs at the cost Of blood,
The sun was slowly descending behind the blue
peaks Of San Domingo, when nm American ftigate
came in sight OF the village OF Porte Platte, situated
at the head OF a small hafbor on the south side OF
the Island, and, furling her courses, hove too, for
the purpose OF accommodating. Alter scausing mar
rowly the little anchorage, the frigate put about,
and, setting courses, was soon lost amid the shades
of night. The inhabitants of the village had felt
great alarm at the near approach tthe armed ship,
and had reinforced their fort, beside sending a mum
Der OF soldiess ON board the letter oil marqlc, the
Sandwich. formerly a British packet. but now in
the service of the French, which lay close under
the guns of the fort. where she was receiving q
cargo OF coffee, previous to her making a run Tor
France.
Ii was in the year 1900, just after the acton be.
tween the Constellation aud La Vengeance, and
the name OF the conquerer, Truxtun, passed from
lip to lip with instructive conservation. Night
came on the moon had not appeared, aud soud-
ding clouds obscured the stars. The TeeeiHf had
been beaten Mt the garrison, and the inhabitants OF
Porte Platte had retired TO dream Of the daring
cruisers of the American squadron. The irigate,
when she had lost sight OF the island, came about,
and under easy sail stood in Tor the shore. She was
the Constitution, Commodore Talbot, and from the
silence that rcigned Throughout ibe ship, and the
totnl absonce OF light from the battle Ianterns, The
most careless observer would have supposed that
she was about to do something for the glory OF the
old thirteen.
As she drew nigh the port, two officers might
have been seen at the gangwsy, watching narrowly
the lights that twinkled ahead. At this moment
the heavy roar of a cannon came echoing along the
waters, and then, ono after another, the hghts dis
appeared, until none were seen bot those which
seemed 10 be designed to burn throughout the
night.
"Now is your time," said the elder Of the per-
sons to the younger F" have the second cutter man
ned, sir, and come to me for farther orders" Thus
saying the Commodore, cor it was he, looked a, the
compass, and entered the cabin. In a few minutes
a knock at the cabin door announced the arrival Of
some officer to make a report.
Enter" said the bluff old Commodore, and i'm
mediately Lieut.. Hull, the first Of the Constitution,
stood before him.
A you ready I" said the Commodore.
"Ali ready, sir" replied the Lieutenant.
"Then, sir,' said the Commodore, " you viii
enter the halbor OF Porte Platte without being dis
covered, ascertain whether The craft that lies under
the guns Of the fort Is the Sandwich, and when you
shall have done so, return and make d report 10
me-"
allow shall | ascertain that fact without board
ing herr" said the Lieutenant.
You will know her to be the Sandwich" repli-
ed the Commodore, "by the black stripes around
her white masts, and by the shortness OF hor bow
spirit. Make haste, sir, for l long to give you o
job"
The Lieutenant smiled as he babe the Commo-
dore good night, and. Immediately ascending, gave
such orders 10 the officer OF the deck MS he deemed
necessary under the circumstances OF the ease.-
The night was pretty well advanced ms Mr.. Hull
Wrapped himself IN his boat cIoak, and seated him
selfin the stern sheets OF the second cutter.
"Shove off, let fall, pull chcerly, my boys"
were tho orders he gave, 10 a low voice, in quick
succession; then, passing swiftly around tho FRI
gates stern, he pulled FOR the haibor, and was soon
lost sight Of.
For two hours nothing was heard of the adven-
turous officer or his boat, and the old Commodore
began 10 grow quite anxious about them. Already
a pale streak stretched itself along the eastern wa
tiers, and he clouds grew thinner and fewer, while
here and there II star pceped out, and was reflected
back by the waves below.
"Boat ahoyl' challenged the sentinel at the
gangway Of the Constitution, as the dash Of oars at
ills moment fell upon his ear.
"Aye! aye!" replied the officer OF the boat, and
soon Lieutenant Hull crossed the gangway OF the
ship.
al II is the Sandwich, sir" said the Lieutenant,
after reporting his return, and paying the customa-
~ salute.
fare you certain2" said Commodore Talbot.
al am, sin" said tile officer, "for | lay directly
under her stern, and heard through the cabin win
dows, which we're open, her officers congratulatiog
themselves upon the departure Of the Constellation,
for such they deem this ship TO be. Beside, | no