Maumee City express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1838-184?, 1840-04-04
ENGLISH "REMINISCENCES OF
THE WAR TIME DECATUR, &c

THE WAR TIME DECATUR, sc.
A distinguished literary friend, whose
name, were we authorized to announce it
would give additional interest and force ia
The following "reminiscences, writes US in q
letter referring tie the anecdote of Sir Adrri-
raj Harvey TO the last KGickerbocker, as
follows: "Shortly after our list war
was in Liverpool, where | became acqualn.
ted with the officers of the Eighty Fifth,
and served in the maraud upon the city of
Washington, and one of the officers, Major
Brown, had received promotion for his ser.
vices in that affair, having been left by the
British among the rest Of their wounded on
their rapid retreat, after having set fro 70
the public buildings. He was a frank, wnr
thy fellow, and took no merit to himself
for his share in the ARRAY. 'He acted,' he
said, 'under orders, but his heart revolted
Mt !he whole transaction. When he was
left upon the scene of marauG, and the
p ople of Washington recovered from their
confusion and CONSERVATION. he anticipated
rough treatment at their hands. How can
it be otherwise thought he, 'when they
see their public buildings smoking around
them, and catch one of the offenders among
the very ruins he has created On the
contrary, nothing could be more kind and
humane than the treatment of the wounded.
As to Brown. being an officer, and young
man. he was treated with peculiar attention.
He received the best Of nursing and atten-
dance: he was continually receiving pre-
sents of comforts and delcacies from the
ladies' ofthe place; and declared that if he
had been among his own country people,
he could not have been treated more ten
derby. 'Egad1' said he, 'they punished
me with kindness. 1t was heaping Goals of
fire upon my head. almost wished they
would treat me i'll, for 1t made me feel like
a culprit.'
From the same source as the above, we
derive the subJoined original anecdotes, re-
lated to the writer by the brave DECAruR,
whose memory is so Justly dear to every
patriotic American:--'The late gallant DE-
oATtR was sailor to the very heats core,
and loved to tell a9a6Glotes of the common
sailors. | recollecf ~ laxhich he used 10
relate, to the following Purputs-In one of
the actions before Tripoli, Willie fighting
hand TO hand with the Cap.ain of gmn'
boat. Decatur came near heing cpt dow,
bv n Turk. who attacked him from heh;nd
A seaman named REupEN lanes. who was
already wounded in both hands, seeing the
risk of his commander. rushed in md 70.
ceiyed the blow of the upllfted sabre m lis
own head. Fortunately. the bonest faIlow
survived to receive his reward. some limo
afterward. when he had recovered from b;s
wounds, Decatur sent for him on deck ey.
pressed his gratitude for Ills self. .devotion
ln.preseDce Of the crew. and told him 70 ash
for some reward. The honest Iar nullsd
ND his waist-ba and rolled his amid. bu,
seemed utterly at a loss what recon- nense
to claim. His mess-mates gathered around
h m, nudgiDq him with their elbows and
whisnerlt1p IN his ear. He had all rho
world in a string. and could get what he
pleased. the sold man could denv him m.
Thing. One advised this tbng ano,hor
that. sdonb;e nav, sdonbIe alIoy,nce, o.
boatswain's bert6 :, n nocket fnll of monev
and n full SWING on shore. &c. .Jock cl'
bowed them al aside, and would have none
of their coltnseIs. After mature delihera.
tion he announced The reward N which be
aspired, il was. 10 be- trcu,ed from youinr
un he hammoek eI,the,j Tbe Whimsical
reouest was of course oranred. and fron,
that time f,rward. wbenever the sa,lors nj.
ned to ,tow ow,v ,bs;r hammdcLs was :,
be seen loiteriny around and Iookino nm,
g., =. IT,, '5 -