Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-06-18
a TRICK OF WAR

=, r~""ohl VI the NnlckerbOCher, IN a
| well written article, mentions that during tho
late war with Great Britain, he accideniaIIv
got possession of some of the SIGNALS of the
british Navy, which he pu, in the hands of
| Coinnodore Rodgers-and he thus concludes
his account:
| coon aiter the peace, dining with Commo-
o1re ROGERS at his house in Washington, he
feiated 10 me the following circumstances.
which give nearly in his own words.
II acknowledged the receipt of your letter. -
he observed, sand was determined to have
the signals made on board, and to try the ex-
pertinent, none of my officers understanding
Tor "hat purpose they were intended. Icn,i-
SEQ some time without meeting an enemy,
until one afternoon we fell in with a schooner,
some SIX OF eight miles to windward Of US.
we hoisted the British ensign, which she an
s"ered by displaying another, and at the same
time signal at her main-top-gallant mast
head which Immediately discovered was like
one OF those you had given me. From the
list OF English frlgates, | selected the number
OF Inc Sea Horse one Of their largest class,
ana known to be on our coast, and hoisted it,
She bore down at once and came under our
stern; ordered her to heave to and would
send a boat on board of her.
"'This order was obeyed, and despatched
lieutenant to bring her signal book enioin-
ing on him, and the crew, the strictest secre-
cy respecting our character. He was polite
ly received by the captain, whose schooner
proved to be the "Highhyer.'' Our lieuten-
ants coat attracted his attention, as not being
oil the latest London fashion, although the
crown and anchor was on the button. but cast
ing his eyes on the frigate, seeing the British
ensign, and now and then the red coat ola
marine appearing above the hammock netting.
Ills mind onparenftu
"The Lieutenant informed him that he was
requested to bring his signal book on board
the Sea Horse In order to have some altera-
lions made. as there was rumor that the Yam
KEGS had possession of something like the
signals, and 1t was therefore necessary TO
change the numbers This ruse had the de-
sired effect, and our lieutenant returned with
the book, which placed me in command of
the whole correspondence of the British NAVY.
i then sent the gig for the captain, requesting
MN to come on board, and bring any despatch
es he might have in charge.
'on reaching our decks, he seemed surpri-
sed at the size of the vessel, praised erclean-
illness, and the order in which every thinp an
Peared; admired the new red coats of the Ma
rineS' and on being invited into the cabin.
handed me bundle of dispatches for Admit
raj Warren, who he observed, must he with.
| - ~ S'A'eS W lctWdIQ. j OTOereu retrnSh-
msass, and. in eer.A~ny with srverol Of my,
officers, we entered into general conversation.
~ asked him what object Admiral Warren
mad In cruising in that neighborhood! He
said, to intercept the American privateers and
merchantmen, but particularly to catch Com
modore Rodgers, who he understood. had
command of one of the largest and fastest sail
Ing frlgates in the American navy! inuuir
ed of him what kind of man this Rodgers
was, and if he had ever seen him? He said
no; but he had understood that he was an odd
character, aud devilish hard to catch. After
conversing on several other subjects, ABRUPT
~ put this question to him:
Slr, do you know what vessel you are on
board off,
'.Why yes, Sir" he replied; con board his
Majesty's ship Sea-horse.''
''Then, sir, you labor under great mistake.
You are on board tie United .SiGies frieafe Pres
fdent, and am Commodore RODGERS al yo,t,
serrice.''
''Ihe dying dolphin never assumed prea-
face.
"Sir,' said he,' you are disposed to be hu-
morous, and must be jokingn l assured him
1T was no joke; and to satisfy him on that
head, handed him my commission. At the
same moment the band struck ND .sYankee
doodle" on our quarter deck; on reaching
which, he saw the American ensign flying, the
red coats OF the marines turned blue. and the
crown and-anchor button metamorphosed into
the eagle.
"fhe affair." observed the commodore.
twas OF immense Importance to our country.
we obtained in fall the British signals the
operations of Admiral Warren, by the non-re-
celpt OF his dispatches were DESTROYED for the
season and itProbably saved the frigate, for
the course was running, at the time of nv
failing in with the Highfyer, would have
brought me into the midst of his fleet durino
the night G. p.
New York. March. 1870.