Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-09-14
From the Knickerbocker Margarine

"REMINISCENCES OF THE LATE WAR.
The Americans certainly exhibited good de-
gree OF courage in several of their obstinate con
tests with the mother country |; but in general, on
land and sea, they showed little training, and less
hnesse. successful ruse de guerre rare
achievement: yet sometimes signal advantages
were obtained by al emulation Of the arts aud
small cunning OF our Gallo neigbbors.'-De RooS.
Ia the summer OF 1871 was passenger in n
ship lying at Long Hope, in the Orkney Islands,
waiting iOr convoy gnn-brig, daily expected
from Leith, in Scotland, to protect TO the Batt
sea. The detention of a week swelled our fleet
To about Nv enty vessels, of various nations, among
which were three tour Americans. Beoo,'inS
impatient with the delay, seeing no prospect OF
speedy deliverance, and fearing the French cruis-
ers, which then infested the German Ocean, we
had no choice but to await the arrival OF the ex-
pccted brig, or form convoy of our own, sulii-
centiy formidable TO defend ourselves in of
attack. We determined on the latter; ard Yam
kce commander of brig, which rejoiced in the
security of fourteen wooden guns, aud myself, un-
detook the management. We selected this brig
as look out vessel, and large American ship,
painted entirely black, as our commodore, who
was required 10 carry by day large red flag ut
the main, and lantern at the peak during the
night.
Our next difficulty was to obtain signals, to in =
form the fleet from time to time of the intentions
of our commodore. This caused some perplexi-
W; but my Yankee friend and myself after some
deliheration, contrived, with three pieces of diff
ierent cOlored bunting, and the ensign and pen
dant, to form seventy five questions and answers,
including few points of the compass, in our
course to Leith.
Walking one afternoon on the highlands over
looking the Pentland Firth, met gentleman, n
passenger in one of the vessels forming our fleet
to whom mentioned the arrangements we had
entered into, and exhibited the plan of tile signals
lie examined them alientiveIy, was amused with
the contrivance, and remarked that he had taste
for painting, asked me if had ever seen the sic
mails used by the British navy. | answered in the
negative, wishing him to explain what they were
We sat down, and with my pencil, on the back %
letter, marked down, with lines and dots, user
by hera!dry painters, each signal as he described
them, including the compass signals. l neve
knew the name of this gentleman, but presume
he was British naval officer, on furough.
thought no more of the signas but on going OF
board our ship, threw them into my trunk, among
various loose papers,
The fleet sailed, making truly formidable ap
pearance, with our black commodore and hi
bloody flag, the lookout brig ranging ahead, ant
sometimes far astern and our vessels, of all ma
| tons, firing almost every hour in the day, AM
running up aud down signals by way of amuse
ment. In this manner we passed along the coas
| OF Scotland, within sight of the land aud some
times sufficiently near TO discover the towns, oh
serving, what we then considered remarkable tht
Vessels were he seen, save nj great distance
and those standing in for the shore.
Thus we continued quietly on our course uni
the afternoon of the third or fourth day, when on
attention was drawn 10 vessel bearing down M
| on us. Al the time, her top gallant sails weropr
| ly visible, but soon the top sails made their al
| peurance, when our commodore ran u y the sigma
A large merchantmen ahead = Having charge
our Signals aud observing that the strangers var,
were very square, and her canvass dark, | an
swered, N man Of toarn Immediate prepar
ti0ns were now made Tor action, by our fleet con
inI together, hauling up courses, and taking
TOP gallant sails but not a flag was disp aye
save the bloody one OF our commodore, In
shot time the hull doomed up and We then di
covered the vessel 20 he Il large .brig, displa
ing the English flag; and if any doubt existed
10 her character, they were soon dspeed by
o heavy shot thrown directly across our bows, wh
q we hove to, us did all The fleet aud displayed o
national coors. In a few moments boat W
;. along side, aud the officer, mounting The side-ln
der, exclaimed In the name of heaven, who Il
you"
We informed him of what the render AREA
o knows, and entering our cabin, explained the pi
ar Of our operations. Being one of those 20
. fellows with which the British men of "
then abounded, he laughed heartily at the id
helped us TO finish q bottle of wine, and stat
thai the fishermen from all parts of the coast no
OF where we were then lying, had run into ABB
lt.1 deem, aud reported an Algerine fleet near
y. coast They were certain of the fact, from
circumstance of large black ship carrying
- bloody flag This rumor was transmitted
TO-. Leilh by telegraph, and his vessel was despac
10 ascertain the cause O the alarm.
In bidding us good afternoon, he observed