Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-10-13

brador as their spars or hulls. was work.
at one Of the ford guns, and as after she W
loaded, the Captain of the piece stood watt
with the trigger lanyard in his finger, ready,
pull, one of the officers calls out, 81 say, o
why don't you fire. 81 want To make her Tel
sr,o says the gunner, "l'm waiting for the
flash-lhere it is''-and as he pulled trigger,
cannon shot came through the port and dasi
ed him to pieces between discovering me an
the officer all over with his brains.-Ihe fir
was awful the whole the shot of tho tw'
heaviest ships in the squadron pouring into u
nigh on two hours without interruption. Z.
Our brig became u complete slaughter-hous'
the guns MISUNDERSTANDING knockedto
pieccs-some Of our ports Knocked into
one-hammock netting shot clean away
iron stancheons twisted like wire--and dew
lish deal more daylight than canvass in our
bolt ropes-ihe wounded pouring down SO
last into the cockpit, that the surgeons did't
pretend to do more than apply tourniquets to
stop the bleeding; and many of the men came
back TO the guns in llat condition; while 9th
ers were killed in the hands of the surgeons.
One shot came through the cockpit, jist over
the surgeons head, and killed Midsliipman
Lamb, WHO was coming up on deck, with a
tourniquet at hs shoulder, and another sea-
man Who had already lost both armsr-Our
guns was nearly all dsmountcd; and finally
there was but one that could be brought TO
bear; and so completely were the crew dis
abled, that the commodore had TO work ut il
with his own hands.
The men became almost furious with despair,
as they found themselves made the target for the
whole squadron and the wounded complain
ed bitterly OF tho conduct of the Niagara as they
lay dying on the decks, and i'm the cockpit.
Two shots passed through the magazine-onp
knocked The lantern to pieces, and sent tho
lighted wick upon the floor and if the gum
ncr hadn't have jumped on it with his feet be-
fore il caught the loose powder-my eyes!
but that ere ship and every thing on board
wouidha gone into the air like a sheaf OF sky
rockets, and them as was Oh board, never would
have know'd which side whipt. Out of one
hundred men that went into action. eighty three
men were either killed or wounded, and every
officer was either killed or hurt, except tho
commodore. Our Lieutenant of marines, Lieu
tenant Brooks-him as was called the Boston
Adonis-the handsomest man in the service,
was cut nearly i'll two by q cannon shot, and
died before the close of the action. $50, ..s'.n',
1t was nigh OH oil up with us. The men
was real grit tho, and even the wounded cried,
Blow her up, rather than strike. Well, ne
things stood there was an end of the Lawrence,
SO lar as fighting went-and our Commodore
says, says hc,-"l.ieut. Yarnall-the Amcri-
can flag must not be pulled down over my
mead tins day, while life remains in my body;
will go on board that ship and bring her my
sell Into action-and will leave it to you TO
pull down the Lawrence's flag, if there is no
help for it," So we 60, our barge alongside.
by the blessing Of Heaven, not so much injur-
ed but what she'd float, and off we pushed for
the Niasara--the Commodore standing with
his motto flag under his arm; but Us soon a.
Tie enemy caught sight of US, they delivereda
whole broadslde directly at the boat-and then =
pepPered away so briskly, that the water all
around US bubhled like duck pond in q thun-
der shower. There Perry stood, erect and
proud IN the stern sheeis-his pistols strapped
III ms belt, and his sword in his hand--his
eyes bent upon the Niagara,-as if he'd Jump
inc diStance-never needing the shot flying "a
round HIM like hail. The men begged him to
SIT down-ihey entreated him with tears in
their eyes-but il was not until dragged him
down bv main force, the men declaring tina,
they would lay upon their oars and be taken
that he consented
There's them says Elliott ,cou7Gnr como
down, and there's them as says he couldn't,
all knows, IS that when our gallant Young
Commodore took The quarter deck, the Ma
CARA walked down into the hickest of it quick
enough-my eyes how we did give il to 'em.
blazing away from both sides at oncc-Wa
ran III between the Detroit and Charlotte, our
guns craInmed TO the muzzlc-and delivered
both oil our broadsi!es into them at the same
tune, grape, canister and all-rakinr the others
as we passed; and the Niagara lads showed it
wasn't no fault of their'n, that they hadn't have
come earlier 10 their work. never know,d
guns sarved smarter, than they sarved their'n
I'LL me end oil the acnon--nor with better CT
iect. We soon slcnced the enemy. and run
up the stars again on the Lawrence as she Law.
a complete wreck, shattered and cut up among
them, for all the world like dead whale sur.
rounded by shirks. They struck one after
another, much like you may have seen the
hags oil lIeet run down after the evening gun,
and as the firing ceased, and tie heavy smoke
bank rolled of TO lecward, SILVER my timber.,
but it was sight for Yunkee Tar to see tho
striped bunting Shaping triumphan,ly in tho
breeze over the British Jacks al their CATS.
IL therc's any man, though, as saws that
,her Commodore wasn't man every inch OF
nm, aye! and as good seaman, too. as eve,
walked cnnlked plank, there's one here, and
his names Bill Kennedy, as will Tell him. TIM,
he's know nothing, and talks OF better man
nor himself Aye aye-scrape the crown Off
his buttons, and he might mess with Decof;,y
and Lawrence, and splice the main brace ,yi,b
Stewart and Hull, and they be proud of his
company. He was badly cut M. thonrh. ard
have hear'n tell, that when he 90, nome to
England he wound'nt so for to see the ladv
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