, 1842-10-15

non ShO tnFOuSh Inc port, and dash
ed him to pieces between US, cover
ing me and the officer all over with
his brains. Their fire was awful: the
whole of the shot of the two heaviest
ships IN the squadron pouring into US
nigh on two hours without Interrupt
ton. Our brig became a complete
slaughter-house-the guns dismount-
ed-carriages knocked to pieces
some Of our ports knocked into one
hammock netting shot clean awav-
iron stancheous twisted like wire
and adevelish deal-more daylight than
canvass in our bolt ropes-the wound.
ed pouring down SO fast into the
cockpit, that the surgeons didn't pre-
tend to do more than apply tourni-
quets to stop the bleeding; and many
of the men came back to the guns in
that condition; while others were
killed in the hands Of the surgeons.
One shot came through the cockpit,
jist ove the surgeons's head, and
killed Midshipman Lamb, who was
coming up on deck, with a tourniquet
at his shoulders, and another killed a
seamen who had already lost both
arms. Our guns was nearly all dis
mounted; and finally there was but
one that could be brought to bear;
and so completely were the crew disa-
BLEED, that the Commodore had to
work at it with his own hands. The
; men became almost furious with des-
pair, as they found themselves made
the target for the whole squadron;
+ and the wounded complained bitterly
Of the conduct Of the Niagara, as
they lay dying on the decks, and in
the cockpit. Two shots passed through
the magazine-one knocked the Ian
tern to pieces, and sent the lighted
wick upon the floor; and if the gun
ner hadn't have jumped on it with
his feet before it caught the loose
powder-my eyes! but that ere ship
and every thing on board would have
+ gone into the air like a sheat OF sky
rockets, and them as was on 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 the Commodore. Our
lieutenant Of marines, Lieutenant
Brooks--him as was called the Bos.
ton Adonis-the handsomest mar IN
lhe service, was cut nearly i n two
bv a n n shot, and died before
he close of the action.
1t was nigh on all up with U.s.
The men was real grit tho, and even
the wounded cried, "Blow her up,
rather than strike. Well, as things
stood, :here was an end of the Law
renee. so far as fighting went-and
our Commodore says, says be-
"Lieutenant Yarnal.--the American
flag must not be pulled down over
my head this day, while life remains
in my body: | will go on board that
; ship and bring her myself INTO action
and | will leave II 10 you 10 pull
down the L.awrence's flag, if there
is no help for it," So we got our
barge alongside, by the blessing OF
Heaven, not SO much injured but
what she'd float, and off we pushed
for the Niagara-the Commodore
standing with his motto flag under
his arm; but as soon as the enemy
caught sight of US. they delivered a
whole broadside directly at the boat
and then peppered away SO briskly,
that the water all around US dubbed
like a duck pond in a thunder shower.
There Perry stood, erect and proud
in the stern s%heets--his pistols strap
ped in his belt, and his sword in his
hand-his eyes bent upon the Nigga
ra.--as if he'd jump the distance
never needing the shot flying around
him like hail. The men begged him
to sit down-they entreated him with
tears in their eyes--but it was not
until | dragged him down by main
force, the men declaring that they
would lay upon their oars and be ia
ken--that he consented.
There's them as saws Elliot nouldn't
come down, and there's them as says
he couldn't-all Knows, is, that when
our gallant young Commodore took
the quarter deck, the Niagara walked
down into the thicketst of it quick
enough-my eyes! how we did give
it to 'em, blazing away from both
side at once.
We ran in between the Detroit
and Charlotte, our guns crammed to
the muzzle-and delivered both Of
our broadside into them at the same
lime raking the others with grape as