Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1842-11-17

herself of her distance-runs up close
under the starn of the Detroit, and both
ships pOurs in their combined fire into
our ship the Lawrence.
81 heard the master myself, and after
warts two or. three Of the other officers
60 upto the Commodore curing the ac.
ton, and call hisattention to the Niaes
ia, apd complain Of her treacherous or
cowardfy conduct. Well, them two
ships gin it to us hot and he avy. and in
three minutes we was SO enyelore.l in
smoke, that we only aimed at the flashes
OF their gun for we might MS we'll have
tried to trace "a flock of ducks in the thick
est log on the coast of Labrador as their
spars or hulls. | was working at one Of
The ford guns. and as after she was load.
ed, the Captain of the piece stood waiting
with the trigger lanyard in his finger, rea-
dy to puli, one of tie officers calls out.
say. sir, why don't you fire ?" II
want to make her tell, SIR" saws the
gunner; ''I'm waiting for the fash
there 1T is''-and as be pulled the trigger.
cannon shot came through the port and
dashed him to pieces betw cen US, cover
ing me and the officer all over with his
brains. The fire was awful the whole
OF the shot of the two feaviest ships in
the squadron pouring into us nigh on two
hours without interruption.
Our brig became complete slaush-
ter house-the guns ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ages knocked to pieces-some Of our
ports Knocked into one-hammock net
ting shot clean awav-iron stancheons
twisted like wire-and deviIissh deal
more day light than canvas in our bolt
ropes-the wountie5i 'pndring down so
last into the cockpit. that the surgeons
dlnn't pretend to do more than apply
tournIquets to stop the bleeding; and
many ct the men came back to the guns
IN that condition while others were kill
ed in the hands Of the surgeons. Fone
shot came through the cockpit, Just over
the surgeons head, and killed midship-
man Lamb, who was coming up on deck,
with a tourniquet at his shoulder, and
another seaman who had already lost
both arms. Our guns was nearly dis.
mounted :; and finally, there was but
one that could be brought to bear; and
so completely we're the crew disabled,
that the Commodore had to work Mt It
with his own hands.
1.-The men became almost furious with
despair. 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 dy-
ing on the decks, and in the cockpit.
Two shots passed through the magazine
one knocked the lantern to pieces, and
sent the lighted wick upon the floor;
and it the gunner hadn't have jumped on
it with his feet be fore it caught the loose
powder-my eyes! but that ere ship, and
every thing on board. would have gone in
TO the air like a sheaf of SIX y-rockets.; and
them as was on board. never would have
know'd which side whipt. Out CT 100
men that went into action. '95 men were
either killed Or wotndeI, and every of.
ficer was either killed or hurt, except the
Communications lieutenant Of marines.
Iaieut. Brooks, 1him as was called the
Boston Adonis.) the handsomest man in
the service. was cut nearly in two by
cannon shot, and died before the close of
the action.
sit was nigh on allup with us. The
men was real grit though; and even fhe
wounded cried, g Blow her up. rather
than strlke!' Well as things stood,
there was an end of the Lawrence. so far
as fighting went and our Commodore
says, saws he. Lieut.. Yarrali-the A.
merican nag must not Be pulled tlohn 'nv-
er 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 it to YOU to pull down the
Lawrence's flag, ifthere 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 Oft we pushed
for the Niagara-tbe Commodore stand
ing with his motto flag under his arm
but as soon as the enemy caGght sight of
us, they delivered Whole broadside di-
rectly at the boat-and then peppered a
way so brfsk1y, that the water all aroiind
us dubbed like dlck pond in thunder
shower. There Perry stood, erect and
proud in the stern sheets-his pistols
strapped in his belt. and his sword in his
hand-his eyes bent upon the Mag CARA
as If he'd jump The distance never heed.
ing the shot flying around him like hail.
The men begged him to sit duwn-they
entreated him with tears in their ewes
but it was not until dragged him
down by main force, the men declaring
that they would lay upon their oars aud
be taken-that he consented.
There's them as says Elliot aooultlni
come down. and there's them as says he
co~lda't-all knows, is that when our
gallant young Commodore took the quar-
ter deck. the Niagara walked down into
the thickest of it quick enoush-ny yes!
how we did give it to 'em, blazing away
from both sides at once. We ran in be-
tween tho Dafra;l al Cho..l.,tAo ,,,r