Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1843-07-20

spring had caused the old oncsto be very poor
4. s Gazette.
THE UNlTEp STATES And HlcEDONIiN
1.-THE following description of he battle between
the S. irgaie United States anc the British rigae
Macedonian, is from the pen of Jshn Lsech, Brit
ish sailor, who was on board the latter ship during
the action We extract the account from very in.
,eresting little work published 6r Mr.. Leech by
Tappan d. Denne, of Boston ami entitled Thirty
Years from Home, Voice from the Main Deck. I
The Sabbath came, and it broteht with it a stiff
breeze We usually made soE Of holiday Of this
sacred day. After breakfast it was common 70
muster the entire crew on the spa deck sometimes
in blue jackets ahd white trowses or blue Jackets
and blue trowsers at other times in blue Jackets,
scarlet vests, and blaze or white towsers with our
bright anchor buttons glancng ia the sun, and our
black, glossy hats, ornamented with black ribbons,
and with the name Of our ship painted on them
After muster, we frequently had church service read
by the captain; the rest Of the day devoted to
ideness. But we were destined V spend the Sab
bath just introduced to the reader IL very different
manner.
We had scarcely finished breakfast before the
man at the mast head shouted, Sal no"
The captain rushed upon deck, exclaiming Mast
head ,herer
Sir
where away is tho sail =
The precise answer TO this question do not re-
collect, but ths captain proceesSsS,o asia wha'does
"A square rugged vessel, ir,'was the reply ofthe
look Tout.
After few minutes, the captain shouted again,
Masthead there y
'Srn
'What does she look like =
"A large ship, sir, standing towards u.s.
! BY this time most Of the crew were on deck ca
gerly staning their eyes to obtain glimpse OF the
approaching ship, and murmuring their opinions 10
each other on her probable character. Then came
the voice Of the captain, shouting, Keep silence,
fore and aft +" Silence being secured he hailed the
look out who, 10 his question of What does she
look like = replied, "A large fIgate, bearing down
upon US, sir y
A whisper along the crew that the stranger
ship Yankee iriga,e The thought was con.
frmed by the command of An hands clear the ship
| for action, ahoyr
The drum and fife beat to quarters: bulk heads
were knocked away; the guns were released from
their confinement; the whole dread paraphernala
Of battle produced; and after the lapse of few
minutes Of hurry and confusion, every man and boy
at his post, ready do his best service for his
country, except the band, who. claiming exemption
from the ARRAY, safely slowed themselves away il
the cable tier We had only one sick man on the
list, and he at tho cry OF battle hurried from his 20,
feeble as he was 10 take his post Of danger. A few
Of the junior mi1shipmen were stationed below, OF
the berth deck with orders given in our hearing.
shoot any man who attempted 10 run flom hi. quar-
tiers.
Our men were all in good spirits, though ihey
did no, scruple to express the wish that the coming
foe was Frenchnan rather than Yankee. WI
had been told, by the Americans on board, tina, Fri
gates in the American service carried more and heav
Ter metal than ours. This, together with our con
seriousness OF superiority over tie French at sea- LEI
US 10 preference for French antagonist.
The Americans, among our number felt quite dis
concerted al the necessity which compelled then
to fight against their own eounirymen One o
them, named John Card as brave seamen eve
irod plank, venurej 10 presen, himself TO the cap
tain, a. prisoner frankly declaring his obisc,ons t
fight. That officer, very ungenerousy, ordered hin
TO his quarters threatening TO shoot him If he mad
the Ieques, again. Poor fellow He obeyed III
unius, command, and was killed by a shot from hi
own oounirymen This fact is more disgraceful /
the captain Of tie Macedonian than even the loss
his ship. It was gross and PalPable violation {
The RICH, Of man.
As The approaching ship showed American oolori
all doub, Of her character was at an end. w
mus, fgh; her, was the conviction Of every breast
Every possible arrangement that could insure sue
cess, was accordingly made. The guns were shot
ted The matches lighted for although gun
furnished with first rate locks they were ais
provided with matches attached by hnysrds, In cas-
the lock shonld miss IRE. lieutenant then passe
through the ship, directing the marines and board
ers, who we're furnished Ni1h pixies, eu,lss,es an
( pistols how 10 proceed II il should he necessary
board The enemy. lie was followed by he eap,aii
: Who eIhotied them 10 6deihy and courage. urgin
a uoon their consideration the well known motto
4 toe brsr. Nelson. 'Englss5 expects every man
. de his do,y' In addition 70 all iLS.e preparation