Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-09-30

liChi, Hdtileu john LaTu, as brave sea-
man as ever trod plank, ventured TO
present himselfto the captain, as pris-
oner, frankly declaring his objections
to fighting. That officer very ungen-
erously ordered him to his quarters,
threatening to shoot him if he made
the request again. Poor fellow! he
obeyed the unjust demand, and was
killed by shot from his own country
men. This fact is more disgraceful to
the captain of the Macedonian than
even the loss Of his ship. 1t was gross
and palpable violation of the rights of
man.
AS the approaching ship showed A
meriean colors, all doubt of her char
acter was at an end. +" We must fight
her was the conviction Of every one
present. Every possible arrangement
that coutd insure success was accord
ingly made. The guns were shotted;
the matches lighted; for although our
guns were furnished with first rate
locks, they were also provided with
matches attached by lanyards, in case
the lock should miss fire. A lieuten-
ant then passed through the ship, di-
recting the marines and boarders, who
were furnished with pixies, cutlasses
and pistols, how to proceed lift should
be necessary to board the enemy. He
was followed by the captain, who ex-
horted them to fidelity and courage,
urging upon their consideration the
well-known motto of the brave Nelson
/" England expects every man to do his
duty" In addition to all the prepar-
atoms on deck some men were station
ed in the tops with small arms, whose
duty it was to attend TO trimming the
sails, and to use their musketS, provi
ded we came to close action. There
were others also below, called sail-trim-
mers, to assist in working the ship,
should it be necessary to change her
position during battle.
My station was at the fifth gun on
the main deck. 1t was my duty to
supply the gun with powder, boy be-
ing appointed to each gun in the ship
on the side we engaged, for this pur-
pose. A woollen screen was placed
before the entrance to the magazine,
with a hole in it, through which the
cartridges were passed TO the boys; we
received them there, and covering them
with our jackets, hurried to our respec
tive guns. These precautions are OBJ
served to prev the powder from TIA
ing fire before it reaches the gun.
Thus we all stood, waiting orders,
in motionless suspense. At last we
fired three guns from the larboard side
Of the main deck; this was followed
by the command, "Cease firing; you,
are throwfn5 away your shotH'
Then came the orders to swear
ship" and .epare to attack the enemy
with o. starboard guns. Soon after
this heard firing from some other
quarter, which | supposed to be dis
charge from our quarter deck guns,
though it proved to be the roar of the
enemy's cannon.
A strange noise such as | never heard
before, next arrested my attention.; it
sounded like the tearing of sails just
over our heads. This soon ascer-
tanned to be the wind of the enemy's
shot. The firing, after few minutes
cessation, recommended. The roaring
Of the cannon could now be heard
from all parts of our trembling ship,
and, mingling as it did with that of our
foes, il made hideous noise. BY and
by heard the shots strike the side of
our ship; the whole scene became in
dcscribably confused and horrible; IL
was like some awfully tremendous
thunderstorm, whose deafening roar
is attended by the incessant streaks of
lightning, carrying death in every
fash, and strewing the ground with the
victims Of its wrath; only in our case
the scene was rendered more horrible
than that, by the presence of torrents
of blood which dyed our decks.
Though the recital may be painful,
yet as it will reveal the horrors of war
and show at what fearful price vic
tory is won or lost, | will present the
reader things as they met my eye du-
ring the progress of the dreadful fight.
l was busily supplying my gun with
powder, when / saw blood suddenly
fly from man stationed at our gun.
! saw nothing strike him; the effect
alone was visible; in an instant the Sd
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