New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-07-11


very little merit but as the record OF the e@Pe-
renee and feelings of a simple sailor curing
service of six wears in the British and American
Nayies-it possesses a degree of interest to when
LARGER and more pretending books cannot aspire
1t is of course mainly concerned with the detals
of -service,-with precisely those minute H.
c;dents and ordinary occurrences OF daily LIE on
the ocean which professional authors deem quite
beneath their notice, and which yet give by lar
the most correct Impressions Mr.. Leech wri'es
with ease, and certain graphic aoil''' II i'o -,
always with elegance; and we are sure many wa
find in his book much to repay perusai. we
co,v the following spirited account OF the ceie-
hrsted hattie between the Z. S. tngate United
States and the British frigate Macedonlan-n
which the latter was taken: Leech at the time
was lad on board the captured fngate, and his
impressions Of so terrible contest arc much
more vivid than one CLEANED from official de-
spatches
The Sabbath came, and it brought with 1t
stiff breeze. We usually made sort OF holiday
Of this sacred day. After breakfast 1t was COM
mon to muster the entire crew on the spar deck,
sometimes in blue jackets and white trowsers, or
blue Jackets ana due uOWScIS5 At IiiiiSS AZ
blue Jackets, scarlet vests, and blue or white
trowsers; with our bright anchor buttons ganclng
ln the sun, and our black, glossy hats, ornamentcd
with black ribbons, and with the name of our
ship painted on them. After muster fire.
ouentlv had church service read by the captain ;
the rest Of the dav was devoted to idleness. But
we were destined to spend the Sabbath ust INTRO
duced to the reader in very different manner.
We had scarcely finished breakfast before the
man at the mast head shouted g Sail no."
The captain rushed upon deck, exc.almng
mast head there !"
"Sir! -
"Where away is the sail :"
The precise answer to this question do not
recollect, but the captain proceeded to ask,
"What does she look like !"
"a square rugged vessel, sir" was the reply OF
the lookout.
After few minutes, the captain shouted again,
Masthead there!'
"Sir."
What does she look like z"
g A large ship, sir, standing toward us -
By this time most of the crew were on deck,
eagerly straning their eyes to obtain a glimpse
of the approaching ship, and murmuring their
opinions to 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 lookout, who to his cues
ton of "What does she look like Z" replied, I" a
large frigate bearing down upon us, SIR -
A whisper ran along the crew that the stranger
ship was Yankee irigatc. The thought was
confirmed by the command OF All hancs clear
the ship for action, ahoy :"
The drum and fife beat to quarters; bulk-heads
were knocked away; the guns were released
from their confinement; the whole dread para
phernalia of battle was produced; and after the
lapse of few minutes of hurry and confuslon
every man and boy at his post, ready to do
his best service for his country, except the band,
who, claiming exemption from the attray, safely
slowed themses away in the cable tier. We
had only one sick man on the list, and he at the
cry of battle, hurried from his cot, feeble as he
was, to take his post Of danger. few Of the
iunior mdshipmen were stationed below, on the
berth deck, with orders given in our hearing, to
shoot any man who attempted TO run from his
quarters.
Our men were all in good spirits; though they
did not scruple to express the wish that the COM
ing foe was a Frenchman rather than Yankee
We had been told, by the Americans on board,
that frigates in the American service carried
more and heavier metal than ours. This, to-
gether with our consciousness of superiority over
the French at sea, led us 70 preference for
French antagonist.
The Americans, among our numtier felt quite
disconnected, at the necessity which compelled
them to fight against their own countrymen. One
of them, named John Card, as brave a seaman
as ever trod a plank, ventured to present HIM
self to the captain, as prisoner, frankly declaring
his objections to fight. That officer very I'M
generously ordered Inn to his quarters, threaten
ing to shoot him if he made the request again
Poor fellow, He obeved the un Just cainmand
and was killed by shot from his own country
men, This fact is more disgraceiu 10 the cap
tain 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 American
colors all doubt of her character was at an end
"We must fight her." was the conviction OF
every breast. Every possible arrangement that
could insure success. was accordingly made. 1 ne
guns were shottcd; the matches lighted for al
though our guns were furnished with first rate
locks, they were also provided with matches at
tached BY !lnyards IN case the lock should mss
fire. a lieutenant then passed through the ship,
directing the marines and boarders, who were
furnished with pixies, cutlasSes and pistols, how
10 proceed if it should be necessary to board the
enemy. he was followed BY the captain, who
eXhored them to fidelity and courage, urging
upon their consideration the weli-knewn motto
of the brave Nelson, . England expects every
man TO do his duty In addition to all these
preparations on deck, some men were stationed
in the tops with small arms, whose duty 1t wa:
70 attend to trimming the sails, and 10 use then
muskets, provided we came TO close action
There were others also below, called sail trin.
mers. to assist in working the ship, should il be
necessary change her position during the battle
NV station was at the ffth gun the main
deck. 1t was my duty TO supply the gun with
No, oil