Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1843-07-19
The United States and Macedonian.

which the latter was taken is from new
work entitled " Thirty years from Home, or a
voice from the main deck, by Samuel Leech.
+" The author at the time was lad on board
the captured frigale, and his impressions OF so
terrible contest are much moro vivid than one
cleaned from official dispatches.
The Sabbath came, and it brought with it a
stiff breeze We usually made sort OF holiday
of this sacred day. After breakfast it was
common 10 muster the entire crew on the spar
deck, sometimes in blue jackets and white
lrowsers, or blue jackets and blue irowsers
at other times in blue jackets, scarlet vests, and
blue or white trowsers; with our bright anchor
buttons glancng in the sun, and our black,
glossy hats, ornamenled with black ribbons,
and with the name Of our ship painted upon
them After muster, we frequently had church
service read by the captain; the rest of The
day was devoted TO ideness. But we were
destined TO spend the Sabbath just introduced
10 The reader in very different manner
We had scarcely finished breakfast before
the man at the mast head shouted, Sail no
The captain rushed upon deck, exclaming
mast head there
sSirp
Where away is the sail?
The precise answer to the question do not
recollect, but the captain proceeded TO ask,
8 Wha, does she look like u
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 Ii kel'
A large ship, sir, standing towards US p
By this time the most of the crew were on
deck, eagerly straining their eyes to obtain a
glimpse ofthe approaching ship, and murmuring
their opinions 10 each other on her probable
character Then came the voice ofihe captain,
shouting, Keep silence, lore and aft p Silence
being secured, he hailed rhe lookout, who, to
his question of What does she look like :!
replied, A large frisate bearing down upon
US, sir :"
A whisper ran along the crew thai the siran-
ger ship was Yankee frigate. The thought
was confirmed by the command of All hands
clear the ship for action, abov y
The drum and fife beat 10 quarters; bulk
heads were knocked away; the guns were
released from their confinement the whole
dread paraphernaia of battle was produced
and after the lapse of few minutes of hurry
and confusion, every man and boy was at his
post, ready 10 do his best service for his coun-
try, except the band, who, claiming exemption
from the affray, safely slowed themselves away
in the cable iier We had only one sick man
on the list, and he, at the cry Of battle, hurried
from his col, feeble as he was, TO take his post
of danger. A few of the junior midshipmen,
were stationed below, on the berth deck, with
orders, given in our hearing 10 shoot any man
who attempted 10 run from his quarters,
Our men were all in good spirits though
they did no, scruple 10 express the wish that
the coming 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, together with our consciousness of su-
periority over the French at sea, led US TO
preference for French antagonist,
The Americans, among our numbers felt
quite disconnected, at the necessity which
compelled them TO fight against their own
counIrymen. One of them, named John Card,
as brave a seaman as ever trod plank, ven-
tured 10 present himself to the captain, as
prisoner, frankly declaring his objections TO
fight. That officer, very ungenerously ordered
him TO his quarters, threatening to shoot him if
he made the request again. Poor fellow he
obeyed the unjust command, and was killed by
a shot fiom his own countrvmen. This fact is
more disgracelul TO the captain of the Mace
donian, than even The loss Of his ship. 1t was
a gross and palpable violation of the rights Of
man.
As the approaching ship showed American
colors, all doub, 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. 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 linyards, in case the
lock should miss fire. A lieutenant then pass
ed through The ship, directing The marines and
boarders, who were furnished with pixies, cut
asses and pistols, how 10 proceed if il should
be necessary TO board The enemy. He was
followed by The captain, who exhorted them to
fidelity and courage, urging upon their consd- |
GRAFTON The wel-known motto of the brave
Nelson England expects every man to do