The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-08-03

disabled. The one belonged 70 Mad 3 nicce
Of The muzz'e knocked out. and when he shir
rolloa, il struck beam offho upper deck with
such force as t0 become iammed and fixed Il
that position. a tweuty-our pound shot bad
alto passed through the screen ofthe magazine
Immediately over the onlce through which we
passed our powder. The schoalniasierr oceiv.
a death wound. The brave boatswain, who
came from The sick bed 10 lhe din ofbatte, was
fastening a stopper on a back stay whoa had
been shot away, when bis head was smashed
pieces BY a cannon ban; another man, going
tocomplele the unfinished task, was also struck
down Another Of our midshipmen also re-
ceyod a severe wound. The unfortunate
wlrd-room steward, who attempted to cut bis
throat on a former occasion, was killed. A
fellow named john. who f,r s1ne petty offence
bad been sent on board as a punishment. was
carried past ua wounded. u distinctly heard
he large blood drops fall pal, pat, pat, on the
deck; his wounds were mortal. Even a poor
goat kept by the officers for the milk, did not
escape the general carnage; her hind legs were
shot al, and POOR Nan was thrown overheard.
Such was the terrible scene, amid which we
Kept on our shouting and firing. Our men
fought Ike tigers. Some Of them pulled of
their jackets, others their jackets and vests;
while some still more determined had taken
of their shirts, and with nothing but a hand
kerchof tied around the Wristbands Of their
trowsers, foug4t like heroes. also observed
boy named Cooper, stationed a! a gun some
distance from The magazine. lie came to aud
fro on the lulrun, andappearmg 70 be as "mer-
~ as a cricket" The third Lieutenant cheer
ed him along, occasionally, by saying, "Well
done, my boy you are worth your weight in
gold"
/ have been often asked what were my feel
ing5 during this ighf. / ielt pretty much as I
suppose every one does at such time. That
men are without thought when they stand
amid the dying and the dead, is two absurd an
idea TO be entertained a moment. We al ap-
peiTed cheerful, but know that many a soTi-
Gus thought ran through my mind; still, what
could we DO but keep up a semblanco, Mt loast
Of animation To run from our qnarers
would have been certain death from the hands
Of our own officers; 10 give way to gloom, or to
show fear, wonld do no good, and might brand
us with the name Of towards, ami ensure Ger
tain defeat. Our only true philosophy, there
fore was 70 make the best OF CIR ilua,on, bv
fighting cheerfuy. ] thought rreat deal
ofthe other world; every groan every falling
man, told me that the next usau, : might Be
before the Judge Of an the earth. For this, I
iet unpreTared; but being without any partic-
uar knowledge Of religious truth, / satisfied
myself by repeating again and again the
Lords prayer, AMI promising that ifspared
would be more attentive TO religious duties than
hnIfrrfa "a
the time, Of keeping; but have learned since
TINT IL is easier 10 make promises amidst tho
roar Of the battles thunder or in tho horrors
than to keep them when danger
Is absent, and safety smiles upon our path
While these Thoughts secredy apiiatel my
bosom, The din ofbatle continued Grape and
canister shot were pouring through our port
holes like leaden rain. carrying death in the
trail The large shot came against the ships
side lilo iron bail, sinking her 10 tho very heel,
or passing q rough her TIMBER and scattering
terrific sphuters which did q more appalling
work than even their own doath-gjving blows.
The reader my form az idea ofthe effect Of
grape and canister, when be is tod that grape
shot is formed by seven or eight balls c0nin-
ed TO an iron and tied IN a cloth, These balls
arc scattered by the explosion ofthe powder.
Canister shot Is made BY filling a powder can
slcr with bells, each as large as Two or three
musket balls; these also scatter with lireil
effect when discharged, What then With
splnicrs, cannon balls, grape aud canister
poured necessarily upon us, the reader NAV be
assured that tho work Of death went on IN q
manner which must have been satisfactory
even 20 the King Of Tcrrors himself
Suddenly the rafting ofthe iron hail ceased.
We were ordered to cease firing. A proiound
silence ensued, broken only by the slifled
groans Of the brave sufferers below. Il was
soon asceraiued that the enemy had shot a.
head 70 repair damages, forshe was notso dis
allied but she could sail without officially; while
we were so eut up that we lay utterly helpless.
Our head braces were shot away, the fore and
main topmasts were gone; the mlzzen mast
hung over the stern, having carried several
moa over in Us fall; we were in state ofcom-
pete wreck.
a council was nov he'd among the officers
on the gIarfer deck Our condition was per
ilous IN the extreme; victory or escape was
alike hopeless Our ship was disabled; many
0lour men were killed, and many more wound
ed The enemy would without doubt bear
down upon rs In n few moments, and, as she
could now choose her own position, would
without doubt, rake rs fore and aft. ANY
further resistance was, therefore, folly. So
on spite Of the hot-bpinod lieutenant, Mr..
Hope, who advised them not to strike, but to
siuk along side, It was determined TO strike our
bunting This was done by the bands Of a
brave fellow named Watson, whose saddened
brow tod how severely i panied bis lion heart
TO do it, To me il was pleasing sight for
iad seen fighting enough for one sabbath; more
than | wished 10 SEQ again on a weekday.
Ills Britane Maiestys frirate Macedonian
wasnow theprize ofthe American frigate Uni
ted States.