Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-08-31

\ muZzle knocked Oui aud when the shi
rolled, II struck beam ofthe upper dect
with such force as To become jainmed nm,
I fixed IN that position. n twenty lou
pound shot bad nl-n passed ihroagh tn,
screen Of ttre magazine Immediately owe
The ofilice through which we passed ou
powder. The scho,Iinastrr received d
death wound. The brave boatswain
who came from the sick bay TO the din o
battle, was fastening stopper on n back
stay which had been shot away, wheI
his hrad was smashed To pieces by can
n"n ball another man, gong TO complri,
The unfinished task, was also struck down
Arother of our midshipmen also received
n severe wound. ! he unfortunate war,
room steward, who attempted to cut hi
throat on former occastn, was killed
A frllow named John, who, Tor some pet
~ offence, had been sent on boaId AS q
punlshment, was carried past me, wound.
ed. | distinctly heard the large blood
drops fall pat, pat, pat, on the deck hi,
wounds were mortal Even poor goat
kept by the officers for her milk, did no
escape the general carnage, her hind
/ legs were shot oil, aud poor Nan was
thrown overheard Such was The tern
BILE scene, amid which we KEEP; on cui
shouting and firing. Our men fou. nj
like tigers. Some Of them pulled at
their jackets, others their jackets ant
vests while some, still more determined
had taken of their shirts, aud, with moth
ing but n handkerchief tied round the
wristbands of their lro~sers. fought like
heroes. also observed boy, named
Cooper, stationed ~ agun some distance
from the magazine. lie came 10 and
fro on The full run, aud appeared To be Us
"mcrry as cricket" The third leu
tenant cheered him along, occasionally,
by saying, "Well done, my boy, you Are
worth your weight in gold"
| have often been asked what were my
feelings during tins fight. felt pretty
ruch as suppose every one does At
such time. That men are without
thought when they stand amid the dying
and the dead, is too absurd an idea to be
entertained moment. We all appeared
cheerful, but know that many a serious
thought ran through my mind still, what
could we do bnt keep up scinblance, nj
least, of animation TO run from our
quarters would have been certain death
from The hands of our own officers to
give way to gloom, or to show fear,
would do no good, and nigh, brand uS
with the name of towards, aud ensure
certain defeat. Our only true philosophy,
therefore, was to make the best of our
by fighting bravely and cheer
fully. thought a great deal, however.
Of the other world every groan, every
falling man, told me that The next ins,an,
| might be before the Judge Of all the
earth. For this, ] felt unprepared but
being without any particular knowledge
Of religious truth, | satisfied myself by
repeating again and again the Lord
prayer, aud promising that il spared !
would be more attentive To rclig ious du-
lies than ever before. This promise |
had no doubt, at the time, Of keeping
but have learned since that il is easier
10 make promises amidst the roar Of the
battles thunder, or in the horrors ol ship
wreck, than to keep them when danger
Is absent, aud safety smiles upon our
path.
While these thoughts secretly ngiiated
my bosom, The din of battle continued. -.
Grape and canister shot were pouring .
hIough our port holes like leaden rain,
carrying death in their trail. The large
'hot came agans, the ships side like
ron hail, shaking he, to the very keel,
,r passing throushl her iimbers, ard
terrific splinters, which did n
more appalling work than even their own
death giving blows. The reader may
form an idea Of the effect Of grape and
canlster, when he is told that grippe shot
is formed by seven or eigh, balls confined
10 an iron and tied in cloth. These
balls are scattered by the explosion ofthe
powder. Canister shot is made by filling
4 powder canister with balls, each a.
arge as Two or three musket balls these |
also scatter with direful effect when dis |
charged. What then with splntcrs, can !
ION balls, grape and canister, poured in
'essanlI Y upon us, the reader may be as
ured that the work of death went on in |
manner which must have been salts.
actory even to the King Of Terross HIM
ELF. /
Suddenly the ra,lling Of the iron hail
cased. We were ordered TO cease fir
ng. A profound silence cnsucd, broken
nly by the siIned groans Of the brave
uflerers below. 1t was soon ascertained
hat :hc enemy had shot ahead to repair
Iamages, for she was not so disabled but
he could saIl without difficulty while
We were so cut up that we lay utterly
lclp|ess. Our head braces were shot
way the fore and main top-mass were
,one; the mizzen mast hung over the
tern, having carried several men over in
Is fall we were IN the stale Of com
lete wreck.
A council was now held among the
Ulcers on the quarter deck. Our con
ition was perilous in the extreme vic
ory or escape was alike hopeless. Our
hip was disabled many Of our men were
iIled, and many more wounded. The
nemy would without doubt hear down 1
Ipon us ina few mmncnts, and, as she
'ould now choose her own position, would
WI hotu douht rnk n a., Tn,o o,d ac, A.,l