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

: ~ In o'1ly udu we nad several boys and M
kiiied or wounded, but several of she guns we
dasaoied' Inc one L belonged to had ME
u ths nuzzle knocked out: and when the 81
loueS, i strnck beam ofthe upper deck WI
sucn IoiCe as 70 become jammed and fixed
4 that position. A twentv-four ponnd sbot !.
also passed through the screen of the roagaz;,
immediately over the orifice THROUGH which !
passed our powder. The schoolmaster rece;
death wound. The brave boatswajp. wi
came ron the sick bed 10 the din of battle. w;
fastening stopper on back stay whca n
osel shot away, when his head was sulashf
20 pieces oy cannon bah; another man. roir
70 complete the unfinished task, was also sfruf
down. Another of our midsummer also :,
ceiYeG a severe wound. The unfortunat
Ward-room steward, who attempted to cut b
throat on former occasion, was killed
fellow named john, who for some petty offsnc
mad been sent On board as a punishment. wa
carried past me wounded. i distinctly hear
lhe large blood drops fall pat, pat, pat, on tn
deck; his wounds were mortal. Even y poo
goat kept by the officers for the milk. did No
escape the general carnage; her hind legs wer
| shot off, and poor Nan was thrown overheard
Such was the terrible scene, amid which "
Kept on our shouting and firing. Our me-
| fought like tigers. Some of them pulled Of
| their jackets, others their jackets and vests
| Vhiie some still more determined had takol
off their shirts, and with nothing but hand
kerchlef tied around the Wristbands of tbei
| trowsers, fought like heroes. [ also observe,
a boy named Cooper, stationed a! gun som,
| distance from the magazine. He came to auC
fro on the iull run, and appearing to be as "mer
| ~ as cricket" The third lieutenant cheer
ed him along, occasionally, by saying, "Wel
done, my boy, you are worth your weight ir
gold.''
have been often asked what were nv feel
| Ings during this fight. I felt pretty much as ]
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 moment. we all ap-
peared cheerful, but know that MANY seri-
Gus thought ran through my mind; still, what
could we DO but keep up a semblance, at least
OF animation To run from our anarters
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 might brand
us with The name of towards, ami ensure GER
tam defeat. Our only true philosophy, there
fore was to make the best of orr situation, bv
lighting cheerfully. I thought great deal
OF the other world; every graan, every falling
man, told me that the next instant / might be
before the Judge of all the earth For this,
ular knowledge of religious truth, [ satisfied
myself by repeating again and again the
Lord's prayer, AMI promising that ifspared
would be more attentive to religious duties than
over before. This promise | had no doubt, at
the time, of keeping; but have learned since
that II IS easier to make promises amidst the
roar of the battles thunder, or in the horrors
OF shIpWreck, than to keep them when danger
Is absent, and safety smiles upon our path.
W hile these thoughts secretly az itdtcsl- my
bosom, the din ofbatile 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 like iron hail. shaking her to the very keel,
or passing Il rough her timber, and scattering
terrific spliuters, which did a more appalling
work than even their own doath-gving blows.
The reader my form al idea ofthe effect of
grape and canister, when he is told that grape
shot is formed by seven or eight balls confin-
ed to an iron and tied in cloth. These balls
are scattered by the explosion ofthe powder.
CAMS ter shot is made by filing powder can
lister with balls, each as large as two or three
musket balls; these also scatter with direful
effect when discharged. What then with
splnters, cannon balls. grape and canister,
poured necessarily upon Us, the reader may be
assured that the work of death went on IN
manner which must have been satisfactory
even to the King Of Terrors himself
Suddenly the rafting ofthe iron hail ceased.
We were ordered to cease firing. A profound
silence ensued, broken only by the stifled
groans of the brave sufferers below. II was
soon ascertained that the enemy had shot a.
head 10 repair damages, for she was notso dis
ahed but she could sail without difficulty; while
we were SO cut up that we lay utterly helpless.
Our head braces were shot away, the fore and
main topnasts were gone; the mlzzen mast
hung ever the stern, having carried several
mon over in It's fall; we were in state ofcom-
plete wreck
A council was now held among the officers
on the quarrer deck. Our condition was per-
ious in the extreme; victory or escape was
alike hopeless. Our ship was disabled; many
of our men were killed, and many more wound
ed. The enemy would without doubt bear
down upon us in a few moments, and, as she
could now choose her own position, would
without doubt, rake US fore and aft. ANY
further resistance was, therefore, folly. 30
in spite of the hot-brained lieutenant, Mr..
Hone. who advised them not to strike: but to
siuk along side, it was determined to strike our
bunting. This was done by the hands OF
brave fellow named Watson, whose saddened
brow told how severely it panied his lion heart
to do it, To me It was pleasing sight, ior l
lad seen fighting enough for one Sabbath; more
han [ wished 10 see again on weekday
His Britanic Maiesty's frlgate Macedonian
was now the prize ofthe American frIgate Uni
tod STATES