Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1843-07-20

came TO close action There were other. also be-
low, called sail trimmers, to assist in working the
ship should IL be necessary 10 change her position
during the battle
My station was at the hfth gun on tho main deck
II was my duty to supply the gun with powder,
boy being appointed TO each gun in the ship the
side engaged for this purpose. woollen screen
was placed before the entrance 10 the magazine,
with hole In II, through which the cartridges we're
passed to the boys; we received them lhcts, and
covering them with our jackets, hurried their re-
epessis~ puss Thrss pssr sosio0s ~ stn~kssi III
prevent the powder taking FIRE before il reaches the
gun.
Thus we all stood, awaiting ordcr,, in moionloss
suspense. At last we fired three guns from the lar
board side Of the main deck this was followed by
the command, Cease firing you are throwing away
your shot
Then came the order to wear ship and prepare
TO attack the enemy with s,arboard guns Soon
after this hoard firing from some other quarter,
which | at first supposed 10 be discharge from our
quarter deck guns though it proved 10 be the
of the enemy's cannon.
A strange noise, such as ] never heard before,
next arrested my attention il sounded like the tear
ing of sails, just our heads This ! soon as
certained 10 be the wind Of the eneiny's shot The
firing, after few minutes cessation, recommended
The roaring OF cannon could now be heard from all
parts Of our trembling ship, and mingling as it did
wish that OF our foes, it made most hdeous noise.
By-and-by heard the shots strike the sides of our
ship the whole scene became indescnbably con
iusei and horrible IL was like some awful ,remen-
dous thunder storm, whoss deaienng is attend
ed by incessant sreaks of lightning. carrying death
in every flash, and s,rewing the ground with the
"a. a., L.. IL.
was rendered more horrible than that, by the pres
ence of torrents Of blood which dyed our decks
Though the recital may be painful ye, as i, will
reveal the horrors of war, and show at what feat
ful price victory is won or lost will presen, the
reader with things they met my eye during the
progress Of tina, dreadful fight. was busily sup
/ plying my gun with powder, when saw blood sud
denly fly from the arm of man stationed al, our gun.
saw nothing strike him the effect alone visi-
BILE; in an instant the third lieutenant lied his hand
kerchei round the wounded arm, and sent the groan-
| ing wretch below to the surgeon.
! The cries of the wounded now rang through all
parts of the ship. These were carried TO the cock
pit as fast as they tell, while those fortunate
men who were killed outright, were Immediately
thrown overheard. As | stationed but short
distance from the main hachwsy, could catch a
glance al all who were carried below. A glance
was all could indulge in, for the boys belonging to
the guns next TO mine were wounded in the early
part of the action and had to spring with all my
might to keep three or four guns supplied with
ridges. saw two of these lads fall nearly togeth-
er. One OF Them struck in the leg by large
shot he had to suffer amputation above the wound.
The other had grape or canister shot sent through
his ANGLE. A stout Yorkshreman lifted him in his
arms, and hurried him to the cockpit. IL had his
foot cut of, and was thus made lame for life Two
of the boys stationed the quarter deck we're killed
They were both Portuguese. man, who saw one
them killed, afterwards told me that his powder
caught FIRE and burnt the flesh almost Off his face
In this pitiabc situation, the agonized boy lifted up
both hands, as il imploring relief when passing
shot Instantly cut him in two
was an witness TO sight equally revolving.
A man named Aldrch had one Of his hands cut of
by shot, and almost at the sane moment he re-
ceived another shot, which tore open his bowels in
terrible manner. As he fell, two or three men
caught him in their arms, and, as he could not live
threw him overheard.
One of the officers in my division also fell in my
sight. lie was noble hearted fellow, named Nan
KIve A grape or canister shot struck him near
the heart eIclaiming, Oh my Cos" he fell and
was carried below, where he shortly after died
Mr.. Hope our first lieutenant, also slightly
wounded by grummei, small iron ring, probably
torn from a hammock -clew by shot lie went be.
low, shouting 10 the men to fight on Having had
his wound dressed he came up again, shouting to
US a, the top OF his voice, and bidding fsh, with
all our might There not man in the ship bu
would have rejoiced had he been in the place Of ou
masters mate, the unfortunate Nan Kiyell.
The battle went on. Our men kept cheering will
all their might cheersd with them, though con
, Tess scarcely knew for what. Certainly there wal
T nothing very inspritng in the aspect Of thing
, where was stationed So terrible had been I'M
work Of destruction around Us, it termed th'
slaughter-hou.e. No, only had had several boy
, and men killed or wounded, but several Of the gum
were disabled. The one | belonged 10 had piec
Of the muzzle knocked out and when the ship rnll
ed, il struck beam Of the upper deck with s1cl
o force as 10 become jammed and fixed in that posi-
+ ton A twenty -four pound shot had also passe'
+ through the screen Of the magazine, Immediately
over the or6ce through which passed pow
der The school-masier received death wound
a The brave bosi-swain, who came from the sick be-
10 the din Of battle, was fastening stopper on
L. back stay which had been shot away, when bis hea
was smashed 20 pieces by cannon bail anoihs
-. man going 10 complete the unGnishedtssk was ais
q struck down. Another Of our midshpmen also re
. c.yed severe wound. The unoupnsie war
room steward, who attempted 70 cut his throat on
. former occasion, was killed A fellow named Johi
ko C.t sou,e usf'v alliance al heeu sent boar