The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-08-08
Miscellaneous.
RATTLE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES
AND THE MACEDONIAN.

,.,o,e. We usually made sort of holiday Of this
,,orcd day. After breakfast it was common to mus
TOR the entire crew the spar deck, dressed as the
fancy Of the captain might dictate; sometimes in blue
,oLe. and blue trowsers; and other times in blue
,ckets scarlet vests, land blue white trowsers with
oor bright anchor buttons glancing in the sun, and
our black, glossy hats, ornamented with black rib
mons, and with the of ship painted them.
After muster, we frequently had church service read
nv the captain; the rest of the day was devoted to
dIeness. But we were destined to spend the sab
oab. lust introduced to the reader, in very differ
sn manner.
We had scarcely finished breakfast, before the
man at the masthead shouted, sail ho!'
The captain rushed upon deck, excaiming, MAST
head theren
'Sirp
where away is the sail!'
The precise answer to this question do not reco-
lec, but the captain proceeded to ask, 'Wha, does
she look like
"A squmc,riggcd vessel, sir, was the reply of the
lookout.
After few minutes, the captain shouted again,
Masthead there"
'Sirr
'Wba does she look like p
"A large ship, sir, standing towards us!'
By this time, most of the crew were on deck, ca
gery straining their eyes to obtain glimpse of the
approaching ship, and murmuring their opinions to
each other on her probable character. Then came
the voice of the captain, shouting, Keep silence fore
and afr Silence being secured, he hailed the look
out, TO his question of 'What does she look like?'
replied, "A large figatc bearing down upon US, sr!'
whisper ran through the crew that the stranger
ship wa' Yankee frSate The thought
Grned by the command of slll hands clear the ship
for acton ahoy!' The drum and fife beat to quar-
ters bnkheads knocked away; the guns
were released from their confinement; the whole
dread paraphenalia Of battle was Produced; and the
lapse ofaf.w minutes Of hurry and confusion, every
man and boy was at his post ready do his best ser
vice to his country, except the band, who, claiming
exemption from the ARRAY, safely slowed themselves
away in the cable tier. We had only one sick man
on the list, and he, at the cry Of battle, hurried from
his his cot feeble he was, to take his post of dan
GER few of the junior midshipmen were stationed
below, or the berth deck with orders, given in our
hearing TO shoot any who attempted to run from
Ills quarters
onr men were all in good spirits; though they did
u" scrnPIe to express the wish that the coming foe
was trenchman rather than Yankee We had
oeen tod by the Americans board that Grgates in
"e american service carried more and heavier metal
"a" ours his, together with our consciousness
O superiority over the French at sea, lead US to n
preference Tor French antagonist.
Inc Americans among our number felt quite dis
concerted at the necessity which compelled them to
's'' against their own countrymen One of them,
'"'"eu John Gard, as brave seaman as ever trod
pa"" 'enured to present himself to the captain as
n, frankly declaring his objections to fight
0'"'e'' very ungenerously, ordered him TO his
1''S threatened to shoot him if he made the re-
a1'" again Poor fellow! He obeyed the unjust
eO""and' and was killed by shot from his own
'ouh'rymcn. This fact is more dispraceful to the
4, t"' Vi inc Macedonian, than even the loss of his
.;" [ II was gross and pa'pable violation of the
rights of man.
IN we approaching ship showed American colors,
s-. IDo' '' her character at end sWe must
was the conviction of every breast Ev-
49, r''''ole arrangement that could ensure success
ns'-1 accordingly made. The guns were shotted; the
'"eS shted; for. although our guns were all fur
;n "''h hrst rate locks, they were also provided
Cnes' attached by lanyards in case the lock
ii. ~. MISS flre lieutenant then passed through
'p' directing the marines and boarders, who
furnished with pixies, cuta sses, and pistols, how
en. ,eu II 1t should be necessary TO hoard the en-
tho ne was followed by the captain who exhorted
consi1 10 hdel'ty and courage, urging upon their
60, 'r the ~c-known motto of the brave Nell
IN ,,1 nasand expects every man to do his duty
moa D"'0" to all these preparations on deck, some
dn,r 'e stationed in the top with small arms whose
Uss,t.. was 10 attend to trimming the Sails and to
Th,. '" muskets, provided we came close to action.
IN were Others also below, called sail trimmers,
10 .L;n IN working the ship. should it be necessary
:, "eF position during the battle.
wa. ''a'On was the fifth gun on the main deck 1t
bebn Jury 10 supply my gun with powder, boy
wa, srpO'nted to each gun in the ship on the side
b,oo. sed' Tor this purpose A wooden screen was
bola o''ore the entrance of the magazine, with a
b,ba - through which the cartridges were passed
'S' we received them and covered them with