Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-09-22
AMERICAN NAVAL ANECDOTES.
HORNET AND PENGUIN.

VI tne k1OTnet, ndi1cu NlICHdel CIIItIi,
who had served under the gallant Porter, in
the Essex, when she was captured by the
British, received a shot through the upper
part of the thigh, which fractured the bone,
and nearly at the same moment had the
same thigh broken Immediately above the
knee, by the spankcr boom of the Hornet,
which was carried away by the enemy's
bowsprit while afoul of her. In this situa-
ton, while bleeding upon the deck, and I'M
able to rise, he was seen to make frequent
exertions to discharge his muskct at the enc
my on the top-gallant forecastle Of the PEN
gum. This, however, the poor fellow was
unable to accomplish, and was compelled to
submitto he carried below.
CoBDETT.
William Goblet showed no small exul-
tation in recapitulatlng the naval victories Of
the Americans. He was one day speaking
somewhat boldly on the subject in the pres
cnce of an English officer, who pettishly OBJ
served, "Thcre is good reason for it. |
went on board their man of war after our
defeat, and found half their sailors were
English" And had You not all English 2
asked the nndauntcd radical.
CAPTAIN GEORGE LITTLE.
Among the vessels which were built by
the State of Massachusetts, during the War
Of the Revolution, was the sloop Winthrop.
She was built in the then District of Maine,
and for the express purpose of protecting
our c%oasting trade, which had suffered much
by the captures, &c, of the enemy. She
mounted thirteen guns, and was commanded
by Capt. George Little, of Mansfield, who
had been the first Lieutenant of the ship
Protector, John Foster Williams, ESQ.,,
commander, and who, by our quasi war with
France, in 1898, commanded the frigate
Boston. HIS first lieutenant, in the Win
throp, was Edward Preblc, OF Portland,
who also had been an officer on board the
Protector, and who was afterwards Commo.
dore Preblc. The Winthrop was a very
fortunate vessel, and more than answered
the expectations of those who built her,
She protected the %coasting trade, made ma.
ny prizes, and covered herself with glory
Soon after sailing on her first cruise, she fel
in with two ships which made a formidable
appearance, bu, boldly running down upor
them, she captured them both. They prov.
ed to be two stout British letters of maroue
and she Immediately returned with them lt
Boston.
She made a number of prizes afierward.
and recap,ured some American vessels. Ii
one of her cruises, she re-captured "A sloor
belonging to the late William Gray, Esq
which had been taken by the British bri.
Merriam, of equal or superior force TO the
Winthrop, and with a prize-master and crew
on board was ordered for Penobscot,to which
place Merriam herself had gone. Captain
Little Immediately resolved upon the DARN.
plan of cutting her out. Disgusting his YES
sci, so as to give her as much as possible tn,
appearance of the prize sloop, he entered
the harbor of Penobscot IN the evening !; al
he passed the fort, he was hailed, and asked
what sloop that was-he answered, 8 tht
Meriam's prize 1t is said that the people
in the fort had some suspicious of him, bu
they suffered him to pass. He then ran uT
towards the brig, and as he approached her
was again hailed, and gave the same an,
swer. Take care said they on board the
. Merriam, you'll run foul of u.s. He in
for ned them that he had been ashore on
reef, and lost his cables and anchors, and re
quested them to throw him a warp, Sllicl
was Immediately done.
The sloop was then hauled up to the brig
and 1t. Preble, as he had been appointed
jumped on board, with a number of men
who had their various duties assigned them
while some slipped the cables, others mad'
sail, &c. Preble, himself, with IA few fol
lowers, entered the cabin, where the officer
were Just changing their 6yess, for the pur
; pose Of going on shore. They made som'
attempts TO get their arm for defence, bu
we're soon subdued. When they were com
ing out of the harbor, the fort fired upol
them, but Capt. Little judged it best not Il
return the fire /; he kept steadily on hi
course, and when out of reach of their shot
triumphantly let of thirteen sky rockets !
In the same cruise he took two other vessels
one of which was a schooner of eight guns
which he had driven ashore. He manned
, his boats, went on shore, made the GREY
/, prisoners, and got off the schooner; wit
! his four prizes he returned to Boston. The
: five vessels entered the harbor together j
fine style, with a leading breeze ; and a gal
, liant show they made.
!, COMMODORE ri
!. AT the tremendous battle of Lake Erie
i. when the sweeping havoc which was some
D times made, a number of men were shot ava
from around a gun, the survivors looked 81
: %lently around to Perry and then stepped in
$ 10 their places. When he looked at the poo
0 fellows lay wounded and weltering on tn
: deck, he always found their faces turned to
: wards him, and their eyes fixed on his coun
~tenance. 1t is impossible for words to heigl
] ten the simple affecting eloquence of this an
ecdote. 1t speaks volumes in praise OF III
y heroism of the commander, and the conf
dence and affection of his men.
GOODNESS IN TIME OF ANGER
The second Lieutenant Of the Lawrence
o standing by Perry, was struck in the brea
J by a chain shot. which, having passed throue
the bulwark, was so far spent as TO have :
other effect than to knock him down. tt
shot lodged in the bosom Of his waistcoa
|; He felt stunned by the violence Of the blo'
IA D>,-v .on.oorh;ng him and nerfaivinp