Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-08-31
WHOLE No. 600.

sailor, who was on board the latter ship
during the action. We extract the ac-
count from very interesting little work
published for Mr.. Leech by Tappan s.
Drnnri of Boston, and entitled "'Thiry
Years from Home, or Voice from the
Main Deck"
The Sabbath came, and it brought
with ii stiff breeze. We usually made
n sort of holiday of this sacred day
Aller breakfast II was common 10 muster
The entire crew on the spar deck, dress
ed as the fancy OF The captain might die
tate sometimes in blue Jackets and
white trowsers, or blue jackets and blue
trowsers AT othertllnes IN blue jackets,
and scarlet vests, and blue or white
trowsers with our bright anchor but
tons lancIng IN the sun, and our black,
glossy hats, ornamented with black rib
hons, aud with the name Of our ship
painted on them. After muster, we
frequently had church service read by
the captain the rest Of the day was de-
voted to ldlencss. But we were destined
TO spend the Sabbath, just introduced TO
the reader, in very different manner.
/ We had scarcely finished breakfast
before the men at the mast head shouted,
Sail ho =
The captain rushed upon deck, ex-
claiming Mast head there :"
"Sir -
\ Where away is the sail -
I. The precise answer to this question
do not rccoIlect, but the captain pro-
ceeded to ask, "What does she look
like :"
"a square rugged vessel, SIR" was
the reply Of the look out.
Atera few minutes, the captain shout
ed again, MASTHEAD there !"
"Sir !"
"What does s he look like ?"
"A large ship, sir, standing toward
us !"
by THIS time most of the drew were on
deck eagerly straining their eyes toob-
tain glimpse of the approaching ship.
and mdrmuring their opinions TO each
other on her probable character. Then
came the voice ofthe captain, shouting,
keep silence, fore and aft !" Silence
being secured, he hailed the look oui,
who to his question of "Wbal does she
look like 2" replied, "a large frigalo,
bearing down upon US, sir -
/ A whisper ran along the crew that
the stranger ship was Yankee frigate.
The thought was confirmed by the com
mand of "All hands clear the ship for
action, ahoy 20
\ The drum aud fife beat to quarters
bulk heads were knocked away the
guns were released from their conline-
Inent ; the whole dread paraphernalia Of
battle was produced and after Tho
lapse OF II few minutes of hurry and con
fusion, every man and boy was at his
post, ready 10 do his best service for his
country, except The band, who, claiming
exemption from the allray, safely slowed
themselves away in the cable tier. We
had only one sick man on the list, anJ
he, at the cry of battle, hurried from his
cot, feeble as ao was, to take his post of
danger A few Of the junior midship-
men were stationed below, on the berth
deck, with orders, given in our hearing.
TO shoot any man who attempted TO run
from his quarters.
Our men were all in good spirits
though they did not scruple to express
the wish iha, the coming foo was
frenchman rather than \ ankee. We
had been told, 10y the Americans on
board, that Gigales in the American
service carried more and heavier metal
than ours. This, together with our
consciousness of superiority over the
French at sea, led us to "A preference for
a French Antagonist.
The Americans among our number
lcIt quite dlsconccrted at the necessity
which compelled them to fight against
their own countrymen. Ono of them,
named John Gard, as brave seaman as
ever trod plank, vcntured TO present
h,m-elf to the captain, as a prisoner,
frankly declaring his objections TO fight.
That officer, very ungenerously, order
ed him to his quarters, threatening to
shoe, him If he made the request again.
Poor fellow ile obeyed the UNJUST
command, and was killed by shot from
his own countrymen. This fact is more
dIsgracelul TO the captain Of the Mae
edonian, than even the loss OF his ship.
It was a gross and paIpable violation OF