Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1843-07-19
No. II.

with small arms, whose duty II was 20 attend
TO trimming the sails, and TO use their muskess,
provided we came 10 close action. There were
others also below, called sail TRAINERS, 10 as
sist in working the ship, should il be necessary
10 change her position during battle.
My station was at the fifth guG Oil the main
deck. IL was my duly to supply The gun Win
powder, boy being appointed TO each gun in
the ship on the side we engaged for this Pul
pose. wooden scream was placed before ,hs
entrance 10 the magazine, with hole ~ It.
through which the cartridges were passed lu
the boys we received them there and cover
ing them with our jackets, hurried 10 their res
pecIlve guns. These precautions are Observed
to prevent the powder from taking lile before 1t
reaches the gun.
Thus we all stood waiting orders IN notion
less suspense At last we fired three guns from
the larboard side of the main deck this was
followed by the command, Cease frns you
are throwing away your shot,
Then came The orders 10 wear ship and
prepare to attack The enemy with our srarboafl
guns Soon after this | heard firing from
some other quarter, which supposed To he
discharge from our quarter deck guns; though
Improved TO be the roar Of The eneriy's can
Vpn.
strange noise such as | never heard be-
fore, next arrested my attention it sounded
like the tearing of sails just over our heads.
This soon ascerlained TO be the wind of the
enany's shot The firing after few minutes
cessation recommended The roaring of can.
non. could be heard from all parts Of our iremb-
ling ship, and minglisng as it did with that Of
ousfoes, il made d most hideous noise By
and by heard the shots strike The side Of our
ship The whole scene became indiscribably
confused and horrible: it was like snnie awful
tremsndous thunder storm whose dealenine
roar is attended by the incesSant s,reaks OF
lightning, carrying death in every fash, and
s,rewiRg the ground with the victims Of lis
wraths only in our case the scene was render
ed more horrible than that, bv the presence Of
torrents Of blood which dyed our decks.
Though the recital may be painful yet as it
will reveal The horrors of war, and show at
wha, fearful price a victory is won or LOST, [
will present the reader with things Is they met
my eye during the progress Of that dreadfaa
fight. was busily supplying my gun wiIl2
powder, when | saw blood suddenly fly from
the arm ol man stationed al our gun. saw
nothing sKike him; the effect alone was visible;
in an instant the third lieutenant tied his hand
kerchief around the wounded arm, and sent the
groaning wretch below 10 the surgeon The
cries of the wounded now rang through all
parts Of the ship These were carried 10 The
cockpi, assfast as they fell, while those more
fortunate men who were killed outright, were
Immediately thrown overheard. as | was sta
toned but a, short distance from the main hatch
way, could catch glance at all who were
carried below, glance was all could indulge
in, for The boys belonging to the guns next TO
mine were wounded in the early part Of the ac-
ton, and haddo spring with all my might to
keep three or foar guns supplied with carTidg-
es. saw two of these lads fall nearly To-
gelhes. One of lhem was struck in the leg by
a large shot; he hkd 10 suffer ampuiation above
the wound The other had grape or canister shot
sent through his ancle. A stout Yorkshireman
lifted him into his arms, and hurried him toIhe
cockpit He had his foot cut off and was thus
made lame for li(e Tsyn of the boys station
ed on the quarterback We're killed. They were
both Portuguese A man, who saw one Of
them killed. aferward ,oldqe that his powder
caught fire and burnt the flesh almost off his
face In this pitiable situations the agonizing
boy lifted up both hands as if imPoring relief,
when passing shot intanty cut Jim in two.
was an eyewitness to sighh equally re-
volnng. A man named Aldrich had one of his
hands cut off by shot, and almost at the same
moment he received another shot which tore
open his bowels in terrible manner. As he
fell two or three men caught himin their arms,
and as he could not live, threw him overheard
One of the officers in my division also fell
in my sight He was noble hearted fellow,
named Nan Kivell. A grape or canister shot
struck him near the heart, exclaiming, "Oh
my God?" he fell and was carried below, whers
he shortly after died.
Mr.. Hope. our first lieutenant, was also Slight
Iy wounded by gIummel or small iron rug.
probably torn from . hammock clew by a shot
He went below shouting TO he men TO fghs
on. Having had his wound dressed, he came
up again, shouting 10 us at the top of his voice,
and bidding us fgh. with all our might. There
was not a man in The ship but would have re-
DICED had he been.in the place of our mas
er's mate, the unfoRunale Nan kiyell.
iHhn ho.tl Ian boo