Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-06-22
From the Boston Press and Post.
THE LAST SEA FIGuT---THE AMERI-
CAN FLAG TRIUMPuANT

The brig Pandora, Capt. Paxton, sailed from
this port early last March on trading voyage
to the island of st. Domingo. Nothing re-
quiring particular notice occurred until she ar
rived at Port au Prince, where her cargo, (con-
slstlng chiefly of provisions,) was purchased by
President Riviere, who stipulated that it should
be landed at Azua, and that the vessel should
also call at Jacmel and there receive on board
some military for the use of tho southern d.
, vision of the army. Agreeably to this engage
ment, the Pandora touched at Jacmel, took on
board deck load of field pieces, powder, shot
and about twenty Haytien soldiers, and pro-
ceeded TO Azua, where she arrived on the 18th
OF April. On the afternoon of the same day
sloop arrived, and reported that she had been
| fired at by one of three armed schooners that
were cruising in the ofing. The master of
the sloop also informed Capt Paxton that the
schooners belonged to the Spanish faction.
! then in arms against the government, and had
| no doubt received intelligence of the service
| on which the Pandora was employed, and
would probably make an attempt to capture her.
Capt. Paxton inclined to the same opinion, and
made arrangements accordingly. That night
he discharged his deck load into the sloop,
which belonged TO the government, and re-
ceved on board two twelve FOUNDER carron-
AIDES and long brass French nine FOUNDER,
which, with two short skies belonging 10 The
Pandora, were ranged on the starbcard side.
Next morning, Monday, April 10, there being
no vessel in sight in the offing, Capt. Paxton
commenced discharging the cargo, which had
to be boated ashore. About 10 A. NJ, two
schooners were seen standing in under press
Of sail before the sea breeze.
After Capt. Paxton had surveyed them
through the glass, he gave orders to clear the
decks for action. large quantity of bread in
bags, with which the decks were numbered,
was slowed amidships, in the place usually oc-
cupied by the long boat. Behind this wall of
bread he stationed the Haytien soldiers, in
case their service should be required as small.
arm men, preferring to have the briggs crew
alone to manage the great guns. As before
remarked, her guns were all on the starboard
side. When the decks we're cleared, Capt.
Paxton clapped spring on his cable and brought
the vessels starboard broadsdc 10 bear sea-
ward. The guns were next loaded with round
and grape, the American ensign displayed
at the peak, and the penant at the main. In
| the meantime the two schooners had approach
/ ed within mile ofthe Pandora, side and side,
! wing and wing, steering right towards her.
! They still kept on, until they were about half
a mile distant; then, quick as thought they
brailed their toresas up, came to the wind on
opposite tacks. threw out Spanish flags, and,
without haling the Pandora, poured the con-
tents of their broadsides into her. Capt Pax
ton, with coolness and decision, ordered the
men stationed at the guns not to fire until the
smoke had cleared away, and then to take good
aim, and let the enemy have it. No sooner
had the smoke passed away than the Pandora S
broadside was fired with terrible effect Not a
shot was thrown away, and even above the din
ofbattle were heard the screams of the wound
ed and the dying. Without returning another
broadsides, the enemy tackled in succession, and
brought their other broadsdes to bear; but
before they could discharge them, the Pandora S
guns were reloaded, and the three vessels
fired almost at the same instant. The enemy S
guns appeared TO be elevated too high to inure
the Pandora's hull, but they cut her running
rigging in many places. After the second
broadside, the schooners edged down upon the
Pandora, and discharged voley Of musketry,
which riddled her bulwarks and rigging, but
wounded no one. The IIayten soldiers, be-
hind the bread bags were ordered to return the
fire, but they were so ignorant Of the use OF fire
arms as to place in jeopardy the lives of their
friends, instead of their enemies. Their SER
vices, therefore, during the rest of the engage
ment, were dispensed with. Another broad
side from the Pandora made the schooners haul
off, and play at long balls with their long toms.
But even in this they were matched, for the
brass piece on the forecastle returned their fire
with interest. Again they approached, and
now the action became general. Load and
fire on both sides as fast as possible was the or.
der OF the day. In this manner the action con,
tinued nearly an hour, when another schoon er
wac discovered close at hand. When she came
up boats filled with men were sent from her
on board Of the other two schooners. Then
all three bore down towards the Pandora, evi,
dently with the intention OF attacking her on
both sides. But Capt. Paxton, who had fore
seen such an event while they were maneu