Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-06-25
From the Boston Post.
THE LAST SEA FIGHT: THE AME-
RICAN FLAG TRIUMPHANT.

RICAN FLAG TRIUMPHANT
The brig Pandora, Capt. Patton, sailed
from this port early last March on a trading
voyage to the island of St. Domingo. No
thing requiring particular notice occurred
until she arrived at Por, au Prince, where
her cargo, Consisting chiefly of provisions
was purchased by President Riviere, who
stipulated that ii should be landed at Aqua.
and that The vessel should also call at JAG
mel, and there receive on board some mill
tary stores for the use ef the Southern d.
vision of the army. Agrecably to this en-
gagement the Pandora touched al Jacmel,
took on board deck load of field pieces,
powder, shot, and about twenty Haytien
soldiers, and proceeded to Aqua, where she
arrived on the 14th of April. On the af-
ternoon of the same day a sloop arrived,
and reported that she had been fired al by
one of the threearmed schooners that were
cruising in the offing. 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 employ
ed, and would probably make an attempt to
capture her. Capt. Paxton inclined to the
same opinion, and made arrangements &C.
cordngIy. That night he discharged his
deck ad into the sloop belonging to the GO
land received on board TWO twelve
FOUNDER carronades and q long brass french
nine FOUNDER, which. with two short SKIES
belonging to the Pandora, were ranged on
the starboard side. Next morning. Mon
day April Is, there being no vessel in sight
in the otfing, Capt. Paxton commenced dis
charging the cargo, which had to be boa
ted ashore. About 10 A. NJ. two schocn.
ers 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 Tor action. A large quantity Of
bread in bags, with which the decks were
numbered, were slowed amidshps, in the
place usually occupied by the long boat.
Behind this wall of bread he stationed the
Hayden soldiers, in case their services
should be required as smaI-arm men, pre-
terring to have the briggs crew alone to ma
mage The great guns.-As before remarked
her guns were all on the sarboard side.
W hen the decks were cleared Capt. Paxton
clapPed spring on his cable and brought
the vessels starboard broadside TO bear sea-
ward. The guns were next loaded with
round and grape, the American easlgn dis
played at the peak, and the pennant at thc
main. In the mean time the two schoon-
etS had approached within a mile Of the
ahdora' side and side, wing and wing.
steering towards her They still kept on,
until they were about half a mile distant;
then, quick as thought, they brailed their
ioresalls up, came TO the wind on opposite
tacks, threw out Spanish fags, and thou.
hailing the Pandora poured The contents OF
their broadsides into her. Capt. Paxton,
with GOODNESS and decision, ordered the men
stationed at the gens not to fire until the
smoke had cleared away, and ten to take
good aim and let the enemy have it, No
sooner had the smoke passed away than the
Pandora's brGadside was fired with terrible
effect. Not shot was thrown away, aud
even above the din Of battle were heard the
screams of The wounded and the diving.
Without returning another broadside, the
enemy tackled in succession, and brought
;heir otter broadsides to bear; bat before
they coald discharge them. the Pandora's
guns were reloaded and the three vessels
hred a most at the same instant. The en-
emy's guns appeared 10 be elevated too high
to lnjure in any great degree the Pandora's
hull but they cut her running rigging in
many places. After the second broadside
the sehooners edged down upon the nando-
ra, and discharged voIley of muskctry,
which rddIed her bulwatks and rigging,
bat wounded no Que. The Hayticn soldiers.
behind the bread bags, were ordered TO re-
turn 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 services therefore, during
the rest of the engagement were dispensed
with.
Another broldsde from the Pandora
made the schooncrs haul off, and play at
long balls with their long toms. But even
IN this they were matched, for the brass
piece on tue torecastle returned their fire
with interest. Again they approached, and
now the action became general. Load and
ki'c On uOll SUES d. last do p'JS>tDle WAS the
order of the dav In this manner the ac-
ton continued for nearly an hour. when
another schooner was discovered close at
hand. When she came up, boats filled
with men were sent from her on board the
other two schoouers. Then all three bore
down towards the Pandora evidently with
the intention of attacking her on both sides.
But Capt Paxton. who had forseen such an
event while they were manGuvering. hoist |
ted her foretopsail yard TO the masthead.
and stationed boy aloft to let the sail I'll
if it should be necessary. Seeing the dis |
position of the enemy, he gave them in
succession raking shot, as his guns bore. /
then cut away his spring aud cable, set the |
IoFetopsail, and run in before the wind. i
Being perfectly acquainted with the harbor,
be laid his vessel broadsjde on the beach. /
still presenting the starboard side to the |
enemy. The guns were once more brought |
to bear on them, and another, the last |
oroadside was discharged. They did not
-eturn the fire, bat hauled their wind out of
he bay, leaving the Pandora unvanquished, |
even though she was ashore. Capt. Pax |
on and his crew gave three cheers for the
American flag, and thus ended this glorious