Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-04-04
WILMINGTON. N. G. FRIDAY April. f. 1s45


the ofheer all over with his brains. Their
hire was awful; the whole ofthe SHOT of the two
heaviest ships in the squadron pouring into US
nlsh On two hours without stopping. Our
brig became complete slaughter-house-the
guns smounted-carriages knocked 10 pieces
Some OF our ports knocked into one-ham-
mocK"netting shot clean away-iron stancheons
twisted like wire-and a devlish deal more
daylight than canvass in our bolt ropes-the
wounded pouring down so fast into the cock.
pr. that the surgeons didn't pretend to more
IMAM apply tonrnlquest to stop the bleeding
and many of them came back to the guns In
that condition; while others was killed in the
hands Of the surgeons. One shot came thro'
the cockpit, just over the surgeons head,
and Killed midshipman Laub, who was COM
ing up on deck, with torniquet at his shoul-
der, and another killed a seaman who had al
ready lost both arms. Our guns was nearly
all dlsmounted; and finally, there was but one
that could he brought to bear; and so complete.
~ was the crew disabled that the Commodore
had to work at 1t with his own hands. The
men became almost furious with despair, as
they found themselves made the target for the
whole squadron; and the wounded complained
bitterly of the conduct of the Niagara, as they
lay dying on the decks, and in the cockpit
Two shots passed through the magazne-one
knocked the lantern to pieces, and sent the
lighted wick upon the floor; and if the gun
ner hadn't have jumped on it with his feet,
before it caught the loose powder-mv eyes
but that ere ship and every thing on board
would have gone into the air like a sheaf Of
sky-rockets, and them as was on board, never
would have know'd which side whipped. Out
OF one hundred men that went into action,
eighiy-three were either killed or wounded,
and every officer was either killed or hurt ex-
cept the Commodore. Our lieutenant of ma
lines, lieutenant Brooks, him as was calleu
the Boston Appollo-the handsomest man in
the sarvace. was cut nearly in w 0 by a cam
non shot, and died before the close of the &C.
ton.
1T was nigh on all up with US. The men
was real grit though, and even the wounded
c:ied. blow her up,' rather than strike. Well,
as things stood, there was an end Of the Law.
renee, so far as fighting went-and our Commo-
dore says, says he-'Lieutenant Yarnall, she
American flag must not be pulled down over
body: will 60 on board that ship and bring
her myself into ac,ion-and will leave it to
you TO pull down the Lawrence's flag, if there
is no help for it, So We got our barge along
side, by the blessings Of Heaven, not so much
injured but what she'd float, and off we push
ed for the Niagara-the Commod ore stand
ing with his motto flag under his arm but as
soon as the enemy caught sight of US, they de-
lHvered whole broadside directly at the boat
, and then peppered away so brlskly, that the
water all around Us bubbled like duck pond
: in thunder shower. There Perry stood, e.
rect and proud, in the starn sheets-his pistols
strapped IN his belt, and his sword in his hand
his eyes bent upon the Niagara-as if he'd
jump the distance,-never needing the shot
: flying around him like hail. They begged
him to sit down-they entreated him with
tears in their eyes-but it was not until
> dragged him down by main force-,he men
: declaring that they would lay upon their oars
and be taken-that he consented.
:, There's them as says the Niagara uouldn'
come down, and there's them as says she
couHn't-all know is, that when our gallant
young Commodore took the quarterback, sht
walked down into the thickest Of it quick G.
nough-my eyes! how we did give it to 'em
blazing away from both sides at once. We
ran in between the Detroit and Charlotte, ou
guns crammed to the muzzle, and delivered
|! both Of our broadsdes into them at the same
time-gfape, canister and all,--taklng the
., others as we passed; and the Niagara lad:
u showed it wasn't no fault Of their'n, that they
hadn't come earlier to their work. l neve
u know'd guns sarved smarter, than they saryel
their'n, till the end of the action-nor will
e better effect. We soon silenced the enemy
5 and run up the stars again on the Lawrence a
q she lay a complete wreck, shattered and Gu
n up among them, for ali the world like a dea'
n whale surrounded by shirks. They strucl
II one AFTER another, much like you may hav
u seen the flags Of fleet run down after the eve
II ming gun; and as the firing ceased, and tn
n heavy smoke bank rolled off to leeward, shiv
i er my timbers! but it was a sight for Van
i kee tar to see the striped bunting Shaping tr
: umphanty in the breeze over the British jack
:, at their gaffs.
II IF there's any man, tho, as says that thel
% Commodore wasn't man every inch OF him
~ aye! and ds good seaman, too, as ever walk
i ed caulked plank, there's one here, and hi
T. names Bill Kennedy, as will tell him, thu
- he's know nothing, and talks of bette
Up man nor himself. Aye, aye-scrape the crow
III catur and Lawrence, and splice the mail
no brace with Stewart and Hull, and they /
proud Of his company. He was badly cut VI
re though, and have hearn tell, that when h
nd got home to Engl nd, he wouldn't 90 for
ce See the lady wha, he'd engaged to marry, b,
W sent her word by ffiend-I don't know wi
rs, that friend was, but suppose it was his fir
Int lieutenant, in conrse,-he sends her word tn
ng he wouldn't hold her to her engagement
nd cause why, says he, I'm all cut to piece
&c and amt the man / was, when she engage
a. for to be my wife, Well, what dye thr
n the noble girl says when she heard this! lie
ps him. says she, 'as long as there's enough
he him to hold his soul, will be his lsay, Ma
II, ter Tom, that's most up to the virginny gal
fl Well, well-there never was but one,
&C. would have said as much for Bill Kennedy, al
"a, she, poor Sue, she married curly -headed DO
Iy captain of the main.top in the Horent, in pc
us and was sorry when it was too late. 81
as was good girl, though-and I've lent h
al and her young ones hand once or twice