Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1845-10-16

of Joseph Peabody, of Salem. Mass. and
his fame is confined within no narrow
limits. He was born at Middleton in 1856
He took. though young, lively interest
IN the Revolutionary struggle, attaching
himself to the private armed niaiine. His
first cruise was in Mr. E. W. Derby's
privateer bunker HILL" and terminated
unsuccessiully. His second cruise was
in The Pilgrim, Capt. Hill. They had the
good fortune to fall in with British mer-
chairman. deeply laden, but strongly arm
ed After shor, action the merchantmen
surrendered. and Mr. Peabody as prize
master. took her safe into Thomaston,
Maine. tie commenced second cruise
in the Pilgrim, but the priva,eer being
dismasted and obliged to return to Salem,
Mr. Peabody resolved 10 abandon the ocean
for a time, and devote himself to studies
and The acquisition of the knowledge ne
| cessary TO the attainment Of rank in his
profession.
| He subsequently embarked, says his
biographer. in The letter Of marque Ran
GER owned by Messrs Henry Sargent.
of Boston; Henry Gardner, and Ward &
Chapman of Salem. Thomas Simmons
was commander, Thomas Perkins frs, Of
fhrer. and Mr. Peabody second They
! lett Salem in the winter Of 1912 with a
cargo of salt, which they disposed of al,
Richmond. Virginia and proceeded To
| Alexandra. where they loaded with flour
for Havana, and arrived safe. part Of
the cargo. being from the plantation Of
General Washington, was preferred by
the Spaniards. and what was unusual they
received il at the marked weight, thus
showing their confidence in the brand
The Ranger" returned TO Alexandria
and after receiving another cargo Of -four.
on the 9Th of July, 1892, dropped down
the Potomac, to near it's mouth, where,
encoun.ering head winds. she was oblig.
ed to anchor, and after making the ordina-
~ arrangements for the night. the officers
and crew retired to their ber.hs.
About eleven o'clock the watch ran aft
/ for speaking trumpet, and announced to
the officers the unwelcome news that
boats were making for the ship. Capt
Simmons directed Mr. Peabody not to let
them come alongside; they both rushed
up the companion way and as they reach
ed the deck. received discharge Of mus
kerry, by which Captain Simmons fell
badly wounded and entirely disabled from
farther action. Mr. Peabody, having no
time to dress himself, ran forward in his
night clothes, calling on the crew TO seize
the boarding pixies and grasping one him
self. accompanied by man named Kent,
armed in the like manner, sprang to the
bows. where they had fierce encounter
with several Of the enemy already on the
| gunwae. The crew having armed them
selves, desperate conflict ensued. in the
midst of which another boa, came along
side and began heavy FIRE on the other
| quarter s
The first officer being employed at the
magazine in procuring ammunition for those
who were armed with muske,s, the COM
mand Of the deck hevolved on Mr. Peabo-
dy. who. wearing a white shirt, was a
conspicuous mark, even in dark night.
He now ordered cold shot to be thrown
into the boats and it was done with such
effect that one Of them gave way; both
had been grarpled TO the Ranger" before
receiving any damage.
| Perceiving the advantage thus obtained,
he applied his entire force 10 the other
boat and cheering his men with the cry
1--WE have sunk one. my bows now let
US sink the o,her," the responding cheers
of The crew so alarmed the assaiIanis thai
they dropped astern and both were soon
los, in The darkness Of the night.
When the confusion was over, one OF
the crew only was found to be dead. and
three wounded. Captain Simmons wound
was severe. and disabled him for long
time. Mr. Peabody was not aware during
the action tina, he had received any
wounds; but when the action subsidized he
found his arm stiff, and ball lodged in
his left wrist that the bone Of his righ
elbow was laid bare, and ball had graz.
ed his left shoulder. At daylight club
of hair was discovered on deck, which
proved to be his. it having been shot of
close to his head, as if clipped by bar
Der. We well remember one Of the ere
who had cut of the hand of an assailant
which was raised over the bulwark, arm
ed with pistol and aimed a, Mr. Peabo
dy: and il IS unnecessary 10 say he con
unned for life pensioner on the bounty
of the latter Mr. Peabody's escape from
dea,h.i in this action, appears to have beer
almos, miraculous.
The Ranger" was armed with sever
: guns. and the crew comprised but twenty
while the barges Of the enemy contained
Sky men From information obtained
the latter los, fifteen killed and thirty eigh
wounded. The assalan,s proved to be :
band Of tories, with which the bay had
been for SOME time infested. commanded
! by two Of their noted characters, Barre
and Anderson. who had rendezvous a,
s, Georges Island, near the anchorage
of the Ranger" They had few day
before succeeded in capturing brig of ter
guns and thirty men.
II was found necessary TO return with
the vessel TO Alexandria for the purpose
Of ref fitting. where the action was pro
!, nounced as desperate as any upon the re
$ cords of naval warfare In admiration ri
the eafof displayed on this occasion,
boarding pike, richly mounted with silye
y 4