The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-01-24

the still waters, told but too plainly the work
otbloody death had commenced.
"They have felt the sting of the Wasp
cried the American captain, rs he scanned
the chase through the night glass. "Steady
your helm, quarter master, this is but the OPP
ening ofthe ball"
"Steady So" answered the attentive gum
ner at the wheel. And the gallant sloop was
as silent as before.
"And still the sails went on,
4 pleasant noise Till noon,
a noise like hidden brook
In the leafy month of June,
! That TO the sleeping woods all night
! Singing quiet tune"
| At fifteen minutes past one, p. NJ, the
/ Wasp tackcd--the stranger also tackled TO
preserve the weather-gage. At three p. NJ,
the enemy bore down upon the Nasp's
weather quarter, answered her cannon of
, defiapcc, and stood calamity down to close.
( When within Sky yards oftLe American,the
chase fred q shifting gun from his top-gal-
/ liant iorccasta, end repeated the same un-
welcome salute for several minutes. This
Obstructive fire was, however, borne without
"a murnur from the Wasp, which vessel
could not bring rIIn to bear on her antag-
OHist A favorable moment had arrived.
Put your helm down" shouted Blakely
from the quarterback.
In n moment the broadsidc ofhis vessel be-
gun 10 show its teeth upon the enemy, and
soon the stranger received his former double
shotted sulute with interest.
'Haul up tie mainsail" Numbered the
deck trumpet.
The order hud fcarcely died away, before
the heavy sail hun & in iostoons upon the
main ward. The re of the Wasp now be-
came drcadtul-every shot told; and feeling
that any risk was safer than the one he was
then running, the Captain ofthe British cruz
ser, 1T forty minutes past three, ran the
Wasp aboard on tire starboard quarter, his
larioard coming foul. The English com
mandcr now uttered magic command
"Boarders, away :" and placing himself ut tie
head Of bis crew, eudeayored to carry the
deck of his antagonist. Three times in sue
ceSyinl the attempt was maGe,aud three times
the Americans drove the assailants back with
great slaughter. At the thrd rush, The gal
ait captain fthe enemy fell from the Na>p's
miZzcn gging while in the Gct Of flourish
ing his sword-two bullets had pierced LIS
brain, and he was dead ere he touched
the deck.
4, forty minutes past three, Capt. Blakely
gave the order 10 board in turn. The Amcri-
eau seamcn now started en- masre,-buundcd
over the hammock uCtTiUCs o, tt enemy like
Il living torrent; and IN one nil ute, amid tie
clashiue OF cutasscs,the sharp re port of board
ing pistols, the groans OF the dyiI and tie
yell> otthe wounded, were Muster of the foe.
As the sword Of the dying NGun,r RS was Laid
upon the capsian, the flag Of Britain dropt
suddenly upon the bloody deck OF the Rclu-
deer; and ere the spectator could mark the
movement, the banner ofifcedUn Coated Iri-
umphGutly IN lis place.
4 The Reindeer was an l. I'm sloop of war,
and had a complement OF Is souls. She had
p killed and y wounded; while TIE Wasp
had but - wounded.
: Alter burning his shattered prize, the VIC.
togious Blake!y shaped his course fer Lori
snt, where he arrived on the eth ofJuiy, with
| his ensign waving above the 'a;tercd tag OF
/ England, and his vessel crowded with prison
I erS ui war.
| On the 9th of Au5ust, having undergone
/ a thorough repair, the Wasp cropped down
to the outer anchorage, and departed t!oi. thc
shores ofFrancc. Having made a tew priz-
es, she stood further out 10 sea, and on the
morniu. of tho first OF September found her
seltin the midst ota feet OF merchantmen,
under convoy o! the Armada seventy -four.
With bis accustomed skill and galIantry,
Capt Blakelv now beat To uuarters,und dasii-
ed in among the unsuspecting fleet. \ YES
sci loaded with guns and military stores was
soon captured, and while the boarding officer
was busiIy engaged with anoil er, the seven
ty-iour came down upcn the wind and stop
| ped the havoc with her heavy thunder
Evening now crept in long and dusliy shad-
ows along the silent waters, and the lookout
uan from his airy height watched with eager
eyes the horizon around.
The cry of"Slil on now reused the Off.
ers from their evening meal. Eusy feet ecl.-
oed along the cleared decks, and the shot
rack received further supply of tho iron
messengers of death, while the active powder
hoy stood with a spare cartridge in his leath
crn passing box beside his gun. -Four sail
now hove in sight, but the noares, one SEEM
ing the most like man-ot-war, the Wasp
ran down 10 speak her.
At twenty minutes past nine the chase was
on her lee bow within hail. 4 heavy eigh-
teen now hurled It's death-deaIing shot into
the enemy's bridgeport, and swept his deck
fore and aft The shot was promptly return
ed by the chase; when Blakely passed under
his lee fearful lest he might escape, the wind
blowing high and the Wasp going ten knots.
Having reached the right position, the gallant
little Wasp poured in Ii broadside which rat
tied the cnemy's spars and rigging about his
ears and convinced him OF the true character
of the stranger. Il was now nine O'Clock at
night Darkness rested upon The ocean, save
when iiumiued by the bright flashes of mus
kcIFNs ara NE tltUN Itsii VI N'hAii'SAi NiiSh
way amid the din of the swelling waves
Furious was the fire ottho Wasp, and warm
was the return made by the enemy. 1t was
almost impossible to tell the officers from the
men, amid the smoke and darkness of the
hour and the scamen slipped upon the body
decks as they run out the long eighteens.-
The wind howled mournfIlly thro' the rig
gng-the vessels plunged heavily along the
agitated deep. AS they came upon the top
of corresponding waves, the Practised gum
ners firedand when they rose again discover