Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1846-01-01
The kcnncbec SlOOp. and ,,,e
British CruiSerS:
TALE OF THE LAST WAR.
BY PROF. ]. n. INGRAHaM.

The river Kennebec. in Maine, is with
on, rival in New England, either for its
historical assoc iations. OF the beauty of
It's natural scenery. II rises among the
passes of the highlands that form the
boundary line between the United States
and Canada; and after flowing through a
romantic region for many leagues, enters
valley OF surprising beauty. through
which il meanders between level inter
wales OF the richest verdure The waters
ofthis river are remark able for their llmpid
transparency, while in body their an.
pearance is black. The hills that rise on
either shore are bold and nobly wooded;
and here and there frnwn above the silent
wave, dark and granite precipices. clad
with moss and The graceful wreaihs of the
mountain vine. whose beauty is ever yer
dant. Falls and rapids, characterized bv
wildness and even subllmIty, at intervals
break the dark rolling tide of this bean,i
ful river and with their roar awaken the
echoes Of the forest-clad hills.
There is fortress near the month of
this river, just on the skirts Of the sea.
called Fort Huniwell II is now dsman,-
led, and is celebrated resor, in July
weather for the Kennebecers. Ii was
erected during the last war 10 defend the
entrance of the river Ii i, situated on a
low beach, which, half mile norlhward.
is commanded by bold headland hun
Il. "A E4n, ,...l 1, L
the RUNS of a battery. The scenery
around is made up of rocky islands, bold
headlands. the river penetrating far in.
land. the ocean spreading lis basin away
south and easlerlv ever and forever heav.
ing as IL were The ear,hs great heart A
few fsbermen's hu,s dot the sides of the
shores. and the tower of Segun light gilt
lers white upon the head of It's porpolse
shaped island. The fishers skif rocks
lightly on the sea. and upon the hazv no.
rson rests a sail or two. SO distant that
they seem fixed like shining pinnacles of
white marble lifting their tops above the
ocean.
A, the period of our story. which was
near the close Of the last war. two BRUSH
armed vessels had been cruising off the
month of the river for some days, occa
sionally runningclo in with the for, so
as 20 draw lis fire, and then standing sea
ward again. One Of these vessels was a
sloop OF war. and The other brig of six.
teen guns. They were etTec,ually block,
aiding the river, and for some time no
vessel had either come OUT or gone in
Every thing was intercepted. even 10 the
smallest fs'iug boat, and The >trclest vi
GLANCE was maintained from the very first
dav OF their arrival on the coast.
One morning in June, just as the sun
was rising from The sea, h:nging his fiery
spears far across the sparkling waves.
kndllng up every ohlfctnpon which they
LIT. The two English vessels were seen
standing in towards the mouth of the river
under top gallant sails. with the wind free
on the slsrboard quarter They were
about half mile apart, their courses con-
verging 40 point. This point was a
small Kennebec sloop. hugging the land.
and endeavoring t" make the entrance Of
the Kennebec. Her broad mainsail was
flung to the wind like grea, white wing.
and she was sweeping along across the
water like gull flying before storm. =
She had been discovered by the cruisers
only few minutes before. when they
isfked together and pressed after her to
inercep, her. making sail as they went,
Fifteen minutes more of the obscuri,y OF
the morning, and the adventurous sIopp
would have got into the river, and safe
under the guns Of the fort unseen, or seen
too late To be cut off
l, was beautiful sight to behold the
three vessels IN molion;one small. unarm
ed, and with but three SAILS to help her
flight. bounding along close under the
land; The others tall. frowning with ba,
,eries, and covered with canvass from
deck 10 truck.
The soop was two miles in shore OF
she cruisers. and about the same distance
westward of The harbor. being. when dis
covered. just sailing round Cape Small
Point. She had. therefore, The same dis
lance TO run 10 gain shelter. that her pur
suers had TO come up with her present
position.
The cruisers stood on for about five
minutes after tack ing in The same converg
ing lines one of which immediately ufIed
and bore up four points eastward while
the former KEEP, her course. The object
had in view by this manGuvre of the brig
u was plainly evident 10 The fishermen.
who, from The rocks on which their boats
were perched, were watching with inter
est the pursuing and the pursued was 10
intercept her. for they quickly discovered
that direct chase would be Intellectual,
as the sloop showed herself to be very
fast saller. So the brig stood straight
towards the mouth. hoping 10 reach it in
advance of the sloop, while The sloop Of
war kept on 10 capture her # she should
turn back and attempt 10 run into Harps
well or Portland.
We shall be TUX. darn'd If we amt,
Deacon. cody remarked a tall ungainly
youth of nineteen who, with a Upper
fastened to a ten fee, handle, was ba,ling
up water from the sea aud throwing il
over the msinsail Of the sloop to swell The
threads Of the canvass and make it better
hold the wind.
Az he smoke bo Y,,usoJ -, IL. ,.-t