Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-10-21
MARTNSBURG MORNING. OCTOBER 1911

the influence Of grog to reason coolIy upon
any thing. Insensible of fear but, with no
definite purpose in his mind, he staggered on
wards until he found himself directly under the
walls of Bougee Fort, strong iorifieation, de.
Tending the Mayapore. Slrahan, after vainly
endeavoring 10 press onward, and thereby
bringing his head several times in rough con
tact with the wall, looked upwards, and be-
gan 10 realize his situation. The wall at this
I point had been greatly exposed TO the cannon
of the British fleet, and huge breach had
been laid open just before the spot where Stra-
han was standing, partially revealed by the
lamps and torches which flashed wild light
/ from the interior Of the fortress. The drunk
en- sailor looked at il with as much GOODNESS
as his Inclination would admit or Burns
says somewhere in his O'Shanter -
"Wi' twopenny we fear no evil
Wi'usquebaugh we face the devil"
and the conduct Of Strahan certainly verified
his assertion. Bestowing hearty curse upon
/ his admiral for land lubber and coward i.
/ he clambered up the breach and mounted upon
the baston. Several dark yisaged nfidels,
rendered still more hldeous BY The prime of
gun-powder, who was sitting quietly upon
the platform, sprang upon their feet at the
starting appariton Of Strahan. Discharging
his pistol at the nearest of bis enemies, who
rolled back with fatal wound upon the plat
form, the sailor fourished his cutlass, and
shouted IN tone which thrilled MayapoIe,
and reached even the camp OF his comrades :;
"Hurrah the place is minei''
The startled garrison returned the shout and
sprang contusedly 10 arms. Strahan gave
three cheers, and put himself on tile delen-
slve. Atthat instant half dozen Of Strahan's
shipmaies, who had also strayed from the
camp, hearing the outcry, and recognizing the
voice of one Of their fellows, sprang upon the
beach and repeated the cheering hurrah. The
whole British camp was by this time in mo-
| tiop 1.-The orders oil Col. Give were disregard
ed-all discipline was forgotten, and officers
and men then rushed promiscuously to the at
tack. They scaled the breach-and bayonet
and cutlass did bloody work among the inf
dels Of the garrison. In ten minutes all was
overland British salute from the guns oil
the Bougee Fort told the astonished Admiral
that Mayapore was his own.
The next morning, Stfahan, the hero OF the
affair, was brought before Admiral Watson.
The Admiral was stern, dark vlsaged man.
a severe discipnarian, and however grati6ed
he might have been at the capture OF. the fort,
he was sadly shocked at the total want of dis
cipline manifested in the desperate underta-
king.
''Strahan," said he, somewhat s,ernly
"what have you been doing2''
The sailor bowed stillly, scratched his head
with one hand, and twirled his tafpauling with
the other. ''Why dye see," said he with the
utmost simplicity OF look and tone, .sto be sure
twas who took the Fort-but | hope there
was no harm in it," A roar of Laughter burs
from the subaltern officers, and even the Ad
niral bi, his lip; but exerUng himself 10 com
mand his countenance, he expatated on the
fatal consequences which might have attended
such mad exploit, and dismissed the offend.
er with severe rebuke, and distant threat
that at some proper opportunity he should
certainly be punished for his temerity.
Strahan was amazed. He had expected
praise and promotion, he found rebuke and
ihreatenings of punishment Indignant a,
such treatment, and totally forgetting the res
pect due TO his commander, he thrust his head
into his tarpauling. and his hands into his
pockets, and reeled out of the Admiral's cabin.
muttering as he went: ''IIark'ee, old COY, il
l'm logged for this ERE action. may the devil
roast me il ever take another Fort by myself,
as long as Pm above hatches."
This was too much. The grim vsage OF
the Admiral relaxed; and he joined loudly in
the laugh which followed the retreatng sailor
Ii was unnecessary TO say that the hienious Of
fence against military discipline was from that
moment completely over looked and that the
jovial offender received his due merit as the
| hero Of the Stormed Fort of Mayapore