The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-04-21

lprroaching ship, and murmuring their
opinions to each other on her probable
character. Then came the voice Of
the captain, shouting, "keep silence,
fore and af,!'' Silence being secured,
he hailed the lookout, who, to his ques.
lion of /" what does she look like p
replied, "a large frigate, bearing down
upon US, sir ~ I a mo.4
A whisper ran along, the crew that
The strange ship was a Yankee frigate.
The thought was confirmed by the
command Of call hands clear the ship
for action, ahoy J"
! The drum and fife beat TO quarters
bulk. heads were knocked away; the
guns were released from their confne-
ment the whole dread paraphernalia
Fof battle was produced and after the
lapse of Jew minutes Of hurry and
confusion, every man and boy was at
his post, ready to do his best service Tor
his country, except the band, who,
claiming exemption from the attray,
safely slowed themselves away in the
cable tier. We had only one sick man
on the list, and he, on the cry OF bat
tie, hurried from his Cot, feeble as he
was, to take his post Of danger. A
| few of the junior midslipmen were
stationed below, on the birth deck, with
orders, given in our hearing, to shoot
any man who attempted TO run IRON
his quarters.
Our men were in good spirits, though
,hev did not scruple to express the
wish that the coming foe was French
man rather than a Yankee. We had
been told, by the Americans on board,
that friga,es in the American service
carried more and heavier metal than
ours. This, together with our conscl'
BUSINESS Of superiority over the French,
at sea. led Us to preference for a
French antagonist.
| The Americans among our numbers
| felt quite disconnected at the necessity
which compelled them TO fight against
their own countrymen. One OF them,
named John Card, as brave seaman
as ever trod plank, ventured TO pre-
sent himself to the captain, as aprison
or, frankly declaring his objections to
| fight. That officer very ungenerously
ordered him to his quarters, threaten
| ing to shoot him if he made the request
again. Poor fellow he obeyed the
unjust command, aud was killed by a
shot from his own coun.rymen. This
|fac, is more disgraceful to the captain
Of the Macedonian, than even the loss
Of his ship. 1t was gross and palpa
bic violation of the rights Of man.
AS the approaching ship showed
American coiors, all doubt Of her char
4 ac,er was at an end. "We must 6gh
her., was the conviction ofevery breas,
Every possible arrangement that coult
/. insure success was accordingly made
The guns were shottsd, the matches
lighted for although our guns were
, furnished with first rate locks, they
!. were also provided with matches, at
/ ,ached by linyards, in case the loci
, should miss fire. A lieutenant ther
!, passed through the ship, directing the
, marines and boarders, who were iur
nished with pixies, cutlasses and pistols
!, how to proceed ifit should be necessa
!, lry 10 board the enemy. He was fol
Ilowed by the captain, who exhortet
4 them to fidelity and courage. urging
j upon their consideration the well known
1 motto Of the brave Nelson, Englant
!, expects every man to do his duty."-
: In addition TO all these preparations OF
deck, some men were stationed in tn,
4 TOPS. with small arms, whose duty !
) was 10 attend to trimming the sails, ant
al to use their muskets, provided we CAM
|. 70 action. There were others also be
slow. called sail trimmers, to assist II
{ working the ship, should il be necessa
} ry to change her position during TIL
& battle. ,5 fis lEgI-.
i Ny station was at the, fifth gun, o'
Z the main deck. 1t was my duty TO sur
]. ply the gun with powder, q boy bein
|. appointed TO each gun in the ship, 0,
Il the side we engaged, for this purpose
A wool screen was placed before IN
i. entrance 10, the magazine, with q hol
/. Init, through which the cartridges ywer
passed TO the, boys; we received thel
!. there, and covering them with o.
& Jackets, hurried TO. our respective gun
n These precautions are observed,
i prevsns the powder taking fire 'f befor
n i.sreaches the gun.h jasf, .ss 4.
81 Thus I'VE oil stood, waiting the Q
4 ders in, motionless suspense. AZ la
q we fred three guns from the latboar
z side Of the main deck; !; this was tolIowe
by the command, ..cease firing, you pI
4 throwing away your shots!"
Z Then came the orders TO "wes
ship and prepare y attack The enen,
with our starboard guns. Soon aits