Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1850-10-31

tain Talbot had obtained the com
mand of a fire-ship, and lay directly
before the city, awaiting orders. TX
secure a more efficient position, anC
the better TO disguise his purpose, HI
took advantage OF a light wind, as
ceEded the Hudson fifteen miles, ant
anchored just above fort Washing
ton.
For three days, in this romanti,
spot, he quietly awaited an oppor
tune moment for action. On thI
one side, the banks Of the noble rive
sloped gradually upward, half-cov
cred with low cedars, whose darI
umbrage already wore the freshen
ing tints Of Spring; on the other
like natural Notifications, rose thu
gray and upright rocks Of the tufteC
palisades. Few dwellh gs were ther
visible; the ripple Of the water on
the pebbly shore was audible in the
luIl Of the wind, and the tranquil and
sequestered beauty of the scene gave
no hint Of the deadly preparations
then making on board the unwarlike
craft that swung so gently at her
moorings The lapse Of few hours
after Captain Talbot had chosen his
anchorage, evidenced the sagacity OF
his movements. Three Of the ene-
my's ships, in order TO protect the
left of their army, in case Of need,
had shifted their ground from the
harbor to a spot about halt way be-
tween the mouth OF the Hudson and
the fire-ship. Orders were therefore
soon ordered to the latter TO make a
night attack. She was filled with
combusiibles, and besmeared with
turpentine. Several trains of pow
der were laid; and one of the crew
was easily induced TO strip himself,
and lie down upon deck, with a
lighted match, ready, at a moments
warning, to ignite the vessel.
At two O'Clock in the morning
they weighed anchor, and dropped
slowly down with the tide. The
nearest of three ships was the Asia
OF sixty-fouf guns, whose tall spars
and towering hull no sooner loomed
upon the eager gaze Of Captain Tai
bots hardy band, than they steered
directly for her broadside. Unsus-
picious Of any danger, it was bnt a
moment before her little adversary
had flung her graphing irons, that
the Asia fired; and then a scene en-
sued that battles description. From
the depth, as it were, Of profound
silence, there echoed the reverbera-
ton of cannon, the cries of the wouns
ded, and the piercing shouts Of alarm
and revenge. In an instant the
darkness of cloudy night gave place
to red flashing glare that revealed
the fort, the waters and the fields,
with the distinctness of MONDAY;
and brought into vivid relief the huge
vessels of war now alive with their
startled crews, who fastened TO the
relief of the Asa; some pouring wa
ter on the rising flames, others disen-
gaging the fre-ship from her side,
and not few intent at the guns,
which hurled an incessant shower OF
balls at the boat in which the daring
of This sudden conflagra-
ton, was propelled by his brave men
toward the nearest shore. Although
lighted in their aim by a pyramid OF
fire, of all the shot from the three
vessels, but two struck the crowded !
bark of the fugitives. Captain Tai |
bot, however, in his anxiety to rem
der the experiment certain, had lin
gered among the burning timbers of
the ire-ship, and was the last 10 es-
cape, the seamen who applied the
match having, according to a pre-
vious understanding, Immediately /
jumped overheard and been picked |
up by his expectant comrades. When,
the boat reached the Jer-
sey shore in safety, the appearance
of the gallant leader was frightful
and his suferings intense. His skin
was blistered from head to foot, his
iress almost entirely consumed, and
his eve-sight gone.
We soon after find him as a Ma
or in the Army, conducting with sig
lal gallantry, in
THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND.
When the French fleet, under
Count d'Estaing, appeared off Rhode
Island, toward the close OF July, san
yuine hopes were naturally excited
hat the enemy would be driven from
he State. An expedition planned
o effect this desirable object the pre-
;eding autumn, while General Spen-
:er was in command, after having
,een partially equipped, was aban-
Toned for reasons that have never
,een satisfactorily explained. A Sec
md attempt was now decided upon
oy General Sullivan, who, on the
9th of August left Providence and
command at Tiverton. The
W. 1rlaraI