Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-11-19
The Fire Ship.

IA scene from the Life of SMAs TALBOT,
Commodore i'm the Navy OF the United States,
by Henry T. Tuckerman.l
One of Commodore TalbOts first ex-
ploits after his arrival with the American
Army, at New York, was lis attack on a
British frigate, in the North River, the
circumstances of which are thus related
by Mr.. Tuckerman.
The lovely harbOr of this now great
metropolis then offered scene of rare
and exciting interest. Riding at anchor
in the vicinity of Staten Island, appeared
the British fleet, with the army under
Lord Howe. Every spar and line of cor
dage in those swarming ba!tle-shlps, was
defined TO the eye of the distant spectator,
agains, the lucid azure OF the sky; and,
on quiet nights, reflected to the gaze of
the boatmen that haunted the adj accent
shore. Their dark, massive hulls and
scowlng cannon Wore por,entous aspect,
and seemed to cast long and prophetic
shadows upon the free waters into which
they had ruthless by neutrality-suspicious.
of the years of bitter trial Of which they
were ominous harbingers.
Upon the heights of Brooklyn, at York
Island, and Paulus Hook, rose the new
lv.heaped batteries of the Americans.--
Never smiled that lovely bay more cheer
fully than during those clear days Of that
even,ful Spring. More solitary than at
present, with its constantly plying Steam
ers and forest Of shipping, the position of
the beligeren,s was plainly obvious. The
comparative silence that hung over the
broad waters, the iasl-skimming clouds
that, for moment, darkened their crystal
sheen, and the occasional furrows raised
bv sudden breezes that swept across them,
stimulated the imagination of the lonely
enthusiast who, from some isolated
point looked forth and unused upon the
landscape.
1t was evident that neither party had,
as vet. determined upon its course. The
considerate, on both sides, felt the impor-
tance of successful blow, at the existent
luncture yet the actual state of colonial
defences was but partially known TO their
opponents, and a premature maneuvering
might occasion temporary discontinue,
even in that well-appointed squadron
On the other hand, it was of the highest
moment that the Americans should be as
sured of the readiness of our troops to copes
with their formidable invaders. 1t was
needlul that the spell Of vague alarm
should be. in a measure, broken, which
had been inspired by the presence of those
destructive engines, ,whosethunders seemed
to gather new potency from their long
quiescencc whose shrouds and decks
cristled with pixies and bayonets, and
whose black and heavy sides contrasted
vividIy with the red hues of the soldiers
uniforms, grouped thickly at The port
holes and on the taffrails, as if impatient
TO pour forth upon the land so invitingl5
spread below and around. To one gal
lant heart, this inaction was especially
irksome. Captain Talbot had obtained
the command of "a fire ship, and lay di-
rectly before the city, awaiting orders.
To secure more efficient position, and
The better to disguise his purpose, he took
advantage of light wind, ascended the
Hudson fifteen miles, and anchored just
above Fort Washington.
For three days in this romantic spot,
he quietly awaited an oPPorlune moment
for action. On the one side, the banks Of
the noble river sloped gradually upward,
half.covered will low cedars. whose dark
umbrage already wore the refreshing tinls
of Spring; OH the other, like natural forii,
6calions, rose the gray and upright rocks
of the ,ufted palisades. Few dwellings
were then visible; the ripple of the wa
ter on the pebbly shore was audible in the
lull of the wind. and the tranquil and Sc
ouestered beauty of the scene gave no
hint of the deadly preparations then ma
king ON board the unwarlike craft that
swung so gently at her moorings. Ihe
ilapse of few hours after Captain Talbot
/ had chosen his anchorage, evidenced the
sagaci,y of his movements. Three oil the
enemy's ships, in order to protect the lei,
of their army, in case of need, had shifted