The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-05-14
N o. z 8 I.
gree of interest than the more labor.
pc efforts Of professional authors.

Inc sabbath came, and brought
with it stiff breeze. We usually
made a sorsof holiday of this sacred
day. After breakfast, it was COM
mon to muster the entire crew on the
spar deck, sometimes in blue jackets
and white trowsers; and at other
times in blue jackets, scarlet vests,
and blue or white trowsers, with our
bright anchor buttons glancing the
sun, and our black, glossy hats, or.
namented with black ribbons, and the
name of our ship painted on them.
After muster we frequently had
church service read BY the captain;
the rest Of the day was devoted to
id!eness. But We were destined to
spend the Sabbath just introduced to
the reader, in very different man
ner.
We had scarcely finished breakfast
before the man at the mast head
shouted, Sail ho!'
The captain rushed upon deck,
exclalming, 'mast head, there!'
sSir?'
sWhere away is the sa:l2'
The precise answer to this ques-
ton do not recollect, but the cap
tain proceeded to ask, swhat does
she look like?'
"A square rugged vessel, SIR was
the reply of the look out.
After minute, the captain shout
ed again, mast head there!'
sSir!'
'What does she look like2'
"a large ship, sir, standing towards
u.s.
BY this time most of the crew we're
on deck, eagerly straining their
eyes to obtain glimpse of the ap-.s.
proaching ship, and rnurmuring their
opinions to each other on her proba-
BILE character. Then came the voice
Iof the captain,
ees silsnee fore fs5ti b q AZ
a .ss
is@hat sos she look rstfise sf sEsf
"A large frigate, bearing Gown
upon Us, SIR
! a whisper ran along the crew that
the stranger was Yankee fr;sate.
ThcSthought was confirmed by the
command of
'All hands clear the ship for ac-
ton, ahoy'
The drum and fife beat to quarters
-bulk-hcads were knocked away
the guns were released from their con-
finement-the whole dread parapher-
MALTA Of battle was produced-and
after the lapse Of a few minutes hur-
ry and confusion, every man and boy
was at his post, ready to do his best
service for his country, except the
band who claiming exemption from
the affray, safely slowed themselves
away in the cable tier. We had on
ly one sick man on the list, and he at
the cry of battle, hurried from his
cot, feeble as he was, to take his post
Of danger. a few of the junior mid
shipmen were stationed below, on the
berth deck, with orders, given in our
hearing, to shoot any man who at
w lEotll HIS
Our men were all in good spirits;
though they did not scruple to ex-
press the wish that the coming foe
was Frcnchman rather than q Yam
kee. We had been told by the
Americans on board, that frigates
in The American service carried more
and heavier metal than ours. This
together with our consciousness of
superiority over the French ut sea,
led us to q preference for French
antagonist.
The Americans, among our nun.
ber, felt quite disconnected at the ne.
cessity which compelled them to fight
against their own countrymen. One
of them, named John Gard, MS brave
seamen as evert trod q plank, ven
tured to present himself to the cap
tain, as prisoner, frankly declaring
his objections to fight. The captain,
very ungerously, ordered him to his
quarters, threatening to.shoot him if
he made the request gain. Poor
fellow! he obeyed ahe unjust COM
! mand, and was killed by q shot from
his own countrymen. This fact is
4 more disgracefnl in .he captain of tho
4 Macedonian, than even the loss. off'
4 his ship. Itwasa gross and paIpa-
4 bic violation ofthe rights of man.
a As the approaching ship showed
s American coiors, oil doubt Of her char
81 acleg3was Snt an end. we must fight
NJ 9 her, was The conyicilon OF every breast.
! Every Possiblasarrangestent that could
y insnEe success, was accordingly IT, syle..
The g,ipsswere shot,cd, tho sfnaiches
Q lighted--fors although our guna swere
8 furnished with first rate locks, ihey
L wore aaao provided with matche attach.
} looaTrsuEp es ssopaan pseE.