The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-05-14
kept cheering with all their might.

| ...~fS HAeh Oit
| cheerod with them, though T confess
scarcely knew for what. Certainly
there was nothing very inspiriting in
the aspect of things where Iwas sta
toned. So terrible had been the
work of destruction round us, it was
termed the slanghtcrhousc. Not on
ly had we had several men and boys
killed and wounded, but several of
the guns were disabled. The one l
belonged to, had a piece of the muz-
zle knocked out: and when the ship
rolled, it struck beam of the uppe,
deck with snch force as to become
iammcd and fixed in that position. A
twenty four pound shot had also
passed through the screen of the
magazine, Immediately over the ori-
fee through which We passed our pow.
der. The schoolmastcr received a
death wound. The brave boatswain,
who came from the sick bed to the din
of battle, was fastening a stopper on
the back stay which was shot away,
when his head was smashed to pieces
by a cannon ball; another man going
to complete the unfinished task, was
also struck down. Another of our
midshipmcn also received n severe
wound. The unfortunate ward room
steward, who attempted to cut his
throat on 4 former occasion, was kill
cd. ~ fellow named John, who for
some petty offence, had been sent on
board as punishment, was carried
past me wounded. l distinctly heard
the large blood drops fall pat, pat, pat,
OIL the deck; his wounds were mortal.
Even poor goat, kept by the officers
for her milk, did not escape the gen.
eral carnage; her hind legs were shot
of, and poor Nan was thrown over
board.
Such was the terrible scene amid
which We kept on shouting and firing.
Our men fought like tigers. Some
Of them pulled off their jackets others
their jackets, and vests: while some
still more determined, had taken off
their shirts, and, with nothing but a
handkerchief tied around the waist.
bands of their trousers, fought like
heroes also observed boy nam
ed Cooper. stationed at gun some
distance from the magazine. lie
came to and fro on the full run, and
appearing to be rs merry as crick-
et.' The third liutcnant chccrcd
him occasionally, by saving 'Wcll
done my brave boy, you arc worth
your weight in golA'
have been asked what were my
feelings during this fight. 1 felt
pretty much as suppose every che
does at such time. That men arc
without thought when they stand
amid the dying and the dead. is too
absurd an idea to be entertained a
moment. Wen all appeared cheer
full, but know that mnny Q Sayis's,
thong a ]; g,,s W. EfS$,yt
what could We it.fS " s'ii!-'
blancc, at lcas: G: animation? 10
run from our quarters would have
been certain death from the hands Of
our own officers; to give way to gloom
to show fear would do no good, and
might brand us with the name Of
towards. and insure certain defeat.
Our only true philosophy, therefore,
was to make the best Of our situation.
By fighting bravcly and chcrrtully.
| thought great deal, however, of
the other world; every yroan, every
falling man, told me that the next
instan, l might be before the judge
Of all the carth For this | felt un.
prepared; but being without any par
ticular knowledge Of religious truth.
| satisfied myself hv repeating again
and again the Lords prayer, and
promising thatifhc spared me ! would
be more attentive to religious duties
than ever before. This promise
had no doubt at the time. Of Keeping:
but | have learned since that it is
easier to make promises amid the
roar Of the battles thunder, or in the
horrors Of shipwrcck, than to keep
them when danger is absent, and safe
ty smiles upon our path
While these thoughts secretly agi-
tatcd my bosom, the din Of the battle
Continued. Grape and canister shot
were pouring through our port holes
like lcadcn hail, carrying death in
their trail. The large shot came
against The ships side like iron hail
shaking her to the very keel, or pass.
ing through her timbers, and scatter.
ing terrific splintcfs, which did even
a more appalling work tl,an their
own dcath.giviny blows. The read,
or may form an idea Of tic effect
of the grape and canister, when lie
is told that grape shot is formed by
seven or eight balls confined to an
iron and tied in a cloth. These balls
arc scattered by the explosion Of the
OOw1nr Cop;cfor cLnt 10 p,,Io L..