Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-06-09

Ud4SSS mulCu ndn pSSu uufIleuly pldC6N
there, and behind which, the defenders o
liberty had taken their stand.
Standing upon an elevated mound, hii
iron frame dilating with excitement, anG
his countenance lighted up with the sterr
Joy of battle, stood Jackson while Close
by his side-his jetty locks flying in the
breeze-his lips tightly compressed, and
his full dark eyes fixed upon the yellow
bosom of the Mississippi, stood the strip
ling form of Ranulph.
4" Ha but that is noble sight" he
exclaimed, as the snowy sails of the Skip
per were given to the breeze, and she
dashed rapidly down upon her antagonist:
while floating proudly from her mast head
were the stars and stripes of liberty.
A loud derisiYe laugh from the enemy
was borne upon the morning air but il
was quickly drowned by loud peal o.
thunder, as the Skipper opened upon them
a broadside. Peal after peal followed in
rapid succession. till the deeply indented
shore caught up the awful sound. and
breathed it in hollow murmurs through
each narrow defile.
A cloud of smoke and spray, wrapt the
combatants in a deep shroud, illuminated
by the fearful glare of death, while vic
tory seemed suspended in balance, The
main mast of the Skipper was shot away.
and the bright constellation was buried
in the bosom of the turbid stream, but
scarcely had it reached the water. when
the bloody flag of the pirate king shot
lightly up into its place, and as it unfold
ed its crimson sheet in the air, flame OF
vivid light burst forth from the entire
broadside of the Skipper, and the formost
vessel, reeled, trcmbled, and sunk.
One gone," shouted the pirate king,
in tones that reached the eager spectators;
but scarcely had it died away when the
Skipper received shock that made her
tremble like an aspen leap, and four of her
crew lay pale and lifeless on her deck
The guns ceased to fire for moment, and
every eye was turned upon LATTE with
anxious expectation.
Board her p he said in voice hoarse
with passion. and instantly, as if by ma
gic, the boats dropped into the water and
was filled with fierce, determined crew,
armed with pistols, poniards. and iron
headed bludgeons.
Now for broadside to keep up the
smoke. and when the curtain rises, it will
be upon different scene," said the chief
as he seized a match and applied it to the
guns. A loud conYulsive roar again rent
the air, and ere it died away, wild yell
of triumph burst from the pirate crew, as
they boarded the doomed vessel, and tore
down her flag. and hoisted their symbol
of destruction in its stead.
Meanwhile, fearful waS the contest on
shore. Loud were the shouts of the intre-
pid Americans, but louder still the shouts
of the more numerous foes here jackson
towers before his heroes like pillar OF
strength, while his flaming sword, and
trumpet voice, guides and cheers them on
their bloody course [; there the heroic
Packenham boldly breasts the fiery surge,
and rising in his stirrups, he waves his
cleaning sword aloft, while deep as the
tones of distant thunder, could he heard
the fearful words, E" Charge charge -
Twice were they driven back, but ami
mated by their brave commander, they
each time returned with greater impetu.
osity while the sons of freedom were
bleeding on every side, and the frail breast.
work was yielding before the raking shots
Of the foe.
Suddenly the eyes Of Ranulph rested
upon the English commander. He glared
upon him for an instant with withering
stare, and uttering a demoniac yell tha
made the blood of his companions curdle
in their veins, he re-charged his rife, and
as Psckenham advanced, leading on hi.
men, he sprang upon the wall and shouted
in wild tones, "Death to the murderer r
A sharp report followed. and the horse ot
the commander galloped riderless away
Out and after them !" shouted Jack
son, as seized by sudden panic at the
death of their leader, the British turned
and fled in the utmost confusion, while
forgetful of his age in the triumph of the
moment, Jackson cleared the breast worl
at single bound, followed by the agile
form of Ranulph.
Not long did the conflict last. Strucl
with terror at their late loss, and goaded
on by the unerring balls of the rifle, the
enemy fled into the woods, and night set
ting in favored their escape. and the vic
tors returned to the city which they haC
so gallantly defended.
wonder what has been the fate o.
the Skipper" said Jackson, as he anxious
ly scanned the river but at that momen
the pirate flag. floating from the masthead
of the captive and conquering vessel
caught his eye, and the next moment th'
we'll known form of the pirate chief wa
seen upon the deck of his ship, and toss
ing his cap into the air, he shouted
"Viya la Jackson. viva la Republiqus;'
and the multitude who thronged the shor
caught up the words, and echoed then
with deafening sound.
One week after the battle numerou
crowd of people thronged the large'
church of the city, to witness the marriag