Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-06-30
Alis.cfllo11rorls.
a THRILLING ADVENTURE.
From the Home Journal

IN the month of August, 1928, when the
war ragged between Buenos Ayres and Bra.
I'll, in South America, found myself, with
many others from the northern division Of
our continent, engaged on the part of the
former.
: Not only was there the hope Of laurels to
be won, our chiyalry excited, and our wild
-. r1crsuu"
ally witnessed, the gross conduct of Pedro
towards the American Minister and Consul,
!. carried to such an extent as obliged the for
mer, to demand his passports and return
home. 1t was, therefore, a war of Ameri-
canism against despotism. | was made sur
geon Of the brig.of.war Sampson, mounting
eight guns, though larger vessel under Il
different commander had been offered me.
We were ordered to run down, the coast and
land spy at Bahia, who was to create an
insurrection of the blacks, and thus ohliSc
the enemy to call in her fleet from the block
ade of the river of Plata, together with in.
functions to do as much mischief as possible
going and returning to anything under the
green flag of Brazil We had proceeded
thus far upon our GRAND, and had so well
executed and obeyed our commands that
thirteen pennants from vessels of war, and
n countless number Of merchant flags, were
displayed as proofs of our success beside
the prizes manned and sent in. The conse.
quence of the latter trophy, however, was
annoying. The manning of so many prize
vessels from our own crew left us so re-
duced in strength and numbers, as to compel
US to dismiss, with prisoners, valuable
vessel, the St. John, for absolute want of an
officer to take charge Of her. The lieutcn-
ants had taken command, one after another,
of the captured vessels of war; and the
master.purser midshipmen and masters
mates had been seutin with the merchant
prizes Our commander now stood alone,
withouta single sea-otlicer; the crew, too,
had necessarily become much reduced:
thirty.eight men and three boys were all that
remained Of the gallant hundred who had
left port but a few months before.
On board of one of the lately captured
vessels an Englishman, acting as supercar-
20, gave the intelligence of an cnemy's brig
of war lying in port, ready to sail at mo-
ment's warning. She WAS stationed here to
protect the commerce. vessel mounting
eighteen guns-twcnty-l -four pounders-and
n hundred aud thirty.two men. Despite this
great disparity Of force, our commander
concluded that she might be taken by sur
prise-and that very hour-nay, that very
moment, his design was put into execution.
The evening before that battle remcm-
Der as yesterday. Our Commodore came
on deck, with the gunner, saying to me-:
you will lie to until daylight, with your
head off shore, when will join you with
the other brig. Quartcr.master, where is
the prize Z" 49,
Under the lee bow, sir; she seems to
have filed away
"Man the weather main- brace; square
away main.yard; board main back; aft
sheet" were the quick commands; and in n
few minutes the two vessels were again
within speaking distance.
"Brig ahoy% No answer. "Brig ahoy"
Louder: no answer. Brig ahoy stcrnly.
"Answer, or will sink your A pause.
Still no answer.
Forecastie, there, clear away No. 2, and
send your shot into the cabin to drive them
up from their gros.
Gay, ay, sir"
And in moment the loud report of
gun was heard, and the grating crash of the
shot was followed blythe echo reverberating
along the coast of Oinda and Pernambuco.
"There's work for you, Doctor" said our
Captain. g q
"Oh! pray don't kill u.s., cried a weak
voice from, the prize; the men are all drunk,
and what can Il do :" ~ s;z,a