Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-10-06

the Green Mountain boys aud yeomanry
of New York al Saratoga, resolved to de-
iend their homes to the last
Atlength, on Sunday morning, Sept llth,
Just as the sun rose over the eastern noun
tains, the American guard boat of the
watch was seen rowing swiftly into the har-
Dor 1t reported the enemy IN sight. The
drums Immediately beat to quarters. And
every vessel was cleared for action. The ,
preparation being completed young Mac
donough summoned HIS officers around
him, and there, on the deck of the Sarato-
ga, read the prayers Of the ritual before en-
tering into battle, and that voice, which !
soon after rung like clarion amid the car
mage, sent heavenward, in earnest tones, |
Stir up thy strength, Q Lord, and come
and he'll US, for thou glyest not always the !
battle to the strong, but canst save by many
or by few" 1t was a solemn and thrilling
spectacle, aud one never before witnessed
on vessel cleared for action. A young
commander who had the courage thus to
brave the derislon aud sneers which such
an action was sure To provoke, would fight
his vessel while there was left a plank to
stand on. or the deeds of daring done on |
that day, none evnced so bold aud firm a
heart as this act of religious worship.
At eight o'clock the crews of the different
vessels could see, over the tongue of land
that divided the bay from the lake, the
topsalls of the enemy moving steadily
down. They had also been seen from
shore, aud every eminence around was
covered with anxious spectators The
house of God was deserted, and the ligh,
nf that bright Sabbath morning, with It's
early stiffness, flooded a scene at once PIC
turesque aud terrible On one side was
the hostile squadron, coming down TO the
sound of nusic-on the other, stood the ar
mics on shore IN order Of battle, with their
banners hving -between. lay Macdouough's
silent liuie fleet at anchor, while the HILLS
around were black with spectators, gazing
on the strange aud fearful panorama.
As the Bniish approached, Macdunough
showed his signal, Impressed seaman call on
eUcry man 10 his Duty" As vessel after YES
SCI traced the letters, loud cheers rent the
air.
The English vessels, under easy sail f.,
swept one after another round Cumberland
Head, and hauling up in the wind, waited
the approach of the galIeys.
As Macdonough lay anchored with his
vessels IN line north aud south-nls galleys
on their sweep forming a second llue in the
rear-the English fleet, as 1t doubled the
head, was compelled to approach with bows
on. The Eagle lay iarhest up the bay,
the Saratoga second the Ticonderoga
third, aud the Preble fourth. The impress
slve silence which rested on the American
fleet was at last broken by the Eagle, which
opened her broadsdes. Startled by the
sound, cOck on board the Saratoga,
which had escaped from the coop, flew up
on TO d gun slide and crowed A loud
laugh and three hearty cheers acknowledg-
! ed ihe fa.orable omen, aud spread conf
dence through the ship. Marlborough,
seeing that the enemy were al too great a
distance to be reached by his guns, reserv
his fire, and watched The Coniiance stand
ing boldly Quill she came within range
He then sighted a long-lour himself anc
fred her The heavy shot passed tie en-
tire length of the deck of the Conliance
killing many Of her men and shlyering bel
wheel iuto fragments. This was The sigma
foT every vessel to open its fire, and IN
minute that quiet bay was IN an uproar
The Conlance, however, though suffering
severely, did lot reluIn a shot, but KEEP
boldly on until she got within quarter o
a mie, when she lei 60 her anchors anC
swung broadsIde To the Saratoga Slxteer
long twenty-lOurs then opebed al once will
a terrific crash. The Saratoga shook iron
, keson 10 cross-trees under the remendou
discharge. Nearly half of her men wer
, knocked down by 1t, while fifty we're eIihe
killed or wounded, aud among them Lieut.
Lao In no arf of In
gun, when shot entered the port an,
struck hun dead. The effect of this frs
broadslde was aw lul, aud the Saratoga wa
for moment completely stunned. Thu
next, however, she opened her fire with
h precision aud an accuracy that told fatal
e on the English ship. Bot the latter sooI
y commenced pouring ia her broadsIdes s.
y rapidly that she seemed developed in flame:
) fhe Eagle could not Withstand IT, an
E changed her position, falling in neare
: shore, leaving The Saratoga to sustain al
, most alone the whole weight of the uuequa
{ contest. She gave broadslde for broadsde
: but the weight of metal was against her
h and she was fast becoming a wreck. He
$ deck soon presented a scene of the mos
!. irlghtiul carnage. The living could hardl
e tumble the wounded down the hatchway a
: fast as they fell. At length, as fu
broadsIde burst on the staggering ship or
] of despair rang from stern to stern, III
f Commodore is killed the Commodore
: killed and there he lay on the blood
1 stained deck amid the dead, senseless an
Y apparently Ileless. A spar, cut in two b
i a cannon shot, had fallen on has back an
). stunned him. But after Two or three min
a ules lie recovered, aud cheering on his men
i took his place again beside his iayorlt
{ gun that he had sighted from the CON
mencement Of The action. As the me
= saw hun once more at his post they too
Il new courage,
n But few minutes after the cry of tn
|, Commodore is killed, again passed Ihroug
= the ship Every eye was Instantly turne
h to group of officers gathered around Mac
= donough, who lay IN the scuppers, betwee
i. two guns covered with blood. lie ha
" been knocked clean across the ship, with
d force sufficient to have killed HIM. Agal
= he revived, and lmping TO a gun, WI
5 soon coolly hulling his antagonist. Main
J. ed aud suffering, he fought on, showing I
At example tina, always makes heroes OF su
T, oidlnales.