Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-10-06

mile, when she let 60 her anchors and
swung broadside to the Saratoga Six
| teen long swenty-fours then opened with
terrific crash. The Saratoga shook
from kelson to crosstrees under the tire
mcndous discharge. Near half of her
crew were knocked down by it, while fifty
men were either killed or wounded, and
among them Lieutenant Gamble He
was in the act of sighting gun, when a
shot entered the port and struck him
dead. The effect of the first broadside
was awful, and the Saratoga was for mo-
ment completely stunned The next
however, she opened fire, with a precision
and accuracy that told fatally on the Eng
| lish ship But the latter commenced
pouring in her broadsides so rapidly that
she seemed enveloped in fame. The Ea-
gle could not Withstand it, and changed
her position, falling in nearer shore, leav-
ing the Saratoga to sustain almost alone
the whole weight of the unequal contest.
| She gave broadside for broadside, but the
weight of metal was against her, and she
was fast becoming wreck. Her deck
soon presented scene of the most fright
full carnage The living could hardly
|
as fast as they fell At length, as full
broadside burst on the staggering ship, a
cry of despair rang from stem to stern,
''the Commodore is killed the Commo-
dore is killed ' and there he lay on the
| blood stained deck amid the dead, sense
less and apparently lifeless. A spar, cut
in two by a cannon shot, had fallen on his
back and stunned him. But after two or
three minutes he recovered and cheering
on his men, took his place again beside his
favorite gun that he had sighted from the
commencement of the action AS the men
saw him once more at his post they took
new courage.
But a few minutes after, the cry of athe
Commodore is killed." again passed thro'
the ship. Every eye was instantly turn
ed to group of officers gathered around
Macdonough, who lay in the scuppers, be-
tween two guns covered with blood He
had been knocked clean across the ship,
with force sufficient to have killed him
Again he revived, and limping to gun,
was soon coolly hauling his antagonist
Manned and suffering, he fought on, show
ing an example that always makes heroes
of subordinates.
At length every gun on the side of his
vessel toward the enemy was silenced, but
one, and this on firing it again, bounded
from its fastenings, and tumbled down the
hatchway. Not gun was left with which
to continue the contest, while the ship was
on fire A surrender, therefore, seemed
inevitable. Macdonough, however, resolv-
ed to wind his ship, SO as to get the other
broadside to bear. Failing in the first at
tempt, the sailing g-master, Brum, bethought
him of an eXpedient, which proved sue
cessful-the crippled vessel slowly swung
her stern around until the uninjured guns
bore The Confiance, seeing the maneu-
yer initiated it, but she could not succeed,
and lay with her crippled side exposed to
the fire of the Saratoga
Captain Downie had fallen some time
before-not a gun could be brought to
bear-the ship had been hulled hundred
and fue times-while half of her men
were killed and wounded Farther resist
ance was therefore useless and she surren-
dered
TIE Eagle, commanded by Capt. Hen
ley, behaved gallantly in the engagement,
while the Ticonderoga, under Lieutenant
tonished those who beheld her This
fearless officer walked backward and for
ward over his deck, encouraging his men
and directing the fire, apparently uncon-
scious of the balls that smote and crashed
around him. His broadsides were SO rap
id and incessant, that several dimes the
vessel was thought to be on fire.
The surrender of the Confance virtual
ly terminated the contest, which had last
ed two hours and quarter and as flag
after flag struck, the galleys took to their
sweeps and escaped
| In the midst of this tremendous can
nonade, came, at intervals, the explosions
on shore. The first gun in the bay was
the signal for Provost on land, and as the
thunder Of his heavy batteries mingled
with the incessant broadsides of the con-
tending squadrons. the very shores trem-
! bled, and far over the lake, amidst the
quiet farm-houses of Vermont the echoes
| rolled away, carrying anxiety and fear in
| to hundreds of families It's shore was
lined with men, gazing intently in the di
rection of Plattsburgh, as though from
the smoke that rolled heavenward some
tidings might be got of how the battle was
going
To the spectators on the commanding
heights around Plattsburgh, the scene was
indescribably fearful and thrilling II
was as if two volcanoes were raging below
turning that quiet Sabbath morning in
to a scene wild and awful as the strife Of
6ends. But when the firing In the bay
ceased, and the American flag was still
seen flying and the Union Jack down
there went up shout that shook the hills
From the water to the shore, and back
again, the deafening huzzas echoed and
re echoed The American army took uI
the shout. AID sending it high and clear
over the thunder of cannon, spread dis
may and astonishment into the heart o.
the enemv's camp
The American loss in killed and wound
ed. was one hundred and ten, of whom al
but twenty fell on board the Saratoga and
Eagle-that of the English was never full
ly known, though it was supposed to b