Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-07-19
- RlIElEf NORTH CAROLINA WEDNESDAY, JULY 1Ns54.

hare US, but by creased lightning and peel
ed thunder he did nt-and didn't the Gull.
God bless her, behave herself jest about
right
Yes, thank God, we were saved, and I de-
voutly thank God for it-our brig is nice
craft and does honor to her name
Sail ho,' sung out the look out from the
toretoP cross trees, in long and drauling
tones.
Where awayp shouted Reginald, as
glass in hand be sprang forward
About two points off our larboard bow,
close hauled in the wind
What dye make her out!' I can't see
her yet well, from the pitching of our YES
sell All! Cow have her, he exclaimed, as
he pressed the glass long and steady to bis
eye she is a large fall rugged ship, and a
man Of war too, for can see her guns--ha!
exclaimed he minqte or SO afterwards
she is making sail there goes her mainsail,
real regular man Of war style, and there
by Chri~tendom. she is an English man of
war, can plainly make out her flag
Very we'll keep sharp look out, replied
Reginald as he turned on his heel and gave
orders for hosting the dag--and soon the
Plnetree flag Haunted boldly, and loosed its
folds to the swelling breeze, from the main
top-mast Of the American priyatecr sea Gull
The Boatswains whistle was now heard
echoing from stern TO stern about the beau
tlful brig, calling all hands to prepare ship
for action, and soon the brig represented a
busy scene. Old Long Tom was first cast
lose, then cleanly swabbed out and oiled.
newly FURNISHED, loaded heavily and allow
anced to double quantity of ball and two
gunners detailed to work him The other
guns were served in the same way, only they
were charged with canister and grape A
reed was taken IN the foresail and her course
altered point or so. so as to come in hail
the English man Of war. Reginald stood
OH the quarter deck calm and collected, and
by his side stood the dauntless lothian JOS
by, now clothed in sort of uniform He
had on his leathern belt, and in it were
stuck five or six great boarding pistols; in
one hand he had aspeaking trumpet and in
the other he carried large cutlass that gilt
tered, and cleaned, and reflected the fast
SINKING rays OF the sun.
The English craft had gotten within two
miles Of our Bold brig and was bearing
down under flying jib, fore and mainsails on
ly. Reginald could make out nine guns tc
side, but could see no Long Tom. That
encouraged him, altho' still he lad to con-
tend against great odds. He could make
oat nearly seventy men aboard the ships
deck. His own full compliment was only
thirty, and seven or ,ejgbtvafe etheso .nepche,
brush with them, knowing he could manage
bis ship skillfully, and that he had a good
Long Tom; and he also we'll knew, that i
he stood chance of being worsted, he coul(
easily hoist his sails and show clean pal
Of heels. The Englishman continued t
bear down some three or four minutes Ion
ger, when all at once blue smoke was seel
to curl fancifully from the leeward bow, AM
the booming report of cannon reverberate
ovel the wide expanse. This was the sign
to heave to. Reginald not caring to do 81
held his course. The Engishman, as if e'
pecting This, Immediately shook a reef OF
of his fore and maintopsails, hoisted his sta
jb, and edged away point or two, eviden
Iy attempting to get to windward Of the bri
and give her broadsde But twas no us
for AS soon as the maneuvre was seen aboar
the Gull, she also altered her cours
and tackled so as to meet the opposing sh
The Englishman was evidently vexed, for /
commenced firing his bow chaser Of only G
binary caIibre at that distance, but his sh
fell short. Reginald knew thatif he got
distance of the Englishman's guns, and
fered his broadside that he would be co
quered, and had no relish for that; so
a determined to show the Englishman va
kee trick. He had two of his guns plac
forward over the gunnsl, their loads draw
and more powder put in them then he pl
e ced four men to haul on the mainsail and
many more to hoist the extra stunsails
soon as the mailSal was hauled taut.
also cautioned the helmsman and sent Jo
Il am to assist him; then going forward,
Y gave the word to fire ana as soon as t
IS guns belched forth theirron hail, the mains
, was quickly drawn and the stunsails were
il quickly hoisted, and the helm put hard
J. and the course of the brig changed a pc
a or so to the leeward, and before the smC
had we'll cleared away the orig was dart
,If thro' the water to the leeward Of the E
~ lish man Of war at the rate Of ten knots
n hour. The Englishman saw the manou
r but could not counteract it though he II
he his best to do so. The Brig after rum
h. out Of range of the Englishman's guns, S
ck denly took in her stunsails, backed her f
10 sail and Immediately commenced fire fl
en- Long Tom.
es. Wall, guess now, master Englisl
y- you have cotched Tartar. By goose grs
S. how old Long Tom talks !! and he st
~ his fingers in his ears to keep out the 81
d! ming report and he talks for sum'in,'
IN he pointed to one Of the forward port
er- the splinters few. Give it to him,
RS hearts of oak, by hokies,' and the Yar
commenced capering about the deck in
full glee as he watched the wonderful
cution of Long Tom.
"a Reginald began to think that he m
~, conquer and at every discharge of |
op op' Tom, his thoughts were strengthene
aab aIb sMy men, exclaimed he, Eve now sta
r6a ' chance of winning name. | have nod
smu sm that if we can keep our position, we
La' I easily fog the Englishman. My h'
,rr " fellows continued he, addressing the
m9s wo, that worked old Long Tom, aim a
- foremast until you see it fall
the sAye, aye, SIR answered the brav
lows, and then heavy shot went