The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-08-12
TIL. WAR OF 1912.

One day during the last war, opposite til,
Portsmouth harbor and about three mile
from the shore. lay Il black irigatc at anchor
and the continual motion on its decks as sccI
with the aid of glass from land, bctokenc,
that some event Of unusual interest was soon
to occur. Although it showed no colors. i
required an eve OF but little experience in na
val matters to decide that il was English
What could he It's ol icct was a mvstcrv. 1t:
wooden walls cticctualiv concealed it lron
many who watched 1t anxouslv from til,
shore. and when. during the day. it was ionc(
bv another vessel OF the same class. and
heavy man of war. no. a little cNcitcmcn
was created among those who lived near til,
water
Towarl Portsmouth the enemy lad OTTER
east lOn.in" ylanccs. 1t was the KEY to New
Hampshire and the western part of Maine
anil possessing one of the finest harhorS IN the
world. where a navy. without losing spar
might ride out tempest. ii held in their ewes
4 place OF no mean Importance.
But the iron teeth that grinncd on The
forts at the mouth OF the Fisca;aqua hal
hitherto been an ciiccual check upon their
courage. Besides. several thousand well
trained soldiers had been collected there. in
anticipation of an attack and Whole comra-
MES OF volunteers were daily arriving from
the northern parts OF the state, and even
from the Green Mountains. pantinr with a
desire for the conflict. Portsmouth was ull-
der martial law Its rope walks. school houS-
cs and churches. were crowded with the bone
L.,
to defend the place to the last extremity
The shore was walked for miles, right and
day, bv the corps of Scnfincl>. and every pre-
caution taken to guard against surf rise.
A notice of the approach Of the war ships
soon reached the town. The tall tag staff
that had been placed near the moah Of the
river, and was watched from TIE >tccpic> was
seen to have been inclined toward the sea.
which was the SIGNAL Of danger agrecl upon
And when the sun went down. not knowing
how imminent It MIGHT he. tie excitement
that filled the place was tremendous. There
was mounting in hot haste and courscrS da>l!
cd through the streets like the wind. Every
cart and carriage was busy in removing the
women and valuallcS to- station of security.
and the soldiers FURNISHED their arms andre
ncwc'l the CHARGES in their pieces. and were
really at the tap Of the drum or the blast OF
the buGlc. to spring to their defence.
The night gathered dark and chilly. The
heavens looked watcrv and filled with cloud,
of mist. a double watch was set upon the
outposts. and the soldiers lay down to dream
Of their home. or battle for Is safety.
NO sooner had darkness settled on the sea.
than boats. just observable through tie twi-
light. were seen passing between the cncmy's
vessels. and evidently hearing orders from
one to the other. maturing their |anS.-
through the opened port-hocS l9l,s could
he seen flying in all directions. and there
wcrc none who saw these movements who did
not feel that the fate Of Portsmouth would he
decided before morning. All alorr the coast
ana on every r!nlrcnCe commanding L view
'ot the vessels, were collected little companies
OF speculative Watchers On little hi.lock
a few rolls from the shore. on the east side
OF the river, were gathered zen or twelve
men. noting every motion that was visible.
and listening to every sound that came from
The waters.
=" Is it not possible to know what is Tie Oh.
lect of those water collins :" SAID an old
gentleman. While he strained his ewes as thc
darkness crew deeper.
1T might he donc.' sad vounr man
whose face had been bronzcd hv familiarity
with the ocean 1T is nearly dark cnouoL
'ome' blll, what say YOU: there won't le So
much lI"ht as comes from eats eve :, ~,
hour; shall We take a boat there and Nv,
aloh"Slie l'lll. Is 4 stout man ot ,L;r,,
was called. could not permit that = yo,nrar
man than himself should propose Z. decd he
would shrink from cxccitiar. ip,mcJ;,,nI,.
s'gnliici his willingness to ION in ,Ic a,n.o:.
reckless enterprise.
The night was cloudy. the darkness l,l
settled thick al! heavy. the waves looked
IKE black. nnIulatcd pail. and as tLouo,,
10 increase the awliInc>S ot their condition
inc british had cxtngui,lc,l t!.eir liobts-
.,oc" " a''cr the advcn'nrcrs had launched
."cir "oat' an! not an object could be traced
IN 'hc almost ralpablc darkness, the boats
length distant. They rowcd in silence Gnr
some time. and had cone two-tb;r,;s ot. ,,'n
Instance before either spoke. Are Won sure
,his Is the right course. Ncd?" a, lcnu,h said
Iill. As they rested on their ears.
Hush, speak lower No, am NOT coz.
tam, but We cannot be far from them. Nhut
one star would look out it would he hc,tcr
,nan this eternal gloom. cannot see the
hghts on shore. through this tor. What \
H!urKy night We are out in Gloomy as .nc
grave yard. "llans the British, r. :. rath-
or meet legion Of them bv ta- -'"ht. whis-
FeFci BILL. moodiIy. "Hr. .'""fk there they
'as' dead ahead, and ''h9 ready to makca