The true Democrat., 1854-08-09
The War of 1872.


 One day during the last war, opposite the Portsmouth harbor and about three miles from the shore, lay black frigate atanchor, and the continual motion on its decks as seen with the aid of glass from land, betokened that some event of unsual interest was soon to occur.- Although 1t showed no colors, it required an eye ot but little experience in naval matters to decide that 1t was English. What could be it's oD)ect was mystery. Its wooden walls efec- tually concealed it from many who watched it anxlously from the shore, and when, during the day, 1t was joined by another vessel of the same class, and heavy man of war, not little ex cltement was created among those who lived near the water.
 Toward Portsmouth the enemy had often cast longing glances. It was the key to New Hampshire and the western part of Maine, and possessing one of the finest harbors in the world, where navy, without losing spar, might ride out tempest, 1t heldin theireyes place of no mean importance.
 But the iron teeth that grinned on the forts at the mouth of the Piscataqua had hitherto been an effectual check upon their courage. Besides, several thousand we'll trained soldiers had been collected there, in anticipation of an attack, and whole companies of volunteers were daily ar- irving from the northern parts of the State, and even from the Green mountains, panting with adesire for the conflict. Portsmouth was under martial law. Its rope walks, school-houses and churches were crowded with the bone and muscle of New England all determined to defend the place to the last extremity. The shore was walked for miles, night and day, by corps of sentnels, and every precaution taken to guard against surprise.
 A Nft tho ol # IL ,1> soon reached the town. The tall flag staff that had been placed near the mouth of the river, and was watched from the steeples, was seen to have been inclined toward the sea, which was the signal of danger agreed upon. And when the sun went down, not knowing how imminent it might be- the excitement that filled the place was tremendous. There was mounting in hot haste, and coursers dashed througd the streets like the wind. Every cart and carriage was busy in removing the women and valuables to a station of security, and the soldiers furnished their arms and renewed the charges in their pieces, and were ready at the tap of the drum or the blast of the buge, to spring to ther defence.
 The night gathered dark and chilly. The heavens looked watery and filled with clouds of mist A double watch was set upon the out posts, and the soldiers lay down to dream of
 
 No sooner had darkness settled on the sea, than boats, just observable through the twilight, were seen passing between the enemy's yes sells, and evidently bearing orders from one to the other, maturing their plans. Through the opened port-hoes lights could be seen flying in all directions, and the were none who saw these movements who did not feel that the fate of Portsmouth would be decided before morning. All along the coast and on evero eminence com manding view of the vessels, were collected little companies of speculative watchers On a little hillock, a few rods from the shore, on the east side of the river were gathered ten or twelve men, noting every motion that was visi ble, and listening to every sound that came from the waters.
 Is it not possible to know what is the object of those water cotfins?" said an old gentleman, while he strained his eyes as the darkness grew deeper.
 " It might be done," said young man whose face had been bronzed by familiarity with the ocean; "it is nearly dark enough. Come, Bill, what say you? there won't be so much light as comes from cats eye in an hour; shall we take boat there and slip alongside?'' Bill, as stout fellow of thirty was called could not per- init that younger man than himself should propose deed he would shrink from executing, immediately signifed his willingness to join in the almost reckless enterprise.
 The night was cloudy, the darkness had set tied thick and heavy, the waves looked like a black, unduiated pal and as though to increase the awtulness of their condition, the British had extingushed their lights Sood after the adventures had launched their boat, and not an object could be traced in the almost palpable backness, the boats length distant. They rowed in silence for some time, and had gone two-thrds of the distance before either spoke. " Are you sure this is the right course, Ned?" at length said Bill, as they rested on their oars.
 "Hush, speak lower No, am not certain, but we cannot be far from them. If but one star would look out it would be better than this eternal gloom 1 cannot see the lights on shore, through this fog. What murky night we are out in! Gloomy asa graveyard" "Hang the British had rather meet legion of them by daylight" whispered Bill, moodily. "But hark! there they lay, dead ahead, and getting ready to make port too,' he continued, as he heard the low gratings of cable. as it was slow ly and cautiously drawn up
 Lightly as the swallows wing the oars dipped into the brine, silently as shark the boat cut the water, and, directed by the sound, ere the anchor swung at the bow they glded unseen under the very stern of the large vessel. But the humming voice, out of which nothing dis tinct could be gathered, was mingled with the winds signing through the rigging, and the dash ing of the waves against the huge fabric.
 With their patience nearly worn out, Ned at length whispered: "Bll, if you can keep your hold will go abroad and get full report of these williams business" The latter was about to reply when they heard hurried motions on the deck; large boat was let down, and doz- en men, all of whom by the faint light of a lantern, they discovered to be armed, pushed off toward the shore that lies south of the Pis- cataqua. Scarcely had they gone when Ned, with the assistance of rope that dragged into the water climbed to the deck. The watch was grouped beside gun carriage, and Ned, as confidently as though he had been one of the crew, walked by, and reaching the hatchway, descended to the lower deck. Here he found himself among several hundred men, a part of whom were in their hammocks, but others, al- though it was as dark as dungeon, appeared to be arranging their clothes and preparing for some desperate enterprise.