The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-10-13

| least an hour to 90 and return. the officer in
charge of the boat strcnuously urged Mr..
Conner to 20 with them. as the p, acock was
settling fast. and there was no probability
she could live half an hour and be afoat at
their return. As there were some of his own
mel, and some prisoners still aboard: he re-.
fused, and gallanty stood by the shin. The
sound of the oars of the departing boat had
hardly died away, when the vessel rave n
lurch and went down. Mr. Conner m ace for
boat amidships, that had the gunwalc very
much shattered, as this was now the ONLY
hope left. lie reached it bv swimming, and
found on getting into it, that the holes in the
boat were for lul,ately above the water line
They were thus enabled to keep themselves
aiioat till the boa, from the Hornet returned
and carried them back in safety to their ship
Com. Conner was first lieutenant of the
Hornet in the capture of the Penguin, though
he was then hardly of age: and to his cXcr-
tons were mainly owing the high discipline
and cillclcncy Of the crew. This was dccid-
cdly one OF the most credtablc actions fought
during the war. The ships We're as equally
matched III tonnage, weight of metal and
crew, as two ships meeting casually under
such circumstan ccs, can ever possibly be:
and yet in twenty minutes the victory was
won. In this battle, Commodore Conner was
very dangerously wounded 10y grapcshot in
two places. lie was obliged to lie upon his
back Tor nine months: during five months of
the time the ship being at sea. and in the
tropics. 1t was two years before he was able
to walk without crutchcs. a distinguished
surgeon Of New York remarked to his class.
tnat had the ball gone the eighth Of an inch
al al,
ny seVcring the fcmoral artery. Had he not
possessed constitution naturally of very
great strength and excellence, he never could
| la'h recovered. lie still suffers Ill health
llom the effect of this wound.
turing the war, with Mexico, in command
oil the gulf squadron. his conduct was marked
| by wisdom and ability which time has more
| han yindlcatrd from the grouhdlcSs ccnsure
dthat period. No man could have done more
| with the means at his disposal; none could
have done better what was done. The fleet
was brought prrnltly to operate with Gen.
Taylor at the battle of Palo Alto; and by its
presence, saved Point Isabel from capture and
our army from the disastrous consequences
| that must have resulted from the capture OF
that post by the Mcxcans. 1t occupied and
held Tampico-nothing being said of the Wig
''o"' "''i ''SS""'N' !" WY
Judlcous mind the landing OF our army at We
IA Cruz will compare with the most mastery
things of the kind in naval history. Every
possible danger was torsccn. every contingent
cy provided for; and so taullleSS were the ar
rangemcnts, that ten thousand men were
thrown ashore in three or four hours, without
drawback or aiar. Although he was SUI
pcrscdcd few days before the fail Of Vera
Cruz, 1t is well known that every material
arrangement connected with the navy had
been made by him. and whatever credit be-
longs to those arrangements righteously due
There is one thing connected with his conduct
IN that war, for which he was censnrcd at the
time, but which always appeared to us to re-
fleet great credit on HIM as an oliiccr and
man. lie had the courage to disregard the
clamors that wished him to carry on plumber
ing expeditions against the deiencclcsS villa
| gcs and inhabitants OF the coast, which could
not eccct IN the least the general success OF
the Wharf.-The very course OF conduct that
made the name OF Admiral Cockhurn so obi
Gus, not only along the shores OF the ChcSa-
pcrke but throughout the extent OF oar coun-
| try.
Con, Conner has had tho cuvIo b1p 1iStOr