New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-02-07
THE FIRST AMERICAN SEA FIGHT,

Within twenty years after the settlement Of Pyrn.
outh, ship building and navigation began to occupy
much Of the attention Of New England, and as every
vessel of any size carried many light guns the nayi-
CATION of the period had most of the characteristics
of an arnedtradess Inaddtiea ps ana Dafks
that crossed the ocean, many decked boats or small
sloops were used on the coast especially by those who
dealt with the Indians skins The first engagement
that probably occurred between inhabitants the
American colonie sand enemies afloat was conflict
between John Gallop, who was engaged in trade Of
this nature in soop of 20 TONS and some Narragan-
sett Indians, who had seized upon small vessel be-
longing to person of the name of Oldham, known
to have been similarly occupied. As this in certain
sense, may be deemed the earliest seafght of the n
ton, we consider it worthy to be related.
Some time in May, 1886, Gallop in his little sloop
manned by two men and two boys, himself included
was standing along the Sound near Plum Island when
he was compelled to bear up by stress of weather.
for refuge, to leeward, among the islands that form
a chain between Long Island and Connecticut. On
nearing the land he discovereda vessel similar to his
own in size and equipments, which was Immediately
recognized as the pinnace of Mr.. Oldham, who had
sailed with crew of two white boys, and two Nara
gansett Indians. Gallop hailed nearing the other
craft, but got no answer and on running still nearer
less than fourteen Indians were discovered lying on
her deck. canoe, conveying goods, and manned by
Indians had also just started for the shore. Gallop
now began to suspect that Oldham had been over
powered by the savages, a. suspicion that was con-
frmed by the Indians slipping their cable, and run
ming off before the wind, in the direction af Nara
gansett Bay. Satisfied that q robbery had been
committed, Gallop made sail in chase, and running
along side of the pinnace in spirited manner, be
fred voey of duck shot at the savages. The latter
had swords, spears and some firearms, and they at
| tempted resistance, but Gallop soon drove them
below to man. Afraid to board in the face of such
odds GallOp now had recourse to novel eXpedient to
dislodge his enemies AS the pinnace was drifting
with no one to manage her, she soon fell to leeward
while the sloop hauled by the wind As the two
vessels far enough asunder, Gaop put his helm
II directly m 10 rnf
the pinnace striking her with so much violence to
come near forcing her over on her side. The shock
so much alarmed the Indians who were an element
and in craft they did not understand that six of
them rushed franealy on deck, and leaped into the
sea, where they were all drowned. The sloop again
hauled Off when Gallop lashed an anchor to her bows
in such manner, that by running down on the pin
mace second time, he forced the fukes through the
sides Of the latter which are represented as having
been made of boards.
The two vessels were now fast to each other, and
the crew of the soop began to fire through the sides
of the pinnace into her hold Finding it impossbie.
fasts and hauled up to the windward a third time,
when four or five more Of the Indians jumped over
board and shared the fate of those who had preceded
them. One Indian now appeared on deck and offered
to submit Gallop ran alongside, and received this
man into the soop when he was bound hand and feet
and put into the hold. Another soon followed this
example, and he was also received board the sloop
and bound, but fearful chat if two of his willy foes
were permitted to commune together, they would lib
crate themselves, the second prisoner was thrown into
the sea. But two Indians now remained in the pin.
mace They had got into a small apartment below,
and being armed they showed disposition to defend
themselves, when Gallop removed all the goods that
remained into his own sloop, stripped the pnnace of
her sails, took her in tow and hauled up for the
islands again: But the wind increasing, the pinnace
was cut adrift and she disappeared in the direction
of Nauagansett Bay, where it is probable she was
stranded in the course of n few hours.
| On board the pinnace Galop found the body of
Mr.. Oldham The head had been cleft, the hands and
legs were much manged, and the flesh was still warm
| The corpse was thrown into the sea.
| Thus terminatud this extraordinary conflict, in
which Gallop appears to have shown as much conduct
courage and which in itself illustrates the vast SUI
periority that professional skill gives on an element
that requires practice to be rendered successfully
| available. lCOOpers Naval History.