New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-01-26
Battle Of the Barses.
THE LAST CONTEST OF THE REVOLUTION.

|" THE LAST CONTEST OF THE REVOLUTION.
The suhoined sketch of the closing conflict Of IL
American Revolution was communicated to the Bo
toa Traveller, by resident of Anacock, ACCOM-
county, Va The facts as detailed we're gathered fror
the descendants of some of the most conspicuou
actors in the engagement:
In the first part Of the Revolutionary War, Mary
land and Virginia began to provide for the defenG
Of their seacOast by building barges These vessel
were some eighty feet long, and were lmpelled .,
both sails and oarswere decked over but half thei
length, and manned by crew varying from fifty t
seyenty-ive men, and carried quite heavy guns. Ii
the early part Of the Revolution the Legislature 0
Virginia ordered the buildng of two barges, which
Ison being finished, were stationed of the Eastern
Shore They were called the "Accomac" and tn
Diligence These galfeys were kept in active ser
vice until near the end of the war, but no very re
markable exploit is related of them. These barge
were unfit to go to sea- and therefore, unless thu
enemy came within range ge. Of their formidable guns
Maryland at least the part Of it stationed near the
Eastern Shore" was under the command of Com
Whaley.
4 The British had similar feet in the waters man
ned by British sailors in part, but principally by
tories refugees and negroes who escaped from tbeil
masters to the enemy, or who had been captured by
them in their inland forays The British fleet was
commanded by Com. Kidd, Scotchman. who, by
some strange anachronism has been COMPOUNDED with
the victorious pirate of that name The rendezvous
OF the English 1otia was at Hogg Island, one of the
many islands on the Atlantic coast of the peninsula.
Upon the 30th of November, 1882, Com. Whaley
was cruising off the county of Accomac, with but a
single vessel, when he discovered the fleet of Com
Kidd, numbering some halfdozen vessels. Finding
such tremendous odds against him, Com. w. ran up
Anacock creek to wait for the rest of his command
and also to obtain reinforcement for he was short
handed. 1t happened that the court was in session
on this day. and that, as is still the custom in this
part OF the Union the court had drawn together the
most prominent men of the county. Immediately on
landing, the commodore dispatched message to the
colonel commandant of the county militia, with a
formal request for assistance, together with state
ment of the circumstances. Immediately on receipt
of this message, the commandant, Col Cripple made
known the circumstances to the crowd assembled in
and about the courthouse and called for volunteers
without calling out the militia, as the exgencies Of
the case required speedy action. As might be ex-
pected, the call was noby responded to, so many
volunteering that not only Com. Whaley's vessel was
manned, but also an, empty Virginia barge, which
was lying at the landing. Among the volunteers
were Major Smith Smead and Capt Thomas Parlser,
Of the continental line Ieuts. Smead and Christian
Capt. Powell, and great many other officers, to-
gether with large number of soldiers all Of whom
were at home on furlough. Besides these, many pri
yate citizens volunteered, among them some Of the
county officials that the question finally was not
who should 60, but who should remain at home. No
sooner was the call understood than the men were
ready to go on board the vessels; and in most
instances the volunteers embarked without going
home to bid their families farewell.
Thus, in very short time after landing, Com. W.
was sufficiently reinforced to sail in pursuit of the
enemy, whom he found drawn up in order Of battle
off Tanger Island, awaiting his approach. The
American feet now consisted of four sail nominay,
one Of which had been, as above mentioned pressed
into service to convey the additional volunteers who
insisted on engaging in the fight. The British feet
as before said, consisted of six barges As might
naturally be expected the motley force of Commodore
Whaley, part of whom had never been accustomed to
the sea- could be under kind of discipline nor was
there any order Of battle arranged beforehand with
the exception that whichever captain laid his barge
alongside that OF an enemy, was the best fellow.
Com. Whaley was brave even unto rashness. So
eager was be to join battle with the enemy and such
exerti0ns did his crew make at the sweeps that he
had engaged the whole British feet before the re-
mainder Of his force came within gun.shot. Now
ensued one OF the most sanguinary fights that
Cured at any time during the war on this coast
Whaey received the fire Of the British fleet at dis
lance, andfhen without returning it, dashed into their
midst reserying his fire until within pstoshot when
his guns served with such skill and rapdy di.
recting his whole fire upon Of the enemy as long
as she resisted, and then taking the next in turn
until four Of their vessels had struck their flags when
his victorious career was checked by the carelessness
of one of his in carrying cartridge uncovered
across the deck to his gum By this terrible disaster
the greater part of the officers and many of the crew
were killed and wounded and the vessel totally dis
abled. So close were they to one of the British
barges that many Of the enemy were also disabled.
Now the business of the American commodore
was strikingly evident -Four Of the British barges
had struck their flags, and fifth had with his own
vessel, been disabled BY the explosion; There was
the three remaining American barges. But why were
they now tagging behind2 Where were they! The
barge that had been manned by the volunteer force
for want of practical seamen to direct her course was
now fast aground upon the tail of mud bank, just
out Of gunshot where the agonized crew could watch
the fight without being able to strike blow, either
in the victorious combat of their eeter friends, to
help them while sinking. But how preferable their
vessels who when they saw the disastrous ternina
tion Of the fight, tackled ship and ngloriously fed
fed too at the moment Of victory, when the only
naming British vessel must have surrendered at their
appropriated, too, when those who had won the
fight while they were tagging behind were struggling
wounded and bleeding, in the water, beside their
sinking craft. Yes, they fled, actually fed, and con-
sequently the glorious victory before gained by the
intrepdity Of one brave crew, was turned to shame
full defeat by the dastardy cowardice of two other
vessels and the misfortune Of the last.
Among those who were killed by the explosion,
was the brave Commodore, and number of other
officers and men--how many, never was fully known.
Among the wounded was Col. Cropper, the command
ant Of the county militia Major ana Lieut.. Smead,
and many others. Some of them had been injured
by the heavy concentrated fire of the enemy, and
many were burned by the explosion; but most Of them,
together with the crew OF the British vessel they were
opposing at the time of the accident were dashed
into the sea, where many gallant heart found
watcry grave. The English vessels set about saving
their men, until which was effected they paid no
attention to the drowning Americans except to chop
off their hands with their cutasses when the unfof
tanates would find something to cling to about the
barge. At last, tired Of slaughter they picked up
those who were still struggling in the water, and
took the survivors from the shattered wreck.
few days after the battle, the British having no
accommodations for the wounded of either party,
Com. Kidd effected an arrangement with Col, Crop.
per by which the prisoners were landed, it being
agreed that the wounded British should be cared for
equally with the Americans, which agreement was
np,adia carr cd mr.
Many incidents in connection with this battle which
would be interesting had room in this account for
them, rehearsed, few Of which preserve. The
grandfather of Gov. Wise, Col. Cropper relates that
the last he of Lieut.. Levin Handy was just before
the explosion when the Lieutenant standing near
the bow OF the barge his right arm hanging by
thread of fesh throlcing cold grape-shot nth his
lefti
The few wounded and burned survivors left on the
wreck of the American barge after the explosion
refused to surrender when boarded by the British
Among them was Col. Chopper, who defended him
self against two white men and negro, he being
armed with musket and bayonet. He fought with
the courage of desperation, until at last a cutlass
blow upon the head stretched him upon the deck
The brawny negro again raised his cutlass to pierce
him as he lay, when instead of striking, he threw
down his cutlass, and shielding the fallen man with
his own body, exclaimed, Save him /! Save him !
Dis is my young NASSAU The faithful fellow was
one of the family servants carried oyop bv a ,,riyo