The Messenger. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1858-18??, 1858-12-30
A. SKETSH.
A SKETCH OF THE WAR OF
1912.
BY A DOWN EASTER.

In the dark shadows of Fishers
Island, gloomy, sullen and grim, lay
like huge monsters upon The waters,
the British feet, "The Mistress of
the Seas"
The broad red cross of-St. George
foated from their mast heads; pro-
claiming them enemies of our coun-
try. Long had they lain thus in
the inglorioas inactivity of q blocka-
ding squadron, crushing; it is true,
the little commerce between the sea-
port town of Connecticut and the
cities Of New York and Boston, but
in reality putting themselves to far
more trouble and inconvenience than
their enemies.
The commander of the British
Squadron, Sir Thomas III. Hardy,
as loyal and brave man as ever
trod the quarter deck Of an English
Seyenty-four, grew heartily tired of
his monotonous life, and wished that
some cursed Yankee Priyateer or
Commodore would make an attempt
to run the blockade.
While he was thus thinking,
party of Yankees on shore, wearied
and exasperated by the continual
and petty annoyances of the English
feet, were laying plan to decoy
portion of them ashore.
Capt. Sim Harvey, as true, below
ed and patriotic Yankee as ever play
ed a trick on an unwary foe, accor-
dinghy loaded a large boat with old
boxes filed with some worthless ar
ticles, and manning it with few
trusty comrades, pulled down the
river Mystic into the Sound, as if
determined to give the British
squadron the slip and run their
goods to New York. Com. Hardy
seeing the boat, instantly gave or5
ders to midshipnan Chambers to
man the barge and capture the Yam
kee Rebels. His orders were prompt
ly and cheerfully obeyed, for his
men we're glad of the opportunity to
have a brush with the Americans.
Capt. Sim and his men pretend
ing not to see the movements of the
enemy, held steadily on their course,
laughing to themselves meanwhile
that the bait they had thrown out
was so quickly swallowed. The
British, excited by the hope Of a
prize, pulled vigorously at the oars,
and the barge gained rapidly on
Capt. Sims boat, Suddenly the A
mericans seemed for the first time
to become aware of the approach of
an enemy. With loud cries they
bent to their oars, but SO thorough
ly frightened did they seem, that
there was no sort Of time kept by
royers, the effect of which to rather
retard than add to the progress of
the boat. They managed however
to get the boat headed toward the
mouth Of the Mystic. The British
were hard on their heels and gained
RAPIDLY on them. The Americans
had gradually recovered from their
fright and now were Justify at work.
The distanceibetween the boats now,
was kept about the same, each party
rowing at the top of its strength.
AT length the daring Opt. Sim
ordered his boat up to a certain
point on the west side of the river,
about one mile from the Sound,
where it had been arranged that he
should land, disembarking the boats
the crew ran over the bank. The
British by this time had also effected
a landing, and no sooner had then
barre's Keel grated the sandy shore
than they encountered a most sud
den and unexpected fire from vol,
unteer company from Mystic ano
vicinity, composed of Captain An.
son, Averly, Haley, Crary, anc
Denison, and thirty others secretec
behind the bank for that purpose
The British, startled and confound
ed by the sudden apparition and thu
fall Of several of their comrades
leaped like frogs into the water.
And none was left to man thu
barge but midshipman Chambers
who stood with drawn sword like
statue in the stern sheets.
When commanded to surrender
he, with the GOODNESS of a brave gen
eral, ordered his men from the wa
ter and delivered up his sword
nonnrod tho 1nrisnnars litter