Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-06-05
The Frigate's Tender;

what is II. my fr1ends!" he asked, In q
frank, hearty tone. as be Joined them.
''The tender, again, chasing in schooner,
sir" said an old tar touching the point of
his hat, as he noticed the anchor button on
the officers coat
sHere is spy-glass, sir" said a masters
mate who stood near at the same time respect
fully handing it to him.
THANK you, my man" answered the lieu
tenant with smile as he took the instrument
and placed it to his eye.
By its aid he could clearly distinguish an
armed schooner of about ninety tons, crowd
ing sail in chase of trading 'fore and after"
that was making every exertion to escape,
both by towing and wetting her sails.
"The chase is about half mile ahead,
SIR" said the masters mate: "but the tender
sails like shark in chase of a dolphin. The
fore and after don't stand any chance of get
ting in past the fort"
"The tender can sail, and l am the one that
ought to know il, !" said stout weather-beaten
man. 'She was pilot boat, and the fastest
craft that ever danced over the water. Three
weeks ago | and my crew were out in her,
when yon English frigate suddenly made her
appearance out of az fog bank and brought
us to. But l took my yawl and pulled for
the lane league away, and escaped; for the
fog was so thick that the Englishman could
not get glimpse of me. 1t is my schooner
they have turned into tender sir, and that
made so many captures the last three weeks
OF our small coasters"
'She carries forty men and long thirty
two, SO / hear" observed seaman in the
group.
"And is commanded by a huff and a REFER"
added the masters mate.
ait would be a blessing" observed man
of-war's man. who had not yet spoken, ''if
that craft could be caught mapping. 1t amt
safe for sloop 10 put her nose out Of the
H. he
was there alone, they could slip along the
coast in light water, and show her their heels.
But now everything that ventures out is
brought to by the long gun of the tender.''
THAT'S a fact, Ben" responded another
seaman. "She has taken or driven back in
port no less than twenty-six crafts in the last
three weeks. / shall he glad for one, when
our frigate laying off there gets her armament
| aboard; for then l think Wen swallow the
English frigate outside, and pick our teeth
with the tender"
All these remarks were heard by the yonng
officer, who all the while continued to look
through the spy-glass at the tender and her
chase.
"Therc goes a gunl" cried several of the
| spectators flush and jot of smoke came
from the tenders bows.
"That's bold enough observed the young
officer if speaking his thoughts aloud. the
'impudent tender is almost up to the fort, and
dares to fire at the chase in the very face of
| the batteries"
'Its only to try and do her mischief, sir"
said the masters mate: 'for she finds the fore
and after will escape her, so she fires gun to
cut away something"
"You are right, my man." responded the
officer, ''for she has put about and stands sea-
ward again"
He continued to watch the retiring tender
for some moments in silence.
ats pity that we hadn't an armed cut
ter in port that would sail faster than she
can, so that we might give her chase Out,i
said a lad approaching the group. His dress
was that of a midshipman, and his air singu-
larly free and careless
"Ah, Frank. are you here?" said the lieu
tenant. "Come aside with me- said he, put
ting his arm in that of the midshipman. II
have conceived plan for capturing the ten
der''
''In what way sir?'' demanded the youth
Il will show you. The tenders game APP
pears to be the coasting vessels from which
she takes men to impress in the British navy,
and also plumbers the craft Of such things as
they contain which are of any value. NV
plan is to charter an old slOop, the worst
looking one that it is possible to find in port
yet tolerable sailor, for she must work well
and readily obey her helm. | will load her
deck with hen coops, and few sheep, and
calf or two by way of variety. You laugh,
Frank, but the commander of the tender will
find ii no laughing matter. if | succeed as |
anticipate, shall ship about thirty-five men,
and conceal them in the hold; and taking
command of my craft with one hand only Wis
ible on the deck, | shall set sail out of the
harbor. When | get ontside, think / shall
be able to show John Bull Yankee trick he
will not be likely to forget very soon. But
all will depend on your good management of
the affair Now you see what l would be at
Frank. VIII you join me?''
Heart and hand sir" responded Frank
Talbot, with enthusiasm.
''Now we want to proceed at once to
action" said the lieutenant. Il want YOU to
go to the Anchor rendezvous, in Pearl street,
and drum up about five and thirty men.
Take only those that are daring and ready
for anything. Let none of them know your
object, lest we should be betrayed by infor-
nation being conveyed to the tender. You
| will find enough these times that will ask
no questions. Meet me at II o'clock at the
| Exchange reading rooms, and report to me.n
The midshipman then took his leave, and
FASTENED up the Battery, The lieutenant
returned to the group and taking aside the
masters mate whom he knew, he laid briefly
before him his project.-The old tar entered
into it with all zeal. Together they went to
| the docks, where on account of the blockade,
| lay idle a large number Of vessels of every
description. They were not long in discover
| ing such n craft as suited them: Hudson
sloop of 20 tons. She was Immediately put
! in trim for sailing by the masters mate and
| three or four men whom he Employed; while
the officer proceeded to buy up and send on
board his live stock.
The morning following these events, the
tender of the British frigate was standing off
| and on under easy sail and close in with
! Sandy Hook. The wind was from the south
west, and blowing about five knot breeze.
| The sky was without a cloud, and only a
gentle undulation lifted the surface of the
| ocean. The tender was clipper built vessel
very narrow in the beam, and constructed
| wholly with an eye to her fast sailing quail
| tiles; and she gave proof of them by overhaul
| ing everything. She carried a long thirty
| two FOUNDER. Her crew consisted of about
| thirty men, in the uniform of the British
navy. They were now principally assembled
| in the bow and on the windlass, taking to-
gether or watching the shore. Aft, the officer
| of the deck a bluff full-faced young English
MILDLY" was lounging over the quarter
| railing, smoking a cigar, The man at the
helm had n sinecure of his post, for the vessel
tripped along so easily that she seemed almost
TO steer herself
sail ho" cried the lookout from the heel
OF the bowsprit.
Where away?" quickly demanded the
officer.
In shore two points forward the BEAM"
! "Aye, aye. | see, answered the MILDLY, lev
cling his glass at sloop just stealing out of
the harbor closely hugging the shore. "Its
another of the Yankee coasters. A sail in