The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1858-04-28

na, before boat approached the fotilla from the
American shore, with message from General
Scott to the effect that. if we entered with the
steamer, he should consider 1t equivalent to a
declaration of war and would sink our squadron
instanter. We were very we'll aware that a
couple OF rounds from his battory would be quite
sufficient for the purpose.
L" Our bluff captain declared that he had or
ders to stop the Barcelona, and stop her he
he would. So we took quiet glass of brandy
and smoked cigar with a very gen;lemanly
young Amerisan officer who had brought US
General Scott's message, which under the cii-
substances, was equivalent TO death warrant
He took very courteous leave ofus and return
to the American side.
"Old Graham, as we call him, now issued
his orders to the vessels Of the squadron. We
were o put springs on our cables, so as to be
able to engage the American battery, after we
had taken the Barcelona. Considering how
completely we were in its power, this would
have appeared a capital joke, had it not been a
matter OF life and death.
81 very we'll knew that old Graham would
60 to the bottom before he would swerve from
obeying orders; but being, as have said, q
young officer, it would not do to show any alarm
50 turned into what was likely to be my last
nights sleep
i" The morning broke gloriously. The ther
mometer stood number ofdegrees below zero,
and Sharp wind blew away the mist, and
showed the trees on both banks glttering in the
rays Of the rising sun, as though every twig was
hung with diamonds. By AMI by we saw the
Bircelona shoot out from the island and move
slowly up the stream towards Us. Orders were
plsssl to light our slow m.tches, in readiness
for action At this moment the bugles in the
American batteries sounded call we could see
III, gunners fall into their places, load their
p;eccs and bring couple Of them to bear d-
ectly upon each of our vessels. We were SO
mar that we could actually see them light their
SLOW matches.
All this tim, the Barcelona kept creeping
uo towards u. She was slow boat at best,
and wind. and current beng against her, she
did not make more than couple Of miles an
h 'ur; but even at that rate, hall an hoIr would
bring her up to Us when we were sure Graham
would order US to fire upon her; which we were
Just as sure would be followed by Scott's firing
upon us and sendingus to keep her company at
the bottom. 1t would have been an even chance
which of US went first over the Falls.
Just at this moment we saw dragon on
her side hailing us, and holding up dispatch
from head quarters. A gig was sent and the
document was brought on board. 1t was from
Colonel Hughes, and was short and to the point:
Under no circumstances viii Captain Gra-
hun interfere with any vessel bearing the Amer
ian flag"
I" am not now afraid to own that was de-
lighted at this new order, though I would not
then have acknowledged it for the world. Gra-
hum swore like a trooper but had no other al
tentative than to give orders to the command
ers Of the other vessels to let the Barcelona pass
They swore too, and seemed vastly greved that
they had lost such capital chance Of going to
the bottom.
Meanwhile the Barcelona puffed lazly up
and as she passed between our vessels we were
saluted with cheer from her decks, which in
nowise tended to sooth our ruffied feelings.
Hardly was the steamer out of sight when
boat was seen approaching us from Chippewa.
1t bore an officer charged to arrest Captain Gra-
ham for disobcdience of orders and neglect Of
duty in suffering the Barcelona to pass. We was
sent to head quarters to give an account Of him
self He produced the dispatch forbidding him
to interfere with any vessel under the American
colors. Its purport was unmistakeahle, and
there was no doubt Of the genuineness of the
81 ynature of Colonel Hughes; but it was nei-
ther dated nor numbered.
The whole matter was soon explained. 1t
seems that Captain Lockwood was in command
Of troop OF Dragons who were on patrol
duty along the river. Happening early in the
morning to enter small grog shop midway be-
tween Chippewa and the station Of the fotilla
he espied Dragon stretching out on the floor,
as drunk as lord. Upon searching him an
order was found on his person. directed to Cap
tain Graham in command Of the aotllIa Lock
ly, the original bearer being too drunk to explain
how lore it had been his possession. 1t turned
out to be the first order ofColonel Hughes, sent
b,ore dinner on the previous day; and to which
he had fortunately forgotten to afIix any date or
number.
"Graham received it the day after, very natu
rally concluded that it was subsequent to the
one ordering him to stop the Barcelona; and so
sorely against his grain,he allowed her to pass"
I" Had the Dragon kept SOBER he would have
delivered his dispatch the day before!'' Suggested
we.
"And Graham would have stopped the Bar
celona, and"
+" Scott would have fired upon your flotilla
and ----"
:" should not have had the pleasure Of mar
rating this incident to you"
"War would have been inevitable, think you?"
/" How coull it have been avoided with Sir
Francis Head to give his version Of the story to
orr Government, and the red hat 'sympathisers'
OF your side"
" We should have annexed the Canadies," /"
said confdentially.
T" Perhaps 50 and perhaps not. At all events
not before our feet had bombarded New York
and Boston, replied the Colonel
"If you had gone to war with US seventeen
years ago, you would hardly have been in con-