The national Republican., 1861-01-28
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN.

ni AKscborE OF 0LD IRoNsIDEs.-The follow.
ing 10 well calculated TO make the rising gen.
eration proud Of the noble spirits who shed
% much lustre on their country's name during
the memorable war of 1912 with the then proud
mistress Of the seas. .r.,...... ..........
The most brilliant naval action Of the last
war was undoubtedly that of the old American
frigate Constitution, forty. four guns, command
ed by Commodore Stewart, when she captured
the two British corvettes, Cyane and Levant, of
q greatly superior force, each Of them being
equal 10 the old-fashioned thrty.three gun
frigates. The handling Of the American trigate
was throughout scientific and unexceptionable.
By no maneuvring could either OF the Brit.
ish vessels obtain position to rake the Constl,
tuition, shift their ground as they would. Old
Ironsides was between them blazing away upon
both vessels at the same time. During the
whole action, Stewart, instead Of mounting the
horse. block, sat in q more exposed situation,
astrde the hammock nettings, the better to OBJ.
serve the maneuvring of his antagonists. The
Cyane was the first to strike to Brother Jona.
than-not an unusual thing with British ves-
sells during that war. The first lieutenant came
in haste to the commodore, to announce the
fact
"The starboard ship has struck, sir" said
the officer.
"I know it, SIR" replied the commodore.
"The battle is just half won."
"Shall order the band to strike up Yankee
Doodle, sir?" inquired the lieutenant.
Here the commodore took a huge pinch of
snuff, and then answered, quickly:
"Had we not better whip the other first,
sr2"
"Ay, ay, SIR" replied the lieutenant, taking
the hint, and went to his quarters.
a.. 60 II tka I 1a,r
cred the cross of Old England to the stars and
stripes and the battle was ended The lieuten.
ant, being somewhat rebuked at his premature
exultation upon the surrender of the first ves-
sci, was rather shy Of approaching his com
mander again, but Stewart, beckoning to him,
said with smile:
"Don't you think the band had better strike
up Yankee Doodle now, sir p"
In an instant that spirit.stirring strain was
floating on the breeze, played as no other than
a Yankee band can play it, and the gallant
crew shouted forth their cheers Of victory as no
other than Yankee crew can shout.
A veteran of the Revolution, Mr.. Joel Nc
Gregory, lives in good health at Newport, New
Hampshire. He was born in Enfield, Connec.
ticut, November %, l76O. He enlisted in the
army April II, l777, and was in the service
five years in all. He was taken prisoner by
the British, and was confined in the old Sugar
House, in New York city, eight months, from
May to January.
A veritable mermaid is said to have been
brought to Brooklyn, which was caught on the
coast of Japan. 1t is about twenty Eight inches
in length; from the hips down, it is fish closely
resembling shad. The upper parts Of the
body and head resemble a monkey, and are
ba;p IL hos
with five webbed fingers of the same length on
each hand. 1t has been embalmed, and is in
q good state representation.
A Quebec paper has the interesting item,
that while the American Union is breaking up,
leading men in Maine are preparing the way
for the annexation Of that State to the British
American Union, which it considers the most
hopeful movement Of the hour. Queer times
these.
One Bob Marshall, bar,keeper, killed a
man in Paducah, Kentucky, last spring, and
fed to New Orleans, whittier relative Of the
murdered man followed him, and few days
since shot him dead on the street. He gave
himself up to the authorities, by whom he was
acquitted.
SAVANNAH AND CHARLEsToN-We are in
formed that a significant caricature is exhibit
ed in the shop windows of Savannah, Georgia
1t represents the Constitution as a COW, with
South Carolina pulling at the tail, the auima
threatening to kick that State into the Atlantic
ocean if it does not stop; while Georgia, mean
time, is coolly clingng to the udders. The
Georgians have too much worldly wisdom 10
place their commerce beyond the protection oi
the Federal power, and no doubt smile compla
Gently as they see the South Carolnians turn
ing all the trade over to them.-Epening Post