New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1861-06-14
WHOLE NO 81
to pull away for the merchantmen.

" pun away Tor the merchantmen.
But at that instant, as good fortune
would have it, sudden flaw of wind
from the land struck our sails. The
little vessel yielded to the breeze; and
careening sufficiently to clear her keel
from the sand, Hoated Immediately in.
to deep water.
4 loud huzza now broke from the
men, winch, regardless of the conse-
quences to the shipping beyond us,
provoked shot from the castle, which
passed harmlessly over our stern.
Away! my heartiesp I shouted to
the boarders. Get possession of the
Englishman, and all will be right
While the boats were pulling in the
direction of the ship: the schooner, un-
der the influence ofthe freshning breeze,
bore down upon them; and as the
boarders clambered up the side Of the
English vessel, upon the larboard, the
prlvateer ran into tke main rigging on
the starboard side, thus bringing her
between us and the guns of the castle.
Iknew all the Qualifications Of the
port were upon that side of the harbor,
and intended to keep under the shelter
Of the ship till beyond the range of the
guns Of the shore batteries. as we'll as
those of the castle, as the main fort
was called.
We obtained possession of the ship
without struggle, and forcing the
English sailors to assist in the work.
ing Of the ship, soon got up the sails
and were running through the outer
harbor before the enemy suspected the
ruse we were playing.
In the meantime the fortunate land
breeze, which was bearing US from the
dangerous proximity of the shore, also
lifted the vapors which had been hang
ing over the water and shipping, show
ing to the astonished, and doubtless
greatly chagrinned people Of the place,
that not only had the ship changed her
position, but the privateer also. The
latter, they had no doubt, was fast
aground, as had been reported to them;
AMI when they discovered us sailing
side by side out of the harbor, the
truth seemed to flash upon them---the
Yankee was running away with the
ship.
The forts now opened upon u.s. and
a line Of fire belched forth from the
castle, but without effect; as we were
by this time beyond range Of it.-Mot
so,. however. with the shore batteries,
upon the tongue of land making out
from the outer harbor, for we we're
scarcely a pistol shot from the mouths
Of their cannon; and the heavy shot
struck with crus hingeffect into the hull,
and among the spars of the prize. Oc-
casionally one passing through the
sails and rigging Of the ship, would
make an ugly wound in some one Of
our upper spars. But our hull was
completely protected by the large mer-
chantman, as our decks we're scarcely
on level with the deep water line.
The breeze continued to freshen as
we ran out of the harbor, and in a few
minutes we were beyond the reach Of
the shot; though the enemy continued
much longer to pound away at US in
vain.
Now I boarded the prize, which had
been the means ofour wonderful escape.
She was terribly cut up, and many Of
her crew were lying dead and wounded
upon her decks.
While ! was giving directions tor
the proper care of the latter, Mr.. Rich
mond, who had been examining the
condition of the hull, came to ne and
reported that the ship was sinking.
We lost no timc in hurrying the
English crew, with their effects, on
board the privateer; and scarce had
we saileda thousand yards from the
richly freishted merchant, when with
lurch, and staggering motion like
a drunken man. she went down, and