The weekly Butte record., 1861-09-28
NO. ~
Fate of a Privateer-The Petrel' Sunk
by the q. S. Frigate St. Lawrence.

ing particulars of the late engagement off
Charleston, between the U. S. Frigate ST.
Lawrence and the Privateer Petrel:
The officers of the St Lawrence wisely
judged that many privateersmen would not
know her true character, and to still further
disguise her armament and object, her port
holes were kept closed and her Inen kept out of
sight. She cruised for a month along the
Atlantic coast, between Cape Henry and Sa-
vannah, and on the morning of the lst of Au-
gust, while Just outside the harbor Of Charleston
espied long rakish schooner, filed with men,
and mounting three or four guns, sailing rapidly
down upon her. The portfolios were still shut,
but the flag was at the peak, and the St.
Lawrence looked not unlike great lubberly
merchantman bccalmed in q strange latitude,
and too unwieldy for any purpose save the
holding of big cargo for the avarice of the
enemy to court, and daring privateer to
secure.
As the stranger came down, the st. Law
renee hoisted all sail and affected to be anxiors
to get out to sea. In reality, however, she
was edging closer in shore, and making ar
rangements below to receive the reckless visi-
tors with appropriate larges. Directly shot
came skipping over the water, falling into the
sea a few rods ahead Of the frigate and q
number followed in quick succession, but near
ly all striking beyond passing over. The final
discharge consisted of grape and canister,
which made some little dalliance with the
frigate's rigging, and admonished the comman-
der that the play was growing serious. At
this time the vessels were within speaking dis
tance, and man in uniform was seen mounted
upon the pirates deck, who shouted to the St.
Lawrence to lay to and send over q boat. The
crew were distinctly seen fourishing their cut
lasses, and the gunners ramming and pointing
their guns, supposed to be raed cannon.
Then the st. Lawrence threw open her ports
and disclosed whole broadside of cannon,
with the gunners at the breech Of the guns,
holding lighted fuses and directly the broad
decks were filled with seamen in blue jackets,
armed with muskets, who sprang into the
shrouds and ran out on the yards, lying prone
in the maintop, on the bowsprite, in forecaste,
and at every point where aim could be taken
with advantage In a word the ugly mer-
chairman was metamorphosed into bristling
war ship, with man at every point, and
broadside of cannon looking into the very eyes
of the pirates The latter taken aback, re-
coiled a moment, but before they had time for
action, even for thought the guns belched forth
iron and fire, cutting the rigging and sails as
with knives, splinterng the masts, breaking
the spars and booms, and literally carving the
schooner into pieces and opening gulfs into
which the waters rushed as through suces,
filling the hold and admonishing the rebels that
their sole hopes of life lay in the ships boat or
wrestling with the sea. The fire still continu-
cd and the water was full Of drftwood. Many
of the men jumped overheard, and the rest
launched the life-boat jumped in and held up
white handkerchief as a sign Of surrender
But one man had an opportunity to go down
into the cabin for his property, and he was the
Lieutenant, fellow named Harvey, formerly
midshipman in the U. S. service, under COM
mand of Capt. Sartor Harvey recovered bis
trunk
The st. Lawrence still continued the fire
with small arms, but directing the aim at the
hulk, and not at the small boat. The crew,
excepting four men, were not injured. In ten
minutes from the time Of the discharge of the
first gun, the vessel swayed heavily and went
under, carrying down four men, one Of whom,
named Carpenter, was former Phiadelphian,
living in Southwark. The officers Of the st.
Lawrence now discovered the life boat and the
flag of humiliation. They dropped boat and
made out to the rebels, and finally passed them
on board the ship, where they were ironed as
fast as received, and securely confined below.
In the engagement the st. Lawrence received
two shots-one in the foresail, the other in the
quarter deck. She transferred her prisoners to
the Flag on Sunday morning, and they were
at once brought to this port
The Petrol was formerly the Gov. Aiken,
revenue cutter, and was seized in Charleston
harbor, after the surrender of Fort Sumter
She has proved a grave, mayhap, for some of
the very men who seized her; and may every
Federal vessel that treason has appropriated
likewise be their hammock and ccf1in.
A MILLION OF MEN.-A Washington cor
respondent remarks that, by some process OF
shrewd engineering, two volunteer bills instead
Of one have been passed by Congress. BY
each of them the President is authorized to
accept the services of 100000 men for the war
One of the bills is supplemental to the other,
ard after referring to it, and to the forces it
provides, gives the President power to call out,
in addition to the troops now authorized by
law 100000 more troops. Thus the Presi-
dent has power to call into the field million
of men. a member of the Cabinet remarked
that 1t was much to be hoped that there would
be no necessity for bringing into the field more
than the half million Of men provided for in
The first bill !; but that if it proved otherwise,
if the war should prove long one, the Admin
istration whould not hesitate to call out the