The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-04-20
A TRICK OF WAR.

/ A correspondent of the New York Dis
patch says that during the war of 1912,
| he accidonIy got possess Oh of some Of the
signals of the British Navy, which he put
into the hands Of Com. Rodgers; and he
thus concludes his article
Soon after the conclusion of peace
dining with Com. Rodgers, at his home
in W Washington, he related to me the fol-
lowing circumstance, which give nearly
/ in his own words
Il acknowledged the receipt of your
! letter." he observed, sand was determined
to have the signals made on board, and
| to try the experiment, none ofIny officers
understanding for what purpose they
were intended. cruised some time with
out meeting an enemy, until one after
noon we fell in with a schooner, some
six or eight miles to the windward Of us.
We hoisted the British ensign, which was
answered by displaying another, and at
the same time signal at her maintop
gallant masthead. which I Immediately
discovered was like one of those you
had given me- From the list of English
frigates, selected the number of the Sea
Horse, one Of their largest class, and
known to be on our coast, and hoisted it.
She bore down at once and came under
our stern; I ordered her to heave to, and
would send aboard Of her.
This order was obeyed, and / dis
patched lieutenant to bring her signal
book, enjoining on him and the crew.
the strictest secrecy respecting our
character. He was politely received by
the captain. whose schooner proved to
be the Highfyer. Our lieutenant's coat
attracted his attention, not being of the
latest London fashion, although the
crown and anchor was on the button;
but casting his eye on the frigate, seeing
the British ensign. and now and then the
aed coat Of marine appearing above
the hammock netting, his mind was
apparently set at rest.
The lieutenant informed him that he
was requested to bring his signal book
on board the Sea Horse, in order to have
some alterations made, as there was a
rumor that the Yankees had possession
Of something like the signals, and it was
therefore necessary to change the numb'r.
This ruse had the desired effect, and
our lieutenant returned with the book,
which placed me in command of the
whole correspondence Of the British Nary.
l sent the gig for the captain, requesting
him to come on board, and bring any
dispatches he might have in charge.
''On reaching our deck he seemed sur
prised at the size of the vessel, praised
her cleanliness, and the order in which
everything appearea; admired the red
coats of the marines, and on being in
vited into the cabin, handed me a bundle
of dispatches for Admiral Warren, who,
he observed, must be within forty miles
to leeward. / ordered refreshments,
and, in company with several of my
officers. we entered into q general con-
versation.
II asked him what object Admiral
Warren had in cruising in that nei gh-
borhood? He said to intercept American
privateers and merchantmen, but par
ticularly to catch Commodore Rodgers.
who, he understood, had command of
one of largest and the fastest sailing
frigates in the American Navy. in
quired Of him what kind Of a man this
Rodgers was, and if he had ever seen
him? He said no: but he had understood
that he was an odd character, and rather
hard to catch. After conversing on
several other subjects, abruptly put the
question to him:
"Sir, do you know what vessel you are
on board Of?
".Why, yes, SIR he replied, .on board
His M.jesty's ship Sea Horse"
Then, sir, you labor under a mistake,
Yov are on board the United States
frioase President, and I am Commodore
Rodgers. at your service
The dying dolphin never assumed
greater variety Of colors than did this
poor fellows face. Sir said he, you
are disposed to be humorous, and must
be joking.'I assured him that it was no
Joke: and to satisfy him on that head,
handed him my commission. At the same
moment the band struck up Yankee
Doodle, on our quarter deck; on reaching
which, he saw the American ensign hy-
ing, the red coats turning blue. and the
crow nand anchor button metamorphosed
into the eagle.
.This affair" observed the Commo.
dore, WAS Of immense Importance to
our country. We obtained in full the
British signals; the operations Of Admiral
Warren, by the non-receipt Of his dis.
patches, we're destroyed for the season: