The Soldiers' journal. (Rendezvous of Distribution, Va.) 1864-1865, 1865-01-04
She has been worse than foe to me:
Yet should love her DER again
If we should meet-dear Injury!
Men call her hope-but she is Pain.
Pray God we may not meet again
Incident and Adventure.


About the year $780, boy named Hopsen en-
tered the navy as common sailor. He was an
orphan, and had been apprentieed to tailor in
town on the sea-coast; but, disliking the en-
ployment, he ran away.
The ship and fleet which he Joined we're Just
about putting to sea, and soon fell in with
French squadron; and in few hours after the
boys entry into the naval service, he found
himself in the heat of battle, which was main
tanned with equal bravery on both Sides
During the engagement young Hopsen obeyed
orders with much alacrity; but as the fighting
continued hour after hour with no apparent re-
suit, he became impatient, and inquired when it
would be over He was told that the action
would continue until the white flag at the en-
emy's masthead taken down. ooh p he
exclaimed, I" if that's all that's wanted I'll see
what can do"
AT this moment the ships were engaged yard
arm touching yard arm, and enveloped in the
smoke from their guns. Our hero, taking ad-
vantage of the obscurity, started on his enter
prise of hauling down the enemys colors. He
assembled the shrouds, and passed from the
main-yard of his own vessel to that of the
Frenchman unperceived by any of the crew,
whence mounting, with much agility, to the
main-top-gallant masthead, he took down the
his own ship.
Before he had regained the deck, the British
sailors had discovered that the enemy's flag was
no longer flying. They raised tremendous
shout of Victory !? The Grew of the French
ship, dismayed by the disappearance of the flag,
and believing that it had been struck by their
admiraPs orders, were thrown into confusion .
and although their officers and the admiral, who
were equally surprised at the event, endeavored
to re-assure and rally them, it was all in vain =
for the British tars seized their opportunity,
boarded the vessel, and captured her.
AT this juncture Hopsen descended the shrouds
with the French flag bound round his arm, and
displayed it triumphantly to the sailors, who
looked at the prize with the utmost astonish-
ment. The news of this bold action soon reached
the quarterback Hopsen was ordered to attend
there; and the admiral, praising his conduct
promoted him to midshipmans berth, telling
him that upon his future conduct his promotion
depended Hopsen convinced his patron
that his favors were not ill-bestowed; his pro-
motion rapid, and his actions in each grade
of the service fully entitled him to the high rank
he ultimately attained.
SIR CLoUDEsLEY SHOVEL.
When Sir Cloudesley Shovel was a boy in the
navy, under the patronage of Sir John Narbo-
rough, he heard the admiral express an earnest
wish that some papers might be conveyed to the
captain of ship then engaged in action at
considerable distance. With the greatest resolu-
ton the boy undertook to swim with the dispatch
es in his mouth through the line of the enemy's
fire; and this service he actually performed, to
the establishment of all who witnessed his cour-
age, ,s