The Portland daily press., 1867-08-31
MISCELLANY.
written tor the press.)

the U. ). higate Chesapeake, ALWAYS an un-
lucky ship to come ont from Charlestown
Navy Yard and give her bate The chat
lenge was accepted. AS the Chesapeake san
ed down the harbor prepared for action, the
thousands Of Boston and vicinity went iofth
in various ways some by lani, others by
water to obtain a situation from Whicii they
could enjoy the spectacle OF a Grand sea-h9ht
1t was an unfortunate CONNER, lhe gallant
Lawrence of the well known Boston
family of Lawrence--was killed in the ac,
tion and his ship was captured and carried to
Halifax.
Another British man-of-war, the Bulwark.
which had been a "a, now RACED to a 90 oun
ship, cruised along the south shore, and can
tured every packet or fishing craft whose LEGS
were not expert enough to elude the cruisers
barges. Generally she laid oil Marshfield and
the Cannot, promontory at the entrance of
plymouth bay, where couple of twin light
houses We're embraced in respectable Forti-
hcatOn. The writer of this, residing i'm
neighborng town, often witnessed the firing
which frequently took place between the Fort
and ship whenever she ventured to approach
within gun shot. On one occasion,
We recollect the Bulwark undertook to
send large barge on shore, under the lee OF
Mano nat three mics dis apt from the Fort
for the purpose of taking sheep and cattle
whose flesh was needed on ship board. The
commander of the Fort, noticing this barge in
the distance, had the curiosity to try his skill
in sighting the small object stealing alono fine
shore; accordingly he brought one of his ~
FOUNDERS to bear upon the barge, and dis
charged it in her direction. 1t was chance
and wonderful shot; for strange to tell, The
huge ball took the officer at the helm. cnt him
in twain, killed also a whole row of other
men, and stove hole through the bows of
the barge which sunk on the spot. The same
experiment might have been tried thousand
other times and failed.
Massachusetts,, at that time, depended
nearly altogether upon commerce and nayiea-
ton as her peoples support. Manufactures
mad not been commenced. The war was me-
culiarly disastrous to Massachusetts. as The
presence oil British cruisers pnt ston to all
business, and the people suffered greatly. II
was no wonder they opposed the war
Their vessels were captured or rotted at the
wharses. Even the fishing business was de-
stroyed, and little pleasure boats were often
made prizes. Nothing could be zone upon
the waters but by means OF the sharpest "cuf-
ters' or shaving mills as they were called.
built to outsail all the enemy's craft, One
such had just been built in Kingston, on Ply-
mouth Bay, where we resided. She was built
by the writer's father, who was an ingenious
snipWrisht, was very pretty craft and being
painted blood red, was named "Ihe Red
bT1; she was finished, furnished AMI made
ready Ior sea, whilst resting on the STOCKS
IL was a beautiful morning in June when She
was launched, and a party of the most re-
spectacle ladies and gentlemen OF the town
d %ure iauncned on board, PREPARED to make
uay excursion down the Bay Catch a faw
cod-flsh and mackerel outside the Gannet
ana return by the evening tide. The writer
though lad, was permitted to accomnanv
the party. The Red bird, after a graceful
iaunch, was put forthwith under weigh and
proceeded with her merry ones seward. sail
Il
Head, all were rejoiced to see the offing clasr
OF cruisers, and the Red-Bird was brought 70
tne nshlng grounds and came to anchor. The
Wind dleG away; the tide was adverse. dark
ness get in, with dense fog, and there was
DO such thing as return home that niobtl
Some OF the party slept, more did no. sleep.
There had been some breeze outside the fog
GfliIs OF the night; but our craft kept her an
cnora9e The morning came, but very foopv
AS means of passing away the time, the
lines were piled for fish which were taken in
Satisfactory numbers. About 10 O'clock the
Jog lifted, and what was our surprise and
CONSERVATION, to behold, Just on our weather
quarter, the huge black form of the old "Bul-
Wark, with her double tier of cannon brist
ing .oWaras us! There she lay-it ,ods the
dreaded monstef,-and we were complets.lv
In her power. 1t was useless to resist. and
our only course was to surrender with the
pest grace we could. Anon, a cannon was
discharged in the direction of our new and
beautiful craft; the ball passed across onr
prov, and barge was manned from che shin
ana sent to make prize OF the Red Bird. That
was asoiemn nour. Some wept, and others
turned pale. Here were fathers and moth
ers, whose little ones were at home. almost
Wtnm sight, now about to be conveyed to fine
ships black hole" and carried as nrisonnrs
70 Halifax, or perhaps, sent to Dartmoor
PRISON to be retained, If life should last SO
long, till the war should terminate. or tilI
some fortunate exchange Of prisoners, should
forget the sight of that barge as she approach
ca our craft She was a beautiful e:thino of
HE, so sylph-like, SO clean and polished -
Eight oarsmen manned the oars: a body of
mariners provided with small arms and cut-
lasses, occupied the lateral seats, and the Off
Ger IN command, clad in his naval suit stood
hand. " y ~ ii''
AS the barge grappled to our side. one Of !
our company, venerable clergyman, (uncIe |
Oh the late Gov. A. K Paris OF Maine who |
counSeied non-resistance and advised all on |
poaru 10 appear engaged in some service with
as much apparent unconcern as possible
happened at that moment to be drawn o in a
ioggy cod, that is, fish with an unusually
large head and mouth. The fish and the
British officer met the deck at the same mo-
ment, when approaching the fish, aud thrust
ing Ills sword into its huge mouth, he very
gravely congratulated our venerable friend on
having taken noble prize, and proceeded
towards the cabin with guard accompany |
ing nm. Alter formally Notifying our CAP |
tam tnat ne and all on board were his Males |
y p prisoners, ne demanded sight Of our YES
sePs papers. We, of course, had none, Onr |
character and purposes were explained by our |
venerable clergyman. We were, he assured |
hlni' put party OF pleasure, out upon a social |
excursion, ana owing to the fog, our return |
had been delayed; and the officer was appeal |
ed TO, as an honorable and humane Briton IN
aiioW sueh party OF parents and children to |
rwIuih III ~ sa,ety 10 their families and homes
Inc officer had no discretion lett him. His !
orders rom the Admiral were to make a prize |
Vi our Vessei, and take all on board to the |
snip as prisoners. We must, uOlens roIeDs
enter the barge and proceed to the BuIwark.
linen there were tears and entreaties: but ali 1
70 no purpose Prisoners we all were in very |
1eed, ana go we must at any rate. With sad /
newly painted sides of our pretty LITTLE Red
Bird, and seated ourselves on board the enc /
my's barge.
Arrived at the Bulwafk we assembled her
1rownlnS Sides by rope-ladder let down. and |
stood mute upon the enemys deck. The
mali-of-War was armed to the teeth, and
ready any moment for action. Her decks
were clean, her guns and armament bright
ana terrible; her marines and sailors all pa
raded at their posts OF duty, and we.-men.
women, and children-the objects OF curious
anu universal observation. Forthwith an
ofncer appeared and ordered us TO the AL |
mirals quarters. We have forgotten his |
name. lie was short, thick-set. red-faced
man, dressed in gorgeous naval uniform.
Evidently he was a hard drinker. Other
oncers were with him. As our captive COM
pany entered the cabin, the Admiral arose
with conscious power and dignity. and ii-
iecIed US TO be seated. Then he began to in
q9lfe INTO our atfairs-to know who we were.
Wnere we belonged, what the news was on
snore, II we had any late newspapors In our
possession, who, at an accessible uoint hal
any good mutton Or fat cattle. He sbonM
take such things wherever he could find them
out ne should always leave bag of Rrit;sb
gold In payment for the same SUSPENDED tn q
pole erected on the grounds where he MIGHT
take them. Then he entered into the merits |
oil the war question. England, ne said had
a right TO her own subjects, Wherever she
might md them. by elnirrating To the
United States, neither Engiis6men. freshmen
nor Scotchmen had absolved their aIIeoianca
to the British crown; they were still
bound to fight His Majesty's battles if he
needed their services; our American mer-
had long sheltered British subjects
and withheld them from the service rie6tfIl.
ly due TO Great Britain in her war with
France; England claimed the light OF search
ing those ships for British subjects; the Unit
ed States denied her this right and hence the |