The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-03-31

To the Editor Of the Press:
The following extract relating to the en-
sagement between the Enterprise and Box-
er' is taken from letter written by Stephen
Patten of this town, to his parents Sept. 7th
1913. think it has sufficient interest to find
aplace in your paper:
Il have just returned from an awful scene
produced by Madison's wicked and unneces-
sary war; The United States brig Enterprise
OF 10 guns came into this port on Friday last.
from Portsmouth. On Saturday she sailed on
cruise for the protection of this coast On
sunday at half-past three O'Clock she fell in
with the Boxer, an English brig of IA guns.
desperate action commenced within pistol
shot OF each other, and continued As minutes.
when the Boxer struck to the American fac.
Inc enterprise in company with her prize en-
tered into our harbor last evening have lust
returned from visiting both vessels. The En-
terprlze was considerably injured in her hull,
also IN ner spars and rigging. The Captain
was killed and three men; several badly
wounded; the Boxer was nearly wreck
having her topmasts carried away with most
OF OF the spars, and the hull very much injured.
The Captain was killed. some saw thirty
men killed; it is not, as yet known how MANY.
as the dead were thrown overheard during the
action; 10 or 20 badly wounded. The too Cap
talns were brought into port and will be
9ur'eo tomorrow afternoon with the respect
due to their bravery. -.
You will doubtless have all the particulars
OF this bloody battle in few days, from the
Of the bravery 'sGh oi .5 I'LL finnish another proof
proper element" ''''''
Mr.. Patten the writer ofthis letter was son
OF Willis Patten of Amesbury, Mass. and was
born there in 1765. He graduated at Dart
mouth college in 1890, and the same year, he
commenced keeping Grammar school in
Boston, which he kept three years. In 1903
he came to Portland and opened the first
bookstore which had been undertaken in the
State. He afterwards was appointed teach
er in one of the Public schools in Portland,
and was finally established in the centre
school house, which stood on Congress street,
opposite DR.. Dwight's church, and which
was destroyed in the fire of 1866. Mr.. Pat
tens school was on the lower floor of this
building; the Acadamy was opened in 1903
on the second floor under the preceptorship
of Mr.. Payson, afterwards the distinguished
Pastor of the Second Parish. attended up
on each of these schools, into which girls as
well as boys were received. Mr.. Patten, after
many years devoted to the task of teaching,
joined his old friend Isaac Adams in the
bookselling business, in wooden store which
stood on the site now occupied by the Ocean
Insurance Co. on Exchange street. Eeazer
A. jerks and Arther Shirley occupied the
second story for publishing the sold Portland
Gazette" which was edited by Isaac Adams,
who was also proprietor of the paper.
Mr.. Patten was many years town clerk of
Dor& IL 4.
wife was Susan, daughter of Thomas Hopkins
and sister of James d. Hopkins, for many
years a prominent lawyer in Portland. She
died in 1910, and he married for his sec
ond wife, the widow of Captain Dan
iel Lowell, by whom he had several child
ren, the youngest is our feIlowcitizen, the
popular Auctioneer. Mr.. Patten died in 1855
at the age of 80 years, having passed through
cheerful and vigorous old age. He was a
man of intelligence, fine manners, high ton
ed Federaltst and a most pleasant and genial
| companion.
The funeral of the officers of the contend
ing vessels, referred to in Mr.. Patten's letter
was most solemn occasion. A long process
| ion of the military and citizens on the 8th. OF
| September took the bodies from the shattered
| vessels at the end of Union wharf, and
moved with mournful music to the church of
the Second Parish, where religious services
were performed; the bodies were then laid
side by side in the Eastern Cemtery, where
they now repose under a monument erected
by Silas E. Burrows of New York, relative
of the American captain. In the procession
and as chief mourners, were Comodore Hull
the surviving officer of the Enterprise and
Boxer, the town authorities, members of Con-
gress &c. A deep gloom pervaded the whole
community, and the occasion was one of the
most impressive, it has been my privilege TO
witness. saw the noble officers in their
shrouds, the flags of their respective coun-
tries, the bloody decks, the broken masts. and
riddled sails. watched with deep sensation
the two vessels slowly moving up the harbor
on the afternoon of the 9th and quietly TAX
ing their position at the end of Union wharf
The victory was one of great Importance as
giving additional proof of the skill and brave
rv of our naval officers and men, and renew.
ed assurance that we could cope with the
mower that claimed supremacy on the seas
Our naval victories secured speedy peace
and gave our country prestige upon the
Ocean which she has never lost. w.