Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-10-20
Misfllauenns.
HOW THE pR1vArEER GOT OUT.
A Sea Sketch.
BY sYLvANUs COBB, JR.

BY sYLvANUS COBB, JR.
Scarcely ever did the hearts of the
besieged Yankees beat more suddenly
with joy, or swell with better ground
ed hope than when, toward the close oil
November, ITS, Captain Manley cap
tured the British ordnance brig Nancy,
and carried her off safe into Cape Ann
harbor. Every American, or at least
every New Englander. must be aware OF
the circumstances of the American army
at that time. Washington was surround
ed by pure and noble hearts-heartst that
beat within the bosoms of men who
were ready to shed the last drop of their
blood for the welfare of their country;
but for all this they were sadly in want
of the means by which to accomplish
their desires, and hence every new cap
ture of British vessels by the Yankees
and there were many-was hailed with
deep satisfaction. Among the articles
of is capture were about two thousand
muskets, beside large quantities of am
munition, mortar beds, etc., and for
several weeks did the undated excite
ment of rejoicing continue.
Now amid all this rejoicing there was
one mana true-hearted Yankee-who
wished the capture had been delayed a
few days. and who, while every one else
shouted loudly for joy, looked downeast
and perplexed. This individual was no
less a parsonage than Captain Sam.
Varney, who owned small privateer,
and who had already helped the colony
not little by his captures. On the
same day that saw the British prizes
anchored safely in Cape Ann harbor,
Captain Sam. Varney was fitting out
his schooner for a cruise, and in two
days more he would have been able to
make sail, but on the next morning he
was Thrown all back" by the appear
ance of British man-of-war brig offthe
harbor, and he felt that if the blockade
was kept up he should have to stay In
side--an idea which he by no means
re!ished, since there was prize money to
be made outside. The news OF the
Nancy's capture had reached Boston,
and General Howe had immediately or
dered one of the vessels under his orders
to proceed to Cape Ann and 'lay on and
off, to prevent any of the small Ameri
can vessels from taking away the stores
by water, and furthermore to prevent
the sailing of any privateers, one or two
of which were reported to have been ly-
ing there.
nMay I be blowed if that amt fix"
said Varney to his first officer, as they
stood on one side.of the piers on the next
morning after the Englishman had made
his unwelcome appearance.
"No mistake" returned Hartman, as
he still kept his eyes upon the brig,
which had just tackled, and was stand
ing in. "I'Il tell you what, Capt'in, we
shant get out of this as long as that Eng
lishman stays out there, and it's my.
opinion that he won't go very soon
neither"
"But we must go out" replied Cap
tain Varney, as he lowered the glass
through which he had been gazing at
the man -of-war..
Must ~ iterated Hartman, looking
up in surprise at his Captain.
"Certainly," answered Varney, I'VE
must get out somehow, for can't afford
to lay here" -
"That's very easy said, but it strikes
me that you'll find it's very diff1cultjob
to carry out"
AS Hartman delivered himself of this
opinion, he gazed into Varney's face as
if expecting to gain some insight into
his plans, but for several moments the
latter looked in silence upon the Eng
lishman, and when he at length spoke,
his language seemed still more to con-
found, rather than eclighten, his lis
tener.
"Mr. Hartman, go on board che
schooner, and have everything ready
for casting off and making sail tonight.
See that the men are all at muster, and
tbatthe water casks are hoisted on board
and secured"
"But SIR" urged the surprise mate,
show do you expect to do it? The brig
will not leave the mouth of the harbor,
and it would be madness to think of
running out while she is there"
81 have not exactly made up my mind
as to my course" returned the captain,
not at all moved by the fears of his mate,
"but to go out I must, even if have to
fight my way!"
The manner in which Varney gave
utterance to the last part of his sentence
was poor conclusive that he meant 1t,
and Hartman knew him too well to
doubt that he would be as good as his
word; so without further remark he
turned his steps toward the schooner,
leaving his captain to conduct his plan