The Portland daily press., 1882-07-06

staring me in the face of being absent for
an indefinite length of time, without
knowing where I was going to put
M. or how / was going to fare;
and my first thought, after the afore,
mentioned disagreeable sensation had passed
off. was, "What the devil am [ here for any
way?' OF course / did not stop to think in
the excitement of the moment that a grateful
country would take care OF the widow ana
children and all that, and that my hrst DUTY
was to my mperiled country. The nature OF
the expedition was not such as to inspire tnese
patriotic emotions at the start; and the sudden
change which came over me in the excitement
of the moment rather dampened the patriot ar
dor which felt--after the thing was all over.
But as have said, it was resolved to move
Immediately on the enemys WORKS anu run
the cutter down. So the word was given, and
on we started with a cheer. The rebel crew,
seeing that we "neant business" set fire to the
cutter and put off III their boats, flying white
handkerchief stuck on stick. Both steamers
hove to at O safe distance from the cutter,
waiting for the fire to reach the magazine.
The flames soon spread over the hull, crept up
the rigging, and shot from the tops and ends
of the maSts and SparS, presenting magnlh-
cent spectacle Soon the fire reached the mag
azine. The masts and spars, the top of
the cabin and portions of the poop deck were
lifted high 10 air, the stern of the vessel lifted
ont of water then settled back, and the whole
hull sank slowly below the surface of the ocean
which was as smooth as mirror. The debris
of the wreck came floating to the surface to
mark the spot where it went down. Three
hearty cheers went up from both steamers, and
the Chesapeake started for the boat which con-
tanned the rebel crew, and the captured crew
of the cutter The courage OF our men was
up to white heat, and it was difficult to restrain
the armed men from firing into and sinking
the boats. Bill was about to apply the match
and send ball into the nearest one, when Col
Mason struck down his hand and asked him II
he did not see the flag of truce. "D-n their
flag of truce" replied Bill, "they don't belong
to any nation" But as we neared them the
crew of the cutter held up their manacled hands
and implored us not to harm them. We took
them on board, liberating the cutters crew,
and taking the boats in tow steamed proudly
back to the city, where we were welcomed by
our admiring towBsmen who had been watch
the Cape. The wharyes of the harbor were
crowded with men, women and children, who
cheered us with their voices and the waving
of flags aid handkerchiefs as we steamed up
to our dock. On landing, a procession was
formed, and with band of music We marched
with our prisoners in triumph through the
streets of the city. All were anxious to do us
honor, and many who were not in the fight,
willing to share the glory, mingled with the
victors, and had the proud satisfaction OF see
| ing their names published in the papers next
morning among the heroes OF the expedition.
While aiasl ali my dreams of glory and OF
fame were blasted, when L searched in vain
for my own name in the published
| list of the heroes of the Chesapeake
I have 40 difficulty however, in establishing
| the fact that did participate in this celebra-
| ted naval engagement, and that while l was
| not wounded AS none were-I did receive a
| disability which think should entitle me
| to q pension 1t occurred in this way. When
| that first shot was fred, l was taken with 9
| sudden and violent palpitation OF the heart,
which has become chronic, and affects me very
| severely whenever there is any exciting occa
sion want to ask you, Mr.. Editor, as one
well posted in the laws regulating and grant
ing pensions to the country defenders, wheth-
| or this case is not provided for in some OF the
| numerous bills which have been passed to re-
ward those who have risked life in defense Of
| the flag? L want it distinctly understood tina
| I didsnot volunteer my services at this critlca
| time of our country's history with any mereen
| airy motives, but as my name was omitted IN
| the Gazette and have lost all the glery,
| think it go mole than fair that should have {
| pension.
| l did not write this account OF the battle II
| which participated, for the purpose of advo
| eating my claim to pension, or to secure rec
| IGNITION Of my services which were 80 cruelty
| ignored by the newspapers at the time OF tn.
| event: but to "vindicate the truth of history,
| particularly in the matter of the Parson max
| ing cartridges Che was scraping lntin the hospl
| tai department of the cabin) and to stimulate
! the patriotism of the rising generation.
| Although the results were important, the bat
| tie, as have said, was not sanguinary. The
| "nobody killed and nobody hurt" "Yet 'twa
| famous victory"
| UNscARRED VETERAN.
July 9TH, 1882.