Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-10-24
THE CALEB CUSHING AND THE
CHESAPEAKE.
BREEZY ACCOUNT OF A NAVAL ENGAGE
NENT IN PORTLAND HARBoR.
THE WHITTIER RECEIVES A DISABILITY.
From the Portland Press

.
reading in this mornings Press the CRAP
ich account Of that terrible, but bloodless
naval conflict between the merchant
steamer Chesapeake and the Revenue
Cutter Caleb Gushing, which resulted in
the destruction of the latter vessel.
well remember the morning when the
news that the rebels had captured the
cutter !; had cutter out Of our harbor, to
prey upon our commerce, startled our
quiet community, was al the time a
merchant on Commercial street, and be-
ing in the vicinity of Browns wharf,
where the Chesapeake lay and was being
fred up for the chase, offered myself as
a volunteer under the command of Capt.
Lawrence for the recspture of the stolen
craft. 1t was glorious morning, scarce
ly breath 10 ruff1e the face Of the
waters. A squad of men from the re-
turned Seventh Maine Regiment, under
the gallant Col. Mason whose regiment
at that time happened to be recruiting at
camp Abraham Liucoln) with loaded
muskets were marched on board, and
with all our bunting flying we steamed
rapidly on, Of the harbor. 1t did not
occur to me at the time that either my
self, or any other Of the unarmed gentle
men who made up the expedition, and
who appeared TO be rather in the way
than otherwise, were doing the country
any very great service in the way of put
ting down the rebellion although since
tina, time, after reading many glowing
accounts of the battle, have changed nv
opinion somewhat, and now think shall
apply for a pension under the liberal pro-
visions Of the act for payment Of arrears
OF pensions. | was not wounded IN the
ba,,le-no one was no gore flowed; but
received disability" as l will ex-
plain hereafter. AS | have said, we
steamed boldly out Of the harbor, follow
ing the Fores, City, which steamer had
preceded US. We had on the bow OF the
Chesapeake a brass cannon mounted,
which was in charge OF Bill Bigelow, an
old schoolmate Of mite, and scared
veteran Of the Mexican war, who was at
the time in charge of guns and things at
the State Arsenal on Bramhalrs hill.
Five or six miles off the Cape, we sighted
the Forest City, and farther Gu, at sea
we could discern a sal, which proved 10
be the captured Cutter. Suddenly the
Forest City stopped, or rather slackened
her speed so that she had on only enough
steam for steering away, and was evil
IDENTIFY waiting for the Chesapeake to
come up. We steamed alongside and
held a consultation or council of war.
The Gutter was now in full view. be-
claimed. and the rebel crew were warping
her with the boats. 1t was decided as
the Forest City was side wheel steamer
and more vulnerable than the Chesapeake
that we should lead the fight. So we
cracked on steam and with three rousing
cheers started to run the Cutter down.
1t was not thought safe to attempt to
capture her, as she was well armed and
manned by a desperate crew of men. All
was excitement on board the Chesapeake
We could no, feel as did Napoleon at the
battle Of the Pyramids, that several gen.
erations were looking down upon us from
those ancient monuments but we knew
that the Forest City was slowly follow
ing and watching us-from safe dis
,ance-and that the old Observatory on
Munjoy was crowded with anxious spec
tators, who were bringing the telescope
to bear upon US and last, but not least
that we had a fast ste amer and could
run over the Cutter and send her rebel
crew to the bottom without getting much
damaged ourselves. The brass piece on
the bow was sighted and ready for use
and the armed soldiers of the Seventh
Maine were stationed behind bales of
cotton which had been pressed into the
service from portion of the cargo and
stood against the rails, while the gallant
citizens, who had volunteered for the
purpose of giving their valuable advice
in case of emergency, and seeing tn at
everything went on properly, had secured
positions of observation on top OF the
cabin and galley. Suddenly as we near
ed the Cutter we noticed change in the
movements of her crew. The boats
which were towing her dropped along
side. and the crew climbed over the rails
TO the deck. All, they were going to
surrender, and we should not have the
snort of running them down and sending
them to sup with old Neptune. But this
delusion was suddenly dispelled; for, in
twinkling The cutter swung round broad
side to. a puff of white smoke went curl
ing up from her deck, and the boom OF
the cannon, accompanied by the wicked