The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-12-22
A LEAF FROM THE PAST.
The First Battle of the Revolution and Its
Outcome.
Especial Corresponderr.e.1

Especial Correspondence
PHILADELPHIA, Dec 12.-Somc naval men
were talking here today of the modern de-
velopment of the warship, apropos of the
splendid performance of Uncle Sans new
ships and of the improvised navy Of Brazil
"You may not know" said one, that
cared vessels were used in warfare less than
100 years ago between the United States
and Great Britain. In the early part of the
war for American independence Maryland
ard Virginia began to provide for the de-
Tense of their coast by building barges.
Each of these vessels was u trinc longer
than so feet and was impclled by both oars
and sails, as were the gallcys of the phccni
clans and the fighting craft of the Morse
men. 1t took from 30 to 15 men to sail
and work the guns of each boat, and pieces
OF considerable caliber were carried.
Virginia built mt least two of these
bargcs and named them Accomac and Dill
gencc. Maryland built more, but do not
know how many or what they were called
They were all kept in active service till
near the close of the war, but as they could
not put to sen they did not acquire. much
fame. They were stationed in Chesapeake
bay off the eastern shore and the Mary
land fleet was commanded by Captain VIVA
ley.
Notwithstanding the small amount OF
attention these fleets of bargcs attract, it
was left to their commanders to fight the
last battle of the Revolution. 1t took place
Nov. 80, 1872. The British forces numbered
six sail and the American but four, the
odds being decidedly in favor of the enemy.
Captain Whaiey's vessel got within range
of the English boats ahead of the remainder
of his notilla and engaged his adversary
single handed, fighting with such vim and
spirit that in Il comparatively short time
he had captured or silenced in rotation
four of the English boats. The other two
were about to strike their colors when tho
tide of battle was turned against the stars
and stripes by the blowing up of Whaley's
magazine.
The battle had been q bloody one before
this-bloCdy almost without precedent in
fact-and this disaster added greatly 10 the
number of killed and wounded Many of
the American officers and crew were torn to
pieces, and so close was the disabled vessel
to one of the English barges that IL number
of the British suffered also, and the barge
was disabled. Victory was now in the grasp
Of the Americans, for but one of the Eng
lish boats was then capable of fighting,
while three Yanks were still in good shape,
but, alas, they had not yet reached the scene
of action.
had happened they turned tail and sailed
away, not even stopping to rescue the Amer
leans who had been thrown into the water
by the explosion. The English set about
saving their men, but with their cutasses
they cut the hands of such Americans as
tried to cling to anything about the British
barges.
"The Americans who were left on the
wreck of the blown up barge would not
surrender, but fought to the last, and it is
related of Lieutenant Levin Handy that,
his right hand being blown off and his arm
lost, he distinguished himself until killed
by throwing grapeshot with his left hand
at the uninjured British barge.
This sea fight is not mentioned in all
the histories of the revolution, but dim
traditions Of the battle OF the barges were
still current on the eastern shore the last
time was there, some eight or ten years
ago, and it is duly referred to in the official
records" JOSEPH WADLEIGH