The Helena independent., 1893-12-18
A LEAF FROM THE PAST.
THE First Battle Of tho Revolution and Its
Outcome.

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The First Battle OF tho Revolution and Its
Outcome.
Especial Correspondence
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 11.-Some naval men
werc talking here today Of the modern de-
Selopment Of the warship, apropos OF the
Bplendid performance of Uncle Sans new
ships md Of the improvised navy Of Brazil
'.You may not know" said ono, that
Dared vessels were used in warfare less than
100 years ago between the United States
md Great Britain. In the early part Of the
war for American independence Maryland
and Virginia began to provide for the de-
fenso of their coast by building barses.
Each of these vessels was n triae longer
than 80 feet and was impelled by both oars
and sails, as were the galleys of the Pboeni-
clans and the fighting craft of the Morse
men. 1t took from 50 to 75 men to sail
and work the guns Of each boat, and pieces
of considerable caliber were carried
"virginia built at least two of these
barges and named them Accomac and Dill
gence. Maryland built more but I 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 sea they did not acquire much
fame. They We're stationed in Chesapeake
bay off the eastern shore and the Mary
land feet was commanded by Captain Wha-
ley.
Notwithstanding the small amount of
attention these fleets of barges attract, it
was left to their commanders to fight the
last battle of the Revolution. 1t took place
Nov. 80, l7sa. The British forces numbered
six sail and the American but four the
odds being decidedly in favor of the enemy.
Captain Whaley's vessel got within range
of the English boats ahead of the remainder
of his flotilla and engaged his adversary
single handed, fighting with such vim and
spirit that in 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 the
tide of battle was turned against the stars
and stripes by the blowing up of Whaleys
magazine.
1.-THE battle had been bloody one before
'this--bloody almost without precedent in
fact-and this disaster added greatly to 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 q 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 tyet reached the scene
of action.
''As soon as their commanders saw what
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 cutlssses
they cut the hands of such Americans as
triad In c1irp n opcthiprr ahout tba RritiSb
barges.
''The Americans who We're 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
Homemade Chest.
1t was in its first condition packing
box. 1t was about three feet long and
rather broad, but quite shallow. 1t was
rather an aristocratic packing box, being
dovetailed instead of merely nailed at the
binings.
The woman into whose hands it fell had
an inspiration. The cover was knocked
OFT, and a carpenter fitted a cover on with
hinges Then she painted it black on the |
outside and white on the inside. When
she had obtained the desired shade of ink
mess she vanished the box. The hinges
on the cover she glded. A pair of brass
handles were added to the sides, and an
ornamental brass lock adorned the 'front.'
The chest reposed in a bedroom window
and held madam's party dress skirts with
out creasing them. On top she put Il few
curious looking cushions--a dull red one
an old blue one and one with bands of |
oriental embroidery. And the popular
impression is that the quaint looking |
chest is either an heirloom or IL treasure
from an antique shop. p.-Exchange.