Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-12-15
LEAF FROM THE PAST.
The First Battle of the Revolution and Its
 Outcome.
Special Correspondence

Special Cores pondence.l
 PHILADELPHIA, Dec 12.-Some naval men were talking here today of the modern de velopment of the warship, apropos of the splendid performance of Uncle Sam's new ships and of the improvised navy of Brazil.
 You may not know" said one, that pared vessels were used in warfare less than loo 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 fense of their coast by building barSrs. Each of thr>c vessels was a triile longer than 70 feet and was impelled by both oars and sails. Us were the galleys of the Phuni- cians and the fighting craft of the Morse men. It took from 50 to 15 men to sail and work the guns of each boat, and pieces of considerable caliber were carried.
 Virginia built at least two of these bargts 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 ill active service till near the close of the war. but as they could not put to sea 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 W ha- ley.
 Notwithstanding the small amount of dlNtuNlbll llltSC llTtAS bA ItEsSCS attract, II was left to their commanders to fight the last battle of the Revolution. IL took place Nov. 30, l7S2. The British forces numbered six sail and the American but four, the odds being decidedly in favor of the enemy. Captain Whaley vessel got within range of the English boats ahead of the remainder of his hutilla and engaged his adversary single handed, fighting with such vim and spirit that in q comparatively short time ha ha FVrs !. four of the English boats. The other two were about to strike their colors when the tide oi battle Was turned against the stars and stripes by the blowing up of Whaley'S s magazine.
 The battle had been bloody ouc before this bloody almost without precedent in taCt-and this disaster added greatly 10 the number of lillcd and wounded. Many of the American officers and crew were torn to pieces and 50 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 grIsp D of the Americans, for but one of the Eng fish boats was then capable of fighting while three Tanks were still in good shape but, alas, they had not yet reached the scene of action
 As soon as their commanders saw what had happened they turned tail ard sailed ANaN' hoe ~ 'SL NIoPl'lAS tO ESSCUc NuV -AultE- jeans who had Geeu thrown into the water by the explosion. The English set about saving their men, but with their cutlasses 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 grape-hot with his left haud at the uninjurcd British barge,
 This sea fight is not mentioned ill all the histories of the revolution, but dim traditions of the battle of Inc barSes were still current on the eastern shore the last time was there, some eight or ten years ago, and it is duly referred 10 in the official records" JOSEPH WADLEIGlI