Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-03-22

midshipman's bravery on this occasion
he was promoted, and the stuff this
| Delaware boy was made of developed
TO The satisfaction of his superiors at the
st'test.
Until within very recent years the
family OF his nephew in Delaware had
a great brass. barrelled gun which it was
said their uncle had snatched from one
OF the guards as he mounted the deck
of the Philadelphia on that memorable
night of February 10th, 1904.
"Ihe courage, the daring, the hcroism
OF the Americans in this contest over
coming at times such odds as three TO
one, and ever manifesting q willingness
to sacrifice themselves for each other,
was fit school in which to train the
young midshipman for the greater CON
tests ho was destined afterwards to
enter and pass through with such dis
| tinction
HE WAS LOVED DY HIS MEN.
"This spirit of courage and self.sacri-
flee is well illustrated by the action of a
seaman who had been severely wounded.
When Decatur, then in mortal combat
with the leader of the enemy, was about
to received his death blow from behind,
thls seaman, whose arms were useless,
threw his body between the assaiant
and his commander and received a saber
cut upon his head that fractured his
Skull and left him for dead upon the
deck. lie had saved his commander
ana although himself severely wounded
subsequently recovered to enjoy for
years the recollection of his bravery
No wonder the T'ripolitans thought aud
said the Americans seemed more than
mortal in combat and that the greatest
commanders and rulers of the world
commended their prowess and courage.
"lt was spirit such as this that
ruled Macdonough's life. 1t could not
have been born tull-hedged in him and
his companions, but had grown through
TWO or three generations of men aud
women who had met oppression with
determined resistance and who counted
lie and property as nothing against
their personal rights and the liberty of
their consciences. James Macdonough,
the grandfather, had early in the seven
teenth century left the home of his an-
cestors to endure the hardships and pri-
vations of the new world in order that
he and his children should enjoy the
blessings of liberty and equanly, and
his father, DIR. Thomas Macdonough,
was an officer in the Revolutionary
army under tho brave Haslet who fell
at the head of his regiment at the battle
of Princeton IN 1777, defending those
rights. His grandfather died an old
man in 1893, the father. compara-
lively young man, in 1896, after seeing
the Revolution u success and the in
dependence of his country assured sub
sequently sat as one Of the judges of
the courts of his native State, honored
and respected.
"Men in those days from tine very
necessities of the times were taught to
think of others before they did of them
selves and to offer their own lives, il
need be, upon the altar.nf self-sacritice.
Their ideas. Were not, now can | best
take care of my own interests, but
rather--what shall do to best preserve
the liberties of my country and the gem
eral welfare of those who are to come
after me. 1t was by the side of such
men as Haslet and Krkwood that the
father of Commodore Macdonough
fought in those stirring times.
"Kirkwood was born almost in sight
of the Macdonough homestead and
fought with savage bravery through 33
battles of the Revolutionary war. His
record is a brilliant one aud will repay
consideration.
ut was among these men and with
this ancestry and surrounded by these
influences, that the spirit of the young
midshipnan was born and developed,
and here were laid the foundations
upon which were afterwards reared
those qualities of mind and heart which
entitle this country boy to the place he
he subsequently obtained in American
history.
THE BRITISH FLEET CAPTURED.
at required all this to make the man
for the hour that struck on September
11th, 1914. That hour was one of great
moment to the liberty and independ-
ence of the civilized world, and the man
of that hour, young in years though he
was, felt and recognized the fact that he
was but an instrument in the hands of
the Ruler of all nations. Knowing that
the British had not only experience but
also numbers and equipment upon their
side, he bowed with his men before the
action commenced and committed their
cause to that Power greater than man
or men. Rising with renewed courage
and the determination to do whatever
the duty of the moment called for he
said to his men: They are superior to
us in force, but by the blessing OF God
we will conquer them
The result, as you know, was the
capture of the entire British fleet, which
one of his admirers has said, was the
second instance of the kind in the his.
tory Of the world. The record of that
great battle shows that Macdonough
has well been called the Hero of Lake
Champlain. lie knew nothing but to do
or die. When all the guns on one side
of his flagship Saratoga had been
silenced he swung her around and
brought hor other side into action.
"Hwice was he knocked senseless and
picked up for dead, but each time re-
viyed quickly and stood himself sight
ing his favorite gun with terrible effect. |
One incident In this desperate contest |
against odds which brought renewed.
courage TO Macdonough and his men
was when a shot from the enemy's ship |
released some chickens from confine-
ment and rooster tlew to the rail, and,
in his excitement, crowed Justify. II |
was accepted as sure omen of victory |
and brought fresh strength to many an
arm and heart,
"Another son of Delaware whose |
name should raise u feeling Of applause
in the hearts Of us all, has left us the |
account of an eye witness to this battle |
and Of his visit to the Saratoga after
wards. Said Mr.. Clayton: Il was told |
by Mr.. Phelps, Senator from Vermont,
that lie was a boy living on his fathers |
farm near the banks of Lake Champlaiu
when Macdonough's action of 1914 |