Year: 1859

the old veteran to suffer any injustice to
be done to him


WELL continued the Colonel, I'VE
lay in the river commanding the access
to Navy Island, and General Scot. had
erected battery on the shore command
ing US, and within point blank range:
About this time the little steamer BARGE
Iona dropped down from Buffalo to Fort
Schiosser. carrying, as everybody sup
posed, recruits and supplies to our neigh
bors on Navy Island. However, we as
certalned from our spies that her papers
were all regu!ar-a peaceful trader ply
ing between tw, American ports-and
ard we could not interfere. We after
wards learned that site commenced run
ming between Schlosscr and Navy Island
on picnic excursions and such like
peaceful errands. We had no means OF
hinderins her, aud said nothing.


One day intelligence reached our
headquarters at Chippewa, that the
Barcelona was about to ascend the river
to Buffalo for further supplies. To do
this she must come within reach of our
flotilla, and our commander, Captain
Grah, m, received orders from Colonel
MNab and and Captain Drew to arrest
her. But on the very day she was to
ascend. Colonel Huges, Of the oath, ar
rived at Chippewa ; and as he outranke ed
NJ Nab, he took the command His first
step was to forbid Captain Drew to in
tertele with any vessel ascending the
river under American colors. Much
against his will the Captain was forced
to send an order to this effect to the
commander of the aotilla. At dinner
Colonel Hughes changed his mind, and
sent to Graham an order to stop the
Barcelona, peaceably, if possible; but at
all events to stop her


The mess must have had very goot
port, suggested We.


Very likely they did and it came
near costing US DEAR rejoined the Col.
am an old soldier now, and may safely
own that | did not at all relish our po-
ston. 1t was easy enough, to be sure
for US to stop the Blrcclona We coald
have blown her out o. the water in two
minutes; but, unluckiIy, Sc,tt's battery
could do It's the same kind turn in about
three-tourths of the time. INvyoon had
evidence that he was quite determined tc
do 50 If necessary. For hardly had we
received our orders to stop the Barcelo-
IA, before boat approached the fotilla
from the American shore, with a mes
sage from General Scott to the effect
that, if we interfered with the steamer,
he should consider it equivalent to a
declaration Of war, and would sink our
squadron instanfer. We were very well
aware that couple Of rounds from his
battery would be quite sufficient for the
purpose.


Our bluff captain declared that he
had orders to stop the Barcelona, and
stop her he would. So he took uui.
ct glass Of brandy and smoked ciga,
with the very gentemanly young Amer
ican officer who had brought US General
SCOTS message. which under the circum
stances. was equivalent to death war
rant. He took very courteous leave
of us and returned to the American side


Old Graham, as We call him, now is
sued his orders to the vessels Of the
squadron. We were to put springs on
our cable, so as to be able to engage the
American battery, after we had taker
the Barcelona. Considering how com
pletely We were in its power, this would
have appeared a capital joke, had it not
been matter OF life and death.


very we'll knew that old Graham
would go to the bottom before he would
swerve from obeying orders; bat being,
as have said, young officer, it would
not do to show any alarm; so l turned
into what was likely to be my last nights
sleep,


The morning broke gloriously The
thermometer stood number OF degrees
below zero. and sharp wind blew
away the mist, and showed .he trees on
both banks glittering in the rays of the
rising sun, as though every twig was
hung with diamonds, By-and-by we
saw the Barcelona shoot out from the
Island, and move slowly up the stream
towards US. Orders were passed to liz ht
our slow matches, in readiness for action.
At thi, moment the bugles in the Amer
lean batteries sounded call; We could
see the gunners fall into their places, load
their pieces, and bring couple of them
to bear directly upon each of our vessels
We were so near that we could actually
see them light their slow matches.


All this time the Barcelona kept
creeping up towards US. She was a slow