Year: 1872

the Panchita." No specific instructions
We're given him, everything being left to
his discretion. The Grampus GOT under
way at once, and in Il few hours sail came
in sight of the offending craft Gregory
bore down upon her, with his guns double
shottrd. Ranging up within half musket
shot, he stepped upon gun, trumpet in
hand, and ordered his first lieutenant.
Ralph Voorhees,, to fire broadside into
her, aiming at the water line amidshp. it
he threw up his trumpet As he hailed
the Panchita, he observed man in her
maintop taking aim at him with a musket


lie threw up his trumpet, and at that mo-
ball striking the trumpet. The Grampns
delivered the fire of her six guns, knock
ing a hole in her side large enough to
have sunk her in fifteen minutes A mid
shipman in the Grampus caught q musket
out of the hands of n marine an shot the
man in the top dead The Panchta re-
turned the broadside of the Grampus, but
in the confusion and alarm did not hit the
vessel She immediately surrendered, and
Gregory returned with her to Thompson's
Island, where he arrived in the course Of
Il few hours The vessel was sent to
Charleston, where she gas ordered to be
released by a court of admiralty, rs an
illegal capture. The case was taken to
the Supreme Court at Washington, where
She was condemned as lawful prize.
Judge Marshall remarked on the trial that
there was no such instance in record of
rapid firing as that OF the Grampus He
said it was proven in the court below that
the Grampus fired at the flash of the
Panchita's gun, purposely contounding
the musket shot with the broadside, and
that the balls of the Grampus took effect
first. Congress subsequently passed an
act lndemniiyng Gregory tor his expenses
in defending the suit.


Three or four years after the war OF
1872, before the jealousy and bitterness
that had been ranking in the minds Of
Englshmen and Americans ever since its
termination had passed away, frigate OF
which Gregory was executive officer was
lying in the harbor of Rio Janeiro There
were several English men-ot-war in port,
and the older officers were careful to pre-
vent collisions between the sailors OF the
different ships. One fine day the gunners
Of British ship OF the line and a frigate
cot permission to exercise the great guns
by firing at a mark. A large hogshead
or other cask was anchored at a suitable
distance, about two miles Off and the
frigate and seventy-four We're both blaz-
ing away at it. Some half dozen shots
had been fired by each and the mark had
not been nit. With the aid OF a glass it
could be seen that some of the balls fell
near IT, while Others fell short or struck a
long way of. There was large number
Of ships in port, and the gunnery practice
attracted general attention. and many
sarcastic comments We're made upon the
unskiliu firing Of John Bull. The Yankee
sailors We're much excited, and their own
superior gunnery wa loudly asserted.
Meantime the firing was continued, and
with 4 similar result. At last one Of the
experts OF the frigate, unable to control
himself implored Mr.. Gregory to let him
have one crack at the barrel. He was
sternlv rebuked and ordered to quarters.
The fellow was a long-limbed, powerful
ermonter, an old tar. but with much nt
his mother habits and peculiarities hang
ing about him. Returning to his mess
mates. he swore with outlandish oaths
that it was a shame he couldn't give
"them Rritshers q lesson" Presently he
inquired how much it would cost for one
shot at the cask. "Such tlogging as you
have long deserved" said Mr. Gregory
"Anything else, sir ?' inquired Jonathan,
as he turned away. In less than minute,
bang went a long thiry-two, and the
British mark was knocked All to pieces
Mr. Gregory at once ordered the man un-
der arrest and sent him on board the
English rigate with 4 note explaining
the matter. There was great excitement
on board the ship. The Yankee gunner
was cOmplimented for the accuracy Of his
shot, the British sailors were reproached
for their clumsy shooting, and the Yer
monter returned to his vessel filled with
grog and with ten guineas in his pocket


In 1928 Mr.. Gregory, then u master
commandant, II grade now unknown in
the service, but which was an intermedi-
ate rank between Post Captain and lieu
tenant was ordered to command the ilellas
on her voyage to Greene, 4 trigate pre-
sented by the United States to the Greeks,
who had revolted against the Mussuman,
and were pretending to fight for an indie
pendent existence. The sympathy of the
civilized world had been aroused in be-
half of the Greeks, and the American peo-
pie urged our Government to render them
efficient assistance. The Administration
was not satisfied in respect to the results
of the quarrel, and it was difficult to OBJ
tain reliable information as to the re-
sources of the country and the means OF
the people to continue the struggle Henry
Il. Storrs, then Chairman of the Naval
Committee of the House, suggested TO the
Secretary of the Navy. Mr.. Southard, that
Gregory should be instructed to look into
the condition of Greene and ascertain
whether there was reasons to expect that
the power OF Turkey could he successfully
resisted Mr.. Southland knew Gregory Us
a gallant seaman and an accomplished
officer, but he had no accurate apprecia
ton of his general ability OF his fitness for
a task 50 responsible, requiring the quail
ties of a statesman for its adequate dis
charge, and he declined to comply with
the request of MIR. Storrs. That gentle
man knew Gregory well, aud being con-
tident that he was tully competent for the
undertaking, represented the case to Mr.
Adams, who directed that the suggestion
should be acted upon.


After delivering the IIellas to the Grecian
authorities, Gregory made a careful eX-
animation of the condition Of the country,
the character Of the people, and their
means to maintain the contest against
their oppressors; and on his return he
made an elaborate report, exhibiting so
much Intelligence, research, insight, and
philosophical knowledge, as to astoni,li
both Mr.. Storrs and Mr.. Adams. Gregory
was highly compimented by the Pres


dent, who pronounced his report q most
valuable document, worthy of an expert
enced and far-sighted statesman


Great events often depend upon circum-
stances trivial in their nature and of no
apparent importance. The fate of IA ma
ton may turn upon what is regarded rs
the merest accident without significance
or effect of any kind. Take the case of
Texas, in the crisis of her existence by
way of illustration The battle of San
Sacinto had SO broken the aggressive
power of Mexico thar Houston and his
gallant associates found themselves in a
situation to maintain, temporarily at least,
the independence of the young republic.
But their resources were limited, the pop
ulation of the country small and widely
scattered, and the prospect of establish
ing permanent and self-sustaining gov
ernment precarious and remote. The