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officers, that was wounded, ran from one end of the vessel to the other, howling in the most dreadful manner. -- A hardy old tar who acted in the station of "Stopperman," (when any of the rigging is partly shot away, they put a stopper on the place, to prevent it from going away entirely,) discovering our main stay partly shot away, jumped and began to put a stopper on, and while in the act, another shot cut the stay away below him, which let him swing with great force against the mast -- He very gravely observed, - "Damn you, if you must have it, take it." - A shot from the enemy struck one of our guns, within a quarter of an inch of the calibre; little pieces of metal flew in every direction, and wounded almost every man at the piece. One man was filled full of little pieces of cast iron,q from his knees to his chin, some not bigger than the head of a pin, and none larger than a buck shot; he, however recovered.) The Sloop Little Belt attempted to make sail and steer for Malden - the Scorpion gave her chase, and fired a "long tom" at her: the first shot struck close to her stern - the next entered her starboard quarter, and went out at her larboard bow, and she surrendered. This made the victory complete. No a soul escaped. What a glorious day to my country -- and how rejoiced was I to find the battle ended -- victory our own, and myself safe, except a slight wound, and much defended. I did not recover my proper hearing for a year afterwards. The British squadron surrendered to us in line, as follows: - Detroit, queen Charlotte, Lady Provost [Prevost], Hunter, Little Belt, Chippewa. We took as many prisoners as we had men when we commenced the action. (Being in a private station, it was impossible for me to ascertain the exact number of the killed and wounded.) The English Commander's ship Detroit looked like a slaughter-house. General Harrison, who was within hearing, with his army, said, "For three hours it was nothing but one continued roar of cannon." |
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