Serapis was attacked only by the first, but the Bon Homme Richard was assailed by both; there was five feet water in the hold, and though it was moderate from the explosion of so much gunpowder, yet the three pumps that remained could with difficulty only keep the water from gaining. The fire broke out in various parts of the ship, in spite of all the water that could be thrown in to quench it, and at length broke out as low as the powder magazine, and within a few inches of the powder. In that dilemma, I took out the powder upon deck, ready to be thrown overboard at the last extremity, and it was ten o'clock the next day, the 24th, before the fire was entirely extinguished. With respect to the situation of the Bon Homme Richard, the rudder was cut entirely off, the stern frame and transoms were almost entirely cut away, and the timbers by the lower deck, especially from the main-mast toward the stern, being greatly decayed with age, were mangled beyond my power of description, and a person must have been an eye witness to form a just idea of the tremendous scene of carnage, wreck, and ruin, which everywhere appeared. Humanity cannot but recoil from the prospect of such finished horror, and lament that war should be capable of producing such. fatal consequences. After the carpenters, as well as Captain Cottineau and other men of sense, had well examined and surveyed the ship (which was not finished before five in the evening), I found every person to be convinced that it was impossible to keep the Bon Homme Richard afloat so as to reach a port, if the wind should increase, it being then only a very moderate breeze. I had but little time to remove my wounded, which now be came unavoidable, and which was effected in the course of the night and next morning. I was determined to keep the Bon Homme Richard afloat, and, if possible, to bring her into port. For that purpose the first lieu tenant of the Pallas continued on board with a party of men to attend the pumps, with boats in waiting ready to take them on board, in case the water should gain on them too fast. The wind augmented in the night, and the next day, the 25th, so that it was impossible to prevent the good old ship from sinking. They did not abandon her till after nine o'clock; the water was then up to the lower deck, and a little after ten I saw, with inexpressible grief, the last glimpse of the Bon Homme Richard. No lives were lost with the ship, but it was impossible to save the stores of any sort whatever. I lost even the best part of my clothes, books, and papers; and several of my officers lost all their clothes and effects. Having thus endeavored to give a clear and simple relation of the circumstances and events that have attended the little armament under my command, I shall freely submit my conduct therein to the censure of my superiors and the impartial public. I beg leave, however, to observe that the force put under my command was far from being well composed, and as the great majority of the actors in it have appeared bent on the pursuit of interest only, I am exceedingly sorry that they and I have been at all concerned. Captain Cottineau engaged the Countess of Scarborough, and took her, after an hour's action, while the Bon Homme Richard engaged the Serapis. The Countess of Scarborough is an armed ship of twenty sixpounders, and was commanded by a king's officer. In the action, the Countess of Scarborough and the Serapis were at a considerable distance asunder; and the Alliance, as I am informed, fired into the Pallas and killed some men. If it should be asked why the convoy was suffered to escape, I must answer that I was myself in no condition to pursue, and that none of the rest showed any inclination; not even Mr. Ricot, who had held off at a distance to windward during the whole action, and withheld by force the pilot boat with my lieutenant and fifteen men. The Alliance, too, was in a state to pursue the fleet, not having had a single man wounded or a single shot fired at her from the Serapis, and only three that did execution from the Countess of Scarborough, at such a distance that one stuck in the side, and the other two just touched and then dropped into the water. The Alliance killed one man only on board the Serapis. As Captain de Cottineau charged himself with manning and securing the prisoners of the Countess of Scarborough, I think the escape of the Baltic fleet cannot so well be charged to his account. I should have mentioned that the main-mast and mizzen-topmast of the Serapis fell overboard soon after the captain had come on board the Bon Homme Richard. Jonathan Mitchel Sewall. BORN in Salem, Mass., 1748. DIED at Portsmouth, N. H., 1808. A CRY TO BATTLE. ["Epilogue to Cato," written in 1778.-Miscellaneous Poems. 1801.] Did Cæsar, drunk with power, and madly brave, Did he for this lead forth a servile host, And spill the choicest blood that Rome could boast? The flower of Britain too in martial bloom, Rise then, my countrymen! for fight prepare, WAR AND WASHINGTON. [As Sung during the Revolution. From the Same.] AIN Britons, boast no longer with proud indignity, VA By land your conquering legions, your matchless strength at sea, Since we, your braver sons incensed, our swords have girded on, Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza, for war and Washington. Urged on by North and vengeance those valiant champions came, Still deaf to mild entreaties, still blind to England's good, Mysterious! unexampled! incomprehensible! The blundering schemes of Britain their folly, pride, and zeal, Your dark unfathomed councils our weakest heads defeat, Great Heaven! is this the nation whose thundering arms were hurled, Yet think not thirst of glory unsheaths our vengeful swords 'Tis heaven-born freedom fires us all, and strengthens each brave son, From him who humbly guides the plough, to god-like Washington. For this, oh could our wishes your ancient rage inspire, Then might the glorious conflict prove which best deserved the boon, Fired with the great idea, our Fathers' shades would rise, Should George, too choice of Britons, to foreign realms apply, Should warlike weapons fail us, disdaining slavish fears, Proud France should view with terror, and haughty Spain revere, While every warlike nation would court alliance here; And George, his minions trembling round, dismounting from his throne Pay homage to America and glorious Washington! Hugh Henry Brackenridge. BORN near Campbelton, Scotland, 1748. DIED at Carlisle, Penn., 1816. BUNKER'S HILL. [The Battle of Bunker's Hill. A Dramatic Piece in Five Acts. 1776.] Loud-sounding drums, now with hoarse murmurs, Rouse the spirit up to war; Fear not, fear not, though their numbers Much to ours superior are. Hear brave Warren, bold commanding : From the navy-covered wave. Now, think you see three thousand moving, Many a gallant veteran shoving The curling volumes all behind them, Our cannon-balls, brave boys, shall find them, Once more, Warren, 'midst this terror, "Charge, brave soldiers, charge again! Many an expert veteran warrior Of the enemy is slain. Level well your charged pieces, In direction to the town; They shake, they shake, their lightning ceases; That shot brought six standards down." Maids in virgin beauty blooming, On Britannia's sea-girt isle, Say no more your swains are coming, Death, grim death, alas, defaces Youth and pleasure, which must die. "March the right wing, Gardiner, yonder; The hero spirit lives in thunder; Take the assailing foe in flank, Close there, sergeants, close that rank. Unkindest fortune, still thou changest, |