One night, about nine o'clock, we were alarmed by a terrible shouting from one of the other boats, who were hailing us, and at the same time, keeping up a brisk tire of musketry; we could just discern, through the darkness, a boat pulling rapidly towards the shore, and a gruff voice crying out, "Bhod for supper! Blood for supper! ' Lieut. Odenheimer hailed every gunboat, and ordered them to man their boats, and go in pursuit of the fugitives. Oar boat was instantly hauled alongside, and six men, of which 1 was one, and a midshipman, ordered into her; each man was armed with a loaded pistol and a cutlass. We pulled directly for the runaway boat, that was now close under the Brooklyn shore; we followed them by their noise, and as soon as they saw that they were pursued, they struck off again for the New York side.
It being very dark, we could just discern the boat a short distance ahead, but they succeeded in landing before we could get up with them. And now commenced the hunt. Here were seven of us, that composed our boat's crew, and all armed to the teeth. We went directly to the " hook," the abode of infamy and wretchedness, where we supposed the deserters had gone; and here, in going from house_ to house, we were exposed to the insults of those who inhabited these dens. It was certain, that we should not find either sympathy or co-operation in the object of oar pursuit, for deserters, thieves, murderers, and pickpockets all find an asylum in this pandemonium of wretchedness.
The midshipman who had charge of our gang, was a blustering fellow, and I thought he would°get us into a fight, which was, however, avoided. We gave up the chase, and returned, unsuccessful, to our gunboat. We understood the next day, that the deserters were four in number, and among them was a great strapping nigger, who went by the name of Big Tom; and he ivas, sure enough, a powerful fellow. ^ row had occurred on board their'gunboat, and the officers had attempted to put this big fellow in irons, when he swore that he would kill any man who laid a Land on him. He then, with the other three, started off as before stated. At one time during our cruise at the " hook," we went into a house where he was; he being in the back room, we did not see him; and when he was told that there were armed men after him, he immediately seized a stick of hickory firewood, and swore death to any man that should approach him; and upon the whole, I think it was fortunate for us all that we did not see him.
A few days afterwards he came voluntarily on board and delivered himself up. He was confined for a few days and then set at liberty. The others were not taken. The cook of our boat had his wife on board; she was a little red-haired thing, and a regular team. She went on shore nearly every day to pick up a little spending money and often came on board not sober. This sadly provoked John, who swore that she should not set foot on shore again unless he went with her. This injunction on her liberty was too much for Lizzie. She began to snuffle and cry, and vowed she would jump overboard. Now John unfortunately had but one arm.
He had lost the other in the engagement on board the Essex. Lizzie went to the bows and threatened to drown herself. " Well, drown and be " says John; " you are too much of a coward to jump overboard." And as though suddenly inspired with an impulse that it was highly important that one or the other should die, he jumped overboard, and was borne along by the rapid tide; with a heavy pea-jacket on, and his head just above water, and with his one tin splashing away at a great rate. She began screaming and wringing her hands, begging some one to get the boat and save her clear John. " 0, my dear John!" John was fortunately saved, and brought on board half drowned.
She clenched him round the neck and nearly smothered him with kisses. 0, such a display of conjugal felicity. They both took a good horn of whiskey, and turned in. The frigate b in g now read v to receive her machinery, was towed to Jersey City. One hundred men were selected to go with her, to assist in getting the boilers on board, to take in the masts, and also to rig her. I was one of the number, as there was much carpenter's work to do. And it was certainly a great relief to me to be clear of the miserable gunboats, and to have employment for both body and mind. It was now December, and the weather extremely cold.