A gentleman, who took part in the engagement, has related the following anecdotes exemplary of that fearless and patriotic spirit which animated the whole crew of the Essex, and which has characterized our hardy sailors in all their combats with the enemy. To the memory of these brave fellows their publicity is due; and we doubt not many more instances of chivalrous heroism, resulting from a noble love of country, might be obtained and recorded, to the lasting honor of the American name. John Ripley, after losing his leg, said " farewell, boys; I can be of no use to you; " and leaped out of the bow port. John Alvinson received a cannon ball (eighteen pounder) through the body; in the agony of death, he exclaimed, " never mind, shipmates; I die in defence of ' Free trade and sailors' r-i-g-h-t-s; ' " and expired with the word rights quivering on his lips.
James Anderson had his left leg shot off, and died animating his shipmates to fight bravly in defence of liberty. After the engagement, Benjamin Hazen, having dressed himself in a clean shirt and jerkin, addressed his remaining messmates, and telling; them he never could submit to be a prisoner to the English, threw himself into the sea. SEQUEL OF CAPTAIN PORTER'S EXPEDITION IN THE SOUTH SEA. On the 19th of November 1813, Capt. Porter took formal possession of the Island, called by the natives Nooaheevah, generally known by the name of Sir Henry Martin's Island, but now called Madison Island. It is situated between lat. 9° and 10° S. and in long. 140° W, from Greenwich. The following is a letter from Capt Gamble to Capt.
Porter. Capt. Gamble, the reader will recollect, was left by Capt. Porter with a few men, in charge of two or three vessels and some public property, when he sailed from Madison Island for Valparaiso, previous to his ever memorable battle in the Essex. The following letter comprises all the subsequent occurrences: Sin, New York, August 30, 1815. With regret I have to inform you, the frigate had not got clear of the Marquesas, before we discovered in the natives a hostile disposition towards us, who in a few days became so insolent, that I found it absolutely necessary, not only for the security of the ships, and property on shore, but for our v personal safety, to land my men, and regain by force of arms the many tilings they had, in the most daring manner, stolen from the encampment; and what was of still greater importance, to prevent, if possible, their putting threats into execution, which might have been attended with the most serious consequences on our part from duty requiring my men to be so much separated.
I however had the satisfaction to accomplish my wish without firing a musket, and from that time lived in the most perfect amity with them, until the 7th May following, when my distressed situation placed me in their power. Before mentioning the lamentable events of that day, and the two succeeding ones, I shall give you a brief account of a few preceding occurrences, which were sources of great uneasiness to me. The first was the death of John Wetter, marine, who was unfortunately drowned in the surf, on the afternoon of the 28th February, and the desertion of four of my men. They took the advantage of a dark night, and left the bay unobserved by any person, all excepting one, a prisoner, having the watch on deck.
They took with them several muskets, a supply of ammunition, and many articles of but little value. My attempt to pursue them was prevented by their destroying partially the only boat (near the beach, at that time sea-worthy. On the 12th April, began to rig the ships Seringapatam and Sir Andrew Hammond, which, as I calculated, employed the men until the 1st of May. All hands were then engaged in getting the remainder of the property from the Greenwich to the Seringapatam, as I began to despair of your rejoining me at that place. The work went on well, and the men were obedient to my orders, though I discovered an evident change in their countenances, which led me to suppose there was something wrong in agitation, and under that impression, had all the muskets, ammunition, and small arms of every description, taken to the Greenwich, the ship I lived on board, from the other ships, as a necessary precaution against a surprise from my own men.