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The Battle of Qualah Battoo.
It will be remembered that the .ship Friendship, of Salem, while at Qualah Battoo, on the island of Su-
. matra, in the Indian Ocean, was taken by the natives and all hands murdered. When the intelli¬
gence was received by the American Government, the U. S. Frigate Potomac, Capt. John
Downes, was immediately ordered to that place to chastise them ; which was effec¬
tually accomplished on the night of the 7th of February, 1832, — convinc¬
ing them that the stars and stripes of Uncle Sam are not to be tram¬
pled upon, nor the lives of American tars sacrificed with impunity.
The sun was retiring behind the high mountains,
The forts of our enemv full in our view;
The frigate Potomac — John Downes our commander —
Rode proudly at anchor off Qualah Battoo.
i The land breeze blew mild, the night was serene,
Out boats — was the word, and our tackles were man’d ; —
Six miles was the distance that now lay between,
Our fine lofty ship and the enemy’s land.
Our boats were soon launch’d on the breast of the billows,
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On deck we reposed with our swords for our pillows,
And committed our cause with its justice to Heaven.
At the dead hour of night when all nature was silent,
The boatswain’s shrill pipe call’d each man to his post ;
Our hearts arm’d with justice and minds fully bent,
To attack and destroy that piratical host,
Who boarded the Friendship and murdered her crew,
Just twelve months before the memorable day
IjT When Shubrick* led forth the Potomacs so true,
U1 To fight and to vanquish the hostile Malay.
Our boats were all ready and we were prepared
To fight or to die, for our cause it was just ;
Our muskets were loaded, our bosoms were bared,
To the strife or the storms, for in God was our trust.
When thus spake our brave and respected commander,
я
I charge you by all that is sacred below,
From the true paths of honor or virtue ne’er wander,
If mercy ’s requested, then mercy bestow.
Never let it be said that the sons of Columbia,
Sheath their swords in the breast of female or child ;
And may virtue and honor attend you this day —
Be ye death tajfie armkkJojthe helpless be mild.”
Now sileqce and darkness prevailed all around,
We left the Potomac and steered for the shore ;
Save the noise of the sea beach we heard not a sound,
Our row-Jocks were matted — and muffled each oar.
1'he wild surf ran high as our boats near’d the strand,
And the grey streaks of morning began to appear ;
But by prudence and caution we safely did land,
Thbugh the waters were wild and the -enemy near.
To their force, to their arms, to their strength we were strangers,
But bravely advanced to the forts of our foe ;
We thought of no trouble, we thought of no danger,
Determined, unless we in death were laid low—
*First Lieutenant.
To revenge the sad wrongs which our friends and our nation,
So oft have sustained from these demons of hell;
Our work we commenced, and the bright conflagration
Left but few of our foes the sad story to tell.
Their forts they were strong, and like heroes they fought,
For mercy or quarters they never had shown ;
And the blood of their tictims forever they sought,
But the God of the Christians they never had known.
All around us in ambush these savages lay—
TAnd the bullets like hail-stones were scattered abroad;
But still on their forts we continued to play,
To conquer our object — Potomac ’s the word.
Exposed to their fires, the Potomacs undaunted
Beneath their rude ramparts stood firmly and brave,
Resolved that the stripes and the stars of Columbia
Ere long on their ramparts in triumph should wave.
Their firing soon ceas’d, and our brave pioneers
Then opened a path and entered their gates ;
We paused but a moment — gave three hearty cheers —
Then hoisted the flag that is worn by the States.
The white dashing surf now began to increase,
And warned us the hour of departure was near ;
*Our wounded and slain we collected in peace,
And formed with our pikes and our muskets a bier,
To convey them all weltering and pale from the shore,
To our ship that majestically rode on the wave ;
To comfort the wounded — the dead to deplore,
And commit their remains to a watery grave.
The Potomac ’s victorious— once more underweigh,
Floats proudly aiong o’er the smooth eastern waters ;
Columbia ! Columbia ! the deeds of that day
* Shall be told by thy sons and be sung by thy daughters.
Our officers valiant in battle or war,
In the calm time of peace* they are generous and kind ;
Our crew for the brave and American Star,
Are all in one voices in one body combined.
May success then attend us wherever we roam,
And nothing our cause or our progress impede ;
May the pQtomac with glory and honor come home,
And her name ne’er be stain’d with an unworthy deed.
Printed at the request of
Williams, York, Tucker, and others of the crew of the Potomac,
1 By John beach, Jr.— Portland, Maine.
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