metal
against his breast, and stretched him dead upon the deck without
breaking his skin. By a singular coincidence, fifteen minutes later a
shot from one of the "Saratoga's" guns struck the muzzle of a
twenty-four on the "Confiance," and, dismounting it, hurled it against
Capt. Downie's groin, killing him instantly without breaking the skin;
a black mark about the size of a small plate was the sole visible
injury.

In the mean time, the smaller vessels had become engaged, and were
fighting with no less courage than the flag-ships. The "Chubb" had
early been disabled by a broadside from the "Eagle," and drifted
helplessly under the guns of the "Saratoga." After receiving a shot
from that vessel, she struck, and was taken possession of by
Midshipman Platt, who put off from the flagship in an open boat,
boarded the prize, and took her into Plattsburg Bay, near the mouth of
the Saranac. More than half her people were killed or wounded during
the short time she was in the battle. The "Linnet," in the mean time,
had engaged the "Eagle," and poured in her broadsides with such effect
that the springs on the cables of the American were cut away, and she
could no longer bring her broadsides to bear. Her captain therefore
cut his cables, and soon gained a position from which he could bring
his guns to bear upon the "Confiance." The "Linnet" thereupon dashed
in among the American gunboats, and, driving them off, commenced a
raking fire upon the "Saratoga." The "Finch," meanwhile, had ranged
gallantly up alongside the "Ticonderoga," but was sent out of the
fight by two broadsides from the American. She drifted helplessly
before the wind, and soon grounded near Crab Island. On the island was
a hospital, and an abandoned battery mounting one six-pound gun. Some
of the convalescent patients, seeing the enemy's vessel within range,
opened fire upon her from the battery, and soon forced her to haul
down her flag. Nearly half her crew were killed or wounded. Almost at
the same moment, the United States sloop "Preble" was forced out of
the fight by the British gunboats, that pressed so fiercely upon her
that she cut her cables and drifted inshore.

[Illustration: Hiram Paulding fires the Guns.]

The "Ticonderoga" fought a gallant fight throughout. After ridding
herself of the "Finch," she had a number of the British gunboats to
contend with; and they pressed forward to the attack with a gallantry
that showed them to be conscious of th