ddenly
disappeared in the midst of the action; nor could any trace of him be
found, until, two days later, his body, cut nearly in two by a round
shot, rose from the waters of the lake. Lieut. Vallette of the
"Saratoga" was knocked down by the head of a sailor, sent flying by a
cannon-ball. Some minutes later he was standing on a shot-box giving
orders, when a shot took the box from beneath his feet, throwing him
heavily upon the deck. Mr. Brum, the master, a veteran man-o'-war's
man, was struck by a huge splinter, which knocked him down, and
actually stripped every rag of clothing from his body. He was thought
to be dead, but soon re-appeared at his post, with a strip of canvas
about his waist, and fought bravely until the end of the action. Some
days before the battle, a gentleman of Oswego gave one of the sailors
a glazed tarpaulin hat, of the kind then worn by seamen. A week later
the sailor re-appeared, and, handing him the hat with a semi-circular
cut in the crown and brim, made while it was on his head by a
cannon-shot, remarked calmly, "Look here, Mr. Sloane, how the damned
John Bulls have spoiled my hat!"

The last British flag having been hauled down, an officer was sent to
take possession of the "Confiance." In walking along her gun-deck, he
accidentally ran against a ratline, by which one of her starboard guns
was discharged. At this sound, the British galleys and gunboats, which
had been lying quietly with their ensigns down, got out oars and moved
off up the lake. The Americans had no vessels fit for pursuing them,
and they were allowed to escape. In the afternoon the British officers
came to the American flagship to complete the surrender. Macdonough
met them courteously; and, on their offering their swords, put them
back, saying, "Gentlemen, your gallant conduct makes you worthy to
wear your weapons. Return them to their scabbards." By sundown the
surrender was complete, and Macdonough sent off to the Secretary of
the Navy a despatch, saying, "_Sir,_--The Almighty has been pleased to
grant us a signal victory on Lake Champlain, in the capture of one
frigate, one brig, and two sloops-of-war of the enemy."

Some days later, the captured ships, being beyond repair, were taken
to the head of the lake, and scuttled. Some of the guns were found to
be still loaded; and, in drawing the charges, one gun was found with a
canvas bag containing two round shot rammed home, and wadded, without
any powder; another gu