"The  grandest  heroism  displayed  during  the  war
was  right  here  in  this  harbor,  by  those  heroic  men  who
went  in  the  torpedo-boat  to  sink  the  Housatonic.  Tak-
ing their  lives  in  their  hands,  they  went  to  meet  death
for  their  country.  Their  valor  was  superhuman,  and
stands  forth  deified.  The  'marching  to  death'  of  the
eight  hundred  British  soldiers,  on  board  the  transport-
ship,  pales  before  this,  for  those  brave  men  only  antici-
pated death  a  few  moments,  —  they  knew  it  was  inevi-
table, and  there  was  no  escaping  their  destiny;  but  our
men  went  from  the  security  of  home,  and  with  the
prospect  of  long  lives  and  bright  futures,  and  delib-
erately offered  themselves  a  sacrifice  on  the  altar  of
their  countrv."


',^46#^^^


x-^^


THE  TORPEDO  BOAT.—  Puge  148.
FITZ-HUGII    ST.    CLAIR.  149

"  Boy  !  boy  !  "  sliouted  a  voice  from  the  gangway.
Fitz  had  Ibrgotten  until  now  that  he  was  "  boy,"
but  he  responded  to  tlie  summons  immediately.
"  Stop !  "  said  the  captain,  —  "  let  me  see  what  is
Manting,"  and  he  walked  forward,  and  held  a  short
conversation,  in  an  under-tone,  with  the  steward;  and
then  returnecl  to  Fitz.
"  I  told  you,"  said  the  purser,  "  that  Captain  Tom
had  t4X)  much  soul  to  make  a  cabin-boy  of  General  St.
Clair's  son."

'M  would  have  no  respect  for  him,  if  he  did,"  re-
sponded the  steward.  Sailors,  hearts  are  always  as  large
as  the  ocean  upon  which  they  live,  and  their  charity
as  free  as  the  air  they  breathe.
"  Captain,  I  am  waiting  orders,"  said  Fitz.
