Jenks's Portland Gazette

HEROISM OF A SAILOR.

An anecdote is told of a British sailor at the attack of Helder, which is truly characteristic:

He was one of the detachment of seamen sent on shore to assist in drawing the artillery up the beach. The party employed in this service were covered by a body of grenadiers; one of whom having dropped, Jack started from his gun, and examined the body, exclaiming with an oath, that he was a dead man; he said, he would take his place, and having taken off the grenadier's belt and cartridge box, and equipped himself therewith, he seized his firelock, and began loading and firing at the enemy. He discharged his piece six times, at each time bringing down his man. At length he dropped himself, and was carried on board the hospital ship to be amputated, having received a ball through his knee. This was not all, he was told that he must be brought to trial for having deserted his post, and taken upon him a task out of the line of his duty. "But please your honor, I killed six of them." That may be, replied his captain, but you ran from your quarters. "Then please your honor," says Jack, in the simplicity of his heart, "forgive me this once, and I will kill no more of them."