A few strokes of the oar brought alongside the boat a young gentleman in the uniform of the United States navy. When he was fairly on deck two soldiers seized him and held him fast.
“Who are you, and what are you here for?” I asked.
“I am Lieutenant Matthews, sent by Commodore Blake, commandant of the Naval Academy, to learn what steamer this is.”
“Very well, I can tell you that easily. But whether I shall allow you to communicate it to Captain Blake is another question. This is the steamer Maryland, which plies as a ferry-boat between Havre de Grace and Perryville. I am General Butler, of Massachusetts, and my troops here are Massachusetts men, and we propose landing here.” I was thus careful, because I had heard that a great many of the naval officers had quit the service.
“I am rejoiced to hear it,” said the young lieutenant, “and so will be Captain Blake. He is afraid that this boat holds a lot of Baltimore roughs who have come to capture the station.”
“Very well,” I said, “you must remain here. I have sent a boat ashore to Captain Blake,--you must have passed it somewhere,--with the information that he wants.”
Just as day was breaking, Captain Haggerty came back with my brother and Commodore Blake. I invited the commodore to the quarter-deck where we could be alone, and told him who I was, and why I was there, and asked him what he desired. The old man burst into tears, and shed them like rain for a moment, and then broke out:--
“Thank God! thank God! Won't you save the Constitution?”
I did not know that he referred to the ship Constitution, and I answered:
Yes, that is just what I am here for.
“Are those your orders? Then the old ship is safe.”
“I have no orders,” said I; “I am carrying on war now on my own hook; I cut loose from my orders when I left Philadelphia. What do you want me to do to save the Constitution?”
“I want some sailor men,” he answered, “for I have no sailors;. I want to get her out, and get her afloat.”
