and it proved the most formidable, and the co-operation
of the several divisions was required for its reduction;
but so spirited was the fire poured into it that it
was soon obliged to yield, and the next moment the
American colors were seen triumphantly waving over
its battlements. The greater part of the town
was reduced to ashes. The bazaar, the principal
place of merchandize, and most of the private dwellings
were consumed by fire. The triumph had now been
completed over the Malays; ample satisfaction had
been taken for their outrages committed upon our own
countrymen, and the bugle sounded the return of the
ship’s forces; and the embarkation was soon
after effected. The action had continued about
two hours and a half, and was gallantly sustained
both by officers and men, from its commencement to
its close. The loss on the part of the Malays
was near a hundred killed, while of the Americans
only two lost their lives. Among the spoils were
a Chinese gong, a Koran, taken at Mahomet’s fort,
and several pieces of rich gold cloth. Many of
the men came off richly laden with spoils which they
had taken from the enemy, such as rajah’s scarfs,
gold and silver chunam boxes, chains, ear rings and
finger rings, anklets and bracelets, and a variety
of shawls, krisses richly hilted and with gold scabbards,
and a variety of other ornaments. Money to a
considerable amount was brought off. That nothing
should be left undone to have an indelible impression
on the minds of these people, of the power of the
United States to inflict punishment for aggressions
committed on her commerce, in seas however distant,
the ship was got underway the following morning, and
brought to, with a spring on her cable, within less
than a mile of the shore, when the larboard side was
brought to bear nearly upon the site of the town.
The object of the Commodore, in this movement, was
not to open an indiscriminate or destructive fire
upon the town and inhabitants of Quallah Battoo, but
to show them the irresistible power of thirty-two
pound shot, and to reduce the fort of Tuca de Lama,
which could not be reached on account of the jungle
and stream of water, on the morning before, and from
which a fire had been opened and continued during
the embarkation of the troops on their return to the
ship. The fort was very soon deserted, while the
shot was cutting it to pieces, and tearing up whole
cocoa-trees by the roots. In the afternoon a
boat came off from the shore, bearing a flag of truce
to the Commodore, beseeching him, in all the practised
forms of submission of the east, that he would grant
them peace, and cease to fire his big guns. Hostilities
now ceased, and the Commodore informed them that the
objects of his government in sending him to their shores
had now been consummated in the punishment of the guilty,
who had committed their piracies on the Friendship.
Thus ended the intercourse with Quallah Battoo.
The Potomac proceeded from this place to China, and
from thence to the Pacific Ocean; after looking to
the interests of the American commerce in those parts
she arrived at Boston in 1834, after a three years’
absence.