Великий военный синдикат

           NoAmericanvesselshadbeencapturedbythesesincethemessageoftheSyndicatetotheDominionofCanadaandtheBritishGovernment.ButonegoodreasonforthiswasthefactthatitwasverydifficultnowtofindupontheAtlanticoceanavesselsailingundertheAmericanflag.Asfaraspossiblethesehadtakenrefugeintheirownportsorinthoseofneutralcountries.AtthemouthofDelawareBay,behindthegreatBreakwater,wasnowcollectedanumberofcoastwisesailing-vesselsandsteamersofvariousclassesandsizes;andfortheprotectionofthesemaritimerefugees,twovesselsoftheUnitedStatesnavywerestationedatthispoint.TheseweretheLenoxandStockbridge,twoofthefinestcruisersintheservice,andcommandedbytwoofthemostrestlessandbravestofficersoftheAmericannavy.Theappearance,earlyonasummermorning,ofalargeBritishcruiseroffthemouthoftheharbour,filledthosetwocommanderswithuncontrollablebelligerency.Thatintimeofwaravesseloftheenemyshouldbeallowed,undisturbed,tosailupanddownbeforeanAmericanharbour,whileanAmericanvesselfilledwithbraveAmericansailorslayinsidelikeacoweddog,wasathoughtwhichgoadedthesoulofeachofthesecommanders.Therewasacertainrivalrybetweenthetwoships;and,consideringtheinsultofferedbytheflauntingredcrossintheoffing,andthehumiliatingrestrictionsimposedbytheNavalDepartment,eachcommanderthoughtonlyofhisownship,andnotatalloftheother.