MEMOIR. 19 



of soldiers sleeping in the bright moonlight. However, they got 

 safe back to the shore without being seen, and so, plunging into 

 the sea, got back to the ship, where they were hauled up quietly 

 by one or two men let into the secret, and who had ropes let 

 down for them from the head of the ship. What was their 

 surprise to find next morning that the disputed flag was already 

 brought on board the ship ! A mate, John D., had been 

 appointed to row guard during the night in an armed boat, and 

 he induced his men to land him quietly under the walls of the 

 town, giving them orders to lay off a short distance from the 

 shore till his return. He in the meantime ascended the breach, 

 threaded his way through the town, reached the flagstaff and hauled 

 it down ; wrapping the flag round his waist, he descended to the 

 boat and got safe away with his prize. During the whole adven- 

 ture he carried a pistol on full cock in each hand, and if he had 

 met any man he intended to have fired at him and hurry back to 

 the boat ; so it was fortunate that he did not meet with his two 

 messmates who were engaged in the same mad adventure, or most 

 assuredly they would have killed one another. The flag was, I 

 believe, privately sent to the admiral. However, it was a mere 

 bravado, for it did no good, though I dare say the enemy won- 

 dered at finding their ensign gone next morning. However, they 

 soon put up another. 



Beyrout was not surrendered for some time after this ; but 

 at last a landing party was sent ashore which captured it after a 

 little hand-to-hand work. Two of our marines related that they 

 were pressing very hard upon the governor of the town, who 

 defended himself bravely, and with a stroke of his beautifully- 



