I
heard the shot strike the sides of our ship; the whole scene grew
indescribably confused and horrible; it was like some awfully tremendous
thunder-storm, whose deafening roar is attended by incessant streaks of
lightning, carrying death in every flash and strewing the ground with
the victims of its wrath: only, in our case, the scene was rendered more
horrible than that, by the presence of torrents of blood which dyed our
decks.. This was Samuel Leech's first experience of naval warfare. He
was a powder monkey aboard the HMS Macedonian when it was attacked
forced to strike its colors by the USS United States in the war of
1812.Leech provides a fascinating account of life as a sailor in the War
of 1812 and through early nineteenth century.It is a remarkable account
of a man who until the conflict with the USS United States had fought
British Navy but after that battle changed allegiance to the United
States and continued sailing with her navy for a further four years.He
provides brilliant insight into the contrasts that he saw between the US
Navy and the British Navy during this time.He became notable as one of
very few who wrote an account of his experiences. His book was first
published in 1843 and he passed away in 1848. This edition is
illustrated by Ivan Aivazovsky, a Russian Romantic painter who is
considered one of the greatest masters of marine art.