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Updated: June 4, 2025
He's not worth much, but the service is in want of powder-monkeys just now. Perhaps he'll do. If not, I'll send him back." Thus was the poor Irishman carried off with his two mates to fight the battles of his country! In a few days, however, they were all sent back, and the indiscreet officer who had impressed them got a reprimand for his pains.
Sometimes they gave a willing hand in action, helping the 'powder-monkeys' boys who had to pass the powder from the barrels to the gunners or even taking part in a siege, as at Louisbourg. The voyage to Halifax was long, rough, and cold, and Wolfe was sea-sick as ever.
A common and natural result of an undue respect for law is, that you may see a file of soldiers, colonel, captain, corporal, privates, powder-monkeys, and all, marching in admirable order over hill and dale to the wars, against their wills, ay, against their common sense and consciences, which makes it very steep marching indeed, and produces a palpitation of the heart.
"That is, you will be employed in bringing up powder from below." "What! shall we be turned into powder-monkeys?" exclaimed Harry, in a tone of indignation. "That will be too bad." "Is that what you call the boys who bring up the powder?"
Breechings were loosed and gun-tackles unlashed, rammer and sponge laid out, and pike and pistol and cutlass placed where they would be handy when the time came to rush the enemy's decks. The powder-monkeys tumbled over each other in their hurry to provide cartridges, and grape and canister and doubleheaded shot were hoisted up from below.
Breechings were loosed and gun-tackles unlashed, rammer and sponge laid out, and pike and pistol and cutlass placed where they would be handy when the time came to rush the enemy's decks. The powder-monkeys tumbled over each other in their hurry to provide cartridges, and grape and canister and doubleheaded shot were hoisted up from below.
The boatswain looked down at the youthful visage in some surprise. "Well, I s'pose I am," said he, stroking his beard complacently. "And you know what it is to be misunderstood, misjudged, don't you?" "Well, now I come to think on it, I believe I have had that misfortune 'specially w'en I've ordered the powder-monkeys to make less noise; for them younkers never do seem to understand me.
The drum beat to quarters, the men went to their guns, powder and shot were handed up from below, giving ample occupation to the powder-monkeys, and the ship was headed towards the nearest of the strangers. She was still some distance off when the crew were summoned aft to hear what the captain had to say to them.
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