A Voice from the Main Deck

Being a Record of the Thirty Years' Adventures of Samuel Leech

By: Samuel Leech

Narrated by: Nigel Patterson

"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 19th 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.

It is a vivid account of life at sea in the early 19th century and a perfect addition to any sailor's library.

Public Domain (P)2018 Tantor

personal account of jolly rolling tare.

While for some it will be boring I Love personal history
This jolly rolling tare had a very active life.
For me a great read.




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Excellent historical account

First hand accounts fascinate me. This is a detailed first hand account of a sailor...it includes many details often overlooked and reads so pleasantly that it feels as though you sitting down to coffee with the author. I highly recommend this reading.

That this is our past history and can be oh so harsh.

Life at sea 200 years ago is amazing to me. Hearing the harshness and yet the excitement that drives a young man to continue to go back to sea knowing death is lurking around the corner is revealing.

More religion than sailing

Samuel Leech spent only a few years as a sailor and the rest living on land. The interesting portion is his short time serving on the Macedonian. Much of this part of the narrative has been quoted often in other histories of the War of 1812.

Leech spends pages of his book discussing religion and the perils of drink. Don't expect thirty years worth of sea stories.

This writer is detailed and very intelligent about his topic.

I want to long extend this story much for the same with Melville! To watch with his photogenic eyes and cohabitated narrative is equal with their watch on same darkness of a captain’s heart. This poised in a mirror of Ahab standing on a British Man of War!