The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Naval History of the United States, by
Willis J. Abbot
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
Title: The Naval History of the United States
Volume 2 (of 2)
Author: Willis J. Abbot
Illustrator: H. W. McVicar
W. C. Jackson
Release Date: August 24, 2008 [EBook #26416]
Language: English
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NAVAL HISTORY ***
Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Christine P. Travers and
the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
http://www.pgdp.net
[Transcriber's note: Obvious printer's errors have been corrected, all
other inconsistencies are as in the original. The author's spelling
has been maintained.
Page 993: "they were fired upon the Coreans" has been replaced by
"they were fired upon by the Coreans".
Page 997: "the rescued part arrived in New York" has been replaced by
"the rescued party arrived in New York".
Every chapter heading had an illustration; the corresponding tag has
been removed.]
THE NAVAL HISTORY
OF THE
UNITED STATES
BY
WILLIS J. ABBOT
With Many Illustrations
BY H. W. McVICAR AND W. C. JACKSON
_VOLUME TWO_
NEW YORK:
PETER FENELON COLLIER, PUBLISHER.
CHAPTER XII.
CAPTURE OF THE "SURVEYOR." -- WORK OF THE GUNBOAT FLOTILLA. --
OPERATIONS ON CHESAPEAKE BAY. -- COCKBURN'S DEPREDATIONS. --
CRUISE OF THE "ARGUS." -- HER CAPTURE BY THE "PELICAN." -- BATTLE
OF THE "ENTERPRISE" AND "BOXER." -- END OF THE YEAR 1813 ON THE
OCEAN.
With the capture of the "Chesapeake" in June, 1813, we abandoned our
story of the naval events along the coast of the United States, to
follow Capt. Porter and his daring seamen on their long cruise into
far-off seas. But while the men of the "Essex" were capturing whalers
in the Pacific, chastising insolent savages at Nookaheevah, and
fighting a gallant but unsuccessful fight at Valparaiso, other
blue-jackets were as gallantly serving their country nearer home. From
Portsmouth to Charleston the coast was watched by British ships, and
collisions between the enemies were of almost daily occurrence. In
many of these actions great bravery was shown on both sides.
Noticeably was this the case in the action between the cutter
"Surveyor" and the British frigate "Narcissus," on the night of June
12. The "Surveyor," a little craft manned by a crew of fifteen men,
and mounting six twelve-pound carronades, was lying in the York River
near Chesapeake Bay. From the masthead of the "Narcissus," lying
farther down the bay, the spars of the cutter could be seen above the
tree-tops; and an expedition was fitted out for her capture. Fifty
men, led by a veteran officer, attacked the little vessel in the
darkness, but were met with a most determined resistance. The
Americans could not use their carronades, but with their muskets they
did much execution in the enemy's ranks. But they were finally
overpowered, and the little cutter was towed down under the frigate's
guns. The next day Mr. Travis, the American commander, received his
sword which he had surrendered, with a letter from the British
commander, in which he said, "Your gallant and desperate attempt to
defend your vessel against more than double your number, on the night
of the 12th inst., excited such admiration on the part of your
opponents as I have seldom witnessed, and induced me to return you the
sword you had so nobly used, in testimony of mine.... In short, I am
at a loss which to admire most, the previous arrangement on board the
'Surveyor,' or the determined manner in which her deck was disputed,
inch by inch."
During the summer of 1813, the little gunboats, built in accordance
with President Jefferson's plan for a coast guard of single-gun
vessels, did a great deal of desultory fighting, which resulted in
little or nothing. They were not very seaworthy craft, the heavy guns
mounted amidships causing them to careen far over in even a sailor's
"capfull" of wind. When they went into action, the first shot from the
gun set the gunboat rocking so that further fire with any precision of
aim was impossible. The larger gunboats carried sail enough to enable
them to cruise about the coast, keeping off privateers and checking
the marauding expeditions of the British. Many of the gunboats,
however, were simply large gallies propelled with oars, and therefore
confined in their operations to bays and inland waters. The chief
scene of their operations was Chesapeake Bay.
This noble sheet of water had been, since the very opening of the year
1813, under the control of the British, who had gathered there their
most powerful vessels under the command of Admiral Cockburn, whose
name gained an unenviable notoriety for the atrocities committed by
his forces upon the defenceless inhabitants of the shores of
Chesapeake Bay. Marauding expeditions were continually sent from the
fleet to search the adjacent country for supplies. When this method of
securing provisions failed, Cockburn hit upon the plan of bringing his
fleet within range of a village, and then commanding the inhabitants
to supply his needs, under penalty of the instant bombardment of the
town in case of refusal. Sometimes this expedient failed, as when
Commodore Beresford, who was blockading the Delaware, called upon the
people of Dover to supply him at once with "twenty-five large bullocks
and a proportionate quantity of vegetables and hay." But the sturdy
inhabitants refused, mustered the militia, dragged some old cannon
down to the water-side, and, for lack of cannon-balls of their own,
valiantly fired back those thrown by the British, which fitted the
American ordnance exactly.
Soon after this occurrence, a large party from Cockburn's fleet landed
at Havre de Grace, and, having driven away the few militia, captured
and burned the town. Having accomplished this exploit, the marauders
continued their way up the bay, and turning up into the Sassafras
River ravaged the country on both sides of the little stream. After
spreading distress far and wide over the beautiful country that
borders Chesapeake Bay, the vandals returned to their ships, boasting
that they had despoiled the Americans of at least seventy thousand
dollars, and injured them to the amount of ten times that sum.
By June, 1813, the Americans saw that something must be done to check
the merciless enemy who had thus revived the cruel vandalism, which
had ceased to attend civilized warfare since the middle ages. A fleet
of fifteen armed gallies was fitted out to attack the frigate of
Cockburn's fleet that lay nearest to Norfolk. Urged forward by long
sweeps, the gunboats bore down upon the frigate, which, taken by
surprise, made so feeble and irregular a response that the Americans
thought they saw victory within their grasp. The gunboats chose their
distance, and opened a well-directed fire upon their huge enemy, that,
like a hawk attacked by a crowd of sparrows, soon turned to fly. But
at this moment the wind changed, enabling two frigates which were at
anchor lower down the bay to come up to the aid of their consort. The
American gunboats drew off slowly, firing as they departed.
This attack infused new energy into the British, and they at once
began formidable preparations for an attack upon Norfolk. On the 20th
of June they moved forward to the assault,--three seventy-four-gun
ships, one sixty-four, four frigates, two sloops, and three
transports. They were opposed by the American forces stationed on
Craney Island, which commands the entrance to Norfolk Harbor. Here the
Americans had thrown up earthworks, mounting two twenty-four, one
eighteen, and four six pound cannon. To work this battery, one hundred
sailors from the "Constellation," together with fifty marines, had
been sent ashore. A large body of militia and a few soldiers of the
regular army were also in camp upon the island.
The British set the 22d as the date for the attack; and on the morning
of that day, fifteen large boats, filled with sailors, marines, and
soldiers to the number of seven hundred, put off from the ships, and
dashed toward the batteries. At the same time a larger force tried to
move forward by land, but were driven back, to wait until their
comrades in the boats should have stormed and silenced the American
battery. But that battery was not to be silenced. After checking the
advance of the British by land, the Americans waited coolly for the
column of boats to come within point-blank range. On they came,
bounding over the waves, led by the great barge "Centipede," fifty
feet long, and crowded with men. The blue-jackets in the shore battery
stood silently at their guns. Suddenly there arose a cry, "Now, boys,
are you ready?" "All ready," was the response. "Then fire!" And the
great guns hurled their loads of lead and iron into the advancing
boats. The volley was a fearful one; but the British still came on
doggedly, until the fire of the battery became too terrible to be
endured. "The American sailors handled the great guns like rifles,"
said one of the British officers, speaking of the battle. Before this
terrific fire, the advancing column was thrown into confusion. The
boats, drifting upon each other, so crowded together that the oars-men
could not make any headway. A huge round shot struck the "Centipede,"
passing through her diagonally, leaving death and wounds in its track.
The shattered craft sunk, and was soon followed by four others. The
order for retreat was given; and, leaving their dead and some wounded
in the shattered barges that lay in the shallow water, the British
fled to their ships. Midshipman Tatnall, who, many years later, served
in the Confederate navy, waded out with several sailors, and, seizing
the "Centipede," drew her ashore. He found several wounded men in
her,--one a Frenchman, with both legs shot away. A small terrier dog
lay whimpering in the bow. His master had brought him along for a run
on shore, never once thinking of the possibility of the flower of the
British navy being beaten back by the Americans.
So disastrous a defeat enraged the British, who proceeded to wreak
their vengeance upon the little town of Hampton, which they sacked and
burned, committing acts of shameful violence, more in accordance with
the character of savages than that of civilized white men. The story
of the sack of Hampton forms no part of the naval annals of the war,
and in its details is too revolting to deserve a place here. It is a
narrative of atrocious cruelty not to be paralleled in the history of
warfare in the nineteenth century.
Leaving behind him the smoking ruins of Hampton, Cockburn with his
fleet dropped down the bay, and, turning southward, cruised along the
coast of the Carolinas. Anchoring off Ocracoke Inlet, the British sent
a fleet of armed barges into Pamlico Sound to ravage the adjoining
coast. Two privateers were found lying at anchor in the sound,--the
"Anaconda" of New York, and the "Atlas" of Philadelphia. The British
forces, eight hundred in number, dashed forward to capture the two
vessels. The "Atlas" fell an easy prey; but the thirteen men of the
"Anaconda" fought stoutly until all hope was gone, then, turning their
cannon down upon the decks of their own vessel, blew great holes in
her bottom, and escaped to the shore. After this skirmish, the British
landed, and marched rapidly to Newbern; but, finding that place well
defended by militia, made their way back to the coast, desolating the
country through which they passed, and seizing cattle and slaves. The
latter they are said to have sent to the West Indies and sold. From
Pamlico Sound Cockburn went to Cumberland Island, where he established
his winter quarters, and whence he continued to send out marauding
expeditions during the rest of the year.
Very different was the character of Sir Thomas Hardy, who commanded
the British blockading fleet off the New England coast. A brave and
able officer, with the nature and training of a gentleman, he was as
much admired by his enemies for his nobility, as Cockburn was hated
for his cruelty. It is more than possible, however, that the
difference between the methods of enforcement of the blockade on the
New England coast and on the Southern seaboard was due to definite
orders from the British admiralty: for the Southern States had entered
into the war heart and soul; while New England gave to the American
forces only a faint-hearted support, and cried eagerly for peace at
any cost. So strong was this feeling, that resolutions of honor to the
brave Capt. Lawrence were defeated in the Massachusetts Legislature,
on the ground that they would encourage others to embark in the
needless war in which Lawrence lost his life. Whatever may have been
the cause, however, the fact remains, that Hardy's conduct while on
the blockade won for him the respect and admiration of the very people
against whom his forces were arrayed.
[Illustration: Blue-Jackets at the Guns.]
On June 18 the British blockaders off New York Harbor allowed a little
vessel to escape to sea, that, before she could be captured, roamed at
will within sight of the chalk cliffs of England, and inflicted
immense damage upon the commerce of her enemy. This craft was the
little ten-gun brig "Argus," which left New York bound for France. She
carried as passenger Mr. Crawford of Georgia, who had lately been
appointed United States minister to France. After safely discharging
her passenger at L'Orient, the "Argus" turned into the chops of the
English Channel, and cruised about, burning and capturing many of the
enemy's ships. She was in the very highway of British commerce; and
her crew had little rest day or night, so plentiful were the ships
that fell in their way. It was hard for the jackies to apply the torch
to so many stanch vessels, that would enrich the whole crew with
prize-money could they but be sent into an American port. But the
little cruiser was thousands of miles from any American port, and no
course was open to her save to give every prize to the flames. After
cruising for a time in the English Channel, Lieut. Allen, who
commanded the "Argus," took his vessel around Land's End, and into St.
George's Channel and the Irish Sea. For thirty days he continued his
daring operations in the very waters into which Paul Jones had carried
the American flag nearly thirty-five years earlier. British merchants
and shipping owners in London read with horror of the destruction
wrought by this one vessel. Hardly a paper appeared without an account
of some new damage done by the "Argus." Vessels were kept in port
to rot at their docks, rather than fall a prey to the terrible Yankee.
Rates of insurance went up to ruinous prices, and many companies
refused to take any risks whatever so long as the "Argus" remained
afloat. But the hue and cry was out after the little vessel; and many
a stout British frigate was beating up and down in St. George's
Channel, and the chops of the English Channel, in the hopes of falling
in with the audacious Yankee, who had presumed to bring home to
Englishmen the horrors of war.
It fell to the lot of the brig-sloop "Pelican" to rid the British
waters of the "Argus." On the night of the thirteenth of August, the
American vessel had fallen in with a British vessel from Oporto, and
after a short chase had captured her. The usual result followed. The
prisoners with their personal property were taken out of the prize,
and the vessel was set afire. But, before the torch was applied, the
American sailors had discovered that their prize was laden with wine;
and their resolution was not equal to the task of firing the prize
without testing the quality of the cargo. Besides treating themselves
to rather deep potations, the boarding-crew contrived to smuggle a
quantity of the wine into the forecastle of the "Argus." The prize was
then fired, and the "Argus" moved away under easy sail. But the light
of the blazing ship attracted the attention of the lookout on the
"Pelican," and that vessel came down under full sail to discover the
cause.
Day was just breaking, and by the gray morning light the British saw
an American cruiser making away from the burning hulk of her last
prize. The "Pelican" followed in hot pursuit, and was allowed to come
alongside, although the fleet American could easily have left her far
astern. But Capt. Allen was ready for the conflict; confident of his
ship and of his crew, of whose half-intoxicated condition he knew
nothing, he felt sure that the coming battle would only add more
laurels to the many already won by the "Argus." He had often declared
that the "Argus" should never run from any two-master; and now, that
the gage of battle was offered, he promptly accepted.
At six o'clock in the morning, the "Pelican" came alongside, and
opened the conflict with a broadside from her thirty-two pound
carronades. The "Argus" replied with spirit, and a sharp cannonade
began. Four minutes after the battle opened, Capt. Allen was struck
by a round shot that cut off his left leg near the thigh. His officers
rushed to his side, and strove to bear him to his cabin; but he
resisted, saying he would stay on deck and fight his ship as long as
any life was left him. With his back to a mast, he gave his orders and
cheered on his men for a few minutes longer; then, fainting from the
terrible gush of blood from his wound, was carried below. To lose
their captain so early in the action, was enough to discourage the
crew of the "Argus." Yet the officers left on duty were brave and
skilful. Twice the vessel was swung into a raking position, but the
gunners failed to seize the advantage. "They seemed to be nodding over
their guns," said one of the officers afterward. The enemy, however,
showed no signs of nodding. His fire was rapid and well directed, and
his vessel manoeuvred in a way that showed a practised seaman in
command. At last he secured a position under the stern of the "Argus,"
and lay there, pouring in destructive broadsides, until the Americans
struck their flag,--just forty-seven minutes after the opening of the
action. The loss on the "Argus" amounted to six killed and seventeen
wounded.
No action of the war was so discreditable to the Americans as this. In
the loss of the "Chesapeake" and in the loss of the "Essex," there
were certain features of the action that redounded greatly to the
honor of the defeated party. But in the action between the "Argus" and
the "Pelican," the Americans were simply outfought. The vessels were
practically equal in size and armament, though the "Pelican" carried a
little the heavier metal. It is also stated that the powder used by
the "Argus" was bad. It had been taken from one of the prizes, and
afterwards proved to be condemned powder of the British Government. In
proof of the poor quality of this powder, one of the American officers
states that many shot striking the side of the "Pelican" were seen to
fall back into the water; while others penetrated the vessel's skin,
but did no further damage. All this, however, does not alter the fact
that the "Argus" was fairly beaten in a fair fight.
While the British thus snapped up an American man-of-war cruising at
their harbors' mouths, the Americans were equally fortunate in
capturing a British brig of fourteen guns off the coast of Maine. The
captor was the United States brig "Enterprise," a lucky little vessel
belonging to a very unlucky class; for her sister brigs all fell a
prey to the enemy. The "Nautilus," it will be remembered, was captured
early in the war. The "Vixen" fell into the hands of Sir James Yeo,
who was cruising in the West Indies, in the frigate "Southampton;" but
this gallant officer reaped but little benefit from his prize, for
frigate and brig alike were soon after wrecked on one of the Bahama
Islands. The "Siren," late in the war, was captured by the
seventy-four-gun ship "Medway," and the loss of the "Argus" has just
been chronicled. Of all these brigs, the "Argus" alone was able to
fire a gun in her own defence, before being captured; the rest were
all forced to yield quietly to immensely superior force.
In the war with Tripoli, the "Enterprise" won the reputation of being
a "lucky" craft; and her daring adventures and thrilling escapes
during the short naval war with France added to her prestige among
sailors. When the war with England broke out, the little brig was put
in commission as soon as possible, and assigned to duty along the
coast of Maine. She did good service in keeping off privateers and
marauding expeditions from Nova Scotia. In the early part of
September, 1813, she was cruising near Penguin Point, when she sighted
a brig in shore that had the appearance of a hostile war-vessel. The
stranger soon settled all doubts as to her character by firing several
guns, seemingly for the purpose of recalling her boats from the shore.
Then, setting sail with the rapidity of a man-of-war, she bore down
upon the American vessel. The "Enterprise," instead of waiting for the
enemy, turned out to sea, under easy sail; and her crew were set to
work bringing aft a long gun, and mounting it in the cabin, where one
of the stern windows had been chopped away to make a port. This action
rather alarmed the sailors, who feared that their commander, Lieut.
Burrows, whose character was unknown to them, intended to avoid the
enemy, and was rigging the long gun for a stern-chaser. An impromptu
meeting was held upon the forecastle; and, after much whispered
consultation, the people appointed a committee to go aft and tell the
commander that the lads were burning to engage the enemy, and were
confident of whipping her. The committee started bravely to discharge
their commission; but their courage failed them before so mighty a
potentate as the commander, and they whispered their message to the
first lieutenant, who laughed, and sent word forward that Mr. Burrows
only wanted to get sea-room, and would soon give the jackies all the
fighting they desired.
[Illustration: The Fight with the "Boxer."]
The Americans now had leisure to examine, through their
marine-glasses, the vessel which was so boldly following them to the
place of battle. She was a man-of-war brig, flying the British ensign
from both mastheads and at the peak. Her armament consisted of twelve
eighteen-pound carronades and two long sixes, as against the fourteen
eighteen-pound carronades and two long nines of the "Enterprise." The
Englishman carried a crew of sixty-six men, while the quarter-rolls of
the American showed a total of one hundred and two. But in the battle
which followed the British fought with such desperate bravery as to
almost overcome the odds against them.
For some time the two vessels fought shy of each other, manoeuvring
for a windward position. Towards three o'clock in the afternoon, the
Americans gained this advantage, and at once shortened sail, and edged
down toward the enemy. As the ships drew near, a sailor was seen to
climb into the rigging of the Englishman, and nail the colors to the
mast, giving the lads of the "Enterprise" a hint as to the character
of the reception they might expect. As the vessels came within range,
both crews cheered lustily, and continued cheering until within
pistol-shot, when the two broadsides were let fly at almost exactly
the same moment. With the first fire, both commanders fell. Capt.
Blyth of the English vessel was almost cut in two by a round shot as
he stood on his quarter-deck. He died instantly. Lieut. Burrows was
struck by a canister-shot, which inflicted a mortal wound. He refused
to be carried below, and was tenderly laid upon the deck, where he
remained during the remainder of the battle, cheering on his men, and
crying out that the colors of the "Enterprise" should never be struck.
The conflict was sharp, but short. For ten minutes only the answering
broadsides rung out; then the colors of the British ship were hauled
down. She proved to be the sloop-of-war "Boxer," and had suffered
severely from the broadsides of the "Enterprise." Several shots had
taken effect in her hull, her foremast was almost shot away, and
several guns were dismounted. Three men beside her captain were
killed, and seventeen wounded. But she had not suffered these injuries
without inflicting some in return. The "Enterprise" was much cut up
aloft. Her foremast and mainmast had each been pierced by an
eighteen-pound ball. Her captain lay upon the deck, gasping in the
last agonies of death, but stoutly protesting that he would not be
carried below until he received the sword of the commander of the
"Boxer." At last this was brought him; and grasping it he cried, "Now
I am satisfied. I die contented."
The two shattered brigs were taken into Portland, where the bodies of
the two slain commanders were buried with all the honors of war. The
"Enterprise" was repaired, and made one more cruise before the close
of the war; but the "Boxer" was found to be forever ruined for a
vessel of war, and she was sold into the merchant-service. The fact
that she was so greatly injured in so short a time led a London
paper, in speaking of the battle, to say, "The fact seems to be but
too clearly established, that the Americans have some superior mode of
firing; and we cannot be too anxiously employed in discovering to what
circumstances that superiority is owing."
[Illustration: The Surrender of the "Boxer."]
This battle practically closed the year's naval events upon the ocean.
The British privateer "Dart" was captured near Newport by some
volunteers from the gunboats stationed at that point. But, with this
exception, nothing noteworthy in naval circles occurred during the
remainder of the year. Looking back over the annals of the naval
operations of 1813, it is clear that the Americans were the chief
sufferers. They had the victories over the "Peacock," "Boxer," and
"Highflyer" to boast of; but they had lost the "Chesapeake," "Argus,"
and "Viper." But, more than this, they had suffered their coast to be
so sealed up by British blockaders that many of their best vessels
were left to lie idle at their docks. The blockade, too, was growing
stricter daily, and the outlook for the future seemed gloomy; yet, as
it turned out, in 1814 the Americans regained the ground they had lost
the year before.
CHAPTER XIII.
ON THE LAKES. -- CLOSE OF HOSTILITIES ON LAKES ERIE AND HURON. --
DESULTORY WARFARE ON LAKE ONTARIO IN 1813. -- HOSTILITIES ON
ONTARIO IN 1814. -- THE BATTLE OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN. -- END OF THE
WAR UPON THE LAKES.
In considering the naval operations on the Great Lakes, it must be
kept in mind, that winter, which checked but little naval activity on
the ocean, locked the great fresh-water seas in an impenetrable
barrier of ice, and effectually stopped all further hostilities
between the hostile forces afloat. The victory gained by Commodore
Perry on Lake Erie in September, 1813, gave the Americans complete
command of that lake; and the frozen season soon coming on, prevented
any attempts on the part of the enemy to contest the American
supremacy. But, indeed, the British showed little ability, throughout
the subsequent course of the war, to snatch from the Americans the
fruits of the victory at Put-in-Bay. They embarked upon no more
offensive expeditions; and the only notable naval contest between the
two belligerents during the remainder of the war occurred Aug. 12,
1814, when a party of seventy-five British seamen and marines
attempted to cut out three American schooners that lay at the foot of
the lake near Fort Erie. The British forces were at Queenstown, on
the Niagara River; but by dint of carrying their boats twenty miles
through the woods, then poling down a narrow and shallow stream, with
a second portage of eight miles, the adventurers managed to reach Lake
Erie. Embarking here, they pulled down to the schooners. To the hail
of the lookout, they responded, "Provision boats." And, as no British
were thought to be on Lake Erie, the response satisfied the officer of
the watch. He quickly discovered his mistake, however, when he saw his
cable cut, and a party of armed men scrambling over his bulwarks. This
first prize, the "Somers," was quickly in the hands of the British,
and was soon joined in captivity by the "Ohio," whose people fought
bravely but unavailingly against the unexpected foe. While the
fighting was going on aboard the vessels, they were drifting down the
stream; and, by the time the British victory was complete, both
vessels were beyond the range of Fort Erie's guns, and safe from
recapture. This successful enterprise certainly deserves a place as
the boldest and best executed cutting-out expedition of the war.
[Illustration: On the Way to Lake Erie.]
Long before this occurrence, Capt. Arthur Singleton, who had succeeded
to Perry's command, despairing of any active service on Lake Erie, had
taken his squadron of five vessels into Lake Huron, where the British
still held the supremacy. His objective point was the Island of
Michilimackinac (Mackinaw), which had been captured by the enemy early
in the war. On his way, he stopped and burned the British fort and
barracks of St. Joseph. At Mackinaw he was repulsed, with the loss of
seventy men; after which he returned to Lake Erie, leaving two
vessels, the "Scorpion" and "Tigress," to blockade the Nattagawassa
River. The presence of these vessels irritated the British, and they
at once set about preparations for their capture. On the night of the
3d of September the "Tigress" was captured after a sharp struggle,
which, as the British commanding officer said, "did credit to her
officers, who were all severely wounded." At the time of the attack,
the "Scorpion" was several miles away, and knew nothing of the
misfortune of her consort. Knowing this, the British sent their
prisoners ashore, and, hoisting the American flag over the captured
vessel, waited patiently for their game to come to them. They were not
disappointed in their expectations. On the 5th the "Scorpion" came up,
and anchored, unsuspectingly, within two miles of her consort. At
early dawn the next morning the "Tigress" weighed anchor; and, with
the stars and stripes still flying, dropped down alongside the
unsuspecting schooner, poured in a sudden volley, and, instantly
boarding, carried the vessel without meeting any resistance.
With these two skirmishes, the war upon Lake Erie and Lake Huron was
ended. But on Lake Ontario the naval events, though in no case
comparable with Perry's famous victory, were numerous and noteworthy.
In our previous discussion of the progress of the war upon Lake
Ontario, we left Commodore Chauncey in winter quarter at Sackett's
Harbor, building new ships, and making vigorous efforts to secure
sailors to man them. His energy met with its reward; for, when the
melting ice left the lake open for navigation in the spring of 1813,
the American fleet was ready for active service, while the best
vessels belonging to the British were still in the hands of the
carpenters and riggers. The first service performed by the American
fleet was aiding Gen. Pike in his attack upon York, where the
Americans burned an almost completed twenty-four-gun ship, and
captured the ten-gun brig "Gloucester." The land forces who took part
in this action were terribly injured by the explosion of the
powder-magazine, to which the British had applied a slow-match when
they found they could no longer hold their position. This battle was
fought April 27, 1813. One month later, the naval forces co-operated
with the soldiery in driving the British from Fort George, on the
Canada side of the Niagara River, near Lake Ontario. Perry came from
Lake Erie to take part in this action, and led a landing party under
the fire of the British artillery with that dashing courage which he
showed later at the battle of Put-in-Bay. The work of the sailors in
this action was cool and effective. Their fire covered the advance of
the troops, and silenced more than one of the enemy's guns. "The
American ships," writes a British historian, "with their heavy
discharges of round and grape, too well succeeded in thinning the
British ranks."
But by this time the British fleet was ready for sea, and left
Kingston on the 27th of May; while Chauncey was still at the extreme
western end of the lake. The enemy determined to make an immediate
assault upon Sackett's Harbor, and there destroy the corvette "Gen.
Pike," which, if completed, would give Chauncey supremacy upon the
lake. Accordingly the fleet under Sir James Lucas Yeo, with a large
body of troops under Sir George Prescott, appeared before the harbor
on the 29th. Although the forces which rallied to the defence of the
village were chiefly raw militia, the British attack was conducted
with so little spirit that the defenders won the day; and the enemy
retreated, leaving most of his wounded to fall into the hands of the
Americans. Yeo then returned to Kingston; and the American fleet came
up the lake, and put into Sackett's Harbor, there to remain until the
completion of the "Pike" should give Chauncey control of the lake.
While the Americans thus remained in port, the British squadron made
brief incursions into the lake, capturing a few schooners and breaking
up one or two encampments of the land forces of the United States.
Not until the 21st of July did the Americans leave their anchorage. On
that day, with the formidable corvette "Pike" at the head of the
line, Chauncey left Sackett's Harbor, and went up to Niagara. Some
days later, Yeo took his squadron to sea; and on the 7th of August the
two hostile fleets came in sight of one another for the first time.
Then followed a season of manoeuvring,--of challenging and
counter-challenging, of offering battle and of avoiding
it,--terminating in so inconclusive an engagement that one is forced
to believe that neither commander dared to enter the battle for which
both had been so long preparing. The American squadron consisted
largely of schooners armed with long guns. In smooth weather these
craft were valuable adjuncts to the larger vessels, while in rough
weather they were useless. Yeo's squadron was mostly square-rigged,
and was therefore equally serviceable in all kinds of weather. It
seems likely, therefore, that the Americans strove to bring on the
conflict in smooth weather; while the British were determined to wait
until a heavy sea should lessen the force of their foes. In this
dilemma several days passed away.
On the night of the 7th of August the wind came up to blow, and the
rising waves soon demonstrated the uselessness of schooners for
purposes of war. At early dawn a fierce gust of wind caused the
schooners "Hamilton" and "Scourge" to careen far to leeward. Their
heavy guns broke loose; then, crashing down to the submerged beams of
the schooners, pulled them still farther over; and, the water rushing
in at their hatches, they foundered, carrying with them to the bottom
all their officers, and all but sixteen of the men. This loss reduced
Chauncey's force to more of an equality with that of the British; yet
for two days longer the manoeuvring continued, without a shot being
fired. On the night of the 10th the two squadrons formed in order of
battle, and rapidly approached each other. At eleven o'clock a
cannonade was begun by both parties, and continued for about an hour;
though the shot did little material damage on either side. At midnight
the British, by a quick movement, cut out and captured two American
schooners, and sailed away, without suffering any damage.
A month then intervened before the next hostile meeting. In his
despatches to his superior authorities, each commander stoutly affirms
that he spent the time in chasing the enemy, who refused to give him
battle. Whether it was the British or the Americans that avoided the
battle, it is impossible to decide; but it seems reasonable to
believe, that, had either party been really determined upon bringing
matters to an issue, the other could have been forced into giving
battle.
On the 11th of September, the enemies met near the mouth of the
Genesee River, and exchanged broadsides. A few of the British vessels
were hulled, and, without more ado, hauled off into the shallow waters
of Ambert Bay, whither the Americans could not follow them. Then
ensued another long period of peace, broken at last by a naval action
in York Bay, on the 28th, in which the British were worsted and
obliged to fly, though none of their ships were destroyed or captured.
On Oct. 2, Chauncey accomplished a really important work, by capturing
five British transports, with two hundred and sixty-four men, seven
naval and ten army officers. With this achievement, the active work of
the Ontario squadron ended for the year, as Chauncey remained
blockading Yeo at Kingston, until the approach of winter rendered that
precaution no longer necessary.
The navigable season of 1814 opened with the British first upon the
lake. The long winter had been employed by the belligerents in adding
to their fleets; a work completed first by Yeo, who put out upon the
lake on the 3d of May, with eight square-rigged vessels, of which two
were new frigates. The Americans had given up their unseaworthy
schooners, and had a fleet of eight square-rigged vessels nearly
ready, but still lacking the cordage and guns for the three new craft.
Yeo thus had the lake to himself for a time, and began a vigorous
campaign by an attack upon Oswego, aided by a large body of British
troops. Succeeding in this enterprise, he set sail for Sackett's
Harbor, and, taking up his position just outside the bar, disposed his
vessels for a long and strict blockade. This action was particularly
troublesome to the Americans at that time; for their new frigates were
just ready for their guns and cables, which could not be brought
overland, and the arrival of which by water was seemingly prevented by
the blockade. It was in this emergency that the plan, already
described, for transporting the great cable for the "Niagara"
overland, on the backs of men, was decided upon. Yeo remained on guard
at the mouth of the harbor until the 6th of June, then raised the
blockade, and disappeared down the lake. For six weeks the Americans
continued working on their fleet, to get the ships ready for service.
During this time the British gunboat "Black Snake" was brought into
the harbor, a prize to Lieut. Gregory, who had captured it by a
sudden assault, with a score of sailors at his back. On the 1st of
July, the same officer made a sudden descent upon Presque Isle, where
he found a British vessel pierced for fourteen guns on the stocks,
ready for launching. The raiders hastily set fire to the ship, and
retreated before the enemy could get his forces together.
It was July 31 before Chauncey set sail from Sackett's Harbor. He now
had under his command a squadron of eight vessels, two of which were
frigates, two ship sloops-of-war, and eight brig-sloops of no mean
power. Yeo had, to oppose this force, a fleet of no less respectable
proportions. Yet, for the remainder of the year, these two squadrons
cruised about the lake, or blockaded each other in turn, without once
coming to battle. As transports, the vessels were of some service to
their respective governments; but, so far as any actual naval
operations were concerned, they might as well never have been built.
The war closed, leaving the two cautious commanders still waiting for
a satisfactory occasion for giving battle.
Such was the course of the naval war upon the Great Lakes; but the
thunder of hostile cannon and the cheers of sailors were heard upon
yet another sheet of fresh water, before the quarrel between England
and the United States was settled. In the north-east corner of New
York State, and slightly overlapping the Canada line, lies Lake
Champlain,--a picturesque sheet of water, narrow, and dotted with
wooded islands. From the northern end of the lake flows the Richelieu
River, which follows a straight course through Canada to the St.
Lawrence, into which it empties. The long, navigable water-way thus
open from Canada to the very heart of New York was to the British a
most tempting path for an invading expedition. By the shore of the
lake a road wound along; thus smoothing the way for a land force,
whose advance might be protected by the fire of the naval force that
should proceed up the lake. Naturally, so admirable an international
highway early attracted the attention of the military authorities of
both belligerents; and, while the British pressed forward their
preparations for an invading expedition, the Americans hastened to
make such arrangements as should give them control of the lake. Her
European wars, however, made so great a demand for soldiers upon Great
Britain, that not until 1814 could she send to America a sufficient
force to undertake the invasion of the United States from the north.
In the spring of that year, a force of from ten thousand to fifteen
thousand troops, including several thousand veterans who had served
under Wellington, were massed at Montreal; and in May a move was made
by the British to get control of the lake, before sending their
invading forces into New York. The British naval force already in the
Richelieu River, and available for service, consisted of a brig, two
sloops, and twelve or fourteen gunboats. The American flotilla
included a large corvette, a schooner, a small sloop, and ten
gunboats, or galleys, propelled with oars. Seeing that the British
were preparing for active hostilities, the Americans began to build,
with all possible speed, a large brig; a move which the enemy promptly
met by pushing forward with equal energy the construction of a
frigate. While the new vessels were on the stocks, an irregular
warfare was carried on by those already in commission. At the opening
of the season, the American vessels lay in Otter Creek; and, just as
they were ready to leave port, the enemy appeared off the mouth of the
creek with a force consisting of the brig "Linnet" and eight or ten
galleys. The object of the British was to so obstruct the mouth of the
creek that the Americans should be unable to come out. With this end
in view, they had brought two sloops laden with stones, which they
intended to sink in the narrow channel. But, luckily, the Americans
had thrown up earthworks at the mouth of the river; and a party of
sailors so worked the guns, that, after much manoeuvring, the British
were forced to retire without effecting their purpose.
About the middle of August, the Americans launched their new brig, the
"Eagle;" and the little squadron put out at once into the lake, under
command of Capt. Thomas Macdonough. Eight days later, the British got
their new ship, the "Confiance," into the water. She possessed one
feature new to American naval architecture,--a furnace in which to
heat cannon-balls.
By this time (September, 1814), the invading column of British
veterans, eleven thousand strong, had begun its march into New York
along the west shore of the lake. Two thousand Americans only could be
gathered to dispute their progress; and these, under the command of
Brigadier-Gen. Macomb, were gathered at Plattsburg. To this point,
accordingly, Macdonough took his fleet, and awaited the coming of the
enemy; knowing that if he could beat back the fleet of the British,
their land forces, however powerful, would be forced to cease their
advance. The fleet that he commanded consisted of the flagship
"Saratoga," carrying eight long twenty-four-pounders, six
forty-two-pound and twelve thirty-two-pound carronades; the brig
"Eagle," carrying eight long eighteens, and twelve thirty-two-pound
carronades; schooner "Ticonderoga," with eight long twelve-pounders,
four long eighteen-pounders, and five thirty-two-pound carronades;
sloop "Preble," with seven long nines; and ten galleys. The commander
who ruled over this fleet was a man still in his twenty-ninth year.
The successful battles of the War of 1812 were fought by young
officers, and the battle of Lake Champlain was no exception to the
rule.
The British force which came into battle with Macdonough's fleet was
slightly superior. It was headed by the flagship "Confiance," a
frigate of the class of the United States ship "Constitution,"
carrying thirty long twenty-fours, a long twenty-four-pounder on a
pivot, and six thirty-two or forty-two pound carronades. The other
vessels were the "Linnet," a brig mounting sixteen long twelves; and
the "Chubb" and "Finch" (captured from the Americans under the names
of "Growler" and "Eagle"),--sloops carrying respectively ten
eighteen-pound carronades and one long six; and six eighteen-pound
carronades, four long sixes, and one short eighteen. To these were
added twelve gunboats, with varied armaments, but each slightly
heavier than the American craft of the same class.
The 11th of September had been chosen by the British for the combined
land and water attack upon Plattsburg. With the movements of the land
forces, this narrative will not deal. The brunt of the conflict fell
upon the naval forces, and it was the success of the Americans upon
the water that turned the faces of the British invaders toward Canada.
The village of Plattsburg stands upon the shore of a broad bay which
communicates with Lake Champlain by an opening a mile and a half wide,
bounded upon the north by Cumberland Head, and on the south by Crab
Island. In this bay, about two miles from the western shore,
Macdonough's fleet lay anchored in double line, stretching north and
south. The four large vessels were in the front rank, prepared to meet
the brunt of the conflict; while the galleys formed a second line in
the rear. The morning of the day of battle dawned clear, with a brisk
north-east wind blowing. The British were stirring early, and at
daybreak weighed anchor and came down the lake. Across the low-lying
isthmus that connected Cumberland Head with the mainland, the
Americans could see their adversaries' topmasts as they came down to
do battle. At this sight, Macdonough called his officers about him,
and, kneeling upon the quarter-deck, besought Divine aid in the
conflict so soon to come. When the little group rose from their knees,
the leading ship of the enemy was seen swinging round Cumberland Head;
and the men went to their quarters to await the fiery trial that all
knew was impending.
The position of the American squadron was such that the British were
forced to attack "bows on," thus exposing themselves to a raking fire.
By means of springs on their cables, the Americans were enabled to
keep their broadsides to the enemy, and thus improve, to the fullest,
the advantage gained by their position. The British came on gallantly,
and were greeted by four shots from the long eighteens of the "Eagle,"
that had no effect. But, at the sound of the cannon, a young game-cock
that was running at large on the "Saratoga" flew upon a gun, flapped
his wings, and crowed thrice, with so lusty a note that he was heard
far over the waters. The American seamen, thus roused from the painful
revery into which the bravest fall before going into action, cheered
lustily, and went into the fight, encouraged as only sailors could be
by the favorable omen.
Soon after the defiant game-cock had thus cast down the gage of
battle, Macdonough sighted and fired the first shot from one of the
long twenty-four pounders of the "Saratoga." The heavy ball crashed
into the bow of the "Confiance," and cut its way aft, killing and
wounding several men, and demolishing the wheel. Nothing daunted, the
British flagship came on grandly, making no reply, and seeking only to
cast anchor alongside the "Saratoga," and fight it out yard-arm to
yard-arm. But the fire of the Americans was such that she could not
choose her distance; but after having been badly cut up, with both her
port anchors shot away, was forced to anchor at a distance of a
quarter of a mile. But her anchor had hardly touched bottom, when she
suddenly flashed out a sheet of flames, as her rapid broadsides rung
out and her red-hot shot sped over the water toward the American
flagship. Her first broadside killed or wounded forty of the
Americans; while many more were knocked down by the shock, but
sustained no further injury. So great was the carnage, that the
hatches were opened, and the dead bodies passed below, that the men
might have room to work the guns. Among the slain was Mr. Gamble, the
first lieutenant, who was on his knees sighting a gun, when a shot
entered the port, split the quoin, drove a great piece of metal
against his breast, and stretched him dead upon the deck without
breaking his skin. By a singular coincidence, fifteen minutes later a
shot from one of the "Saratoga's" guns struck the muzzle of a
twenty-four on the "Confiance," and, dismounting it, hurled it against
Capt. Downie's groin, killing him instantly without breaking the skin;
a black mark about the size of a small plate was the sole visible
injury.
In the mean time, the smaller vessels had become engaged, and were
fighting with no less courage than the flag-ships. The "Chubb" had
early been disabled by a broadside from the "Eagle," and drifted
helplessly under the guns of the "Saratoga." After receiving a shot
from that vessel, she struck, and was taken possession of by
Midshipman Platt, who put off from the flagship in an open boat,
boarded the prize, and took her into Plattsburg Bay, near the mouth of
the Saranac. More than half her people were killed or wounded during
the short time she was in the battle. The "Linnet," in the mean time,
had engaged the "Eagle," and poured in her broadsides with such effect
that the springs on the cables of the American were cut away, and she
could no longer bring her broadsides to bear. Her captain therefore
cut his cables, and soon gained a position from which he could bring
his guns to bear upon the "Confiance." The "Linnet" thereupon dashed
in among the American gunboats, and, driving them off, commenced a
raking fire upon the "Saratoga." The "Finch," meanwhile, had ranged
gallantly up alongside the "Ticonderoga," but was sent out of the
fight by two broadsides from the American. She drifted helplessly
before the wind, and soon grounded near Crab Island. On the island was
a hospital, and an abandoned battery mounting one six-pound gun. Some
of the convalescent patients, seeing the enemy's vessel within range,
opened fire upon her from the battery, and soon forced her to haul
down her flag. Nearly half her crew were killed or wounded. Almost at
the same moment, the United States sloop "Preble" was forced out of
the fight by the British gunboats, that pressed so fiercely upon her
that she cut her cables and drifted inshore.
[Illustration: Hiram Paulding fires the Guns.]
The "Ticonderoga" fought a gallant fight throughout. After ridding
herself of the "Finch," she had a number of the British gunboats to
contend with; and they pressed forward to the attack with a gallantry
that showed them to be conscious of the fact, that, if this vessel
could be carried, the American line would be turned, and the day won
by the English. But the American schooner fought stubbornly. Her
gallant commander, Lieut. Cassin, walked up and down the taffrail,
heedless of the grape and musket-balls that whistled past his head,
pointing out to the gunners the spot whereon to train the guns, and
directing them to load with canister and bags of bullets when the
enemy came too near. The gunners of the schooner were terribly
hampered in their work by the lack of matches for the guns; for the
vessel was new, and the absence of these very essential articles was
unnoticed until too late. The guns of one division were fired
throughout the fight by Hiram Paulding, a sixteen-year-old
midshipman, who flashed his pistol at the priming of the guns as soon
as aim was taken. When no gun was ready for his services, he rammed a
ball into his weapon and discharged it at the enemy. The onslaught of
the British was spirited and determined. Often they pressed up within
a boat-hook's length of the schooner, only to be beaten back by her
merciless fire. Sometimes so few were left alive in the galleys that
they could hardly man the oars to pull out of the fight. In this way
the "Ticonderoga" kept her enemies at bay while the battle was being
decided between the "Saratoga" and the "Confiance."
For it was upon the issue of the conflict between these two ships,
that victory or defeat depended. Each had her ally and satellite.
Under the stern of the "Saratoga" lay the "Linnet," pouring in raking
broadsides. The "Confiance," in turn, was suffering from the
well-directed fire of the "Eagle." The roar of the artillery was
unceasing, and dense clouds of gunpowder-smoke hid the warring ships
from the eyes of the eager spectators on shore. The "Confiance" was
unfortunate in losing her gallant captain early in the action, while
Macdonough was spared to fight his ship to the end. His gallantry and
activity, however, led him to expose himself fearlessly; and twice he
narrowly escaped death. He worked like a common sailor, loading and
firing a favorite twenty-four-pound gun; and once, while on his knees,
sighting the piece, a shot from the "Confiance" cut in two the
spanker-boom, a great piece of which fell heavily upon the captain's
head, stretching him senseless upon the deck. He lay motionless for
two or three minutes, and his men mourned him as dead; but suddenly
his activity returned, and he leaped to his feet, and was soon again
in the thick of the fight. In less than five minutes the cry again
arose, that the captain was killed. He had been standing at the breach
of his favorite cannon, when a round shot took off the head of the
captain of the gun, and dashed it with terrific force into the face of
Macdonough, who was driven across the deck, and hurled against the
bulwarks. He lay an instant, covered with the blood of the slain man;
but, hearing his men cry that he was killed, he rushed among them, to
cheer them on with his presence.
And, indeed, at this moment the crew of the "Saratoga" needed the
presence of their captain to cheer them on to further exertion. The
red-hot shot of the "Confiance" had twice set fire to the American
ship. The raking fire from the "Linnet" had dismounted carronades and
long guns one by one, until but a single serviceable gun was left in
the starboard battery. A too heavy charge dismounted this piece, and
threw it down the hatchway, leaving the frigate without a single gun
bearing upon the enemy. In such a plight the hearts of the crew might
well fail them. But Macdonough was ready for the emergency. He still
had his port broadside untouched, and he at once set to work to swing
the ship round so that this battery could be brought to bear. An
anchor was let fall astern, and the whole ship's company hauled in on
the hawser, swinging the ship slowly around. It was a dangerous
manoeuvre; for, as the ship veered round, her stern was presented to
the "Linnet," affording an opportunity for raking, which the gunners
on that plucky little vessel immediately improved. But patience and
hard pulling carried the day; and gradually the heavy frigate was
turned sufficiently for the after gun to bear, and a gun's crew was at
once called from the hawsers to open fire. One by one the guns swung
into position, and soon the whole broadside opened with a roar.
Meanwhile the "Confiance" had attempted the same manoeuvre. But her
anchors were badly placed; and, though her people worked gallantly,
they failed to get the ship round. She bore for some time the
effective fire from the "Saratoga's" fresh broadside, but, finding
that she could in no way return the fire, struck her flag, two hours
and a quarter after the battle commenced. Beyond giving a hasty cheer,
the people of the "Saratoga" paid little attention to the surrender of
their chief enemy, but instantly turned their guns upon the "Linnet."
In this combat the "Eagle" could take no part, and the thunder of her
guns died away. Farther down the bay, the "Ticonderoga" had just
driven away the last of the British galleys; so that the "Linnet" now
alone upheld the cause of the enemy. She was terribly outmatched by
her heavier foe, but her gallant captain Pring kept up a desperate
defence. Her masts and rigging were hopelessly shattered; and no
course was open to her, save to surrender, or fight a hopeless fight.
Capt. Pring sent off a lieutenant, in an open boat, to ascertain the
condition of the "Confiance." The officer returned with the report
that Capt. Downie was killed, and the frigate terribly cut up; and as
by this time the water, pouring in the shot-holes in the "Linnet's"
hull, had risen a foot above the lower deck, her flag was hauled
down, and the battle ended in a decisive triumph for the Americans.
Terrible was the carnage, and many and strange the incidents, of this
most stubbornly contested naval battle. All of the prizes were in a
sinking condition. In the hull of the "Confiance" were a hundred and
five shot-holes, while the "Saratoga" was pierced by fifty-five. Not a
mast that would bear canvas was left standing in the British fleet;
those of the flagship were splintered like bundles of matches, and the
sails torn to rags. On most of the enemy's vessels, more than half of
the crews were killed or wounded. The loss on the British side
probably aggregated three hundred. Midshipman William Lee of the
"Confiance" wrote home after the battle, "The havoc on both sides was
dreadful. I don't think there are more than five of our men, out of
three hundred, but what are killed or wounded. Never was a shower of
hail so thick as the shot whistling about our ears. Were you to see my
jacket, waistcoat, and trousers, you would be astonished to know how I
escaped as I did; for they are literally torn all to rags with shot
and splinters. The upper part of my hat was also shot away. There is
one of the marines who was in the Trafalgar action with Lord Nelson,
who says it was a mere flea-bite in comparison with this."
The Americans, though victorious, had suffered greatly. Their loss
amounted to about two hundred men. The "Saratoga" had been cut up
beyond the possibility of repair. Her decks were covered with dead and
dying. The shot of the enemy wrought terrible havoc in the ranks of
the American officers. Lieut. Stansbury of the "Ticonderoga" suddenly
disappeared in the midst of the action; nor could any trace of him be
found, until, two days later, his body, cut nearly in two by a round
shot, rose from the waters of the lake. Lieut. Vallette of the
"Saratoga" was knocked down by the head of a sailor, sent flying by a
cannon-ball. Some minutes later he was standing on a shot-box giving
orders, when a shot took the box from beneath his feet, throwing him
heavily upon the deck. Mr. Brum, the master, a veteran man-o'-war's
man, was struck by a huge splinter, which knocked him down, and
actually stripped every rag of clothing from his body. He was thought
to be dead, but soon re-appeared at his post, with a strip of canvas
about his waist, and fought bravely until the end of the action. Some
days before the battle, a gentleman of Oswego gave one of the sailors
a glazed tarpaulin hat, of the kind then worn by seamen. A week later
the sailor re-appeared, and, handing him the hat with a semi-circular
cut in the crown and brim, made while it was on his head by a
cannon-shot, remarked calmly, "Look here, Mr. Sloane, how the damned
John Bulls have spoiled my hat!"
The last British flag having been hauled down, an officer was sent to
take possession of the "Confiance." In walking along her gun-deck, he
accidentally ran against a ratline, by which one of her starboard guns
was discharged. At this sound, the British galleys and gunboats, which
had been lying quietly with their ensigns down, got out oars and moved
off up the lake. The Americans had no vessels fit for pursuing them,
and they were allowed to escape. In the afternoon the British officers
came to the American flagship to complete the surrender. Macdonough
met them courteously; and, on their offering their swords, put them
back, saying, "Gentlemen, your gallant conduct makes you worthy to
wear your weapons. Return them to their scabbards." By sundown the
surrender was complete, and Macdonough sent off to the Secretary of
the Navy a despatch, saying, "_Sir,_--The Almighty has been pleased to
grant us a signal victory on Lake Champlain, in the capture of one
frigate, one brig, and two sloops-of-war of the enemy."
Some days later, the captured ships, being beyond repair, were taken
to the head of the lake, and scuttled. Some of the guns were found to
be still loaded; and, in drawing the charges, one gun was found with a
canvas bag containing two round shot rammed home, and wadded, without
any powder; another gun contained two cartridges and no shot; and a
third had a wad rammed down before the powder, thus effectually
preventing the discharge of the piece. The American gunners were not
altogether guiltless of carelessness of this sort. Their chief error
lay in ramming down so many shot upon the powder that the force of the
explosion barely carried the missiles to the enemy. In proof of this,
the side of the "Confiance" was thickly dotted with round shot, which
had struck into, but failed to penetrate, the wood.
The result of this victory was immediate and gratifying. The land
forces of the British, thus deprived of their naval auxiliaries,
turned about, and retreated to Canada, abandoning forever their
projected invasion. New York was thus saved by Macdonough's skill and
bravery. Yet the fame he won by his victory was not nearly
proportionate to the naval ability he showed, and the service he had
rendered to his country. Before the popular adulation of Perry,
Macdonough sinks into second place. One historian only gives him the
pre-eminence that is undoubtedly his due. Says Mr. Theodore Roosevelt,
in his admirable history, "The Naval War of 1812," "But Macdonough in
this battle won a higher fame than any other commander of the war,
British or American. He had a decidedly superior force to contend
against, and it was solely owing to his foresight and resource that we
won the victory. He forced the British to engage at a disadvantage by
his excellent choice of position, and he prepared beforehand for every
possible contingency. His personal prowess had already been shown at
the cost of the rovers of Tripoli, and in this action he helped fight
the guns as ably as the best sailor. His skill, seamanship, quick eye,
readiness of resource, and indomitable pluck are beyond all praise.
Down to the time of the civil war, he is the greatest figure in our
naval history. A thoroughly religious man, he was as generous and
humane as he was skilful and brave. One of the greatest of our sea
captains, he has left a stainless name behind him."
CHAPTER XIV.
ON THE OCEAN. -- THE WORK OF THE SLOOPS-OF-WAR. -- LOSS OF THE
"FROLIC." -- FRUITLESS CRUISE OF THE "ADAMS." -- THE "PEACOCK"
TAKES THE "ÉPERVIER." -- THE CRUISE OF THE "WASP." -- SHE
CAPTURES THE "REINDEER." -- SINKS THE "AVON." -- MYSTERIOUS END
OF THE "WASP."
The opening of the year 1814 found the American coast still rigidly
blockaded by the British men-of-war. Two or three of the enemy lay off
the mouth of every considerable harbor, and were not to be driven from
their post by the icy winds and storms of midwinter on the American
coast. It was almost impossible for any American vessel to escape to
sea, and a matter of almost equal difficulty for such vessels as were
out to get into a home port. The frigate "President" had put to sea
early in December, 1813, and after a cruise of eight weeks, during
which the traditional ill-luck of the ship pursued her remorselessly,
managed to dash into New York Harbor past the blockading squadron. At
Boston the blockade was broken by the "Constitution." She left port on
the 1st of January, ran off to the southward, and cruised for some
weeks in the West Indies. Here she captured the British man-of-war
schooner "Pictou," fourteen guns, and several merchant-vessels. She
also fell in with the British thirty-six-gun frigate "Pique," which
fled, and escaped pursuit by cutting through a narrow channel during a
dark and squally night. The "Constitution" then returned to the coast
of the United States, and narrowly escaped falling into the clutches
of two British frigates. She managed to gain the shelter of Marblehead
Harbor, and there remained until the latter part of the year.
But, while the larger vessels were thus accomplishing little or
nothing, two or three small sloops-of-war, of a class newly built,
slipped through the enemy's lines, and, gaining the open sea, fought
one or two notable actions. Of these, the first vessel to get to sea
was the new sloop-of-war "Frolic;" but her career was short and
inglorious, for she had been at sea but a few weeks when she fell in
with the enemy's frigate "Orpheus" and the schooner "Shelburne." A
chase ensued, in which the American vessel threw overboard her guns
and anchors, and started the water; but to no avail, for she was
overhauled, and forced to surrender. Her service afloat was limited to
the destruction of a Carthagenian privateer, which sunk before her
guns, carrying down nearly a hundred men.
The "Adams," a vessel that had suffered many vicissitudes,--having
been built for a frigate, then cut down to a sloop-of-war, and finally
been sawed asunder and converted into a corvette,--put to sea on the
18th of January, under the command of Capt. Charles Morris, formerly
of the "Constitution." She laid her course straight to the eastward,
and for some time cruised off the western coast of Africa and the
Canary Isles. She met with but little success in this region,
capturing only three brigs,--the cargo of one of which consisted of
wine and fruit; and the second, of palm-oil and ivory. Abandoning the
African coast, the corvette turned westward along the equator, and
made for the West Indies. A large Indiaman fell in her way, and was
brought to; but, before the Americans could take possession of their
prize, a British fleet of twenty-five sail, with two men-of-war, hove
in sight, and the "Adams" was forced to seek safety in flight. She put
into Savannah for provisions and water, but, hearing that the enemy
was in force near by, worked out to sea, and made sail for another
cruise. Capt. Morris took up a position on the limits of the Gulf
Stream, near the Florida coast, in the expectation of cutting out an
Indiaman from some passing convoy. The expected fleet soon came, but
was under the protection of a seventy-four, two frigates, and three
brigs,--a force sufficient to keep at bay the most audacious of
corvettes. Morris hung about the convoy for two days, but saw no
chance of eluding the watchful guards. He then crossed the Atlantic to
the coast of Ireland. Here the "Adams" narrowly escaped capture; for
she was sighted by a frigate, which gave chase, and would have
overhauled her, had not the Americans thrown overboard some small
cannon, and cut away their anchors. Thus lightened, the corvette sped
away, and soon left her pursuers behind.
Continued ill-fortune now reduced the spirits of the sailors of the
"Adams" to very low ebb. They were forced to struggle unceasingly
against the fierce gales which in winter sweep the Atlantic. Their
stock of food and water was giving out; and, to add to their distress,
scurvy, the sailors' worst enemy, began to show itself in the ship.
They had boldly run into the very waters in which the "Argus" had won
so rich a reward, yet not a sail gladdened the eyes of the lookout on
the "Adams." It was then with great disappointment that the jackies
saw the prow of the corvette turned homeward, after a cruise that
would bring them neither honor nor prize-money. The passage homeward
was quickly made, and on the 16th of August the vessel was in
soundings off the coast of Maine. Night fell, with a dense fog
concealing all landmarks from view. Through the darkness the corvette
sped on at a pace of eleven miles an hour, until, just as day was
breaking, the cry of "Breakers ahead!" was followed by a heavy blow,
indicating that the ship had struck. The force of the blow had not
been sufficient to stave in the bottom,--a fortunate fact, for the
hold was full of prisoners. Nevertheless, she was hard and fast
aground, on a ledge of rock that lifted her bow six feet above her
stern. Morris, who had rushed upon deck at the first alarm, was unable
to make out the ship's position, and feared that they were on Cashes
Ledge, a reef so far from the land that it would have been impossible
to save in the boats more than half the crew. He had determined,
however, to instantly lower the boats and send them off in search of
land, when a gust of wind, blowing away the fog, showed a beetling
cliff not a hundred yards away. Rugged and inhospitable as was the
coast thus exposed, it was better than an expanse of ocean; and at
once Morris set to work landing his prisoners, and the sick, of whom
the "Adams" had nearly sixty. With spare sails, tents were put up on
the beach; and, stores having been landed, the comfort of all was
assured, in case the ship should go to pieces. What the desolate shore
was to which they were thus forced to turn for shelter, no one knew.
All hands now turned to at the capstan, in the hopes of getting the
vessel off; and about noon, the tide having reached its flood, she
gradually slid off the ledge into deep water. After trying the pumps,
to see if any serious leak had been started, the difficult task of
taking the ship out of the labyrinth of reefs in which she lay was
begun. For more than two miles their course lay through a narrow and
tortuous channel, bordered on either side with jagged reefs; but the
corvette safely threaded her way between the rocks, and soon lay
floating in deep water. The next morning the fog blew away; and the
voyagers discovered to their astonishment that they were off Mount
Desert, instead of near Portsmouth as they had expected.
To return into the cluster of reefs after the little colony of
invalids and prisoners that had been left behind, would have been mere
folly: so sending two fishing-boats to search out the shore party, and
carry them to the nearest village, the "Adams" continued her course,
intending to put into the Penobscot River. While making for this
point, a sail was sighted, which proved to be the British brig-sloop
"Rifleman." The corvette gave chase, but the Englishman kept well in
the offing; and, as the condition of the American crew was such that
to lead them into action would have been imprudent, Morris abandoned
the pursuit, and, putting into the Penobscot, dropped anchor off
Hampden. Here, for the present, we will leave the "Adams."
The "Peacock"--a second of the new sloops-of-war, bearing the name of
a captured British vessel--put out from New York in March, and made
her way to the southward, selecting as her cruising station the waters
off the coast of Florida. For some time it seemed that the exertions
of the sailors were to be of no avail. Not a sail was to be seen, and
the chances for prize-money seemed to be small indeed. But on the 29th
of March three merchant-vessels were made out in the offing; while a
heavy-built, square-rigged, trim-looking craft that hovered about them
was evidently a man-of-war. The strangers seemed to have sighted the
American vessel; for the merchantmen were seen to hastily haul up and
run off to the north-east, while the man-of-war edged away for the
American ship.
The stranger was His British Majesty's brig sloop-of-war "Epervier,"
of eighteen guns, and carrying a crew of one hundred and twenty-eight
men. The "Peacock" was a ship-sloop of twenty-two guns, with a crew of
one hundred and sixty-six men. The advantage, therefore, lay with the
Americans; but, in the battle that ensued, the damage they inflicted
upon the enemy was out of any proportion to their excess of strength.
The two ships bore down gallantly upon each other, and at a little
after ten in the morning passed, exchanging heavy broadsides. The shot
of each took effect in the rigging; but the "Peacock" suffered the
more, having her foreyard totally disabled,--an injury that compelled
her to run large during the rest of the action, and forego all
attempts at manoeuvring. The two vessels having passed each other, the
"Epervier" eased off, and returned to the fight, running on a parallel
course with the American ship. The interchange of broadsides then
became very rapid; but the British marksmanship was poor, and few of
their shot took effect. The "Epervier," on the contrary, suffered
severely from the American fire, which took effect in her hull,
dismounting several guns, and so injuring the brig that a British
naval officer, writing of the action some years later, said, "The most
disgraceful part of the affair was that our ship was cut to pieces,
and the enemy hardly scratched."
The injury aloft which both vessels sustained caused the battle to
take on the character of an action at long range. Under such
conditions, the victory was assured to the side showing the best
gunnery. For a moment only did it seem that the vessels were likely to
come to close quarters, and the English captain seized that occasion
to call up his boarders. But they refused, saying, "She's too heavy
for us." And a few minutes later the Englishman hauled down his flag,
having lost nine killed or mortally wounded, and fourteen wounded. The
Americans had suffered but little; only two men being injured, and
these but slightly. The shot of the enemy had passed through the
rigging of the "Peacock," while the "Epervier" had been hulled
forty-five times.
The "Epervier" proved to be a valuable prize. In her hold specie to
the amount of one hundred and eighteen thousand dollars was found;
and, when the brig was sold to the United States Government, she
brought fifty-five thousand dollars: so that the prize-money won by
that action kept the sailors in good-humor for many months to come.
But, before the prize could be safely carried into an American port,
she had a gantlet to run, in which she narrowly escaped capture. After
the wreck of battle had been cleared away, the brig and her captor
made for Savannah, but were sighted and chased by two British
frigates. The "Peacock," in the hope of drawing away the pursuers,
left her prize, and headed out to sea. One frigate only followed her,
and the other pressed on hotly after the "Epervier," which, to avoid
capture, was forced to run into shallow water, whither the heavy
frigate could not follow her. But she was not to escape so easily; for
the boats of the frigate were lowered, filled with armed men, and set
out in pursuit of the brig, which moved but slowly before the light
breeze then blowing. The boats soon overhauled the fugitive, and
escape seemed hopeless; for the "Epervier" was manned by a prize-crew
of only sixteen men. But Lieut. Nicholson, who was in command,
determined to try the effect of bluster. Accordingly he leaped upon
the taffrail, with a speaking-trumpet in his hand, and shouted out
orders as if calling a huge crew to quarters. The British, who were
within easy range, stopped their advance, and, fearing a destructive
broadside from the brig's guns, turned and fled precipitately. The
"Epervier" continued her course, and reached Savannah in safety on the
1st of May. The "Peacock" reached the same port four days later.
At the moment when the captured "Epervier," flying the stars and
stripes, was proudly making her way up the harbor of Savannah amid the
plaudits of the people of the little city, there sailed from
Portsmouth, N.H., a vessel that was destined to fight a good fight for
the honor of that starry banner; and, after winning a glorious
victory, to disappear forever from the face of the ocean, carrying to
some unknown grave a crew of as brave hearts as ever beat under
uniforms of navy blue.
This was the new sloop of war "Wasp," named after the gallant little
craft that had been taken by the British after her capture of the
"Frolic." She was a stanch three-master, carrying eleven guns to a
broadside. Her crew was purely American, not a foreigner among them;
but all trained seamen from the seaboard villages and towns of New
England,--the homes at that time of probably the hardiest seafaring
population in the world. Capt. Blakely, who commanded the vessel, had
been attached to the "Enterprise" for some time, but had been ordered
to the command of the "Wasp" a few days before the former vessel
fought her successful battle with the "Boxer." Blakely, while in
command of the "Enterprise," had greatly desired to meet an enemy
worthy of his metal. Great, then, was his chagrin, when the
"Enterprise," two weeks after he quitted her, fought her gallant
battle. In a letter written in January, 1814, he says, "I shall ever
view as one of the most unfortunate events of my life having quitted
the 'Enterprise' at the moment I did. Had I remained in her a
fortnight longer, my name might have been classed with those who stand
so high. I cannot but consider it a mortifying circumstance that I
left her but a few days before she fell in with the only enemy upon
this station with which she could have creditably contended. I confess
I felt heartily glad when I received my order to take command of the
'Wasp,' conceiving that there was no hope of doing any thing in the
'Enterprise.' But when I heard of the contest of the latter ship, and
witnessed the great delay in the equipment of the former, I had no
cause to congratulate myself. The 'Peacock' has ere this spread her
plumage to the winds, and the 'Frolic' will soon take her revels on
the ocean; but the 'Wasp' will, I fear, remain for some time a dull,
harmless drone in the waters of her country."
Notwithstanding his impatience, Blakely was forced to endure the
restraints of Portsmouth navy-yard for nearly three months, while the
"Wasp" was fitting out; but when she did finally get to sea, on May 1,
1814, she proved herself to be far from a "dull, harmless drone."
Slipping unobserved through the British blockading line, the "Wasp"
made straight for the European coast before a fresh wind, and was soon
cruising in the chops of the English channel, where the "Argus" had
won her laurels and met with her defeat. Many English merchantmen were
captured and burned, and the terror that spread in English shipping
circles recalled the days of the "Argus."
At daylight on the 28th of June, the "Wasp" sighted two merchantmen,
and straightway gave chase. Soon a third vessel was discovered on the
weather-beam; and, abandoning the vessels first sighted, the American
bore down upon the stranger. She proved to be the "Reindeer," a
British brig-sloop of eighteen guns, carrying a crew of one hundred
and eighteen men. Although the British vessel was by no means a match
in weight of metal for the "Wasp," her captain, William Manners,
brought her into action with a cool gallantry which well justified his
reputation as one of the bravest men in the British navy.
[Illustration: Boarding the "Reindeer."]
At ten o'clock in the morning the ships were near enough to each other
to exchange signals, but several hours were spent in manoeuvring for
the weather-gage; so that it was not until after three in the
afternoon that the action fairly opened. The day was admirably
suitable for a naval battle. Light clouds floated across the sky, and
the gentle breeze that was blowing had sufficient strength to propel
the ships without careening them. The surface of the ocean was
unusually calm for that quarter, in which a rather choppy sea is
usually running. Before the light breeze the "Wasp" came down upon her
foe, bows on, with her decks cleared for action, and the men at their
quarters. On the top-gallant forecastle of the "Reindeer" was mounted
a twelve-pound carronade, and the action was opened by the discharge
of this piece. In the position she then held, the "Wasp" was unable to
reply; and her crew had to bear five effective shots from this gun
without being able to fire a shot in return,--an ordeal that less
well-disciplined crews might not have endured. For nine minutes the
Americans returned not a shot; but then the "Wasp" luffed up, firing
the guns from aft forward as they bore. The two ships were now lying
broadside to broadside, not twenty yards apart, and every shot told.
For ten minutes this position was held, and the two crews worked like
Furies in loading and firing the great guns. The roar of the cannon
was incessant, and the recoil of the heavy explosions deadened what
little way the ships had on when fire was opened. Capt. Manners was
too old an officer not to know, that, in an artillery duel of that
kind, the victory would surely rest with the side that carried the
heaviest guns: so he ran his vessel aboard the "Wasp" on the starboard
quarter, intending to board and carry the day with the stubborn,
dashing gallantry shown by British seamen when once led to an enemy's
deck. At the ringing notes of the bugle, calling up the boarders, the
British gathered aft, their faces begrimed with gunpowder, their arms
bare, and their keen cutlasses firmly clutched in their strong right
hands. The Americans took the alarm at once, and crowded forward to
repel the enemy. The marines, whose hard duty it is in long-range
fighting to stand with military impassiveness, drawn up in line on
deck, while the shot whistle by them, and now and then cut great gaps
in their straight lines,--the marines came aft, with their muskets
loaded and bayonets fixed. Before them were sailors with sharp-pointed
boarding-pikes, ready to receive the enemy should he come aboard;
while close under the bulwarks were grouped the boarders, ready with
cutlass and pistol to beat back the flood of men that should come
pouring over the side. The grating of the ships' sides told that the
vessels were touching; and the next instant the burly British seamen,
looming up like giants, as they dashed through the dense murkiness of
the powder-smoke, were among the Americans, cutting and firing right
and left. From the deck of the "Reindeer" the marines kept up a
constant fire of musketry, to which the sea-soldiers of the "Wasp"
responded vigorously. Marksmen posted in the tops of each vessel
picked off men from their enemy's decks, choosing generally the
officers.
[Illustration: The Captain of the "Reindeer."]
Sharp and bloody though the British attack was, the boarders could
make no way against the stubborn stand of the Americans. Capt.
Manners, seeing his men beaten back, sprang forward to rally them. He
was desperately wounded. A gun-shot had passed through his thighs, and
a grape-shot had cut across the calves of his legs; but, maimed and
bleeding to death as he was, he leaped into the rigging, and, cheering
and waving his sword, called to his men to follow him to the decks of
the Yankee. The Britons rallied nobly under the encouragement of their
brave captain, and again advanced to the assault. But the figure of
the daring officer, as he stood thus before his men, waving his sword
and calling on them to come on, caught the eye of one of the men in
the "Wasp's" maintop; and the next instant a ball crashed into the
captain's brain, and he fell heavily to the deck, with his dying eyes
turned upwards toward the flag in whose service he had given his life.
Seeing the British captain fall and the men waver, Capt. Blakely with
a cheer called up the boarders of the "Wasp;" and in an instant a
stream of shouting sailors, cutlass in hand, was pouring over the
hammock-nettings, and driving the foe backward on his own decks. The
British still fought stubbornly; but their numbers were terribly
thinned, and their officers had fallen one by one, until now the
captain's clerk was the highest officer left. Seeing his men falling
back before the resistless torrent of boarders, this gentleman finally
struck the flag; and the battle ended, twenty-seven minutes after the
"Reindeer" had fired the opening gun, and eighteen after the "Wasp"
had responded.
[Illustration: The End of the "Reindeer."]
The execution and damage done on the "Reindeer" by the "Wasp's" shot
were appalling. Of her crew of one hundred and eighteen men,
thirty-three were killed or fatally wounded, and thirty-four were
wounded. The havoc wrought among her officers has already been
mentioned. Evidence of the accuracy and skill of the American gunners
was to be seen in the fact that the brig was completely cut to pieces
in the line of her ports. Her decks were swept clean of boats, spars,
and rigging. Her masts were badly shattered, and her foremast soon
went by the board. The "Wasp" had suffered severely, but was in much
better condition than her captured adversary. Eleven of her crew were
killed or mortally wounded, and fifteen were wounded severely or
slightly. She had been hulled by six round and many grape shot, and
her foremast had been cut by a twenty-four-pound shot. A few hours'
work cleared from her decks all trace of the bloody fight, and she was
in condition for another action. But it would have been folly to try
to get the crippled "Reindeer" to port from that region, swarming with
British cruisers: so Capt. Blakely took the prisoners on the "Wasp,"
put a few of the wounded on a neutral vessel that happened to pass,
and, burning the prize, made his way to the harbor of L'Orient. He had
fought a brave fight, and come out victor after a desperate contest.
But, though defeated, the plucky British might well boast of the
gallant manner in which they engaged an enemy so much their superior
in strength. History nowhere records a more gallant death than that of
the British captain, who fell leading his men in a dashing but vain
attempt to retrieve the day by boarding. In its manoeuvring, in the
courage and discipline of the crews, and in the gallantry of the two
captains, the action of the "Wasp" and the "Reindeer" may well go down
to history as a model naval duel of the age of sails.
The "Wasp" remained in port for several weeks, occupying the time in
refitting, and filling the gaps in her crew by enlistment from the
American privateers which then were to be seen occasionally in every
port of the world. She then put out to sea, and soon fell in with a
convoy of ten British merchantmen, under the protection of the
seventy-four "Armada." Though he had no intention of giving battle to
the line-of-battle ship, Blakely determined to capture one of the
merchantmen; and to this end the "Wasp" hung upon the skirts of the
convoy, making rapid dashes now at one vessel, then at another, and
keeping the seventy-four in constant anxiety. Finally the swift little
cruiser actually succeeded in capturing one of the vessels, and
escaping before the heavy seventy-four could get to the scene of the
conflict. The prize proved to be a valuable one, for she was laden
with iron and brass cannon and military stores.
Towards nightfall of the same day, Sept. 1, 1814, four more sail were
sighted; and the "Wasp" at once made off in chase of the most
weatherly. At eight o'clock the "Wasp" had gained so rapidly upon the
chase, that the latter began firing with her stern chaser, and soon
after opened with one of her lee guns. All the time the enemy kept up
a vigorous signalling with rockets, lanterns, and guns. By half-past
nine the "Wasp" was within hailing-distance, and an officer posted on
the bow hailed the stranger several times; but as she returned no
satisfactory answer, and refused to heave to, the "Wasp" opened upon
her with a twelve-pound carronade, and soon after poured a broadside
into her quarter. The two ships ploughed through the black water,
under full sail, side by side. The Americans had no idea of the
identity of their assailant, but, by the flashes of the guns, could
see that she was a heavy brig. Her ports gleamed brightly with
battle-lanterns; and the crowds of sailors in the tops, and the
regularity of her fire, showed that she was a man-of-war with a
well-disciplined crew, and no mere marauding privateer. For a time
this running fight continued at such short range that the only
American injured was struck by a wad from the enemy's cannon. The
British gunners were poor marksmen, and the "Wasp" suffered but
little; but it was evident that the American fire was taking effect,
for gun after gun on the enemy was silenced. At ten o'clock the
Americans, receiving no response to their carronade, stopped firing;
and Capt. Blakely, seizing a speaking-trumpet, shouted across the
water, "Have you struck?" No answer came, and the enemy began a feeble
fire. The "Wasp" let fly another broadside, and Blakely repeated the
question. This time an affirmative response came through the darkness;
and the "Wasp" stopped firing, and made preparations to take
possession of her prize. Just as the boat was being lowered from the
davits, the lookout's cry of "Sail, ho!" checked the proceedings.
Through the black night a cloud of canvas could be seen far astern,
denoting the presence of another ship, probably an enemy. The drums of
the "Wasp" beat fiercely; and the men trooped back to their quarters,
ready for a second battle. But in the mean time two more sail hove in
sight, and there remained to the "Wasp" nothing but flight. She
accordingly made off into the darkness, receiving one broadside from
one of the newly arrived men-of-war as she departed. So suddenly was
she forced to fly, that she was unable to learn the name and condition
of the vessel she had forced to surrender.
It became known in the United States later that the "Wasp's" adversary
in the battle in the darkness was the British sloop-of-war "Avon," of
eighteen guns. She was badly cut up by the fire of the American
gunners, losing her mainmast early in the action. At the time she
surrendered, she was in a sinking condition; and, had it not been for
the timely arrival of the brig-sloop "Castilian" and the "Tartarus,"
both British, the crew of the "Avon" would have been prisoners on the
"Wasp," or carried to the bottom in the shattered hulk of their own
ship. The loss on the "Avon" was ten killed and thirty-two wounded,
while on the "Wasp" but three men were injured.
Of all this the gallant Capt. Blakely was ignorant; and, indeed, it is
probable that he never knew with whom he had fought his last battle.
For the subsequent history of the "Wasp" is more tragic in its
unfathomable mystery than is the fate of the bravest ship ever sent to
the bottom by the broadsides of an enemy. What was the end of the
"Wasp," and where her bones now lie, no one knows. For some little
time after her battle with the "Avon," her movements can be traced.
Sept. 12, she captured the British brig "Three Brothers," and scuttled
her; two days later, the brig "Bacchus" met the same fate at her
hands. Sept. 21, she took the brig "Atlanta," eight guns; and, this
being a valuable prize, Midshipman Geisinger of the "Wasp" was put on
board, and took her safely to Savannah. He brought the last news that
was heard of the ill-fated cruiser for many years. Months passed, and
lengthened into years; and still the "Wasp" came not into port, nor
could any trace of her whereabouts be found. As time passed on, the
attempts to account for her delay changed into theories as to the
cause of her total disappearance. All sorts of rumors were afloat.
According to one account, the ship was wrecked on the African coast,
and her gallant lads were ending their weary lives as slaves to the
turbaned Moors of Barbary. Another theory was based on the rumor that
an English frigate went into Cadiz much crippled, and with her crew
severely injured, and reported that she had been engaged with a heavy
American corvette, which had so suddenly disappeared that she was
thought to have sunk with all on board. But, as time passed on, the
end of the "Wasp" was forgotten by all save a few whose hearts ached
for some of the gallant lads thus blotted from the face of the earth.
Years after, the fate of the daring cruiser was again brought into
remembrance by fresh news curiously found. When the officers and crew
of the "Essex," after that vessel's gallant battle with the "Phoebe"
and "Cherub," were sent to the United States under parole, two
officers remained at Valparaiso, to give testimony before the
prize-court. These gentlemen were Lieut. McKnight, and Mr. Lyman a
master's mate. After going to Brazil in the "Phoebe," the two officers
took passage in a Swedish brig bound for England. Months passed; and,
nothing being heard from them, their friends became alarmed for their
safety. In that time, before the day of the telegraph and steam
transportation, many things might have easily detained the two
officers for a year or more, and nothing be heard of them. But, when
two years had passed, inquiries began to be made as to their fate,
both by their friends and the naval authorities. The first step was to
find the vessel upon which they had left Brazil. This was a work of
time; so that it was many years after the disappearance of the
officers when the brig was found lying at a London dock. She was the
brig "Adonis," and the master proved to be the same who had commanded
her when the two officers had taken passage. He readily recalled the
circumstance, but claimed that the two passengers had left him in
mid-ocean to go aboard an American man-of-war; and in proof of this he
brought out the log-book, and, turning back to the year 1814, pointed
out the following entries:--
[Illustration: The End of the "Wasp."]
"AUG. 23.--Left Rio de Janeiro; Stephen Decatur McKnight and
James Lyman, passengers for England.
"OCT. 9.--At eight o'clock in the morning discovered a strange
sail giving chase to us, and fired several guns; she gaining very
fast. At half-past ten o'clock hove to, and was boarded by an
officer dressed in an English doctor's uniform; the vessel also
hoisted an English ensign. The officer proceeded to examine my
ship's papers, etc., likewise the letter-bags, and took from one
of them a letter to the victualling office, London. Finding I had
two American officers as passengers, he immediately left the
ship, and went on board the sloop-of-war. He shortly after
returned, took the American gentlemen with him, and went a second
time on board the ship. In about half an hour he returned, with
Messrs. McKnight and Lyman; and they informed me that the vessel
was the United States sloop-of-war 'Wasp,' commanded by Capt.
Blakely, or Blake, last from France, where she had refitted; had
lately sunk the 'Reindeer,' English sloop-of-war, and another
vessel, which sunk without their being able to save a single
person, or learn the vessel's name; that Messrs. McKnight and
Lyman had now determined to leave me and go on board the 'Wasp;'
paid me their passage in dollars, at 5_s._ 9_d._; and, having
taken their luggage on board, the 'Wasp' made sail to the
southward. Shortly after they had left, I discovered that Lieut.
McKnight had left his writing-desk behind; and I immediately made
signal for the 'Wasp' to return, and stood towards her. They,
observing my signal, stood back, came alongside, and sent their
boat on board for the writing-desk; after which they sent me a
log-line and some other presents, and made all sail in a
direction for the line, and, I have reason to suppose, for the
convoy that passed on Thursday previous."
And so the "Wasp," with her ill-fated crew thus re-enforced, passed
forever from the sight of man. What was her course after leaving the
"Adonis," none may ever know. Whether some chance spark, touching the
deadly stores of her magazine, sent vessel and crew to a sudden but
merciful death; or whether, after gallantly battling with some fierce
tropical hurricane, she drifted about the trackless ocean a helpless
hulk, with a slowly dying crew, carried hither and yon before the
winds and the currents, until her timbers, rotting asunder, gave a
watery sepulchre to her crew of lifeless bodies, must remain a mystery
until the day when the sea shall give up its dead. But, until that day
comes, the gallant deeds done by vessel and crew for the flag under
which they served should keep the names of the "Wasp" and her men ever
memorable in the annals of the great nation whose infancy they so
gallantly protected.
CHAPTER XV.
OPERATIONS ON THE NEW ENGLAND COAST. -- THE BOMBARDMENT OF
STONINGTON. -- DESTRUCTION OF THE UNITED STATES CORVETTE "ADAMS."
-- OPERATIONS ON CHESAPEAKE BAY. -- WORK OF BARNEY'S BARGE
FLOTILLA. -- ADVANCE OF THE BRITISH UPON WASHINGTON. --
DESTRUCTION OF THE CAPITOL. -- OPERATIONS AGAINST BALTIMORE. --
BOMBARDMENT OF FORT McHENRY.
The remaining work of the British blockading squadrons along the
Atlantic Coast demands some attention, and some account must be given
of certain land actions which were inseparably connected with the
course of naval events. This narrative can well be divided into two
parts, each dealing with the operations of one section of the
blockading fleet; thus tracing the course of events up to the close of
the war on the New England coast, before taking up the proceedings on
the Chesapeake station.
It will be remembered that Decatur had been checked in his attempt to
break the blockade at the eastern end of Long Island Sound, and was
forced to take the frigates "United States" and "Macedonian," and the
sloop-of-war "Hornet," into New London Harbor. Early in December,
1813, he determined to try to slip out; and choosing a dark night,
when wind and tide were in his favor, he dropped down the bay, and was
about to put to sea, when bright blue lights blazed up on either side
of the harbor's mouth, and the plan was exposed by the treachery of
some party never detected. After this failure, the two frigates
returned up the river, where they remained until the end of the war.
The "Hornet" managed to get to sea, and did good service before peace
was declared.
In April, 1814, the British blockaders on the New England coast began
active operations by sending an expedition up the Connecticut River to
Pautopaug Point, where the invaders landed, spiked the guns of a small
battery, and destroyed twenty-two vessels. Thence they proceeded down
the river, burning a few more craft on the way, and escaped safely to
their ships; although a party of militia, and sailors and marines from
Decatur's vessels, attempted to cut them off. Shortly after this
occurrence, a fleet of American gunboats attacked the blockading
squadron off New London, and succeeded in inflicting serious damages
upon the enemy.
In June, the enemy's depredations extended to the Massachusetts coast.
The little village of Wareham was the first sufferer. A sudden descent
made by boats' crews from the frigates "Superb" and "Nimrod" so
completely surprised the inhabitants, that the enemy burned the
shipping at the wharves, set fire to a factory, and retreated before
the villagers fully comprehended the blow that had fallen upon them.
Like occurrences took place at other coastwise towns; and, in every
case, the militia proved powerless to check the enemy. All up and down
the New England coast, from Maine to the mouth of the Connecticut
River, the people were panic-stricken; and hardly a night passed
without witnessing the flames of some bonfire kindled by the British
out of American property.
[Illustration: The Descent on Wareham.]
In August, 1814, Commodore Hardy appeared off Stonington with a fleet
of several vessels, headed by the seventy-four "Ramillies." Casting
anchor near shore, he sent to the mayor and selectmen the following
curt note: "Not wishing to destroy the unoffending inhabitants
residing in the town of Stonington, one hour is granted them, from the
receipt of this, to remove out of town." This message naturally caused
great consternation; and, while messengers were sent in all directions
to call together the militia, the answer was returned to the fleet:
"We shall defend the place to the last extremity. Should it be
destroyed, we will perish in its ruins." And, having thus defied the
enemy, the farmers and fishermen who inhabited the town set about
preparing for its defence. The one battery available for service
consisted of two eighteen-pounders and a four-pounder, mounted behind
earth breastworks. The gunners were put under the command of an old
sailor, who had been impressed into the British navy, where he served
four years. The skill he thus acquired in gunnery, he now gladly used
against his former oppressors. It was near nightfall when the British
opened fire; and they kept up a constant cannonade with round shot,
bombs, Congreve rockets, and carcasses until near midnight, without
doing the slightest damage. The bursting shells, the fiery rockets,
and the carcasses filled with flaming chemicals, fairly filled the
little wooden village with fire; but the exertions of the people
prevented the spread of the flames. The fleet ceased firing at
midnight, but there was no peace for the villagers. Militia-men were
pouring in from the country round about, laborers were at work
throwing up breastwork, carriers were dashing about in search of
ammunition, and all was activity, until, with the first gleam of
daylight, the fire of the ships was re-opened. The Americans promptly
responded, and soon two eighteen-pound shot hulled the brig
"Despatch." For an hour or two a rapid fire was kept up; then, the
powder giving out, the Americans spiked their largest gun, and,
nailing a flag to the battery flagstaff, went in search of more
ammunition. The British did not land; and the Americans, finding six
kegs of powder, took the gun to a blacksmith, who drilled out the
spike, and the action continued. So vigorous and well directed was the
fire of the Americans, that the "Despatch" was forced to slip her
cables and make off to a place of safety. That afternoon a truce was
declared, which continued until eight the next morning. By that time,
the Americans had assembled in sufficient force to defeat any landing
party the enemy could send ashore. The bombardment of the town
continued; but the aim of the British was so inconceivably poor, that,
during the three days' firing, no damage was done by their shot. A
more ludicrous fiasco could hardly be imagined, and the Americans were
quick to see the comical side of the affair. Before departing, the
British fired over fifteen tons of lead and iron into the town. A
quantity of this was picked up by the Americans, and offered for sale.
In a New York paper appeared the advertisement,--
"Just received, and offered for sale, about three tons of round
shot, consisting of six, nine, twelve, eighteen, twenty-four, and
thirty-two pounds; very handsome, being a small proportion of
those which were fired from His Britannic Majesty's ships on the
unoffending inhabitants of Stonington, in the recent _brilliant_
attack on that place. Likewise a few carcasses, in good order,
weighing about two hundred pounds each. Apply," etc.
A popular bard of the time set forth in rollicking verse the exploits
of the British gunners:--
"They killed a goose, they killed a hen,
Three hogs they wounded in a pen;
They dashed away,--and pray what then?
That was not taking Stonington.
"The shells were thrown, the rockets flew;
But not a shell of all they threw--
Though every house was full in view--
Could burn a house in Stonington."
With this affair, in which the British expended ammunition to the
amount of fifty thousand dollars, and lost twenty men killed and fifty
wounded, active offensive operations along the Connecticut coast
ended. Farther north, however, the British still raided towns and
villages, showing more spirit in their attacks than did Hardy at
Stonington. Eastport, Me., was captured in July, and converted into a
veritable British colony. The inhabitants who remained in the town
were forced to take an oath of allegiance to Great Britain;
fortifications were thrown up, and an arsenal established; King
George's officials were placed in the custom-house, and thenceforward
until the end of the war the town was virtually British. Encouraged by
this success, the enemy undertook a more difficult task. A formidable
fleet of men-of-war and transports, bearing almost ten thousand
troops, was fitted out at Halifax for the purpose of reducing to
British rule all that part of Maine lying between Passamaquoddy Bay
and the Penobscot River. This expedition set sail from Halifax on the
26th of August, bound for Machias; but on the voyage down the coast of
Maine the brig "Rifleman" was encountered, and from her the presence
of the United States corvette "Adams" in the Penobscot River was
learned. It will be remembered that the "Adams," before entering the
river, had chased the British brig. Upon learning this, the British
naval commander, Admiral Griffiths, pressed forward to the mouth of
the Penobscot, and, anchoring there, despatched a land and naval
expedition up the river for the capture of the corvette.
When the news of this advancing force reached Capt. Morris, the
"Adams" was partially out of water, dismantled, and in the hands of
the ship carpenters, who were repairing the injuries she had received
on the rocks off Mount Desert. The ship herself was utterly
defenceless, but Morris made strenuous attempts to collect a land
force to defend her. He managed to rally a few hundred militia-men,
who, with the sailors and marines, were routed by the enemy on the
night of the 3d of September. Finding that the enemy's forces were not
to be driven back by so small a body of men, Morris retreated, first
setting fire to the corvette, which was totally destroyed before the
British came up.
The retreating sailors were then forced to march over rugged roads to
Portsmouth, N.H.; and, as walking was an exercise they were little
accustomed to, many suffered severely from the unusual exertion. The
difficulty of getting provisions along the road led the men to
separate into several parties; but, notwithstanding the opportunities
thus afforded for desertion, all who were not broken down by the long
march ultimately reported for duty at the Portsmouth navy-yard.
Along the Southern seaboard the course of the war was even more
disastrous to the Americans. Intelligence which reached the national
authorities in the spring of 1814 led them to believe that the British
were planning an expedition for the capture of Washington. Grave as
was the danger, the authorities were slow to move; and though in July
the Government called for fifteen thousand troops, and gave their
command to Gen. Winder, yet the actual defensive force about the
national capital consisted of but a few hundred militia. The naval
defence was intrusted to the veteran Commodore Barney, who had served
with distinction in the Revolution, and during the early years of the
second war with Great Britain had commanded the Baltimore privateer
"Rossie." The force put under Barney's command consisted of twenty-six
gunboats and barges, manned by nine hundred men. Chiefly by his own
energetic exertions, this force was ready for service in April; and by
June the crews were drilled and disciplined, and the commanders
schooled in the tactics of squadron evolutions. On the 1st of that
month occurred the first brush with the enemy. The American flotilla
was then lying in Chesapeake Bay, a little below the mouth of the
Patuxent; and, a portion of the enemy's squadron coming within range,
Barney ordered out his forces in chase. The British, outnumbered, fled
down the bay; but, though Barney was rapidly overhauling them, he saw
his hopes of victory shattered by the sudden appearance of His
Britannic Majesty's seventy-four gun ship "Dragon." Thus re-enforced,
it became the turn of the British to pursue; and the Americans
retreated, firing constantly as they fled. The British continuing
their advance, Barney was forced to take shelter in the Patuxent
River; and he was gradually forced up that stream as far as the mouth
of St. Leonard's Creek. The enemy then, feeling certain that the
Americans were fairly entrapped, anchored at the mouth of the river,
and awaited re-enforcements. These soon arrived; and on the 8th of the
month the enemy's forces, consisting of a frigate, brig, and two
schooners, moved up the river to the mouth of the creek. Farther they
could not go, owing to shoal-water; but they fitted out a small
flotilla of barges, and sent them on up the creek. With this enemy
Commodore Barney was ready to come to close quarters; and he moved
down upon the British, who quickly retreated to the shelter of their
ships. Two or three such sham attacks were made by the enemy, but not
until the 10th of the month did they actually give battle to the
Americans.
On the morning of that day the British advanced in force to the
attack; and the peaceful little creek was ablaze with flags and bright
uniforms, and the wooded shores echoed back the strains of martial
music. Twenty-one barges, one rocket-boat, and two schooners formed
the British column of attack, which moved grandly up the creek, with
the bands playing patriotic airs, and the sailors, confident of
victory, cheering lustily. Eight hundred men followed the British
colors. Against this force Barney advanced with but five hundred
sailors. His sloop and gun-vessels he left at anchor, as being too
unwieldy for the narrow shoal-waters of St. Leonard's Creek; and he
met the enemy's flotilla with but thirteen barges. The enemy opened
the action at long range with rockets and howitzers. The former were
terrible missiles in an action of this character, corresponding to the
shells of modern naval warfare. Some idea of their destructiveness may
be derived from the fact, that one of them, fired at long range,
exploded and set fire to a boat, after having first passed through the
body of one of her crew. Barney had no rockets; and, as the combat at
long range was telling upon his men, he at once dashed forward into
the midst of the enemy. Soon the barges were engaged in desperate
hand-to-hand conflicts. The sailors, grappling with their adversary's
craft, fought with pistol and cutlass across the gunwales. Barney, in
a small barge with twenty men, dashed about, now striking a blow in
aid of some overmatched American boat, then cheering on some laggard,
or applauding some deed of gallantry that occurred in his sight. Major
William Barney, son of the commodore, saw an American barge on fire,
and deserted by her crew who feared the explosion of her magazine.
Running his boat alongside, he jumped into the flaming craft; and by
dint of bailing in water, and rocking her from side to side, he
succeeded in saving the barge. For more than an hour the action raged,
both sides fighting with great vigor and gallantry; but the Americans
having pierced the British line, the enemy, falling into confusion,
turned, and strained every muscle to gain the protection of their
ship's guns. The Americans followed in hot pursuit; but their
course was abruptly checked at the mouth of the creek by a British
schooner, whose eighteen guns commanded respect. For a moment the
pursuing barges fell back; then, choosing advantageous positions, they
opened fire upon the schooner with such effect that she soon turned to
escape. She succeeded in getting under the protecting guns of the
frigate and sloop-of-war, but was so cut to pieces in the short action
that she was run aground and abandoned. The larger vessels now opened
fire upon Barney's forces; and the flotilla, after a few shots of
defiance, returned to its quarters up the creek.
[Illustration: The Battle of the Barges.]
For the next two weeks all was quiet along the shores of the Patuxent
and St. Leonard's Creek. The enemy had learned wisdom from their late
defeat, and contented themselves with blockading the mouth of the
creek, and leaving Barney undisturbed in his retreat. But the doughty
commodore had no idea of being thus confined, and during the time of
quiet made preparations for an attempt to break the blockade. Land
forces from Washington were sent down to aid in this attempt; and two
pieces of artillery were to be mounted on a hill at the mouth of the
creek, and thence throw red-hot shot into the enemy's ships. The land
forces, however, rendered not the slightest assistance; and a too
cautious colonel posted the battery at such a point that no shot could
reach the enemy without first passing through a hill. Accordingly,
when Barney led his flotilla gallantly down to the attack, he found
that the issue of the conflict rested upon the sailors alone. From the
battery, which was expected to draw the enemy's fire, not a single
effective shot was fired. The sailors fought nobly, using their heavy
long twelves and eighteens with great effect. But they were sadly
hampered by their position; for the mouth of the creek was so narrow
that but eight barges could lie abreast, and the others coming down
from above soon packed the little stream from shore to shore, giving
the enemy a mark that the poorest gunner could hardly miss. Against
the storm of grape and canister that the British poured upon them, the
sailors had absolutely no protection. The barges were without
bulwarks, and the blue-jackets at the guns and at the oars were
exposed to the full force of the British fire. Yet in this exposed
situation the gallant fellows kept up the fight for nearly an hour,
only withdrawing when the last ray of hope for help from the shore
battery had vanished. Shortly after the Americans abandoned the
attack, the blockading squadron got under way and stood down the bay.
From the way in which one of the frigates was working her pumps, the
Americans saw that their fire had not been entirely without effect.
Barney's flotilla had now given the British so much trouble that they
determined to destroy it without delay; and an expedition of more than
five thousand men--composed of regulars, marines, and a few
negroes--was carried up the Patuxent, and landed at Benedict, where an
armed brig had been stationed to cover the disembarkation. It was
early dawn when the signal to land was given, and the river was
covered in an instant with a well-manned and warlike flotilla. It was
hard work for the British sailors, for a strong current was running;
but by three o'clock in the afternoon the whole army was landed, and
encamped in a strong position on a hill overlooking the village.
Though no American troops were anywhere in the vicinity, the landing
was conducted with the utmost caution. As the prow of each boat grated
on the sand, the soldiers leaped on the beach, and instantly drew up
in line, ready to repel any attack. After the infantry was landed,
about a hundred artillerymen followed, and the same number of sailors
dragging howitzers.
It is easily understood that this powerful force was not organized
solely to destroy Barney's pitiful little flotilla. The real purpose
of the British commander was to press on into the interior, and
capture Washington, which the Americans had foolishly left without any
defences whatever. It came to Barney's ears that Admiral Cockburn had
boasted that he would destroy the American flotilla, and dine in
Washington the following Sunday. This news the American commodore sent
off to the authorities at the capital, and they then began to make
futile preparations to repel the invader. In the mean time the British
commenced their march up the shores of the Patuxent, meeting with no
opposition. Barney, knowing that the defence of the national capital
was of far greater importance than the fate of his flotilla, landed
with four hundred men, and hastened to the American lines before
Washington. He left the barges under the command of the second
lieutenant, Mr. Frazier, with instructions to set fire to every boat
on the appearance of the enemy, and then join the commodore with all
the men left under his charge. Accordingly, when the invading column
reached Nottingham, Mr. Frazier took the flotilla still higher up the
creek,--a move that vastly disconcerted the British, who saw their
prey eluding them. "But in the main object of our pursuit we were
disappointed," wrote a British officer. "The flotilla which had been
stationed opposite to Nottingham retired, on our approach, higher up
the stream; and we were consequently in the situation of a huntsman
who sees his hounds at fault, and has every reason to apprehend that
his game will escape." But the game never fell into the hands of the
ardent hunters; for the next day Mr. Frazier fulfilled his orders by
setting fire to every barge, and, after seeing several of the larger
boats blow up, mustered his men, and cut across the country, to join
his superior officer. The British naval forces soon after reached Pig
Point, the scene of this destruction, and there remained; while the
land forces immediately turned away from the river, and marched upon
Washington.
[Illustration: Sharp-Shooters.]
It is not necessary to give in detail the incidents of the series of
skirmishes by which the British fought their way to the American
capital. They were opposed by raw militia, and the few sailors and
marines under Barney. The former fled with promptitude at the very
first fire, but the sailors and marines fought gallantly. The fighting
was sharpest at Bladensburg; and here Barney's blue-jackets won praise
from everybody, even from the enemy whose advance they disputed.
Barney himself led the Americans, and sighted a favorite gun of the
sailors' battery, until he fell desperately wounded. This battery
commanded the road by which the main column of British advanced; and
by its hail of grape and canister it beat back the advancing
regiments, and for some time checked their further progress. The
British thereupon opened with rockets, and sent out sharp-shooters to
pick off the Yankee gunners. One of these riflemen was observed by the
Americans to deliberately build for himself a small redoubt of stones
from an old wall; and, lying down behind it, he began a deliberate
fire upon the Americans. His first bullet went through the cap of one
of the sailors, and the second sent a poor fellow to his long account.
The marines answered with their muskets; but the fellow's stone
rampart saved him, and he continued his fire. Barney vowed to put an
end to that affair, and, carefully sighting one of his cannon, pulled
the lanyard. The heavy round shot was seen to strike the
sharp-shooter's defence, and stones and man disappeared in a cloud of
dust. Meantime, the enemy had thrown out flanking parties under cover
of the woods, and had nearly surrounded the little band of sailors. A
musket-ball struck Barney in the thigh, and he began to grow faint
with loss of blood; and, finding that the militia had fled, and the
sailors were becoming exhausted, the commodore ordered a retreat. The
blue-jackets left the field in good order; but their gallant commander
had gone but a few steps, when the pain of his wound forced him to lie
down under a tree, and await the coming of the enemy. The British soon
came up, led by Gen. Ross and Capt. Wainwright of the navy. After
learning Barney's rank, and courteously offering to secure surgical
aid, the general turned to his companion, and, speaking of the
stubborn resistance made by the battery, said, "I told you it was the
flotilla men."--"Yes. You were right, though I could not believe you,"
was the response. "They have given us the only fighting we have had."
Meanwhile, the British, having routed the Americans at every point,
pressed on to Washington. The inhabitants fled before them, and the
town was almost deserted when the British marched in with banners
flying and bands playing. The enemy held the city for only a day; but
in that time they did such deeds of vandalism, that even the people
and the press of London cried out in indignation. The President's
house, the Capitol, all the public buildings except the Patent
Office, were burned to the ground. The navy-yard, with the uncompleted
ships on the stocks, was likewise burned; but in this the enemy only
acted in accordance with the rules of war. It was their destruction of
the public buildings, the national archives, and the Congressional
library, that aroused the wrathful indignation of all fair-minded
people, whether Americans or Europeans. "Willingly," said one London
newspaper, "would we throw a veil of oblivion over our transactions at
Washington. The Cossacks spared Paris, but we spared not the capital
of America." A second English journal fitly denounced the proceedings
as "a return to the times of barbarism."
[Illustration: The March on Washington.]
But, if the invaders are rightly to be blamed for the useless
vandalism they encouraged, the American authorities are still more
culpable for their neglect of the most ordinary precautions of war.
That a national capital, close to the sea, should be left virtually
unprotected while the enemy was massing his forces only a few miles
away, seems almost unbelievable. But so it was with Washington; for
five hundred flotilla men were forced to bear the brunt of the attack
of five thousand British. True it is that the military authorities had
massed seven thousand militia-men for the defence of the city; but
such was the trepidation of these untrained soldiers, that they fled
before the main body of the British had come into the fight. That the
sailors and marines fought bravely, we have the testimony of the
British themselves. Mr. Gleig, a subaltern in the attacking army,
writes, "Of the sailors, however, it would be injustice not to speak
in the terms which their conduct merits. They were employed as
gunners; and not only did they serve their guns with a quickness and
precision which astonished their assailants, but they stood till some
of them were actually bayonneted with fuses in their hands; nor was it
till their leader was wounded and taken, and they saw themselves
deserted on all sides by the soldiers, that they quitted the field."
Therefore, in the battle of Bladensburg, the blue-jackets won nothing
but honor, though the results of the battle were so mortifying to the
national pride of the people of the United States.
On the 25th of August the British left the smoking ruins of Washington
behind them, and made for their fleet lying in the Patuxent. They
feared that the outraged nation would rise upon them, and turn their
march into a bloody retreat, like that of the British soldiery from
the historic field of Lexington. Accordingly their departure was by
night, immediately after a furious storm of rain and wind. Strict
orders were issued to all the Americans in Washington, warning them,
under penalty of death, not to leave their houses until the sun rose
the next morning. Then the British stealthily marched out of the town.
"No man spoke above his breath," says subaltern Gleig. "Our very steps
were planted lightly, and we cleared the town without exciting
observation." A two days' march brought them to Benedict, where the
fleet lay in waiting for their reception.
[Illustration: The Burning of Washington.]
In the mean time, a portion of the British fleet had ascended the
Potomac as far as Alexandria, and, finding that town defenceless,
proceeded to dictate to the inhabitants the terms upon which they
could save their village from desolation. The British demanded that
all naval stores and ordnance, all the shipping and its furniture, all
merchandise, and all provisions in the town should be surrendered.
Several vessels had been scuttled, to prevent their falling into the
hands of the enemy; these, the British demanded, should be raised,
repaired, and delivered to them Time, however, did not permit the
fulfilment of this condition; but to the others, harsh and humiliating
though they were, the inhabitants were forced to accede. Heavy laden
with the spoils of the village, the pillagers weighed anchor and
started down the Potomac. But they were not destined to carry away
their booty unmolested. News of the expedition reached Baltimore, and
a large party of the sailors at the navy-yard were sent to the banks
of the Potomac to cut off the enemy's retreat. They were officered by
four men famous in American naval annals,--Perry, Rodgers, Porter, and
Creighton. At Indian Head, just below Mount Vernon, the Potomac River
narrows and flows swiftly between densely wooded bluffs. At this point
the Americans threw up redoubts, and, mounting all the cannon that
could be gathered on such short notice, prepared to dispute the
enemy's passage. When the British fleet hove in sight, they were
greeted with a storm of shot from the unsuspected batteries; and they
recoiled in confusion. Practised American hunters lined the woody
shores, and picked off the British sailors with musket-balls. For some
time the fleet was thus checked in its progress. Finally the admiral
determined that only by a bold dash could he escape; and accordingly,
massing his vessels and concentrating his fire on the chief battery,
he dashed past, and rejoined his superior officer, Cockburn, not
without paying dearly for his exploit at Alexandria.
While the British were thus devastating the shores of Chesapeake Bay,
they cast more than one longing look toward the thriving city of
Baltimore, which, by its violent patriotism, had done much to urge on
the war. From the shipyards of Baltimore came more than one stout
naval vessel that had forced the enemy to haul down his colors. But
that which more than any thing else aroused the hatred of the British
was the share Baltimore took in fitting out and manning those swift
privateers, concerning whose depredations upon British commerce we
shall have something to say in a later chapter. "It is a doomed town,"
said Vice-admiral Warren. "The truculent inhabitants of Baltimore must
be tamed with the weapons which shook the wooden turrets of
Copenhagen," cried the editor of a great London paper. But,
nevertheless, Baltimore did not fall before the invader, although for
some time the army and navy of the enemy were united in the attempt to
bring desolation upon the obnoxious city.
[Illustration: Planning the Attack.]
After the fall of Washington, the depredations of the British along
the shores of Chesapeake Bay redoubled, and the marauding expeditions
thus employed were really feelers thrown out to test the strength of
the defenses of Baltimore. That the marauders found some opposition,
is evident from a passage in the journal of a British officer. "But
these hasty excursions, though generally successful, were not always
performed without loss to the invaders." On one of these expeditions,
Sir Peter Parker, captain of the frigate "Menelaus," lost his life. He
had been ordered down to the mouth of the bay just after the fall of
Washington. "I must first have a frolic with the Yankees," said he.
And accordingly, after a jovial dinner aboard his frigate, he led a
night expedition of sailors and marines ashore, expecting to surprise
a small body of Maryland militia stationed at Moorfields. Sir Peter's
frolic turned out disastrously; for the Marylanders were on the watch,
and received the invaders with a fierce volley. Sir Peter was
gallantly cheering on his men, when a musket-ball cut the main artery
in his thigh. "They have hit me, Pearce," he said faintly to his
lieutenant; "but it's nothing. Push on, my brave boys, and follow me."
But even thus cheering, he fell back, the words died away in his
throat, and he bled to death before a surgeon could be found. It is
but right to say, that, though he sailed in Cockburn's command, he had
none of the cruel brutality which his admiral too often showed.
On the 12th of September a more serious assault was made upon
Baltimore. The British naval and military forces united in the attack,
which was made by land and sea. A force of nine thousand men,
including two thousand marines and two thousand sailors, was landed
fifteen miles from Baltimore, and under the command of Gen. Ross and
Admiral Cockburn marched gayly inland, never doubting that they would
find the Americans unprepared, and repeat their exploits at
Washington. In this expectation they were sadly disappointed; for the
Maryland militia, aided by a few regulars and seamen, outfought the
British at every point, and checked their farther advance. Among the
slain was Gen. Ross, who was shot down as he was leading the advance
of the British skirmishers. In the mean time, the British fleet had
been taking its share in the engagement by attempting to reduce Fort
McHenry. A large flotilla of frigates, schooners, sloops, and
bomb-ketches entered the Patapsco River on the morning of the 12th,
and, casting anchor out of the reach of the fort's guns, opened a
furious fire. The fort was manned by militia-men and a large
detachment of the gallant sailors from Barney's flotilla. When the
continual falling of shells within the fort told that the enemy had
come within range, the guns of Fort McHenry opened in response. But,
to the intense chagrin of the Americans, it was found that their works
mounted not a single gun that would carry to the enemy's fleet. There
then remained to the garrison only the trying duty of holding their
post, and enduring without response a galling fire from the enemy. All
the garrison stood to the guns without flinching; while the shrieking
shells fell on all sides, and, exploding, scattered deadly missiles in
all directions. One shell struck and dismounted one of the
twenty-four-pounders, killing and wounding several of its men. Admiral
Cochrane, who commanded the attacking fleet, saw this incident, and
ordered three of his bomb-vessels to move up nearer to the fort. This
gave the Americans the opportunity for which they had been longing,
and instantly every gun in the fort opened upon the three luckless
ketches. Half an hour of this fire sufficed to drive the three vessels
back to their original station.
Night fell, but brought no cessation of the bombardment. But the
enemy, while never slackening his fire, had determined to take
advantage of the darkness to send out a landing party to take two
small batteries on the banks of the Patapsco, and then assault Fort
McHenry from the rear. Twelve hundred and fifty men, with
scaling-ladders and fascines, left the fleet in barges, and moved up
the Patapsco towards Fort Covington and the City Battery. But their
plan, though well laid, was defeated by the vigilance and courage of
the garrisons of the two threatened positions,--sailors all, and many
of them men from Barney's flotilla, a training-school which seems to
have given to the region about Chesapeake Bay its most gallant
defenders. Just as the storming party turned the prows of the barges
towards the shore, they were discovered; and from McHenry, Covington,
and the City Battery burst a thunderous artillery-fire, that shook the
houses in Baltimore, and illumined the dark shores of the river with a
lurid glare. Bold as the British sailors were, they could advance no
farther under so terrible a fire. Two of the barges were shot to
pieces, leaving their crews struggling in the water. A ceaseless hail
of grape and canister spread death and wounds broadcast among the
enemy; and, after wavering a moment, they turned and fled to their
ships. Cochrane, seeing his plan for taking the American positions by
assault thus frustrated, redoubled the fury of his fire; hoping that,
when daybreak made visible the distant shore, nothing but a heap of
ruins should mark the spot where Fort McHenry stood the night before.
A night bombardment is at once a beautiful and a terrible spectacle.
The ceaseless flashing of the great guns, lighting up with a lurid
glare the dense clouds of smoke that hang over the scene of battle;
the roar of the artillery; the shriek of the shell as it leaves the
cannon's mouth, slowly dying into a murmur and a dull explosion, as,
with a flash of fire, the missile explodes far away,--combine to form
a picture, that, despite the horrors of wounds and death, rouses the
enthusiasm and admiration of the beholder. When viewed from the deck
of one of an attacking fleet, the scene is even more impressive. At
each discharge of the great guns, the vessel reels and trembles like a
huge animal in agony. The surging waters alongside reflect in their
black depths the flash of the cannon and the fiery trail of the flying
shell. Far in the distance can be seen the flashes of the enemy's
guns, each of which may mean the despatch of a missile bringing death
and pain in its track. One who has witnessed such a spectacle can
readily understand the fascination which men find in the great game of
war.
[Illustration: The Star Spangled Banner.]
Pacing the deck of the one of the British vessels was a young
American, whose temperament was such that he could fully appreciate
all the beauties of the scene, even though harassed by anxious fears
lest the British should be successful. This man was Francis S. Key,
who had visited the fleet with a flag of truce, but was unable to get
away before the bombardment began. When the sun set on the evening of
the 13th, Key saw his country's flag waving proudly over the ramparts
at which the British guns had been so furiously pounding. Would that
flag still be there when the sun should rise again? That was the
question which Key asked himself as he anxiously walked the deck
throughout the night, striving to pierce the darkness, and make out,
by the lurid lightnings of the cannon, whether the flag was still
there. As the night wore on, Key took an old letter from his pocket,
and on the blank sheet jotted down the lines of the immortal national
song, "The Star Spangled Banner." Its words merely voice the writer's
thoughts; for often during that night he looked anxiously shorewards,
to see if
"the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof, through the night, that our flag was still there."
When the anxiously awaited daylight came, Fort McHenry still stood;
and over it waved defiantly the starry folds of the United States
flag. The British saw that, by land and sea, their attack had failed;
and early in the morning the fleet, after taking on board the remnant
of the land forces, sailed suddenly away, and left Baltimore safe.
They had bombarded Fort McHenry for twenty-five hours, throwing nearly
two thousand shells. Yet, wonderful as it may appear, only four of the
Americans were killed, and twenty-four wounded. With this failure the
British ended their chief offensive operations along the shores of the
Chesapeake. The greater part of the fleet and the soldiery then moved
southward, to take part in the operations along the Gulf coast, that
culminated in the disastrous defeat of the invaders at New Orleans.
CHAPTER XVI.
DESULTORY HOSTILITIES ON THE OCEAN. -- ATTACK UPON FORT BOWYER.
-- LAFITTE THE PIRATE. -- BRITISH EXPEDITION AGAINST NEW ORLEANS.
-- BATTLE AT THE RIGOLETS. -- ATTACK ON NEW ORLEANS, AND DEFEAT
OF THE BRITISH. -- WORK OF THE BLUE-JACKETS. -- CAPTURE OF THE
FRIGATE "PRESIDENT." -- THE "CONSTITUTION" TAKES THE "CYANE" AND
"LEVANT." -- THE "HORNET" TAKES THE "PENGUIN." -- END OF THE WAR.
The naval incidents of the latter part of 1814 conferred little honor
upon either of the belligerents. Seldom did the meetings between
hostile ships rise to the dignity of battles. One or two small
American brigs fell a prey to British frigates; but in every instance
the disparity of force was so great that the weaker surrendered
without striking a blow. Such was the case with the sixteen-gun brig
"Rattlesnake," which escaped from one British frigate by throwing
overboard all her guns, only to immediately fall a prey to the
"Leander." In July of the same year, the United States brig "Siren"
was captured by the British frigate "Medway," off the coast of Africa,
after a long chase, during which the American hove overboard every
thing movable on the brig. Not all these petty encounters ended so
favorably for the enemy. Off New York a cutting-out party of
volunteers surprised and captured the British tender "Eagle," a small
craft carrying one thirty-two-pound howitzer, and fourteen men. Ten
days later, the frigate "Tenedos," which had done such good service on
the blockade, suffered the loss of her tender, which was gallantly
carried away by the crew of a Yankee gunboat. Some very desperate
combats between American privateers and British naval vessels were
fought about this time, and will be duly noted in detail in the
chapter treating of the exploits of the private armed navy.
As the autumn came on, the British naval forces began to rendezvous in
the Gulf of Mexico, preparatory to the campaign before New Orleans. On
Sept. 14, a squadron of four British sloops-of-war appeared off
Mobile, and opened fire upon Fort Bowyer, which guarded the entrance
to Mobile Bay. The attack was vigorous, and the defence determined. A
British land expedition moved upon the fort from the landward side;
and the little garrison found itself surrounded by enemies, many of
whom were Indians, whose savage assistance the British had accepted
from the very opening of the war. A small force, only, defended the
fort. Percy, the British admiral, knew the weakness of the garrison;
and, thinking of the ninety-two guns he could bring to bear against
the twenty worked by the Americans, announced proudly, that he would
give the garrison just twenty minutes to surrender. The twenty minutes
passed quickly, and still the fort responded savagely to the fire of
its assailants. The flag of the British ship "Hermes" was shot away;
and soon after, a round shot cut her cable, and she drifted upon a
sand-bank, and lay helpless, and exposed to a raking fire. Her
captain, having set her afire, abandoned her; and she soon blew up.
The other vessels kept up the attack gallantly for a time. The
flagstaff of the fort was shot away; but the flag soon re-appeared,
waving from a sponge-staff. The Americans then redoubled their fire,
which soon told so severely upon the British ships that they were
forced to withdraw. In the mean time, the assault of the Indians and
troops had been checked, and the forces driven back in disorder, thus
leaving the victory to the Americans.
It is not within the province of this work to treat of the military
operations that led up to the battle of New Orleans. But the last
months of 1814 witnessed a series of naval incidents trivial in
themselves, but deriving importance from their connection with Gen.
Jackson's great victory. Over certain incidents in the preparations of
the Americans for repelling the invasion hangs a shade of romance.
To the southward of the quaint, rambling, rose-covered city of New
Orleans, the tawny flood of the Mississippi winds towards the gulf in
huge serpentine curves. The shores between which it flows rise scarce
higher than the surface of the river itself; and a slight increase in
the volume of water, or a strong wind, will serve to turn the whole
region into a great, watery marsh. From the mouth of the great river,
the whole coast of Louisiana, extending north and west, is a grassy
sea, a vast expanse of marsh-grass, broken here and there by inlets of
the Mexican Gulf, and sluggish, winding bayous that lead up into the
higher lands of the State,--waterways that lead even to the back door
of the Crescent City herself, but known only to oyster-gatherers, or
in 1814 to the adventurous men who followed the banner of Lafitte the
Baratarian pirate.
Pirate he was called then; but it is doubtful whether his misdeeds
ever exceeded smuggling, or, at worst, privateering under the
protecting flag of some belligerent nation. When all nations were
warring, what was easier than for a few gallant fellows, with
swift-sailing feluccas, to lurk about the shores of the gulf, and now
under the Spanish flag, now under the French, or any colors which
suited the case, sally out and capture the richly laden Indiamen that
frequented those summer seas? And when a power known as the United
States Government, that had its quarters more than a thousand miles
from the country of the Creoles, passed an outrageous law known as the
embargo, what was more natural than that the Baratarians, knowing the
mysterious waterways that led up to the Crescent City, should utilize
their knowledge to take ships and cargoes in and out without the
formality of a custom-house examination? Such were the times that led
to the formation and growth of the "piratical" colony of Barataria.
Its leaders and rulers were John and Pierre Lafitte; one of whom lived
in New Orleans in the character of a prosperous merchant, while the
other led the expeditions which brought in merchandise to stock the
former's stores. Under the influence of the warlike state of Europe,
the trade of these worthies throve, and their settlement at Grande
Isle took on the appearance of a prosperous colony and naval station.
Storehouses and dwellings stood close to the sea. The fertile face of
the island was cut up into fruitful plantations and orange-groves.
Breastworks, well dotted with the muzzles of cannon, commanded the
approach by sea. More than once, from behind those ramparts, the
Baratarians had proved that they could fight, and that they
acknowledged the authority of no flag. The Creoles of New Orleans
looked indulgently upon the conduct of the outlaws; but the few
Americans in the city were highly incensed to see the authority of the
United States thus set aside, and vowed that when the war was over the
audacious adventurers should be crushed. However, the end came even
sooner.
On the 3d of September, a British armed brig anchored near the
buccaneers' retreat, and sent a flag of truce ashore. Lafitte, with
great dignity, received the envoys in his tent, and assured them of
his protection, though the whole village was up in arms clamoring for
the death of the intruders. The British officer then announced that he
had come to secure the aid of Lafitte and his followers in the
campaign against New Orleans. He offered the pirate captain
forgiveness for all piracies committed against the British
flag,--whereat the chief smiled sardonically,--also thirty thousand
dollars in cash, a captain's commission in the British navy, and lands
for himself and his followers. It was a tempting bribe; for at that
moment Lafitte's brother lay in the _calaboza_ at New Orleans awaiting
trial for piracy, and the Americans were preparing rapidly for a
descent upon the Baratarian stronghold. But, little as he liked the
American flag, Lafitte liked the British still less: so, asking the
Englishman to wait a few days for his answer, he sent a report of the
occurrence to the New Orleans authorities, and offered to co-operate
with the Americans, if he could be assured of pardon for all offences
committed against the government. This document caused some hesitation
at New Orleans; but the military authorities determined to refuse the
offer, and break up the outlaws' nest. Accordingly, a few days later,
the war schooner "Carolina," six gunboats, a tender, and a launch,
dropped down the Mississippi, and, rounding into the deep blue waters
of the gulf, headed for Barataria. Lafitte had too many friends in New
Orleans not to know of the force thus sent against him; and, when the
Americans reached Grande Terre, they found the pirates at their
batteries, and the Baratarian flotilla drawn up in order of battle.
The contest was sharp, but ended in the rout of the Baratarians. Their
village was burned, their fortifications razed; and, when the
triumphant Americans returned to New Orleans, they brought in their
train ten armed prizes and a number of prisoners, although Lafitte was
not to be found among the latter. Thereafter, the Baratarians, as an
organization, vanished from history. Lafitte was afterwards
occasionally heard of as a desperado on the more western shores of the
Mexican Gulf; and it is further noticeable, that two guns were served
by Baratarians under their old lieutenant, Dominique Yon, on that
bloody day when Packenham's forces were beaten back on the field of
Chalmette.
Early in December the movement of the British upon New Orleans took
definite shape. On the 8th of that month, the calm waters of the Gulf
of Mexico, off the Chandeleur Islands, were the scene of a grand
rendezvous of British naval and military forces. All the vessels of
Cockburn's Chesapeake fleet were there, with other men-of-war,
transports, and schooners, to the number of fifty vessels. At the head
was the towering two-decker "Tonnant," carrying the Admiral's flag.
Frigates, corvettes, and sloops-of-war came trooping in the rear; and
the transports bore seven thousand men for the capture of the Southern
city. The British were in high good-humor as the anchors were let fall
and the ships swung round with their heads to the tide. The voyage
across the gulf from the rendezvous at Jamaica had been like a holiday
trip. The weather had been fine, and the sea smooth; and the soft air
of that semi-tropical region was a never-ending source of delight to
sailors who had been suffering the hardships of a Northern station.
The point at which the British fleet had come to anchor lay about
fifty miles due east of New Orleans. In that day of sailing-vessels,
no enemy could breast the waters of the rolling Mississippi and crush
the resistance of the city's defenders, as did Farragut in 1862.
Knowing that they could not hope to take their ships up to the levee
of the city, the enemy determined to cast anchor near the entrance of
Lake Borgne, and send through a chain of lakes and bayous a mammoth
expedition in barges, to a point within ten miles of the city. But
this well-laid plan had been betrayed to the Americans by Lafitte; and
a little band of American sailors, under the command of Lieut. Catesby
Jones, had taken up a position at the Rigolets, and were prepared to
dispute the farther progress of the invading forces. Five gunboats,
and one hundred and eighty-five men, constituted the American force,
which for a time held the British in check. Finally, the enemy,
finding that the swift American cutters could easily evade the
lumbering war-vessels, fitted out a fleet of forty-five barges, manned
by a thousand veteran British sea-dogs, who had seen service in half
a dozen naval wars. The Americans had news of the contemplated attack,
and made skilful preparations to meet it. The gunboats were moored in
a fore and aft line, at a point near the Rigolets. Their broadsides
bore upon the enemy, and the shallowness of the water was such that by
no means could they be surrounded. The sailors were prepared for a
desperate conflict, and spent the night before the battle in tricing
up the boarding-nettings, sharpening cutlasses, and getting small-arms
in good trim. In the morning the British came on to the attack. It was
a long pull from the fleet to the place of battle: so their commander
brought his flotilla to anchor just out of range of the American guns;
and there the grim old veterans devoured their dinners, and took their
rations of grog, with appetites undisturbed by the thought of the
coming conflict. Dinner over, the enemy weighed anchor, and dashed
forward, with long, swift strokes, into the very flashes of the
Americans' cannon. The Americans knew that their one chance of victory
was to keep the overwhelming forces of their foe out of boarding
distance, and they worked their guns with a rapidity born of
desperation. Musket-bullets, grape-shot, and canister poured in a
murderous fire upon the advancing boats. But the sturdy old British
veterans knew that the best way to stop that fire was to get at the
base of it; and they pressed on undauntedly, responding vigorously,
meanwhile, with their bow guns. Soon they were up to the gunwales of
the American flotilla, and the grappling-irons were fixed; then, with
sharp blows of cutlasses, deadly play of the pikes, and a ceaseless
rattle of small-arms, they poured upon the decks of the Americans. The
boarding-nettings could not long check so furious a foe, and fell
before the fierce slash of the cutlasses. The decks once gained, the
overpowering numbers of the Englishmen crushed all further resistance;
and the flotilla was finally taken, after about one hundred of the
enemy and fifty Americans had fallen.
The American flotilla being thus shattered, there remained no further
obstacle to prevent the landing of the invading army. Of the advance
of that brilliant body of veteran troops over sands and marshes, and
through sluggish bayous and canals half-full of stagnant water, until
they emerged on the bank of the river, nine miles below New Orleans,
it is not my purpose to speak further. Nor does an account of Gen.
Jackson's vigorous measures of defence and glorious victory come
within the province of this narrative. The interesting story of
Jackson's creation of an army from leather-shirted Kentucky riflemen,
gay Creoles from the Creole Quarter of the Crescent City, swarthy
Spaniards and mulattoes, nondescript desperadoes from the old band of
Lafitte, and militia and regulars from all the Southern States, forms
no part of the naval annals of the war. It is enough to say that the
flower of the British army, led by a veteran of the Peninsula,
recoiled before that motley crew of untrained soldiers, and were
beaten back, leaving their gallant leader and thousands of their brave
men dead upon the field. The navy was not without some share in this
glorious triumph. On the 23d of December the schooner "Carolina"
dropped down from New Orleans, and opened fire upon the enemy. "Now,
then, for the honor of America, give it to them!" sung out her
commander, as the first broadside was fired. The attack, unexpected as
it was, created a panic in the British camp. A feeble reply was made
with rockets and musketry; but even this was soon discontinued, and
the enemy took refuge under the steep bank of the levee, whither the
plunging shot could not follow them. All night the "Carolina" kept up
her fire; and, when at daybreak she moved away, she left the camp of
the enemy in confusion. During the day she renewed the attack, and
persisted in her fire until the British threw up a heavy battery on
the river's bank, and replied. The lads of the "Carolina" promptly
accepted the challenge thus offered, and for a time a spirited combat
was maintained. But the battery threw red-hot shot, and the schooner
was soon set on fire and destroyed. Meanwhile the corvette "Louisiana"
had come down to the scene of action, and in the subsequent
engagements did some effective work. When the final onslaught of the
British was made, on Jan. 7, 1815, the guns of the "Louisiana" were
mounted on the opposite bank of the river, and the practised sailors
worked them with deadly effect, until the flight of the American
militia on that side exposed the battery to certain capture. The
sailors then spiked their guns, and marched off unmolested. The
sailors of the "Carolina," on that day of desperate fighting, were in
the centre of Jackson's line, between the Creoles and the swarthy
Baratarians under Dominique Yon. Here they worked their howitzers, and
watched the scarlet lines of the enemy advance and melt away before
that deadly blaze; advance and fall back again in hopeless rout. And
among the many classes of fighting men whom Jackson had rallied before
that British line, none did battle more valiantly for the honor of
the nation and the safety of the flowery city of New Orleans than did
those blue-jackets ashore.
It is a fitting commentary upon the folly of war, that the battle of
New Orleans was fought after the two warring nations had signed a
treaty of peace. The lives of some hundreds of brave Englishmen and
Americans were needlessly sacrificed in a cause already decided. Far
across the Atlantic Ocean, in the quaint old Dutch city of Ghent,
representatives of England and the United States met, and, after some
debate, signed the treaty on the 24th of December, 1814. But there was
then no Atlantic cable, no "ocean greyhounds" to annihilate space and
time; and it was months before the news of the treaty reached the
scene of war. In the mean time, the hostilities were continued by land
and sea.
The year 1815 found the American navy largely increased by new
vessels, though the vigilance of the British blockaders kept most of
these close in port. The "Constitution" was at sea, having run the
blockade at Boston. In New York Harbor were the "President,"
"Peacock," "Hornet," and "Tom Bowline," awaiting a chance to slip out
for a cruise to the East Indies. It was decided that the vessels
should run out singly, and the "President" was selected to make the
first attempt. The night of the 14th of January was dark and foggy,
and the blockading fleet was nowhere to be seen. Then, if ever, was
the time for escape; and the Yankee tars weighed anchor and started
out through the Narrows. In the impenetrable darkness of the night,
baffled by head-winds and perplexing currents, the pilots lost their
reckoning, and the orders to the man at the wheel were quick and
nervous, until an ominous grating of the ship's keel, followed by the
loss of headway, told that the frigate was aground. For a time the
ship lay helpless, straining all her timbers as each wave lifted her
slightly, and then let the heavy hull fall back upon the shoal. By ten
o'clock the rising tide floated her off; but, on examination, Capt.
Decatur found that she was seriously injured. To return to port was
impossible with the wind then blowing: so all sail was crowded on, in
the hopes of getting safely away before the blockading squadron should
catch sight of the ship. As luck would have it, the blockaders had
been forced from their posts by the gale of the day before, and the
"President" had laid her course so as to infallibly fall into their
clutches. Before daylight the lookout reported two sail in sight, and
at daybreak the ship was fairly surrounded by the enemy's vessels. All
at once gave chase to the luckless American; and a few hours were
enough to show that her sailing qualities were so seriously injured by
her pounding on the bar, that the enemy was rapidly overhauling her.
Decatur adopted every known expedient to increase his ship's speed,
but to no avail. After she had been lightened by starting the water,
cutting away boats and anchors, chopping up and heaving overboard the
ponderous cables, together with spars and provisions, the enemy still
gained; and the foremost pursuer, a razee, opened fire. The
"President" responded with her stern-chasers, but her shot had no
effect. "It is said that on this occasion," writes Cooper, "the shot
of the American ship were observed to be thrown with a momentum so
unusually small, as to have since excited much distrust of the quality
of her gunpowder. It is even added, that many of these shot were
distinctly seen, when clear of the smoke, until they struck." At six
o'clock in the evening, the frigate "Endymion" led the British
squadron in chase, and had gained a position so close upon the
American's beam that her broadsides were rapidly crippling the
fugitive. Thereupon Decatur determined upon a desperate expedient,
that sounds like some of his reckless exploits in the war with
Tripoli. His plan was to bring the "President" about, and run boldly
alongside the enemy. Every thing was to be sacrificed to the end of
getting to close quarters. When once the two ships had grappled, the
Americans were to board, carry the British ship in a hand-to-hand
battle, and then, abandoning the crippled "President," escape in the
captured frigate. So desperate a plan needed the cordial co-operation
of every man: so it was first presented to the commissioned officers,
who gladly embraced the desperate project. The sailors were then sent
aft, and Decatur addressed them from the quarter-deck.
"My lads," said he, "that ship is coming up with us. As our ship won't
sail, we'll go on board of theirs, every man and boy of us, and carry
her into New York. All I ask of you is to follow me. This is a
favorite ship of the country. If we allow her to be taken, we shall be
deserted by our wives and sweethearts. What, let such a ship as this
go for nothing! 'Twould break the heart of every pretty girl in New
York."
[Illustration: "President" and "Endymion."]
With hearty cheers, the jackies returned to their guns. All were ready
for the coming struggle. Over the main hatch was mounted a howitzer,
with its black muzzle peering down into the hold, ready to scuttle the
ship when the boarders should spring upon the enemy's deck. The sun,
by this time, had sunk below the horizon, and the darkness of night
was gathering over the ocean. The two ships surged toward each
other,--great black masses, lighted up on either side by rows of open
ports, through which gleamed the uncertain light of the
battle-lanterns. On the gun-deck the men stood stern and silent; their
thoughts fixed upon the coming battle, or perhaps wandering back to
the green fields and pleasant homes they had so recently left, perhaps
forever. The gray old yeoman of the frigate, with his mates, walked
from gun to gun, silently placing a well-sharpened cutlass, a dirk,
and a heavy leather boarding-cap at each man's side. The marines were
drawn up in a line amidships; their erect, soldierly air and rigid
alignment contrasting with the careless slouchiness of the sailors.
Butts for the sailors' ridicule as they were during a cruise, the
marines knew that, in hand-to-hand conflicts, their part was as
dashing as that of their tormentors of the forecastle.
When the "President" had come within a quarter of a mile of her
adversary, Decatur perceived that his enemy was determined to decide
the contest at long range. As the "President" hauled down nearer, the
"Endymion" sheered off, keeping up meanwhile a vigorous cannonade. To
this the Americans responded in kind; and so much superior was the
gunnery of the Yankee tars, that the rigging of the enemy was seen to
be fast going to pieces, while her guns were being silenced one by
one. But her fire did sad havoc among the men of the "President," and
particularly among the officers. The first broadside carried away
Decatur's first lieutenant, Mr. Babbitt, who was struck by a
thirty-two-pound shot, which cut off his right leg below the knee, and
hurled him through the wardroom hatch to the deck below, fracturing
his wounded leg in two places. Shortly after, Decatur was knocked to
the deck by a heavy splinter. For some time he lay unconscious; then
opening his eyes, and seeing a throng of anxious seamen about him, he
ordered them to their stations, and resumed his duties. The fire of
the "Endymion" then slackened; and she lay upon the water, with her
sails cut from the yards. At that moment Lieut. Howell turned to a
midshipman standing at his side, and said gayly, "Well, we have
whipped that ship, at any rate." A flash from the bow of the
Englishman followed; and he added, "No: there she is again." The
midshipman turned to reply, and saw Howell stretched dead at his feet,
killed by the last shot of the battle.
[Illustration: The "President" tries to escape.]
The enemy was now helpless, and it would have been easy enough for the
"President" to choose her position and compel her adversary to strike;
but the presence of two more Englishmen, rapidly coming up astern,
forced the Americans to abandon their prey and continue their flight.
It was then late in the evening, and the night was dark and starless.
Every light was extinguished on the American frigate, in the hope that
by so doing she might slip away under cover of the night. But the
British lookouts were sharp-eyed; and by eleven o'clock two frigates
had closed in on the crippled ship, and a third was rapidly coming up
astern. All were pouring in rapid broadsides, and the dark waters were
lighted up like a fiery sea by the ceaseless flashing of the guns.
Thus surrounded and overpowered, there remained open to the Americans
no course but to surrender; and at eleven o'clock at night the
"President" made signal that she had struck. Her fate, like that of
the "Chesapeake," had accorded with the superstitious sailors' notion
that she was an unlucky ship. In the long running fight, neither the
Americans nor the British had escaped without severe loss. On the
"President" were twenty-four killed and fifty-six wounded; the first,
second, and third lieutenants being among the slain. The "Endymion"
had eleven men killed and fourteen wounded. The two frigates were
ordered to proceed to Bermuda; but the "President's" bad luck seemed
to follow her, for on the way she encountered a terrific gale, by
which her masts were carried away, and her timbers so strained that
all the upper-deck guns had to be thrown overboard to save the ship.
The loss of the "President," at the very mouth of the New York Harbor,
was certainly a most inauspicious opening for the naval operations of
1815. The people of New York and Philadelphia, to whom had come
neither the news of peace nor of the glorious success of the American
arms at New Orleans, were plunged into despondency. "Now that Great
Britain is at peace with Europe," thought they, "she can exert all her
power in the task of subjugating America;" and mournful visions of a
return to British rule darkened their horizon. But, even while they
were thus saddened by Decatur's defeat, a gallant vessel--the monarch
of the American navy--was fighting a good fight for the honor of the
nation; and out of that fight she came with colors flying and two
captive men-of-war following in her wake.
It will be remembered that the "Constitution" left Boston in December,
1814, for an extended cruise. The gallant frigate, always a favorite
among man-o'-war's men, carried with her on this cruise a full crew of
native Americans,--thorough seamen, and as plucky fighters as ever
pulled a lanyard or carried a cutlass. Her course lay due east; and in
January, 1815, she was in the Bay of Biscay, where she fell in with,
and captured, two prizes. After this she cruised about for a month,
without encountering an enemy. American privateers and cruisers had
fairly driven British merchantmen from the seas, and the tars of the
"Constitution" found their time hanging heavily on their hands. The
captain was an able and considerate officer, and much freedom was
allowed the jackies in their amusements. With boxing, broadsword, and
single-stick play, drill and skylarking, the hours of daylight were
whiled away; and by night the men off duty would gather about the
forecastle lantern to play with greasy, well-thumbed cards, or warble
tender ditties to black-eyed Susans far across the Atlantic.
Patriotic melodies formed no small part of Jack's musical
_repertoire_. Of these, this one, written by a landsman, was for a
long time popular among the tuneful souls of the forecastle, and was
not altogether unknown in the wardroom.
"Now coil up y'r nonsense 'bout England's great navy,
And take in y'r slack about oak-hearted tars;
For frigates as stout, and as gallant crews have we,
Or how came their "Macedon" decked with our stars?
Yes, how came her "Guerriere," her "Peacock," and "Java,"
All sent broken-ribbed to old Davy of late?
How came it? Why, split me, than Britons we're braver;
And that they shall feel, too, whenever we meet.
Then charge the can cheerily,
Send it round merrily:
Here's to our country, and captains commanding;
To all who inherit
Of Lawrence the spirit
Disdaining to strike while a stick is left standing."
Many were the verses of this notable production; for, to be popular in
the forecastle, a song must play a lengthy part in "teasing time." One
verse, however, is enough to show the manly, if perhaps unreasoning,
pride the blue-jackets took in the triumphs of the navy.
But the time of the sailors on this closing cruise of the war was not
destined to be spent in sport and singing alone. The noble frigate was
not to return to the stagnation of a season of peace in port, without
adding yet another honor to her already honorable record. On the
morning of the 20th of February, as the ship was running aimlessly
before a light wind, some inexplicable impulse led Capt. Stewart to
suddenly alter his course and run off some sixty miles to the
south-west. Again the "Constitution's" good luck seemed to justify the
sailors' belief, for at noon she ran into a group of vessels. The
first vessel was sighted on the larboard bow, and, as the frigate
overhauled her, proved to be a full-rigged ship. Soon after a second
sail, also a ship, was sighted; and a few minutes more sufficed to
show that both were men-of-war. The one first sighted was the
frigate-built corvette "Cyane," of thirty-four guns; and the second
was the sloop-of-war "Levant," of twenty-one guns. For either of
these vessels singly, the "Constitution," with her fifty-two guns and
crew of four hundred and fifty men, was more than a match. Yet to
attack the two was a bold movement, and this Stewart determined to
undertake. Hardly had the character of the strangers been made out,
when the corvette was seen making signals to the sloop; and the two
vessels, then about ten miles apart, made all sail to get together
before the enemy should overhaul them. This juncture was precisely
what Stewart wished to prevent; and in a trice the shrill notes of the
boatswain's whistle sent the sailors in swarms into the rigging, and
the frigate was as if by magic clothed with a broad expanse of canvas.
Quickly she felt the effect, and bounded through the water after the
distant ships like a dolphin chasing a school of flying-fish. The old
tars on the forecastle looked knowingly over the side at the foamy
water rushing past, and then cast approving glances aloft where every
sail was drawing. But their complacency was shattered by a loud crash
aloft, which proved to be the main royal-mast which had given way
under the strain. Another spar was rigged speedily, and shipped by the
active tars, and soon the snowy clouds aloft showed no signs of the
wreck. At sundown the three vessels were so near each other that their
colors could be seen. Stewart ran up the stars and stripes, to which
the strangers responded by setting the British flag at their
mastheads.
The purpose of the enemy was to delay the opening of the action until
night should give him opportunity to manoeuvre unobserved; but the
"Constitution," suspecting this, pressed forward hotly, and opened
fire a few minutes after six o'clock. By skilful seamanship Stewart
kept the windward gage of both enemies; and the fight opened with the
"Cyane" on the port-quarter, and the "Levant" on the port-bow of the
American frigate. Fifteen minutes of fierce cannonading followed, the
combatants being within musket-shot most of the time. Every gun was
engaged; and the heavy broadsides shook the ships, and thundered far
over the placid surface of the ocean, which was now faintly illumined
by the rising moon. The triangular space between the ships was filled
with the dense sulphurous smoke of the burning powder; so that the
gunners could see nothing of the enemy at whom they were hurling their
ponderous iron bolts. The men in the tops could now and again catch a
glimpse of the top hamper of the enemy's ships, but those on the
gun-deck were working almost at random. After a few minutes of rapid
firing, the fire of the enemy slackened; and Stewart directed his
gunners to cease until the smoke should have cleared away. At this
command a silence, almost oppressive after the heavy cannonading,
ensued, broken only by the occasional report of a gun from the unseen
enemy, sounding like minute-guns of distress. Anxiously Stewart waited
for the smoke to blow away. When it did so, the "Cyane" was seen
luffing up, to come under the frigate's stern, and get in a raking
broadside. The movement was discovered just in time to be checked.
Stewart gave a heavy broadside to the "Levant;" then, bracing back his
topsails, backed his ship down abreast of the "Cyane," pouring in
rapid broadsides, before which the fire of the corvette died away. Two
raking broadsides that crashed into the stern of the "Levant" sent
that craft out of the action, to refit. The frigate then pressed down
upon the "Cyane," and with a few heavy broadsides forced her to
strike.
Capt. Douglass of the "Levant" then proved his bravery by standing by
his captured consort; although he could have escaped easily, while the
"Constitution" was taking possession of her prize. No thought of
flight seems to have occurred to the gallant Briton, though he must
have known that there was but little hope of his coming out of the
combat victorious. Still he gallantly came back into the fight,
meeting the "Constitution" ploughing along on the opposite tack.
Broadsides were exchanged at such close range that the Yankee gunners
could hear the ripping of the planks on the enemy's decks as the solid
shot crashed through beam and stanchion. Having passed each other, the
ships wore, and returned to the attack; but the weight of the
American's metal told so severely upon the "Levant" that her flag was
hauled down, and, firing a gun to leeward, she gave up the fight.
As an exhibition of seamanship, this action is unrivalled in naval
annals. For Stewart to have taken his ship into action with two
hostile vessels, and so handle her as not only to escape being raked,
but actually rake his enemies, was a triumph of nautical skill. The
action was hard fought by both parties. The loss upon the British
vessels has never been exactly determined; but it was undoubtedly
large, for the hulls were badly cut up by the American's fire. The
"Constitution" had but three men killed, and twelve wounded. The
officers all escaped unhurt.
After a few hours' pause to repair damages, Stewart took his prizes
into Porto Praya in the Cape Verde Islands, where they arrived on the
10th of March. The day after the ships reached port, a heavy fog
settled over the water, cutting off vision in all directions. As the
first lieutenant of the "Constitution" was walking the quarter-deck,
he heard a young midshipman among the prisoners suddenly exclaim,
"There's a large ship in the offing." The lieutenant peered about on
every side, but could see nothing, until, looking upward, he saw the
top-gallant sails of a large ship moving along above the fog-bank.
Capt. Stewart was quickly notified; and, coolly remarking that the
stranger was probably a British frigate, he ordered that the men be
sent to quarters, and the ship prepared for action. The lieutenant
hastened on deck to execute the orders, but had hardly reached his
station when he saw the sails of two more ships gliding along above
the fog-bank. Hastily he returned to the captain's cabin with the
report. Stewart showed no emotion or alarm, although he knew well that
the fact that he was in a neutral port would be no protection against
the British, should they once discover his presence. The affair of the
"Essex" was still fresh in his mind. Calmly he ordered the lieutenant
to make sail and take the ship to sea, signalling to the two prizes to
follow. The orders were given quietly on deck; and in fifteen minutes
the "Constitution," under full press of sail, was making her way out
of Porto Praya roads. On the shore were more than a hundred prisoners
whom Stewart had landed under parole. Regardless of the dictates of
honor, these men rushed to a Portuguese battery, and opened fire on
the ships as they passed out. Hearing the cannonade, the lookouts on
the enemy's vessels looked eagerly for its cause, and caught sight,
above the fog, of the rapidly receding topsails of the fugitives. At
this sight the British set out in pursuit; and the fog soon clearing
away revealed to the Americans two ships-of-the-line and a frigate
following fast in their wake. The "Constitution" and the "Cyane"
easily kept out of reach of their pursuers; but the "Levant" dropped
behind, and finally, at a signal from Stewart, tacked, and stood back
for Porto Praya. The enemy then abandoned the pursuit of the two
foremost vessels, and followed the "Levant," but failed to overhaul
her before she entered the harbor. This, however, checked the British
not a whit. For the laws of nations and the authority of the
Portuguese flag that floated over the little town, they cared nothing.
On they came, and opened fire on the "Levant," which had dropped
anchor under what was supposed to be a neutral battery. The Americans
soon discovered their error. Not only did the British disregard the
neutrality of the port, but the paroled prisoners on shore took
possession of the battery, and opened fire upon the beleaguered craft.
Thus caught between two fires, no hope remained to the Americans; and,
after a few minutes' gallant but useless defence, the flag of the
"Levant" was hauled down, and she passed again into the hands of the
British.
It was late in May before the "Constitution" reached New York. Peace
had then been declared; but none the less were Stewart and his men
feasted and honored. The old frigate had won for herself a name ever
to be remembered by the people of the nation, in whose service she had
received and dealt so many hard knocks. "Old Ironsides," they called
her; and even to-day, when a later war has given to the navy vessels
whose sides are literally iron, the "Constitution" still holds her
place in the hearts of the American people, who think of her lovingly
by the well-won title of "Old Ironsides."
While we have been following thus Stewart and his gallant frigate in
their final cruise, some smaller vessels were doing good work for the
credit of the American flag. It will be remembered, that, when the
"President" left New York Bay on her short and disastrous cruise of
January, 1815, she left behind her, at anchor, the "Peacock," the
"Hornet," and the "Tom Bowline." These vessels, knowing nothing of the
fate of their former consort, awaited only the coming of a gale
sufficient to drive away the blockading squadron. On the 22d of
January it came up to blow; and the three craft, under storm canvas,
scudded over the bar, and made for the rendezvous at Tristan d'Acunha.
On the way thither they separated, the "Hornet" cruising alone. On the
23d she sighted a strange sail on the horizon, and, clapping on all
sail, bore down upon her. At the same time the stranger sighted the
"Hornet," and made for her, evidently with hostile intent. The two
vessels approached each other until within musket-shot, when the
stranger hoisted English colors, and fired a gun. Capt. Biddle of the
American ship was ready for the fray, and opened fire with a
broadside. The response of the enemy was vigorous and effective. For
fifteen minutes the firing was constant; but the enemy, seeing that
the Americans were getting the better of the fight, then strove to
close and board. This Biddle determined to avoid, but called up the
boarders to beat back the enemy, should they succeed in closing. "At
the instant," he writes, in his official report, "every officer and
man repaired to the quarter-deck, when the two vessels were coming in
contact, and eagerly pressed me to permit them to board the enemy; but
this I would not permit, as it was evident, from the commencement of
the action, that our fire was greatly superior, both in quickness and
effect. The enemy's bowsprit came between our main and mizzen rigging,
on our starboard side, affording him an opportunity to board us, if
such was his design; but no attempt was made. There was a considerable
swell on; and, as the sea lifted us ahead, the enemy's bowsprit
carried away our mizzen-shrouds, stern davits, and spanker-boom, and
he hung upon our larboard quarter. At this moment an officer called
out that they had surrendered. I directed the marines and musketry men
to cease firing; and while on the taffrail, asking if they had
surrendered, I received a wound in the neck."
This wound, to which the captain so casually alludes, merits more than
a passing reference. The fire of both ships had ceased when Biddle
stepped upon the taffrail; but he had stood there only a moment, when
two or three of the officers on the quarter-deck cried out that a man
on the Englishman was aiming at him. Biddle did not hear the caution;
but two American marines saw the enemy's movement, and, quickly
bringing up their muskets, sent two balls crashing into the brain of
the English marksman. He fell back dead, but had fired his piece
before falling. The bullet struck Biddle in the neck, inflicting a
painful, but not serious, wound. The blood flowed freely, however; and
two sailors, rushing up, were about to carry their commander to the
cock-pit, when he stopped them. Determined to do something to stanch
the flowing blood, a sailor tore his shirt into bandages, with which
he bound up his captain's wound. But let us return to Biddle's
narrative.
"The enemy just then got clear of us; and his foremast and bowsprit
being both gone, and perceiving us wearing to give him a fresh
broadside, he again called out that he had surrendered. It was with
difficulty that I could restrain my crew from firing into him again,
as he had certainly fired into us after having surrendered. From the
firing of the first gun, to the last time the enemy cried out that he
had surrendered, was exactly twenty-two minutes by the watch. She
proved to be His Britannic Majesty's brig "Penguin," mounting sixteen
thirty-two-pound carronades, two long twelves, a twelve-pound
carronade on the top-gallant forecastle, with a swivel on the capstan
in the tops."
On boarding the prize, Biddle found that she had suffered too severely
from the American fire to ever be of service again. He accordingly
removed the prisoners and wounded to his own ship, and scuttled the
"Penguin." Hardly was this operation accomplished, when two sail were
sighted, bearing rapidly down upon the scene of action. Nothing
daunted, the lads of the "Hornet" went to their guns, but were
heartily glad to find that the two vessels approaching were the
"Peacock" and "Tom Bowline." On their arrival, the latter vessel was
converted into a cartel, and sent into Rio de Janeiro with prisoners;
while the "Hornet" and "Peacock" cruised on toward the Indian Seas. On
April 28 a heavy line-of-battle ship was sighted, and gave chase. In
the flight the two sloops parted; the "Peacock" going off unmolested,
while the "Hornet" fled, hotly pursued by the enemy. For a time it
seemed as if the little craft must fall a prey to her huge pursuer,
which had come up within a mile, and was firing great shot at the
scudding sloop-of-war. Overboard went cables, guns, spars, shot, every
thing that would lighten the "Hornet." The sails were wet down, and
every thing that would draw was set. By consummate skill Biddle at
last succeeded in evading his pursuer; and on the 9th of June the
"Hornet" entered New York Bay, without a boat or anchor, and with but
one gun left. But she brought the report that the last naval battle of
the war had ended in victory for the Americans.
[Illustration: Foundered at Sea.]
Meanwhile the "Peacock" was returning from a cruise not altogether
void of interest. On parting with the "Hornet," she had struck off to
the southward, and in the Straits of Sundra, between Borneo and
Sumatra, had fallen in with the East India Company's cruiser
"Nautilus," of fourteen guns. Between these two vessels an unfortunate
and silly rencounter followed. The captain of the "Nautilus" knew of
the declaration of peace; and, as the "Peacock" bore down upon his
vessel, he shouted through a speaking-trumpet that peace had been
declared. To this Capt. Warrington of the "Peacock" paid no attention,
considering it a mere ruse on the part of the enemy, and responded by
simply ordering the British to haul down their flag. This the
Englishman very properly refused to do, and gallantly prepared for the
unequal combat. Two broadsides were then interchanged, by which the
"Nautilus" was severely cut up, and eight of her crew killed. She then
struck her colors. Capt. Warrington, on sending a boat aboard his
adversary, found that the declaration of peace was no ruse, but a
truthful statement of facts. His conduct had been almost criminally
headstrong; and, though he was profuse in formal apologies, the wrong
done could never be righted. The "Peacock" then continued her homeward
voyage.
When this vessel reached port, the last of the cruisers had returned;
and the war was over in fact, as it had long been over technically. It
has become the fashion to say that it was a useless war, that served
no purpose, because the treaty by which it was ended contained no
reference to the hateful doctrine of the right of search, which, more
than any thing else, had brought on the conflict. Yet, though the
conduct of the war had not led the British to formally renounce their
claims in this respect, the exploits of the American navy had shown
that the Yankee blue-jackets were prepared to, and would, forcibly
resent any attempt on the part of the British to put those claims into
practice. The British had entered upon the war gaily, never dreaming
that the puny American navy would offer any serious resistance to
Great Britain's domination upon the ocean. Yet now, looking back over
the three years of the war, they saw an array of naval battles, in the
majority of which the Americans had been victorious; and in all of
which the brilliancy of American naval tactics, the skill of the
officers, and the courage and discipline of the crews, put the younger
combatants on a plane with the older and more famous naval service.
Fenimore Cooper, in his "History of the Navy of the United States,"
thus sums up the results of this naval war: "The navy came out of this
struggle with a vast increase of reputation. The brilliant style in
which the ships had been carried into action, the steadiness and
accuracy with which they had been handled, and the fatal accuracy of
their fire on nearly every occasion had produced a new era in naval
warfare. Most of the frigate actions had been as soon decided as
circumstances would at all allow; and in no instance was it found
necessary to keep up the fire of a sloop-of-war an hour, when singly
engaged. Most of the combats of the latter, indeed, were decided in
about half that time. The execution done in these short conflicts was
often equal to that made by the largest vessels of Europe in general
actions; and, in some of them, the slain and wounded comprised a very
large proportion of their crews.... The ablest and bravest captains of
the English fleet were ready to admit that a new power was about to
appear upon the ocean, and that it was not improbable the battle for
the mastery of the seas would have to be fought over again."
CHAPTER XVII.
PRIVATEERS AND PRISONS OF THE WAR. -- THE "ROSSIE." -- SALEM
PRIVATEERS. -- THE "GEN. ARMSTRONG" GIVES BATTLE TO A BRITISH
SQUADRON, AND SAVES NEW ORLEANS. -- NARRATIVE OF A BRITISH
OFFICER. -- THE "PRINCE DE NEUFCHATEL." -- EXPERIENCES OF
AMERICAN PRISONERS OF WAR. -- THE END.
No narrative of the naval exploits of the Americans in the second war
with Great Britain can be complete without some account of the
achievements of the fleets of privateers which for three years swept
the seas, destroying a vast amount of the enemy's property; and, while
accomplishing their end by enriching their owners, did, nevertheless,
much incidental good to the American cause. Seldom has the business of
privateering been so extensively carried on as in the War of 1812. For
this the reason lay in the rich bait offered by the world-wide
commerce of Great Britain, whose fleets whitened every known sea.
Privateering must ever be a weapon wielded by the weaker nation
against the stronger. And Congress, in the very Act by which it
declared war, authorized the President to issue letters of marque and
reprisal to private armed vessels.
The declaration of war had hardly been made public, when the hundreds
of shipyards from Maine to Savannah resounded with the blows of
hammers and the grating of saws, as the shipwrights worked, busily
refitting old vessels, or building new ones, destined to cruise
against the commerce of John Bull. All sorts of vessels were employed
in this service. The Atlantic and Gulf Coasts fairly swarmed with
small pilot-boats, mounting one long gun amidships, and carrying crews
of twenty to forty men. These little craft made rapid sallies into the
waters of the Gulf Stream, in search of British West Indiamen homeward
bound. Other privateers were huge three-masters, carrying heavy
batteries, and able to outsail any of the enemy's ships. On leaving
port for a long cruise, these vessels would carry enormous crews, so
that captured vessels might be manned and sent home. After a
successful cruise, such a privateer returned to port seldom bringing
more than one-fifth of the crew with which she had set out. But the
favorite rig for a privateer was that of the top-sail schooner,--such
a rig as the "Enterprise" carried during the war with France. The
famous shipyards of Baltimore turned out scores of clean-cut,
clipper-built schooners, with long, low hulls and raking masts, which
straightway took to the ocean on privateering cruises. The armament of
these vessels generally consisted of six to ten carronades and one
long pivot-gun, going by the pet name of "Long Tom," mounted
amidships. The crew was usually a choice assortment of cut-throats and
seafaring vagabonds of all classes,--ready enough to fight if plunder
was to be gained, but equally ready to surrender if only honor was to
be gained by fighting. Yet history records a few actions in which the
privateersmen showed a steadiness and courage worthy of seamen of the
regular service.
The limitations of this work do not permit a complete account of the
work of the privateers during the war. Although an interesting
subject, and one of historical importance, but a few pages can be
devoted to it here. Properly treated, it would fill a volume; and,
indeed, one of the most noted privateersmen has left a narrative of
the exploits of the principal privateers, which forms a very
considerable tome. The fact that two hundred and fifty private armed
cruisers under the American flag captured or destroyed over sixteen
hundred British vessels will indicate the importance and extent of the
subject. For us a mere sketch of the exploits of some of the principal
privateers must suffice.
One of the first things to attract the attention of the reader, in the
dingy files of some newspaper of 1812-15, is the grotesque names under
which many of the privateers sailed. The grandiloquent style of the
regular navy vanishes, and in its place we find homely names; such as
"Jack's Favorite," "Lovely Lass," "Row-boat," "Saucy Jack," or
"True-blooded Yankee." Some names are clearly political allusions,--as
the "Orders in Council" and the "Fair Trade." The "Black Joke," the
"Shark," and the "Anaconda" must have had a grim significance for the
luckless merchantmen who fell a prey to the vessels bearing these
names. "Bunker Hill" and "Divided we fall," though odd names to sail
under, seemed to bring luck to the two vessels, which were very
successful in their cruises. "United we stand" was a luckless craft,
however, taking only one prize; while the achievements of the
"Full-blooded Yankee" and the "Sine qua non" were equally limited. Of
the "Poor Sailor," certainly little was to be expected; and it is with
no surprise that we find she captured only one prize.
Among the most successful privateers was the "Rossie" of Baltimore,
commanded by the Revolutionary veteran Capt. Barney, who left her,
finally, to assume command of the American naval forces on Chesapeake
Bay. She was a clipper-built schooner, carrying fourteen guns, and a
crew of one hundred and twenty men. The destruction wrought by this
one cruiser was enormous. In a ninety days' cruise she captured, sunk,
or otherwise destroyed British property to the amount of a million and
a half dollars, and took two hundred and seventeen prisoners. All this
was not done without some hard fighting. One prize--His Britannic
Majesty's packet-ship "Princess Amelia"--was armed with nine-pounders,
and made a gallant defence before surrendering. Several men were
killed, and the "Rossie" suffered the loss of her first lieutenant.
The prisoners taken by the "Rossie" were exchanged for Americans
captured by the British. With the first body of prisoners thus
exchanged, Barney sent a cool note to the British commander at New
Brunswick, assuring him that before long a second batch of his
captured countrymen should be sent in.
Several Northern seaports shared with Baltimore the business of
fitting out and manning privateers. The hardy seamen of Maine and
Massachusetts were ever ready for a profitable venture of this kind;
and, as the continuation of the war caused the whale-fishery to
languish, the sailors gladly took up the adventurous life of
privateersmen. The profits of a successful cruise were enormous; and
for days after the home-coming of a lucky privateer the little seaport
into which she came rang with the boisterous shouts of the carousing
sailors. "We still, in imagination, see our streets filled with
privateersmen," writes a historian of Portsmouth, "in groups, with
blue ribbons tied around their hats, inscribed in large letters,
'SUCCESS TO THE "FOX,"' or whatever vessel they were to sail in. And
then another scene, of sailors paid off with so much money that they
knew not what to do with it. It was one of these men that, in Market
Square, put his arm around a cow, kissed her, and put a five-dollar
bill in her mouth, for a good cud. Sometimes they might be seen,
finely dressed, walking down the sunny streets, carrying parasols."
One Portsmouth privateer came to grief in the West Indies, and was
captured by a British vessel of heavier metal. In the hold of the
privateer was a considerable sum of money in gold coin, the existence
of which was known only to the captain and his body-servant, a bright
negro. The British, on capturing the vessel, put a prize-crew on
board, and, while taking the Yankee captain upon their own ship, left
his negro servant on the prize. Watching his opportunity, the negro
brought up the gold coin, and dropped it unobserved into a tub of
greasy black slush with which he had been slushing down the masts.
Some days later, the captured vessel reached the port to which she had
been sent, and was tied up at a wharf to await condemnation. The
faithful servant lingered about the ship for a time, saying that he
had no place to go. At last he was gruffly ordered to leave; but,
before going, he astonished the mate by begging for the tub of slush,
which he said might enable him to earn a few cents along the docks.
The mate carelessly told him to take the stuff, and be off; which he
promptly did, carrying away with him his tub of slush, with its
concealed treasure. It is worthy of note, that this negro, far from
home and from the owners of the money, paid it into a bank to the
credit of the captain whom he had served.
Salem, Mass., was another great port for privateers to hail from. Not
less than twenty-five of these predatory gentry fitted out at the
quiet little seaside village; and, when the war was ended, few of the
inhabitants were unable to tell some tale of personal adventures,
cruising against the enemy. Indeed, Salem had the honor of receiving
the first prize captured on the ocean after the declaration of war;
for into the harbor came, on the 10th of June, 1812, the trim
privateer schooner "Fame," followed close by two ships, from the
halliards of which waved the British flag surmounted by the stars and
stripes. Then the whole town turned out as one man to greet and cheer
the captors; but, long before the war was ended, the appearance of a
prize in the harbor aroused little excitement. One of the most
successful of the rovers sailing from this port was the "Dolphin,"
whose record during the war shows a list of twenty-two captured
vessels. Her faculty for making long cruises, and turning up in the
most unexpected places, made her the dread of all British
sea-captains. She was manned by a gallant set of lads, who had no fear
of hard fighting; and many of her prizes were won at the cannon's
mouth. In January, 1813, the "Dolphin" fell in with a British ship and
brig cruising together off Cape St. Vincent. Though the enemy
outnumbered the privateersmen, and carried heavier metal, yet the
"Dolphin" went gallantly into the fight, and after a severe battle
succeeded in taking both vessels. Great was the astonishment of the
British at being thus snapped up by a Yankee privateer almost under
the guns of the Rock of Gibraltar. The luckless Britons were carried
to America as prisoners; but so kind was the treatment they met with
at the hands of the privateers, that on leaving the "Dolphin," at
Boston, they published a card in which they said, "Should the fortune
of war ever throw Capt. Stafford or any of his crew into the hands of
the British, it is sincerely hoped he will meet with similar
treatment."
Perhaps the foremost of all the fighting privateers was the "Gen.
Armstrong" of New York; a schooner mounting eight long nines and one
long twenty-four on a pivot. She had a crew of ninety men, and was
commanded on her first cruise by Capt. Guy R. Champlin. This vessel
was one of the first to get to sea, and had cruised for several months
with fair success, when in March, 1813, she gave chase to a sail off
the Surinam River on the coast of South America. The stranger seemed
to evince no great desire to escape; and the privateer soon gained
sufficiently to discover that the supposed merchantman was a British
sloop-of-war, whose long row of open ports showed that she carried
twenty-seven guns. Champlin and his men found this a more ugly
customer than they had expected; but it was too late to retreat, and
to surrender was out of the question: so, calling the people to the
guns, Champlin took his ship into action with a steadiness that no old
naval captain could have exceeded. "Close quarters and quick work,"
was the word passed along the gun-deck; and the "Armstrong" was
brought alongside her antagonist at a distant of half pistol-shot. For
nearly an hour the two vessels exchanged rapid broadsides; but, though
the American gunners were the better marksmen, the heavy build of the
sloop-of-war enabled her to stand against broadsides which would have
cut the privateer to pieces. Capt. Champlin was hit in the shoulder
early in the action, but kept his station until the fever of his wound
forced him to retire to his cabin. However, he still continued to
direct the course of the action; and, seeing that the tide of battle
was surely going against him, he ordered the crew to get out the
sweeps and pull away from the enemy, whose rigging was too badly cut
up to enable her to give chase. This was quickly done; and the "Gen.
Armstrong," though badly injured, and with her decks covered with dead
and dying men, escaped, leaving her more powerful adversary to repair
damages and make the best of her way home. Capt. Champlin, on his
arrival at New York, was the hero of the hour. For a privateer to have
held out for an hour against a man-of-war, was thought a feat worthy
of praise from all classes of men. The merchants of the city tendered
the gallant captain a dinner, and the stockholders in his vessel
presented him with a costly sword.
But the "Gen. Armstrong" was destined to fight yet another battle,
which should far eclipse the glory of her first. A new captain was to
win the laurels this time; for Capt. Champlin's wound had forced him
to retire, and his place was filled by Capt. Samuel C. Reid. On the
26th of September, 1814, the privateer was lying at anchor in the
roadstead of Fayal. Over the land that enclosed the snug harbor on
three sides, waved the flag of Portugal, a neutral power, but
unfortunately one of insufficient strength to enforce the rights of
neutrality. While the "Armstrong" was thus lying in the port, a
British squadron, composed of the "Plantagenet" seventy-four, the
"Rota" thirty-eight, and "Carnation" eighteen, hove in sight, and
soon swung into the harbor and dropped anchor. Reid watched the
movements of the enemy with eager vigilance. He knew well that the
protection of Portugal would not aid him in the least should the
captain of that seventy-four choose to open fire upon the "Armstrong."
The action of the British in coming into the harbor was in itself
suspicious, and the American had little doubt that the safety of his
vessel was in jeopardy. While he was pacing the deck, and weighing in
his mind the probability of an assault by the British, he caught sight
of some unusual stir aboard the hostile ships. It was night; but the
moon had risen, and by its pale light Reid saw four large barges let
fall from the enemy's ships, and, manned by about forty men each, make
toward his vessel. In an instant every man on the privateer was called
to his post. That there was to be an attack, was now certain; and the
Americans determined not to give up their vessel without at least a
vigorous attempt to defend her. Reid's first act was to warp his craft
under the guns of a rather dilapidated castle, which was supposed to
uphold the authority of Portugal over the island and adjacent waters.
Hardly had the position been gained, when the foremost of the British
boats came within hail, and Capt. Reid shouted, "Boat ahoy! What
boat's that?" No response followed the hail; and it was repeated, with
the warning, "Answer, or I shall fire into you." Still the British
advanced without responding; and Reid, firmly convinced that they
purposed to carry his ship with a sudden dash, ordered his gunners to
open on the boats with grape. This was done, and at the first volley
the British turned and made off. Capt. Reid then warped his vessel
still nearer shore; and bending springs on her cable, so that her
broadside might be kept always toward the enemy, he awaited a second
attack. At midnight the enemy were seen advancing again, this time
with fourteen barges and about five hundred men. While the flotilla
was still at long range, the Americans opened fire upon them with the
heavy "Long Tom;" and, as they came nearer, the full battery of long
nine-pounders took up the fight. The carnage in the advancing boats
was terrible; but the plucky Englishmen pushed on, meeting the
privateer's fire with volleys of musketry and carronades. Despite the
American fire, the British succeeded in getting under the bow and
quarter of the "Armstrong," and strove manfully to board; while the
Americans fought no less bravely to keep them back. The attack became
a furious hand-to-hand battle. From behind the boarding-nettings the
Americans thrust pikes, and fired pistols and muskets, at their
assailants, who, mounted on each other's shoulders, were hacking
fiercely at the nettings which kept them from gaining the schooner's
deck. The few that managed to clamber on the taffrail of the
"Armstrong" were thrust through and through with pikes, and hurled,
thus horribly impaled, into the sea. The fighting was fiercest and
deadliest on the quarter; for there were most of the enemy's boats,
and there Capt. Reid led the defence in person. So hot was the
reception met by the British at this point, that they drew off in
dismay, despairing of ever gaining the privateer's deck. Hardly did
Reid see the enemy thus foiled on the quarter, when a chorus of
British cheers from the forecastle, mingled with yells of rage, told
that the enemy had succeeded in effecting a lodgement there. Calling
his men about him, the gallant captain dashed forward and was soon in
the front rank of the defenders, dealing furious blows with his
cutlass, and crying out, "Come on, my lads, and we'll drive them into
the sea." The leadership of an officer was all that the sailors
needed. The three lieutenants on the forecastle had been killed or
disabled, else the enemy had never come aboard. With Reid to cheer
them on, the sailors rallied, and with a steady advance drove the
British back into their boats. The disheartened enemy did not return
to the attack, but returned to their ships, leaving behind two boats
captured and two sunk. Their loss in the attack was thirty-four killed
and eighty-six wounded. On the privateer were two killed and seven
wounded.
[Illustration: Privateersmen at Home.]
But the attack was not to end here. Reid was too old a sailor to
expect that the British, chagrined as they were by two repulses, were
likely to leave the privateer in peace. He well knew that the
withdrawal of the barges meant not an abandonment, but merely a short
discontinuance, of the attack. Accordingly he gave his crew scarcely
time to rest, before he set them to work getting the schooner in trim
for another battle. The wounded were carried below, and the decks
cleared of splinters and wreckage. The boarding-nettings were patched
up, and hung again in place. "Long Tom" had been knocked off his
carriage by a carronade shot, and had to be remounted; but all was
done quickly, and by morning the vessel was ready for whatever might
be in store for her. The third assault was made soon after daybreak.
Evidently the enemy despaired of his ability to conquer the
privateersmen in a hand-to-hand battle; for this time he moved the
brig "Carnation" up within range, and opened fire upon the schooner.
The man-of-war could fire nine guns at a broadside, while the schooner
could reply with but seven; but "Long Tom" proved the salvation of the
privateer. The heavy twenty-four-pound shots from this gun did so much
damage upon the hull of the brig, that she was forced to draw out of
the action; leaving the victory, for the third time, with the
Americans.
But now Capt. Reid decided that it was folly to longer continue the
conflict. The overwhelming force of the enemy made any thought of
ultimate escape folly. It only remained for the British to move the
seventy-four "Plantagenet" into action to seal the doom of the Yankee
privateer. The gallant defence already made by the Americans had cost
the British nearly three hundred men in killed and wounded; and Reid
now determined to destroy his vessel, and escape to the shore. The
great pivot-gun was accordingly pointed down the main hatch, and two
heavy shots sent crashing through the bottom. Then applying the torch,
to make certain the work of destruction, the privateersmen left the
ship, giving three cheers for the gallant "Gen. Armstrong," as a burst
of flame and a roar told that the flames had reached her magazine.
This gallant action won loud plaudits for Capt. Reid when the news
reached the United States. Certainly no vessel of the regular navy was
ever more bravely or skilfully defended than was the "Gen. Armstrong."
But, besides the credit won for the American arms, Reid had
unknowingly done his country a memorable service. The three vessels
that attacked him were bound to the Gulf of Mexico, to assist in the
attack upon New Orleans. The havoc Reid wrought among their crews, and
the damage he inflicted upon the "Carnation," so delayed the New
Orleans expedition, that Gen. Jackson was able to gather those motley
troops that fought so well on the plains of Chalmette. Had it not been
for the plucky fight of the lads of the "Gen. Armstrong," the British
forces would have reached New Orleans ten days earlier, and
Packenham's expedition might have ended very differently.
The "Plantagenet" and her consorts were not the only British
men-of-war bound for New Orleans that fell in with warlike Yankee
privateers. Some of the vessels from the Chesapeake squadron met a
privateer, and a contest ensued, from which the American emerged with
less glory than did the lads of the "Gen. Armstrong." A young British
officer in his journal thus tells the story:--
"It was my practice to sit for hours, after nightfall, upon the
taffrail, and strain my eyes in the attempt to distinguish objects on
shore, or strange sails in the distance. It so happened that on the
30th I was tempted to indulge in this idle but bewitching employment
even beyond my usual hour for retiring, and did not quit the deck till
towards two o'clock in the morning of the 31st [of October]. I had
just entered my cabin, and was beginning to undress, when a cry from
above of an enemy in chase drew me instantly to the quarter-deck. On
looking astern I perceived a vessel making directly after us, and was
soon convinced of the justice of the alarm, by a shot which whistled
over our heads. All hands were now called to quarters, the small sails
taken in; and having spoken to our companion, and made an agreement as
to position, both ships cleared for action. But the stranger, seeing
his signal obeyed with so much alacrity, likewise slackened sail, and,
continuing to keep us in view, followed our wake without approaching
nearer. In this state things continued till daybreak,--we still
holding our course, and he hanging back; but, as soon as it was light,
he set more sail and ran to windward, moving just out of gun-shot in a
parallel direction with us. It was now necessary to fall upon some
plan of deceiving him; otherwise, there was little probability that he
would attack. In the bomb, indeed, the height of the bulwarks served
to conceal some of the men; but in the transport no such screen
existed. The troops were therefore ordered below; and only the
sailors, a few blacks, and the officers kept the deck. The same
expedient was likewise adopted in part by Capt. Price of the
'Volcano;' and, in order to give to his ship a still greater
resemblance than it already had to a merchantman, he displayed an old
faded scarlet ensign, and drew up his fore and main sail in what
sailors term a lubberly manner.
"As yet the stranger had shown no colors, but from her build and
rigging there was little doubt as to her country. She was a beautiful
schooner, presenting seven ports of a side, and apparently crowded
with men,--circumstances which immediately led us to believe that she
was an American privateer. The 'Volcano,' on the other hand, was a
clumsy, strong-built ship, carrying twelve guns; and the 'Golden
Fleece' mounted eight: so that in point of artillery the advantage was
rather on our side; but the American's sailing was so much superior to
that of either of us, that this advantage was more than
counter-balanced.
"Having dodged us till eight o'clock, and reconnoitred with great
exactness, the stranger began to steer gradually nearer and nearer,
till at length it was judged that she was within range. A gun was
accordingly fired from the 'Volcano,' and another from the transport;
the balls from both of which passed over her, and fell into the sea.
Finding herself thus assaulted, she now threw off all disguise, and
hung out an American ensign. When putting her helm up, she poured a
broadside with a volley of musketry into the transport, and ran
alongside of the bomb, which sailed to windward.
"As soon as her flag was displayed, and her intention of attacking
discerned, all hands were ordered up; and she received two
well-directed broadsides from the 'Volcano,' as well as a warm salute
from the 'Golden Fleece.' But such was the celerity of her motion,
that she was alongside of the bomb in less time than can be imagined,
and actually dashing her bow against the other, attempted to carry her
by boarding. Capt. Price, however, was ready to receive them. The
boarders were at their posts in an instant; and Jonathan finding, to
use a vulgar phrase, that he had caught a Tartar, left about twenty
men upon the 'Volcano's' bowsprit, all of whom were thrown into the
sea, and filling his sails sheered off with the same speed with which
he had borne down. In attempting to escape, he unavoidably fell
somewhat to leeward, and exposed the whole of his deck to the fire of
the transport. A tremendous discharge of musketry saluted him as he
passed; and it was almost laughable to witness the haste with which
his crew hurried below, leaving none upon deck except such as were
absolutely wanted to work the vessel.
"The 'Volcano' had by this time filled and gave chase, firing with
great precision at his yards and rigging, in the hope of disabling
him. But, as fortune would have it, none of his important ropes or
yards were cut; and we had the mortification to see him in a few
minutes beyond our reach."
[Illustration: Prison Chaplain and Jailor.]
An exploit of yet another privateer should be chronicled before the
subject of the private armed navy can be dismissed. On the 11th of
October, 1814, the brigantine privateer "Prince de Neufchatel,"
seventeen guns, was encountered near Nantucket by the British frigate
"Endymion,"--the same ship which was so roughly handled by the
"President" in her last battle. About nine o'clock at night, a calm
having come on, the frigate despatched a boarding party of a hundred
and eleven men in five boats to capture the privateer. The latter
vessel was short-handed, having but forty men; but this handful of
Yankee tars gallantly prepared to meet the attack. The guns were
charged with grape and canister, the boarding-nettings triced up, and
cutlasses and pistols distributed to the crew. As the British came on,
the Americans opened fire, notwithstanding which the enemy dashed
alongside, and strove fiercely to gain the deck. But in this they were
foiled by the gallantry of the defenders, who fought desperately, and
cut down the few British who managed to gain a foothold. The conflict
was short, and the discomfiture of the enemy complete. After but a few
minutes' fighting, one boat was sunk, one captured, and the other
three drifted helplessly away, filled with dead and dying. The total
loss of the British in this affair was twenty-eight killed and
thirty-seven wounded. Of the crew of the privateer, seven were killed,
and nine only remained unhurt.
A narrative of the exploits of, and service done by, the American
sailors in the War of 1812 would be incomplete if it said nothing of
the sufferings of that great body of tars who spent the greater part
of the war season confined in British prisons. Several thousand of
these were thrown into confinement before the war broke out, because
they refused to serve against their country in British ships. Others
were prisoners of war. No exact statistics as to the number of
Americans thus imprisoned have ever been made public; but the records
of one great prison--that at Dartmoor--show, that, when the war
closed, six thousand American seamen were imprisoned there,
twenty-five hundred of whom had been detained from long before the
opening of the war, on account of their refusal to join the ranks of
the enemy. As I write, there lies before me a quaint little book, put
out anonymously in 1815, and purporting to be the "Journal of a Young
Man captured by the British." Its author, a young surgeon of Salem,
named Waterhouse, shipped on a Salem privateer, and was captured early
in the war. His experience with British prisons and transport-ships
was long; and against his jailors he brings shocking charges of
brutality, cruelty, and negligence.
The Yankee seamen who were captured during the war were first
consigned to receiving-prisons at the British naval stations in
America. Sometimes these places of temporary detention were mouldering
hulks, moored in bays or rivers; sometimes huge sheds hastily put
together, and in which the prisoners were kept only by the unceasing
vigilance of armed guards. "The prison at Halifax," writes Waterhouse,
"erected solely for the safe-keeping of prisoners of war, resembles an
horse-stable, with stalls, or stanchions, for keeping the cattle from
each other. It is to a contrivance of this sort that they attach the
cords that support those canvas bags or cradles, called hammocks. Four
tier of these hanging nests were made to hang, one above the other,
between these stalls, or stanchions.... The general hum and confused
noise from almost every hammock was at first very distressing. Some
would be lamenting their hard fate at being shut up like negro slaves
in a Guinea ship, or like fowls in a hen-coop, for no crime, but for
fighting the battles of their country; others, late at night, were
relating their adventures to a new prisoner; others, lamenting their
aberrations from rectitude, and disobedience to parents, and
headstrong wilfulness, that drove them to sea, contrary to their
parents' wish; while others, of the younger class, were sobbing out
their lamentations at the thoughts of what their mothers and sisters
suffered after knowing of their imprisonment. Not unfrequently the
whole night was spent in this way; and when, about daybreak, the weary
prisoner fell into a doze, he was waked from his slumber by the
grinding noise of the locks, and the unbarring of the doors, with the
cry of '_Turn out!_ _All out!_' when each man took down his hammock,
and lashed it up, and slung it on his back, and was ready to answer to
the roll-call of the turnkey."
From prisons such as this, the prisoners were conveyed in droves to
England, in the holds of men-of-war and transports. Poorly fed, worse
housed, and suffering for lack of air and room, their agony on the
voyage was terrible. When they were allowed a few hours' time on deck,
they were sure to arouse the anger of the officers by turbulent
conduct or imprudent retorts. "One morning as the general and the
captain of the 'Regulus' (transport) were walking as usual on the
quarter-deck, one of our Yankee boys passed along the galley with his
kid of burgoo. He rested it on the hatchway while he adjusted the rope
ladder to descend with his swill. The thing attracted the attention of
the general, who asked the man how many of his comrades eat of that
quantity for their breakfast. 'Six, sir,' said the man, 'but it is fit
food only for hogs.' This answer affronted the captain, who asked the
man in an angry tone, 'What part of America he came from?' 'Near to
Bunker Hill, sir, if you ever heard of that place,' was the answer."
On another occasion, a Yankee and a slightly wounded British marine
got into a dispute, and came to blows. The British captain saw the
occurrence, and accused the American of cowardice in striking a
wounded man. "I am no coward, sir," said the Yankee. "I was captain of
a gun on board the 'Constitution' when she captured the 'Guerriere,'
and afterward when she took the 'Java.' Had I been a coward, I should
not have been there."
[Illustration: King Dick and his Chaplain.]
On one occasion the prisoners on the transport "Crown Prince," lying
in the River Medway, took an uncontrollable dislike to the commander
of a second transport lying close alongside. Their spite was gratified
quickly and with great effect. The rations served out to the luckless
captives at that time consisted of fish and cold potatoes. The latter
edible being of rather poor quality, the prisoners reserved for
missiles; and the obnoxious officer could not pace his quarter-deck
without being made a mark for a shower of potatoes. Vainly did he
threaten to call up his marines and respond with powder and lead: the
Americans were not to be kept down; and for some days the harassed
officer hardly dared to show himself upon deck.
The place of final detention for most of the prisoners taken in the
war with America was Dartmoor Prison; a rambling collection of huge
frame buildings, surrounded by double walls of wood. The number of
prisoners confined there, and the length of time which many of them
had spent within its walls, gave this place many of the
characteristics of a small State, with rulers and officials of its
own. One of the strangest characters of the prison was King Dick, a
gigantic negro, who ruled over the five or six hundred negro
prisoners. "He is six feet five inches in height," says one of the
prisoners, "and proportionally large. This black Hercules commands
respect, and his subjects tremble in his presence. He goes the rounds
every day, and visits every berth, to see if they all are kept clean.
When he goes the rounds, he puts on a large bear-skin cap, and carries
in his hand a huge club. If any of his men are dirty, drunken, or
grossly negligent, he threatens them with a beating; and if they are
saucy they are sure to receive one. They have several times conspired
against him, and attempted to dethrone him; but he has always
conquered the rebels. One night several attacked him while asleep in
his hammock: he sprang up, and seized the smallest by his feet, and
thumped another with him. The poor negro, who had thus been made a
beetle of, was carried the next day to the hospital, sadly bruised,
and provokingly laughed at." King Dick, to further uphold his dignity
as a monarch, had his private chaplain, who followed his royal master
about, and on Sundays preached rude but vigorous sermons to His
Majesty's court. On weekdays the court was far from being a dignified
gathering. King Dick was a famous athlete, and in the cock-loft, over
which he reigned, was to be seen fine boxing and fencing. Gambling,
too, was not ruled out of the royal list of amusements; and the cries
of the players, mingled with the singing of the negroes, and the
sounds of the musical instruments upon which they played, made that
section of the prison a veritable pandemonium.
[Illustration: The last Volley of the War.]
But although some few incidents occurred to brighten momentarily the
dull monotony of the prisoners' lot, the life of these unfortunate
men, while thus imprisoned, was miserable and hateful to them. Months
passed, and even years, but there seemed to be no hope for release. At
last came the news of the declaration of peace. How great then was the
rejoicing! Thoughts of home, of friends and kindred, flooded the minds
of all; and even strong men, whom the hardships of prison-life had not
broken down, seemed to give way all at once to tears of joy. But the
delays of official action, "red-tape," and the sluggishness of travel
in that day, kept the poor fellows pent up for months after the treaty
of peace had been announced to them. Nor were they to escape without
suffering yet more severely at the hands of their jailors. Three
months had passed since peace had been declared; and the long delay so
irritated the prisoners, that they chafed under prison restraint, and
showed evidences of a mutinous spirit. The guards, to whom was
intrusted the difficult task of keeping in subjection six thousand
impatient and desperate men, grew nervous, fearing that at any moment
the horde of prisoners would rise and sweep away all before them. An
outbreak was imminent; and the prisoners were like a magazine of
gunpowder, needing but a spark of provocation to explode. On April 6,
1815, matters reached a crisis. The soldiers, losing all presence of
mind, fired on the defenceless Americans, killing five men and
wounding thirty-four. Thus the last blood shed in the War of 1812 was
the blood of unarmed prisoners. But the massacre, horrible and
inexcusable as it was, had the effect of hastening the release of the
survivors; and soon the last of the captives was on his way home to
the country over which peace at last reigned again.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE LONG PEACE BROKEN BY THE WAR WITH MEXICO. -- ACTIVITY OF THE
NAVY. -- CAPTAIN STOCKTON'S STRATAGEM. -- THE BATTLE AT SAN JOSÉ.
-- THE BLOCKADE. -- INSTANCES OF PERSONAL BRAVERY. -- THE LOSS OF
THE "TRUXTON." -- YELLOW FEVER IN THE SQUADRON. -- THE NAVY AT
VERA CRUZ. -- CAPTURE OF ALVARADO.
The period of peace which followed the close of the War of 1812 was,
perhaps, the longest which any nation has ever enjoyed. For the navy
of the United States, it was a time of absolute peace, inactivity,
even stagnation. The young nation was living literally up to
Washington's rule of avoiding entanglements abroad, and its people
looked with suspicion on the naval branch of the service which had
rendered such a good account of itself in the war with Great Britain.
They feared to build and man ships lest possession of a navy might
prove an incentive to war. And so when war did come--war, not with
Europe, but with our nearest neighbor--the United States had little
floating force to join in it. Fortunately, little was needed.
Though war was not declared by the United States against Mexico until
May, 1846, it had been a possibility ever since the establishment of
the Texan Republic by the defeat of the Mexicans at San Jacinto in
1834, and it had been a great probability since 1841, when it was
discovered that both England and France were holding out prospects of
assistance to the Mexicans in case of conflict with the United
States. Neither of these European powers was sincere in the diplomatic
game which deceived the proud but ignorant Mexicans, but neither did
either of them scruple to foment a quarrel out of which some selfish,
though indefinite, advantage might be gained. Indeed they played the
diplomatic game so skilfully that they deceived a considerable
minority in the United States and made these believe that the
admission of Texas to the United States would be unwise and
inexpedient, and the probable war with Mexico a wickedness dire and
dreadful. Even General Grant, when he wrote his book, said that such
were his views at the time, though he was then an army officer and
trusting to war for advancement. But when hostilities were begun, and
victory for American arms followed victory, the protests of the peace
party were unheard amid the enthusiastic shoutings of those who took a
saner view of the conditions which led to the conflict.
Mexico claimed title not only to Texas, but to California, and if the
United States had not gone to war in regard to the former, she would
have had to do so in defence of her conquest of the latter. In
securing California the navy bore a conspicuous part, and as early as
1842, Captain Thomas Ap-Catesby Jones, commanding the Pacific
squadron, was as active as though war had already been declared. In
September of that year, with his squadron of four ships, he was at
anchor in the harbor of Callao, and noticing the suspicious conduct of
the British frigate "Dublin," which shoved off the port and then bore
away, he concluded to follow her and see just what game she sought, as
he had been informed by the Navy Department that England was plotting
in Mexico against the United States; he had also read in a Mexican
newspaper that war was likely to be declared, if indeed hostilities
had not already begun. Captain Jones reached Monterey on the 19th of
October, and though he saw nothing of the "Dublin," he at once
insisted on the surrender of the place. The next day he learned that
his action had been premature and made what amends he could. So the
navy really struck the first official blow that led to this war.
When war had been declared, the Pacific squadron did not learn of it
until after the victories of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. Captain
Sloat, in command, at once took prompt action. Landing two hundred and
fifty seamen and marines under Captain Mervine, he captured Monterey
on the 2d of July. A week later he formally took possession of the
splendid bay of San Francisco and the neighboring country. He also
occupied Sutter's Fort, on Sacramento River, and the towns of Bodega
and Sonoma. In this war it will be noticed throughout this narrative
that the naval forces were constantly required to do shore duty, a
duty to which they were unaccustomed but which they performed with
entire efficiency. The Mexicans had no navy worthy of the name and the
American sailors were auxiliary to the soldiers. Though untrained to
this kind of service, and though it was always hard, and sometimes
quite ungrateful, they responded to orders with entire cheerfulness;
when the service was most perilous then the blue-jackets entered upon
it with a gayety that laughed at danger.
On the 19th of July, Fremont and his corps of topographical engineers
met Captain Sloat and thereafter co-operated with him. In the "Cyane,"
Commander Du Pont, Fremont was sent to San Diego with one hundred and
fifty riflemen and that place was occupied. On the 30th of July, the
"Congress" took possession of San Pedro, the port of Los Angeles, the
seat of the Mexican government in California. About this time the
command of the Pacific squadron devolved upon Captain Robert F.
Stockton, who was not a whit less vigilant than his predecessors had
been. Having all the California seaports, Captain Stockton planned an
expedition against Los Angeles before the well-armed Mexican soldiers
in the province could be brought together. He landed three hundred and
fifty sailors and marines and established a camp at San Pedro. Captain
Stockton's biographer says: "There were only about ninety muskets in
the whole corps. Some of the men were armed with carbines, others had
only pistols, swords, or boarding-pikes. They presented a motley and
peculiar appearance, with great variety of costume. Owing to their
protracted absence from home the supplies of shoes and clothing had
fallen short, and the ragged and diversified colors of their garments,
as well as the want of uniformity in their arms and accoutrements,
made them altogether a spectacle both singular and amusing." The
Mexican forces at Los Angeles outnumbered Captain Stockton's land
forces three to one, so he resorted to a stratagem to deceive the
enemy as to his force. A flag of truce having appeared on the hills,
"he ordered all his men under arms and directed them to march three or
four abreast, with intervals of considerable space between each squad,
directly in the line of vision of the approaching messengers, to the
rear of some buildings on the beach, and thence to turn in a circle
and continue their march until the strangers had arrived. Part of the
circle described in the march was concealed from view, so that to the
strangers it would appear that a force ten times greater than the
actual number was defiling before them. When the two bearers of the
flag of truce had arrived he ordered them to be led up to him
alongside of the artillery, which consisted of several six-pounders
and one thirty-two-pound carronade. The guns were all covered with
skins so as to conceal their dimensions except the huge mouth of the
thirty-two-pounder at which the captain was stationed to receive his
guests.... As his purpose was intimidation he received them with much
sternness." They asked for a truce, but Stockton demanded and secured
an immediate and absolute surrender, as the evident object of the
Mexicans was to gain time. Stockton at once began his tedious march to
Los Angeles, his men dragging the cannon through the sand. On the 12th
of August, he received a message from the Mexican general, saying "if
he marched on the town he would find it the grave of his men." He
replied: "Then tell your general to have the bells ready to toll at
eight o'clock in the morning. I shall be there at that time." He was
as good as his word. The next morning he was joined by Fremont and his
men, who had come up from San Diego and they entered Los Angeles
unopposed. He organized a civil government for the entire state, with
Major Fremont as the head of it, and returning to his ships sailed
northward on the 5th of September, 1846. The news of these operations
was sent to Washington overland by the famous scout, Kit Carson.
Meantime the other ships of the Pacific squadron were cruising along
the coast and capturing everything with a semblance of Mexican
ownership. But Captain Stockton was much disconcerted in October to
learn that two Mexican generals, released on parole after the fall of
Los Angeles, had gathered a force and were besieging the small
garrison there. The "Savannah" at once went to the scene. At San Pedro
it was learned that the garrison had been compelled to capitulate and
was awaiting an American cruiser. Captain Mervine, of the "Savannah,"
landed a detachment of sailors and marines and began the march to the
capital. He could not cope with the superior force and had to retire.
Indeed nearly all the places captured by the active sailors seemed
likely now to fall into the hands of the Mexicans again. The garrison
at Monterey was threatened by an uprising of the people; the garrison
at San Diego was besieged; Los Angeles was in the hands of the enemy,
and the force at the enemy's camp at San Bernardino was getting
stronger each day. But Captain Stockton was equal to all demands upon
him and made up for inadequate forces by celerity of movement. Just
when matters were most critical the naval forces learned of the
repulse of General Stephen Kearny by the Mexicans under Pico. It was
indeed with great difficulty that Kearny and his dragoons were rescued
by the sailors from their invested position near San Bernardino.
Having got what men he could together, Captain Stockton determined to
recapture Los Angeles. On the 29th of December, 1846, he began his
march of 145 miles to the capital. There were no roads, but the route
was through deep ravines, sand-hills, and deserts. The men were poorly
armed and badly clothed, and there were few horses to assist in
drawing the artillery. Never did an American commander have before him
a more disagreeable prospect. The men, many of them without
foot-covering, became worn-out in the march and begged to rest, but
the captain insisted that they must go on, as the Mexicans were
getting stronger every day. The men responded as best they could.
On the 7th of January, the intrepid Stockton found that the enemy was
intrenched between him and the San Gabriel River. The Mexican general
changed his mind and crossed the river with the object of interrupting
the crossing. But Stockton would not be denied, and repulsed the enemy
on every side, though outnumbered three to one. This was on the 8th of
January, the anniversary of the battle of New Orleans. The next day he
fought again, resisting three furious charges of the enemy. On the
10th he entered Los Angeles unopposed, and on the 15th he was joined
there by Fremont and his corps. These seaports in California were not
seriously harassed during the remainder of the war, but they needed to
be garrisoned, while the whole coast required watching. A part of the
squadron was sent south and also into the Bay of California. Before
the end of 1847 every Mexican gun on the western coast, save those at
Acapulco, had been silenced. Loreto, La Paz, Mazatlan, San Blas,
Manzanilla, San Antonio, Guaymas, and Mulye fell to the squadron.
Sometimes it only needed for a ship or two to appear before a town and
it would surrender, but generally an assault or the appearance of a
storming party on land was necessary. But the seamen and marines were
always invincible in this part of the war, where they were entirely
without aid from the army.
The most serious predicament in which the Americans found themselves
in this Pacific Coast campaign was when Lieutenant Heywood, of the
"Dale," with four midshipmen and twenty marines, were shut up in the
Mission House at San José, a small village near San Lucas. He was
surrounded by a large force before he knew it, and two of his
midshipmen were taken unawares and captured by an enemy not known to
be near. Lieutenant Heywood maintained himself from the 19th of
November, 1847, till the 17th of February, 1848, when Commander Du
Pont, in the "Cyane," came to his rescue. A party of ninety-four
seamen and marines, under Lieutenant Rowan, went ashore and fought its
way against six hundred Mexicans until they were defeated and Heywood
and his men rescued. There was nothing after this on the western coast
more serious than guerrilla forays.
The operations on the western coast were probably, in result, much
more important than those of the home squadron in the Mexican Gulf and
the Rio Grande River. But the latter squadron was the larger, and as
it was in constant co-operation with the conquering armies which
finally captured the capital of the country, much more has been heard
of the doings of the fleet in the east, which was at first commanded
by Commodore David Conner and then by Commodore Matthew C. Perry. The
operations on this coast also came in for much criticism, for the
various ships were filled with young men overflowing with valor and
mad with desire of glory. They were also comparatively close to home
and saw the newspapers from New York, Washington, and New Orleans. In
these papers the army was accorded all the glory while the navy was
almost ignored. This neglect rankled in the minds of the madcaps, and
they blamed Commodore Conner, an officer of much experience and
distinguished record, for not storming every fort and citadel near the
coast instead of carrying out his instructions to maintain an
efficient blockade of the ports and to co-operate with the army
whenever possible. These duties, tiresome and inglorious as they
seemed, were of the first importance to the scheme of the campaign,
and they were performed with a patience which rose superior to
weariness, sickness, and death. The duty required of the blockaders
did not require much fighting, but the men were in danger of the
coast fevers all the time, and hundreds died. And then at some seasons
the fleet was likely to be blown ashore by the fierce "northers" which
prevailed. Many accidents resulted during these storms, the most
serious being the capsizing of the brig "Somers," Lieutenant Raphael
Semmes (afterward commanding the Confederate ship "Alabama")
commanding, and the loss of more than half her crew.
When the war began at Palo Alto, Commodore Conner was with his
squadron off Point Isabel, at the mouth of the Rio Grande River. Not
knowing the issue of the battle, five hundred seamen and marines were
sent to strengthen the garrison at Point Isabel, where the army
supplies were stored, while Captain Aulick, of the "Potomac," with two
hundred men, pulled up the Rio Grande in boats for fifteen miles and
until a junction with the army was established at Barita. At this time
the squadron consisted of the frigates "Cumberland" (flagship),
"Potomac," and "Raritan"; the steam frigate "Mississippi"; the
sloops-of-war "Falmouth," "John Adams," and "St. Mary's"; the
steam-sloop "Princeton"; and the brigs "Lawrence," "Porpoise," and
"Somers." Before the close of the war some of these ships were
recalled, at least one was wrecked, and the squadron was from time to
time largely reinforced.
The squadron, now that war had begun, was ordered to blockade the
ports of Matamoras, on the Rio Grande; Tampico, on the Tampico River;
Alvarado, on the Alvarado; Coatzalcoalcos, on the river of the same
name; Tabasco, on the Tabasco River; and Vera Cruz, on the Gulf. The
rivers mentioned, except the Rio Grande, are mere creeks, not fit for
vessels of any size, and their mouths simply open roadsteads. Vera
Cruz was the only place with anything like a harbor. The ports in
Yucatan, such as Laguna and Campeachy, were only visited for supplies
of fresh meat. The State of Yucatan was not assisting in the war and
did not need to be blockaded. By the time General Taylor took
possession of Matamoras, Commodore Conner's fleet had been
considerably augmented by the addition of the sloops-of-war
"Germantown," "Albany," "Saratoga" and "Decatur"; the steamers
"Spitfire," "Vixen," "Alleghany," "Scorpion" and "Scourge"; the brig
"Truxton"; the gunboats "Reefer," "Bonita," and "Rebel." A little
later, and just before the bombardment of Vera Cruz, the "Ohio," with
seventy-four guns, joined, together with the bomb-vessels "Vesuvius,"
"Hecla," and "Stromboli." There were also a number of small steamers
and gunboats to operate in shallow water. These constituted what was
called the "mosquito fleet." With so formidable a fleet the sailors
felt they were equal to anything, and whenever a larger part of it was
operating at one place, it was difficult to restrain the men. The
youngsters even thought Commodore Conner's prudence and conservatism
to be timidity, and the writer has before him now a book written
twenty-five years after these events, by one who was a midshipman on
the flagship, and he quotes the familiar lines about daring to put
things to the touch. All this was most unfair, but it indicated that
the blue jackets of the Mexican War were buttoned over hearts that
knew no fear.
The blockade of the Mexican ports that was maintained was not by any
means a paper blockade. It was actual, and the very opposite of the
merely formal closing of ports which the United States had so long
protested against in other countries. The hardships of the men and
officers were fearful and the casualties very great. The tediousness
of the service was relieved now and again by daring expeditions into
the rivers and ports, where boats were cut out and taken away from
beneath batteries on shore. The record of such ventures shows that the
navy in 1846 and 1847 was no whit inferior in dash to the one which
made the flag glorious some years before in the war with England. One
instance of such a venture is quoted from the "Recollections of a
Naval Officer," by Captain William Harwar Parker. He was telling of
the blockade at Vera Cruz in 1846. He says: "One of the finest fellows
in the service I often met on Green Island. I allude to Passed
Midshipman Hynson, of Maryland. He was drowned in the brig 'Somers,'
when she capsized in the fall of this year. At the time of her
sinking, Hynson had both of his arms bandaged and in a sling, and was
almost helpless. It was said that when the brig sank he managed to get
hold of a spar with another man, and finding it would not support two
he deliberately let go his hold. It was like him. The way he happened
to have his arm in a sling was this: While the 'Somers' was
maintaining the blockade of Vera Cruz, a vessel managed to slip in--I
think she was a Spanish schooner. The Mexicans moored her to the walls
of the Castle of San Juan for safety; but the officers of the 'Somers'
resolved to cut her out or burn her. Hynson was the leading spirit in
the affair, though Lieutenant James Parker, of Pennsylvania, was the
senior officer. They took a boat one afternoon and pulled in to visit
the officers of an English man-of-war lying under Sacrificios Island.
It was quite usual to do this. After nightfall they left the British
ship and pulled directly for the schooner, which they boarded and
carried. This, be it observed, was directly under the guns of the
castle and the muskets of its garrison. The crew was secured, and
finding the wind would not serve to take the vessel out, it was
resolved to burn her. Her captain made some resistance, and the
sentinel on the walls called out to know what was the matter. Parker,
who spoke Spanish remarkably well, replied that his men were drunk and
he was putting them in irons. The party then set fire to the vessel
and got safely away with their prisoners. It was in setting fire to
the schooner that Hynson got so badly burned."
In regard to the personal heroism shown by Hynson and others when the
"Somers" went down, Lieutenant Raphael Semmes, in his book, "Service
Afloat and Ashore During the Mexican War," said: "Those men who could
not swim were selected to go into the boat. A large man by the name of
Seymour, the ship's cook, having got into her, he was commanded by
Lieutenant Parker to come out, in order that he might make room for
two smaller men, and he _obeyed the order_. He was afterward permitted
to return to her, however, when it was discovered that he could not
swim. Passed Midshipman Hynson, a promising young officer, who had
been partially disabled by a bad burn received in firing the 'Creole'
a few days previously, was particularly implored to go into the boat.
A lad by the name of Nutter jumped out of the boat and offered his
place to Hynson, and a man by the name of Powers did the same thing.
Hynson refusing both offers, these men declared that then others might
take their places, as they were resolved to abide in the wreck with
him. Hynson and Powers were drowned. Nutter was saved. When the plunge
was made into the sea, Sailing-Master Clemson seized a studding-sail
boom, in company with five of the seamen. Being a swimmer, and
perceiving that the boom was not sufficiently buoyant to support them
all, he left it and struck out alone. He perished--the five men were
saved."
Just about this time the first of the gunboats reached the squadron,
and the young men of the steerage were intensely amused at the
smallness of the vessel. A midshipman from the flagship visited the
"Reefer." He went alongside of her in the barge, and, not knowing any
better, stepped over her port-quarter. Lieutenant Sterrett, in
command, said in his least gentle voice: "Sir, there is a gangway to
this vessel!" Before long even the youngsters learned to respect these
little steamers. Commodore Conner now made an expedition to capture
Alvarado, but just as he was about ready to begin a bombardment his
pilots predicted a "norther," and he hoisted the signal, "Return to
the anchorage off Vera Cruz." This was popularly regarded as a
_fiasco_, but doubtless the Commodore was entirely right, as Alvarado
might be taken at any time, and subsequently was taken in a manner
which has been a joke in the navy ever since. Of this something will
presently be said. Tampico, a town of 7,000 inhabitants, 210 miles
north of Vera Cruz, was next proceeded against. The bar at the mouth
of the Tampico River is considered the most dangerous on the coast,
and the larger vessels did not try to cross it. But the smaller
steamers and gunboats of the "mosquito fleet" went in, and the town
was surrendered without firing a shot. It was then occupied by the
army. The next movement was against Frontera, at the mouth of the
Tabasco River, and Tabasco, some seventy miles up that little stream.
Frontera was taken by surprise, and Commodore Perry, now second in
command to Commodore Conner, moved up the stream with vessels of too
heavy draught. He came near losing the "Cumberland" in the mud, and,
as it was, she was so disabled that when she was pulled from her perch
on a bar she had to be sent home for repairs. Perry, however, defeated
the Mexican flotilla and captured all the boats. Two of the prizes had
to be blown up, but the "Champion," a fast river boat, which had run
between Richmond and Norfolk, was taken out and afterward usefully
employed as a despatch-boat. In this expedition there was considerable
fighting and also some losses both of officers and men.
In blockading the port of Tuspan, some 120 miles northwest of Vera
Cruz, the brig "Truxton," Captain Carpenter, was stationed. The ship
was blown ashore and was under the Mexican guns. The Captain sent a
boat to tell the Commodore of the disaster, but before relief could
reach him he surrendered. In doing this he was opposed bitterly by all
his officers, and the quarter-master on duty positively refused to
obey the order to haul down the flag. Lieutenant Bushrod Hunter, who
first went for assistance, reached the squadron off Vera Cruz, as did
also Lieutenant Otway Berryman, with a boat's crew, which left before
the surrender had been effected. The remainder of the crew were taken
to Vera Cruz as prisoners of war. As soon as Commodore Conner heard of
the disaster he sent Captain Engle with the "Princeton" to Tuspan. He
made short work of it. He drove the Mexicans out of the brig, took
what armament was left, and then burned her. The guns taken out of the
"Truxton" were placed in forts erected to protect Tuspan. But these
were captured next year by Commodore Perry and Captain Breese. The
officers and men of the navy had a grudge against Tuspan, and the
landing detachment which carried the works fought as though each man
in it were a demon. It lost three killed, while five officers and six
seamen were wounded.
During the summer of 1847, the men of the squadron operating in the
Gulf suffered severely from yellow fever and also from scurvy brought
on by a lack of fresh food. It was so bad on the "Mississippi" that
she had to been sent to Pensacola. Commodore Perry was himself
stricken, but he refused to leave, and changed his flag to the
"Germantown," which remained. This was after the fall of Vera Cruz,
and when the duty of the naval forces was once again only that of
blockaders. The investment of Vera Cruz was the most considerable
single piece of work performed by the navy during the war. Commodore
Conner had gathered at Vera Cruz all his available forces and
anxiously awaited the coming of General Scott and his army, who were
at Lobos Island, 150 miles north of Vera Cruz. General Taylor, with
5,000 men, had just defeated Santa Anna with 20,000 men at Buena
Vista, and two days later, that is, on the 24th of February, 1847,
General Scott gave his final orders to his fleet of transports which
was to take his army to Vera Cruz. Early in March the transports with
12,600 men arrived in front of Vera Cruz. Captain Parker, in his book
previously quoted, says: "No words can express our excitement as ship
after ship crowded with enthusiastic soldiers successively came in;
some anchoring near us and others continuing on for the anchorage at
Anton Lizardo. We had been so long on our ships, and for some months
so inactive, that we were longing for something to do. I cannot answer
for others, but the scene of that day--and I recollect that it was
Sunday--is so vivid, and the events so firmly fixed in my memory, that
I can almost see the ship "Diadem" as she grazed our spanker-boom in
her desire to pass near enough to speak us, and I can to this day
whistle the waltz played by an infantry band on board a transport
anchored near us that night, though I have never heard it since."
Indeed, the naval contingent was most anxious to be in some of the
heavy fighting, and the chance seeming near, all was enthusiasm aboard
the ships of the squadron. A few days after General Scott's arrival he
and Commodore Conner and a large number of principal officers,
including Captain Joseph E. Johnston, of the "Engineers," made a
reconnaissance to decide on the best place to land the army. They
selected the mainland abreast of Sacrificios Island.
On the 9th of March, the steamers "Spitfire" and "Vixen" and several
gunboats ran close inshore and shelled the sand-hills and chaparral in
which the enemy might be concealed. Only a few horsemen were made to
scamper away. The Government for this very landing had sent out a
number of surf-boats, flat on the bottom and sharp at both ends. Each
of these carried one hundred men with their arms and accoutrements.
They proved most admirable for the service, as the whole army was
landed with out a mishap, and, singularly enough, the Mexicans did not
molest the Americans in the least while this important movement was in
progress. By midnight of the 9th of March the whole of the army was
ashore. Landing the troops having been accomplished, the work of
taking the artillery pieces, the ammunition, and supplies was begun,
and this consumed a week, each day lasting from four in the morning
till ten at night.
While this was in progress, General Scott was so arranging his troops
that he should entirely invest the city, and by the 20th of March the
bombardment began. General Scott summoned the authorities to
surrender, and gave them a chance to send the women and children out
of the city. Both invitation and opportunity were declined. And so it
came about that many non-combatants were killed in the siege that
followed. The sailors not only had to land the army and the materials
of war, but they were obliged to help get the siege guns in place. The
blue-jacket ashore is nearly always alive to the importance of having
a lark, and even in this arduous service they acted very much as
though they were on a spree. On one occasion a "norther" came up, and
for several days the seamen could not get back to their ships. Being
idle they had a good time to their hearts' content. It is said that
before the end of the first day every Jack of them had a horse and was
a mounted marine. One of these, a very tough old salt, had for his
charger a donkey, and on this animal he rode by General Scott's
quarters in great pride. "Some officers standing by observing that he
was, as they thought, seated too far back, called out to him to shift
his seat more amidships. 'Gentlemen,' said Jack, drawing rein, 'this
is the first craft I ever commanded, and it's d--d hard if I can't
ride on the quarter-deck.'"
But there was more serious work immediately in store for the navy than
fetching and carrying for the army and rewarding themselves in boyish
pranks. The day before the serious bombardment began the squadron was
notified by signal from the flagship: "Commodore Perry commands the
squadron." There was rejoicing at this, for Perry was regarded as a
man who preferred a fight for its own sake rather than to have no
fight at all. In this command he proved that he was a good fighter,
but he proved also that he knew how to be conservative when necessity
made such a course wise. Commodore Conner went home because his health
demanded that he should. The Navy Department was not dissatisfied with
him. But the opportunity for heavy fighting came after Perry took the
command. From the beginning of the siege the fleet kept up a heavy
firing on the city and castle so as to divert the fire from the land
forces.
General Scott soon saw that his guns were not strong enough to batter
down the walls of the city, so he requested Commodore Perry to send
him some heavy guns. The Commodore's gallant reply was: "Certainly,
General, but I must fight them." And fight them he did, as we shall
see. Six heavy pieces of ordnance were landed, and about 200 seamen
and volunteers were attached to each gun. Three of these were
sixty-eight-pounder shell guns and three thirty-two-pounder solid-shot
guns. Each of these guns weighed about three tons. Now each of these
had to be dragged through the loose sand, almost knee-deep, for
something like three miles before it could be put in the position the
engineers had assigned to it. This battery, by the way, was protected
by bags of sand piled on each other, and this was the first time that
this device had been used. When the battery was in position the
officers and men of the ships were so anxious to fight it that, to
prevent jealousy, the officers first to be assigned drew lots for the
honor. The first day Captain Aulick commanded, and the next day
Captain Mayo. The naval battery fired with such precision that they
did amazing damage to the enemy's works, and on the second day the
guns in Vera Cruz were silenced. Then began a parley as to terms, but
on the 28th there was an unconditional surrender. Now Scott had a
foothold in the part of Mexico which counted for something, and he was
able to begin that masterly march through the Valley of Mexico and on
to the capital of the country. But he never could have obtained this
foothold without the assistance of the navy. The country did not
recognize this at once, and the newspapers being printed by landsmen,
all of the immediate glory was bestowed on General Scott.
Now that Vera Cruz had fallen and General Scott's plans called for a
movement toward the interior, it was most desirable for him to have
better cavalry. But he lacked horses. Singular as it may seem, he
called upon the navy to assist in supplying this deficiency. It was
known that there were Mexican horsemen in and about Alvarado, so it
was determined to proceed against this place by land and sea, so that
the town could be reduced, and the horses secured at the same time.
General Quitman, with a brigade, was sent by land, so as to keep the
horsemen from running away, while the "Potomac," Captain Aulick, and
the "Scourge," Lieutenant Charles G. Hunter, were sent to appear in
front of Alvarado. It was evidently intended that Captain Aulick and
General Quitman would move on the place on some appointed day.
Lieutenant Hunter did not know what the plans were, and as his boat
was much faster than the "Potomac" he arrived in front of Alvarado
long before Captain Aulick. When the "Potomac" did come in sight, a
great commotion was noticed in the harbor. The "Albany," which had
been doing blockading service, came out and informed Captain Aulick
that Alvarado had been taken.
"By whom?" asked the Captain.
"By Lieutenant Hunter, in the 'Scourge,'" was the reply.
The "Scourge," it should be explained, was a very small steamer,
carrying one gun and forty men. Hunter went up pretty close and
observing indications of flinching, he fired three guns and dashed
boldly in and captured the place. The horsemen, the capture of whom
was the main object of the expedition, were frightened off before
General Quitman could intercept them. Having taken possession of
Alvarado, Lieutenant Hunter placed in the town a garrison consisting
of a midshipman and two men, and hurried his steamer up the river to a
place called Tlacotalpan, which he also captured. When General Quitman
arrived in Alvarado with his brigade and the place was gravely handed
over to him by Passed Midshipman William G. Temple (afterward a very
distinguished officer of high rank) he was greatly amused and laughed
heartily. But Commodore Perry was annoyed and angry. As soon as he
could get hold of Hunter--not an easy matter, as Hunter had gone on
his conquering way still further up the river with the intention of
taking all the rest of Mexico not subjugated by Taylor and Scott--he
placed him under arrest and preferred charges against him. When Hunter
was shortly tried by court-martial, he was sentenced to be reprimanded
by the Commodore, the reprimand to be read from the quarter-deck of
every vessel in the squadron.
The reprimand, prepared by Commodore Perry, was thought by pretty
nearly all the officers of the squadron to be entirely too severe. A
military offence had been committed, but it amounted to a mere trifle,
and the time was ripe for the people to laugh over such an occurrence.
In effect the reprimand was something like this: "Who told you to take
Alvarado? You were sent to watch Alvarado, not to take it. You have
taken Alvarado with but a single gun and not a marine to back you!"
Then the announcement was made that the squadron would soon move
against Tabasco, and that Hunter should not accompany it, but that he
should be dismissed the squadron. And he was sent home. In New York
the people made a hero of him, giving him swords and dinners, and
securing for him the command of the schooner "Taney," in which he made
a roving cruise to the Mediterranean. As long as he lived he was
always spoken of as "Alvarado" Hunter. A sense of humor is sometimes a
dangerous cargo for a public man to carry; but the absence of it also
is often dangerous. In this instance Commodore Perry, because he did
not see the amusing aspect of Hunter's escapade, made himself so
ridiculous that he came near cutting short his own career, which, as
will afterward be seen in this history, was destined for greater
achievements than any in the past.
[Illustration: Blue-Jackets before Vera Cruz.]
The next objective point for the navy was Tuspan, where the "Truxton"
had been lost. The bar at Tuspan is dangerous, and even the small
steamers of the squadron had their masts hoisted out of them to
lighten them. Commodore Perry hoisted his flag on the "Spitfire" and
led the way up the river with the boats of the squadron in tow. The
first fort on the river below the town, called the Pana, was silenced
by the gun of the "Spitfire" and then stormed by the sailors; two
other forts were taken in the same way and the town was occupied. The
Mexicans made a spirited defence, but did little damage, only one man
being killed. Among the wounded were Captain Tatnall, Commander
Whittle, and Lieutenant James Parker. The guns taken from the
"Truxton" were found in one of the forts and restored to the fleet.
The last naval operation of the war was against Tabasco. Commodore
Perry took all of the fleet which could possibly go up the river from
Frontera. This town was easily captured, but when the ascent of the
river began the boats were continually fired upon from the trees and
chaparral along the banks. At a place called Devil's Bend, the passage
of the river was interrupted by a sunken obstruction, technically
called a _chevaux de frise_. Commodore Perry did not mean to let this
stop him, so he organized a land force of seamen and marines and
concluded to march to Tabasco. He had numerous skirmishes, but was not
stopped. One day his own ships passed him, the _chevaux de frise_
having been raised by attaching rubber bags to it and then inflating
them with air. When Perry arrived at Tabasco he found the American
flag flying, the town having fallen without resistance to his own
ships. So his own arduous march across country had been all for
nothing. This was the last work of the sailors, but the marines of the
navy still saw glorious service, as a detachment of them was with
General Scott, participating in the attack on Chapultepec. They were
also among the first to enter the City of Mexico when that capital
surrendered.
The navy in the War with Mexico did itself credit as it always had
before, and reflected honor upon the country, whose flag was upheld
with brilliant courage and untiring zeal.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE NAVY IN PEACE. -- SURVEYING THE DEAD SEA. -- SUPPRESSING THE
SLAVE TRADE. -- THE FRANKLIN RELIEF EXPEDITION. -- COMMODORE
PERRY IN JAPAN. -- SIGNING OF THE TREATY. -- TROUBLE IN CHINESE
WATERS. -- THE KOSZTA CASE. -- THE SECOND FRANKLIN RELIEF
EXPEDITION. -- FOOTE AT CANTON. -- "BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER."
After the Mexican War the navy engaged for twelve years in works of
peace varied by a little exciting police duty on the high seas. Much
was done for commerce and for civilization in the years immediately
succeeding 1848, but the story, though important, is not exciting, and
is therefore little known. The records of these years afford a fair
suggestion of what a navy may do when actual fighting is not
necessary, and when its vessels, with the trained sailors and
scientists who man them, may be utilized in utilitarian work.
Shortly after the close of the Mexican War, the armed ship "Supply,"
under command of Lieutenant Lynch, sailed on an expedition to the Dead
Sea. The start was made from New York, and the vessel arrived in the
Mediterranean only a few weeks after peace had been declared with
Mexico. At Smyrna, Lieutenant Lynch left the "Supply," and went to
Constantinople to obtain permission to enter the Turkish domains. This
having been granted, the party sailed for Haifa. Arriving at this port
on the 21st of March, they left their ship, and set out for the Sea of
Galilee by an overland route, carrying on trucks the boats which had
been specially built for navigation in the river Jordan. Upon
reaching Tiberias, on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, the
party divided, one detachment embarking in the boats to navigate the
Sea of Galilee, and the other mounting camels and horses to make the
trip by land, with the intention of keeping those who had sailed in
view as much as possible, and protecting them from attacks by
wandering Arabs or aiding them if necessary in the passage of the
tortuous and turbulent Jordan. Eight days were consumed in making this
passage, and a distance covered of 200 miles, although if the trip had
been made in a straight line instead of along the winding course of
the river, it would have been necessary to have traversed only sixty
miles. An encampment was established on the desolate banks of the Dead
Sea, and several exploring and scientific expeditions in the
neighborhood were made. Among the interesting facts gathered was the
exact depression of the Dead Sea below the level of the ocean. This
was found to be 1,312 feet.
The western coast of Africa was the scene of the next important
activity on the part of the American cruisers. The slave-trade, which
in the eighteenth century had assumed extensive proportions, still
flourished to a degree which made the condition upon the coast a
disgrace to civilization. It was a notorious fact, moreover, that a
large proportion of the vessels in the trade were of American build
and sailed under the Stars and Stripes. The United States Government
was anxious to wipe out this blot upon the nation's fair fame; and
consequently, in 1849, sent Lieutenant Foote, in command of the brig
"Perry," to African waters. The lieutenant, who, by the way, afterward
became the distinguished Admiral Foote, at once began active cruising
off Ambrig, a notorious slave mart. The "Perry" was constantly at sea,
chasing and boarding suspicious vessels, and very often her boats
passed through the surf and ran up the jungle-bordered rivers to the
slave barracoons. Many large slavers were captured, and when, in 1851,
the "Perry" was succeeded on the African coast by the squadron under
Commander Gregory, Lieutenant Foote had effectually checked the slave
trade. He was thanked for his services by the Secretary of the Navy.
While Lieutenant Foote was sailing under the blazing sun of Africa,
another lieutenant, Edwin J. De Haven, in command of the brigs
"Rescue" and "Advance," was pushing his way northward through the ice
of the Arctic Ocean. The Navy Department had considered it proper and
fitting to aid England in her search for the British commander, Sir
John Franklin and his men, who had sailed into the Arctic regions on
an exploring expedition, and had been gone so long as to warrant the
belief that they were in grave peril, if not already dead. Volunteers
for the relief expedition had been called for by the department.
Lieutenant De Haven and others had responded, and on May 24th, 1850,
started on their errand of mercy. In July, the party was in Baffin's
Bay, and here the brigs remained embedded in the ice for twenty-one
days. On the 29th of July, by a sudden movement of the floe, an
opening at the north presented itself; a north-east breeze sprang up
at the same time, and with press of sail the brigs were able to force
their way into clear water.
For a month afterward there was continual battling with the ice, and
slow progress northward. On August 27th, Lieutenant De Haven, having
in the mean time fallen in with several English relief expeditions,
decided to make a search on the shores adjacent to a Lancaster Sound.
Here were found three graves, and various signs that Franklin and his
companions had spent a winter somewhere thereabouts; but there were no
indications of the course his vessels, the "Erebus" and the "Terror,"
had taken when they had sailed away. Throughout the winter the search
was continued, and the "Rescue" and the "Advance" were often in
imminent danger of destruction in the masses of ice which pressed
against the sides of the ships with enormous force. "Every moment,"
said Lieutenant De Haven, in his report, "I expected the vessels would
be crushed or overwhelmed by the masses of ice forced up far above our
bulwarks." But at last, on June 6th, they forced their way again into
the open sea; and as the instructions had been not to spend a second
winter in the Arctic regions, sail was set for home, and late in the
summer of 1851 the brigs arrived at New York.
The sending of the frigate "Mississippi," commanded by Captain Matthew
G. Perry, to the coast of Halifax, in 1852, averted what threatened to
be serious trouble. A dispute had arisen among the American and
Canadian fishing schooners in those waters, and seven American vessels
had been seized by the British cruisers.
This caused intense indignation in New England; but Captain Perry
poured oil upon the troubled waters, and in 1854, as a result of his
visit, a reciprocity treaty between the United States and Canada was
signed, and this lasted for ten years.
Captain Perry performed his most important services for the
government, however, in Japan. The early fifties were an era of
exploring expeditions for the navy. There were trips up the rivers
into unknown regions of South America and Africa. The Isthmus of
Darien was explored, and an ambitious scheme to cut a ship-channel
through was found to be impracticable. It was very natural, during
this activity in penetrating little-known parts of the world, that
attention should have been given to Japan, which was a land of mystery
to the world at large because of the exclusion of foreigners from that
country. In 1852, Captain Perry was assigned the command of the
squadron cruising in the East Indies, and was empowered, in addition
to his ordinary duties, to make a display of force in the waters of
Japan in order to obtain better treatment for American seamen cast
upon Japanese shores, and to gain entry into Japanese ports for
vessels seeking supplies. He bore a letter, moreover, from the
President of the United States to the Emperor of Japan, written with a
view to obtaining a treaty providing for friendly intercourse and
commerce with the haughty island kingdom. On the 8th of July, the
squadron, comprising the frigates "Mississippi," "Susquehanna," and
"Powhatan"; the corvette "Macedonian"; the sloops-of-war "Plymouth,"
"Saratoga," and "Vandalia"; and the store-ships "Supply,"
"Southampton," and "Lexington," anchored off the city of Uraga, in the
Bay of Jeddo, Japan. Captain Perry decided that the proper course to
pursue with the Japanese was to assume a very lofty and commanding
tone and bearing. He therefore ordered away from the sides of his
vessel the boats which swarmed around it, and allowed none but
government officials of high rank to come on board. He himself
remained in seclusion in his cabin, treating with the Japanese through
intermediaries. He moved his squadron nearer the capital than was
allowable, and then demanded that a special commission, composed of
men of the highest rank, be appointed to convey his letter from the
President to the Emperor. The close proximity of the ships-of-war to
the capital, and Captain Perry's peremptory demand, were not at all to
the liking of the Japanese; but they were greatly impressed with his
apparent dignity and power, and at last consented to receive and
consider the letter. Fearing treachery, Captain Perry moved his ships
up so that their guns would command the building prepared for his
reception, and on the 14th of July went ashore with an escort of 400
officers and men, who found themselves, on landing, surrounded by
about 6,000 Japanese soldiers under arms.
Three months were given to the Japanese officials to reply to the
letter, and Captain Perry sailed with his squadron for the coast of
China. He returned after an interval of three months, and anchored his
ships beyond Uraga, where the previous conference had been held, and
nearer the capital, despite the fact that a place twenty miles below
had been appointed for the second meeting. The Japanese demurred at
this, being so exclusive that they did not wish their capital nor
their country even to be seen by foreigners. Instead of respecting
these wishes, Captain Perry approached still nearer, until he was only
eight miles from Tokio. This high-handed policy had the desired
effect. Five special Japanese commissioners met Captain Perry, and in
a building within range of the ships' guns, negotiations were carried
on. They resulted, on March 31st, in the signing of a treaty by the
Japanese, in which they promised to open two of their ports to
American vessels seeking supplies; to give aid to seamen of the United
States wrecked upon their shores; to allow American citizens
temporarily residing in their ports to enter, within certain
prescribed limits, the surrounding country; to permit consuls of the
United States to reside in one of the open ports; and, in general, to
show a peaceful and friendly spirit toward our government and
citizens. This treaty is important, because it opened the door for the
peoples of the world to a country which has since proved to be
possessed of vast wealth and resources. Captain Perry received high
praise for his firmness and diplomacy in the conduct of the difficult
negotiations.
One vessel of Captain Perry's fleet, the "Plymouth," had remained at
Shanghai when the squadron returned to Japanese waters, and she played
a very active though brief part in the troubles which then existed in
China. Imperial and revolutionary troops were fighting for supremacy,
and the former showed a hostile disposition to the American and
English residents of Shanghai. An American pilot was captured by an
Imperial man-of-war, but was retaken in a most spirited manner from
the Chinese by Lieutenant Guest, and a boat's crew from the
"Plymouth." The Chinese manifestations of hostility toward foreign
residents continued, and on the 4th of April, 1854, about ninety men
from the "Plymouth" and American merchant-ships, under the leadership
of Commander Kelly, went ashore, and in conjunction with one hundred
and fifty men from a British man-of-war, began an attack upon the
Imperial camp. The Americans had two field-pieces and a twelve-pound
boat-howitzer, which, together with the muskets, were used so
effectively that, after ten minutes of sharp fighting, the Chinese
fled in great disorder, leaving a number of dead and wounded upon the
field. The American loss was two killed and four wounded.
Piracy was rampant in the China seas during this period, and so bold
and ferocious were the Chinese desperadoes that their junks were a
great terror to merchant vessels, and seriously interfered with
commerce. The "Powhatan," another of Captain Perry's squadron, and the
English sloop "Rattler," joined forces against a fleet of piratical
junks off Khulan, in 1855, and completely destroyed them, killing many
of the pirates in the attack and taking a large number of prisoners.
In Happy Valley, Hong-Kong, a monument was erected to commemorate the
eight English and American sailors who were killed in the conflict.
While the East India squadron was performing these important and
gallant services off the coasts of Japan and China, the other vessels
of the navy were by no means idle. Among the conspicuous naval events
of the time was the spirited action of Commander Ingraham at Smyrna,
in 1854. A young Austrian, Martin Koszta, had lived in New York city
two years before, and had declared his intention of becoming an
American citizen. He had gone to Smyrna on business, and having
incurred the displeasure of the Austrian government, had been seized,
and was a prisoner on board the Austrian man-of-war "Hussar."
Commander Ingraham, commanding the sloop-of-war "St. Louis," demanded
that Koszta be surrendered, on the ground that he was an American
citizen. This being refused, Ingraham cleared for action, although the
"Hussar's" force was much superior to his own. His bold stand brought
the Austrians to satisfactory terms, and the threatened engagement was
averted by the surrender of Koszta.
There were two Arctic expeditions in addition to that of the "Rescue"
and the "Advance" in the early fifties. Both of them grew out of the
ill-fated Arctic explorations of Sir John Franklin. Lady Franklin, his
wife, was anxious, upon the failure of the first relief expeditions,
to send another, and she asked that a surgeon of the United States
Navy, Dr. Kane, be permitted to command it. The Navy Department
granted the request, and in June, 1853, the expedition, composed of
eighteen men under orders from the department and the patronage of
Henry Grinnell, of New York, and George Peabody, the American
merchant, of London, began the northwest journey. This search for Sir
John Franklin's ships was also unsuccessful, and the relief party was
for a long time in imminent danger of a fate similar to Franklin's.
After living for two winters imprisoned in the ice in Smith's Sound,
they abandoned their vessel, which had been largely broken up to
provide fuel, and started on a journey over the ice in sledges. After
eighty-four days of extreme privation and thrilling adventure, they
reached Driscol Bay, where they were found by Commander Hartstone and
Lieutenant Simms, commanding respectively the "Release" and the
"Arctic," which vessels had been fitted out by order of Congress to
rescue them. In October, 1855, the united party reached New York.
In November, 1855, the presence of the United States ship
"Germantown," commanded by Captain Lynch, in the harbor of Montevideo,
prevented an extensive massacre. There had been a rebellion in
Paraguay, and the insurrectionists had capitulated. The government
troops rushed upon them with the intention of despatching them, when a
detachment of United States marines interfered and put an end to the
sanguinary scene. Three years afterward the marines performed
efficient services in Montevideo in protecting foreign residents
against the insurgents in another rebellion.
The rather curious episode of a battle-ship fighting Indians occurred
in 1856. The sloop-of-war "Decatur," Commander Gansevoort, anchored
off Seattle, Washington, to protect the settlers from attacks from a
large body of Indians. The savages appeared, and fought the marines,
who had landed, with much spirit for six hours. At nightfall they
disappeared in the woods, having suffered the loss of a large number
of braves.
One of the most gallant and important of the minor operations of the
navy took place in November of the same year. Trouble having arisen
between the Chinese authorities of the City of Canton and the English
officials in the vicinity, it was thought that American interests
might be injured, and in consequence Commander Foote stationed his
vessel, the sloop-of-war "Portsmouth," of the squadron under
Flag-Officer Armstrong, near the island of Whampoa, and thence
proceeded, in several armed boats, to ascend the river to Canton to
establish an armed neutrality. Several Americans, however, joined the
British in an attack upon the governor's palace, and planted the flag
beside the English colors on the wall of the city. Commander Foote
disavowed this act, but as he was returning from an interview with the
flag-officer at Whampoa, several shots of grape and canister were
fired from the forts upon his boat, although it displayed the American
flag. The next day the "Portsmouth" and the "Levant," which had come
up the river to lend her aid, proceeded to the Canton barrier forts to
avenge the insult. The "Levant" grounded before coming in range of the
forts; but the "Portsmouth," under a sharp fire, sailed on until
within about 500 yards of the nearest fort; then she opened fire.
After she had thrown about 200 shells, the Chinese ceased firing. Then
followed four days of unsatisfactory parley with Yeh, the Governor of
Canton, after which Commander Foote renewed the attack. The "Levant"
now joined the "Portsmouth," and the vessels began a cannonade, which
was returned with spirit for an hour. Then 208 men, in ten boats, were
landed, and stormed the nearest fort, which was taken. Five thousand
pigtail-wearing soldiers afterward attempted to recapture it, but were
repulsed. In like manner, on the following morning, the next fort was
taken, with an American loss of but three men. During the afternoon
the defenders of the third fort fled. The next morning, in the face of
a heavy fire, the fourth and last fort was carried by a rapid assault.
The little company of Americans was now in possession of four modern
forts constructed by European engineers, which had been defended,
moreover, by thousands of men. The insult had been avenged, and the
affair resulted in a treaty of friendship and commerce with China.
There was little love between Americans and Chinese, however, and
three years afterward Captain Josiah Tatnall rendered valuable aid to
the English and French gunboats when fired upon by the Chinese forts.
The boats, under the command of Sir James Hope, were attempting to
remove obstructions in the Peiho River when the forts suddenly opened
a destructive fire. A desperate conflict followed, in which several
hundred of the English were killed. Captain Tatnall commanded the
chartered steamer "Toey-Wan," which was in the harbor. He forgot his
neutrality as he watched the scene. With the exclamation, "Blood is
thicker than water!" he jumped into his launch and steamed for the
British flagship. The boat was struck with a ball, and before its trip
was ended sunk, the coxswain being killed and Lieutenant Trenchart
severely wounded. The others who had manned her were rescued, and they
helped the English at the guns. Captain Tatnall afterward used the
"Toey-Wan" to tow up and bring into action the British reserves. His
action was a clear violation of the treaty and the neutrality law. He
received but slight punishment, however, and gained great popularity
in Great Britain.
At Eaya, in the Feejee Islands, in 1858, a sharp conflict took place
between the natives and forty men under Lieutenant Caldwell, who had
been sent to destroy the principal village as retribution for the
murder of two American citizens. The natives were sent fleeing inland.
The Secretary of the Navy said of the affair, "The gallantry,
coolness, and bravery displayed by officers and men was in the highest
degree commendable." A somewhat similar episode occurred in the
vicinity of Kisembo, on the west coast of Africa, in 1860. The natives
threatened the property and lives of American citizens, and would
undoubtedly have put their threats into effect had it not been for the
presence and prompt action of Commander Brent of the sloop-of-war
"Marion." When an insurrection occurred in the neighborhood of Panama,
in July, 1860, Commander Porter landed a body of marines and sailors
from his ship, the "St. Mary's," which was then stationed on the
western coast of Mexico. The governor gave up the city of Panama to
the joint occupancy of the forces of the "St. Mary's" and the British
ship-of-war "Clio," and tranquillity was quickly restored.
PART III
BLUE-JACKETS OF '61.
CHAPTER I.
THE OPENING OF THE CONFLICT. -- THE NAVIES OF THE CONTESTANTS. --
DIX'S FAMOUS DESPATCH. -- THE RIVER GUNBOATS.
The story of the naval operations of the civil war is a record of
wonderful energy and inventive skill in improvising and building
war-vessels, vigilance and courage in handling them, and desperate
bravery and dash displayed by officers and seamen in the great
engagements in which vessels of either side took part. Yet of the
immense body of literature dealing with the war, the greater part is
given to telling the story of the great armies of the North and South.
The details of the great land battles are familiar to many who have
but a vague idea of the service done by the "blue jackets" of the
North, and the daring deeds performed by the navies of both sides.
When the first mutterings of the storm of war began to be heard, the
United States Government had at its disposal sixty-nine
vessels-of-war, of which twenty-seven were laid up for repairs, or,
sailors would say, "out of commission." Of the forty-two vessels in
commission, twenty-six were absent on missions to the East Indies,
the African coast, and other distant quarters of the globe. Long
months must elapse before the most hasty orders could reach them. Many
were sailing-vessels, and must consume many months of precious time
before they could reach the shores of the United States. Indeed,
though on the inauguration of President Lincoln on March 4, 1861, all
these vessels were immediately recalled, not one arrived before the
middle of June, and many were delayed until late in the following
winter. Of the vessels at home, many were old-fashioned
sailing-frigates; beautiful with their towering masts and clouds of
snowy canvas, but almost useless in that day when steam had become
known as the only means of propelling vessels-of-war.
[Illustration: The "Hartford," Farragut's Flagship.]
In officers and men the navy was almost as deficient as in vessels. A
long peace had filled the lists of officers with old men past that
age in which may be expected the alertness and energy that must be
possessed by Jack afloat. The lower grades were filled by boyish
officers from the Naval Academy, who had never seen a gun fired in
anger. The service was becoming rusty from long idleness.
Such was the condition of the navy of the United States when Abraham
Lincoln was made President. Four years later the navy of the United
States consisted of six hundred and seventy-one vessels. No nation of
the world had such a naval power. The stern lessons of the great war
had taught shipbuilders that wooden ships were a thing of the past.
The little "Monitor" had by one afternoon's battle proved to all the
sovereigns of Europe that their massive ships were useless. And all
this had been done by a people grappling in deadly strife with an
enemy in their very dwellings. The world's history contains no more
wonderful story of energy and invention.
[Illustration: Departure of a Naval Expedition from Port Royal.]
When President Lincoln began his term of office, he appointed Gideon
Welles of Connecticut Secretary of the Navy. South Carolina had
seceded from the Union. Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and
Louisiana had followed South Carolina. Anderson, with a handful of
United States troops, was holding Fort Sumter, expecting every minute
to see the puff of smoke from the distant casement of Fort Moultrie,
and hear the shriek of the shell that should announce the opening of
the attack. At Washington, politicians were intriguing. The loyalty of
no man could be regarded as certain. Officers of the army and navy
were daily resigning, and hastening to put themselves under the
command of their various States. In the South all was activity. In the
North the popular desire for a compromise hampered the authorities so
that no decided stand against the spread of the rebellion could be
made. The new Secretary of the Navy found himself face to face with
the certainty of a long and bloody war, yet had under his command a
navy hardly adequate for times of peace. To add to his perplexity,
many of the oldest and most skilful officers in the navy resigned,
saying that their duty to their States was greater than to the United
States as a whole. A few revenue officers even went so far as to
deliver to the State authorities the vessels of which they were in
command. One commander, a Georgian, bringing his ship back from
foreign waters, hesitated long whether to take it to the navy-yard at
New York, or to deliver it to the Southern leaders. He finally
decided to obey orders, and the ship remained with the United States.
Some days afterward the commander told his lieutenant of his
hesitation. "We all saw it," said the younger officer; "and had you
turned the ship's prow towards Charleston, you would have been
instantly put in irons."
The surrender of another naval vessel called forth that famous
despatch from John A. Dix that will ever be linked with his name. The
United States revenue cutter "McClelland" was lying at New Orleans,
under the command of Capt. Breshwood. The revenue service is distinct
from the regular navy, and is under the general command of the
Secretary of the Treasury. John A. Dix, then Secretary of the
Treasury, suspected that Capt. Breshwood was about to surrender his
vessel to the Confederates, and sent an agent to order him to take the
vessel to New York. Breshwood refused, and instantly Dix sent the
despatch: "Tell Lieut. Caldwell to arrest Capt. Breshwood, assume
command of the cutter, and obey the order through you. If Capt.
Breshwood, after arrest, undertakes to interfere with the command of
the cutter, tell Lieut. Caldwell to consider him as a mutineer, and
treat him accordingly. _If any man attempts to haul down the American
flag, shoot him on the spot._" This despatch was intercepted by the
Confederates, and the cutter was surrendered. But Dix's determined
words reverberated through the North, and thrilled all hearts with the
hope that the time for delay was past, and that the growing rebellion
would be put down with a firm hand.
So at the opening of the war we find the North with a navy consisting
of but a few old-fashioned ships, few sailors, officers everywhere
resigning, and a general feeling of distrust of brother officers in
all grades.
The condition of the South as regards the navy was even worse. The
Southern States had never done any great amount of ship-building. The
people were almost all engaged in farming. The crops of cotton and
sugar that they raised were shipped in vessels built in Maine, and
manned by sailors from the seafaring villages of New England. At the
time the war broke out, there was hardly a shipyard in the confines of
the Confederacy. A few vessels were gained by the treachery of United
States officers. The capture of the Norfolk navy-yard brought them
large quantities of naval stores, and by wonderful activity a few
vessels were built for service on inland sounds and rivers. But at no
time could the Confederacy have been said to have a navy; and,
keeping this fact in view, the record the Confederates made with two
or three vessels is most wonderful. In war-vessels for service on that
wonderful network of rivers that make up the waterways of the
Mississippi Valley, the South was not so deficient as in ships of the
seagoing class. The long, crescent-shaped levee at New Orleans is
lined throughout certain seasons of the year by towering
river-steamers which ply up and down the Mississippi and connecting
streams, taking from the plantations huge loads of cotton, sugar, and
rice, and carrying to the planters those supplies which can only be
furnished by the markets of a great city. The appearance of one of
these towering river transports as she comes sailing down the turbid
stream of the great Father of Waters, laden to the water's edge with
brown bales of cotton, and emitting from her lofty, red crowned
smoke-stacks dense clouds of pitchy black smoke, is most wonderful.
Unlike ocean-steamers, the river-steamer carries her load upon her
deck. Built to penetrate far towards the head-waters of rivers and
bayous that in summer become mere shallow ditches, these steamers have
a very light draught. Many of them, whose tiers of white cabins tower
sixty or seventy feet into the air, have but three feet of hull
beneath the river's surface. The first deck, when the vessel is but
lightly loaded, stands perhaps two feet out of water. Above this,
carried on rows of posts twenty feet high, comes the first cabin. All
between is open to the air on either side; so that, as one of the huge
river-monsters passes at night, the watcher on the bank can see the
stalwart, black, half-naked bodies of the negro stokers, bending
before the glowing furnace doors, and throwing in the soft coal, that
issues in clouds of smoke from the towering chimneys seventy feet
above. The lights in three rows of cabin windows glow; and the
unceasing beat of the paddle-wheels mingles with the monotonous puff
of the steam from the escape-pipes, and the occasional bursts of music
from the open cabin doors. One who for the first time looks on one of
these leviathans of the Mississippi, pursuing its stately course at
night, does not wonder at the frightened negro, who, seeing for the
first time a night-steamboat, rushed madly from the river's bank,
crying that the angel Gabriel had come to blow the last trump.
When these boats have taken on their full load of cotton, they present
a very different appearance. Then all the open space beneath the
cabins is filled by a mass of cotton-bales. The hull is so sunken in
the water that the lowest tier of cotton-bales is lapped by the little
waves that ruffle the surface of the river. The stokers and furnaces
are hid from view, and the cabins appear to be floating on one huge
cotton bale. Generally a great wooden stern-wheel propels this strange
craft, adding to the grotesqueness of the sight.
It may readily be understood, that vessels of this class, in which
strength was subordinated to lightness, and economy to gingerbread
decoration, seemed to be but poor materials for vessels-of-war. The
tremendous recoil of a rifled cannon fired from one of those airy
decks, meant to stand no ruder shock than the vibration caused by
dancing pleasure-parties, would shake the whole frail structure to
pieces. Yet the ingenuity born of necessity, and the energy awakened
by the immediate prospect of war, led the Confederate engineers to
convert some of these pleasure-palaces into the most terrible engines
of destruction chronicled in the annals of war. The first step was to
sweep off all the towering superstructure of decks, cabins, and
saloons; tear away all the fanciful mouldings, the decorated
staterooms, and carved and gilded stairways. This left a long, shallow
hull, with a powerful engine in the centre, and great paddle-wheels
towering on either side; the whole so light that the soldiers of
Grant's army, when they first saw one, stoutly averred that "those
boats could run on a heavy dew." The hull was then thinly plated with
iron, and the prow lengthened, and made massive, until it formed the
terrible "ram," fallen into disuse since the days of the Greek
galleys, to be taken up again by naval architects in the nineteenth
century. Then on the deck was built a pent-house of oak and iron, with
sloping sides just high enough to cover the engine. The two towering
smoke-stacks, the pride of the old river-steamers, were cut down to
squat pipes protruding a foot or two above the strange structure. In
the sides were embrasures, from which, when open, peered the iron
muzzles of the dogs of war, ready to show their teeth and spit fire
and iron at the enemy. This was the most powerful type of the river
gunboat, and with them the Confederacy was fairly well provided;
though it was not long before the war department of the United States
was well supplied with similar ships. It was these iron-clad gunboats
that used to rouse the anger of the doughty Admiral Farragut, who
persisted in declaring them cowardly engines of destruction, and
predicted that as they came into use, the race of brave fighting
jack-tars would disappear. On one occasion the admiral was ploughing
his way up the Mississippi above New Orleans, in one of Commodore
Bailey's river iron-clads. The batteries of the enemy on either hand
were pounding away at the ascending ships, hurling huge bolts of iron
against their mailed sides, with a thunder that was deafening, and a
shock that made the stricken ships reel. The admiral stood in the
gunroom of one of the iron-clads, watching the men working the guns,
in an atmosphere reeking with the smoke of the powder. A look of
manifest disapproval was on his face. Suddenly an unusually
well-directed shot struck a weak point in the armor, and, bursting
through, killed two men near the admiral's position. He looked for a
moment on the ghastly spectacle, then turning to an officer said, "You
may stay here in your iron-clad room if you wish: as for me, I feel
safer on deck." And on deck he went, and stayed there while the fleet
passed through the hail of shot and shell.
The scarcity of iron in the Southern States prevented the naval
authorities of the newly organized Confederacy from equipping a very
large fleet of iron-clads. At the outbreak of the war, the Tredegar
Iron Works at Richmond was the only place in the South where iron
plates of a size suitable for plating vessels could be rolled. The
demand was of course far in excess of the facilities of the factory,
and many were the make-shifts that shipbuilders were forced to. Some
vessels were plated only about the centre, so as to protect the boiler
and engines. Others bore such a thin coat of iron that they were
derisively called "tin-clads" by the sailors, who insisted that a
Yankee can-opener was all that was necessary to rip the vessel up.
Sometimes, when even a little iron was unattainable, bales of cotton
were piled up around the sides, like breastworks, for the protection
of men and engines. The vessel which captured the United States ship
"Harriet Lane," at Galveston, was thus provided; and the defence
proved very valuable. One great objection to the cotton-bale bulwarks
was the very inflammable nature of the material, since a red-hot shot
from the enemy, or a bit of blazing wadding from a gun, would set it
smouldering with a dense black smoke that drove the men from their
guns until the bales could be thrown overboard; thus extinguishing the
fire, but exposing the men to the fire of the enemy.
One of the most striking features of the war of secession was the
manner in which private citizens hastened to contribute towards the
public defence. This was so no less in naval than in military circles.
Perhaps the greatest gift ever made by a citizen to his Government was
the gift by "Commodore" Vanderbilt to the United States of a
magnificently equipped ship-of-war, which was named "The Vanderbilt"
in honor of her donor, and did efficient service in maintaining the
blockade on the Atlantic coast. Mr. James Gordon Bennett, the present
owner of the "New-York Herald," put his yacht at the service of the
Government, and was himself commissioned a lieutenant in the revenue
service.
CHAPTER II.
FORT SUMTER BOMBARDED. -- ATTEMPT OF THE "STAR OF THE WEST" TO
RE-ENFORCE ANDERSON. -- THE NAVAL EXPEDITION TO FORT SUMTER. --
THE RESCUE OF THE FRIGATE "CONSTITUTION." -- BURNING THE NORFOLK
NAVY-YARD.
[Illustration: Fort Moultrie.]
The first purely warlike event of the civil war was the bombardment
and capture of Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, by the troops of the
State of South Carolina. At the time when it first became evident that
civil war was inevitable, Fort Sumter was vacant. The only United
States troops stationed at Charleston were two companies of artillery
under Major Robert Anderson. The fortifications of Charleston Harbor
consisted of Fort Moultrie on the main land (in which Anderson's
command was stationed), Fort Pinckney, and Fort Sumter standing
massive and alone in the centre of the harbor. Anderson, with his
handful of troops in the most vulnerable of the three forts, saw day
by day the secession sentiment growing stronger. Almost daily some of
the privileges of the soldiery were cut off; such as the right of
passing through the city, and the right to buy supplies in the public
markets. Daily could be heard the drum and the tread of the newly
organized bodies of State soldiers. Anderson saw that his position was
a weak one, but could get no orders from headquarters. Finally he
decided to assume the responsibility of evacuating Fort Moultrie and
occupying Fort Sumter. To-day it hardly seems as though he could have
thought of doing otherwise, but at that time it was a grave
responsibility for a man to assume. The whole voice of the North was
for compromise, and it was his part to commit the first overt act of
war. But he was nobly upheld in his decision by his Northern brethren.
Having decided, he lost no time in carrying his plan into effect. His
little corps of troops was drawn up at midnight on the parade, and for
the first time informed of the contemplated movement. The guns of Fort
Moultrie were hurriedly knocked from their trunnions, and spiked; the
gun-carriages were piled in great heaps, and fired; and every thing
that might in any way be used against the United States Government was
destroyed. Then the work of evacuation was begun. A small fleet of
row-boats carried the troops to the entrance of the great, sullen
fort, standing alone in the middle of the harbor, and made frequent
trips bringing supplies and ammunition from the deserted fortress. All
was done silently: the oars were muffled, and the commands of the
officers were whispered, that no tidings should be told of the
movement under way. Before sunrise all was completed; and when the
rays of the rising sun fell upon the stars and stripes floating from
the flagstaff of Sumter, the people of Charleston turned their eyes
from the starry flag to the clouds of smoke arising from Fortress
Moultrie, and comprehended that the war had begun. Newspaper
correspondents and agents of the Federal Government, and the Southern
leaders, rushed for the telegraph-wires; and the news soon sped over
the country, that Sumter was occupied. The South Carolinians at once
began to build earthworks on all points bearing on the fort, and were
evidently preparing to drive Anderson and his troops out. Anderson
promptly telegraphed to Washington for supplies and re-enforcements,
and expressed his intention of staying as long as the walls stood. The
Government was dilatory, but finally concluded to re-enforce the fort,
and to that end secured the steamer "Star of the West," and began the
work of provisioning her for the voyage. It was decided that she
should carry no guns: that would look too much like war; and
accordingly, on the 8th of January, this helpless vessel set out to
the aid of the beleaguered garrison of Fort Sumter. The news was at
once telegraphed to Charleston; and the gunners in the Confederate
trenches shotted their guns, and awaited the appearance of the
steamer. She hove into sight on the morning of the 12th, and when
within range was notified, by a shot across her bows, that she was
expected to stop. This signal being disregarded, the firing began in
earnest; and the shot and shell fell thick about the ship, which kept
pluckily on her course. But it was useless to persist. One shot struck
the steamer near the bows, others whizzed through her rigging, and
finally her captain saw a tug putting out from the land, towing a
schooner crowded with armed men to cut off the "Star's" retreat. He
gave the command "Hard a port." The ship's head swung round, and she
steamed away, leaving the garrison to their fate. An old gunner who
stood in a casemate of Fort Sumter, with the lanyard of a shotted gun
in his hand, tells the story of how he begged Major Anderson to let
him fire on the rebel batteries. "Not yet; be patient," was the
response. When the shells began to fall thick about the steamer, he
again asked permission to retaliate, but met the same response. Then
when he saw the white splinters fly from the bow, where the enemies'
shell had struck, he cried, "Now, surely, we can return _that!_" but
still the answer was, "Be patient." When the "Star of the West,"
confessing defeat, turned and fled from the harbor, Anderson turned
and walked away, curtly saying there was no need to fire then, but to
save the load for the necessity that was coming.
[Illustration: Anderson's Command occupying Fort Sumter.]
[Illustration: Major Robert Anderson.]
The first naval operation of the war was the expedition fitted out to
relieve Fort Sumter. In itself, this expedition was but an
insignificant affair, ending in failure; but as the first warlike
action on the part of the United States Government, it attracted the
greatest attention throughout the nation. In preparing the vessels for
sea, great care was taken to keep their destination secret, so that no
warning should reach the Confederates, who were lying in their
batteries about Sumter, awaiting the first offensive action of the
United States authorities to begin shelling the fortress. While the
squadron was fitting out, it was generally supposed that it was
intended to carry troops and munitions of war to Fort Pickens in
Pensacola Harbor, which was invested by the Confederates. When the
fleet finally sailed, each commander carried sealed orders, upon
opening which he first found that the expedition was bound for
Charleston Harbor. Notwithstanding all this secrecy, the destination
of the fleet was telegraphed to the Confederates almost as soon as the
last vessel dropped past Sandy Hook; and the fire from the circle
of batteries about the doomed fort in Charleston Harbor began
immediately. When the fleet arrived at its destination, the
bombardment was well under way. To attempt to land troops or stores
under the withering fire concentrated upon the fort, would have been
madness. The only vessel of sufficient strength to engage the
batteries, the "Pawnee," had been separated from the fleet by a gale a
few nights before, and had not yet arrived. Sadly the sailors gave up
the attempt, and, beating up and down outside the harbor bar, awaited
the inevitable end of the unequal conflict. When, finally, after a
heroic resistance of several days, Major Anderson and his little band,
worn with constant vigilance and labor, destitute of provisions, and
exposed to a constant hail of iron missiles from without and a raging
fire within, agreed to capitulate, the United States steamship
"Baltic," of the Fort Sumter expedition, took him on board and bore
him safely to New York. The main purpose of the expedition had failed,
it is true; but the Government had made its first decisive move, and
public sympathy and confidence were excited.
[Illustration: Fort Sumter under Fire.]
The preparations for the coming struggle were now being pressed
forward on every hand. An incident which occurred soon after the fall
of Sumter awakened the greatest enthusiasm throughout the North. The
United States frigate "Constitution" was lying at Annapolis, where she
was being used by the authorities of the naval academy there for a
school-ship. Although the State of Maryland had not seceded from the
Union, yet secessionists were to be found in great numbers in all
parts of the State. A number of them determined to seize the ship.
Besides being a war-vessel of considerable strength, the
"Constitution"--or "Old Ironsides," as she was affectionately
called--was famous for her many exploits, and dear to the hearts of
Americans for her long service under the stars and stripes. "If we can
but capture the vessel, and turn her guns against the Union," thought
the conspirators, "we will strike a heavy blow at the Northern
sympathizers." And, indeed, it would have been a heavy blow to the
nation had they captured the old frigate that did such service under
Preble in the war with Tripoli; and that in the War of 1812 forced the
British to strike their colors, and gave to the United States navy an
equal place on the high seas with any nation of the world. The plans
of the conspirators were well laid. The ship was manned by but twenty
men, and lay above a bar, over which she could only be carried by the
aid of a steam-tug. Fortunately the officers and crew were all loyal.
For four days and four nights they watched the preparations being made
on shore for their capture. Mysterious signals flashed from the
surrounding hills. Armed bodies of men were seen drilling on the
shore. All seemed to tend toward certain capture. Yet with no chance
of escape the brave men kept vigilant guard, with guns shotted and
always primed.
Near Annapolis was stationed the Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, with
Gen. Butler in command. News was carried to the general of the
perilous position of the "Constitution," and he at once determined to
hasten to her relief. Just as the crew of the old frigate had
abandoned all hope, the steamer "Maryland" entered the harbor, her
guards and decks crowded with the men of the Eighth Massachusetts.
Quickly the "Constitution" was prepared for sailing. Her anchors were
slipped, all useless weight cast overboard, and, with the "Maryland"
as tug, the stately frigate passed slowly over the bar, and out of the
grasp of the conspirators.
The "Constitution" was not the only United States vessel that the
Confederates were planning to seize. Soon after she escaped from their
hands, an event occurred by which a vast quantity of naval stores, and
the mutilated but still valuable hulls of some of the most powerful
war-vessels in the United States navy, fell into their hands. The
United States navy-yard at Norfolk was one of the most valuable of all
the governmental possessions. In the great yard was government
property amounting to more than twenty millions of dollars.
Machine-shops, foundries, dwellings for officers, and a massive
granite dry-dock made it one of the most complete navy-yards in the
world. An enormous quantity of cannon, cannon-balls, powder, and
small-arms packed the huge storehouses. In the magnificent harbor were
lying some of the most formidable vessels of the United States navy,
including the steam frigate "Merrimac," of which we shall hear much
hereafter. Small wonder was it, that the people of Virginia, about to
secede from the Union, looked with covetous eyes upon this vast stock
of munitions of war lying apparently within their grasp. It did not
take long for them to persuade themselves that they were right in
seizing it; and, once decided, their movements were vigorous and open.
Of their ability to capture the yard, and gain possession of all the
property there, they felt no doubt. The first thing to be done was to
entrap the ships so that they should be unable to get out of the
harbor. Accordingly, on the 16th of April, three large stone-vessels
were sunk directly in the channel, apparently barring the exit of the
frigates most effectually. Indeed, so confident of success were the
plotters, that in a despatch to Richmond, announcing the successful
sinking of the stone-ships, they said, "Thus have we secured for
Virginia three of the best ships of the navy." But later events
showed, that, in boasting so proudly, the Virginians were committing
the old error of counting chickens before they were hatched.
The condition of affairs within the navy-yard now seemed desperate.
There appeared to be no chance of getting the vessels beyond the
obstructions. The militia of Virginia was rapidly gathering in the
town. Among the naval officers on the ships great dissension existed,
as many were Southerners, about to resign their posts in the United
States service to enter the service of their States. These men would,
of course, give no active aid to any movement for the salvation of the
United States property in the yard. Any assistance must come from the
outside; the beleaguered could but passively await the course of
events.
At seven o'clock on the night of April 21, the United States steamer
"Pawnee," which had been lying under the guns of Fortress Monroe,
hoisted anchor, and headed up the bay, on an errand of destruction. It
was too late to save the navy-yard with its precious stores. The only
thing to be done was to burn, break, and destroy every thing that
might be of service to an enemy. The decks of the "Pawnee" were black
with men,--soldiers to guard the gates, and complete the work of
destruction within the yard; blue-jacketed tars to do what might be
done to drag the entrapped vessels from the snare set them by the
Virginians. It was a bright moon-light night. The massive hull of the
ship-of-war, black in the cold, white rays of the moon, passed rapidly
up the Elizabeth River. The sunken wrecks were reached, and
successfully avoided; and about nine o'clock the "Pawnee" steamed into
the anchorage of the navy-yard, to be greeted with cheers from the
tars of the "Cumberland" and "Pennsylvania," who expected her arrival.
The townspeople seeing the war-vessel, with ports thrown open, and
black muzzles of the guns protruding, took to their houses, fearing
she would open fire on the town. Quickly the "Pawnee" steamed to her
moorings. The marines were hurriedly disembarked, and hastened to
guard the entrances to the navy-yard. Howitzers were planted so as to
rake every street leading to the yard. Thus secure against attack, the
work of the night began. Nearly two thousand willing hands were set
hard at work, cannon were dismounted and spiked, rifles and muskets
dashed to pieces; great quantities of combustibles were piled up in
the mammoth buildings, ready to be fired at a given signal. In the
mean time, the blue-jackets were not idle. It was quickly decided,
that, of all the magnificent vessels anchored in the harbor, the
"Cumberland" was the only one that could be towed past the
obstructions in the river. All hands were set to work removing every
thing of value from the doomed vessels to the "Cumberland." Gunpowder
and combustibles were then arranged so as to completely destroy the
vessels when ignited. When the moon went down at twelve o'clock, the
preparations were complete. All the men were then taken on board the
"Cumberland" and "Pawnee," save a few who were left to fire the
trains. As the two vessels started from the moorings, the barracks
were fired, the lurid light casting a fearful gleam upon the crowded
yards and shrouds of the towering frigate. A little way out in the
stream a rocket was sent up from the "Pawnee." This was the signal for
the firing of the trains. The scene that followed is thus described by
an eye-witness:--
"The rocket sped high in air, paused a second, and burst in showers of
many colored lights; and, as it did so, the well-set trains at the
ship-houses, and on the decks of the fated vessels left behind, went
off as if lit simultaneously by the rocket. One of the ship-houses
contained the old 'New York,' a ship thirty years on the stocks, and
yet unfinished; the other was vacant. But both houses, and the old
'New York,' burned like tinder. The vessels fired were the
'Pennsylvania,' the 'Merrimac,' the 'Germantown,' the 'Plymouth,' the
'Raritan,' the 'Columbia,' and the 'Dolphin.' The old 'Delaware' and
'Columbus," worn-out and disabled seventy-fours, were scuttled, and
sunk at the upper docks on Friday.
"I need not try to picture the scene of the grand conflagration that
now burst like the day of judgment on the startled citizens of
Norfolk, Portsmouth, and all the surrounding country. Any one who has
seen a ship burn, and knows how like a fiery serpent the flame leaps
from pitchy deck to smoking shrouds, and writhes to their very top
around the masts that stand like martyrs doomed, can form some idea of
the wonderful display that followed. It was not thirty minutes from
the time the trains were fired, till the conflagration roared like a
hurricane, and the flames from land and water swayed and met and
mingled together, and darted high, and fell, and leaped up again, and
by their very motion showed their sympathy with the crackling,
crashing war of destruction beneath.
[Illustration: Destruction of Norfolk Navy-yard.]
"But in all this magnificent scene the old ship 'Pennsylvania' was the
centre-piece. She was a very giant in death, as she had been in life.
She was a sea of flame; and when the iron had entered her soul, and
her bowels were consuming, then did she spout forth from every
porthole of every deck torrents and cataracts of fire, that to the
mind of Milton would have represented her a frigate of hell pouring
out unending broadsides of infernal fire. Several of her guns were
left loaded, but not shotted; and as the fire reached them they sent
out on the startled morning air minute-guns of fearful peal, that
added greatly to the alarm that the light of the fire had spread
through the country round about. The 'Pennsylvania' burned like a
volcano for five hours and a half before her mainmast fell. I stood
watching the proud but perishing old leviathan as this emblem of her
majesty was about to come down. At precisely half-past nine o'clock
the tall tree that stood in her centre tottered and fell, and crushed
deep into her burning sides."
During this fearful scene the people of the little town, and the
Virginia militia-men who had been summoned to take possession of the
navy-yard, were no idle spectators. Hardly had the "Pawnee" steamed
out into the stream, when the great gates were battered down, and
crowds of men rushed in, eager to save whatever arms were uninjured.
Throughout the fire they worked like beavers, and succeeded in saving
a large quantity of munitions of war to be used by the Confederacy.
The ships that had been fired all burned to the water's edge. One was
raised, and re-appeared as the formidable "Merrimac" that at one time
threatened the destruction of the whole Union navy.
A great amount of valuable property was saved for the Virginians by
the coolness of a young boy, the son of one of the citizens of the
town. This lad was within the gates of the navy-yard when the troops
from the ships rushed in, and closed and barricaded them against the
townspeople. He was frightened, and hid himself behind a quantity of
boards and rubbish, and lay there a silent and immensely frightened
spectator of the work of destruction. An officer passed near him
directing the movements of two sailors, who were laying a train of
gunpowder to an immense pile of explosives and combustibles in the
huge granite dry-dock. The train passed over a broad board; and the
boy, hardly knowing what he did, drew away this board, leaving a gap
of eight inches in the train. When all the trains were fired, this was
of course stopped at the gap; and the dry-dock was saved, and still
remains in the Norfolk Navy Yard.
CHAPTER III.
DIFFICULTIES OF THE CONFEDERATES IN GETTING A NAVY. -- EXPLOIT OF
THE "FRENCH LADY." -- NAVAL SKIRMISHING ON THE POTOMAC. -- THE
CRUISE OF THE "SUMTER."
The disparity of maritime importance between the North and the South,
and the consequent difficulties to be overcome by the latter in
getting a navy, have been already alluded to. As it has been stated,
in river-steamers and ponderous rams the South was fairly well
supplied; but what was really needed were ocean-going ships, to break
the rigid blockade that was slowly starving the Confederacy into
submission,--swift cruisers to prey on the commerce of the enemy, and
powerful line-of-battle ships, which, by successfully coping with the
vessels of the United States on the high seas, should secure for the
Confederacy recognition, and possibly assistance, from the great
powers of Europe. But how to get these without shipyards,
shipbuilders, or seamen, was a task that baffled the ingenuity of the
best minds in the South. Immediately upon the organization of the
Confederate cabinet, an agent was sent to England to negotiate for
vessels and guns. But, though this agent was a man of wonderful
resources and great diplomacy, he found an almost insuperable obstacle
in the universally recognized law of nations, to the effect that no
neutral nation shall sell vessels or munitions of war to belligerents.
It is true that this agent, Capt. Bulloch, did succeed in securing
three ships,--the "Florida," the "Shenandoah," and the celebrated
"Alabama;" but to do so cost an immense amount of diplomacy and the
sacrificing of the strength of the vessels to the necessity which
existed for making them appear to be merchantmen. To build an
iron-clad in a foreign port, was out of the question; and consequently
ships so obtained were forced to fly from any well-equipped
war-vessel, and only venture to attack unarmed merchantmen.
[Illustration: The "French Lady."]
The United States vessels which were delivered into the hands of the
Confederates by their officers were mainly small revenue cutters, of
little use in naval warfare and soon given up or destroyed. Not a
single ship of this class made any record of distinguished service for
the Confederacy. Several merchant-vessels were captured by the
Confederates, who concocted the most ingenious plans to secure
success. One bright July morning the steamer "St. Nicholas" was lying
at her dock in Baltimore, with steam up, and all prepared for her
regular trip down the Chesapeake. Quite a large number of passengers
had bought tickets, and lounged about the decks, waiting for the
voyage to begin. Among the passengers were a number of mechanics, with
tools in their hands, going down the bay in search of work. Shortly
before the signal to cast off was given, a carriage was driven down
the wharf, and a lady, heavily veiled, alighted, assisted by two
gentlemen. The gentlemen stated that she was a French lady, and in
ill-health. Accordingly she was at once assigned a stateroom, to which
she retired. Soon after, the vessel cast off and headed down the bay.
When fairly out of the harbor, the stateroom door opened, and instead
of the frail, heavily veiled widow who went in, out strode a
black-whiskered man, armed to the teeth. He had no trouble now in
speaking English, and at once demanded the surrender of the ship. The
honest mechanics dropped their tools, and, drawing concealed weapons,
rallied around their leader. They had found the work they started out
to seek. The ship was captured, and a new privateer was ready to prey
on Northern merchant-ships. Once in the hands of the conspirators, the
vessel was run into a little port where the passengers were landed,
and a hundred and fifty more Confederates taken aboard. Under the
command of Capt. Thomas (the "French lady"), the vessel proceeded to
Fredericksburg, where she, and three brigs captured on the way, were
delivered to the Confederate leaders. This adventure so favorably
terminated, Thomas, with his officers, started back to Baltimore,
to lay plans for the capture of some other unsuspecting craft. But
fortune, which had thus far favored him, deserted him at last. On the
vessel upon which the conspirators took passage were two
police-officers of Baltimore. One of these officers recognized Thomas,
and quietly laid plans for his capture. In the harbor at Baltimore
stands Fort McHenry. Under its frowning casemates the ships of the
United States could lie without fear of attack from the thousands of
discontented men who made of Baltimore a secession city. The captain
of the "Mary Washington" was ordered by Lieut. Carmichael, the officer
of police, to bring the ship into the anchorage, under the guns of the
fort. This soon came to the ears of Thomas, who with his men rallied
on the deck, and, with revolvers drawn, seemed prepared to make a
desperate resistance. They were soon convinced that the officers had
ample power behind them, and therefore submitted. On arriving at the
fort, a company of soldiers was sent aboard the boat, and the
prisoners were marched ashore. But Thomas was not to be found. Search
was made in all parts of the boat, without avail; and the officers had
decided that he had jumped overboard, with the desperate intention of
swimming ashore. Just as they were about to give up the search, a
noise was heard that seemed to come from a bureau in the ladies'
cabin. Search was made, and there, coiled up in a narrow
bureau-drawer, lay the leader of the band. He had been there two
hours, and was helpless from cramp and exhaustion. He was placed in a
cell at Fort Lafayette; but later, having been given the privilege of
walking about the fort, managed to escape by making floats of empty
tomato-cans, and with their aid swimming almost two miles. He was
afterwards recaptured, and remained a prisoner until released by
reason of an exchange of prisoners between the North and South. Soon
after his capture, the Federal authorities at Baltimore learned that
plans had been made to capture other passenger steamers in the same
way; but the ringleader being locked up, there was no difficulty in
defeating the plans of the band.
During the first few weeks of the war, before active hostilities had
fairly commenced, events of this nature were of almost daily
occurrence. On the Potomac particularly, small cruisers were in
continual danger of being captured, and put into commission under the
Confederate flag. A trading schooner loaded with garden-produce,
dropping lazily down the river to the bay, would suddenly be boarded
by four or five armed men, her crew driven below, and the vessel run
into some convenient port on the Virginia shore, to re-appear in a day
or two with a small rifled cannon mounted on the forecastle, and a
crew thirsting to capture more vessels for the Confederacy. On one
occasion a party of congressmen from Washington started down the
Potomac for an excursion to Hampton Roads. Their vessel was a small
tug, which carried a bow-gun carefully screened from observation by
tarpaulin. A short distance down the river, a boat with a howitzer was
seen putting out into the stream, and shaping its course directly
across the bows of the tug. As the two boats drew nearer together, a
demand came from the smaller that the tug should be surrendered "to
the State of Virginia." Apparently yielding, the captain of the tug
slowed up his vessel, and waited for his assailants to come alongside,
which they did until suddenly confronted with the muzzle of a cannon,
trained directly on their boat, and a loud voice demanding that they
surrender at once, which they accordingly did, and were taken to
Washington by their triumphant captors. Many such trivial events are
chronicled by the newspapers of the time. The advantage gained by
either side was small, and the only effect was to keep the war
sentiment at fever-heat.
[Illustration: Blockading the Mouth of the Mississippi.]
The first regularly commissioned man-of-war of the Confederate States
was the "Sumter," an old passenger steamer remodelled so as to carry
five guns. This vessel, though only registering five hundred tons, and
smaller than many a steam-yacht of to-day, roamed over the high seas
at will for more than a year, burning and destroying the
merchant-vessels of the North, and avoiding easily any conflicts with
the Northern men-of-war. Her exploits made the owners of American
merchant-vessels tremble for their property; and the United States
authorities made the most desperate attempts to capture her, but in
vain. In his journal of Dec. 3, 1861, Capt. Semmes of the "Sumter"
writes with the greatest satisfaction: "The enemy has done us the
honor to send in pursuit of us the 'Powhattan,' the 'Niagara,' the
'Iroquois,' the 'Keystone State,' and the 'San Jacinto.'" Any one of
these vessels could have blown the 'Sumter' out of water with one
broadside, but the cunning and skill of her commander enabled her to
escape them all.
It was on the 1st of June, 1861, that the "Sumter" cast loose from the
levee at New Orleans, and started down the Mississippi on her way to
the open sea. For two months workmen had been busy fitting her for the
new part she was to play. The long rows of cabins on the upper deck
were torn down; and a heavy eight-inch shell-gun, mounted on a pivot
between the fore and mainmasts, and the grinning muzzles of four
twenty-four-pounder howitzers peeping from the ports, told of her
warlike character. The great levee of the Crescent City was crowded
with people that day. Now and again the roll of the drum, or the
stirring notes of "Dixie," would be heard, as some volunteer company
marched down to the river to witness the departure of the entire
Confederate navy. Slowly the vessel dropped down the river, and,
rounding the English turn, boomed out with her great gun a parting
salute to the city she was never more to see. Ten miles from the mouth
of the river she stopped; for anchored off the bar below lay the
powerful United States steamer "Brooklyn," with three other
men-of-war, each more than a match for the infant navy of the
Confederacy. Eleven days the "Sumter" lay tugging at her anchors in
the muddy current of the great river, but at last the time of action
arrived. The news came that the "Brooklyn" had started in chase of a
vessel, and the mouth of the river was clear. Quickly the "Sumter" got
under way, and with all steam up made for the channel over the bar.
She was still six miles from the bar when the "Brooklyn" caught sight
of her, and abandoning her first chase strove desperately to head her
off. It was a time of intense excitement. Each vessel was about
equally distant from the bar for which each was steaming at the
highest possible speed. For the "Sumter," it was escape or die. It was
too late to fly up the river to the sheltering guns of Fort St.
Philip. Should the "Brooklyn" get within range, the "Sumter" was
doomed. The "Brooklyn" was the faster vessel of the two, but had the
wind in her teeth; while the "Sumter" had the advantage of wind and
current. At length the pass was reached, and the "Sumter" dashed over
the bar, and out on the smooth blue water of the Gulf of Mexico, well
ahead of her powerful foe. The "Brooklyn" quickly rounded to, and a
quick puff of smoke from amidships told the crew of the flying vessel
that the terrible pivot-gun of their enemy had sent a warning message
after them. But there was but a second of suspense, when a great jet
of water springing from the surface of the gulf told that the bolt had
fallen short. The "Brooklyn" then quickly crowded on all sail, and
started in hot pursuit, but after four hours abandoned the chase, put
up her helm, and started sullenly back for the river's mouth; while
the tars of the "Sumter" crowded shrouds and bulwarks, and cheered
heartily for the navy of the young Confederacy.
The "Sumter" was now fairly embarked on her career. The open sea was
her territory, and all ships floating the stars and stripes at the
masthead were to be her prey. She was not a strong vessel; and her
orders were to avoid any battles with the powerful ships of the
"Yankee" navy, but to seize and destroy all merchantmen that should
come in her way. Her first purpose was to capture these vessels, and
by selling them in neutral ports profit by the prize. But the neutral
nations soon refused to admit all rebel prizes to their ports; and, as
all the ports of the Confederacy were closed by the blockade, nothing
was left but to burn the vessels when captured. Many a floating
bonfire marked the way of the little "Sumter," and great was the
consternation among the ship-owners of the North.
When four days out, the "Sumter" captured her first prize. She was a
fine ship, the "Golden Rocket" of Maine, six hundred and ninety tons.
With the United States flag fluttering at the peak, she came sailing
proudly towards her unsuspected enemy, from whose peak the red flag of
England was displayed as a snare. When the two vessels came within a
mile of each other, the wondering crew of the merchantman saw the
English flag come tumbling down, while a ball of bunting rose quickly
to the peak of the mysterious stranger, and catching the breeze
floated out, showing a strange flag,--the stars and bars of the
Confederacy. At the same minute a puff of smoke from the "Long Tom"
amidships was followed by a solid shot ricochetting along the water
before the dismayed merchantman, and conveying a forcible, but not at
all polite, invitation to stop. The situation dawned on the astonished
skipper of the ship,--he was in the hands of "the Rebels;" and with a
sigh he brought his vessel up into the wind, and awaited the outcome
of the adventure. And bad enough the outcome was for him; for Capt.
Semmes, unwilling to spare a crew to man the prize, determined to set
her on fire. It was about sunset when the first boat put off from the
"Sumter" to visit the captured ship. The two vessels were lying a
hundred yards apart, rising and falling in unison on the slow rolling
swells of the tropic seas. The day was bright and warm, and in the
west the sun was slowly sinking to the meeting line of sky and ocean.
All was quiet and peaceful, as only a summer afternoon in Southern
seas can be. Yet in the midst of all that peace and quiet, a scene in
the great drama of war was being enacted. Nature was peaceful, man
violent.
For a time nothing was heard save the measured thump of the oars in
the rowlocks, as the boats plied to and fro between the two ships,
transporting the captured crew to the "Sumter." Finally the last trip
was made, and the boat hoisted to the davits. Then all eyes were
turned toward the "Golden Rocket." She lay almost motionless, a dark
mass on the black ocean. The sun had long since sunk beneath the
horizon; and the darkness of the night was only relieved by the
brilliancy of the stars, which in those latitudes shine with wondrous
brightness. Soon the watches on the "Sumter" caught a hasty breath. A
faint gleam was seen about the companionway of the "Rocket." Another
instant, and with a roar and crackle, a great mass of flame shot up
from the hatch, as from the crater of a volcano. Instantly the
well-tarred rigging caught, and the flame ran up the shrouds as a
ladder of fire, and the whole ship was a towering mass of flame. The
little band of men on the "Sumter" looked on the terrific scene with
bated breath. Though they fully believed in the justice of their
cause, they could not look on the destruction they had wrought without
feelings of sadness. It was their first act of war. One of the
officers of the "Sumter" writes: "Few, few on board can forget the
spectacle,--a ship set fire to at sea. It would seem that man was
almost warring with his Maker. Her helpless condition, the red flames
licking the rigging as they climbed aloft, the sparks and pieces of
burning rope taken off by the wind, and flying miles to leeward, the
ghastly glare thrown upon the dark sea as far as the eye could reach,
and then the deathlike stillness of the scene,--all these combined to
place the "Golden Rocket" on the tablet of our memories forever." But
it was not long before the crew of the "Sumter" could fire a vessel,
and sail away indifferently, with hardly a glance at their terrible
handiwork.
The "Sumter" continued on her cruise, with varying fortunes. Sometimes
weeks would pass with no prizes to relieve the tedium of the long
voyage. Occasionally she would run into a neutral port for coal or
water, but most of the time was spent on the open sea. The crew were
kept actively employed with drills and exercises; while the officers,
yawning over their books or games, longed for the welcome cry from the
masthead, "Sail ho!" In September the "Sumter" captured a brig, the
"Joseph Park;" and the boarding officer, on examining the log-book,
found an entry made by her captain on the day of leaving Pernambuco:
"We have a tight, fast vessel, and we don't care for Jeff Davis." The
unlucky captain had holloaed long before he was out of the wood.
The "Joseph Park" was the last prize the tars of the "Sumter" had the
pleasure of "looting" for many days. Up and down the tropic seas the
cruiser travelled, loitering about the paths of ocean commerce to no
avail. Often enough the long-drawn hail of the lookout in the
cross-trees, "Sail ho-o-o-o!" would bring the jackies tumbling up from
the forecastle, and set the officers peering anxiously through their
telescopes. But the sails so sighted proved to be English, French,
Spanish, any thing but American; and life aboard the "Sumter" became
as dull as a fisher's where fish are not to be found. In September
Capt. Semmes ran his vessel into a Martinique harbor, to make some
needed repairs, and give the sailors a run ashore. Here they were
blockaded for some time by the United States frigate "Iroquois," but
finally escaped through the cunning of Semmes. Lying in the harbor
near the "Sumter" were two Yankee schooners, whose captains arranged
with the commander of the "Iroquois" to signal him if the "Sumter"
should leave the harbor. If on passing the bar she headed south, a
single red light should gleam at the masthead of the schooner; should
her course lie northward, two lights would be displayed. Semmes, lying
at anchor in the bay, and chafing over his captivity, determined to
break away. He had noticed the frequent communications between the
schooners and the man-of-war, and suspected that his course would be
spied out. Nevertheless, he determined to dare all, and one black
night slipped his cables, and with all lights out, and running-gear
muffled, glided swiftly out of the harbor. In the distance he could
see the lights of the "Iroquois," as she steamed slowly up and down in
the offing, like a sentry on guard. Up in the cross-trees of the
"Sumter" sat a sharp-eyed old quarter-master, with orders not to mind
the "Iroquois," but to keep a close watch on the suspected schooners.
Soon a light gleamed from the maintop of each. Semmes's suspicions
grew. "They have signalled our course," said he: "we'll double." The
ship's head was quickly brought about, and headed south; then all
turned to watch the movements of the "Iroquois." She had headed
northward, and was exerting every power to catch the flying vessel
supposed to be just ahead. Satisfied with having so successfully
humbugged the enemy, the "Sumter" proceeded leisurely on her course to
the southward, leaving the "Iroquois" steaming furiously in the
opposite direction. "I do think, however," writes Capt Semmes in his
log-book, "that a tough old quarter-master, and a grizzled boatswain's
mate, who had clean shaven their heads in preparation for a desperate
fight, were mightily disgusted."
The subsequent career of the "Sumter" was uneventful. She captured but
few more vessels; and in January of the next year ran into the harbor
at Gibraltar, where she was blockaded by a powerful United States
frigate, and finally sold as being worn out. She had been in
commission a little over a year, and in that time had captured
eighteen vessels, burned seven, and released two on a heavy ransom to
be paid to the Confederate Government at the end of the war. It is
needless to say these ransoms were never paid. Capt. Semmes, with his
crew, proceeded to England, and took command of a mysterious ship,
"No. 290," just built at Liverpool, which soon appeared on the high
seas as the dreaded "Alabama."
CHAPTER IV.
THE POTOMAC FLOTILLA. -- CAPTURE OF ALEXANDRIA. -- ACTIONS AT
MATTHIAS POINT. -- BOMBARDMENT OF THE HATTERAS FORTS.
In petty skirmishes and in general inactivity the forces of both
contestants idled away the five months following the fall of Fort
Sumter. The defeat of the Union armies at Bull Run had checked active
operations along the Potomac. On either side of the river the hostile
armies were drilling constantly to bring the raw recruits down to the
efficiency of trained soldiers. Four hundred thousand men lay in
hostile camps within sight of each other. From the national Capitol at
Washington the stars and bars of the Confederate flag could be seen
floating over the camp at Arlington. Occasionally the quiet would be
broken by the crack of a rifle, as some straggler, on one side or the
other, took a casual shot at the sentry pacing on the other side of
the broad stream. Sometimes a battery would come driving down to the
shore, select an advantageous spot, and begin an afternoon's target
practice at the hostile camp; but the damage done was immaterial, and
after wasting much powder and shot the recruits would limber up their
guns and return to their camp. It would have been easy, at almost any
time, for either army to have crossed the Potomac and invaded the
territory of the enemy; but each hung back in apparent dread of taking
the first decisive step. Abraham Lincoln at this time illustrated the
existing condition of affairs, by one of those stories which have made
him celebrated as a raconteur. A number of politicians, calling at the
White House, spoke of the apparent inactivity of the army authorities,
and demanded that some decisive move should be made; some powerful
preparations to beat back the enemy should he attempt to cross the
Potomac. "Gentlemen," said Lincoln, with the twinkle in his eye that
always foretold a story, "when I was a boy I saw an incident which I
have always recollected, and which seems to me to resemble very much
the attitude now assumed by the parties in this impending war. My
father owned a dog,--a particularly vicious, aggressive, and
pugnacious bull-terrier,--one of these fellows with heavy, short
necks, and red, squinting eyes, that seem ever to be on the lookout
for a fight. Next door to us lived a neighbor who likewise rejoiced in
the possession of a canine of appearance and habits of mind similar to
our pet. From the date of their first meeting these dogs had been
deadly enemies, and had growled and yelped at each other through the
picket-fence separating the two yards, until we were forced to keep at
least one dog chained continually. The strained relations between the
dogs became a matter of general interest, and speculations were rife
among the neighbors as to the probable outcome of a hostile meeting.
Those were the times when a lively dog-fight would draw the merchant
from his counter, and the blacksmith from his anvil; and it is even on
record that an honorable judge once hurriedly adjourned his court at
the premonitory sounds of snarling in the court-house square. Well,
the knowledge that two dogs, pining for a fight, were being forcibly
restrained, was too much to be borne by the people of the village; and
a plot was concocted for bringing about a fight. One night two pickets
were surreptitiously removed from the fence, leaving an opening of
ample size to permit a dog to pass. In the morning our dog was sunning
himself in the yard, when the neighbor's dog rushed to his side of
the fence, and made remarks not to be borne by any self-respecting
canine. Then began the usual performance of snarls and barks, and
baring of white teeth, as the dogs made frantic efforts to get at each
other. The neighbors assembled in a crowd, and the knowing ones
predicted a lively time when those two dogs found the hole in the
fence. Down the line of the fence the two curs walked, their eyes
glaring, their jaws snapping, their tongues out, and dropping foam.
The racket was tremendous. At each place where the pickets were a
little spread, they redoubled their efforts to clinch. They approached
the opening. The interest of the spectators redoubled. Now they
reached the spot; sprung at each other; their jaws touched,--and each,
dropping his tail, slunk away to his kennel. Gentlemen, the attitude
of these armies reminds me of that dog-fight."
[Illustration: Flag of the Confederacy.]
While the armies of the two contestants were thus idly resting upon
their arms, the navy was obliged to discharge duties, which, while
they brought some danger, did not gain glory for either officers or
men. The joys of Washington society were not for the naval officers.
The applicant for promotion, who, when asked by an examiner, "Where is
the post of a colonel when his regiment is drawn up for battle?"
responded promptly, "In Washington," had been serving in the army, and
not with the naval corps. Besides the duties of the officers detailed
upon the blockading service, there remained to the navy the arduous
task of patrolling the Potomac River, and preventing as far as
possible communication between the shores.
This work, as may be readily understood, demanded the most untiring
vigilance and the most unflagging energy. The shores on each side of
the Potomac are indented with bays and tributary streams in which a
sloop or large row-boat can easily be concealed during the day. At
night it was impossible to prevent boats laden with contraband goods,
or conveying the bearers of secret despatches, slipping across the
river from the northern side, and running into the concealment
afforded by the irregularity of the Virginia shore-line. Even at this
early period of the war, the vigorous blockade of the Confederate
seaports had created a great lack of many necessaries in the Southern
States. Particularly did the lack of quinine afflict the people of
those malarial sections comprised within the limits of the South
Atlantic and Gulf States. So great was the demand for this drug, that
the enormous sums offered for it led many a speculative druggist north
of Mason and Dixon's line to invest his all in quinine, and try to run
it through the Potomac blockade. Of course, as the traffic was carried
on in small boats, it was impossible to break it up altogether; though
by the efforts of the navy it was almost destroyed.
Briefly stated, the duties of the Potomac flotilla may be said to have
been to patrol the river from Washington to its mouth, to inspect both
sides _daily_ if possible, and to observe whether any preparations for
batteries were being made at any point, and watch for any transports
with troops or provisions, and convoy them to Washington. The flotilla
consisted of small vessels, lightly armed; the "Pawnee," the heaviest
of the fleet, being a sloop of less than thirteen hundred tons, with a
battery of fifteen guns, none of long range. Clearly such an armada as
this could be of but little avail against the earthworks which the
Virginians were busily erecting on every commanding bluff.
Toward the later part of May, 1861, the Federal Government determined
to send troops across the river and occupy the city of Alexandria. The
"Pawnee" had for some days been lying off the town, completely
covering it with her batteries. She had held this position without
making any offensive movement; as her commander understood, that, even
should he compel the town to surrender, he had not the men necessary
for holding the position. On the morning of the 24th, Commander Rowan
saw two steamers coming down the river, laden with Federal troops. He
at once sent a boat ashore, and demanded the surrender of the city,
which was immediately evacuated by the Virginian troops. When the army
of occupation landed, it proved to be Ellsworth's famous Zouave
Regiment, made up largely of the firemen and "Bowery boys" of New York
City. Ellsworth, while marching through the streets at the head of his
command, saw a Confederate flag floating from a mast on top of a
dwelling. With two of his men he proceeded to enter the house, go on
the roof, and tear down the flag. As he came down the stairs, a man
carrying a gun stepped from a doorway, and demanded what he did there.
"This is my trophy," cried Ellsworth, flourishing the bit of striped
bunting. "And you are mine," responded the man, quickly bringing his
gun up, and discharging it full into Ellsworth's breast. The two
Zouaves, maddened at the death of their commander, shot the slayer
through the brain, and plunged their bayonets into his body before he
fell. Ellsworth's death created the greatest excitement in the North,
as it was almost the first blood shed in the war. While the capture of
Alexandria was in itself no great achievement, it was of importance as
the first move of the Northern armies into Virginia.
Had the efforts of the navy towards keeping the Potomac clear of
hostile batteries been supplemented by a co-operating land force, an
immense advantage would have been gained at the very outset. As it
was, all that could be done was to temporarily check the exertions of
the enemy. A battery silenced by the guns from the ships in the
daytime could be, and usually was, repaired during the night, and
remained a constant menace to the transports going to or from
Washington. Under such circumstances, the work of the Potomac flotilla
could only be fatiguing and discouraging. Much of it had to be
performed in row-boats; and the crews of the various vessels were kept
rowing up and down the banks of the river, making midnight excursions
up creeks to examine suspected localities, and lying in wait for
smugglers, and the mail-carriers and spies of the enemy. They were in
continual danger of being opened upon by masked batteries and
concealed sharp-shooters. The "prize money," the hope of which cheers
up the man-o'-wars-man in his dreariest hours, amounted to nothing;
for their prizes were small row-boats and worthless river-craft. The
few engagements with the enemies' batteries brought little glory or
success. In one battle on the 29th of May, 1861, a flotilla,
consisting of the "Thomas Freeborn" (a paddle-wheel steamer, carrying
three guns), the "Anacostia," and the "Resolute" (a little craft of
ninety tons and two guns), engaged the batteries at Aquia Creek, and
pounded away with their pygmy guns for two hours, without doing any
visible damage. Two days later the bombardment was renewed, and two of
the vessels were slightly damaged. A more serious event occurred at
Matthias Point in the latter part of June. Matthias Point was one of
the chief lurking-places of the Confederate guerrillas, who, concealed
in the dense undergrowth along the banks of the Potomac, could pour a
destructive fire into any vessels that passed. Commander J. H. Ward of
the "Freeborn" planned to break up this ambush, sending a landing
party to cut away the trees and undergrowth. The landing party,
commanded by Lieut. Chaplin, was to be covered by the guns of the
"Freeborn" and "Reliance." It was late in the afternoon when they
pushed off for the shore. All seemed quiet; and the bursting of the
shells, which were occasionally dropped into the woods, seemed to have
driven the enemy away. Hardly, however, had the sailors begun the work
of hewing down the undergrowth, when from all quarters a hot fire was
begun, driving them to their boats in a rout. The decks of the two
vessels were swept by the storm of lead. Commander Ward, while
sighting the bow-gun of the "Freeborn," was struck in the abdomen by a
bullet, and died in a few minutes. On the shore the sailors were
hurrying into the boats and pushing off to avoid capture. Lieut.
Chaplin acted with great bravery, and succeeded in getting all his men
away, with their muskets. The last man left on the shore was unable to
swim; and Chaplin, taking him on his shoulders, bore him safely to the
boat. Though the fire of the enemy was concentrated on the two,
neither was hurt, although a minie-ball passed through the
lieutenant's cap.
Two months later this same locality was the scene of another bloody
disaster to the Union arms. On the 16th of August the "Resolute" and
the "Reliance" were ordered to make a reconnoissance of the
neighborhood of Matthias Point. After steaming about the shore for
some time, and noticing nothing of a suspicious character, a boat was
seen on the Virginia shore, and an officer and five men despatched to
capture her. They had just reached her, and were in the act of making
fast, when a volley of musketry was fired from the bushes not more
than five yards away, and three of the crew were instantly killed, and
one wounded. The watchers on the war-vessels, lying in the river,
sprang to their guns, and threw several rounds of shell into the cover
that sheltered the enemy, soon driving them away. The two uninjured
men in the boat succeeded in getting her away with her load of dead
and dying.
It is easy to understand how exasperating, how infuriating, such
service as this must have been to the officers and men of the navy.
For a man to risk his life in the heat and excitement of a battle, is
as nothing to the feeling that one may be at any time caught in a
death-trap, and slaughtered in cold blood.
[Illustration: Naval Patrol on the Potomac.]
A more successful expedition was organized in October, by Lieut.
Harrill of the steamer "Union." He had been informed that a large
schooner was lying in Quantico Creek, and that the Confederates were
massing a number of troops there for the purpose of crossing the
river. He at once determined to destroy the schooner. Accordingly he
manned three boats at half-past two in the morning, and in the
darkness proceeded, with muffled oars, toward the mouth of the creek.
Here some difficulty was experienced, as the entrance is narrow and
obstructed by sandbars; but working energetically, and in perfect
silence, the sailors overcame all obstacles. Once in the creek, they
pulled rapidly along within pistol-shot of the shore, until the tall
masts of the schooner could be descried in the darkness. One sentry
was on guard, who fled wildly as he saw the mysterious boat emerge
from the darkness of the night. The grappling-irons were thrown
aboard, and the jackies swarmed nimbly up the sides, and began the
work of destruction. A huge pile of combustibles was made in the
cabin, and hastily set on fire. The flames spread rapidly; and, though
they insured the destruction of the schooner, they also lighted up the
creek, showing the boats with the sailors bending to their oars to
escape the storm of bullets that they knew must follow. The glare of
the burning schooner, the reflection of the flames on the water, the
flash of the rifles from the shores made a wild picture. Occasionally
a flash from the river was followed by a deep boom, as a heavy shot
left the muzzle of a cannon on the steamers. But through it all, the
men escaped; and the projected invasion of the Confederates was
abandoned, owing to the loss of their schooner.
All through the war this untiring patrol of the Potomac was continued.
Among miasmatic vapors and clouds of noxious insects on mud-flats, in
narrow channels whose densely wooded banks might conceal legions of
hostile sharp-shooters, the river navy kept up its work. Earning but
little glory, though in the midst of constant peril, the officers and
men kept up their work, and contributed not a little to the final
outcome of the great conflict.
All this time the officers of the naval vessels, riding at anchor in
Hampton Roads, were chafing under the enforced idleness. Even the
occasional artillery duels with which their army brethren whiled away
the time were denied to the wistful blue-jackets. Beyond an occasional
chase, generally useless, after a fleet blockade-runner, the sailors
had absolutely no employment. At last, however, the opportunity came.
The first great naval expedition of the war was set under way.
From Cape Henry, at the mouth of the James River, the coast of
Virginia and North Carolina sweeps grandly out to the eastward, like a
mammoth bow, with its lower end at Beaufort, two hundred miles south.
Along this coast-line the great surges of mighty ocean, rolling with
unbroken course from the far-off shore of Europe, trip and fall with
unceasing roar upon an almost uninterrupted beach of snowy sand, a
hundred and more miles long. Near the southern end of this expanse of
sand stands a lighthouse, towering solitary above the surrounding
plain of sea and sand. No inviting beacon giving notice to the weary
marines of safe haven is this steady light that pierces the darkness
night after night. It tells of treacherous shoals and roaring
breakers; of the loss of many a good ship, whose ribs, half buried in
the drifting sand, lie rotting in the salt air; of skies ever
treacherous, and waters ever turbulent. It is the light of Hatteras.
Some twenty miles below Cape Hatteras light occurs the first great
opening in the stretch of sand that extends south from Cape Henry.
Once he has passed through this opening; the mariner finds himself in
the most peaceful waters. The great surges of the Atlantic spend
themselves on the sandy fringe outside, while within are the quiet
waters of Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds, dotted with fertile islands,
and bordering a coast rich in harbors. The wary blockade-runner,
eluding the watchfulness of the United States blockaders cruising
outside, had but to pass the portals of Hatteras Inlet, to unload at
his leisure his precious cargo, and load up with the cotton which grew
in great abundance on the islands and fertile shores of the sound.
Recognizing the importance of this harbor, the Confederates had early
in the war fortified the point north of Hatteras Inlet. Shortly after
the fall of Fort Sumter, a Yankee skipper, Daniel Campbell,
incautiously running his schooner the "Lydia Francis" too near the
stormy cape, was wrecked, and sought shelter among the people at the
inlet. When, some days after, he proposed to leave, he was astounded
to find that he had been delivered from the sea only to fall a prey to
the fortunes of war. He was kept a prisoner for three months; and on
his release, going directly to Fortress Monroe, he proved that he had
kept his eyes open to some purpose. He reported to flag-officer
Stringham that the Confederates had two batteries,--one of ten, the
other of five guns,--known as Fort Hatteras and Fort Clark. With these
two forts the Confederates claimed that they could control the
entrance to Albemarle Sound.
[Illustration: The Fleet off Hatteras.]
As soon as this information was received, an expedition for the
destruction of these forts was organized. It was necessarily chiefly
naval, although a land force under Gen. Butler went with the fleet. On
Aug. 25, 1861, Hampton Roads presented a scene of the greatest
activity. The fleet seemed to have awakened from a long sleep. Every
vessel was being hastily prepared for sailing. Two transports, the
"George Peabody" and the "Adelaide," were crowded with the soldiers of
Gen. Butler's command. From the mainmast of the flagship "Minnesota"
waved the signal-flags, changing constantly as different orders were
sent to the commanders of the other warships. At two o'clock three
balls of bunting were run up to the truck, and catching the breeze
were blown out into flags, giving the order, "Get under way at once."
From the surrounding men-of-war came the shrill pipe of the
boatswains' whistle, and the steady tramp of the men at the capstan
bars as they dragged the anchors to the cat-heads. The nimble
blue-jackets, climbing about the shrouds and yards, soon had the snowy
clouds of canvas set. The wind was fresh; and with bands playing, and
cheers of blue-jackets and soldiers, the stately squadron sailed down
the bay.
But none on board, save the superior officers, knew whither the fleet
was bound. Hardly were they fairly on the Atlantic, when the course
was shaped to the southward, and that much was settled. But whether
New Orleans, Charleston, or Beaufort was the point to be attacked, the
sailors did not know.
The squadron which sailed from Hampton Roads consisted of the
war-vessels "Minnesota," "Wabash," "Pawnee," "Monticello," and
"Harriet Lane;" the transports "George Peabody" and "Adelaide;" and
the tug "Fanny." Soon after rounding Cape Henry, the vessels became
separated; and when the other vessels reached Hatteras, on the 27th,
the "Minnesota" and "Wabash" were nowhere to be seen. As these were
the most powerful frigates of the fleet, great fears were felt for the
success of the expedition; but at last they appeared on the horizon. A
place for landing was selected, and the vessels withdrew into the
offing to spend the night. It was determined to begin the attack early
the next day.
The morning dawned clear, with a calm sea. At four o'clock the men
were summoned to breakfast. At seven the operation of landing the
troops was begun. All the surf-boats, barges, and lifeboats in the
fleet were put to the work. The great war-vessels moved into position,
and prepared to cover with a terrific fire the landing of the troops.
The first shot was fired by the "Wabash," and the cannonading was at
once taken up by the rest of the fleet. The vessels were placed so
that a whole broadside could be discharged at once. Thousands of
pounds of iron balls were thrown into the forts. Under cover of the
cannonading, the disembarkation of the troops began.
But the opposition of the enemy was not the only difficulty to be met.
During the time consumed in getting ready to land, heavy banks of
clouds had been crawling up from the horizon, and the soft wind of
morning had grown into a steady blow. Cape Hatteras was true to its
reputation. On the shelving beach, where the troops must land, the
great rollers were breaking in torrents of foam. The first lifeboats
that attempted the landing were swamped, and the soldiers reached the
land wet and chilled through. The surf-boats were stove in. The
barges, which had been relied upon to land men in large numbers,
proved unmanageable, and were towed away by the "Harriet Lane." When
the attempt to land the troops was given up, it was found that but
three hundred and twenty men had been landed. This was too small a
party to storm the forts, and the issue of the battle depended upon
the great guns of the navy.
[Illustration: Attack on the Hatteras Forts.]
By this time the gunners on the ships had calculated the exact range,
and were firing with fearful effect. Broadside followed broadside,
with the regularity of machinery. It was war without its horrors for
the blue-jackets, since bad marksmanship or poor powder prevented the
Confederate gunners doing any damage. On the gun-deck of the superb
frigate "Minnesota," the jackies were working their guns as coolly as
though they were on drill. The operations of loading and firing were
gone through with like clock-work. The officers could watch the course
of the shells until they struck, and instruct the men, without
undergoing any danger.
But in the forts the scene was one of terror. As soon as the gunners
of the fleet had secured the range, the shells began crashing into the
fort, bewildering the untried soldiers, and driving them from their
guns. A shell falling in the fort, and bursting, would sweep clean a
space thirty feet square. It was madness to try to work the guns. All
sought refuge in the bomb proofs, and an occasional shot was all that
showed the presence of any defenders in the forts. Soon the
Confederates decided to abandon Fort Clark, the smaller of the two,
and mass their forces in Fort Hatteras. As a ruse, to check the
bombardment of the ships, the flags on both forts were hauled down.
This was, of course, taken as a token of surrender; and as the
cannonading stopped, and the clouds of gray gunpowder-smoke lifted,
the shrouds of the bombarding squadron were filled with men, and cheer
upon cheer rang out in honor of the victory. Soon the troops occupied
the deserted battery, and the "Monticello" was ordered into the inlet
to take possession of Fort Hatteras. She had proceeded only a little
way, however, when suddenly a heavy fire was opened upon her from the
fort, and at the same time a large body of re-enforcements was seen
approaching from the south. The gunners came down from the shrouds,
stopped cheering, and began their work again. For a time the
"Monticello" was in a dangerous position. In a narrow and unknown
channel, she was forced to retreat slowly, under heavy fire from the
fort, being hit eight times. The heavy fire of the other vessels,
however, soon drove the Confederate gunners from their guns. The
sailors worked untiringly, and seemed enraged by the deceit practised
by the enemy. One man, while sponging out a gun, preparatory to
reloading it, dropped his sponge overboard. Quick as thought he
vaulted the gunwale, and re-appeared on the surface of the water
swimming for the sponge. Recovering it, he in a few moments crawled
dripping through a porthole, to report respectfully to the captain of
the gun: "Just come aboard, sir."
The fort abandoned by the Confederates had been occupied by the troops
that had been landed; and, under cover of the furious bombardment, the
work of landing was vigorously prosecuted. Night came, and with it a
gale so heavy that the vessels had to desert their stations, and
withdraw into the offing. When the morning broke, however, the sea had
calmed sufficiently to allow the gunners to again set about their
terrible work.
The second day's firing was even more accurate than that of the first;
and the gray-coats were soon compelled to retire to the bomb-proofs,
and abandon all attempt to return the fire of the ships. Soon three
shells in rapid succession burst close to the magazine of the fort,
telling plainly to the affrighted defenders that nothing was left for
them but surrender. A white flag was raised, and Commodore Barron went
off to the fleet to formally surrender the forts and the eight hundred
men of his command. When the terms were concluded, the defeated
soldier turned to flag-officer Stringham, and asked if the loss of
life on the ships had been very large. "Not a man has been injured,"
was the response. "Wonderful!" exclaimed the questioner. "No one could
have imagined that this position could have been captured without
sacrificing thousands of men." But so it was. Without the loss of a
man, had fallen a most important post, together with cannon,
provisions, and nearly seven hundred men.
CHAPTER V.
THE "TRENT" AFFAIR. -- OPERATIONS IN ALBEMARLE AND PAMLICO
SOUNDS. -- DESTRUCTION OF THE CONFEDERATE FLEET.
Early in the war an event occurred which for a time seemed likely to
bring England to the aid of the Confederates. The Confederate
Government had appointed as diplomatic commissioners to England two
gentlemen, Messrs. Mason and Slidell. They had escaped from Mobile on
a fleet blockade-runner, and reached Havana, where they remained a
week waiting for the regular English packet to convey them to
Liverpool. While in Havana they were lavishly entertained by the
colony of Confederate sympathizers there; and feeling perfectly safe,
now that they were outside the jurisdiction of the United States, they
made no attempt to conceal their official character, and boasted of
the errand upon which they were sent.
The United States frigate "San Jacinto," which was one of the many
vessels kept rushing about the high seas in search of the privateer
"Sumter," happened to be in the harbor of Havana at this time. She was
commanded by Capt. Wilkes, an officer who had made an exhaustive study
of international law, particularly as bearing upon the right of a
war-vessel to search a vessel belonging to a neutral nation. Capt.
Wilkes, knowing that by capturing the Confederate commissioners, he
could win for himself the applause of the entire North, determined to
make the attempt. By a study of his books bearing on international
law, he managed to convince himself that he was justified in stopping
the British steamer, and taking from it by force the bodies of Messrs.
Mason and Slidell. Accordingly he set sail from the harbor of Havana,
and cruised up and down at a distance of more than a marine league
from the coast, awaiting the appearance of the vessel. Five days after
the "San Jacinto's" departure, the commissioners set sail in the
British mail-steamer "Trent." She was intercepted in the Bahama
Channel by the "San Jacinto." When the man-of-war fired a blank
cartridge as a signal to heave to, the commander of the "Trent" ran
the British flag to the peak, and continued, feeling secure under the
emblem of neutrality. Then came a more peremptory summons in the shape
of a solid shot across the bows; and, as the incredulous captain of
the "Trent" still continued his course, a six-inch shell was dropped
within about one hundred feet of his vessel. Then he stopped. A boat
put off from the "San Jacinto," and made for the "Trent." Up the side
of the merchant-vessel clambered a spruce lieutenant, and demanded the
immediate surrender of the two commissioners. The captain protested,
pointed to the flag with the cross of St. George waving above his
head, and invoked the power of her Britannic majesty,--all to no
avail. The two commissioners had retired to their cabins, and refused
to come out without being compelled by actual force. The boat was sent
back to the "San Jacinto," and soon returned with a file of marines,
who were drawn up with their muskets on the deck of the "Trent." Every
British ship which carries mails carries a regularly commissioned
officer of the navy, who is responsible for them. This officer on the
"Trent" was somewhat of a martinet, and his protests at this violation
of the rights of a neutral vessel were very vigorous. When the first
gun was fired, he rushed below, and soon re-appeared in all the
resplendent glory of gold lace and brass buttons which go to make up a
naval uniform. He danced about the deck in an ecstasy of rage, and
made the most fearful threats of the wrath of the British people. The
passengers too became excited, and protested loudly. Every thing
possible was done by the people of the "Trent" to put themselves on
record as formally protesting. Nevertheless, the commissioners were
taken away, carried to New York, and from there sent into confinement
at Fort Warren.
When the news of this great achievement became known, Wilkes was made
the lion of the hour. Unthinking people met and passed resolutions of
commendation. He was tendered banquets by cities. He was elected a
member of learned societies in all parts of the country, and was
generally eulogized. Even the Secretary of the Navy, who should have
recognized the grave troubles likely to grow out of this violation of
the principles of neutrality, wrote a letter to Capt. Wilkes, warmly
indorsing his course, and only regretting that he had not captured the
steamer as well as the two commissioners.
But fortunately we had wiser heads in the other executive departments
of the government. President Lincoln and Secretary Seward quickly
disavowed the responsibility for Wilkes's action. Letters were written
to the United States minister in England, Charles Francis Adams,
alluding to the proceeding as one for which Capt. Wilkes as an
individual was alone responsible. And well it was that this attitude
was taken: for hardly had the news reached England, when with one
voice the people cried for war. Sympathizing with the South as they
undoubtedly did, it needed but this insult to the British flag to
rouse the war spirit of the nation. Transports loaded with troops were
immediately ordered to Canada; the reserves were called out; the
ordnance factories were set running day and night; while the press of
the nation, and the British minister at Washington, demanded the
immediate release of the captives, and a full apology from the United
States.
The matter was conducted on this side with the utmost diplomacy. We
were undoubtedly in the wrong, and the only thing was to come out with
as little sacrifice of national dignity as possible. The long time
necessary for letters to pass between this country and England was an
important factor in calming the people. Minister Adams said, that, had
the Atlantic cable then been in operation, nothing could have
prevented a war. In the end the demands of Great Britain were acceded
to, and the commissioners proceeded on their way. The last note of the
diplomatic correspondence was a courteous letter from President
Lincoln to the British minister, offering to allow the British troops
_en route_ for Canada to land at Portland, Me., and thus avoid the
long winter's march through New Brunswick. The peaceful settlement of
the affair chagrined the Confederates not a little, as they had hoped
to gain Great Britain as a powerful ally in their fight against the
United States.
Soon after the capture of the forts at Hatteras Inlet, the authorities
of the Union again turned their attention in that direction, with the
result of sending the Burnside expedition to Albemarle Sound.
The coast of North Carolina is honeycombed with rivers, inlets, and
lagoons, which open into the two broad sounds known as Pamlico and
Albemarle, and which are protected from the turbulence of the Atlantic
by the long ridge of sand which terminates at Cape Hatteras. While the
capture of the Hatteras forts had given the Union authorities control
of Hatteras Inlet, the chief entrance to the sounds, yet the long,
narrow island was broken by other lesser inlets of a size sufficient
to permit the passage of light-draught steamers. The Confederates had
quite a fleet of swift, light vessels of insignificant armament, often
only a single gun, with which they occasionally made a descent upon
some coaster or merchantman, running close inshore, and dragged her in
as a prize. With these swift steamers, too, they effectually
controlled all navigation of the sounds. But the greatest advantage
that they derived from their control of the sounds was the vast
facilities given them for constructing, at their leisure, powerful
iron-clads in some of the North Carolina shipyards; then sending them
to reduce the Hatteras forts, and so out into the Atlantic to fight
for the destruction of the blockade. All these conditions were clear
to the authorities of the Union; and therefore, in the early part of
January, 1862, a joint military and naval expedition was fitted out
for operation against the Confederate works and steamers in these
inland waters. It was in the early days of the war; and the flotilla
was one of those heterogeneous collections of remodelled
excursion-steamers, tugs, ferry-boats, and even canal-boats, which at
that time was dignified with the title of "the fleet." In fitting out
this expedition two very conflicting requirements were followed. In
the most favorable circumstances, the channel at Hatteras Inlet is
seldom over seven and a half feet: consequently the vessels must be of
light draught. But the Confederate steamers in the sounds carried
heavy rifled cannon, and the armament of the forts on Roanoke Island
was of the heaviest: therefore, the vessels must carry heavy guns to
be able to cope with the enemy. This attempt to put a heavy armament
on the gun-deck made the vessels roll so heavily as to be almost
unseaworthy.
[Illustration: Shores of Albemarle Sound.]
In addition to the armed vessels belonging to the navy, a number of
transports accompanied the expedition, bearing the army corps under
the command of Gen. Burnside; and the whole number of craft finally
assembled for the subjugation of the North Carolina sounds was one
hundred and twenty. This heterogeneous assemblage of vessels was sent
on a voyage in the dead of winter, down a dangerous coast, to one of
the stormiest points known to the mariner. Hatteras was true to its
reputation; and, when the squadron reached the inlet, a furious
north-easter was blowing, sending the gray clouds scudding across the
sky, and making the heavy rollers break on the beach and the bar in a
way that foretold certain destruction, should any hardy pilot attempt
to run his ship into the narrow and crooked inlet. Outside there was
no safe anchorage, and the situation of the entire squadron was most
precarious. Several serious mishaps occurred before the vessels got
into the small and altogether insufficient harbor between the seaward
bar and the "bulkhead" or inner bar. The first vessel to come to grief
was one of the canal-boats laden with hay, oats, and other stores. She
was without any motive power, being towed by a steam-tug, and, getting
into the trough of the sea, rolled and sheered so that she could not
be towed. The heavy rolling started her seams, and it was soon evident
that she was sinking. With the greatest caution a boat was lowered
from one of the steamers, and put off to rescue the crew of the
foundering craft. Laboriously the sailors worked their way through the
tossing sea to the lee side of the "Grape-shot," and after much
difficulty succeeded in taking off all on board, and the return trip
was commenced. All went well until the boat came under the lee of the
steamer, and the men were about to clamber up the sides. Suddenly an
immense sea lifted the vessel high in the air; and in an instant the
boat was swamped, and the men were struggling in the icy water. All
were ultimately saved, but it was with the greatest difficulty. The
"Grape-shot," left to her fate, went ashore some fourteen miles above
Hatteras. Her cargo served some practical use, after all; for some
horses from the wreck of the "Pocahontas" managed to reach the shore,
and kept themselves alive by munching the water-soaked hay and oats.
The "Pocahontas" was one of the steamers chartered by the war
department as a horse transport. Her actions during this gale furnish
a fair illustration of the manner in which the Government was often
deluded into purchasing almost valueless ships. She started with the
Burnside expedition from Hampton Roads, freighted with one hundred
and thirteen horses. As soon as the gale off Hatteras came on, she
began to show signs of unseaworthiness. First the boilers gave way,
loosened from their places by the heavy rolling of the ship. All
progress had to be stopped until they were patched up. Then down fell
the grates, extinguishing the fires. Then the steering-gear was
broken; and, getting into the trough of the sea, she rolled until her
smokestack broke its moorings and fell over. Finally she sprung a leak
and was run ashore. The crew were all saved, but for a long time their
chances for life seemed small indeed. Ninety of the horses were lost,
some having been thrown overboard ten miles from the land. Others were
left tied in their stalls, to perish when the ship went to pieces in
the breakers. Those that were thrown overboard near the beach swam
ashore through breakers in which no boat nor man could live, and,
finding the waste and wreckage from the cargo of the "Grape-shot,"
lived for days on the hay and oats, soaked with sea-water though they
were.
For two days this gale continued. The outlook for the fleet seemed
hopeless. The inner bar of the harbor was absolutely impassable.
Between the outer bar and the inner were packed seventy vessels. This
space, though called a harbor, was almost unsheltered. Crowded with
vessels as it was, it made an anchorage only less dangerous than that
outside. Although the vessels were anchored, bow and stern, the
violence of the sea was such that they frequently crashed into each
other, breaking bulwarks, spars, and wheel-houses, and tearing away
standing-rigging. A schooner breaking from its anchorage went tossing
and twirling through the fleet, crashing into vessel after vessel,
until finally, getting foul of a small steamer, dragged it from its
moorings; and the two began a waltz in the crowded harbor, to the
great detriment of the surrounding craft. At last the two runaways
went aground on a shoal, and pounded away there until every seam was
open, and the holds filled with water.
A strange mishap was that which befell the gunboat "Zouave." She was
riding safely at anchor, remote from other ships, taking the seas
nobly, and apparently in no possible danger. Her crew occupied
themselves in going to the assistance of those in the distressed
vessels, feeling that their own was perfectly safe. But during the
night, the tide being out, the vessel was driven against one of the
flukes of her own anchor; and as each wave lifted her up and dropped
her heavily on the sharp iron, a hole was stove in her bottom,
sinking her so quickly that the crew took to the boats, saving
nothing.
But the most serious disaster was the total wreck of the "City of New
York," a large transport, with a cargo of ordnance stores valued at
two hundred thousand dollars. Unable to enter the inlet, she tried to
ride out the gale outside. The tremendous sea, and the wind blowing
furiously on shore, caused her to drag her anchors; and those on board
saw certain death staring them in the face, as hour by hour the ship
drifted nearer and nearer to the tumbling mass of mighty breakers,
that with an unceasing roar, and white foam gleaming like the teeth of
an enraged lion, broke heavily on the sand. She struck on Monday
afternoon, and soon swung around, broadside to the sea, so as to be
helpless and at the mercy of the breakers. Every wave broke over her
decks. The condition of her crew was frightful. In the dead of winter,
the wind keen as a razor, and the waves of icy coldness, the body soon
became benumbed; and it was with the greatest effort that the men
could cling to the rigging. So great was the fury of the wind and
waves, that no assistance could be given her. For a boat to venture
into that seething caldron of breakers would have been throwing away
lives. So the crew of the doomed ship were left to save themselves as
best they might. The night passed away, and Tuesday morning saw the
gale still blowing with unabated force. Hoping to lessen the strain on
the hull, they cut away the foremast. In falling, it tore away the
pipes, and the vessel became a perfect wreck. Numbed with cold, and
faint for lack of food, the crew lashed themselves to the bulwarks and
rigging; and so, drenched by the icy spray, and chilled through by the
wind, they spent another fearful night. The next day the fury of the
storm seemed to have somewhat abated. The sea was still running high,
and breaking over the almost unrecognizable hulk stranded on the
beach. With the aid of a glass, sailors on the other ships could see
the inanimate forms of the crew lashed to the rigging. It was
determined to make a vigorous attempt to save them. The first boat
sent out on the errand of mercy was watched eagerly from all the
vessels. Now it would be seen raised high on the top of some
tremendous wave, then, plunging into the trough, it would be lost from
the view of the anxious watchers. All went well until the boat reached
the outermost line of the breakers, when suddenly a towering wave,
rushing resistlessly along, broke directly over the stern, swamping
the boat, and drowning seven of the crew. Again the last hope seemed
lost to the exhausted men on the wreck. But later in the day, the sea
having gone down somewhat, a steam-tug succeeded in reaching the wreck
and rescuing the crew. The second engineer was the last man to leave
the ship. He remained lashed to the mast until all were taken on the
tug. Then, climbing to the top-mast, he cut down the flag that had
waved during those two wild days and nights, and bore it safely away.
After this gale died away, the work of getting the squadron over the
inner bar was begun. It was a tremendous task. Many of the ships drew
too much water for the shallow channel, and it was necessary to remove
large parts of their cargoes. The bar, which is known as Buckhead
Shoal, was an expanse of quicksand a mile wide, with a tortuous
channel ever changing with the shifting sands. Many of the ships
stranded, and the tugs were constantly busy in towing them off.
Scarcely would one be safely afloat, than another would "bring up all
standing" on some new shoal. Two weeks elapsed before all the vessels
were safe within the landlocked sound. They were none too soon; for
hardly had the last vessel crossed the bar, than the black gathering
clouds, the murky, tossing sea, and the foaming billows breaking on
the bar, foretold another of the storms for which Cape Hatteras is
famed. Through the storm a queer-looking craft was seen approaching
the fleet. It was found to be a boat-load of escaping slaves, who had
put to sea at random, feeling sure of finding "de Yankees" somewhere.
From these men much valuable information was obtained.
Up to this time no one in the fleet, excepting the superior officers,
was informed as to the exact destination of the expedition. Now as the
signal to get under way blew out from the foremast of the flagship,
and as the prow of the leading vessel was turned to the northward, all
knew, and all cried, "Roanoke Island." This island was heavily
fortified by the Confederates, and from its position was a point of
considerable strategic importance. It guards the entrance to Pamlico
Sound from Albemarle Sound, and into Pamlico Sound open great bays and
rivers that penetrate far into the interior of Virginia and North
Carolina. On this island the Confederates had erected three forts of
formidable strength. These forts commanded the channel through which
the vessels would have to pass; and to make the task doubly dangerous,
the channel was obstructed with sharpened piles and sunken hulks, so
as to be apparently impassable. Beyond the obstructions was the
Confederate fleet, which, though insignificant compared with the
attacking squadron, was formidable in connection with the forts. It
was the task of the invaders to capture these forts, and destroy the
fleet.
It was on Feb. 5 that the squadron prepared to leave its moorings at
Hatteras Inlet. It was an imposing spectacle. The flagship
"Philadelphia" led the naval squadron, which advanced with the
precision of a body of troops. Behind, with less regularity, came the
army transports. About one hundred vessels were in the three columns
that moved over the placid waters of the sound toward the forts. It
was five in the afternoon of a short February day that the fleet came
in sight of the forts. Signals were made for the squadron to form in a
circle about the flagship. The early darkness of winter had fallen
upon the scene. The waters of the sound were smooth as a mill-pond.
From the white cottages on the shore gleamed lights, and brilliant
signal-lanterns hung in the rigging of the ships. Through the fleet
pulled swift gigs bearing the commanders of the different vessels.
The morning dawned dark and rainy. At first it was thought that the
fog and mist would prevent the bombardment, but all doubt was put at
an end by the signal, "Prepare for action," from the flagship. The
drums beat to quarters, and soon the guns were manned by sailors
stripped to the waist. The magazines were opened; and the surgeons
cleared away the cock-pits, and spread out their glistening
instruments ready for their work.
The fleet got under way, and stood up the channel almost to the point
where the obstructions were planted. Beyond these were the gunboats of
the enemy. The cannonade was begun without loss of time. A portion of
the fleet began a vigorous fire upon the Confederate gunboats, while
the others attacked the forts. The gunboats were soon driven away, and
then the forts received the entire fire. The water was calm, and the
aim of the gunners was admirable. The forts could hardly respond to
the fire, since the great shells, plunging by hundreds into the
trenches, drove the men from their guns into the bomb-proof casemates.
The officers of the ships could watch with their glasses the effect of
every shell, and by their directions the aim of the gunners was made
nearly perfect.
While the bombarding was going on, Gen. Burnside set about landing his
troops near the southern end of the island. The first boat was fired
upon by soldiers concealed in the woods. The "Delaware" instantly
pitched a few shells into the woods from which the firing proceeded,
and in a few minutes the enemy could be seen running out like rats
from a burning granary. The landing then went on unimpeded. The boats
were unable to get up to the bank, owing to shoal water; and the
soldiers were obliged to wade ashore in the icy water, waist-deep, and
sinking a foot more in the soft mud of the bottom.
The bombardment was continued for some hours after nightfall. A night
bombardment is a stirring scene. The passionate and spiteful glare of
the cannon-flashes; the unceasing roar of the explosions; the demoniac
shriek of the shells in the air, followed by their explosion with a
lightning flash, and crash like thunder; the volumes of gray smoke
rising upon the dark air,--make up a wonderful and memorable sight.
In the morning the bombardment was recommenced, and the work of
landing troops went on. Eight gunboats were sent to tear away the
obstructions in the channel; and there beneath the guns of the enemy's
fleet, and the frowning cannon of the forts, the sailors worked with
axe and ketch until the barricade was broken, and the eight ships
passed to the sound above the forts. In the mean time, the troops on
the island began the march against the forts. There were few paths,
and they groped their way through woods and undergrowth, wading
through morasses, and tearing their way through tangled thickets to
get at the enemy's front. The advance was slow, but steady, until the
open field before the forts was reached; then a change was ordered,
led by the famous Hawkins Zouaves, who rushed madly upon the fort,
shouting their war cry of _Zou, zou, zou!_ Like a resistless flood the
attackers poured over the earthworks, and the frightened defenders
fled. Before five o'clock the entire island was in the hands of the
troops, and the fleet had passed the barricade. During the bombardment
the vessels sustained severe injuries. An act of heroism which made
the hero celebrated was that of John Davis, gunner's mate on board the
"Valley City." A shell entered the magazine of that ship, and
exploded, setting the woodwork on fire. An open barrel of gunpowder
stood in the midst of the flames, with sparks dropping about it. At
any moment an explosion might occur which would shatter the vessel to
fragments. Men shrank back, expecting every moment to be their
last. With wonderful presence of mind Davis threw himself across the
open end of the barrel, and with his body covered the dangerous
explosive until the fire was put out.
[Illustration: Contrabands escaping to Fleet.]
As soon as the stars and stripes were hoisted on the flagstaffs of the
forts, the Confederate fleet, which had been maintaining a desultory
fire, fled up the sound, after setting fire to one schooner which had
become hopelessly crippled in the battle. She blazed away far on into
the night, and finally, when the flames reached her magazine, blew up
with a tremendous report, seeming like a final involuntary salute paid
by the defeated enemy to the prowess of the Union arms. When quiet
finally settled down upon the scene, and Gen. Burnside and Commander
Goldsborough counted up their gains, they found that six forts,
twenty-five hundred prisoners, and forty-two great guns had fallen
into the hands of the victors. The Union loss was forty killed and two
hundred wounded.
The next day was Sunday. It was considered highly important that the
success of the day before should be vigorously followed up; and an
expedition of fourteen vessels, under Capt. Rowan, was ordered to
follow the retreating Confederate fleet and destroy it. The flying
squadron was chased as far as Elizabeth City on the Pasquotauk River.
Here night overtook the pursuers; and they came to anchor at the mouth
of the stream, effectually cutting off all hope of retreat. The
Confederates in the vessels lying off the town passed an anxious
night. Outnumbered two to one by the pursuing vessels, they saw no
hope of a successful resistance. With a courage which in view of the
facts seems to be almost foolhardy, they determined to stick to their
ships, and fight to the death. The feelings of the inhabitants of the
town were hardly less gloomy. So thoroughly impregnable had they
considered the forts at Roanoke Island, that they had made absolutely
no preparations for defence; and now they found their homes upon the
eve of capture. The victorious army had not yet had an opportunity to
show the merciful way in which the inhabitants of captured cities were
treated throughout the war; and the good people of Elizabeth City may
be excused for fearing, that, with the destruction of their fleet,
they were to be delivered into the merciless hands of a lawless enemy.
Morning dawned bright and clear. With the greatest deliberation the
preparations for action were made on the attacking vessels. It was
discovered, that, owing to the continuous firing during the Roanoke
Island engagement, but twenty rounds of ammunition per gun were left
to each vessel. It was accordingly ordered that no long-distance
firing should be done; but each vessel should dash at the enemy, run
him down if possible, and then board and fight it out, hand to hand.
Early in the morning the fleet started up the river. The enemy's fleet
was soon sighted, lying behind the guns of a small battery on Cobb's
Point. When within long range, battery and vessels opened a tremendous
fire with eighty-pound rifles. The approach of the squadron continued
until when within three-quarters of a mile the signal was flung out
from the mast of the flagship, "Dash at the enemy." Then full speed
was put on, and firing commenced from bow-guns. The Confederates
became totally demoralized. The battery was abandoned when the first
vessel poured her broadside into it as she passed. Before the enemy's
fleet was reached, many of his vessels were fired and abandoned. The
United States steamship "Perry" struck the "Sea-Bird" amidships,
sinking her so quickly that the crew had scarce time to escape. The
crew of the "Delaware" boarded the "Fanny," sabering and shooting her
defenders until they fled over the side into the water. The victory
was complete and overwhelming. Three or four of the victorious vessels
at once proceeded to the town, where they found the enemy in full
retreat and compelling the inhabitants to set fire to their houses.
This was quickly stopped, and the invaders became the protectors of
the conquered people.
The power of the Confederates in this part of the country being so
effectually destroyed, the navy was divided into small detachments and
sent cruising up the lagoons and rivers opening into the North
Carolina sounds, merely to show the people the power of the United
States Government, and to urge them to cease their resistance to its
authority. Three vessels were sent to Edenton. As they came abreast of
the village, a company of mounted artillery precipitately fled. A
detachment of marines sent ashore found a number of cannon which they
destroyed, and a nearly completed schooner to which they set fire.
Other small places were visited, generally without any opposition
being encountered.
A somewhat larger force was sent to a small town named Winton, as it
had been rumored that a force of Union men were there disputing the
authority of the Confederate Government, and the navy wished to go to
their assistance. The "Delaware" and "Hudson," in advance of the
squadron, came within sight of the landing and warehouses of Winton
about four in the afternoon. The town itself was hidden from the view
of the vessels by a high bluff. It was a clear, quiet afternoon, and
all seemed peaceful. The long wharf, running out into the stream, was
deserted by all save a negro woman, who, roused from her occupation of
fishing, gazed inquisitively at the strange vessels. The place looked
like a commercial port going to seed on account of the blockade. The
two vessels proceeded on their way unmolested, ranging past the wharf,
and apprehending no danger. Suddenly from the woods on the bluff a
terrific fire was poured upon the vessels. The negress, having served
her end as a decoy, fled hastily to shelter. The bluffs seemed to be
held by two batteries of light artillery and a considerable force of
armed men. Fortunately the aim of the artillery men was bad, and the
vessels sustained no severe damage. Still, they were in a precarious
position. The "Delaware" was too near to bring her battery to bear,
and was obliged to turn slowly in the narrow channel. The "Perry,"
more fortunately situated, opened at once on the enemy with shrapnel.
But the contest was unequal, and the two vessels were forced to
retreat down the river about seven miles, there to await the remainder
of the squadron.
Two days after, the flotilla began the advance up the river, shelling
the town as they ascended. Once opposite the town, the troops were
landed, and the Hawkins Zouaves soon had possession of the bluff and
town. Knapsacks, ammunition, and muskets in considerable quantity fell
into the hands of the victors; and, after burning the barracks of the
enemy, the squadron returned to the base of operations at Roanoke
Island.
CHAPTER VI.
REDUCTION OF NEWBERN. -- EXPLOITS OF LIEUT. CUSHING. --
DESTRUCTION OF THE RAM "ALBEMARLE."
After the destruction of the Confederate flotilla at Elizabeth City,
and the affair at Winton, the Union fleet remained quietly at anchor
off Roanoke Island, or made short excursions up the little rivers
emptying into the sounds. Over a month passed in comparative inaction,
as the ships were awaiting supplies and particularly ammunition. When
finally the transports from New York arrived, and the magazines of the
war-vessels were filled with shot and shell and gunpowder, they again
turned their attention to the enemy. The victories already won had
almost driven the Confederates from that part of North Carolina which
borders on the sounds. Roanoke Island, Elizabeth City, Edenton, and
Plymouth had one after the other yielded to the persuasive eloquence
of the ship's cannon, and there was left to the Confederates only one
fort,--Newbern, on the River Neuse. As a city Newbern is
insignificant; but as a military post it was of a good deal of
importance, and the Confederates had made active preparations for its
defence.
It was on the 12th of March, 1862, that Commander Rowan started from
Hatteras Inlet with a flotilla of thirteen vessels, and army
transports bearing three thousand men. The long column steamed down
the placid waters of Pamlico Sound, and, turning into the Neuse
River, anchored about fifteen miles below the city. Although the night
before the battle, and within sight of the white steeples of the
menaced city, all was quiet and peaceful. The banks of the broad
stream were densely wooded, and from them could be heard at times the
cry of the whip-poor-will, or the hoot of the night-owl. The vessels
were anchored far out in the middle of the stream, so as to avoid the
deadly bullets of any lurking sharp-shooters. The lookouts kept a
close watch for floating torpedoes; while the sailors off duty spun
their yarns in the forecastle, and bet pipes and tobacco on the result
of the coming battle. The jolly tars of the Burnside expedition had
hardly yet learned that war was a serious matter. They had met with
but little serious resistance, had captured powerful forts without
losing a man, had chased and destroyed the Confederate fleet without
any serious damage to their own, and felt, accordingly, that war was a
game in which it was their part always to win, and the part of the
enemy to run away. Certainly the fight at Newbern did nothing to
dispel this idea.
When morning broke, the shrill piping of the boatswain's whistle
brought the crew to their places on deck. Breakfast was served, and
leisurely eaten; for it is one of the established theories of the
navy, that sailors can't fight on empty stomachs. Breakfast over, the
work of landing the troops was begun. The point chosen was a broad
beach fringed with woods near the anchorage of the vessels. Before
landing the troops, the ships threw a few shells into the woods, to
make certain that they concealed no ambuscade, as in the disastrous
affair at Matthias Point. After two dozen shells had burst, mowing
down trees, and driving out frightened animals in plenty, but no
sharp-shooters, the long-boats put off from the transports bearing the
soldiers for the land attack. As soon as six or seven hundred were
landed, they formed in column, and moved rapidly up the beach. The
others followed as rapidly as they could be put on shore. The gunboats
steamed slowly up the river, keeping abreast of the troops, and
throwing shells into the woods ahead of the attacking column. Had any
Confederates prepared to resist the march, they must have been driven
out of the forest before the Federals came within musket-range. Not an
atom of resistance was made. The plans of the invaders seemed
irresistible. About half-past four in the afternoon, a puff of smoke
rose from the river-bank far ahead of the leading vessel, and in a few
seconds a heavy shell plunged into the water a hundred yards ahead of
the flotilla. The enemy was getting awake to the situation. The
gunboats soon returned the fire, and the cannonading was continued at
long range, without damage to either side, until sundown, when the
troops went into camp, and the vessels chose an anchorage near by.
At daylight the next morning, the advance was resumed. The day was so
foggy that the usual signals between the vessels could not be seen,
and orders from the flagship had to be carried by boat. The fleet
proceeded up the river; and, when the fog lifted, the ramparts of Fort
Dixie--the one that had fired on them the night before--were visible.
A vigorous bombardment was at once begun; but the fort failed to
reply, and a storming-party sent ashore found it empty. Hoisting the
stars and stripes above the deserted bastions, the ships went on. Soon
they reached Fort Ellis. Here the firing was sharp on both sides. The
fort was a powerful earthwork, well armed with rifles ranging from
thirty-two to eighty pounders. The Confederates did but little damage
with their guns; their aim being bad for want of practice, and their
powder of poor quality. Still, they fought on with great courage until
a shell from the "Delaware" burst in the magazine, firing the powder
there, and hurling the fort, with large numbers of its brave
defenders, high in the air. This ended the fight with Fort Ellis, and
the fleet continued its way up the river.
[Illustration: Flag of South Carolina.]
Shortly after passing Fort Ellis, two rows of obstructions were met in
the channel. The lower barrier was composed of a series of piles
driven into the river-bottom, and cut off below the water; back of
these came a row of pointed and iron tipped piles pointing down stream
at such an angle as to be likely to pierce the hull of any vessel that
should run upon them. Entwined about these piles was a cable
connecting with thirty powerful torpedoes. That any vessel could
pierce such a barrier seems almost incredible; yet all the vessels of
the flotilla passed, and but two were seriously injured. One of the
sharp iron piles drove through the bottom of the "Barney," sending the
crew to the pumps, and the carpenter down into the hold with his
felt-covered plugs. But her damages were quickly repaired, and she
went on with the rest of the fleet. Right under the guns of Fort
Thompson the second line of obstructions was encountered. It consisted
of a line of sunken vessels closely massed, and a _cheval-de-frise_ of
stakes and logs, that blocked the entire river, save a small passage
close in shore under the guns of the battery. Here was more hard work
for the sailors; but they managed to creep through, and ranging up in
line, broadside to Fort Thompson, they opened a vigorous cannonade
upon that work. The condition of the garrison of the fort was
desperate. The troops that had marched up the beach abreast of the
vessels began a vigorous attack on the landward face of the fort,
while the vessels in the river kept up a vigorous fire on the
water-front. Soon the gunners of the fort were called away from the
river-front to meet the hot assault of the soldiers on the land; and,
as the conflict grew close, the ships ceased firing, lest their shell
should mow down foe and friend alike. Leaving the enemy to the
attention of the soldiery, the ships proceeded up the river past two
deserted forts that gave no answer to vigorous shelling. Just as the
last vessel was passing Fort Thompson, the attacking troops, with a
cheer, rushed upon the ramparts; and in a minute the stars and stripes
were fluttering from the flagstaff. This was the last resistance
encountered, and at two P.M. the victors were in full possession of
the city. The war ships sped up the river after three Confederate
steamers that were endeavoring to escape, and soon captured them. One
was run ashore and burned, while the other two were added to the
conquering fleet. As a last resort, the flying enemy sent down a huge
fire-raft, in the hope of burning some of the Union vessels; but this
was stopped by the piers of a railroad bridge, and, burning that,
effectually cut off Newbern's communication with the world. During the
entire two days' engagement, the navy did not lose a man on the ships.
Two of a small landing-party were killed, and eleven, wounded; while
of the soldiers there were killed eighty-eight, and wounded three
hundred and fifty-two. This victory gave to the United States the
entire control of the North Carolina sounds and tributary navigable
waters.
For years after this, the sounds were occupied by a small squadron of
the United States navy, mainly blockading cruisers. It was during
these three years of occupation that Lieut. W. B. Cushing performed
those wonderfully daring deeds that made him a name and fame apart
from all other war-records. These feats so particularly belong to
Cushing's record, rather than to the history of any years of the war,
that they may well be considered together here. The wonderful
exhibitions of daring by which this young officer earned his promotion
to the rank of a commander, while still hardly more than a boy, were
the ascent of New River Inlet in the steamer "Ellis," for the purpose
of destroying the enemy's salt-works, and a blockade-runner at New
Topsail Inlet; and finally, the great achievement of his life, the
destruction of the ram "Albemarle" in the Roanoke River.
Lieut. Cushing entered the navy during the first year of the civil war,
being himself at that time but nineteen years old. A comrade who served
with him at the time of the destruction of the "Albemarle" describes him
as about six feet high, very slender, with a smooth face, and dark wavy
hair. Immediately upon his joining the navy, he was assigned to duty
with the blockading squadron on the Atlantic coast. He distinguished
himself during the first year of the war, at a time when the
opportunities of the service were not very brilliant, by unfailing
vigilance, and soon won for himself the honor of a command. In November,
1862, he was put in command of the steamer "Ellis," and ordered to
preserve the blockade of New River Inlet on the North Carolina coast,
not far from the favorite port of the blockade-runners, Wilmington. The
duties of a blockading man-of-war are monotonous, at best. Lying at
anchor off the mouth of the blockaded harbor, or steaming slowly up and
down for days together, the crew grow discontented; and the officers are
at their wits' end to devise constant occupation to dispel the
turbulence which idleness always arouses among sailors. Inaction is the
great enemy of discipline on board ship, and it is for this reason that
the metal and trimmings aboard a man-of-war are so continually being
polished. A big brass pivot-gun amidships will keep three or four
jackies polishing an hour or two every day; and petty officers have been
known to go around secretly, and deface some of the snowy woodwork or
gleaming brass, when it seemed that surfaces to be polished were
becoming exhausted. It is no unusual thing to set a gang of sailors to
work rubbing away with polish on the flukes of the great anchors, merely
to give them work. But while this sort of occupation may drive dull care
away from the heart of Jack, his officers are not so easily entertained;
and the dull routine of blockading duty at an unfrequented port is most
wearisome to adventurous spirits. Particularly was this the case with
Lieut. Cushing, and he was constantly upon the lookout for some perilous
adventure. One day late in November, information was brought to him that
the enemy had established large salt-works at Jacksonville, thirty-five
miles up the river. Even thus early in the war, the vigorous blockade
was beginning to tell upon the supplies of the Confederates; and one of
the articles of which the Southern armies were in the greatest need was
salt. The distress caused by the lack of it was great. Many of the
soldiers were in the habit of sprinkling gunpowder upon their food to
give it a flavor approaching that of salt. In olden days, particularly
in the British navy about the end of the eighteenth century, it was the
custom for the captains to issue to their crews, before going into
battle, large cups of grog with gunpowder stirred in. It was believed
that this mixture made the men fight more desperately. But this theory
of the doughty sea-dogs of past generations no longer finds any support,
and doubtless the soldiers of the Confederacy felt they could fight
better upon salt than on their enforced seasoning of gunpowder. At
Manassas Junction, when the Confederate army by a rapid movement
captured a large provision train, the rush of the soldiers for two or
three cars laden with salt was so great that a strong guard had to be
stationed to beat back pilferers, and secure a proper division of the
much-prized seasoning.
The officers of the Union navy were well informed of this scarcity of
salt throughout the South, and accordingly made it a point to destroy
all salt-works along the coast. The officers of the Gulf squadron were
constantly employed in raiding establishments of this character, of
which there were numbers along the coast of Louisiana, Alabama, and
Mississippi. Cushing, on hearing of the existence of salt-works in the
district over which he stood guard, determined to destroy them. But to
do this was a matter of no small peril. Jacksonville was thirty-five
miles up a small stream, in the heart of a country teeming with
Confederate troops and their guerrilla sympathizers. The densely
wooded shores could conceal sharp-shooters, who could easily pick off
every man stationed on the steamer's deck. At any point of the entire
distance a masked battery might be stationed, that could blow the
invading craft out of water, and leave none of her crew uncaptured to
tell the tale. Nevertheless, the intrepid young commander determined
to make the attempt. His vessel was a small steamer, mounting one
heavy gun amidships and two smaller cannon on each side. Without any
mishap the "Ellis" and her crew reached the town about noon. On the
way up the river a dense column of black smoke appeared ahead, rising
above the forest. All thought that the Confederates, hearing of their
approach, had evacuated the town, firing it as they retreated. All
possible steam was put on, and the little gunboat dashed up the river
in the hope of saving some of the property of the inhabitants. But, on
rounding an abrupt curve in the river, the mystery was solved by the
appearance of a fine schooner, loaded with cotton and turpentine, and
drifting helplessly, a mass of crackling flames, down the stream. She
was clearly a blockade-runner, freighted with the chief products of
the country, and had been waiting a chance to slip out past the
blockader, and run for some friendly port. Cushing's bold move up the
river had entrapped her neatly, and her owners had fired her and fled.
The fire was a magnificent sight. The inflammable cargo, the tarry
ropes and cordage, fed the flames, which leaped from hull to
main-truck. The cotton burned sullenly, giving forth immense clouds of
dense, black smoke. To save her was hopeless, and the "Ellis" kept out
of the way of the flying fire-brands and continued on. The expected
salt-works were not found, however; and the only trophies to be
obtained at the town were about twenty-five stand of arms and two
schooners, evidently blockade-runners. The post-office was also
visited, and a large mail captured and removed, in the hope of finding
therein some valuable information regarding the movements of the
enemy. The town itself was one of the sleepy little Southern villages,
with wide streets, grass-grown and lined with live-oaks. Children, and
boys too young to have been drafted into the Southern army, followed
the sailors and marines curiously as they strolled up and down the
silent streets. The war had robbed the little city of its men; the
blockade had robbed it of its little coasting-trade. Such an air of
quiet and desolation hung about the place, that the inhabitants
probably welcomed the advent of even the hostile sailors as being
something to break the monotony. After a stoppage of an hour and a
half, the "Ellis" started down the river. The quiet of the upward
voyage had dispelled any thoughts of danger, but about five o'clock
suspicions were re-awakened by the sight of a small encampment on the
bank. A few shells thrown over the tents quickly sent the campers
scurrying into the woods; and, as the camps seemed to have no
artillery, the "Ellis" continued without further hostilities. A short
distance down the stream the Confederates opened upon them with two
guns mounted on a lofty bluff. Cushing, ever ready for a skirmish,
stopped his engine, and cleared away the big pivot-gun for action. The
battle-flag was hoisted at the fore, and the crew, with three cheers,
set about the work. About an hour of artillery practice followed,
when, the enemy being driven from his guns, the "Ellis" proceeded on
her way. It was now growing dark, and the tide was rapidly falling.
The two pilots on the steamer agreed that daylight and high tide were
necessary to get the vessel safely out of the river. With great
reluctance Cushing ordered the anchor to be let fall, and proceeded to
make preparations for the night. On both banks of the river could be
seen the flash of lanterns, proving that the Confederates were aware
of the steamer's presence, and were contemplating an attack. To resist
such an attack if made in force during the night, seemed almost
hopeless; yet the sailors went cheerfully about the work of
preparation, getting out cutlasses and revolvers, and putting up the
boarding-nettings over the sides. In watchful anxiety the hours wore
away. No sound escaped the vigilant ear of the men on duty. But the
enemy evidently had abandoned the attack, and when morning broke none
were to be seen. With light hearts, and feeling that the worst was
past, the little party continued their way, only to find that the
worst was yet to come. Soon after daylight, the pilot, mistaking the
channel, ran the ship so solidly aground that there was clearly no
hope of extricating her. All this time she had been towing one of the
captured schooners; and Cushing, with quick decisiveness, ordered that
every thing should be removed from the "Ellis" to the schooner. This
was quickly done, leaving nothing but the great pivot-gun aboard.
But even when so greatly lightened, the ship would not float, and
Cushing saw that all was lost. As a final expedient he sent a boat's
crew back after the cannon that the enemy had abandoned the day
before, intending to construct a land-battery with them, and so keep
his ship. But the Confederates had already removed the guns, so this
forlorn hope failed. Orders were then given for the crew to take the
schooner, and drop down the river for a mile or two. The young captain
expressed his intention of remaining aboard his craft, and asked for
six volunteers to help him fight the pivot-gun. They were quickly
found; and, while the remainder of the crew dropped down the river in
the schooner, the devoted little band calmly awaited the beginning of
the attack. They did not have long to wait. Soon a cannon boomed from
the bank, and a heavy shell whizzed over their heads. Then another,
from another direction, and a third, and a fourth, each from a
distinct battery. They were hopeless odds, yet Cushing and his command
fought on until the gunners, getting the range, dropped shot after
shot into the doomed vessel. Then fire broke out in three or four
places. This was too much; and the seven daring men took to a small
boat, and rowed to the schooner. First, however, they loaded the long
gun, and turned it on the enemy, in order, as Cushing said, "that she
might fight for herself when we could do so no longer." Once in the
schooner, they sailed rapidly down the river; and just as they reached
the sound a deep boom announced that the fire had reached the
magazine, and the "Ellis" was blown into a million pieces. Daring as
this adventure was, Cushing was much distressed at its termination;
and in his official report he asks for a general court of inquiry, to
determine whether he had properly upheld the honor of the nation's
flag.
Another daring expedition was undertaken by Cushing when in command of
the "Monticello." This was in February, 1864. He was cruising off Cape
Fear River. At Smithville, a small town some distance up the river,
was a Confederate army-post. Cushing's plan was to proceed up the
river in row-boats, burn any vessels that might be at the dock,
capture the commanding officers, and escape before the enemy could
recover from the surprise. It was a rash and rather useless
expedition, but Cushing successfully carried it out. With two boats
and twenty men, he went quietly past the guns of the fort, concealed
by the blackness of a cloudy night, ascended the river to the town,
and landed directly in front of the hotel. A high bank concealed the
party from view, and lying in ambush here they managed to capture some
negroes, from whom the desired information was obtained. Then with two
officers and a seaman, Cushing walked from the deck to Gen. Herbert's
headquarters in so open a manner as to disarm suspicion. Entering the
house they met an engineer officer, who tried to raise an alarm, but
was quickly captured and gagged. The adjutant-general, never dreaming
that any enemy could be so near him, supposed it was a mutiny, and
fled hastily, half dressed, to the woods, not even calling out the
garrison. Cushing then with his speechless prisoner walked calmly back
before the long barracks that sheltered a thousand hostile soldiers,
and within a few yards of the sentry on the wharf. Only when the
affrighted adjutant-general returned from his hasty trip to the woods
did the Confederates know that an enemy had been in their midst. Then
there was great excitement, arresting of sentries, calling out of
guards, and signalling to the fort that hostile boats were in the
harbor. But all too late. Cushing's coolness, courage, dash, and
invincible luck had carried him scot-free through another dare-devil
adventure.
From the "Monticello" Cushing made yet another dangerous excursion
into the enemy's country. On this occasion he had a more adequate
purpose for his perilous errand. It was believed that the Confederate
ram "Raleigh" was in the Cape Fear River above the town of Smithville,
the scene of the last adventure. Cushing obtained permission from his
superior officer to ascend the river, and try to blow up the ram with
a torpedo. On the night of the 23d of June he started, taking with him
Jones and Howarth, the officers who had been with him in the previous
trip, and fifteen men. The night was pitchy dark, and all went well as
they passed the fort and the little town of Smithville. Fifteen miles
from the river's mouth, they saw the moon suddenly break through the
clouds; and the surface of the river suddenly became bright, revealing
to the sentries on shore the Yankee boat fifteen miles within
Confederate territory. Quickly the boats turned about, and headed down
the river; but this was a mere feint, as Cushing doubled as soon as he
reached the shadow of the opposite bank, and continued his course into
the hostile territory. Toward morning, when within about seven miles
of Wilmington, a very stronghold of the Confederates, he landed, and
hid his boat in a neighboring swamp. The men lay in hiding all day;
and, just as they were about to start out again, they captured two
boats with a Wilmington fishing-party. During the second night Cushing
crept cautiously up to within three miles of Wilmington, closely
examining the defences of the town and the obstructions in the river.
At daybreak he rowed up one of the creeks until he found the road
between Fort Fisher and Wilmington. Here he crouched by a hedge until
a mounted mail-carrier came by from the fort. The soldier was captured
and dismounted, vastly astonished at the sight of a blue-jacket in
that region. Presently, along came the carrier from the town, on the
way to the fort. He too was astonished at the sight, but flung back a
scornful answer to the demand that he surrender, and galloped hastily
away. In an instant Cushing was on the back of the captured horse, and
after him; but the fugitive was too well mounted, and escaped. Matters
were now becoming very serious. The runaway would doubtless give the
alarm everywhere. Immediate flight was imperative. The men had been
away from the boat for some hours, and were famished. Food must be
had. But how to get it? Cushing's solution of the problem was
characteristic. Having captured some other prisoners, he learned that
a store was to be found about two miles off. A prisoner about
Howarth's size was ordered to strip, and Howarth put on his clothing.
The change from the trim blue uniform of a Yankee naval officer to the
slouchy jeans jumper and overalls of a North Carolina "cracker" was
somewhat amusing, but the disguise was complete. Mounting the captured
horse, Howarth rode off in the character of a "poor-white" farmer come
in to do his marketing. He chatted freely with the people he met along
the road, and securing his provision, returned to the boat without
arousing the least suspicion. Snugly ensconced in the thick bushes,
the party then proceeded to sup, and after the meal amused themselves
in cutting telegraph-wires, and at dark returned to the boat. This was
the third night in the river, and Cushing prepared to return.
Embarking with his prisoners, he pulled up to the "Raleigh," and found
that she would not need his attentions, as she was already a total
wreck. Then he began the descent of the river. When a little way down
the prisoners were set adrift, with neither sails nor oars in order
that they might not report the occurrence too soon. The blue-jackets
continued their pull down the river. Just as they reached the mouth
the moon shone out, and a quick hail came from a guard-boat. Cushing
made no answer, but in a low voice urged his men on, intending to
attack the enemy. But in an instant more three boats came out of the
shadow, and at the same instant five appeared on the other side. One
opening seemed left for the beleaguered boat to dash through. At it
they went, but a schooner filled with troops suddenly appeared
blockading this last exit. It looked as though all was up, and those
in the boat saw before them the cheerful prospect of execution as
spies. But Cushing's pluck and self-possession, which had never yet
failed, still stood by him. He resorted to strategy, and, like the
hunted fox, threw his pursuers off the track by doubling. He made a
dash so rapid and determined towards the western bar, that all the
boats of the enemy rushed to block that point. For an instant his own
was in the shadow of a cloud. In that instant he had turned, and
headed at full speed for New Inlet. His men were as cool as he. With a
few vigorous pulls the boat shot out into the breakers where the enemy
dared not follow it, and soon after the cutter was hoisted to the
davits of the "Monticello," uninjured, after a stay of three nights in
the heart of the enemy's country.
It was near the end of the great war that Cushing performed the
greatest feat of daring of his adventurous career; and, as on the
previous occasions, the scene of the exploit was in the waters
tributary to the North Carolina sounds. Early in the spring of 1863 it
became evident to the officers of the Union squadron in the sounds,
that the Confederates were making arrangements to drive the Yankee
ships from those waters, and to re-open the coasting-trade to the
people of North Carolina. The chief source of alarm to the fleet was a
heavy iron-clad which was reported to be building on the Roanoke River
above Plymouth. Full descriptions of this vessel were in the hands of
the Union officers; and they saw clearly that, should she be
completed, no vessel of the sound squadron, nor perhaps the entire
navy, would be able to do battle against her successfully. The river
was too shallow for the war-vessels to go up to the point where the
ram was being built, and the channel at Hatteras Inlet was not deep
enough for iron-clads to be brought in to compete with the enemy when
finished. The naval authorities repeatedly urged the army to send an
expedition to burn the boat; but Major-Gen. Foster, in command of the
department of North Carolina, declared it was of no importance, as the
Confederates would never put it to any use. Time showed a very
different state of affairs. In April, 1864, the ram was completed, and
named the "Albemarle." Her first work was to co-operate with ten
thousand Confederate troops in the recapture of Plymouth, which was
accomplished with very little difficulty. Lieut. Flusser was at
Plymouth with four small gunboats, and remained bravely at his post
as he saw the powerful ram bearing down upon him. It was half-past
three in the morning, and the chill, gray dawn was just breaking over
the earth. Above the river hung a mist, through which the great body
of the ram could be seen coming doggedly down to the conflict. The
"Miami" and "Southfield" were lashed together; and, at the order of
Commander Flusser, they started to meet the iron-clad, firing quickly
and with good aim. The "Albemarle" came on silently, disdaining to
fire a gun. With a crash she struck the "Miami" a glancing blow on the
port-bow, gouging off two great planks. Sliding past the wounded
craft, she plunged into the "Southfield," crushing completely through
her side, so that she began to settle at once. The lashings between
the gunboats parted, and the "Southfield" sank rapidly, carrying part
of her crew with her. As the "Albemarle" crashed into the two vessels,
she fired her bow-gun several times, killing and wounding many of the
Union sailors, and killing Lieut. Flusser. When she turned and made a
second dash for the "Miami," the latter fled down the stream, knowing
that to dare the power of the enemy was mere madness. The "Albemarle"
steamed back to Plymouth, and by her aid the town was easily
recaptured by the Confederates.
The squadron in the sounds was now in a state of the greatest anxiety.
At any moment the impregnable monster might descend the river and
destroy the frail wooden gunboats at her leisure. Preparations were
made for a desperate battle when the time should come. Captains were
instructed to bring their ships to close quarters with the enemy and
to endeavor to throw powder or shells down her smokestack. Every
possible means by which a wooden steamer might cope with an iron-clad
was provided.
[Illustration: Destruction of the "Albemarle."]
On the 5th of May the ram put in an appearance, steaming down the
river. Deliberately she approached within easy range, then let fly a
shot at the "Mattabesett" which knocked her launch to pieces and
wounded several men. The "Mattabesett" ran up to within one hundred
and fifty yards of the "Albemarle," and gave her a broadside of solid
shot from nine-inch Dahlgrens and one hundred-pounder rifles. When
these shot struck a sloping place on the ram's armor, they glanced
off. Those that struck full on the plating simply crumbled to pieces,
leaving no dent to tell of the blow. One beautifully aimed shot struck
the muzzle of one of the cannon on the ram and broke it. The gun
was used throughout the fight, however, as the "Albemarle" carried but
two and could not spare one of them. The "Sassacus" followed in line
of battle. She delivered her broadside in passing. The ram rushed
madly at her, but was evaded by good steering. Then the "Sassacus" in
turn rushed at the ram at full speed, thinking to run her down. She
struck amidships at right angles, and with the crash of the collision
came a hundred-pound shot from the ram, that passed through the wooden
ship from end to end. Still the engines of the "Sassacus" were kept
going, in the hope of pushing the "Albemarle" beneath the water. The
iron-clad careened slowly, the water washed over her after-deck; the
crew of the "Sassacus," far out on the bow, tried vainly to drop
shells and packages of powder down the ram's smoking chimneys. It was
a moment of intense excitement. But the ram was too much for her
assailant. Recovering from the shock of the collision, she slowly
swung around until her bow-gun could be brought to bear on her
tormentor, when she let fly a ponderous bolt. It crashed through the
side of the steamer and plunged into her boiler. In an instant hot,
scalding steam filled the engine-room and spread over the whole ship.
Cries of agony arose on every side. Twenty-one of the crew were
terribly scalded. Nothing remained but retreat; and the "Sassacus"
steamed away from her enemy, after making one of the bravest fights in
naval history. In the mean time the other gunboats were pounding away
at the ram. The "Miami" was trying in vain to get an opportunity to
discharge a large torpedo. Two other vessels were spreading nets about
the great ship, trying to foul the propeller. The action continued
until dark, when the ram withdrew, uninjured and without losing a man.
She had fought alone for three hours against six ships, and had
seriously damaged every one of her adversaries. It must also be
remembered that she carried but two guns.
The "Albemarle" lay for a long time idle at her moorings in Roanoke
River, feeling sure that at her own pleasure she could go into the
sounds, and complete the destruction of the fleet. Lieut. Cushing,
then twenty-one years old, begged permission to attempt to destroy
her. The authority was gladly granted by the navy department, and
Cushing began making his plans for the adventure. His first plan was
to take a squad of men, with two steam-launches, up the Roanoke, and
blow the ram up by means of a torpedo. The launches were sent from
New York, but one was swamped while crossing Delaware Bay.
Cushing, however, was not the man to be balked by an accident: so,
cutting down his force one-half, he prepared for the start. Thirteen
officers and men made up the little party which seemed bound to
certain death. The spirit which animated the blue-jackets during the
war may be imagined from the fact that many sailors tried to purchase
the privilege of going on this perilous expedition, by offering their
month's pay to those who had been selected. To understand what a
forlorn hope the little boat-load of men were cherishing, we must
understand what were the defences of the "Albemarle." She lay at a
broad wharf, on which was encamped a large guard of soldiers as well
as her crew. Above and below her, great fires were kept burning on the
shores, to prevent any boat approaching unseen. She was surrounded by
a boom, or "water-fence," of floating logs, about thirty feet from her
hull, to keep off any torpedo-boats. From the mouth of the Roanoke to
her moorings was about eight miles; the shores being lined on either
side by pickets, and a large picket-station being established in
mid-stream about one mile below Plymouth.
To attempt to penetrate this network of defences seemed to be
foolhardy. Yet Cushing's record for dash and courage, and his
enthusiasm, inspired his comrades with confidence; and they set out
feeling certain of success. On the night of the 27th of October, the
daring band, in their pygmy steamer, steamed rapidly up the river. No
word was spoken aboard. The machinery was oiled until it ran
noiselessly; and not a light shone from the little craft, save when
the furnace-door was hastily opened to fire up. The Confederate
sentries on the bank saw nothing of the party; and, even when they
passed the picket schooners near the wreck of the "Southfield," they
were unchallenged, although they could see the schooners, and hear the
voices of the men, not more than twenty yards away. Not until they
came into the fitful glare of the firelight were they seen, and then
quick hails came from the sentries on the wharf and the "Albemarle's"
decks. But the light on the shore aided the adventurers by showing
them the position of the ram. They dashed up alongside, amid a shower
of bullets that seemed to fill the air. On the decks of the ram all
was confusion, the alarm rattles were sprung, the bell rung violently.
The launch running alongside came into contact with the row of logs,
and sheered off to make a dash over it. Cushing, who on these
dangerous expeditions was like a schoolboy on a holiday, answered with
ridicule all hails. "Go ashore for your lives," "Surrender yourselves,
or I shall sink you," he cried, as the gunners on the ram trained a
heavy gun on the little launch. Now she was headed straight for the
ram, and had a run of thirty yards before striking the boom. She
reached, and dashed over. Cushing, standing in the stern, held in one
hand the tiller ropes, in the other the lanyard of the torpedo. He
looked up, saw the muzzle of a heavy gun trained directly on his boat:
one convulsive pull of the rope, and with a roar the torpedo exploded
under the hull of the "Albemarle," just as a hundred-pound shot
crashed through the bottom of his boat. In a second the launch had
disappeared; her crew were struggling in the waves, or lying dead
beneath them, and the "Albemarle" with a mortal wound was sinking to
the bottom.
Cushing swam to the middle of the river, and headed down stream. Most
of his companions were killed, captured, or drowned. In the middle of
the stream he met Woodman, who had followed him on previous
expeditions. Woodman was almost exhausted. Cushing supported him as
long as he was able, but was forced to leave him, and the sailor sank
to the bottom. The young lieutenant floated down the river until at
last he reached the shore, exhausted and faint from a wound in his
wrist. He lay half covered with water in a swamp until daylight. While
there he heard two Confederate officers who passed say that the
"Albemarle" was a total wreck. That news gave him new energy, and he
set about getting safely away. Through the thick undergrowth of the
swamp he crawled for some hours, until he found a negro who gave him
shelter and food. Then he plunged again into the swamp, and walked on
until he captured a skiff from a Rebel picket; and with this he safely
reached the fleet,--the only one of the thirteen who set out two days
before. So ended the most wonderful adventure of the war.
CHAPTER VII.
THE BLOCKADE-RUNNERS. -- NASSAU AND WILMINGTON. -- WORK OF THE
CRUISERS.
While it is undeniably true that the naval battles of the civil war
were in many cases unimportant as compared with the gigantic
operations of the mighty armies in Virginia and Tennessee, yet there
was one service performed by the navy, alone and unaided, which
probably, more than any thing else, led to the final subjugation of
the South. This was the blockade.
To fully appreciate what a terrible weapon the blockade is when
energetically pursued, one need only look at the condition of the
South during the latter years of the war. Medicines were almost
unattainable for love or money. Salt was more carefully hoarded than
silver. Woollen goods for clothing were not to be had. Nothing that
could not be produced by the people of the revolted States could be
obtained at their markets. Their whole territory was in a state of
siege, surrounded by a barrier only a little less unrelenting than the
iron circle the Germans drew around besieged Paris.
Almost the first war measure of Abraham Lincoln was to declare the
ports of the Confederacy in a state of blockade. At first this seemed
a rash proclamation, and one which could not be sustained by the force
at the command of the Federals. It is a rule of warfare, that
"blockades, to be binding, must be effective;" that is, it is not
lawful for a nation with a small fleet to declare an enemy's coast in
a state of blockade, and then capture such trading-vessels as may
happen to run in the way of its cruisers. The nation must have a large
enough fleet to station vessels before each of the principal harbors
of the enemy, and to maintain a constant and vigilant patrol up and
down his coast. If this cannot be done, the blockade is called a
"paper blockade," and merchantmen are justified in attempting to evade
it. An instance of a "paper blockade" occurred during the early months
of the civil war, which will illustrate this point. Wilmington, N.C.,
was throughout the war one of the favorite ports for blockade-runners.
From its situation, the many entrances to its harbor, and other
natural advantages, it was the most difficult of all the Southern
ports to keep guarded. With the rest of the Confederate ports,
Wilmington was declared blockaded; but it was long after, before a
suitable blockading-fleet was stationed there. In July, 1861, the
British brig "Herald" left Wilmington without molestation. When two
days out, she ran across a United States man-of-war, that promptly
captured her. The courts, however, decided that a port so little
guarded as Wilmington was at that time could not be legally called
blockaded, and the brig was therefore released.
But it did not take many months for the energetic men of the Navy
Department to get together such a fleet of boats of all kinds as to
enable them to effectually seal all the ports of the Confederacy. A
blockading vessel need not be of great strength or powerful armament.
All that is necessary is that she should be swift, and carry a gun
heavy enough to overawe any merchantman that might attempt to run the
blockade. And as such vessels were easy to improvise out of tug-boats,
ferry-boats, yachts, and other small craft, it came about that by the
last of 1861, the people of the seaport towns of the South, looking
seaward from their deserted wharves, could see two or three Federal
cruisers lying anchored off the outer bar, just out of reach of the
guns of shore-batteries. It was a service of no little danger for the
blue-jackets. The enemy were ever on the alert to break the blockade
by destroying the ships with torpedoes. Iron-clad rams were built on
the banks of the rivers, and sent down to sink and destroy the vessels
whose watchfulness meant starvation to the Confederacy. The
"Albemarle" and the "Merrimac" were notable instances of this course
of attack. But the greatest danger which the sailors had to encounter
was the peril of being wrecked by the furious storms which continually
ravage the Atlantic coast. The sailor loves the open sea in a blow;
but until the civil war, no captain had ever dared to lie tugging at
his cables within a mile or two of a lee shore, with a stiff
north-easter lashing the sea into fury. In the blockading service of
our great naval war, the war of 1812, the method in vogue was to keep
a few vessels cruising up and down the coast; and, when it came on to
blow, these ships would put out into the open sea and scud for some
other point. But in '61 we had hundreds of vessels stationed along the
enemy's coast; and where a ship was stationed, there she stayed, to
meet the fury of the wind and waves by putting out more anchors, and
riding out at her cables storms that would have blown the blockader of
1812 hundreds of miles from her post.
In the earlier years of the war the blockade-runners were nearly all
sailing-vessels, schooners, and brigs, that were easily captured. But
when the supplies of the South became exhausted, and the merchants of
England began building ships especially for this purpose, the duty of
the blockading squadron became exciting and often very profitable. The
business assumed such proportions that half the shipyards in England
were engaged in turning out fast steamers to engage in it. At first it
was the custom to send goods in regular ocean-steamers from England to
the blockaded port; but this was soon abandoned, as the risk of
capture on the long run across the Atlantic was too great. Not until
the plan was adopted of shipping the goods to some neutral port along
our coast, and there transferring the cargo to some small, swift
vessel, and making the run into the Confederate port in a few hours,
did the business of blockade-running become very extensive. Goods
shipped for a neutral point were in no danger of being captured by our
cruisers, and therefore the danger of the long trans-Atlantic passage
was done away with.
[Illustration: Nassau: The Haunt of the Blockade-Runners.]
Of these neutral points which served as way-stations for the
blockade-runners, there were four on or near our coast,--the Bermuda
Islands, which lie about seven hundred miles east of Charleston; Nassau,
which is off the coast of Florida, and a little more than five hundred
miles southeast of Charleston; Havana; and the little Mexican town of
Matamoras on the Rio Grande, opposite Brownsville, Texas. The Bermudas
were to some extent used, but their distance from the coast made them
inconvenient as compared with Nassau or Matamoras. Their chief trade was
with Wilmington, which became a favorite port during the latter years of
the war. Havana was popular for a time, and at first sight would appear
to be admirably placed for a blockade-runners' rendezvous. But, though
the coast of Florida was but one hundred miles distant, it was
surrounded by dangerous reefs, its harbors were bad and far apart, and
there were no railroads in the southern part of the State to transport
the contraband goods after they were landed. Besides, Key West, the
naval station of the Union forces in the South, was unpleasantly near,
and the gulf blockade was maintained with more rigor than that on the
Atlantic coast. Matamoras was peculiarly well situated for a
blockade-running point. It is on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande
River, about forty miles above its mouth. Goods once landed could be
shipped in barges and lighters across the river in absolute safety,
since heavy batteries prevented the cruisers of the gulf-squadron from
entering the river. As a result of this trade, Matamoras became a
thriving place. Hundreds of vessels lay in its harbor, where now it is
unusual to see five at a time. For four years its streets were crowded
with heavy freight vans, while stores and hotels reaped a rich harvest
from the sailors of the vessels engaged in the contraband traffic. Now
it is as quiet and sleepy a little town as can be found in all the
drowsy land of Mexico.
But the true paradise of the blockade-runners was Nassau, the chief
port of the Bahama Islands, and a colony of Great Britain. Here all
the conditions necessary to successfully evade the blockade were to be
found. The flag that waved over the island was that of a nation
powerful enough to protect its citizens, and to enforce the laws
relative to neutrality. Furthermore, Great Britain was undoubtedly in
sympathy with the Confederates; and so far from prohibiting the
efforts of her citizens to keep up trade with the blockaded ports, she
encouraged and aided them in every way in her power. And aside from
her mere sympathy with the struggles of the young Confederacy, England
had a most powerful incentive to break down the blockade. In
Manchester the huge cotton-mills, employing thousands of hands, were
shut down for lack of cotton, and the mill-hands were starving for
lack of work; while shut up in the blockaded ports of the South were
tons upon tons of the fleecy staple, that, once in England, would be
worth its weight in gold. It was small wonder that the merchants of
England set to work deliberately to fit out blockade-runners, that
they might again get their mills running, and their people fed.
[Illustration: Cotton Ships at Nassau.]
The years of the war were lively times for the little town of Nassau.
Hardly had the proclamation of President Lincoln announcing the
blockade of all Confederate ports been issued, when at a bound Nassau
became prominent as the point of all most suitable for a
blockade-runners' rendezvous. Its harbor and the surrounding waters
were deep enough for merchant-vessels, but too shallow to allow much
cruising about by warships of heavy armament. It was within a few
hours' running of three Confederate ports, and it was protected by the
flag of Great Britain. Early in the war the Confederates established a
consulate in the little town, and the Stars and Stripes and the Stars
and Bars waved within a few rods of each other. Then great
shipping-houses of Liverpool sent over agents, and established branch
houses. Great warehouses and wharves were built Soon great ocean ships
and steamers began unloading their cargoes at these wharves. Then
swift, rakish schooners began to drop into the harbor, and after
discharging heavy loads of cotton would take on cargoes of English
goods, and slip out at nightfall to begin the stealthy dash past the
watching gunboats. As the war went on, and the profits of the trade
increased with its dangers, a new style of craft began to appear in
the little harbor. These were the Clyde built blockade-runners, on
which the workmen of the Clyde shipyards had been laboring day and
night to get them ready before the war should end. They were long,
low, piratical looking craft, with two smoke-stacks raking aft, and
with one or two masts for showing signals, for they never hoisted a
sail. Two huge paddle-boxes towered above the deck amidships, the
wheels being of enormous size. No structure of any kind encumbered the
deck. Even the steersman stood unsheltered at a wheel in the bow. They
were painted dark gray, and at night could slip unseen along the water
within a stone's-throw of the most watchful lookout on a man-of-war.
They burned great quantities of a kind of coal that gave out no smoke,
and when steaming at night not a light was allowed on board. Many of
these strange craft can be seen now along the levees at New Orleans,
or at the wharves in Mobile, where they are used as excursion-steamers
or for tug-boats. They were always the merest shells, fitted only for
carrying freight, as not many passengers were to be found who desired
to be taken into the Confederate territory. Occasionally, however,
some soldier of fortune from abroad would drift from Nassau, and
thence to the mainland, to join the armies of the Confederacy. The
Confederate agents on the island were always on the lookout for such
adventurers, and were ever ready to aid them. Sometimes, too,
returning agents of the Confederacy from Europe would make the run
through the blockading-fleet; so that the blockade-runners were seldom
without two or three passengers, poor though their accommodations
might be. For the voyage from Nassau to Wilmington, three hundred
dollars passage money was charged, or more than fifty cents a mile. To
guard against treachery, passage could only be obtained through the
Confederate consul, who carefully investigated the proofs of each
applicant's identity before issuing to him a ticket.
When the blockade-runner had taken her cargo and passengers aboard,
and was prepared for her voyage, every one in the little town came
down to the docks to see her start. It was a populace strongly
Southern in feeling that filled the streets of Nassau, and nothing but
good wishes were to be heard on every side. Perhaps from a house on
the hillside, over which floated the Stars and Stripes, the United
States consul might be watching through a spyglass the movements of
the steamer, and wishing in his heart that she might fall in with
some Yankee cruiser; but nevertheless, under his very eyes, the
audacious racer slips out, and starts on her stealthy voyage. On
leaving the harbor, a quick run of fifteen or twenty miles would be
taken along the coast, to try the machinery. Great care would be taken
to keep within British waters, lest some watchful gunboat should seize
the prize thus early in her career. When every thing proved in good
working trim, the little vessel's prow would be turned northward, and
the perilous voyage begun. For the first day, little danger was to be
expected, and the voyage was generally so timed that the outer line of
blockaders would be reached just after nightfall. A soldier going to
enlist in one of the Confederate cavalry regiments thus tells the
story of his evasion of the blockade.
"After a favorable voyage we reached the desired point off Wilmington
at the proper time. A brief stoppage was made, when soon the final
preparations were completed for running the gauntlet of the Federal
blockaders, who would become visible shortly, as we approached nearer
shore. All the lights in the steamer were extinguished, and all
passengers ordered below, only the officers and crew being permitted
to remain on deck. The furnaces were replenished with carefully
selected coal, which would give the greatest amount of heat and the
least smoke. The last orders were given, and every man was at his
appointed place. Presently the boilers hissed, and the paddle-wheels
began to revolve faster and faster, as the fleet little steamer rose
higher and higher in the water from the immense force of the rapid
strokes; she actually felt like a horse gathering himself up under you
for a great leap. After a little while, the few faint sounds from the
deck which we could hitherto faintly catch in the cabin ceased
altogether, and there was the stillness of death except for the sounds
necessarily made by the movements of the machinery. Then we realized
that we were running for our lives past the line of cruisers, and that
at any moment a big shell might come crashing through our cabin,
disagreeably lighting up the darkness in which we were sitting. Our
suspense was prolonged for some minutes longer, when the speed was
slackened, and finally we stopped altogether. Even then we did not
know whether we were safely through the lines, or whether we had been
brought to under the guns of a hostile ship, for we could distinguish
nothing whatever through the portholes. However, we were soon released
from the cabin, and walked on deck, to find ourselves safely through
the blockade. In the offing could be descried several of the now
harmless blockaders, and near at hand lay the coast of North Carolina.
Soon the gray dawn was succeeded by a brilliant, lovely sunrise, which
lighted up cheerfully the low-lying shores and earthworks bristling
with artillery, while from a fort near by floated the Southern Cross,
the symbol of the glorious cause for which we had come to fight."
When the blockade-runner, after safely running the gauntlet of the
warships, steamed leisurely up to the wharves of the blockaded town,
every one rushed to the docks to greet her. Her captain and crew
became at once people of great importance. They were beset on every
side for news of the great world outside. The papers that they brought
in were bought eagerly by the people, hungering for tidings of
something else than the interminable war. The sailors of the steamer,
on being paid off, rambled about the streets of the city, spending
their money royally, and followed by a train of admiring hangers-on.
The earnings of the sailors in case of a successful voyage were
immense. A thousand dollars for the four or five days' trip was
nothing unusual for common seamen, while the captain often received
eight or nine thousand. But the risk of capture, with the confiscation
of all property, and some months' imprisonment in a Federal fortress,
rather marred the attractiveness of the nefarious trade. The profits
of a successful voyage to the owner of the ship and cargo were
enormous. One of the steamers, specially built for the trade, at large
cost, has been known to pay for herself fully in one voyage. Indeed,
the profits must have been huge to induce merchants to take the risk
of absolutely losing a ship and cargo worth half a million of dollars.
It is certain, too, that throughout the war the number of vessels
captured, while trying to run the blockade, was far in excess of those
that succeeded. Up to the end of 1863 the Federal Secretary of the
Navy reported 1,045 vessels captured, classified as follows:
schooners, 547; steamers, 179; sloops, 117; brigs, 30; barks, 26;
ships, 15; yachts and boats, 117. Of course, most of these were small,
coastwise vessels. Even among the steamers captured, there were but
few of the fleet-going, English-built craft.
There was no small amount of smuggling carried on between the ports of
the North and the blockaded ports. The patriotism of the Northern
merchant was not always so great as to prevent his embarking in the
traffic which he saw enriching his English competitor. Many of the
schooners captured started from Northern ports and worked their way
along the coast until that chain of inlets, sounds, and bayous was
reached, which borders the coast south of Chesapeake Bay. Once inside
the bar, the smuggler could run at his leisure for any of the little
towns that stood on the banks of the rivers of Virginia and North
Carolina. The chase of one of these little vessels was a dreary duty
to the officers of the blockading-ships. The fugitives were fast
clippers of the models that made Maine shipbuilders famous, until the
inauguration of steam-navigation made a gracefully modelled hull
immaterial as compared with powerful machinery. Even when the great,
lumbering warship had overhauled the flying schooner so as to bring a
gun to bear on her, the little boat might suddenly dash into some
inlet or up a river, where the man-of-war, with her heavy draught,
could not hope to follow. And if captured, the prize was worth but
little, and the prize-money, that cheers the sailors' hearts, was but
small. But the chase and capture of one of the swift Clyde-built
steamers was a different matter. Perhaps a lookout in the maintop of a
cruiser, steaming idly about the Atlantic, between Nassau and
Wilmington, would spy, far off on the horizon, a black speck, moving
swiftly along the ocean. No curling smoke would tell of the
blockade-runner's presence, and nothing could be seen until the hull
of the steamer itself was perceptible. With the quick hail of the
lookout, the man-of-war would head for the prize, and start in hot
pursuit. Certain it is that the smuggler started to fly before the
watchful lookout on the cruiser caught sight of her. The towering
masts and capacious funnels of the man-of-war, with the cloud of black
smoke from her furnaces, made her a conspicuous object at distances
from which the smuggler would be invisible. With the blockade-runners
the rule was to avoid any sail, no matter how innocent it might seem;
and the appearance of a cloud of smoke on the horizon was the signal
for an immediate change of course, and a flight for safety. When the
chase began in this way, the cruiser had but little chance of making a
capture, for the superior speed of the merchant-vessel would quickly
carry her out of sight. Sometimes, however, a favorable wind would
enable the pursuer to use her sails, and then the chase would become
exciting. With a cloud of canvas set, the man-of-war would gradually
overhaul the flying vessel; and when within range, the great bow-gun
would be cleared, and with a roar a shell would be sent flying after
the prize. All hands would watch its course anxiously. Generally it
fell short. Then another and another messenger would be sent to the
enemy, which seldom struck the mark, for gunnery on a rough sea is a
difficult art. But the blockade-runner can't stand being used for
target-practice long. The cool head of her captain begins to
deliberate upon means of getting out of range. Mere running before the
wind won't do it: so he makes a long detour, and doubles on his
course, heading directly into the teeth of the breeze. Now the cruiser
is at a disadvantage. Her sail-power gone, she stands no chance of
capturing her game. Her shells begin to fall far short of the
smuggler, and soon she ceases firing altogether; and the
blockade-runner, driven hundreds of miles out of her course, but safe
for the time, goes on her way rejoicing.
[Illustration: Blockade-Runner in North Carolina Sounds.]
One of the most brilliant captures of the war was that of the
blockade-runner "Young Republic," by the United States gunboat "Grand
Gulf." The "Young Republic" succeeded in evading the watchfulness of
the blockading-squadron about the mouth of the Cape Fear River, and
under cover of the night ran in safely to the anchorage under the guns
of the Confederate forts. The baffled blockaders saw her moving slowly
up the river, while the cannon of the forts on either side thundered
out salutes to the daring vessel that brought precious supplies to the
Confederacy. But the blockading-squadron, though defeated for the
time, determined to wait and catch her when she came out. Accordingly
the "Grand Gulf," one of the fastest of the United States vessels, was
stationed at the mouth of the river, with orders to watch for the
"Young Republic." A week passed, and there was no sign of her. At
last, one bright day, the lookout in the tops saw the mast and funnel
of a steamer moving along above the forest which lined the river's
bank. Soon the hull of the vessel came into view; and with a rattle of
hawse-chains, her anchors were let fall, and she swung to beneath the
protecting guns of the fort. It was clear that she was going to wait
there until a dark or foggy night gave her a good chance to slip past
the gunboat that watched the river's mouth as a cat watches the mouth
of a mouse-hole. With their marine glasses the officers on the gunboat
could see the decks of the "Young Republic" piled high with brown
bales of cotton, worth immense sums of money. They thought of the huge
value of the prize, and the grand distribution of prize-money, and
determined to use every effort to make a capture. Strategy was
determined upon, and it was decided to give the blockade-runner the
chance to get out of the river that she was awaiting. Accordingly the
gunboat steamed away up the coast a few miles, leaving the mouth of
the river clear. When hidden by a projecting headland, she stopped and
waited for the blockade-runner to come out. The stokers were kept hard
at work making the great fires roar, until the steam-gauge showed the
highest pressure the boilers could bear. The sailors got out
additional sails, clewed up cordage and rigging, and put the ship in
order for a fast run. When enough time had elapsed, she steamed out to
see if the "Young Republic" had taken the bait. Officers and crew
crowded forward to catch the first sight around the headland. The
great man-of-war sped through the water. The headland was rounded, and
a cheer went up from the crowd of jackies; for there, in the offing,
was the blockade-runner, gliding through the water like a dolphin, and
steaming for dear life to Nassau. Then the chase began in earnest. The
"Young Republic" was one of those long, sharp steamers built on the
Clyde expressly for running the blockade. Her crew knew that a long
holiday in port, with plenty of money, would follow a successful
cruise; and they worked untiringly to keep up the fires, and set every
sail so that it would draw. On the cruiser the jackies saw visions of
a prize worth a million and a half of dollars; and the thought of so
much prize-money to spend, or to send home, spurred them on. For
several hours the chase seemed likely to be a long, stern one; but
then the freshening wind filled the sails of the gunboat, and she
began to overhaul the fugitive. When within a mile or two, she began
firing great shells with her pivot-gun. Then the flying
blockade-runner began to show signs of fear; and with a good glass the
crew could be seen throwing over bale after bale of the precious
cotton, to lighten the vessel. In the last thirty miles of the chase
the sea was fairly covered with cotton-bales. More than three hundred
were passed floating in the water; and the jackies gnashed their
teeth, and growled gruffly, at the sight of so much wealth slipping
through their fingers. On the high paddle-wheel box of the
blockade-runner, the captain could be seen coolly directing his crew,
and now and again turning to take a look through his glass at the
pursuer. As the chase continued, the certainty of capture became more
and more evident. Then the fugitives began throwing overboard or
destroying every thing of value: furniture, silver-ware,
chronometers, the fittings of the cabin, every thing that could
benefit their captors, the chagrined blockade-runners destroyed. The
officers of the gunboat saw that if they wished to gain any thing by
their capture, they must make haste. At the risk of an explosion, more
steam was crowded on; and the gunboat was soon alongside the "Young
Republic," and in a position to give her an enormous broadside. The
blockade-runner saw that he was caught and must submit. For lack of a
white flag, a pillow-case was run up to the masthead, and the beating
of the great wheels stopped. The davits amidships of the "Grand Gulf"
are swung out, and a boat's crew, with a lieutenant and dapper
midshipman, climb in. A quick order, "Let fall there," and the boat
drops into the water, and is headed for the prize. Another moment, and
the stars and stripes supplant the pillow-case waving from the
masthead of the "Young Republic." An officer who went into the
boiler-room found that the captured crew had planned to blow up the
vessel by tying down the safety-valve, so that an enormous pressure of
steam strained the boilers almost to bursting. A quick blow of a
hatchet, and that danger was done away with. Then, with a prize-crew
on board, the "Young Republic" started on her voyage to New York;
while the "Grand Gulf" returned to Wilmington to hunt for fresh game.
[Illustration: Pursuing a Blockade-Runner.]
A curious capture was that of the British schooner "Francis," which
was running between Nassau and the coast of Florida. On her last trip
she was nearing the coast, when she fell in with a fishing-smack, and
was warned that a Federal gunboat was not far away. Still she kept on
her course until sundown, when the breeze went down, and she lay
becalmed. The gunboat had been steaming into inlets and lagoons all
day, and had not sighted the schooner. When night came on, she steamed
out into the open sea, within a quarter of a mile of the
blockade-runner, and, putting out all lights, lay to for the night.
Those on the schooner could see the gunboat, but the lookout on the
cruiser did not see the blockade-runner. Soon a heavy fog came up, and
entirely hid the vessels from each other. The blockade-runners could
only hope that a breeze might spring up, and enable them to escape.
But now a curious thing occurred. It almost seems as if two vessels on
the ocean exercise a magnetic attraction for each other so often do
collisions occur where there seems room for all the navies of the
world to pass in review. So it was this night. The anxious men on
the schooner soon found that the two vessels were drifting together,
and they were absolutely powerless to prevent it. At midnight, though
they could see nothing, they could hear the men on the gunboat
talking. Two hours after, the schooner nestled gently up by the side
of the gunboat; and a slight jar gave its crew their first intimation
that a prize was there, simply waiting to be taken. All they had to do
was to climb over the railing. This was promptly done, and the
disgusted blockade-runners were sent below as prisoners. Half an hour
later came a breeze that would have carried them safely to port.
The gray sea-fogs played many scurvy tricks with the
blockading-fleets, often letting the runners in right under the
muzzles of the great guns. It was far easier to spy out a vessel in
the darkest night than in the thick gray fog that enveloped all
objects like a blanket. One of the strangest of all the pranks played
by the fog occurred in December, 1863, in Charleston Harbor. A wary
blockade-runner was creeping out of the harbor, within easy range of
the great guns of the fleet, and all hands were trembling, lest at any
minute should come the flash of a gun, and shriek of a shell, bearing
a peremptory command to heave to. Suddenly the flash came, and was
followed by the bang! bang! of great guns from all quarters of the
fleet. But the fire seemed pointed in another direction; and the
runner made the best of her way out to sea, thinking that some less
fortunate vessel, trying to come in on the other side of the fleet,
had been captured or blown out of the water. It turned out that a
small fog-bank had taken the form of a gray steamer moving swiftly
over the water, and had been fiercely cannonaded by the whole Federal
fleet. This occurrence gave the Confederates an idea; and they began
sending out dummies to engage the fleet, while the true
blockade-runners would slip out unobserved in the excitement. One
night as the tide was running out with great force, an old hulk was
cut adrift from a wharf, and drifted down rapidly upon the Federal
fleet. It was just after the exploits of the "Merrimac" had made
Confederate rams famous, and the naval officers were a little nervous.
The hulk drifted quite into the midst of the fleet before being
observed; and when she was hailed she bore down on the largest of the
men-of-war as though she were a powerful ram, steered by a commander
of desperate bravery. The great gunboat's deck rang with the bo's'n's
whistle, as the crew were piped to repel boarders, and to their
quarters at the guns. A fierce fire was poured on the hostile craft,
that came on sullenly, as if scorning to make reply. One by one the
other vessels of the fleet drew near, and concentrated their fire on
the wretched lumber schooner. It was too much for her; and she gave up
the unequal combat, and sank to the bottom. For days after, the
gallant tars of the squadron blockading Charleston rejoiced in the
destruction of a "Rebel ram;" but none of them knew, that, while they
were engaged in the desperate contest, two great blockade-runners,
heavily laden with cotton, had slipped out of the harbor, and were
well under way for Nassau.
Stories of adventure and of desperate pluck and dash abound in the
records of the blockade. Both among the officers of the
blockading-fleets, and the commanders of the runners, were found great
courage and fine seamanship. One fact is particularly noticeable to
the student of the blockade: an English captain running the blockade
would never dare the dangers that a Confederate would brave without a
tremor. A Confederate captain would rush his ship through the hostile
fleet, and stick to her until she sunk; while an Englishman would run
his ship ashore, and take to the woods. The cases of the "Hattie,"
commanded by H. S. Lebby, a Confederate, and the "Princess Royal," a
fine, staunch, iron steamer, with an English commander and crew, are
typical. The "Hattie" was the last runner to enter or leave Charleston
Harbor. She was a small, swift steamer; but she made more successful
trips than any other runner. Men living in Charleston to-day, who were
interested in the work of this little vessel during the war, say that
her cargoes were worth at least fifty millions of dollars. She had
numerous narrow escapes, but was never captured. Her reputation was
such that the Confederate authorities selected her as the vessel to
bring in army supplies and ammunition, and at least three battles were
fought with ammunition brought in her hold. Her last entrance to
Charleston was one night in February, 1865. Eighteen Federal vessels
lay anchored off the harbor, and for a runner to venture in seemed
madness. But the captain of the "Hattie" was used to taking desperate
chances, and he proposed to enter that harbor. The ship had been
freshly painted a blue-white, and as she drifted along the water, with
all lights out, looked like a bank of mist. She was within two hundred
yards of the outer row of blockaders before her presence was detected.
Suddenly fire was opened on her from the nearest gunboat, and in an
instant the air was full of rockets announcing her presence. The
little vessel had no means of retaliation: all there was for her to do
was to dash through the fire and make for the city. Steam was crowded
on; and she flew up the channel, running the gauntlet of the fleet,
and escaping almost untouched. Then came the real peril. Just below
Fort Sumter were two barges anchored in the channel, and filled with
armed men. Past these she dashed, her great speed saving her from
boarding; but she received the fire of both boats, which wounded
several of her crew, and cut off the fingers of the pilot's hand
resting on the wheel. This danger past, there was one more to be met.
A large monitor lay anchored up the harbor, and the "Hattie" was
running so close to her that the commands of the officers in the
turret could be clearly heard. One after the other the two great guns
were fired, both shots missing; and the "Hattie," safely past the
gauntlet, sailed up to the dock in triumph. But by that time it was
clear that the last days of the war were near at hand, and accordingly
the work of unloading and reloading the vessel for her outward trip
was pressed with the greatest vigor. All the time she lay at her dock,
Charleston was being vigorously bombarded by the Federal men-of-war
lying outside the harbor. The bay fairly swarmed with blockading
cruisers; yet a week later the little steamer slipped out through a
fleet of twenty-six cruisers without being hailed, and carried her
cotton safely to market. When the news of Lee's surrender was
received, she was lying safe at her dock in Nassau.
The "Princess Royal," to which we have alluded, was a large iron screw
steamer, freighted with drugs, army supplies, guns, and two engines
and boilers for two iron-clads in Charleston Harbor,--a most valuable
and important cargo for the Confederates. She made the run from Nassau
to a point near the coast without adventure, and in the early gray of
the morning was stealing up the coast towards the harbor, when a
blockader caught sight of her, and started in pursuit. The later began
firing when a mile and a half away; and, though there was hardly a
chance of the shots taking effect, the cannonade gave the captain of
the runner the cold shakes. His boat was one of the fastest on the
ocean, and he needed only to put on steam to escape all the blockaders
on the coast. But he was a thorough paced coward; and, thinking only
of his own safety, he headed the craft for the beach, and with his
crew fled into the woods. The valuable ship and her cargo fell into
the hands of the Federals.
Sometimes runners were captured through apparently the most trivial
accidents. One ship, heavily laden with army supplies, and carrying a
large number of passengers, was running through the blockading-fleet,
and seemed sure of escape. All lights were out, the passengers were in
the cabin, not a word was to be heard on deck, even the commands of
the officers being delivered in whispers. Suddenly a prolonged
cock-crow rent the air, and, with the silence of every thing
surrounding, sounded like a clarion peal from a trumpet. The
deck-hands rushed for a box of poultry on the deck, and dragged out
bird after bird, wringing their necks. The true offender was almost
the last to be caught, and avenged the deaths of his brothers by
crowing vigorously all the time. The noise was enough to alarm the
blockaders; and in a moment the hail, "Surrender, or we'll blow you
out of water!" brought the unlucky runner to a standstill,--a
prisoner. The "Southern Cross" narrowly escaped capture on account of
the stupidity of an Irish deck-hand, whose craving for tobacco proved
too strong for his discretion. The ship was steaming slyly by two
cruisers, and in the darkness would have escaped unseen, when the
deck-hand, who had been without a smoke as long as he could stand it,
lit a match and puffed away at his pipe. The tiny flame was enough for
the cruisers, and they began a spirited cannonade. The "Southern
Cross" ran for her life. The shooting was guess-work, but the gunners
on the cruisers showed all the proverbial Yankee skill at guessing.
The first ball carried away the roof of the pilot-house, and the
second ripped away the railing along the deck for thirty feet. But the
captain was plucky, and made a run for it. He was forced to pass
within a hundred feet of one of the cruisers; and as he saw the
muzzles of the great guns bearing on his ship, he heard the command,
"Heave to, or I'll sink you." But he took his chances, and escaped
with only the damage caused by a solid shot crashing through the hull.
One of the strangest experiences of all was that of the captain of a
blockade-runner putting in to Wilmington one bitter cold night, when
the snow was blowing in clouds, and the fingers of the men at the
wheel and the sailors on watch were frostbitten. The runner had
reached the harbor safely; but there in channel lay a blockader in
such a position that any ship coming in must pass within a hundred
feet of her. The Confederate had a light-draught vessel, and tried to
squeeze through. When he passed the gunboat, only twelve feet of
space separated the two vessels; and he saw a lookout, with his arms
on the rail, looking right at the passing vessel. The Confederate
expected an immediate alarm, but it did not come. Wondering at the
cause, but happy in his luck, he sped on, and gained the harbor
safely. Some days after, he learned that the lookout was a dead man,
frozen at his post of duty.
It will readily be understood that the inducements offered to
blockade-runners must have been immense to persuade men to run such
risks. The officers and sailors made money easily, and spent it
royally when they reached Nassau. "I never expect to see such flush
times again in my life," said a blockade-running captain, speaking of
Nassau. "Money was as plentiful as dirt. I have seen a man toss up a
twenty-dollar gold piece on "heads or tails," and it would be followed
by a score of the yellow boys in five seconds. There were times when
the bank-vaults could not hold all the gold, and the coins were dumped
down by the bushel, and guarded by soldiers. Men wagered, gambled,
drank, and seemed crazy to get rid of their money. I once saw two
captains bet five hundred dollars each on the length of a certain
porch. Again I saw a wager of eight hundred dollars a side as to how
many would be at the dinner-table of a certain hotel. The Confederates
were paying the English big prices for goods, but multiplying the
figures by five, seven, and ten as soon as the goods were landed in
Charleston. Ten dollars invested in quinine in Nassau would bring from
four hundred to six hundred dollars in Charleston. A pair of
four-dollar boots would bring from fourteen to sixteen dollars; a
two-dollar hat would bring eight dollars, and so on through all the
list of goods brought in. Every successful captain might have made a
fortune in a year; but it is not believed that five out of the whole
number had a thousand dollars on hand when the war closed. It was come
easy, go easy."
CHAPTER VIII.
DUPONT'S EXPEDITION TO HILTON HEAD AND PORT ROYAL. -- THE FIERY
CIRCLE.
The great joint naval and military expedition, which in August, 1861,
had reduced the forts at Hatteras Inlet, and, continuing its progress,
had, by successive victories, brought Roanoke Island, Newbern,
Elizabeth City, and the Sounds of Pamlico and Albemarle under the sway
of the Federal Government, was but the first of a series of
expeditions intended to drive the Confederates from the Atlantic
seaboard, and secure for the United States vessels safe harbors and
coaling stations in the bays and inlets along the South Atlantic
coast. The proper maintenance of the blockade made it necessary that
the seaboard should be in the hands of the Federals. For a blockader
off Charleston or Wilmington to be forced to return to Hampton Roads
to coal or to make repairs, would entail the loss of weeks, perhaps
months, of valuable time. Besides, the sounds and inlets with which
that irregular coast is honeycombed were of great use to the
Confederates, who could construct at their leisure great rams like the
"Merrimac" or "Albemarle," and hurl them against the fleet with the
hope of breaking the blockade. Such opportunities were eagerly seized
by the Confederates whenever offered; and in many cases the defeating
of their purposes seems almost providential, so great was the seeming
disparity between the attacking ram and the forces which finally
repulsed it.
In reviewing the part of the navy in the civil war, we find that it
acted like a great iron band, ever drawing closer and closer about the
Confederacy, forcing the Southern armies from one point after another,
until at last the whole coast was in the hands of the Unionists, and
the Confederates were driven into the interior, there to be dealt with
by the Northern armies. One is reminded of that iron chamber in Poe's
story, which day by day grows smaller and smaller, until the wretched
prisoner within is forced into the pit yawning in the centre. So,
during the war, the Confederates lost Hatteras Inlet, Roanoke Island,
Hilton Head, Fernandina, Mobile, New Orleans, and Galveston
comparatively early in the struggle. Wilmington, behind the almost
impregnable bastions of Fort Fisher, and Charleston, surrounded by a
cordon of defensive forts, remained the last strongholds of the
Confederacy on the Atlantic coast, until the final downfall of the
great uprising.
Shortly after the capture of the Hatteras Forts, the navy department
saw the need of a harbor and base of naval operations farther south.
Charleston, with its powerful defences, was deemed impregnable at that
time; and elaborate descriptions of the Southern coast were prepared,
setting forth the advantages and disadvantages of available Southern
ports. Fernandina, Brunswick, Port Royal, and Bull's Bay, were duly
considered; and, while the Navy Department was debating which point to
seize, Admiral Dupont was diligently fitting out an expedition to be
in readiness to attack any that should be determined upon. Up to the
last moment it was thought that Fernandina would be selected. But
finally, with the advice of Gen. Sherman, it was determined to make
the attempt to wrest Port Royal from the Confederates.
Port Royal is the general name given to a broad body of water formed
by the confluence of the Broad and Beaufort Rivers, and opening into
the Atlantic Ocean on the South Carolina coast, about midway between
Charleston and Savannah. No more beautiful region is to be found in
the world. Far enough south to escape the rigors of the northern
winters, and far enough north to be free from the enervating heat of
the tropics; honeycombed by broad, salt-water lagoons, giving moisture
and mildness to the air,--the country about Port Royal is like a great
garden; and even to-day, ravaged though it was by the storms of war,
it shows many traces of its former beauty. It is in this region that
are found the famous Sea Islands, on which grows cotton so much more
fleecy and fine of fibre than the product of the interior, that it is
known the world over as Sea Island cotton, and sells at the highest
price in the markets of England. In '61 the islands bore the great
hospitable manor-houses of the Southern planters; broad of rooms and
wide of piazzas, and always open for the entertainment of travellers,
were they friends or strangers. The planters living there were among
the wealthiest in the South, at a time when all planters were wealthy.
They numbered their slaves by thousands. Standing on the broad piazza
of one of these Southern homes, one could see the rows of rough huts
that made up the negro quarters, and hear faintly the sound of the
banjo and rude negro melodies, mingling with the music of piano or
harp within the parlor of the mansion-house. Refined by education and
travel, the planters of the region about Port Royal made up a courtly
society, until war burst upon them, and reduced their estates to
wildernesses, and themselves to beggary.
At the head of the Beaufort River stood the little town of Beaufort.
Before the war this was a thriving place; its magnificent harbor made
it easily accessible for the largest merchant-ships, and the richly
productive country round about furnished heavy cargoes of the fleecy
staple that gave to the South the name of the "cotton kingdom." On
Saturdays and holidays the broad streets of Beaufort would be crowded
with carriages and horsemen from the neighboring plantations. The
planters, in broad-brimmed hats and suits of snowy linen, thronged the
broad piazzas of the hotel, or grouped together in the shade of the
spreading trees that lined the streets, discussing the cotton crops
and prices. Now all is changed. Beaufort is a sleepy little village,
with no sign of trade, domestic or foreign; and the country round
about, once dotted with handsome plantation homes, now seems a very
wilderness, save where Northerners have erected for themselves winter
homes on the Sea Islands.
[Illustration: Fortress Monroe.]
It was late in October, 1861, when the final determination to attack
the forts at Port Royal was reached. For weeks before, the squadron
lying at Hampton Roads had been making preparations for a great naval
movement, and all the newspapers of the North were filled with wise
speculations as to its objective point. Reporters, correspondents, and
editors were alike baffled in their efforts to secure accurate
information; and even the commanders of the men-of-war were ignorant
of their destination. But it seems that the Confederates were warned
by some of their sympathizers in Washington, and the destination of
the fleet was better known south of Mason and Dixon's line than in the
North. On Tuesday, Oct. 29, the squadron was all ready for the voyage.
It was by far the most powerful fleet ever gathered under the flag of
the United States. Twenty-five vessels laden with coal had sailed the
day before. On the placid waters of the bay, under the frowning walls
of Fortress Monroe, floated fifty men-of-war and transports. The day
was clear, and the breeze brisk, and the hearts of the jolly jack-tars
bounded within them as they thought of escaping from the long
inactivity of a season in port. Long-boats bearing despatches rowed
from ship to ship; hucksters from the shore came off in dories,
dingies, and all variety of queer craft, to drive a farewell bargain
with the sailors. The transport vessels were crowded with soldiers in
the gay uniforms of militia commands. (It was early in the war then,
and they had not learned that a man could fight as well in dingy
rags.) The "Wabash" was flagship, and aboard her was Admiral DuPont.
When she made the signal for getting under way, all was bustle and
animation on all the other vessels of the fleet, and on all sides
could be heard the noise of preparation for the start. The boatswains
piped away cheerily; and a steady tramp, tramp, from the deck of each
ship, and the clicking of the capstan catches, told that the anchors
were coming up. Soon from the black funnels of the steamers clouds of
smoke began to pour, and in the rigging of the sail frigates were
crowds of nimble sailors. The commands "All ready! Let fall!" rang
sharply over the water from the ships. Broad sheets of snowy canvas
appeared where before were but ropes and spars, and in a moment the
whole squadron was under way. The steamers led off briskly, with much
churning of the water by their paddle-wheels and "brazen-fins;" after
them followed the magnificent sailing frigates, with sail set,--lofty
masses of canvas towering toward the skies, and moving with stately
grace. At the very head of all went the flagship, the grand old
"Wabash," with the flag of Admiral DuPont floating from the fore. None
of the commanders knew whither they were bound. All were to follow the
flagship, and in event of separation to refer to sealed orders with
which each was provided. For the first day all went well. The promise
of fair weather given by the beautiful day of starting seemed about to
be fulfilled. But on the second night, as they came near the terrible
region of Cape Hatteras, the wind began to freshen, and continued
increasing in fierceness until it fairly blew a gale. The night was
pitchy dark, and the crews on the vessels could hardly see the craft
by which they were surrounded. Great as was the danger of being cast
on the treacherous shoals of Hatteras, the peril of instant
destruction by collision was even more imminent. Fifty vessels,
heavily freighted with human lives, were pitching and tossing within a
few rods of each other, and within a few miles of a lee shore. It
seemed that the destruction of a large number of the vessels was
unavoidable; and the sailors may be pardoned, if, remembering the
mishaps of the Burnside expedition, they conceived Hatteras to be
tenanted by an evil spirit, determined to prevent the invasion of
Confederate territory. To add to the danger, the Confederates had
extinguished the warning light at the Cape, and the navigators of the
fleet had nothing to guide them in their course. When morning came,
the fleet was pretty well scattered, although still many vessels were
near enough together to be in no small danger. The transport "Winfield
Scott," which carried four hundred and fifty soldiers, besides a large
crew, was observed to be rolling heavily, and flying signals of
distress. From the decks of the "Bienville," the nearest steamer, the
officers with their glasses could see the crew of the distressed
vessel working like beavers, throwing overboard every thing of weight
to lighten the ship. Notwithstanding all their efforts, she was
clearly water-logged, and sunk so low in the water that wave after
wave broke over her decks, every now and then sweeping a man away to
sure death in the raging sea. It seemed folly to attempt to launch
lifeboats in such a furious sea, but the captain of the "Bienville"
determined to make the attempt to save the men on the doomed "Winfield
Scott." The crew was piped to quarters, and the captain asked for
volunteers to go to the rescue. Man after man stepped forward, until
enough had been secured to man three boats with ten men each.
Carefully the boats were dropped into the sea, and man after man swung
into them; then they put off and started for the sinking ship. But
while these preparations were being made, the two ships had been
drifting closer and closer together. Soon it was seen that a collision
was inevitable. Fortunately the boats were broadside on, so that the
cutting effect of a blow from the bow was avoided. They were presently
so near each other that the men began jumping from the deck of the
"Winfield Scot" upon that of the "Bienville." The leap, though a
perilous one, was made in safety by over thirty men. Suddenly a great
wave lifted the ships up and dashed them together. Three poor
wretches, just about to jump, were caught between the vessels and
crushed to death. A few sharp cries of agony, and all was over; and
the vessels, drifting apart, let their bodies, crushed beyond
recognition, fall into the water. By this time the small boats, with
their determined crews on board, had succeeded in getting around to
the lee side of the sinking ship, and the work of getting the soldiers
and sailors over the side was begun. By the most strenuous efforts all
were saved, and the "Bienville" steamed away, leaving the "Winfield
Scott" to her fate.
[Illustration: Du Pont's Expedition off Cape Hatteras.]
Night came on, with the gale blowing with still greater fury. The wind
shrieked through the cordage, and now and again a great wave would
sweep across the decks of the crowded vessels, making the men hang on
to the rigging for dear life. Soon another ship began to go to pieces.
The "Governor," which had been steaming along near the "Wabash"
since the time of leaving Hampton Roads, had become separated from
her consort during the gale of the first day. On the second night,
those aboard her perceived that she was showing signs of weakness, and
was likely to go down with all on board unless aid could be obtained.
Not a sail, however, was in sight; and every wave seemed about to
overwhelm or dash to pieces the frail craft. She labored heavily in
the furious sea. By and by the strain on her timbers was such that the
port hog-brace broke in two places, weakening the vessel so that her
fate was apparent to all. Soldiers and sailors worked away with a
frantic energy born by the fear of death, and succeeded in bracing up
the timbers, so as to avoid, for a time, the breaking-up. Soon after,
a heavy roll of the vessel broke the smokestack, and it was pitched
overboard. Luckily it broke some three feet above the deck, so that
the fires could still be kept up. Then the steam-pipe burst; and with
this accident the fate of all on board seemed sealed, for they no
longer could keep the vessel's head to the waves, and the great seas
came rolling over her, sweeping her decks of every thing movable. They
began sending up rockets, and, after some time of anxious waiting, saw
an answering signal; so that, through the remainder of that fearful
night, the men on the doomed ship felt that, whatever might occur,
they had friends at hand. The night was spent in toil at the pumps;
and in the morning a faint cheer went up as two vessels were seen,
ready to lend assistance. A signal of distress, quickly hoisted, was
answered from the nearer, which proved to be the "Isaac P. Smith." The
"Smith" sent off a boat and made fast a hawser to the wreck, and took
her in tow; but in a few minutes the hawser parted. It became clear
that the men must be taken off the sinking ship; but how to do it, was
the question. By this time a second ship, the "Young Rover," had
arrived to assist in the rescue. A second cable was put aboard; but
this, too, parted. Hope seemed lost, when the lookout reported a third
ship, the frigate "Sabine," coming to the rescue. The "Sabine" came to
anchor, and sent a hawser aboard the sinking "Governor." Then the
hawser was gradually taken in until the two ships lay close together,
stern to stern. Spars were rigged over the stern of the frigate, and
some thirty men swung over the seething waters to safety. Then the two
vessels came together with a crash, and about forty men sprang from
the sinking ship to the deck of the frigate. But the damage done by
the collision was so great that it was deemed prudent to slack up the
hawser and let the "Governor" drop astern again. Those on board
busied themselves throwing overboard all things movable, with the
intention of lightening the vessel. After some hours of suspense, the
work of getting the men off the sinking craft was recommenced, and
boats were sent to their assistance. The sea was running too high for
them to approach close to the steamer's guards, so they lay off some
feet, and the soldiers jumped into them. It was a perilous leap, with
the boats pitching one way, and the ship another, and a raging sea of
tossing waters between; but it was made bravely by every man, and but
seven or eight were lost. Soon after the last man left the "Governor,"
she lurched to one side and sank, carrying with her the arms and
ammunition of the troops she was transporting.
It was on Monday morning, Nov. 4, that the flagship "Wabash" cast
anchor off Port Royal. In the offing were a few more sail headed for
the same point, and during the day some twenty-five vessels of the
scattered squadron came up. For the next day ships were constantly
arriving, and by Tuesday night the whole squadron lay safely anchored
in the broad harbor.
The defences which the Confederates had erected upon Hilton Head, a
lofty bluff overlooking the harbor, were powerfully designed
earthworks, poorly armed and manned. The forts were two in number,
placed on a commanding elevation, and might have been made impregnable
had the Confederates taken advantage of the warning sent them by their
spies in Washington. Fort Walker had fourteen guns which could bear on
an attacking fleet, and Fort Beauregard had twenty. When the fight
began, the gunners found that most of their ammunition was either too
large or too small for the guns. To support the forts in their fight,
was a wretched little fleet of tugs and schooners, mounting a gun or
two each, but absolutely powerless before the smallest of Du Pont's
ships-of-war. Indeed, when the battle began, the Union navy gave its
undivided attention to the forts, and did not even give battle to
Tatnall's mosquito fleet.
Thursday morning dawned bright and mild as a morning in June. The
shores of the beautiful bay were covered with woods, out of which rung
the clear notes of Southern song-birds. The scene from the ships was
one of the most charming imaginable. The placid bay, the luxuriant
shores, the ocean showing across the low-lying ridge of white sand,
the forts frowning from the steep headland, the fleet of majestic
frigates mustered for the attack, and in the distance the flotilla of
defenceless transports, safely out of range, their decks and rigging
crowded with fifteen thousand men--all this presented a panorama of
life and beauty which few eyes have ever beheld.
[Illustration: The opening Gun.]
Du Pont, in the majestic "Wabash," moved down the bay, and, as he came
in range of Fort Walker, sent a shell shrieking from a bow-gun, as
signal that the action was begun. The old frigate moved on slowly,
making play with the bow-guns until abreast of the fort, when with a
crash she let fly her whole broadside. On she went for a few yards,
then turning in a grand circle came back, giving the other broadside
to the forts as she passed. The other ships fell in behind; and round
and round before the forts the fiery circle revolved, spitting out
fire and ponderous iron bolts, and making the peaceful shores of the
bay tremble with the deep reverberations of the cannon.
The Confederates, for their part, went into the action with the utmost
coolness. They had been assured that their position was impregnable,
and had been cautioned to be deliberate and determined in their
defence. For a time their artillery service was admirable. But soon
they found certain discouraging features about the affair. Their guns
were too light to have any effect on the fleet, and their powder was
of such bad quality that many of their shots fell short. Two great
guns dismounted themselves, seriously injuring the men who were
handling them, and the very first broadside from the fleet dismounted
several more. Then it was found that the shells for the great Parrott
guns were too large, and that the shells from other cannon failed to
explode, owing to defective fuses. Soon the fleet found a point of
fire from which it could enfilade the forts, and thereafter a perfect
hail of shell and grape-shot fell in the trenches. One shell disabled
eleven men. A solid shot struck a gun thought to be perfectly
protected, and hurled it, with the men serving it, over the parapet.
Every twenty minutes a gun was dismounted in Fort Walker, and at the
end of the conflict Fort Beauregard had but nine serviceable guns.
For about four hours there was no cessation of fire on the part of the
fleet. Round and round the circle the vessels steamed, giving one fort
a broadside on the way up, and the other a broadside on the way down.
The bombs rose from them in a majestic sweep through the air, and
plunged into the fort, exploding with a roar equal to that of a
cannon. One ship was commanded by Capt. Drayton, who rained shot and
shell mercilessly against the forts, although one of them was in
command of his own brother.
At half-past one Fort Walker was found untenable, and the work of
abandoning it was begun. The evacuation was completed in great haste,
many valuables were left behind, and not even the guns were spiked.
Still the entire garrison escaped to mainland, although the Federals
had three thousand troops who might have made them all prisoners. Not
long thereafter, Fort Beauregard also yielded to fate, and the day was
won by the Federals.
[Illustration: The Fight at Hilton Head.]
The landing of the troops was at once begun. Thirty large boats bore a
Connecticut regiment of one thousand men to the beach. Their bright,
fresh uniforms, their muskets glittering in the sun, and their
regular, swaying stride as they marched up the sandy beach to the
martial strains of the regimental band, made a striking picture.
They clambered over the ramparts, and in a few moments the stars and
stripes floated from the staff which had but lately upheld the flag of
the young Confederacy. Within the forts, all was carnage and
confusion: dismounted cannon, surrounded by the dead bodies of the
gunners, heaps of shells, and fragments of woodwork, were piled about
the parade-ground and in the trenches. The story of the terrific
bombardment was graphically told by those horrible evidences of death
and destruction. And well might the scene be a horrible one. For over
five hours, fifty shot a minute had been discharged at the forts, and
most of them did execution. When one recollects that each shot of the
great guns cost eight dollars, we get a vivid idea of the money spent
in war.
Immediately upon the capture of Hilton Head, the victors began making
it a great naval and military station. Great storehouses were built,
wharves constructed, and vast intrenchments thrown up for the defence
of the spot. The slaves, escaping from the neighboring plantations,
came in droves, begging to be allowed to work; but they received but a
cold welcome, for they were still looked upon as property, and the
officers did not wish to be charged with enticing them away from their
masters.
The news of the occupation of Hilton Head by the Northern armies
caused the greatest consternation in the cities of Charleston and
Savannah, From both places people fled into the interior, expecting an
immediate advance of the Union troops. But the armies were set to
digging, not to marching, and soon the affrighted citizens returned to
their homes. Port Royal was held by the Northern forces until the end
of the war, and proved of great value for the proper maintenance of
the blockade. Its greatest disadvantage was its unhealthiness. Of
fifteen thousand men landed there in November, five thousand were on
the sick-list within a month.
CHAPTER IX.
THE FIRST IRON-CLAD VESSELS IN HISTORY. -- THE "MERRIMAC" SINKS
THE "CUMBERLAND," AND DESTROYS THE "CONGRESS." -- DUEL BETWEEN
THE "MONITOR" AND "MERRIMAC."
It will be remembered that when the Union forces, alarmed by the
threatening attitude of the inhabitants of Norfolk and the vicinity,
fled from the Norfolk navy-yard, leaving every thing there in flames,
they left behind them a fine United States frigate, "Merrimac," a ship
of thirty-five hundred tons, carrying forty guns. The departing
Federals did their work of destruction fairly well; for the great ship
was burnt to the upper edge of her copper sheathing, and sank to the
bottom of the river. Three or four months after the occupation of the
Norfolk navy-yard by the Confederates, Lieut. George M. Brooke, an
ex-officer of the United States navy, who had resigned that he might
follow the fortunes of his State, while looking at the hulk lying in
the river-channel, was suddenly inspired with the thought that she
might be raised and converted into a formidable vessel-of-war. He
carefully matured his plans, and after due consideration proposed to
the Confederate secretary of the navy, that the "Merrimac" be raised
and converted into an iron-clad. His plans were approved, and orders
were given that they should be carried out. The "Merrimac," as
originally built, was one of the grand old types of war-vessels. Her
solid oak sides rose high above the water, and were pierced by a long
row of gaping portholes. Her masts towered high in the air; and when
her great sails were set, her hull seemed crushed beneath so vast an
expanse of canvas. When she had been remodelled, her entire appearance
was changed. She had no longer the appearance of a ship, but seemed
like a house afloat; and tradition says that the old salt on the
"Cumberland," who first sighted her, reported gravely to the officer
of the deck, "Quaker meetin'-house floating down the bay, sir."
When the hulk had been raised and placed in the dry-dock, the first
thing done was to cut it down to the level of the berth-deck; that is,
to the level of the deck below the gun-deck in the old rig. Then both
ends of the ship were decked over for a distance of seventy feet;
while the midship section was covered by a sort of roof, or
pent-house, one hundred and seventy feet long, and extending about
seven feet above the gun-deck. This roof was of pitch pine and oak,
twenty-four inches thick, and covered with iron plates two inches
thick. The upper part of the roof, being flat, was railed in, making a
kind of promenade deck. In the great chamber formed by this roof were
mounted ten guns, two of which, the bow and stern guns, were
seven-inch rifles, and fairly powerful guns for those days. A strange
feature of this ship, and one that was not discovered until she was
launched, was that the weight of the iron-plating and the heavy guns
she carried sunk her so deep in the water that the low deck forward
and aft of the gunroom was always under water; so much so that the
commander of another ship in the Confederate navy writes that he was
obliged always to give the "Merrimac" a wide berth, lest he should run
his ship on some part of the ram which lay unseen beneath the surface
of the water. Powerful as this ship was, she had some serious defects.
The greatest of these were her engines. They were the same that had
been in her as a United States vessel, and had been condemned by a
naval board as very defective. Naturally several weeks under water had
not improved them; but the Confederates could not be particular about
machinery just then, and the old engines were left in the new ram. It
was quickly found that they could not be depended upon more than six
hours at a time; and one of the ship's officers, in writing years
afterwards, remarks, "A more ill-contrived or unreliable pair of
engines could only have been found in some vessels of the United
States navy." The second faulty feature about the "Merrimac" was that
her rudder and propeller were entirely unprotected. The ram which was
so much dreaded, and which made the "Merrimac" a forerunner of a new
class of war-vessels, was of cast-iron, projecting four feet, and so
badly secured that it was loosened in ramming the "Cumberland," and
started a bad leak in the Confederate ship.
When this formidable vessel was completed, she was christened by her
new owners the "Virginia;" but the name of the old United States
frigate of which she was built stuck to her, and she has ever since
been known as the "Merrimac," and so we shall speak of her in this
narrative. She received as commander Commodore Franklin Buchanan, an
ex-Union officer of ability and daring, to whom the cadets of the
naval academy at Annapolis owe the beautiful situation of the academy,
and many of its admirable features; for he it was, who, in 1845, under
a commission from Mr. Bancroft, Secretary of the Navy, organized and
located the naval academy, and launched that institution upon its
successful career. Of officers the "Merrimac" had no lack, and good
ones they were; but in her crew she was lamentably deficient. Most of
the crew was made up of men from the army, who knew nothing of
seamanship, but who could at any rate fire a gun. A few good sailors
were obtained from those who escaped to Norfolk after the destruction
of the Confederate flotilla at Elizabeth City by Capt. Rowan's
squadron. They had but little chance for drills and exercise on the
new ship, for up to the very hour of sailing she was crowded with
workmen getting her ready for the task of breaking down the Yankee
blockade. When she finally set out to do battle for the South, she was
a new and untried ship: not a gun had been fired, and hardly a
revolution of her engines had been made. And so she started down the
river on her trial trip, but intending, nevertheless, to do battle
with the strongest ships of the United States navy. Accompanying her
were four small Confederate gunboats,--the "Beaufort," the "Yorktown,"
the "Jamestown," and the "Teaser." Soon rounding out into Hampton
Roads, the little squadron caught sight of the Northern fleet at
anchor, and made for them. An officer on the "Congress" thus tells the
story of the events that followed:--
"The 8th of March was a fine mild day, such as is common in Southern
Virginia during the early spring; and every one on board our ship was
enjoying the weather, and pleasing himself with the prospect of going
North in a day or two at farthest, and being relieved from the
monotony of a blockade at anchor. Some of us were pacing the poop,
basking in the sun, and watching the gulls, which here, as all over
the world, wherever a man-of-war is anchored, manage to find out when
it is dinnertime, appearing regularly when the mess-tins are being
washed, and the cooks are taking the buckets of broken victuals to the
head to throw overboard. Then they chatter and scream, and fight for
the remnants as they drift astern, until all is consumed, when they
betake themselves to fresh fields out of sight until we pipe to dinner
again.
"One bell had struck some time, when the attention of the
quarter-master on watch was drawn to an unusual appearance against the
fringe of woods away over in the Norfolk Channel. After gazing
intently some time, he approached the officer of the deck, and
presenting him the glass said,'I believe _that thing_ is a-comin' down
at last, sir.'
"Sure enough! There was a huge black roof, with a smokestack emerging
from it, creeping down towards Sewall's Point. Three or four
satellites, in the shape of small steamers and tugs, surrounded and
preceded her. Owing to the intervening land, they could not be seen
from Hampton Roads until some time after we had made them out; but,
when they did show themselves clear of the point, there was a great
stir among the shipping. But they turned up into the James River
channel instead of down toward the fort, approaching our anchorage
with ominous silence and deliberation.
"The officers were by this time all gathered on the poop, looking at
the strange craft, and hazarding all sorts of conjectures about her;
and when it was plain that she was coming to attack us, or to force
the passage, we beat to quarters, the "Cumberland's" drum answering
ours.
"By a little after four bells, or two o'clock, the strange monster was
close enough for us to make out her plating and ports; and we tried
her with a solid shot from one of our stern-guns, the projectile
glancing off her forward casemate like a drop of water from a duck's
back. This opened our eyes. Instantly she threw aside the screen from
one of her forward ports, and answered us with grape, killing and
wounding quite a number. She then passed us, receiving our broadside
and giving one in return, at a distance of less than two hundred
yards. Our shot had apparently no effect upon her, but the result of
her broadside on our ship was simply terrible. One of her shells
dismounted an eight-inch gun, and either killed or wounded every one
of the gun's crew, while the slaughter at the other guns was fearful.
There were comparatively few wounded, the fragments of the huge shells
she threw killing outright as a general thing. Our clean and handsome
gun-deck was in an instant changed into a slaughter-pen, with
lopped-off legs and arms, and bleeding, blackened bodies, scattered
about by the shells; while blood and brains actually dripped from the
beams. One poor fellow had his chest transfixed by a splinter of oak
as thick as the wrist; but the shell-wounds were even worse. The
quarter-master, who had first discovered the approach of the
iron-clad,--an old man-of-war's man, named John Leroy,--was taken
below with both legs off. The gallant fellow died in a few minutes,
but cheered and exhorted the men to stand by the ship, almost with his
last breath. The 'Merrimac' had, in the mean time, passed up stream;
and our poor fellows, thinking she had had enough of it, and was for
getting away, actually began to cheer. For many of them it was the
last cheer they were ever to give. We soon saw what her object was;
for standing up abreast of the bow of the 'Cumberland,' and putting
her helm aport, she ran her ram right into that vessel. The gallant
frigate kept up her splendid and deliberate, but ineffectual, fire,
until she filled and sank, which she did in a very few minutes. A
small freight-steamer of the quarter-master's department, and some
tugs and boats from the camp-wharf, put off to rescue the survivors,
who were forced to jump overboard. In spite of shot from the
Confederate gunboats, one of which pierced the boiler of the
freight-boat, they succeeded in saving the greater number of those who
were in the water. Seeing the fate of the 'Cumberland,' which sank in
very deep water, we set our topsails and jib, and slipped the chains,
under a sharp fire from the gunboats, which killed and wounded many.
With the help of the sails, and the tug 'Zouave,' the ship was now run
on the flats which make off from Newport News Point. Here the vessel
keeled over as the tide continued to fall, leaving us only two guns
which could be fought,--those in the stern ports. Two large
steam-frigates and a sailing-frigate, towed by tugs, had started up
from Hampton Roads to our assistance. They all got aground before they
had achieved half the distance; and it was fortunate that they did so,
for they would probably have met the fate of the 'Cumberland,' in
which case the lives of the twelve or thirteen hundred men comprising
their crews would have been uselessly jeopardized.
"After the 'Merrimac' had sunk the 'Cumberland,' she came down the
channel and attacked us again. Taking up a position about one hundred
and fifty yards astern of us, she deliberately raked us with
eighty-pounder shell; while the steamers we had so long kept up the
river, and those which had come out with the iron-clad from Norfolk,
all concentrated the fire of their small rifled guns upon us. At this
time we lost two officers, both elderly men. One was an acting master,
who was killed on the quarter-deck by a small rifle-bolt which struck
him between the shoulders, and went right through him. The other was
our old coast pilot, who was mortally wounded by a fragment of shell.
We kept up as strong a fire as we could from our two stern-guns; but
the men were repeatedly swept away from them, and at last both pieces
were disabled, one having the muzzle knocked off, and the other being
dismounted. Rifles and carbines were also used by some of our people
to try to pick off the 'Merrimac's' crew when her ports were opened to
fire, but of course the effect of the small-arms was not apparent to
us.
"It is useless to attempt to describe the condition of our decks by
this time. No one who has not seen it can appreciate the effect of
such a fire in a confined space. Men were being killed and maimed
every minute, those faring best whose duty kept them on the spar deck.
Just before our stern-guns were disabled, there were repeated calls
for powder from them; and, none appearing, I took a look on the
berth-deck to learn the cause. After my eyes had become a little
accustomed to the darkness, and the sharp smoke from burning oak, I
saw that the line of cooks and wardroom servants stationed to pass
full boxes had been raked by a shell, and the whole of them either
killed or wounded,--a sufficient reason why there was a delay with the
powder. (I may mention here that the officer who commanded our powder
division was a brother of the captain of the 'Merrimac.') The shells
searched the vessel everywhere. A man previously wounded was killed in
the cock-pit where he had been taken for surgical aid. The deck of the
cock-pit had to be kept sluiced with water from the pumps, to
extinguish the fire from the shells, although dreadfully wounded men
were lying on this deck, and the water was icy cold; but the
shell-room hatch opened out of the cock-pit, and fire must be kept out
of there at all hazards, or the whole of us would go into the air
together. In the wardroom and steerage, the bulkheads were all knocked
down by the shells, and by the axemen making way for the hose,
forming a scene of perfect ruin and desolation. Clothing, books,
glass, china, photographs, chairs, bedding, and tables were all mixed
in one confused heap. Some time before this, our commanding officer, a
fine young man, had been instantly killed by a fragment of shell which
struck him in the chest. His watch, and one of his shoulder-straps
(the other being gone), were afterwards sent safely to his father, a
veteran naval officer.
"We had now borne this fire for nearly an hour, and there was no
prospect of assistance from any quarter, while we were being
slaughtered without being able to return a shot. Seeing this, the
officer who had succeeded to the command of the ship, upon
consultation with our former captain (who was on board as a guest),
ordered our flag to be struck. It is not a pleasant thing to have to
strike your flag; but I did not see then, and do not see now, what
else we were to do.
"A boat now boarded us with an officer from the 'Merrimac,' who said
he would take charge of the ship. He did nothing, however, but gaze
about a little, and pick up a carbine and cutlass,--I presume as
trophies. One of the small gunboats then came alongside, and the
officer from the 'Merrimac' left. The commander of the gunboat said
that we must get out of the ship at once, as he had orders to burn
her. Some of our people went on board of his craft as prisoners, but
not many. As her upper deck was about even with our main-deck ports,
our surgeon stepped out of one, and told the commanding officer that
we had some dreadfully wounded men, and that we must have time to
collect them, and place them on board his vessel, and, moreover, that
our ship was on fire with no possibility of saving her. The reply was,
'You must make haste: those scoundrels on shore are firing at me now.'
In fact, the rifle-balls were 'pinging' about very briskly, scarring
the rusty black sides of the poor old frigate; for the Twentieth
Indiana Regiment had come down from the camp to the point, and opened
fire on the gunboat as she lay alongside of us. Our doctor having no
desire to be killed, especially by our own people, jumped back into
the port, just as the steamer, finding it too hot, shoved off and left
us. As soon as she did so, they all opened upon us again; although we
had a white flag flying to show we were out of action, and we
certainly could not be held responsible for the action of the regiment
on shore. After ten or fifteen minutes, however, they all withdrew,
and went down the channel, to bestow their attentions upon the
frigate 'Minnesota' which was hard aground. Fortunately the 'Merrimac'
drew too much water to come near the 'Minnesota' at that stage of
tide, and the small-fry were soon driven off by the latter ship's
battery. Night now approaching, the whole Rebel flotilla withdrew, and
proceeded up the Norfolk Channel.
"Although relieved from the pressure of actual battle, we still had
the unpleasant consciousness that the fire was making progress in the
vicinity of our after-magazine; and we felt as I suppose men would
feel who are walking in the crater of a volcano on the verge of
eruption. Fortunately for us, the 'Merrimac' and her consorts had not
fired much at our upper works and spars, the principal damage being
inflicted upon our lower decks. We had, therefore, the launch and
first cutter,--large boats,--which, with a little stuffing of
shot-holes, were fit to carry us the short distance between our ship
and the shore. The yard and stay-tackles were got up, and the boats
put into the water, as soon as possible; the fire gaining, and the sun
going down, in the mean time.
"By successive boatloads the survivors were all landed; the launch
being brought up under the bill port, and the wounded, in cots,
lowered into her by a whip from the fore yard, which was braced up for
the purpose. This boat was nearly filled with water on her last trip,
being a good deal damaged; obliging some of the officers, who had
stayed until the last, to jump overboard into the icy cold water, and
lean their hands on the gunwale, so as to relieve the boat of a part
of their weight. She grounded in water about waist-deep; and the
soldiers from the camp waded out and assisted our men in bearing on
shore, and to the log hospital of the Twentieth Indiana, those who
were in cots. We had managed to get the body of our gallant young
commander on shore in one of the cots, as a wounded man. The mass of
the men were so 'gallied,' to use a sailor phrase, by the time the
action was over, what with enduring so severe a fire without being
able to respond, and also with the knowledge that an explosion of the
magazine might occur at any time, that I doubt whether they could have
been induced to bring off a man whom they knew to be dead. The
officers repeatedly went about the decks looking for wounded men; and
I firmly believe that all who were alive were brought off. Our poor
old ship, deserted by all but the dead, burned till about midnight,
when she blew up."
The final destruction of the "Congress" must have been a most imposing
spectacle. A member of the Confederate army, who was stationed in one
of the batteries near the scene of action, thus describes it: "Night
had come, mild and calm, refulgent with all the beauty of Southern
skies in early spring. The moon, in her second quarter, was just
rising over the rippling waters; but her silvery light was soon paled
by the conflagration of the 'Congress,' whose lurid glare was
reflected in the river. The burning frigate four miles away seemed
very much nearer. As the flames crept up the rigging, every mast,
spar, and rope glittered against the dark sky in dazzling lines of
fire. The hull, aground upon the shoal, was plainly visible; and upon
its black surface each porthole seemed the mouth of a fiery furnace.
For hours the flames raged, with hardly a perceptible change in the
wondrous picture. At irregular intervals, loaded guns and shells,
exploding as the flames reached them, sent forth their deep
reverberations, re-echoed over and over from every headland of the
bay. The masts and rigging were still standing, apparently intact,
when about two o'clock in the morning a monstrous sheet of flame rose
from the vessel to an immense height. The ship was rent in twain by
the tremendous flash. Blazing fragments seemed to fill the air; and,
after a long interval, a deep, deafening report announced the
explosion of the ship's powder-magazine. When the blinding glare had
subsided, I supposed that every vestige of the vessel would have
disappeared; but apparently all the force of the explosion had been
upward. The rigging had vanished entirely, but the hull seemed hardly
shattered; the only apparent change in it was that in two or three
places, two or three of the portholes had been blown into one great
gap. It continued to burn until the brightness of its blaze was
effaced by the morning sun."
In the great drama of the first day's fight at Hampton Roads, the
heroic part was played by the frigate "Cumberland." On the morning of
that fateful 8th of March, she was swinging idly at her moorings, her
boats floating at the boom, and her men lounging about the deck, never
dreaming of the impending disaster. It was wash-day, and from the
lower rigging of the ship hung garments drying in the sun. About noon
the lookout saw a cloud of smoke, apparently coming down the river
from Norfolk, and at once notified the officer of the deck. It was
surmised that it might be the new and mysterious iron-clad "Merrimac,"
about which many rumors were current, but few facts known. Quickly the
ship was set in trim for action, and the men sent to quarters. All
the stern preparations for battle were made--the guns all shotted, the
men in position, the magazines opened; shot, shell, cartridges, all in
place; the powder-boys at their stations; swords, pistols,
boarding-pikes, in the racks. Down in the cock-pit the surgeons spread
out upon their tables the gleaming instruments, which made brave men
shudder with the thought of what a few minutes would bring.
The sailors prepared for the fight gayly, never doubting for a moment
that victory would be on their side. So paltry had been the resistance
that the Confederates had heretofore been able to oppose to the
Northern arms, by sea, that the blue-jackets felt that they had only
to open a fight in order to win it. The officers were more serious.
Rumors had reached them that the "Merrimac" was a most powerful
vessel, destined to annihilate the navy of the North; and they looked
on this first battle with the monster with many misgivings. Their
fears were somewhat lessened by an article printed in the Norfolk
papers, a few days previous, denouncing the "Merrimac" as a bungling
bit of work, absolutely unseaworthy, and unable to stand against the
powerful vessels of the North. As it turned out, however, this article
was published as a _ruse_ to deceive the Northern authorities.
The iron ship came steaming sullenly down the bay. The "Congress" was
the first ship in range, and a puff of smoke from the "Merrimac's"
bow-gun warned the crew of the frigate that danger was coming. All
held their breath an instant, until, with a clatter and whiz, a storm
of grape-shot rattled against her sides, and whistled through the
rigging. Then came a sigh of relief that it was no worse. When the
enemy was within a quarter of a mile, the "Congress" let fly her whole
broadside, and the crew crowded the ports to see the result. The great
iron shot rattled off the mailed sides of the monster, like hailstones
from a roof. Then came the return fire; and the "Congress" was riddled
with shells, and her decks ran with blood. The "Merrimac" passed
sullenly on.
Now it was the turn of the "Cumberland." Her officers and crew had
seen the results of the fire of the "Congress," and, with sinking
hearts, felt how hopeless was their own position. There was no chance
for escape, for no wind filled the sails of the frigate. She lay
helpless, awaiting the attack of the iron battery that bore down upon
her, without firing a shot or opening a port. At a little past two the
mailed frigate had approached the "Cumberland" within grape-shot
distance. Fire was opened upon her with the heaviest guns; and
officers and men watched breathlessly the course of their shot, and
cried aloud with rage, or groaned in despair, as they saw them fall
harmlessly from the iron ship. Still they had no thought of surrender.
The fire of the "Cumberland" was received silently by the "Merrimac;"
and she came straight on, her sharp prow cutting viciously through the
water, and pointed straight for her victim. A second broadside, at
point-blank range, had no effect on her. One solid shot was seen to
strike her armored sides, and, glancing upward, fly high into the air,
as a baseball glances from the bat of the batsman; then, falling, it
struck the roof of the pilot-house, and fell harmlessly into the sea.
In another instant the iron ram crashed into the side of the
"Cumberland," cutting through oaken timbers, decks, and cabins. At the
same time all the guns that could be brought to bear on the Northern
frigate were discharged; and shells crashed through her timbers, and
exploded upon her decks, piling splinters, guns, gun-carriages, and
men in one confused wreck. Had not the engines of the ram been
reversed just before striking the frigate, her headway would have
carried her clear to the opposite side of the doomed ship, and the
"Cumberland," in sinking, would have carried her destroyer to the
bottom with her. As it was, the "Merrimac," with a powerful wrench,
drew out of the wreck she had made, loosening her iron prow, and
springing a serious leak in the operation. She drew off a short
distance, paused to examine the work she had done, and then, as if
satisfied, started to complete the destruction of the "Congress."
And well might the men of the "Merrimac" be satisfied with their
hour's work. The "Cumberland" was a hopeless wreck, rapidly sinking.
Her decks were bloodstained, and covered with dead men, and scattered
arms and legs, torn off by the exploding shells. And yet her brave
crew stuck to their guns, and fought with cool valor, and without a
vestige of confusion. They had had but a few moments to prepare for
action; and the long rows of clothes, drying in the rigging, told how
peaceful had been their occupation before the "Merrimac" appeared upon
the scene. Yet now that the storm of battle had burst, and its issue
was clearly against them, these men stood to their guns, although they
could feel the deck sinking beneath them. Every man was at his post;
and even when the waters were pouring in on the gun-deck, the guns
were loaded and fired. Indeed, the last shot was fired from a gun half
buried in the waves. Then the grand old frigate settled down to the
bottom, carrying half her crew with her, but keeping the stars and
stripes still floating at the fore.
The destruction of the "Cumberland" being completed, the "Merrimac"
steamed over to the "Congress." This frigate fought well and
valorously, but was soon pounded into a helpless condition by the
shells of the "Merrimac," as shown by the story of her officer,
already quoted. When a white flag, floating at her peak, told of
surrender, the "Merrimac" left her to the attention of the smaller
vessels in the Confederate flotilla, and set out to find further
victims. But by this time the remainder of the Federal fleet had taken
alarm, and fled into a safe position under the shelter of the Federal
batteries on shore. The "Minnesota" only had been unfortunate in her
attempted flight, and was aground on a bar near the scene of the
fight. But now only two hours of daylight remained, and the tide was
low, and still on the ebb. The heavy iron frigate could not get within
effective distance of the "Minnesota," her crew were weary with a
day's fighting, and so she turned away and headed up the river for
Norfolk.
In taking account of injuries on the ram that night, it was found that
the injured numbered twenty-one; many of whom had been shot while
alongside the surrendered "Congress." Not an atom of damage was done
to the interior of the vessel, and her armor showed hardly a trace of
the terrible test through which it had passed. But nothing outside had
escaped: the muzzles of two guns had been shot off; the ram was
wrenched away in withdrawing from the "Cumberland;" one anchor, the
smokestack, steam-pipe, railings, flagstaff, boat-davitts--all were
swept away as though a huge mowing-machine had passed over the deck.
But, so far as her fighting qualities were concerned, the "Merrimac"
was as powerful as when she started out from Norfolk on that bright
spring morning.
It can easily be understood that the news of the engagement caused the
most intense excitement throughout this country, and indeed throughout
the whole world. In the South, all was rejoicing over this signal
success of the Confederate ship. Bells were rung, and jubilees held,
in all the Southern cities. An officer of the "Merrimac," who was
despatched post-haste to Richmond with reports of the engagement, was
met at every station by excited crowds, who demanded that he tell the
story of the fight over and over again. At last the starving people of
the Confederacy saw the way clear for the sweeping away of the
remorseless blockade.
In the North, the excitement was that of fear. The people of seaboard
cities imagined every moment the irresistible iron ship steaming into
their harbors, and mowing down their buildings with her terrible
shells. The Secretary of War said, at a hastily called cabinet meeting
in Washington: "The 'Merrimac' will change the whole character of the
war: she will destroy every naval vessel; she will lay all the
seaboard cities under contribution. Not unlikely we may have a shell
or cannon-ball from one of her guns, in the White House, before we
leave this room."
In this excited state, wild with joy, or harassed with fear, the whole
country went to sleep that March night, little dreaming that the
morrow would change the whole face of the naval situation, and that
even then a little untried vessel was steaming, unheralded, toward
Hampton Roads, there to meet the dreaded "Merrimac," and save the
remnants of the Federal fleet. Then no one knew of the "Monitor;" but
twenty-four hours later her name, and that of her inventor Ericsson,
were household words in all the States of the Union and the
Confederacy.
[Illustration: "Merrimac" and "Cumberland."]
Capt. John Ericsson was a Swedish engineer, residing in this country,
who had won a name for himself by inventing the screw-propeller as a
means of propulsion for steamships. He and a Connecticut capitalist,
C. S. Bushnell by name, had ever since the opening of the war been
trying to induce the Government to build some iron-clads after a
pattern designed by Ericsson, and which afterwards became known as the
"monitor" pattern. Their labors at Washington met with little success.
After a long explanation of the plan before the wise authorities of
the Naval Board, Capt. Ericsson was calmly dismissed with the remark,
"It resembles nothing in the heavens above, or the earth beneath, or
the waters under the earth. You can take it home, and worship it
without violating any Commandment." Finally, however, leave was
obtained to build a monitor for the Government, provided the builders
would take all financial risks in case it proved a failure. So, with
this grudging permission, the work of building the warship that was
destined to save the Federal navy was begun. Work was prosecuted night
and day, and in one hundred days the vessel was ready for launching.
Great was the discussion over her. Distinguished engineers predicted
that she would never float; and many attended the launch expecting to
see the vessel plunge from the ways to the bottom of the river, like a
turtle from a log. So general was this opinion, that boats were in
readiness to rescue her passengers if she went down. But Capt.
Ericsson's plans were well laid. The great vessel glided with a
graceful dip into the river, and floated at her cables buoyantly. She
was a strange-looking craft. All that was to be seen of her above
water was a low deck about a foot above the water, bearing in the
centre a large round iron turret pierced with two great portholes.
Besides the turret, the smooth surface of the deck was broken by two
other elevations,--a small iron pilot-house forward, made of iron
plates about ten inches thick, and with iron gratings in front; aft of
the turret was a low smokestack. Beneath the water-line this vessel
had some strange features. The upper part of her hull, forming the
deck, projected beyond her hull proper about four feet on every side.
This projection was known as the "overhang," and was designed as a
protection against rams. It was made of white oak and iron, and was
impenetrable by any cannon of that day; although now, when steel
rifled cannon are built that will send a ball through twenty inches of
wrought iron, the original "Monitor" would be a very weak vessel.
The turret in this little vessel, which held the two guns that she
mounted, was so arranged as to revolve on a central pivot, thus
enabling the gunners to keep their guns continually pointed at the
enemy, whatever might be the position of the vessel. When the time for
the first battle actually arrived, it was found that the turret would
not revolve properly; but in later ships of the same class this
trouble was avoided.
It was at two o'clock on the morning after the day on which the
"Merrimac" had wrought such havoc among the ships of the North, that
this queer-looking little vessel steamed into Hampton Roads. As the
gray dawn began to break, she passed under the quarter of the
"Minnesota," and cast anchor. The tars on the great frigate looked
curiously at the strange craft, and wondered if that insignificant
"cheese-box on a raft" was going to do battle with the dreaded
"Merrimac." Small hopes had they that their noble frigate would be
saved by any such pygmy warship.
In the mean time, the men of the "Merrimac" up at Norfolk were working
energetically to prepare her for the destruction of the rest of the
Union ships. Her ram was tightened in its place, her steering
apparatus overhauled, and some changes made, and her rickety engine
was patched up. At daybreak all was bustle as the ram prepared to move
down on the Union fleet. But just as she was about to start, her
officers saw the queer craft lying by the "Minnesota," which they at
once knew to be the Ericsson "Monitor." Her appearance was not very
terrible; but, nevertheless, the Confederates felt that she had
appeared at a most inopportune moment for them. Still they raised
anchor, and started down the bay to meet their mysterious enemy.
It was Sunday morning, and the sun rose in a cloudless blue sky. A
light breeze stirred the surface of the water, and played lazily with
the long streaming pennants of the men-of-war. The batteries on both
sides of the bay were crowded with men waiting for the great naval
battle of the day. Up at Norfolk a gay holiday party was embarking on
steam-tugs, to accompany the Confederate ship and witness the total
destruction of the Union fleet. No thought of defeat ever entered the
minds of the proud believers in the new iron-clad of the Confederacy.
At the first sign of life on board the "Merrimac," the "Monitor" began
her preparations for the battle. In fifteen minutes she was in battle
trim. The iron hatches were closed, the dead-light covers put on, and
obstructions removed from the main deck, so as to present a smooth
surface only twenty-four inches above the water, unbroken, save by the
turret and pilot-house. In the pilot-house was Lieut. Worden, who was
to command the "Monitor" in this her first battle.
[Illustration: Battle of the "Monitor" and "Merrimac."]
Leisurely the "Merrimac" came down the bay, followed by her attendant
tugs; and, as she came within range, she opened fire on the
"Minnesota," which was still aground. The frigate responded with a
mighty broadside, which, however, rattled off the mailed sides of the
ram like so many peas. Clearly, every thing depended upon the
"Monitor;" and that little craft steamed boldly out from behind the
"Minnesota," and sent two huge iron balls, weighing one hundred and
seventy pounds each, against the side of the "Merrimac." The shot
produced no effect beyond showing the men of the "Merrimac" that they
had met a foeman worthy of their steel. The "Merrimac" slowed up her
engines, as though to survey the strange antagonist thus braving her
power. The "Monitor" soon came up, and a cautious fight began; each
vessel sailing round the other, advancing, backing, making quick
dashes here and there, like two pugilists sparring for an opening. The
two shots of the "Monitor" would come banging one after the other
against the "Merrimac's" armor, like the "one, two" of a skilled
boxer. In this dancing battle the "Monitor" had an enormous
advantage, on account of her size, greater speed, and the way in which
she answered her helm. The "Merrimac" was like a huge hawk being
chased and baited by a little sparrow. Her heavy broadsides found
nothing to hit in the almost submerged hull of the "Monitor." When a
ball struck the turret, it glanced off, unless striking fair in the
centre, when it fell in fragments, doing no greater damage than to
dent the iron plates, and sometimes knocking down the men at the guns
inside. The first manoeuvre tried by the "Merrimac" was to run down
her little antagonist; and she did strike her with a force that dented
the iron overhang of the "Monitor," and clashed the men in the
"Merrimac" to the deck, with blood streaming from their nostrils. For
a moment it seemed as though the "Monitor" must go under; but
gradually the terrible ram glanced off, and the little vessel,
righting, sent again her terrible two shots at her enemy. In the
action of the day before, shot and shell had beaten against the sides
of the ram so rapidly that one could not count the concussions. Now it
was a series of tremendous blows about a minute apart; and, if the men
had not been working away at their guns, they could have heard the oak
timbers splintering behind the iron plating. At a critical moment in
the fight the "Merrimac" ran aground; and the "Monitor" steamed around
her several times, seeking for weak places in which to plant a shot
Once Worden dashed at his adversary's screw, hoping to disable it, but
missed by perhaps two feet. Two shots from the "Monitor" struck the
muzzles of two cannon protruding from the portholes of the "Merrimac,"
and broke them off, throwing huge splinters of iron among the gunners
inside. And so the battle continued until about noon: gun answered gun
with thunderous reports, that echoed back from the batteries on shore
in rolling reverberations. The pleasure-seeking tugs from Norfolk had
scuttled back again out of the way of the great cannon-balls that were
skipping along the water in every direction. Neither of the combatants
had received any serious injury. On board the "Monitor" the only hurt
was received by a gunner, who was leaning against the iron wall of the
turret just as a shot struck outside; he was carried below, disabled.
But at last one lucky shot fired from one of the disabled guns of the
"Merrimac" ended this gigantic contest; sending each contestant to her
moorings, without an actual victory for either side. This shot struck
full and fair against the gratings of the pilot-house, through which
Lieut. Worden was looking as he directed the course of his ship. The
concussion knocked him senseless. Flakes of iron and powder were
driven into his eyes and face, blinding him completely for the time.
He fell back from the wheel, and the "Monitor" was left for a moment
without her guiding spirit. All was confusion; but in a few moments
Worden recovered, and gave the order to sheer off. The "Monitor" then
drew away, while Worden was moved to the cabin, and the second officer
sent to his station in the turret. Lying on a sofa in the cabin, his
eyes bandaged, and the horror of life-long blindness upon him, Worden
asked faintly, "Have I saved the 'Minnesota'?"--"Yes," answered the
surgeon. "Then," said he, "I die happy."
While these scenes were transpiring on the "Monitor," the "Merrimac"
lay quietly awaiting her return. The Confederate officers say that she
waited an hour, and then, concluding that the "Monitor" had abandoned
the fight, withdrew to Norfolk. The Northern officers and historians
say that the "Merrimac" was in full retreat when the decisive shot was
fired. It is hard to decide, from such conflicting statements, to
which side the victory belonged. Certain it is, that not a man on the
"Merrimac" was injured, and that all damages she sustained in the
fight were remedied before sunrise the next day. Later, as we shall
see, she challenged the Union fleet to a new battle, without response.
But with all these facts in view, it must be borne in mind that the
purpose of the "Merrimac," that bright March Sunday, was to destroy
the frigate "Minnesota:" in that purpose she was foiled by the
"Monitor," and to that extent at least the "Monitor" was the victor.
Lieut. Worden, after the fight, went directly to Washington. President
Lincoln was at a cabinet meeting when he heard of Worden's arrival in
the city, and hastily rising said, "Gentlemen, I must go to _that
fellow_." Worden was lying on a sofa, his head swathed in bandages,
when the President entered. "Mr. President," said he, "you do me great
honor by this visit."--"Sir," replied Mr. Lincoln, while the tears ran
down his cheeks, "I am the one who is honored in this interview."
Among his crew Worden was very much beloved. The following letter,
sent him while on a bed of pain, is all the more touching for the rude
form in which their affection for their commander is expressed:--
[Illustration: Handling a Gun.]
TO CAPTAIN WORDEN.
HAMPTON ROADS, April 24, 1862.
UNITED STATES MONITOR.
TO OUR DEAR AND HONORED CAPTAIN.
_Dear Sir,_--These few lines is from your own crew of the
Monitor, with their kindest Love to you their Honored Captain,
hoping to God that they will have the pleasure of welcoming you
back to us again soon, for we are all ready able and willing to
meet Death or any thing else, only give us back our Captain
again. Dear Captain, we have got your Pilot-house fixed and all
ready for you when you get well again; and we all sincerely hope
that soon we will have the pleasure of welcoming you back to
it.... We are waiting very patiently to engage our Antagonist if
we could only get a chance to do so. The last time she came out
we all thought we would have the Pleasure of sinking her. But we
all got disappointed, for we did not fire one shot, and the
Norfolk papers says we are cowards in the Monitor--and all we
want is a chance to show them where it lies with you for our
Captain. We can teach them who is cowards. But there is a great
deal that we would like to write to you but we think you will
soon be with us again yourself. But we all join in with our
kindest love to you, hoping that God will restore you to us again
and hoping that your sufferings is at an end now, and we are all
so glad to hear that your eyesight will be spaired to you again.
We would wish to write more to you if we have your kind
Permission to do so but at present we all conclude by tendering
to you our kindest Love and affection, to our Dear and Honored
Captain.
We remain untill Death your Affectionate Crew
THE MONITOR BOYS.
The "Merrimac," after being repaired and altered to some extent,
sailed down the bay on the 11th of April, for the purpose, as her
officers said, of meeting the "Monitor" again. She steamed into the
Roads, and exchanged a few shots with the Union batteries at the
rip-raps; but the "Monitor," and other Union vessels, remained below
Fortress Monroe, in Chesapeake Bay, out of the reach of the
Confederate vessel. Again, a few days later, the "Merrimac" went to
Hampton Roads, and tried to lure the "Monitor" to battle; but again
the challenge passed unanswered. It is probable that the Federal naval
authorities did not care to imperil the only vessel that stood between
them and destruction, out of mere bravado. Had the "Monitor" come out,
an attempt would have been made to carry her by boarding. The crew of
the "Merrimac" were prepared for the attack; and four gunboats
accompanying her were crowded with men, divided into squads, each with
its specified duty. Some were to try and wedge the turret, some were
to cover the pilot-house and all the openings with tarpaulin, others
were to try to throw shells and gunpowder down the smokestack. But all
these preparations proved useless, as the "Monitor" still remained
quietly at her anchorage. On May 8 a third trip was made by the
"Merrimac." When she came down the bay, she found the Union fleet,
including the "Monitor," hard at work shelling the Confederate
batteries at Sewall's Point. As she came towards them, they ceased
their cannonade, and retired again to the shelter of Fortress Monroe.
The "Merrimac" steamed up and down the Roads for some hours; and
finally Commodore Tatnall, in deep disgust, gave the order, "Mr.
Jones, fire a gun to windward, and take the ship back to her buoy."
Back to Norfolk she went, never again to leave that harbor. On the 9th
of May the officers of the "Merrimac" noticed that the Confederate
flag was no longer floating over the shore-batteries. A reconnoissance
proved that the land forces had abandoned Norfolk, and it was
necessary to get the ship away before the Union troops arrived and
hemmed her in. Her pilots declared that if the ship was lightened they
could take her up the James River; and accordingly all hands threw
overboard ballast and trappings, until she was lightened three feet.
Then the pilots claimed that with the prevalent wind they could not
handle her. It was now useless to try to run her through the Union
fleet, for the lightening process had exposed three feet of her
unarmed hull to the fire of the enemy. It was accordingly determined
that she should be destroyed. She was run ashore on Craney Island, and
trains of powder laid all over her, and fired. Every gun was loaded,
and the doors of the magazine were left open. Her crew then started on
the march for the interior. It was just in the gray of the morning
that a rumbling of the earth was felt, followed by a shock that made
all stagger. A column of smoke and flame shot into the air; huge
cannon were hurled high above the tree-tops, discharging in mid-air.
One shot fell in the woods some distance ahead of the marching crew,
and all knew that it marked the end of the mighty "Merrimac."
CHAPTER X.
THE NAVY IN THE INLAND WATERS. -- THE MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON. --
SWEEPING THE TENNESSEE RIVER.
We will now leave for a time the blue-water sailors, whose battles,
triumphs, and defeats we have been considering, and look at the work
done by the tars of both North and South on the great waterways which
cut up the central portion of the United States, known as the Valley
of the Mississippi. It was in this section that the navy of the North
did some of its most effective work against the Confederacy, and it
was there that the sailor boys of the South did many deeds of the most
desperate valor. There is much of romance about service on the blue
ocean which is not to be found in routine duty along the yellow muddy
streams that flowed through the territory claimed by King Cotton. The
high, tapering masts, the yards squared and gracefully proportioned,
the rigging taut, and with each rope in its place, of an
ocean-frigate, are not seen in the squat, box-like gunboats that
dashed by the batteries at Vicksburg, or hurled shot and shell at each
other in the affair at Memphis. But Farragut, stanch old sea-dog as he
was, did much of his grandest fighting on the turbid waters of the
Mississippi; and the work of the great fleet at Port Royal was fully
equalled by Porter's mortar-boats below New Orleans.
Let us follow the fortunes of the Union fleet on their cruises about
the great rivers of the interior, and first discover what the work was
that they set out to perform.
The rivers making up the Mississippi system flow for the greater part
of their length through the States that had joined the new
Confederacy. The northern Confederate battle-line was along the south
bank of the Ohio River, and there they had erected batteries that
controlled the passage of that river. South of the mouth of the Ohio,
every river was lined with Confederate batteries, and bore on its
placid bosom fleets of Confederate gunboats. At Columbus on the
Mississippi, not far south of the mouth of the Ohio, were strong
batteries over which floated the stars and bars of the Confederacy.
Farther down was Island Number 10, bearing one of the most powerful
fortifications the world has ever seen. Then came Fort Pillow,
guarding the city of Memphis; then at Vicksburg frowned earthworks,
bastions, and escarpments that rivalled Gibraltar for impregnability.
Lower down were fortifications at Grand Gulf, Port Hudson, and Baton
Rouge. Fort Henry guarded the Tennessee River, and Fort Donelson the
Cumberland, and both of these rivers were very important as waterways
for the transportation of supplies to the Union armies marching into
Tennessee. It was absolutely necessary that all these fortifications
should be swept away, and the rivers opened for navigation down to the
Gulf of Mexico. It was necessary that the work should be done from
above; for the forts below New Orleans were thought to be impassible,
and Farragut's passage of them late in the war made all the world ring
with his name.
It became evident, very early in the war, that no great progress could
be made in the task of crushing the powerful insurrection until
telling blows had been struck at the Confederate control of the inland
waterways. When the attention of the war department was turned in that
direction, they found but little to encourage them in the prospect.
Along the thousands of miles of the banks of the Mississippi and its
tributaries, there was not one gun mounted belonging to the United
States, not one earthwork over which floated the starry flag of the
Union. The Confederate positions on this great chain of waterways
were, as we have seen, of great strength. To attack them, the armies
of the North must first fight their way through whole States populated
by enemies. Obviously, the war department alone could not complete so
gigantic a task, and the services of the navy were called into
requisition. So energetically did the navy department prosecute its
task, that, by the end of the war, over one hundred Federal
war-vessels floated on those streams, on which, three years before, no
craft dared sail under the American flag. It was a strange navy in
looks, but in actions it showed itself worthy of the service in which
it was enlisted.
Many of the steamers built for the river marine were wooden gunboats,
hastily remodelled from the hulks of old craft. They were seldom
plated with iron, and their machinery was feebly protected by coal
bunkers, while their oaken sides were barely thick enough to stop a
musket-ball. But the true iron-clad war-vessel made its appearance on
the rivers even before it was to be seen in the ocean squadrons.
It was as early in the war as July, 1861, that the
quarter-master-general advertised for bids for the construction of
iron-clad gunboats for service on the Mississippi and tributary
rivers. The contract was given to James B. Eads, an engineer, who
during the war performed much valuable service for the United States
Government, and who in later years has made himself a world-wide fame
by the construction of the jetties at the mouth of the Mississippi
River, by which the bar at the mouth of the great stream is swept away
by the mighty rush of the pent-up waters. Mr. Eads was instructed to
build seven iron-clad gunboats with all possible expedition. They were
to be plated two and a half inches thick, and, though of six hundred
tons burden, were not to draw more than six feet of water. They were
to carry thirteen heavy guns each.
[Illustration: A River-Gunboat.]
These river-gunboats, like the little "Monitor," had none of the grace
and grandeur of the old style of sailing-frigate, in which Paul Jones
fought so well for his country. The tapering masts of the mighty
frigate, the spidery cordage by which the blue-jackets climbed to
loosen the snowy sheets of canvas--these gave way in the gunboat to a
single slender flagstaff for signalling, and two towering smoke-stacks
anchored to the deck by heavy iron cables, and belching forth the
black smoke from roaring fires of pitch-pine or soft coal. Instead of
the gracefully curved black sides, with two rows of ports, from which
peeped the muzzles of great cannon, the gunboat's sides above water
sloped like the roof of a house, and huge iron shutters hid the cannon
from view. Inside, all was dark and stuffy, making battle-lanterns
necessary even in daylight fights. The broad white gun-deck, scrubbed
to a gleaming white by hollystone and limejuice, on which the
salt-water sailors gathered for their mess or drill, was replaced by a
cramped room, with the roof hardly high enough to let the jolly tars
skylark beneath without banging their skulls against some projecting
beam. Truly it may be said, that, if the great civil war made naval
architecture more powerful, it also robbed the war-vessels of all
their beauty.
It is hard to appreciate now the immense difficulty experienced in
getting those first seven river-gunboats built by the appointed time.
The war had just begun, and a people accustomed to peace had not yet
found out that those not actually at the seat of war could continue
their usual course of life unmolested. Rolling-mills, machine-shops,
founderies, saw-mills, and shipyards were all idle. Working-men were
enlisting, or going to the Far West, away from the storm of war that
was expected to sweep up the Mississippi Valley. The timber for the
ships was still standing in the forests. The engines that were to
drive the vessels against the enemy were yet to be built. Capt. Eads's
contract called for the completion of the seven vessels in sixty-five
days, and he went at his work with a will. His success showed that not
all the great services done for a nation in time of war come from the
army or navy. Within two weeks four thousand men were at work getting
the gunboats ready. Some were in Michigan felling timber, some in the
founderies and machine-shops of Pittsburg, and others in the shipyards
at St. Louis, where the hulls of the vessels were on the stocks. Day
and night, weekdays and Sundays, the work went on; and in forty-five
days the first vessel was completed, and christened the "St. Louis."
The others followed within the appointed time. Before the autumn of
1861, the river navy of the United States numbered nearly a score of
vessels, while nearly forty mortar-boats were in process of
construction. Of this flotilla, Capt. A. H. Foote, an able naval
officer, was put in command, and directed to co-operate with the land
forces in all movements.
The first service to which the gunboats were assigned was mainly
reconnoitring expeditions before the front of the advancing Union
armies. They were stationed at the junction of the Ohio and
Mississippi Rivers; and the country about Cairo was occupied by a
large body of Union troops under the command of Gen. Grant, then a
young officer little known. The opening fight of the river campaign
was little more than a skirmish; but it proved the superiority of the
gunboats over a land-force for the purpose of opening the river. One
bright day in September, the "Lexington" and "Conestoga" were ordered
to proceed down the river eight or ten miles, and dislodge a
Confederate battery that had taken a position on Lucas Point. The two
vessels steamed cautiously down the stream, without encountering any
resistance until within easy range of the battery, when the
Confederates opened with sixteen cannon. The shot and shells fell all
about the vessels; but neither was hit, showing that the Confederate
gunners were not yet used to firing at a moving mark. But the fire of
the gunboats was admirably directed; the shells falling among the
Confederates, dismounting the guns, and driving the gunners from their
pieces. It was too hot a spot for any man to hold; and a cavalry corps
quickly attached their horses to the guns, and drew them down the
river to the shelter of the Confederate works at Columbus. Then the
defeated party sent up the gunboat "Yankee" to attack the two victors,
but this vessel was quickly disposed of. She opened fire at long
range, but without success. The first shot from the "Conestoga" struck
the water a few feet from the "Yankee," and, ricochetting, plunged
into her hull. The discomfited vessel immediately put about, and
started down stream, followed by a heavy fire from the two Northern
ships. Just as she was passing out of range, an eight-inch shell from
the "Lexington" struck her starboard wheel-house, and shattered the
paddle-wheel, totally disabling the vessel, so that she drifted
sidelong to her anchorage like a wounded duck.
On the return of the Northern vessels up the river, they first
encountered the form of warfare that proved the most perilous for the
sailors of the river navy. Confederate sharp-shooters lined the banks,
perched in the trees, or hidden in the long, marshy grass; and any
unwary tar who showed his head above the bulwarks was made a target
for several long rifles in the hands of practised shots.
The next active service performed by the gunboats was at the battle of
Belmont, directly opposite the Confederate batteries at Columbus. The
Union troops, landing in force, had driven the Confederates from their
camp, and were engaged in securing the spoils, when the gunners at
Columbus, seeing that the camp was in the hands of the enemy, turned
their heavy guns on it, and soon drove out the Yankees. The
Confederates had rallied in the woods, and now came pouring out, in
the hope of cutting off the Union retreat to the boats. On all sides
the dark gray columns could be seen marching out of the woods, and
pouring down upon the retreating army of the North. Batteries were
wheeling into position, and staff-officers in travelling carriages
were dashing to and fro carrying orders. It seemed a black day for
the three or four thousand Unionists who were making for their
transports with all possible speed. But now was the time for the
gunboats to take a hand in the fight. Three of them dropped into
position, and began a deadly fire upon the Confederate line. The huge
shells ploughed their way through whole platoons of men. Bursting,
they would mow down soldiers like saplings before a cyclone. One shell
exploded directly beneath an officer's carriage, and threw horses,
carriage, and men high in the air. The Confederates hastened to get
their field-batteries into position, and replied to the deadly fire
from the ships, but to no avail. Their light artillery was of no
effect upon the plated sides of the gunboats, and they saw their
cannon dismounted or shattered by the solid shot from the big guns of
the iron-clads. They fought bravely, but the conflict was unequal. It
was sheer madness for any body of men, with muskets and light
artillery, to stand against the fire of the gunboats. The gunboats
saved the day. The retreat of the Union army was unchecked; and,
covered by the war-vessels, the transports returned safely to Cairo.
On the Tennessee River, near the northern boundary of Tennessee, the
Confederates had thrown up certain earthworks to which they gave the
name of Fort Henry. This, with Fort Donelson, situated near by, formed
the principal Confederate strongholds in Tennessee. Gen. Grant
determined to strike a heavy blow by capturing these two forts; and
Commodore Foote, with his seven gunboats, was ordered to co-operate
with the land-forces in the expedition. They started from Cairo on
Feb. 2, 1862. When a few miles below the fort, the troops were landed
and ordered to proceed up the back country, and attack the fort in the
rear, while Foote should engage it from the river with his gunboats.
While the troops were being landed, Gen. Grant boarded the "Essex,"
and went up the river to get a view of the fort they were about to
attack. Had it been completed in accordance with the plans of the
engineers, it would have been most formidable. Time, however, had been
short, and the earthworks were far from being completed. There were
many points on the river or on the opposite bank, from which a
well-directed artillery fire would make them untenable. The
Confederate commander, Gen. Tilghman, fully appreciated this fact,
and, at the approach of the gunboats, had sent four-fifths of his
garrison across the country to Fort Donelson, being determined to
sacrifice as few men as possible in the defence of so untenable a
position. While Grant and Foote were examining the works through their
field-glasses, the sullen boom of a great gun came over the waters,
and a heavy rifled shot crashed through the stateroom of Capt. Porter
on the "Essex." The two commanders concluded that the Confederate
gunners, though new to war, understood something of artillery
practice; and the "Essex" was accordingly taken down the river, out of
range.
The following night was chill and rainy; and the Union forces,
bivouacking on shore, grumbled loudly over their discomforts. The
morning dawned dark; but soon the sun came out, and the preparations
for battle were begun. The troops were first despatched on their
cross-country march; and, as they departed, Commodore Foote remarked
coolly, that his gunboats would have reduced the fort before the land
forces came within five miles of it. This proved to be the fact.
The gunboats formed in line of battle, and advanced up the river. The
four iron-clads led, steaming abreast. About a mile in the rear, came
the three wooden vessels. The fort was soon in range; but both parties
seemed anxious for a determined conflict, and no shot was fired on
either side as the gunboats came sullenly on. How different must have
been the feelings of the two combatants! Tilghman, with his handful of
men, hardly able to work eight of the eleven guns mounted in his fort,
and knowing that his defeat was a mere question of time; Foote, with
his iron-clads and supporting gunboats, his seventy-two guns, and his
knowledge that six thousand men were marching upon the rear of the
Confederate works. On the one side, all was absolute certainty of
defeat; on the other, calm confidence of victory.
When the flotilla was within a third of a mile of the fort, the fire
began. The gunners on the ships could see the muzzles of the
Confederate guns, the piles of shells and cannon-balls, and the men at
their work. The firing on both sides was deliberate and deadly. The
Confederates were new to the work, but they proved themselves good
marksmen. The first shot was fired from the shore, and, missing the
"Essex" by but a few feet, plumped into the water, so near the next
ship in line as to throw water over her decks. Within five minutes,
the "Essex" and the "Cincinnati" were both hit. The armor of the
gunboats proved no match for the shots of the Confederates, and in
many cases it was penetrated. In some instances, shells, entering
through the portholes, did deadly damage.
On the shore, the shells from the gunboats were doing terrible work.
Banks of solid earth, eight feet thick, were blown away by the
terrible explosions. One, bursting in front of a ten-inch columbiad,
filled that powerful gun with mud almost to the muzzle, disabling it
for the remainder of the fight. A shot from the "Essex" struck the
muzzle of a great gun, ripped off a splinter of iron three feet long,
and crushed a gunner to pulp. The gun was just about to be fired, and
burst, killing or wounding every man of the crew. At the same moment a
shell crashed through the side of the "Essex," killing men right and
left: took off the head of a sailor standing by Capt. Porter, wounded
the captain, and plunged into the boiler. In an instant the ship was
filled with scalding steam. The men in the pilot-house were
suffocated. Twenty men and officers were killed or scalded. The ship
was disabled, and drifted out of the fight. While withdrawing, she
received two more shots, making twenty in all that had fallen to her
share in this hot engagement. But by this time the fort was very
thoroughly knocked to pieces. The big twenty-four pounder was
dismounted, and five of its crew killed. Gun after gun was keeled
over, and man after man carried bleeding to the bomb-proofs, until
Gen. Tilghman himself dropped coat and sword, and pulled away at a gun
by the side of his soldiers. Receiving ten shots while they could only
fire one, this little band held out for two long hours; and only when
the crew of the last remaining piece threw themselves exhausted on the
ground, did the flag come fluttering down. Gen. Tilghman went to the
fleet and surrendered the fort to Commodore Foote, and Grant's army
came up more than an hour after the battle was over. To the navy
belongs the honor of taking Fort Henry, while to Gen. Tilghman and his
plucky soldiers belongs the honor of making one of the most desperate
fights under the most unfavorable circumstances recorded in the
history of the civil war.
The fall of Fort Henry opened the way for the Union advance to Fort
Donelson, and marked the first step of the United States Government
toward regaining control of the Mississippi. It broke the northern
battle-line of the Confederacy, and never again was that line
re-established.
With Fort Henry fallen, and Gen. Tilghman and his little garrison
prisoners on the Union gunboats, Grant's soldier-boys and Foote's
blue-jackets began active preparations for continuing the conquest of
Tennessee by the capture of Fort Donelson. No time was lost. The very
night that the stars and stripes were first hoisted over the bastion
of Fort Henry saw three of Foote's gunboats steaming up the river on a
reconnoitring expedition. Before them the Confederates fled in every
direction. After several hours' advance, they came to a heavy
railroad-bridge spanning the river, and effectually preventing further
progress. Beyond the bridge were several Confederate steamers, black
with men, and heavily laden with valuable military stores. With all
steam on, they were dashing up stream, and rapidly leaving the
gunboats behind. Enraged at seeing such valuable prizes slipping
through their hands, the Union gunners sent shell after shell
shrieking after the flying boats, but to no avail. A party was hastily
landed for the purpose of swinging the draw of the bridge, but found
the machinery broken, and the ways on which the bridge swung twisted
and bent out of shape. An hour's hard work with axes and crowbars, and
the draw was swung far enough to let pass the "Conestoga" and the
"Lexington." They dashed forward like greyhounds slipped from the
leash; and, after several hours' hard steaming, a smoke over the
tree-tops told that the Confederate fugitives were not far ahead. Soon
a bend in the river was passed; and there, within easy range, were two
of the flying steamers. A commotion was visible on board, and boat
after boat was seen to put off, and make for the shore; on reaching
which the crews immediately plunged into the woods, and were out of
sight before the gunboats could get within range. Soon light blue
smoke curling from the windows of the steamers told that they had been
fired; and as the last boats left each vessel, she ceased her onward
course, and drifted, abandoned and helpless, down the stream. When
within about a thousand yards of the two gunboats, the deserted
steamers blew up with such force, that, even at that great distance,
the glass was shattered in the "Conestoga," and her woodwork seriously
damaged.
The two gunboats leisurely continued their excursion into the heart of
the enemy's country. Little or no danger was to be feared. At that
time, the Confederates had not learned to plant torpedoes in their
rivers, to blow the enemy's vessels into fragments. There was no
artillery stationed in that section to check their progress, and the
only resistance found was an occasional rifle-shot from some concealed
sharp-shooter in the bushes on the shore. On the 7th of February the
gunboats reached Cerro Gordo, Tenn.; and here they made a valuable
capture. The Confederates had been at work for weeks converting the
steamer "Eastport" into an iron-clad ram; and, as the Union vessels
came up, they found her almost completed, and absolutely without
defence. Besides the new vessel, there was in the shipyard a large
quantity of lumber and ship-timber, which was of the greatest value to
the builders of the river navy. The two gunboats promptly captured all
this property; and waiting until the "Tyler," which had been detained
at the drawbridge, came up, they left her in charge, and continued
their raid into the enemy's country. Little incident occurred until
they reached the head of navigation of the river, where they found all
the Confederate vessels which had been flying before them for two
days. These were burned, and the two gunboats started back down the
river, stopping for the "Eastport" on the way. The captured vessel was
afterwards completed, and served the cause of the Union for two years,
when she was blown up on the Red River.
When the raiding expedition reached Cairo, the officers found Foote
getting his squadron together for the attack on Fort Donelson. This
fortification was one strongly relied upon by the Confederates for the
maintenance of their northern line of battle. It was on the bank of
the Cumberland River, nearly opposite the site of Fort Henry on the
Tennessee. A garrison of at least fifteen thousand men manned the
works, and were commanded by no less than three generals; and the fact
that there were _three_ generals in command had much to do with the
fall of the fort. Its strength was rather on its river-front. Here the
river winds about between abrupt hillsides, and on the front of one of
these hills stood Fort Donelson. The water-batteries were made up of
heavy guns, so mounted as to command the river for miles. On the
landward side were heavy earthworks, abatis, and sharp pointed
_chevaux-de-frise_.
Against this fortification marched Grant with an army of eighteen
thousand men, and Foote with his flotilla of gunboats. The Sunday
before the start, Foote, who was a descendant of the old Puritans, and
ever as ready to pray as to fight, attended church in a little
meeting-house at Cairo. The clergyman did not appear on time; and the
congregation waited, until many, growing weary, were leaving the
church. Then the bluff old sailor rose in his pew, and, marching to
the pulpit, delivered a stirring sermon, offering thanks for the
victories of the Union arms, and imploring divine aid in the coming
struggles. The next day he was on his way to hurl shot and shell at
the men in the trenches of Fort Donelson.
While the capture of Fort Henry was a feather in the caps of the
sailor-boys of the North, Fort Donelson must be credited to the valor
of the soldiers. Against the heavy wall of the water-batteries, the
guns of Foote's little flotilla pounded away in vain, while the heavy
shells from the Confederate cannon did dreadful work on the thinly
armored gunboats. It was on the 13th of April that the assault was
opened by the "Carondelet." This vessel had reached the scene of
action before the rest of the flotilla, and by order of the army
commander tested the strength of the fort by a day's cannonade. She
stationed herself about a mile from the batteries, at a spot where she
would be somewhat protected by a jutting point, and began a deliberate
cannonade with her bow-guns. One hundred and thirty shots went
whizzing from her batteries against the front of the Confederate
batteries, without doing any serious damage. Then came an iron ball
weighing one hundred and twenty pounds, fired from a heavy gun, which
burst through one of her portholes, and scattered men bleeding and
mangled in every direction over the gun-deck. She withdrew a short
distance for repairs, but soon returned, and continued the fire the
remainder of the day. When evening fell, she had sent one hundred and
eighty shells at the fort, with the result of killing one man. This
was not promising.
The next day the attack was taken up by all the gunboats. The distance
chosen this time was four hundred yards, and the fight was kept up
most stubbornly. It was St. Valentine's Day; and as the swarthy
sailors, stripped to the waist, begrimed with powder, and stained with
blood, rammed huge iron balls down the muzzles of the guns, they said
with grim pleasantry, "There's a valentine for the gray-coats." And
right speedily did the gray-coats return the gift. Shot and shell from
the batteries came in volleys against the sides of the gunboats. In
the fort the condition of affairs was not serious. The shells chiefly
fell in the soft earth of the hilltop above, and embedded themselves
harmlessly in the mud. One of the gunners after the fight said: "We
were more bothered by flying mud than any thing else. A shell bursting
up there would throw out great clots of clay, that blocked up the
touch-holes of our guns, spoiled the priming of our shells, and
plastered up the faces of our men. Of course, now and then a bit of
shell would knock some poor fellow over; but, though we were all green
hands at war, we expected to see lots more blood and carnage than the
Yankee gunboats dealt out to us."
The gunboats, however, had put themselves in a hot place. Twenty heavy
guns on the hillside high above were hurling solid shot down on the
little fleet. The sailors stuck to their work well; and though the
vessels were in a fair way of being riddled, they succeeded in driving
the enemy from his lower battery. But the upper battery was
impregnable; and the gunners there, having got the correct range, were
shooting with unpleasant precision. Two of the vessels were disabled
by being struck in the steering-chains. On the "Carondelet" a piece
burst, hurling its crew bleeding on the deck. No vessel escaped with
less than twenty wounds, while the flagship was hit fifty-nine times.
Commodore Foote was wounded in the foot by a heavy splinter; a wound
from which he never fully recovered, and which for some years debarred
him from service afloat.
That afternoon's bombardment showed clearly that Fort Donelson could
never be taken by the navy. When Foote ordered his gunboats to cease
firing and drop back out of position, the Confederates swarmed back
into the lower battery that they had abandoned; and, after a few
hours' work, the fort was as strong as before the fight. It was the
first case in the history of the war in which the navy had failed to
reduce the fortifications against which it had been ordered. The
Hatteras forts, the works at Roanoke Island and at Hilton Head, Fort
Henry--all had fallen before the cannon of the Union sailors; and
Foote may well be pardoned if he yielded to Gen. Grant with great
reluctance the honor of reducing Fort Donelson. For two days Grant's
army invested the fort, and kept up a constant cannonade; then the
defenders, despairing of escape, and seeing no use of further
prolonging the defence, surrendered.
The capture of Fort Donelson was an important success for the Union
arms. In addition to the large number of prisoners, and the great
quantity of munitions of war captured, the destruction of the fort
left the Cumberland River open to the passage of the Union gunboats,
and the Confederate battle-line was moved back yet another point. But
now was to come a most heroic test of the power of the river-navy and
the army of the North.
Some sixty miles below Cairo, the rushing, tawny current of the mighty
Mississippi turns suddenly northward, sweeping back, apparently,
toward its source, in a great bend eight or ten miles long. At the
point where the swift current sweeps around the bend, is a low-lying
island, about a mile long and half a mile wide. This is known as
Island No. 10; and at the opening of the war, it was supposed to hold
the key to the navigation of the Mississippi River. Here the
Confederates had thrown up powerful earthworks, the heavy guns in
which effectually commanded the river, both up and down stream. The
works were protected against a land bombardment by the fact that the
only tenable bit of land, New Madrid, was held by Confederate troops.
The shores of the Mississippi about Island No. 10 present the
dreariest appearance imaginable. The Missouri shore is low and swampy.
In 1811 an earthquake-shock rent the land asunder. Great tracts were
sunk beneath the water-level of the river. Trees were thrown down, and
lie rotting in the black and miasmatic water. Other portions of the
land were thrown up, rugged, and covered with rank vegetation, making
hills that serve only as places of refuge for water-moccasons and
other noxious reptiles. Around this dreary waste of mud and water, the
river rushes in an abrupt bend, making a peninsula ten miles long and
three wide. Below this peninsula is New Madrid, a little village in
the least settled part of Missouri; here the Confederates had
established an army-post, and thrown up strong intrenchments. It was
not, however, upon the intrenchments that they relied, but rather upon
the impassable morasses by which they were surrounded on every side.
In New Madrid were posted five or six thousand men; a small fleet of
Confederate gunboats lay in the stream off the village; and higher up
the river was Island No. 10, with its frowning bastions and rows of
heavy siege-guns, prepared to beat back all advances of the Union
troops.
[Illustration: Mortar Boats at Island No. 10.]
In planning for the attack of this stronghold, the first difficulty
found by Commodore Foote lay in the fact that his gunboats were above
the batteries. In fighting down stream in that manner, the ships must
be kept at long range: for, should a shot from the enemy injure the
engine or boiler of a gunboat, the vessel is doomed; for the rapid
current will rush her down under the enemy's guns, and her capture is
certain. But the peril of running the batteries so as to carry on the
fight from below seemed too great to be ventured upon; and besides,
even with Island No. 10 passed, there would still be the batteries of
New Madrid to cope with, and the gunboats of the Confederates to
take the ships in the rear. So it was determined that the navy should
begin a bombardment of the Confederate works, while the army under
Gen. Pope should attend to New Madrid. Accordingly, on March 15, the
whiz of a rifled shell from the flagship "Benton" announced to the
Confederates that the North wanted the Mississippi opened for travel.
In this engagement use was made for the first time of a new style of
vessel known as mortar-boats, which in later conflicts on the rivers
did great service. These boats were simple floats, heavily built, and
calculated to stand the most terrible shocks. On the float was raised
a sort of sheet-iron fort or wall, about five feet high; and in the
centre stood one thirteen-inch mortar. The mortar is the earliest of
all forms of cannon, and was in use in Europe in 1435. Its name is
derived from its resemblance to an ordinary druggist's mortar. The
great thirteen-inch mortars used in the civil war weighed seventeen
thousand pounds, and threw a shell thirteen inches in diameter. These
shells were so heavy that it took two men to bring them up to the
cannon's mouth. In the river-service, the mortar-boats were moored to
the bank, and a derrick was set up in such a position that the shells
could be hoisted up, and let fall into the yawning iron pot below.
Foote had fourteen of these monsters pounding away at the
Confederates, and the roar was deafening.
A correspondent of the "Chicago Times," who was with the fleet at the
time of the bombardment, thus describes the manner of using these
immense cannon: "The operation of firing the mortars, which was
conducted when we were near by, is rather stunning. The charge is from
fifteen to twenty-two pounds. The shell weighs two hundred and thirty
pounds. For a familiar illustration, it is about the size of a large
soup-plate. So your readers may imagine, when they sit down to dinner,
the emotions they would experience if they happened to see a ball of
iron of those dimensions coming toward them at the rate of a thousand
miles a minute. The boat is moored alongside the shore, so as to
withstand the shock firmly, and the men go ashore when the mortar is
fired. A pull of the string does the work, and the whole vicinity is
shaken with the concussion. The report is deafening, and the most
enthusiastic person gets enough of it with two or three discharges.
There is no sound from the shell at this point of observation, and no
indication to mark the course it is taking; but in a few seconds the
attentive observer with a good glass will see the cloud of smoke that
follows its explosion, and then the report comes back with a dull
boom. If it has done execution, the enemy may be seen carrying off
their killed and wounded."
And so from mortar-boats and gunboats, the iron hail was poured upon
the little island, but without effect. When Foote with his flotilla
first opened fire, he thought that the Confederate works would be
swept away in a day or two. His ordnance was the heaviest ever seen on
the Mississippi, and in number his guns were enough to have battered
down a mountain. But his days grew to weeks, and still the flag of the
Confederacy floated above Island No. 10. The men on the mortar-boats
were giving way under the tremendous shocks of the explosions. Many
were rendered deaf for days at a time. The jar of the explosions
brought to the surface of the river hundreds of old logs and roots
that had lain rotting in the soft ooze of the bottom. When all the
mortars were engaged, the surface of the river was covered with foam
and bubbles; and men by the thousand went about with their ears
stuffed with tow, to protect them against the sound. Yet, after weeks
of such firing, Gen. Beauregard telegraphed to Richmond, that the
Yankees had "thrown three thousand shells, and burned fifty tons of
gunpowder," without injuring his batteries in the least.
The Confederates remained passive in their trenches. They had no guns
that would carry far enough to reply to Foote's mortars, and they did
not wish to waste powder. It was galling to stand fire without
replying; but, fortunately for them, the fire was not very deadly, and
but few were injured. When, however, a shell did fall within the
works, it made work enough to repair damages, as by its explosion a
hole as large as a small house would be torn in the ground. But for
every one that fell within the batteries, twenty fell outside. Some
strange freaks are recorded of the shells. One fell on a cannon,
around which eight or ten men were lying. The gun-carriage was blown
to pieces, but not a man was hurt. Another fell full on the head of a
man who was walking about distributing rations, and not so much as a
button from his uniform was ever found.
But while the navy was thus playing at bowls with great guns, the army
had marched through the interior, captured New Madrid, and obtained a
foothold below Island No. 10. Thus the Confederates were surrounded;
and the very impassability of the land, that had been an advantage to
them, now told against them, for it cut off all hope of
re-enforcements. Gen. Pope's position was such that he could not get
at the island, nor secure a commanding position, without aid from the
navy. He begged Foote to try to run the batteries; but the commodore
replied, that the risk was greater than the prospective gain, and
continued his cannonade. Then a new idea was broached. By cutting a
canal through the bayous, swamps, and woods of the peninsula, the
lighter vessels could be taken by the fort without risk, and Foote
would then dare the dangers of a dash by in the gunboats. Every one
said that such a canal was impossible; but the men of the North were
given to doing impossible things in those days, and while Foote's
mortar-boats continued their thunder, fifteen hundred men were set to
work cutting a way through the noisome swamps. A channel forty feet
wide must be made. First gangs of men with axes and saws, working in
three feet of water, went ahead, cutting down the rank vegetation. As
fast as a little space was cleared, a small steamer went in, and with
dredge and steam-capstan hauled out the obstructions. In some places
the surveyed channel was so filled with drift-wood, fallen trees, and
tangled roots, that the labor of a thousand men for a day seemed to
make no impression. When the canal was pretty well blocked out, the
levee was cut; and the rush of the waters from the great river
undermined trees, and piled up new obstacles for the steamers to tow
away. Amid the foulest vapors the men worked, and more than a thousand
were sent to the hospital with chills and fever, and rheumatism. The
most venomous snakes lurked in the dark recesses of the swamp; on
cypress-stumps or floating logs the deadly water-moccason lay
stretched out, ready to bite without warning. Wherever there was a bit
of dry ground, the workers were sure to hear the rattle of the
rattlesnake. Sometimes whole nests of these reptiles would be
uncovered.
The work was continued day and night. When the failing daylight ceased
to make its way through the thickly intwined branches of trees and
climbing vines, great torches would be lighted, and by their fitful
glare the soldiers and sailors worked on in the water and mud. The
light glared from the furnaces of the steamers, lighting up the
half-naked forms of the stokers. Now and then some dry vine or tree
would catch a spark from a torch, and in an instant would be
transformed into a pillar of fire. After eight days of work the canal
was finished, and was found to be of sufficient depth for the passage
of the transports. And now Commodore Foote saw that the time had come
when he must attempt to run his gunboats past the forts, be the danger
what it might.
On April 1, Foote ordered a reconnoissance of the batteries, and this
order evoked one of the most daring deeds in the history of the war.
The night was pitchy dark, and heavy clouds were driven across the sky
by a strong, damp wind, that told of a coming storm. In five boats a
party of fifty sailors and fifty soldiers put off from the fleet,
prepared to go down and beard the Confederate lion in his den. Hardly
had they started on their perilous expedition, when the rain began
falling in sheets, and now and again flashes of lightning made the
dark shores visible for an instant, then the black night hid every
thing again from view. It was midnight, and the fierceness of the wind
added to the terror of the moment. On the banks, the great
forest-trees were bending and groaning before the blast, while the
broad surface of the river was lashed into foaming billows. Under
cover of the darkness the little band passed rapidly down the river;
past the shore-batteries and past the Confederate picket-boats, they
sped unseen. When they were within a few feet of the shore, a flash of
lightning revealed them for just an instant to the sentries. Then all
was black, save for the quick flashes of the sentries' guns as they
gave the alarm and fell back. The Federals landed rapidly, and drove
the confused Confederates from the battery. Then began the work of
spiking the guns. Every fifth man carried a number of rat-tail files,
which were to be driven into the vents of the cannon, and then broken
off. While the raiders were engaged in this work, the Confederates
rallied, and soon drove back the blue-jackets to their boats, with a
slight loss in killed and captured. How many guns they had disabled,
it is hard to say. In the excitement and glory of successful
adventure, the reports were much exaggerated. Histories of that date
depict the men as calmly spiking _every_ gun, and then retiring
deliberately. One writer claims that only one gun was spiked. However,
testimony from Confederates on duty in the batteries goes to show that
four guns were totally disabled. But the true value of the adventure
to the Union forces was the dash and valor it disclosed, and the
encouragement the people received from its success.
The next day after this successful exploit, a gunboat, the
"Carondelet," was made ready to try the dash past the batteries of
Island No. 10. Again the weather was favorable to the plans of the
Federals, for the night was as dark and wild as the one before. The
day had been clear, and the night opened with so bright a moon that
for a time it was thought that the project would have to be abandoned;
but toward ten o'clock a heavy thunder-storm came up, and soon the
black sky, the wildly waving tree-tops, and the sheets of rain
scudding across the river, gave promise of a suitable night.
All day the sailors on the "Carondelet" had been working busily,
getting their vessel in trim for the trip. Heavy planks were laid
along the deck, to ward off plunging shot. Chain cables were coiled
about all weak points, cord-wood was piled around the boilers, and the
pilot-house was wrapped round and about with heavy hawsers. On the
side toward the battery was tied a large barge, piled high with
cotton-bales. When the time for starting drew nigh, all lights were
extinguished. The guns were run in, and the ports closed. The sailors,
heavily armed, were sent to their stations. Muskets, revolvers, and
sabres were in the racks. Down in the boiler-room the stokers were
throwing coal upon the roaring fires; and in the engine-room the
engineer stood with his hand on the throttle, waiting for the signal
to get under way.
Towards eleven o'clock the time seemed propitious for starting. The
storm was at its height, and the roll of the thunder would drown the
beat of the steamer's paddles. The word was given; and the
"Carondelet," with her two protecting barges, passed out of sight of
the flotilla, and down towards the cannon of the enemy. For the first
half-mile all went well. The vessel sped along silently and unseen.
The men on the gun-deck, unable to see about, sat breathlessly,
expecting that at any moment a cannon-ball might come crashing through
the side into their midst. Suddenly from the towering smoke-stacks,
burst out sheets of flame five feet high, caused by the burning soot
inside, and lighting up the river all about. Quickly extinguished,
they quickly broke out again; and now from the camp of the alarmed
enemy came the roll of the drum, and the ringing notes of the bugle
sounding the alarm. A gunboat was bearing down on the works, and the
Confederates sprang to their guns with a will. The men on the
"Carondelet" knew what to expect, and soon it came. Five signal
rockets rushed up into the sky, and in an instant thereafter came the
roar of a great gun from one of the batteries. Then all joined in, and
the din became terrible. With volley after volley the Confederates
hurled cannon-balls, shells, musket, and even pistol-bullets at the
flying ship, that could only be seen an instant at a time by the
fitful flashes of the lightning. On the "Carondelet" all was still as
death. The men knew the deadly peril they were in, and realized how
impossible it was for them to make any fight. In the black night,
threading the crooked and ever-changing channel of the Mississippi
River, it was impossible to go more than half-speed. In the bow men
were stationed casting the lead, and calling out the soundings to the
brave old Capt. Hoel, who stood on the upper deck unprotected from the
storm of bullets, and repeated the soundings to Capt. Walker. So
through the darkness, through the storm of shot and shell, the
"Carondelet" kept on her way. Past the land-batteries, past the rows
of cannon on the island, and past the formidable floating battery, she
swept uninjured. Heavy and continuous as was the fire of the
Confederates, it was mainly without aim. The hay-barge was hit three
times, but not a scar was on the gunboat when she stopped before the
water-front of New Madrid after twenty minutes' run through that
dreadful fire.
And now the roar of the great guns had died away, and the men on the
vessels of the flotilla up the river were all anxiety to know what had
been the fate of their gallant comrades on the "Carondelet." All the
time the battle raged, the decks of the ships at anchor were crowded
with sailors looking eagerly down the river, and trying to make out by
the blinding flashes of the cannon the dark form of a gunboat speeding
by the hostile camp. Now all is silent; the roar of battle is over,
the flash of gunpowder no more lights up the night. But what has
become of the gallant men who braved that tempest of steel and iron?
Are they floating down the troubled waters beneath the wreck of their
vessel? It was a moment of suspense. After a few minutes' silence,
there comes through the strangely quiet air the deep boom of a heavy
gun. It had been agreed, that, if the "Carondelet" made the passage of
the batteries safely, she should fire six heavy guns. The old tars on
the decks say softly to themselves, "One." Then comes another, and a
third, and still more, until suddenly a ringing cheer goes up from the
flotilla, louder than the thunder itself. Men dance for joy; grizzled
tars fall into each other's arms, sing, shout, cry. An answering
salute goes booming back, rockets scud up into the clouds; and
Commodore Foote, with a heart too full for talking, goes down into his
cabin to be alone.
That night's work by the "Carondelet" terminated Confederate domain on
Island No. 10. The next night another gunboat came down, and the two
set to work carrying the troops across the river, protecting
artillerymen engaged in erecting batteries, and generally completing
the investment of the island. In two days every loop-hole of escape
for the Confederates is closed,--gunboats above and below them,
batteries peering down from every bluff, and regiments of infantry,
all prepared to move upon the works. They made one or two ineffectual
but plucky attempts to ward off capture. One private soldier swam
ashore, skulked past the Union pickets, and made his way to one of the
Union mortar-boats. He succeeded in getting to the mortar, and
successfully spiked it, thus terminating its usefulness. A second
Confederate succeeded in reaching the deck of the mortar-boat, but
while making his way across the deck tripped and fell. The rat-tail
file he was carrying was driven into his side, making a wound from
which he died in two hours. A third man, reckless of life, set out in
a canoe to blow up a gunboat. He carried with him a fifty-pound keg of
gunpowder, which he proposed to strap on the rudder-post of the
vessel. He succeeded in getting under the stern of the vessel; but the
gleam of his lighted match alarmed the sentry, who fired, hitting him
in the shoulder. The Confederate went overboard, and managed to get
ashore; while his keg of powder, with the fuse lighted, went drifting
down stream. Soon it exploded, throwing up an immense column of water,
and showing that it would have sent the stoutest vessel to the bottom
had it been properly placed.
But such struggles as these could not long avert the impending
disaster. The Confederates were hemmed in on every side. It was true
that they had a strong position, and could make a desperate
resistance; but they were separated from their friends, and their
final downfall was but a question of time. Appreciating this fact,
they surrendered two days after the "Carondelet" had passed the
batteries; and Foote made his second step (this time one of sixty
miles) toward the conquest of the Mississippi.
To-day nothing remains of the once extensive island, save a small
sand-bank in the middle of the great river. The rushing current of the
Father of Waters has done its work, and Island No. 10 is now a mere
tradition.
CHAPTER XI.
FAMOUS CONFEDERATE PRIVATEERS. -- THE "ALABAMA," THE
"SHENANDOAH," THE "NASHVILLE."
Let us now desert, for a time, the progress of the Union forces down
the Mississippi River, and turn our attention toward the true home of
the sailors,--the blue waters of the ocean. We have heard much, from
many sources, of the exploits of the Confederate commerce-destroyers,
privateers, or, as the Union authorities and the historians of the war
period loved to call them, the "Rebel pirates." In the course of this
narrative we have already dealt with the career of the "Sumter," one
of the earliest of these vessels. A glance at the career of the most
famous of all the Confederate cruisers, the "Alabama," will be
interesting.
This vessel was built in England, ostensibly as a merchant-vessel,
although her heavy decks and sides, and her small hatchways, might
have warned the English officials that she was intended for purposes
of war. Before she was finished, however, the customs-house people
began to suspect her character; and goaded on by the frequent
complaints of the United States minister, that a war-vessel was being
built for the Confederates, they determined to seize her. But
customs-house officials do things slowly; and, while they were getting
ready for the seizure, Capt. Semmes, who had taken command of the new
ship, duped them, and got his vessel safely out of English waters.
Private detectives and long-shore customs officers had been visiting
the ship daily on visits of examination; but, by the aid of champagne
and jolly good-fellowship, their inexperienced eyes were easily
blinded to the manifest preparations for a warlike cruise. But finally
came a retired naval officer who was not to be humbugged. A sailor on
board thus tells the story of his visit: "He was evidently a naval
officer, alert and resolute, and soon silenced the officer's
explanations. He looked at the hatchways, shot-racks, and magazines;
and, surveying the hammock-hooks on the berth-deck, said, 'You'll have
a large crew for a merchant-steamer.' We had taken on board some heavy
oak plank, that lay on the main deck; the officer remarked that they
were for anchor-stocks, and was shortly answered, 'Wouldn't make bad
gun-platforms, sir,' which, indeed, was just what they were intended
for. With a 'Good-morning, sir,' our visitor mounted the side and was
gone." This visit alarmed the Confederates; and immediate preparations
were made to run the ship, which still went by the name of the "No.
290," out of the British waters the next day. To disarm suspicion, a
large party of ladies and gentlemen were invited aboard; and the ship
started down the Mersey, ostensibly on her trial trip, with the sounds
of music and popping corks ringing from her decks. But peaceful and
merry as the start seemed, it was the beginning of a voyage that was
destined to bring ruin to hundreds of American merchants, and leave
many a good United States vessel a smoking ruin on the breast of the
ocean. When she was a short distance down the river, two tugs were
seen putting off from the shore; and in a moment the astonished guests
were requested to leave the ship, and betake themselves homeward in
the tugs. It is unnecessary to follow the voyage of the "No. 290" to
Nassau, and detail the way in which cannon, ammunition, and naval
stores were sent out from Portsmouth in a second vessel, and
transferred to her just outside of Nassau. It is enough to say that on
a bright, clear Sunday morning, in the latter part of August, 1862,
Capt. Rafael Semmes, late of the Confederate cruiser "Sumter," a
gentleman of middle height, wearing a uniform of gray and gold, his
dark mustache waxed to such sharp points that one would think him a
Frenchman rather than a Southerner, stood on the quarter-deck of the
"No. 290," with his crew mustered before him, reading out his
commission from Jefferson Davis, as commander of the Confederate
States' steam-sloop "Alabama." As he read, an old master's-mate,
standing at the peak-halyards, begins pulling at the ropes. The
British ensign, carried through the ship's anonymous days, comes
fluttering down, and in its place runs up the white naval ensign of
the Confederacy, with the starry Southern cross in the red field of
the corner. Then the reading is ended. Boom! goes the starboard
forecastle-gun. The band bursts forth with the stirring notes of
Dixie; and the sailors, after three ringing cheers, crowd forward to
wait for further developments. Soon the sailors are summoned aft
again, and Capt. Semmes addresses them. He tells them that, as the
"Alabama" is to be a ship-of-war, they are released from their
shipping contracts, but are invited to ship under the new plan. He
briefly details the purpose of the cruise. The "Alabama" is to be a
bird of passage, flitting from port to port, and hovering about the
highways of travel, to lie in wait for the merchant-vessels of the
North. Armed vessels she will avoid as much as possible, confining her
warfare to the helpless merchantmen. It is hardly a glorious
programme, but it seems to bear the promise of prize-money; and before
the day is over Capt. Semmes has shipped a crew of eighty men, and
with these the "Alabama" begins her cruise. The remainder of the
sailors are sent ashore, and the "Alabama" starts off under sail, in
search of her first capture.
Let us look for a moment at this vessel, perhaps the most famous of
all cruisers. She was a fast screw-steamer, of a little more than a
thousand tons' burden. Her screw was so arranged that it could be
hoisted out of the water; and, as the saving of coal was a matter of
necessity, the "Alabama" did most of her cruising under sail. Her hull
was of wood, with no iron plating, and her battery consisted of but
eight light guns: two facts which made it necessary that she should
avoid any conflicts with the powerful ships of the United States navy.
Her lines were beautifully fine; and, as she sped swiftly through the
water, Capt. Semmes felt that his vessel could escape the Northern
cruisers as easily as she could overhaul the lumbering merchantmen.
The crew was a turbulent one, picked up in the streets of Liverpool,
and made up of men of all nationalities. Terrific rows would arise in
the forecastle, and differences between the sailors were often settled
by square stand-up fights. The petty officers seldom interfered; one
old boatswain remarking, when he heard the noise of blows in the
forecastle, "Blast them, let 'em slug one another's heads off; it will
keep 'em out of mischief." And it generally did, for the combatants
were usually fast friends the next day.
As soon as the new ship was cleaned up, and put in order, drill began.
The men were all green; and hard, steady work at the guns, and with
the cutlasses, was necessary to fit them for service. The decks
resounded with "right," "left," "head protect," "right overcut." The
men were slow in learning; but the officers were Southerners, devoted
to their cause, and were tireless in getting the crew into shape.
After several days of cruising and drill, a vessel was sighted which
was unmistakably American. One of the sailors tells the story of her
capture graphically. "On the morning of the 5th of September the cry
of 'ship ahoy!' from the masthead brought all hands on deck. Sure
enough, about two miles to the leeward of us was a fine barque, at
once pronounced a 'spouter' (whaler), and an American. In order to
save coal,--of which very essential article we had about three hundred
tons aboard,--we never used our screw unless absolutely necessary. We
were on the starboard tack, and with the fresh breeze soon came
alongside. We had the American flag set, and the chase showed the
stars and stripes. A gun was fired; and, as we came within hail, we
gave the order, 'Back your mainsail; I'll send a boat on board of
you.'
"'Cutter away,' and the boat came down from the davits, and we pulled
for our first prize. It soon became a vain thing, and tiresome; but
this our first essay was a novelty, and we made the stretches buckle
with our impatience to get aboard. The bowman hooked on to the chains,
and we went up the side like cats. When we got aft, the captain asked
in a dazed sort of manner, 'Why--why--what does this mean?' The
master, Fullam, replied, 'You are prize to the Confederate steamer
"Alabama," Capt. Semmes commanding. I'll trouble you for your papers.'
Now, this man had been four years out, and had no doubt heard of the
trouble at home; but he couldn't realize this, and he stared, and
said, 'Confederate government--Alabama--why, that's a State,' and then
was sternly told to get his papers. We were ordered to put the crew in
irons, and they, too, seemed utterly dumbfounded; and one poor fellow
said to me, 'Must I lose all my clothes?' I answered, 'Yes,' but
advised him to put on all he could, and if he had any money to slip it
in his boot. 'Money! I h'aint seen a dollar for three years; but I'm
obliged to ye all the same.'"
Then, after searching the vessel for valuables, the captives were
taken back to the "Alabama," while one boat's-crew remained behind to
fire the vessel.
"She was loaded with oil," writes sailor Haywood; "and, when it
caught, a high column of dense black smoke poured out of the
hatchways, and spread in vast involutions to the leeward. Soon the red
forked flames began to climb her masts, and her spars glowed with
light; with a crash her mainmast fell, carrying the foremast with it,
and sending a shower of sparks high in the air; her stout sides seemed
to burst open; and what was a stately ship was now a blackened hulk,
the rising sea breaking in white-caps over it, and at last, with a
surge and wallow, sinking out of sight." Alone, by one of the
lee-ports, the ruined American captain stood, looking sadly upon the
end of all his long four years' labor. For this he had borne the icy
hardships of the Arctic seas. The long, dreary four years of
separation from wife and home had been lightened by the thought, that
by a prosperous voyage he might bring home enough money to stay always
in the little shingled cottage in the narrow street of some New
England fishing-village; but now all that was over. When he should
arrive home he would be penniless, with nothing but the clothes on his
back, and all because of a war of the very existence of which he knew
nothing. It was hard to bear, but war brings nothing but affliction.
After this capture, the "Alabama" had a lively season for several
weeks, capturing often two or three vessels a day. Generally they met
with no resistance; but occasionally the blood of some old sea-dog
would boil, and he would do the best in his power to injure his
captors. A story of one such incident was thus told by one of the
"Alabama's" crew:--
[Illustration: Looting a Prize.]
"When we ran around in search of whalers, we came upon a Yankee
skipper who didn't know what surrender meant. We were just well to the
west of the stormy cape, when one morning after breakfast we raised a
whaler. He was headed up the coast, and about noon we overhauled him.
He paid no attention to the first shot, and it was only when the
second one hulled him that he came into the wind. It was then seen
that he had fifteen or sixteen men aboard, and that all were armed
with muskets, and meant to defend the ship. The lieutenant was sent
off with his boat; but no sooner was he within fair musket-range, than
the whaler opened on him, killing one man, and wounding two, at the
first volley. The officer pushed ahead, and demanded a surrender;
but he got another volley, and the reply that the whaler 'would go to
the bottom before he would surrender to a Rebel!'
"The boat was recalled, and our gunners were instructed to hull the
whaler with solid shot. We approached him within rifle-range, and
opened fire. Every one of the balls plumped through his side at and
above the water-line, and he answered with his muskets, severely
wounding two men. He was repeatedly hailed to surrender, but in reply
he encouraged his men to maintain their fire. We soon had the sea
pouring into his starboard side through a dozen holes; and when it was
seen that he would soon go down, we ceased firing, and again demanded
his surrender. I can remember just how he looked as he sprang upon the
rail,--tall, gaunt, hair flying, and eyes blazing,--and shouted in
reply,--
"'The 'Ben Scott' don't surrender! Come and take us--if you can.'
"Five minutes later his craft settled down, bow first. We lowered the
boats to save his crew, and, strangely enough, not a man was lost.
When we brought them aboard, the Yankee skipper walked up to Semmes,
bareheaded, barefooted, and coatless, and said,--
"'If I'd only have had one old cannon aboard, we'd have licked ye out
of yer butes! Here we are, and what are ye going to do with us?'
"He was voted a jolly good fellow, and the crew were better treated
than any other ever forced aboard. In order to give them their
liberty, the very next capture we made was bonded, and they were put
aboard to sail for home."
But now the decks of the "Alabama" were getting rather uncomfortably
crowded with prisoners, and it became necessary to put into some port
where they could be landed. Accordingly the ship was headed for
Martinique, and soon lay anchored in the harbor of that place, where
she began coaling. While she lay there, a Yankee schooner put into the
port, and was about to drop anchor near the dangerous cruiser, when
some one gave the skipper a hint; and, with a startled "b'gosh," he
got his sails up, and scudded out to sea. The "Alabama" lay in port
some days. The first set of the sailors who received permission to go
ashore proceeded to get drunk, and raised so great a disturbance, that
thereafter they were obliged to look on the tropical prospect from the
deck of the vessel. The next day a United States war-vessel was seen
standing into the harbor, and Capt. Semmes immediately began to make
preparations to fight her. But as she came nearer she proved to be
the "San Jacinto," a vessel mounting fourteen heavy guns, and
altogether too powerful for the "Alabama." So thinking discretion the
better part of valor, the Confederate ship remained safe in the
neutral harbor. The "San Jacinto" quietly remained outside, thinking
that at last the fox was caught. But that same night, with all lights
extinguished, and running under full steam, the "Alabama" slipped
right under the broadside of her enemy, getting clean away, so quietly
that the "San Jacinto" remained for four days guarding the empty trap,
while the "Alabama" was off again on another voyage of destruction,
and the tuneful souls in the forecastle were roaring out the chorus,--
"Oh, our jolly privateer
Has left old England's shore!
Lord, send us lots of prizes,
But no Yankee man-of-war."
Soon after leaving Martinique, the "Alabama" made a capture which
embarrassed the captain not a little by its size. It was Sunday (which
Capt. Semmes calls in his journal "the 'Alabama's' lucky day"), when a
bit of smoke was seen far off on the horizon, foretelling the approach
of a steamer. Now was the time for a big haul; and the "Alabama's"
canvas was furled, and her steam-gear put in running order. The two
vessels approached each other rapidly; and soon the stranger came near
enough for those on the "Alabama" to make out her huge walking-beam,
see-sawing up and down amidships. The bright colors of ladies' dresses
were visible; and some stacks of muskets, and groups of blue-uniformed
men, forward, told of the presence of troops. The "Alabama" came up
swiftly, her men at the guns, and the United States flag flying from
the peak,--a rather dishonorable ruse habitually practised by Capt.
Semmes. In a moment the stranger showed the stars and stripes, and
then the "Alabama" ran up the white ensign of the Confederacy, and
fired a blank cartridge. But the stranger had no thought of
surrendering, and crowded on all steam and fled. The "Alabama" was no
match for her in speed, so a more peremptory summons was sent in the
shape of a shell that cut the steamer's foremast in two. This hint was
sufficient. The huge paddles ceased revolving, and a boat's-crew from
the "Alabama" went aboard to take possession. The prize proved to be
the mail steamer "Ariel," with five hundred passengers, besides a
hundred and forty marines and a number of army and navy officers. Now
Capt. Semmes had an elephant on his hands, and what to do with that
immense number of people he could not imagine. Clearly the steamer
could not be burned like other captures. For two days Capt. Semmes
kept the prize near him, debating what was to be done, and then
released her; exacting from all the military and naval officers their
paroles that they would not take up arms against the Confederacy.
After this exploit the "Alabama" went into port for a few days, and
then headed into the Gulf of Mexico. Here she steamed about, capturing
and burning a few United States merchantmen, until on the 11th of
January she found herself off the port of Galveston, where a strong
blockading fleet was stationed. And here she fought her first battle.
About four o'clock of a clear afternoon, the lookout in the cross
trees of the United States sloop-of-war "Hatteras," stationed off the
port of Galveston, hailed the officer of the deck, and reported a
steamer standing up and down outside. The stranger was watched closely
through marine glasses, and finally decided to be a blockade-runner
trying to make the port; and the "Hatteras" immediately set out in
pursuit. This was just what Capt. Semmes desired. He knew that the
ships stationed off Galveston were not heavily armed, and he felt sure
that if he could entice one away from the rest of the fleet he would
be able to send her to the bottom. Accordingly he steamed away slowly,
letting the "Hatteras" gain on him, but at the same time drawing her
out of the reach of any aid from her consorts. When about twenty miles
away from the fleet, the "Alabama" slowed down and finally stopped
altogether, waiting for the "Hatteras" to come up. The latter vessel
came within two hundred yards, and hailed, "What ship's that?"--"Her
Majesty's ship 'Petrel,'" answered Semmes, pursuing the course of
deception that brings so much discredit on his otherwise dashing
career. The captain of the "Hatteras" answered that he would send a
boat aboard; but, before the boat touched the water, a second hail
announced, "We are the Confederate ship 'Alabama,'" and in an instant
a heavy broadside crashed into the "Hatteras." Every one of the shots
took effect; and one big fellow from the one hundred and five pounder
rifle peeled off six feet of iron plating from the side of the
"Hatteras," and lodged in the hold. Dazed by this unexpected fire, but
plucky as ever, the blue-jackets sprang to their guns and returned
the fire. The two ships were so close together that a good shot with a
revolver could have picked off his man every time, and the sailors
hurled taunts at each other between the volleys. Not a shot missed the
"Hatteras:" in five minutes she was riddled with holes, and on fire,
and a minute or two later the engineer came up coolly and reported,
"Engine's disabled, sir;" followed quickly by the carpenter, who
remarked, "Ship's making water fast; can't float more than ten
minutes, sir." There was nothing for it but surrender, and the flag
came down amid frantic yells from the "Alabama" sailors. Semmes got
out his boats with wonderful rapidity, and picked up all the men on
the "Hatteras;" and the defeated vessel sank in ten minutes. One of
the strange things about this battle was the small number of men
injured. Nothing but shells were fired, and they searched every part
of the vessels; yet when the fight was over the "Alabama" had but one
man wounded, while the "Hatteras" had two men killed and three
wounded. The shells played some strange pranks in their course. One
ripped up a long furrow in the deck of the "Alabama," and knocked two
men high in the air without disabling them. Another struck a gun full
in the mouth, tore off one side of it, and shoved it back ten feet,
without injuring any of the crew. One man who was knocked overboard by
the concussion was back again and serving his gun in two minutes. A
shell exploded in the coal of the "Hatteras," and sent the stuff
flying all about the vessel, without injuring a man.
With her prisoners stowed away in all available places about her
decks, the "Alabama" headed for Jamaica, and cast anchor in the harbor
of Port Royal. There were several English men-of-war there, and the
officers of the victorious ship were lionized and feasted to their
hearts' content. The prisoners were landed, the "Alabama's" wounds
were bound up, and she was made ready for another cruise.
[Illustration: Sinking of the "Alabama."]
After five days in port, she set out again on her wanderings about the
world. Week after week she patrolled the waters in all parts of the
globe where ships were likely to be met. Sometimes she would go a
fortnight without a capture, and then the men in the forecastle would
grow turbulent and restive under the long idleness. Every bit of
brass-work was polished hour after hour, and the officers were at
their wits' end to devise means for "teasing-time." The men made
sword-knots and chafing-gear enough to last the whole navy, and
then looked longingly at the captain's mustache, as the only thing
left in which a "Turk's head" could be tied. Music enlivened the hours
for a time; but the fiddler was soon voted a bore, and silenced by
some one pouring a pint of molasses into the _f_-holes of his
instrument. The enraged musician completed the job by breaking it over
the head of the joker. After several weeks, they put into Cape Town.
Here the practical joker of the crew made himself famous by utterly
routing an inquisitive old lady, who asked, "What do you do with your
prisoners?" The grizzled old tar dropped his voice to a confidential
whisper, and, with a look of the utmost frankness, replied, "We biles
'em, mum. We tried a roast, but there ain't a hounce of meat on one o'
them Yankee carkages. Yes, mum, we biles 'em." The startled old lady
gasped out, "Good lordy," and fled from the ship.
Putting out from Cape Town, the "Alabama" continued her weary round of
cruising. Many vessels were captured, and most of them were burned.
One Yankee captain proved too much for Semmes, as his story will show.
His ship was chased by the "Alabama" in heavy weather all day, and
occasionally fired upon. When the steamer was abeam, "she closed up
with us," the captain says, "as near as safety would permit, and,
hailing us, asked where we were bound, and demanded the surrender of
the ship to the Confederate Government. I answered through my trumpet,
'Come and take me.' Conversation being too straining for the lungs
amid the howling of the wind and rolling of the huge billows, and the
proximity of the vessels too dangerous, we separated a little, and had
recourse to blackboards to carry on our conversation. Semmes asked
where we were bound. I answered, without a blush, 'Melbourne,'
thinking that possibly he might try to intercept me if he knew that I
was to pass through the Straits of Sunda. Then he had the cheek to
order me to 'haul down your flag and surrender, escape or no
escape,'--on a kind of parole, I suppose he meant. I wrote on the
board: 'First capture, then parole,' This answer vexed him, I am sure,
for he immediately wrote: 'Surrender, or I will sink you.' I wrote:
'That would be murder, not battle.'--'Call it what you will, I will do
it,' he wrote. 'Attempt it, and by the living God, I will run you
down, and we will sink together,' I wrote in reply. I knew his threat
was vain; for in that heavy sea, rolling his rails under, he did not
dare to free his guns, which were already double lashed. They would
have carried away their tackles, and gone through the bulwarks
overboard. Conscious that he had made empty threats, we said no more,
but doggedly kept on our course. Sail was still further reduced on
both vessels, as the wind kept increasing and was now blowing a gale.
We were now gradually and surely drawing ahead of the steamer. It was
growing dark. Rejoicing at my fortunate escape, I gave the valiant
Semmes a parting shot by hoisting the signal 'Good-by.' Dipping the
star-spangled banner as a salute, I hauled it down, and the steamer
was soon lost to sight in the darkness.... I never saw her after our
escape; but, indirectly, she forced me to sell my ship in China soon
after."
But we cannot follow the "Alabama" in her career about the world. A
full account of her captures would fill volumes; and in this narrative
we must pass hastily by the time that she spent scouring the ocean,
dodging United States men-of-war, and burning Northern merchantmen,
until, on the 11th of June, she entered the harbor of Cherbourg,
France, and had hardly dropped anchor when the United States
man-of-war "Kearsarge" appeared outside, and calmly settled down to
wait for the Confederate to come out and fight. Capt. Semmes seemed
perfectly ready for the conflict, and began getting his ship in shape
for the battle. The men, too, said that they had had a "plum-pudding
voyage" of it so far, and they were perfectly ready for a fight. The
forecastle poet was set to work, and soon ground out a song, of which
the refrain was,--
"We're homeward bound, we're homeward bound!
And soon shall stand on English ground;
But, ere our native land we see,
We first must fight the 'Kearsargee.'"
This was the last song made on board the "Alabama," and the poet was
never more seen after the fight with the "Kearsargee."
[Illustration: Rescue of Capt. Semmes.]
The "Kearsarge" had hardly hove in sight when Capt. Semmes began
taking in coal, and ordered the yards sent down from aloft, and the
ship put in trim for action. Outside the breakwater, the "Kearsarge"
was doing the same thing. In armament, the two vessels were nearly
equal; the "Alabama" having eight guns to the "Kearsarge's" seven, but
the guns of the latter vessel were heavier and of greater range. In
the matter of speed, the "Kearsarge" had a slight advantage. The great
advantage which the "Kearsarge" had was gained by the forethought of
her commander, who had chains hung down her sides, protecting the
boilers and machinery. Semmes might easily have done the same thing
had the idea occurred to him.
It was on Sunday, June 19, that the "Alabama" started out to the duel
that was to end in her destruction. Though Sunday was Capt. Semmes's
lucky day, his luck this time seemed to have deserted him. The
"Alabama" was accompanied in her outward voyage by a large French
iron-clad frigate. The broad breakwater was black with people waiting
to see the fight. The news had spread as far as Paris, and throngs had
come down by special trains to view the great naval duel. A purple
haze hung over the placid water, through which could be seen the
"Kearsarge," with her colors flying defiantly, steaming slowly ahead,
and ready for the "Alabama" to come up. Small steamers on every side
followed the "Alabama," as near the scene of conflict as they dared.
One English yacht, the "Deerhound," with her owner's family aboard,
hung close to the combatants during the fight. No duel of the age of
chivalry had a more eager throng of spectators.
Now the "Alabama" has passed the three-mile line, and is on the open
sea. The big French iron-clad stops; the pilot-boats, with no liking
for cannon-balls, stop too. The "Deerhound" goes out a mile or so
farther, and the "Alabama" advances alone to meet the antagonist that
is waiting quietly for her coming. The moment of conflict is at hand;
and Capt. Semmes, mustering his men on the deck, addresses them
briefly, and sends them to their quarters; and now, with guns shotted,
and lanyards taut, and ready for the pull, the "Alabama" rushes toward
her enemy. When within a distance of a mile, the first broadside was
let fly, without avail. The "Kearsarge," more cool and prudent, waits
yet awhile; and, when the first shot does go whizzing from her big
Dahlgren guns, it strikes the "Alabama," and makes her quiver all
over. Clearly it won't do to fight at long range; and Capt. Semmes
determines to close in on his more powerful antagonist, and even try
to carry her by boarding, as in the glorious days of Paul Jones. But
the wary Winslow of the "Kearsarge" will have none of that; and he
keeps his ship at a good distance, all the time pouring great shot
into the sides of the "Alabama." Now the two vessels begin circling
around each other in mighty circles, each trying to get in a raking
position. The men on the "Alabama" began to find that their gunpowder
was bad and caky; while at the same moment one of the officers saw two
big solid shot strike the "Kearsarge" amidships, and fall back into
the water, revealing the heretofore unsuspected armor. This was
discouraging. Then came a big shot that knocked over the pivot-gun,
and killed half its crew. One sailor saw a shot come in a port, glide
along the gun, and strike the man at the breach full in the breast,
killing him instantly.
The "Kearsarge," too, was receiving some pretty heavy blows, but her
iron armor protected her vulnerable parts. One shell lodged in her
sternpost, but failed to explode. Had it burst, the "Kearsarge's"
fighting would have been over.
After an hour the officers of the "Alabama" began coming to Capt.
Semmes with grave faces, and reporting serious accidents. At last the
first lieutenant reported the ship sinking, and the order was given to
strike the flag. She was sinking rapidly, and the time had come for
every man to save himself. The "Kearsarge" was shamefully slow in
getting out her boats; and finally when the "Alabama," throwing her
bow high in the air, went down with a rush, she carried most of her
wounded with her, and left the living struggling in the water. Capt.
Semmes was picked up by a boat from the yacht "Deerhound," and was
carried in that craft to England away from capture. For so escaping,
he has been harshly criticised by many people; but there seems to be
no valid reason why he should refuse the opportunity so offered him.
Certain it is, that, had he not reached the "Deerhound," he would have
been drowned; for none of the boats of the "Kearsarge" were near him
when he was struggling in the water.
So ended the career of the "Alabama." Her life had been a short one,
and her career not the most glorious imaginable; but she had fulfilled
the purpose for which she was intended. She had captured sixty-four
merchant-vessels, kept a large number of men-of-war busy in chasing
her from one end of the world to the other, and inflicted on American
commerce an almost irreparable injury.
Although the "Alabama" was by all means the most noted and the most
successful of all the Confederate cruisers, there were others that
entered upon the career of privateering, and followed it for a while
with varying degrees of success. Some were captured revenue-cutters,
which the Confederates armed with a single heavy gun, and turned loose
on the ocean in search of Yankee schooners. Others were merely tugs
or pilot-boats. Generally their careers were short. In one instance a
fine privateer, from which the Confederates expected great things,
attempted to capture a United States man-of-war, under the delusion
that it was a merchant-vessel. The captain of the man-of-war saw the
mistake under which the Confederate labored, and allowed the privateer
to come up within short range, when, with a sudden broadside, he sent
her to the bottom, abruptly terminating her career as a commerce
destroyer. Some quite formidable iron-clad cruisers were built abroad;
but in most cases all the diplomacy of the Confederate agents proved
unavailing to prevent the confiscation of the ships by the neutral
governments in whose territory they were built. Two iron-clad rams
built at Liverpool, ostensibly for private parties, but really for the
Confederate Government, were seized by the British authorities. Six
splendid vessels were built in France, but only one succeeded in
getting away to join the Confederate service. This one was a ram with
armored sides, and was named the "Stonewall." The war was nearly over
when she was put in commission, and her services for the Confederacy
amounted to nothing. She made one short cruise, during which she fell
in with two United States men-of-war, that avoided a fight with her on
account of her superior strength. At the end of her cruise the war was
over, and she was sold to the Mikado of Japan, whose flag she now
carries.
[Illustration: The End of a Privateer.]
The "Nashville" was an old side-wheel passenger-steamer, of which the
Confederates had made a privateer. Her career was a short one. She
made one trip to England as a blockade-runner, and on her return
voyage she burned three or four United States merchantmen. She then
put into the Great Ogeechee River, where she was blockaded by three
Union men-of-war. The Confederates protected her by filling the river
with torpedoes, and anchoring the ship at a point where the guns of a
strong fort could beat back all assailants. Here she lay for several
weeks, while the men on the blockaders were fuming at the thought that
they were to be kept idle, like cats watching a rat-hole. At last
Capt. Worden, who was there with his redoubtable monitor "Montauk,"
determined to destroy the privateer, despite the torpedoes and the big
guns of the fort. He accordingly began a movement up the river,
picking his way slowly through the obstructions. The fort began a
lively cannonade; but Worden soon found that he had nothing to fear
from that quarter, as the guns were not heavy enough to injure the
iron sides of the little monitor. But, as he went up the river, the
"Nashville" took the alarm and fled before him; and it seemed that the
most the Union fleet could do would be to keep her from coming down
again, for with her light draught she could keep well out of range of
the monitor's guns. But one morning Worden perceived a strange
commotion on the "Nashville;" and, looking carefully through his
glass, he saw that she was aground. Now was his time; and at once he
pushed forward to a point twelve hundred yards from her, and directly
under the guns of Fort MacAllister. From this point he began a
deliberate fire upon the doomed privateer. The great guns of the fort
were roaring away, and their shells came crashing against the sides of
the "Montauk;" but to this Worden paid no heed. It was splendid long
distance practice for his gunners; and, when they got the range, not a
shot missed the stranded Confederate vessel. From his pilot-house
Worden could see the crew of the "Nashville" escaping in boats,
leaping into the water over the sides,--doing anything to escape from
that terribly destructive fire. All the time the great fifteen-inch
shells were dropping into the vessel with fearful precision. By and by
a heavy fog fell upon the scene; but the gunners on the "Montauk" knew
where their enemy was, and kept up their steady fire, though they
could see nothing. When the fog lifted, they saw the "Nashville" a
mass of flames; and in a moment she blew up, covering the placid
surface of the river with blackened fragments. Then the "Montauk"
returned to her consorts, well satisfied with her day's work.
[Illustration: The "Nashville" burning a Prize.]
The last of the Confederate privateers to ravage the ocean was the
"Shenandoah," originally an English merchant-vessel engaged in the
East India trade. She was large, fast, and strongly built; and the
astute agent of the Confederacy knew, when he saw her lying in a
Liverpool dock, that she was just calculated for a privateer. She was
purchased by private parties, and set sail, carrying a large stock of
coal and provisions, but no arms. By a strange coincidence, a second
vessel left Liverpool the same day, carrying several mysterious
gentlemen, who afterwards proved to be Confederate naval officers. The
cargo of this second vessel consisted almost entirely of remarkably
heavy cases marked "machinery." The two vessels, once out of English
waters, showed great fondness for each other, and proceeded together
to a deserted, barren island near Madeira. Here they anchored side by
side; and the mysterious gentlemen, now resplendent in the gray and
gold uniform of the Confederacy, stepped aboard the "Shenandoah." Then
the cases were hoisted out of the hold of the smaller vessel; and,
when the "machinery" was mounted on the gun-deck of the "Shenandoah,"
it proved to be a number of very fine steel-rifled cannon. Then the
crew was mustered on the gun-deck, and informed that they were manning
the new Confederate ship "Shenandoah;" and with a cheer the flag was
hoisted at the peak, and the newly created ship-of-war started off in
search of merchantmen to make bonfires of. From Madeira the cruiser
made for the Southern Ocean,--a fresh field not yet ravaged by any
Confederate vessel. This made the hunting all the better for the
"Shenandoah," and she burned vessels right and left merrily. In the
spring of 1865, she put into the harbor of Melbourne, Australia, where
her officers were lavishly entertained by the citizens. Thence she
proceeded to the northward, spending some time in the Indian Ocean,
and skirting the Asiatic coast, until she reached Behrings Straits.
Here she lay in wait for returning whalers, who in that season were
apt to congregate in Behrings Sea in great numbers, ready for the long
voyage around Cape Horn to their home ports on the New England coast.
Capt. Waddell was not disappointed in his expectations, for he reached
the straits just as the returning whalers were coming out in a body.
One day he captured eleven in a bunch. With one-third his crew
standing at the guns ready to fire upon any vessel that should attempt
to get up sail, Waddell kept the rest of his men rowing from ship to
ship, taking off the crews. Finally all the prisoners were put aboard
three of the whalers, and the eight empty ships were set afire. It was
a grand spectacle. On every side were the towering icebergs, whose
glassy sides reflected the lurid glare from the burning ships. Great
black volumes of smoke arose from the blazing oil into the clear blue
northern sky. The ruined men crowded upon the three whalers saw the
fruits of their years of labor thus destroyed in an afternoon, and
heaped curses upon the heads of the men who had thus robbed them. What
wonder if, in the face of such apparently wanton destruction as this,
they overlooked the niceties of the law of war, and called their
captors pirates! Yet for the men of the "Shenandoah" it was no
pleasant duty to thus cruise about the world, burning and destroying
private property, and doing warfare only against unarmed people. More
than one has left on record his complaint of the utter unpleasantness
of the duty; but all felt that they were aiding the cause for which
their brothers at home were fighting, and so they went on in their
work of destruction.
For two months more Waddell continued his depredations in the northern
seas. Many a stout bark from New London or New Bedford fell a prey to
his zeal for a cause that was even then lost. For the Confederacy had
fallen. The last volley of the war had been discharged three months
before. Of this Capt. Waddell was ignorant, and his warlike operations
did not end until the captain of a British bark told him of the
surrender of Lee and Johnston, and the end of the war. To continue his
depredations longer would be piracy: so Capt. Waddell hauled down his
Confederate flag, and heading for Liverpool surrendered his ship to
the British authorities, by whom it was promptly transferred to the
United States. So ended the last of the Confederate privateers.
[Illustration: "Shenandoah" burning Whalers.]
CHAPTER XII.
WORK OF THE GULF SQUADRON. -- THE FIGHT AT THE PASSES OF THE
MISSISSIPPI. -- DESTRUCTION OF THE SCHOONER "JUDAH." -- THE
BLOCKADE OF GALVESTON, AND CAPTURE OF THE "HARRIET LANE."
The naval forces of the United States during the war may be roughly
classified as the Atlantic fleets, the river navy, and the Gulf
squadron. The vessels comprising the latter detachment enjoyed some
light service during the opening months of the war; but, as the time
went on, the blue-jackets of the Gulf squadron found that they had no
reason to congratulate themselves on securing an easy berth. Their
blockading duty was not so arduous as that of their brothers along the
rugged Atlantic coast; but they were harassed continually by
Confederate rams, which would make a dash into the fleet, strike heavy
blows, and then fly up some convenient river far into the territory of
the Confederacy. One such attack was made upon the squadron blockading
the Mississippi in October, 1861.
Some eighty miles below New Orleans, the Mississippi divides into
three great channels, which flow at wide angles from each other into
the Gulf of Mexico. These streams flow between low marshy banks hardly
higher than the muddy surface of the river, covered with thick growths
of willows, and infested with reptiles and poisonous insects. The
point from which these three streams diverge is known as the "Head of
the Passes," and it was here that the blockading squadron of four
vessels was stationed. The ships swung idly at their moorings for
weeks. The pestilential vapors from the surrounding marshes were
rapidly putting all the crews in the sick bay, while the clouds of
gnats and mosquitoes that hung about made Jack's life a wretched one.
They did not even have the pleasurable excitement of occasionally
chasing a blockade-runner, for the wary merchants of New Orleans knew
that there was absolutely no hope of running a vessel out through a
river so effectually blockaded. And so the sailors idled away their
time, smoking, singing, dancing to the music of a doleful fiddle,
boxing with home-made canvas gloves that left big spots of black and
blue where they struck, and generally wishing that "Johnny Reb" would
show himself so that they might have some excitement, even if it did
cost a few lives.
But while the blue-jackets at the mouth of the river were spending
their time thus idly, the people in the beleaguered city higher up
were vastly enraged at being thus cooped up, and were laying plans to
drive their jailers away. Occasionally they would take a small fleet
of flat boats, bind them together, and heap them high with tar, pitch,
and light wood. Then the whole would be towed down the river, set on
fire, and drifted down upon the fleet. The light of the great fire
could be seen far off, and the warships would get up steam and dodge
the roaring mass of flames as it came surging down on the swift
current. So many trials of this sort failed, that finally the people
of the Crescent City gave up this plan in disgust.
Their next plan seemed for a time successful. It was at four o'clock
one October morning that the watch on the sloop-of-war "Richmond"
suddenly saw a huge dark mass so close to the ship that it seemed
fairly to have sprung from the water, and sweeping down rapidly. The
alarm was quickly given, and the crew beat to quarters. Over the water
from the other ships, now fully alarmed, came the roll of the drums
beating the men to their guns. The dark object came on swiftly, and
the word was passed from man to man, "It's a Confederate ram." And
indeed it was the ram "Manassas," which the Confederates had been hard
at work building in the New Orleans shipyards, and on which they
relied to drive the blockading squadron from the river. As she came
rushing towards the "Richmond," two great lights higher up the river
told of fire-rafts bearing down upon the fleet, and by the fitful
glare three smaller gunboats were seen coming to the assistance of the
"Manassas." Clearly the Confederates were attacking in force.
The first volley from the fleet rattled harmlessly from the iron-clad
sides of the "Manassas;" and, not heeding it, she swept on and plunged
into the side of the "Richmond." The great iron prow cut deep into the
wooden sides of the Union vessel. Heavy oaken timbers were splintered
like laths, and the men were violently hurled to the deck. As the ram
drew away, the blue-jackets sprang to their guns and gave her a
volley. Some of the shots must have penetrated her armor, for she
became unmanageable. But the darkness prevented the officers of the
"Richmond" from seeing how much damage they had done, and they did not
follow up their advantage. The strange panic that the sight of a ram
so often brought upon sailors of the old school fell on the officers
of this squadron, and they began hastily getting their ships out of
the river. By this time four more Confederate steamers had come to the
aid of the ram, and were cannonading the Northern fleet at long range.
In their hurried attempt to escape, the "Richmond" and the "Vincennes"
had run aground. The captain of the latter vessel, fearing capture,
determined to fire his vessel and escape with his crew to the
"Richmond." Accordingly he laid a slow-match to the magazine, lighted
it, and then, wrapping his ship's colors about his waist in the most
theatrical manner, abandoned his ship. But the plan was not altogether
a success. As he left the ship, he was followed by a grizzled old
sailor, who had seen too much fighting to believe in blowing up his
own ship; and, when he saw the smoking slow-match, he hastily broke
off the lighted end, and without saying a word threw it into the
water. No one observed the action, and the crew of the "Vincennes"
watched mournfully for their good ship to go up in a cloud of smoke
and flame. After they had watched nearly an hour, they concluded
something was wrong, and returned to their old quarters. By this time
the enemy had given up the conflict, and the United States navy was
one ship ahead for the old sailor's act of insubordination. The
Confederate flotilla returned to New Orleans, and reported that they
had driven the blockaders away. There was great rejoicing in the city:
windows were illuminated, and receptions were tendered to the officers
of the Confederate fleet. But, while the rejoicing was still going on,
the Union ships came quietly back to their old position, and the great
river was as securely closed as ever.
[Illustration: Fort Pensacola.]
About a month before the fight with the "Manassas," the blue-jackets
of the North scored for themselves a brilliant success in the harbor
of Pensacola. The frigate "Colorado" was lying outside the harbor of
that city, within clear view of the city front. For some weeks the
sailors had been greatly interested in watching the activity of people
on shore around a small schooner that was lying in a basin near the
navy-yard. With a harbor so thoroughly blockaded as was that of
Pensacola, there seemed really no need of new vessels; and the haste
of the Confederates seemed inexplicable, until they saw through their
glasses men at work mounting a heavy pivot-gun amidships. That made it
clear that another privateer was being fitted out to ravage the seas
and burn all vessels flying the United States flag. The gallant tars
of the "Colorado" determined to go in and burn the privateer before
she should have a chance to escape. It was an undertaking of great
peril. The schooner was near the navy-yard, where one thousand men
were ready to spring to her assistance at the first alarm. On the dock
fronting the navy-yard were mounted a ten-inch columbiad and a
twelve-pounder field-piece, so placed as to command the deck of the
schooner and the wharf to which she was moored. Fort Pensacola, not
far distant, was full of Confederate troops. But the Union sailors
thought that the destruction of the privateer was of enough importance
to warrant the risk, and they determined to try the adventure.
[Illustration: Destruction of the Schooner "Judah."]
Accordingly, on the first dark night, four boats, containing one
hundred officers, sailors, and marines, put off from the side of the
"Colorado," and headed for the town. All was done with the most
perfect silence. The tholes of the oars were wrapped in cloth to
deaden their rattle in the rowlocks. No lights were carried. Not a
word was spoken after the officers in muffled tones had given the
order, "Give way." Through the darkness of the night the heavy boats
glide on. Every man aboard has his work laid out for him, and each
knows what he is to do. While the main body are to be engaged in
beating back the guards, some are to spike the guns, and others to
fire the schooner in several places. When within a hundred yards of
the schooner, they are discovered by the sentry. As his ringing hail
comes over the water, the sailors make no reply, but bend to the oars,
and the boats fairly leap toward the wharf. Bang! goes the sentry's
rifle; and the men in the hold of the schooner come rushing up just as
the two boats dash against her side, and the sailors spring like cats
over the bulwarks. One man was found guarding the guns on the wharf,
and was shot down. Little time is needed to spike the guns, and then
those on the wharf turn in to help their comrades on the schooner.
Here the fighting is sharp and hand to hand. Nearly a hundred men are
crowded on the deck, and deal pistol-shots and cutlass-blows right and
left. Several of the crew of the schooner have climbed into the tops,
and from that point of vantage pour down on the attacking party a
murderous fire. Horrid yells go up from the enraged combatants, and
the roar of the musketry is deafening. The crew of the schooner are
forced backward, step by step, until at last they are driven off the
vessel altogether, and stand on the wharf delivering a rapid fire. The
men from the navy-yard are beginning to pour down to the wharf to take
a hand in the fight. But now a column of smoke begins to arise from
the open companionway; and the blue-jackets see that their work is
done, and tumble over the side into their boats. It is high time for
them to leave, for the Confederates are on the wharf in overwhelming
force. As they stand there, crowded together, the retiring sailors
open on them with canister from two howitzers in the boats. Six
rounds of this sort of firing sends the Confederates looking for
shelter; and the sailors pull off through the darkness to their ship,
there to watch the burning vessel, until, with a sudden burst of
flame, she is blown to pieces.
Considering the dashing nature of this exploit, the loss of life was
wonderfully small. Lieut. Blake, who commanded one of the boats, was
saved by one of those strange accidents so common in war. As he was
going over the side of the "Colorado," some one handed him a metal
flask filled with brandy, to be used for the wounded. He dropped it
into the lower pocket of his overcoat, but, finding it uncomfortable
there, changed it to the side pocket of his coat, immediately over his
heart. When the boats touched the side of the schooner, Blake was one
of the first to spring into the chains and clamber aboard. Just as he
was springing over the gunwale, a Confederate sailor pointed a pistol
at his heart, and fired it just as Blake cut him down with a savage
cutlass-stroke. The bullet sped true to its mark, but struck the
flask, and had just enough force to perforate it, without doing any
injury to the lieutenant.
The first death in the fight was a sad one. A marine, the first man to
board the schooner, lost his distinguishing white cap in his leap. His
comrades followed fast behind him, and, seeing that he wore no cap,
took him for one of the enemy, and plunged their bayonets deep in his
breast, killing him instantly. He was known to his comrades as John
Smith, but on searching his bag letters were found proving that this
was not his own name. One from his mother begged him to return home,
and give up his roving life. He proved to be a well-educated young
man, who through fear of some disgrace had enlisted in the marines to
hide himself from the world.
[Illustration: Capture of the "Harriet Lane."]
Another dashing event occurred on the Gulf Coast some months later,
although in this instance the Confederates were the assailants and the
victors. Galveston had for some time been in the hands of the Union
forces, and was occupied by three regiments of United States troops.
In the harbor lay three men-of-war, whose cannon kept the town in
subjection. It had been rumored for some time that the Confederates
were planning to recapture the city, and accordingly the most vigilant
lookout was kept from all the ships. On the 1st of January, 1863, at
half-past one A.M., as the lookout on the "Harriet Lane" was thinking
of the new year just ushered in, and wondering whether before the
end of that year he could see again his cosey Northern home and wife
and friends, he saw far up the river a cloud of black smoke, that rose
high in the air, and blotted from sight the shining winter stars. He
rubbed his eyes, and looked again. There was no mistake: the smoke was
there, and rapidly moving toward him. Clearly it was a steamer coming
down the river; but whether an armed enemy or a blockade-runner, he
could not say. He gave the alarm; and in a moment the roll of the
drums made the sailors below spring from their hammocks, and, hastily
throwing on their clothes, rush on deck. The drums beat to quarters,
and the crew were soon at their guns. Over the water came the roll of
the drums from the other ships, and from the troops on shore, now all
aroused and in arms. For thirty hours the Federals had been expecting
this attack, and now they were fully prepared for it.
The attacking vessels came nearer, and the men on the Union ships
strained their eyes to see by the faint starlight what manner of craft
they had to meet. They proved to be two large river-steamships, piled
high with cotton-bales, crowded with armed men, and provided with a
few field pieces. Clearly they were only dangerous at close quarters,
and the "Lane" at once began a rapid fire to beat them back. But the
bad light spoiled her gunners' aim, and she determined to rush upon
the enemy, and run him down. The Confederate captain managed his helm
skilfully, and the "Lane" struck only a glancing blow. Then, in her
turn, the "Lane" was rammed by the Confederate steamer, which plunged
into her with a crash and a shock which seemed almost to lift the
ships out of water. The two vessels drifted apart, the "Lane" hardly
injured, but the Confederate with a gaping wound in his bow which sent
him to the bottom in fifteen minutes. But now the other Confederate
came bearing down under a full head of steam, and crashed into the
"Lane." Evidently the Confederates wanted to fight in the old style;
for they threw out grappling-irons, lashed the two ships side to side,
and began pouring on to the deck of the Federal ship for a
hand-to-hand conflict. Cries of anger and pain, pistol-shots, cutlass
blows, and occasional roars from the howitzers rose on the night air,
and were answered by the sounds of battle from the shore, where the
Confederates had attacked the slender Union garrison. The sinking
steamer took up a position near the "Lane," and poured broadside after
broadside upon the struggling Union ship. But where were the other
three Union vessels all this time? It seemed as though their
commanders had lost all their coolness; for they ran their vessels
here and there, now trying to do something to help their friends on
shore, now making an ineffectual attempt to aid the "Harriet Lane."
But on board that vessel matters were going badly for the Federals.
The Confederates in great numbers kept pouring over the bulwarks, and
were rapidly driving the crew from the deck. Capt. Wainwright lay dead
at the door of the cabin. Across his body stood his young son, his
eyes blazing, his hair waving in the wind. He held in his right hand a
huge revolver, which he was firing without aim into the tossing mass
of struggling men before him, while he called on his dead father to
rise and help him. A stray bullet cut off two of his fingers, and the
pain was too much for the little hero only ten years old; and,
dropping the pistol, he burst into tears, crying, "Do you want to kill
me?" The blue-jackets began to look anxiously for help toward the
other vessels. But, even while they looked, they saw all hope of help
cut off; for with a crash and a burst of flame the "Westfield" blew
up. It turned out later, that, finding his ship aground, the captain
of the "Westfield" had determined to abandon her, and fire the
magazine; but in fixing his train he made a fatal error, and the ship
blew up, hurling captain and crew into the air. The men on the
"Harriet Lane" saw that all hope was gone, and surrendered their ship.
When the captains of the two remaining gunboats saw the stars and
stripes fall from the peak, they turned their vessels' prows toward
the sea, and scudded out of danger of capture. At the same moment,
cheers from the gray-coats on shore told that the Confederates had
been successful both by land and sea, and the stars and bars once more
floated over Galveston.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS. -- FARRAGUT'S FLEET PASSES FORT ST.
PHILIP AND FORT JACKSON.
While Commodore Foote, with his flotilla of gunboats and mortar-boats,
was working his way down the Mississippi River, making occasional
dashes into the broad streams that flow from either side into the
father of waters, Admiral Farragut, with his fleet of tall-sparred,
ocean-going men-of-war, was laying his plans for an expedition
up-stream. But Farragut's first obstacle lay very near the mouth of
the broad, tawny river that flows for a thousand miles through the
centre of the United States. New Orleans, the greatest city of the
Confederacy, stands on the river's bank, only ninety miles from the
blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The Confederate authorities knew
the value of this great city to their cause, and were careful not to
let it go unprotected. Long before any thought of civil war disturbed
the minds of the people of the United States, the Federal Government
had built below the Crescent City two forts, that peered at each other
across the swift, turbid tide of the Mississippi River. Fort St.
Philip and Fort Jackson they were called, the latter being named in
honor of the stubborn old military hero who beat back the British
soldiers at the close of the war of 1812 on the glorious field of
Chalmette near New Orleans. Fort Jackson was a huge star of stone and
mortar. In its massive walls were great cavernous bomb-proofs in which
the soldiers were secure from bursting shells. It stood back about a
hundred yards from the levee, and its casemates just rose above the
huge dike that keeps the Mississippi in its proper channel. When the
river was high from the spring floods of the north, a steamer floating
on its swift tide towered high above the bastions of the fort. In the
casemates and on the parapets were mounted seventy-five guns of all
calibres. By its peculiar shape and situation on a jutting point of
land, the fort was able to bring its guns to bear upon the river in
three directions.
When the storm of civil war burst upon the country, the Confederates
of New Orleans were prompt to seize this and Fort St. Philip, that
stood on the other side of the river. They found Fort Jackson in the
state of general decay into which most army posts fall in times of
peace, and they set at work at once to strengthen it. All over the
parapet, bomb-proofs, and weak points, bags of sand were piled five or
six feet deep, making the strongest defence known in war. Steamers
plied up and down the river, bringing provision, ammunition, and new
cannon, and soon the fort was ready to stand the most determined
siege. Fort St. Philip, across the river, though not so imposing a
military work, was more powerful. It was built of masonry, and heavily
sodded over all points exposed to fire. It was more irregular in shape
than Fort Jackson, and with its guns seemed to command every point on
the river. Both were amply protected from storming by wide, deep moats
always filled with water.
In these two forts were stationed troops made up of the finest young
men of New Orleans. For them it was a gay station. Far removed from
the fighting on the frontier, and within an easy journey of their
homes, they frolicked away the first year of the war. Every week gay
parties of pleasure-seekers from New Orleans would come down; and the
proud defenders would take their friends to the frowning bastions, and
point out how easily they could blow the enemy's fleet out of water if
the ships ever came within range of those heavy guns. But the ships
did not come within range of the guns for many months. They contented
themselves with lying at the Head of the Passes, and stopping all
intercourse with the outer world, until New Orleans began to get
shabby and ragged and hungry, and the pleasure-parties came less often
to the forts, and the gay young soldiers saw their uniforms getting
old and tattered, but knew not where to get the cloth to replace them.
[Illustration: Levee at New Orleans before the War.]
In the city no rumble of commerce was heard on the streets. Grass grew
on the deserted levee, where in times of peace the brown and white
cotton-bales were piled by the thousand, waiting for strong black
hands to seize and swing them upon the decks of the trim Liverpool
packets, that lay three or four deep along the river front. The huge
gray custom-house that stood at the foot of Canal Street no longer
resounded with the rapid tread of sea-captains or busy merchants. From
the pipes of the cotton-presses, the rush of the escaping steam, as
the ruthless press squeezed the great bale into one-third its original
size, was no longer heard. Most of the great towering steamboats that
came rushing down the river with stores of cotton or sugar had long
since been cut down into squat, powerful gunboats, or were tied up
idly to the bank. Across the river, in the shipyards of Algiers, there
seemed a little more life; for there workmen were busy changing
peaceful merchant vessels into gunboats and rams, that were, the
people fondly hoped, to drive away the men-of-war at the river's mouth
and save the city from starvation. From time to time the streets of
the city resounded with the notes of drum and fife, as one after the
other the militia companies went off to the front and the fighting.
Then the time came when none were left save the "Confederate Guards,"
old gray-haired men, judges, bankers, merchants, gentlemen of every
degree, too old for active service at the front, but too young not to
burn for the grasp of a gun or sword while they knew that their sons
and grandsons were fighting on the bloodstained soil of Virginia and
Tennessee.
But, while the city was gradually falling into desolation and decay,
preparations were being made by the Federal navy for its capture. On
the 2d of February, 1862, Admiral Farragut sailed from Hampton Roads
in his stanch frigate the "Hartford," to take command of a naval
expedition intended to capture New Orleans. The place of rendezvous
was Ship Island, a sandy island in the Gulf of Mexico. Here he
organized his squadron, and started for his post in the Mississippi,
below the forts. The first obstacle was found at the mouth of the
river, where the heavy war-vessels were unable to make their way over
the bar. Nearly two weeks were occupied in the work of lightening
these ships until they were able to pass. The frigate "Colorado" was
unable to get over at all. The "Pensacola" was dragged through the mud
by the sheer strength of other vessels of the expedition. While they
were tugging at her, a huge hawser snapped with a report like a
cannon, and the flying ends killed two men and seriously wounded five
others. But at last the fleet was safely past all obstacles, and
Admiral Farragut found himself well established in the lower
Mississippi, with a force of twenty-five men-of-war, and twenty
mortar-schooners; one of the most powerful armadas ever despatched
against an enemy. Farragut lost no time in getting his ships prepared
for the baptism of fire which was sure to come. While he was
diligently at work on his preparations, he was visited by some French
and English naval officers, who had carefully examined the defences of
the Confederates, and came to warn him that to attack the forts with
wooden vessels, such as made up his fleet, was sheer madness, and
would only result in defeat. "You may be right," answered the brave
old sailor, "but I was sent here to make the attempt. I came here to
reduce or pass the forts, and to take New Orleans, _and I shall try it
on_." The foreigners remarked that he was going to certain
destruction, and politely withdrew.
In the mean time, the tars on the mortar-fleet were working
industriously to get their ships in fighting-trim. The topmasts were
stripped of their sails, and lowered; the loose and standing rigging
strapped to the masts; the spars, forebooms, and gaffs unshipped, and
secured to the outside of the vessels to avert the danger from
splinters, which, in naval actions, is often greater than from the
shots themselves. From the main-deck every thing was removed that
could obstruct the easy handling of the tremendous mortars; and the
men were drilled to skill and alertness in firing the huge engines of
death. The work was hastened on the mortar-schooners, because the plan
was to rush them into position, and let them harass the Confederates
with a steady bombardment, while the ships-of-war were preparing for
their part in the coming fight.
The mortar-fleet was under command of Admiral Porter, an able and
energetic officer. He soon had his ships ready, and began moving them
into position along the banks of the river, out of sight of the forts.
To further conceal them from the gunners in the forts, he had the
masts and rigging wrapped with green foliage; so that, lying against
the dense thickets of willows that skirt that part of the river, they
were invisible. Other boats that were in more exposed positions had
their hulls covered with grass and reeds, so that they seemed a part
of the swamp that bordered the river. After the line of fire had been
obtained by a careful mathematical survey, Porter got all his
mortar-boats into position, and began his bombardment. The gunners on
the mortar-boats could not see the forts; but the range had been
calculated for them, and they merely fired mechanically. A lookout,
perched on the masthead, could see over the low willow-forest, and
watch the course of the shells as they rushed high into the air, and
then, falling with a graceful curve, plunged into the forts. The
firing was begun on the 16th of April, and was kept up with a will.
The twenty huge mortars keeping up a constant fire, made a deafening
roar that shook the earth, and could be heard far up the river at New
Orleans, where the people poured out into the streets, and gayly
predicted defeat for any enemy who should attack "the boys in the
forts." The forts were not slow in returning the fire; but as the
mortar-vessels were hidden, and did not offer very large marks, their
fire was rather ineffective. Parties of Confederates, old
swamp-hunters, and skilled riflemen, stole down through the dense
thickets, to pick off the crews of the mortar-schooners. They managed
to kill a few gunners in this way, but were soon driven away by the
point-blank fire of the supporting gunboats. But all this time the
shells were falling thick and fast, driving the soldiers to the
bomb-proofs, and tearing to pieces every thing unprotected. One shell
set fire to some wooden structures that stood on the parade-ground in
Fort Jackson; and, as the smoke and flames rose in the air, the
gunners down the river thought that the fort was burning, and cheered
and fired with renewed vigor. The shells that burst upon the levee
soon cut great trenches in it, so that the mighty Mississippi broke
through with a rush, and flooded the country all about. But the forts
seemed as strong and unconquered as ever.
While the soldiers were crowded together in the bomb-proofs to escape
the flying bits of shell, the sailors on the little fleet of
Confederate vessels anchored above them were busily engaged in getting
ready a fire-raft which was to float down the river, and make havoc
among the vessels of the Union fleet. Two such rafts were prepared;
one of which, an immense affair, carrying cords of blazing pine-wood,
was sent down in the early morning at a time when the vessels were
utterly unprepared to defend themselves. Luckily it grounded on a
sandbar, and burned and crackled away harmlessly until it was
consumed. This warned Commander Porter of the danger in which his
mortar-vessels were of a second attack of the same nature; and
accordingly he put in readiness one hundred and fifty small boats
with picked crews, and well supplied with axes and grapnels, whose
duty it was to grapple any future rafts, and tow them into a harmless
position. They did not have long to wait. At sundown that night,
Commander Porter reviewed his little squadron of row-boats as they lay
drawn up in line along the low marshy shores of the mighty river. The
sun sank a glowing red ball beneath the line at which the blue waters
of the gulf and the blue arch of heaven seemed to meet. The long
southern twilight gradually deepened into a black, moonless night. The
cries of frogs and seabirds, and the little flashes of the fireflies,
were silenced and blotted out by the incessant roar and flash of the
tremendous mortars that kept up their deadly work. Suddenly in the
distance the sky grows red and lurid. "The fort is burning!" cry the
men at the guns; but from the masthead comes the response, "No, the
fire is on the river. It is another fire-raft." The alarm was
instantly given to all the vessels of the fleet. Bright colored
signal-lights blazed on the decks, and the dark, slender cordage stood
out against the brilliant red and green fires that flickered strangely
upon the dark wooded banks of the river. Rockets rushed high into the
air, and, bursting, let fall a shower of party-colored lights that
told the watchers far down the river that danger was to be expected.
Then the signal-lights went out, and all was dark and silent save
where the lurid glare of the great mass of fire could be seen floating
in the great curves of the tortuous river toward the crowded ships. It
was a time of intense suspense. The little flotilla of fire-boats,
organized by Commander Porter that day, was on the alert; and the
blue-jackets bent to their oars with a will, and soon had their boats
ranged along a bend far above the fleet. Here they waited to catch the
fiery monster, and save the ships. The danger came nearer fast.
Rapidly the flames increased in volume, until the whole surrounding
region was lighted up by the glare; while from the floating fire, a
huge black column of smoke arose, and blended with the clouds that
glowed as though they themselves were on fire. When the raft came into
view around a point, it was seen to be too big for the boats to handle
unaided, and two gunboats slipped their cables, and started for the
thing of terror. From every side the row-boats dashed at the raft.
Some grappled it, and the sailors tugged lustily at their oars,
seeking to drag the mass of flames toward the shore. Then the
"Westfield," under full head of steam, dashed furiously against the
raft, crashing in the timbers and sending great clouds of sparks
flying high in the air. From her hose-pipes she poured floods of water
on the crackling, roaring, blazing mass; while all the time, with her
powerful engines, she was pushing it toward the shore.
In the mean time, the sailors from the fleet of small boats were
swarming upon the raft wherever they could find a foothold free from
flame. Some carrying buckets dashed water upon the flames, some with
axes cut loose flaming timbers, and let them float harmlessly down the
river. It was a fight in which all the men were on one side; but it
was a grand sight, and was eagerly watched by those on the imperilled
vessels. The immediate arena of the conflict was bright as day, but
all around was gloom. At last the pluck and determination of the men
triumph over the flames. The raft, flaming, smouldering, broken, is
towed out of the channel, and left to end its life in fitful flashes
on a sandy point. The returning boats are greeted with cheers, and
soon darkness and silence fall upon the scene. The mortars cease their
thunderous work for the night; and ere long the only sounds heard are
the rush of the mighty waters, or the faint cry of the night birds in
the forest. The sentinel pacing the deck peers in vain through the
gloom. War gives way for a time to rest.
[Illustration: Fire-raft at Forts of the Mississippi.]
Hardly had the gray dawn begun to appear, when the roll of the drums
on the decks of the ships was heard; and, soon after, the roar of the
opening gun was heard from one of the mortar-schooners. Again the
bombardment was opened. The twenty boats in the mortar-fleet were
divided into three divisions, each of which fired for two hours in
succession, and then stopped for a time to allow the great cannon to
cool. Thus a continuous bombardment was kept up, and the soldiers in
the forts were given no time to repair the damages caused by the
bursting shells. Every mortar was fired once in five minutes; so that
one shell was hurled towards the fort about every minute, while
sometimes three shells would be seen sweeping with majestic curves
through the air at the same time. The shells weighed two hundred and
fifteen pounds; and when they were hurled into the air by the
explosion of twenty pounds of powder, the boat bearing the mortar was
driven down into the water six or eight inches, and the light railings
and woodwork of buildings at the Balize, thirty miles away, were
shattered by the concussion. The shells rose high in the air, with an
unearthly shriek, and after a curve of a mile and a half fell into
or near the forts, and, bursting, threw their deadly fragments in all
directions. Day after day, and night after night, this went on. If the
men on the mortar-schooners showed bravery and endurance in keeping up
so exhausting a fire so steadily, what shall we say for the men in the
forts who bore up against it so nobly? Before noon of the first day of
the bombardment, the soldiers of Fort Jackson saw their barracks
burned, with their clothing, bedding, and several days' rations.
Shells were pouring in upon them from vessels that they could not see.
The smooth-bore guns mounted in the embrasures would hardly send a
shot to the nearest of the hostile gunboats. Then the river broke
through its banks, and half the fort was transformed into a morass. An
officer in Fort Jackson said, after the surrender, that in two hours
over one hundred shells had fallen upon the parade-ground of that
work, tearing it up terribly. For six days this terrible fire was
endured; and during the latter half of the bombardment the water stood
knee deep on the gun-platforms, and the gunners worked at their guns
until their shoes, soaked for days and days, fairly fell from their
feet. For bed and bedding they had the wet earth, for rations raw meat
and mouldy bread. If there were glory and victory for the Union
sailors, let there at least be honor and credit granted the soldiers
of the gray for the dogged courage with which they bore the terrible
bombardment from Porter's flotilla.
While the mortars were pounding away through those six long days and
nights, Farragut was getting ready to take his ships past the forts.
Union scouts and spies had travelled over every foot of land and water
about the forts; and the exact strength of the Confederates, and the
difficulties to be overcome, were clearly known to the Federal
admiral. One of the chief obstructions was a chain of rafts and old
hulks that stretched across the channel by which the fleet would be
obliged to ascend the river. Under cover of a tremendous fire from all
the mortars, two gunboats were sent up to remove this obstruction. The
night was dark and favorable to the enterprise, and the vessels
reached the chain before they were discovered. Then, under a fierce
cannonade from the forts, Lieut. Caldwell put off in a row-boat from
his vessel, boarded one of the hulks, and managed to break the chain.
The string of hulks was quickly swept ashore by the swift current, and
the channel was open for the ascent of the Union fleet.
[Illustration: Breaking the Chain.]
On the 23d of April, Farragut determined that his fleet should make
the attempt to get past the forts the following day. He knew that
the enemy must be exhausted with the terrible strain of Porter's
bombardment, and he felt that the opportunity had arrived for him to
make a successful dash for the upper river. The fleet was all prepared
for a desperate struggle. Many of the captains had daubed the sides of
their vessels with the river mud, that they might be less prominent
marks for the Confederate gunners. The chain cables of all the vessels
were coiled about vulnerable parts, or draped over the sides amidships
to protect the boilers. Knowing that it was to be a night action, the
gun-decks had been whitewashed; so that even by the dim, uncertain
light of the battle lanterns, the gunners could see plainly all
objects about them. Hammocks and nettings were stretched above the
decks to catch flying splinters from the spars overhead. Late at night
the admiral in his longboat was pulled from ship to ship to view the
preparations made, and see that each captain fully understood his
orders.
It was two o'clock on the morning of the 24th of April, when the
Confederates on the parapets of their forts might have heard the
shrill notes of fifes, the steady tramp of men, the sharp clicking of
capstans, and the grating of chain cables passing through the
hawse-holes on the ships below. Indeed, it is probable that these
sounds were heard at the forts, and were understood, for the
Confederates were on the alert when the ships came steaming up the
river.
They formed in a stately line of battle, headed by the "Cayuga." As
they came up the stream, the gunners in the forts could see the
mastheads over the low willow thickets that bordered the banks of the
stream. The line of obstructions was reached and passed, and then the
whole furious fire of both forts fell upon the advancing ships.
Gallantly they kept on their way, firing thunderous broadsides from
each side. And, while the ships were under the direct fire of the
forts, the enemy's fleet came dashing down the river to dispute the
way. This was more to the taste of Farragut and his boys in blue. They
were tired of fighting stone walls. In the van of the Confederate
squadron was the ram "Manassas," that had created such a panic among
the blockading squadron a month before. She plunged desperately into
the fight. The great frigate "Brooklyn" was a prominent vessel in the
Union line, and at her the ram dashed. The bold hearts on the grand
old frigate did not seek to avoid the conflict, and the two vessels
rushed together. The ram struck the "Brooklyn" a glancing blow; and
the shot from her one gun was returned by a hail of cannon-balls from
the frigate's tremendous broadside, many of which broke through the
iron plating. Nothing daunted, the ram backed off and rushed at the
frigate again. This time she struck full on the frigate's side. The
shock was terrible. Men on the gun-deck of the ram were hurled to the
deck, with the blood streaming from their nostrils. The frigate keeled
over farther and farther, until all thought that she would be borne
beneath the water by the pressure of the ram. All the time the
spiteful bow-gun of the iron monster was hurling its bolts into her
hull. But the blow of the ram had done no damage, for she had struck
one of the coils of chain that had been hung down the "Brooklyn's"
side. The two vessels slowly swung apart; and, after a final broadside
from the "Brooklyn," the "Manassas" drifted away in the pitchy
darkness to seek for new adversaries. She was not long in finding one;
for as the gray dawn was breaking she suddenly found herself under the
very bows of the "Mississippi," which was bearing down upon her and
seemed sure to run her down. The captain of the "Manassas" was an able
steersman, and neatly dodged the blow; but in this quick movement he
ran his vessel ashore, and she lay there under the guns of the
"Mississippi," and unable to bring any of her own guns to bear. The
captain of the frigate was not slow in taking advantage of this chance
to be revenged for all the trouble she had given the Union fleet; and
he took up a good position, and pounded away with his heavy guns at
the iron monster. The heavy shots crashed through the iron plating and
came plunging in the portholes, seeking every nook and cranny about
the vessel. It was too much for men to stand, and the crew of the
"Manassas" fled to the woods; while their vessel was soon set on fire
with red-hot shots, and blew up with a tremendous report soon after.
[Illustration: Ram "Tennessee" at Mobile Bay.]
In the mean time, the ships of the Union fleet were doing daring work,
and meeting a determined resistance. The flagship "Hartford" was met
by a tug which pushed a huge burning fire-raft against her sides.
There the flaming thing lay right up against the portholes, the flames
catching the tarred rigging, and running up the masts. Farragut walked
his quarter-deck as coolly as though the ship was on parade. "Don't
flinch from that fire, boys," he sang out, as the flames rushed in the
portholes, and drove the men from their guns. "There's a hotter fire
than that for those who don't do their duty. Give that rascally
little tug a shot, and don't let her go off with a whole coat." But
the tug did get away, after all; and no one can feel sorry that men
plucky enough to take an unarmed tug into a terrible fight of frigates
and iron-clads should escape with their lives. The men on the
"Hartford" fought the flames with hose and buckets, and at last got
rid of their dangerous neighbor. Then they saw a steamer crowded with
men rushing toward the flagship without firing a shot, and evidently
intending to board. Capt. Broome, with a crew of marines, was working
a bow-gun on the "Hartford." Carefully he trained the huge piece upon
the approaching steamer. He stepped back, stooped for a last glance
along the sights, then with a quick pull of the lanyard the great gun
went off with a roar, followed instantly by a louder explosion from
the attacking steamer. When the smoke cleared away, all looked eagerly
for the enemy; but she had vanished as if by magic. That single shot,
striking her magazine, had blown her up with all on board.
Much of the hardest fighting was done by the smaller vessels on either
side. The little Confederate "cotton-clad" "Governor Moore" made a
desperate fight, dashing through the Union fleet, taking and giving
broadsides in every direction. The Union vessel "Varuna" also did
daring work, and naturally these two ships met in desperate conflict.
After exchanging broadsides, the "Governor Moore" rammed her
adversary, and, while bearing down on her, received a severe raking
fire from the "Varuna." The "Governor Moore" was in such a position
that none of her guns could be brought to bear; but her captain
suddenly depressed the muzzle of his bow-gun, and sent a shot crashing
through _his own_ deck and side, and deep into the hull of the
"Varuna." The vessels soon parted, but the "Varuna" had received her
death-wound, and sank in shallow water. The "Governor Moore" kept on
her way, but was knocked to pieces by the fire from the heavy guns of
the frigates shortly after.
And so the battle raged for five hours. To recount in full the deeds
of valor done, would be to tell the story of each ship engaged, and
would require volumes. Witnesses who saw the fight from the start were
deeply impressed by the majesty of the scene. It was like a grand
panorama. "From almost perfect silence,--the steamers moving through
the water like phantom ships,--one incessant roar of heavy cannon
commenced, the Confederate forts and gunboats opening together on the
head of our line as it came within range. The Union vessels returned
the fire as they came up, and soon the hundred and seventy guns of our
fleet joined in the thunder which seemed to shake the very earth. A
lurid glare was thrown over the scene by the burning rafts; and, as
the bombshells crossed each other and exploded in the air, it seemed
as if a battle were taking place in the heavens as well as on the
earth. It all ended as suddenly as it commenced."
While this gigantic contest was going on in the river abreast of the
forts, the people of New Orleans were thronging the streets, listening
to the unceasing roar of the great guns, and discussing, with pale
faces and anxious hearts, the outcome of the fight. "Farragut can
never pass our forts. His wooden ships will be blown to pieces by
their fire, or dashed into atoms by the 'Manassas,'" people said. But
many listened in silence: they had husbands, sons, or brothers in that
fearful fight, and who could tell that they would return alive? By and
by the firing ceased. Only an occasional shot broke the stillness of
the morning. Then came the suspense. Had the fleet been beaten back,
or was it above the forts, and even now sullenly steaming up to the
city? Everybody rushed for the housetops to look to the southward,
over the low land through which the Mississippi winds. An hour's
waiting, and they see curls of smoke rising above the trees, then
slender dark lines moving along above the tree-tops. "Are they our
ships?" every one cries; and no one answers until the dark lines are
seen to be crossed by others at right angles. They are masts with
yard-arms, masts of seagoing vessels, the masts of the invader's
fleet. A cry of grief, of fear, of rage, goes up from the housetops.
"To the levee!" cry the men, and soon the streets resound with the
rush of many feet toward the river. "The river is crooked, and its
current swift. It will be hours before the Yankees can arrive: let us
burn, destroy, that they may find no booty." Let one who was in the
sorrowful city that terrible April day tell the story. "I went to the
river-side. There, until far into the night, I saw hundreds of drays
carrying cotton out of the presses and yards to the wharves, where it
was fired. The glare of those sinuous miles of flame set men and women
weeping and wailing thirty miles away, on the farther shore of Lake
Pontchartrain. But the next day was the day of terrors. During the
night, fear, wrath, and sense of betrayal, had run through the people
as the fire had run through the cotton. You have seen, perhaps, a
family fleeing, with lamentations and wringing of hands, out of a
burning house; multiply it by thousands upon thousands: that was New
Orleans, though the houses were not burning. The firemen were out; but
they cast fire on the waters, putting the torch to the empty ships and
cutting them loose to float down the river.
[Illustration: New Orleans on Approach of Fleet.]
"Whoever could go was going. The great mass that had no place to go
to, or means to go with, was beside itself. 'Betrayed! betrayed!' it
cried, and ran in throngs from street to street, seeking some vent,
some victim for its wrath. I saw a crowd catch a poor fellow at the
corner of Magazine and Common Streets, whose crime was that he looked
like a stranger and might be a spy. He was the palest living man I
ever saw. They swung him to a neighboring lamp-post; but the Foreign
Legion was patrolling the town in strong squads, and one of its
lieutenants, all green and gold, leaped with drawn sword, cut the
rope, and saved the man. This was one occurrence; there were many like
it. I stood in the rear door of our store, Canal Street, soon after
re-opening it. The junior of the firm was within. I called him to look
toward the river. The masts of the cutter 'Washington' were slowly
tipping, declining, sinking--down she went. The gunboat moored next
her began to smoke all over and then to blaze. My employers lifted up
their heels and left the city, left their goods and their affairs in
the hands of one mere lad--no stranger would have thought I had
reached fourteen--and one big German porter. I closed the doors, sent
the porter to his place in the Foreign Legion, and ran to the levee to
see the sights.
"What a gathering!--the riff-raff of the wharves, the town, the
gutters. Such women! such wrecks of women! and all the juvenile
rag-tag. The lower steamboat-landing, well covered with sugar, rice,
and molasses, was being rifled. The men smashed; the women scooped up
the smashings. The river was overflowing the top of the levee. A
rain-storm began to threaten. 'Are the Yankee ships in sight?' I asked
of an idler. He pointed out the tops of their naked masts as they
showed up across the huge bend of the river. They were engaging the
batteries at Camp Chalmette, the old field of Jackson's renown.
Presently that was over. Ah, me! I see them now as they come slowly
round Slaughterhouse Point, into full view: silent, so grim and
terrible, black with men, heavy with deadly portent, the long banished
stars and stripes flying against the frowning sky. Oh for the
'Mississippi,' the 'Mississippi!' Just then she came down upon them.
But how? Drifting helplessly, a mass of flames.
"The crowds on the levee howled and screamed with rage. The swarming
decks answered never a word; but one old tar on the 'Hartford,'
standing with lanyard in hand, beside a great pivot-gun, so plain to
view that you could see him smile, silently patted its big black
breech and blandly grinned."
As the masts of the fleet came up the river, a young man stepped out
upon the roof of the City Hall, and swiftly hoisted the flag of the
State of Louisiana. When the ships came up, two officers were sent
ashore to demand the surrender of the city; and shoulder to shoulder
the two old sailors marched through a howling, cursing mob to the City
Hall. The mayor refused to surrender the city, saying that Farragut
already had captured it. The officers went back to their ships, and
the flag still floated. Two days later the officers, with a hundred
sailors and marines, returned and demanded that the flag be hauled
down. No one in the city would tear it down, and the Federals went up
to the roof to lower it themselves. The street and surrounding
housetops were crowded with a hostile people, all armed. No one could
tell that the fall of the flag would not be followed by a volley from
the undisciplined populace. The marines in front of the building stood
grouped about two loaded howitzers that bore upon the darkly muttering
crowd. Violence was in the air. As the two officers rose to go to the
roof, the mayor, a young Creole, left the room and descended the
stairs. Quietly he stepped out into the street, and without a word
stood before one of the howitzers, his arms folded, eying the gunner,
who stood with lanyard in hand, ready to fire at the word of command.
The flag fell slowly from the staff. Not a sound arose from the crowd.
All were watching the mayor, who stood coldly looking on death. The
Federal officers came down carrying the flag. A few sharp commands,
and the marines tramped away down the street, with the howitzers
clanking behind them. The crowd cheered for Mayor Monroe and
dispersed, and New Orleans became again a city of the United States.
CHAPTER XIV.
ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI. -- FORTS JACKSON AND ST. PHILIP SURRENDER.
-- THE BATTLE AT ST. CHARLES. -- THE RAM "ARKANSAS." --
BOMBARDMENT AND CAPTURE OF PORT HUDSON.
While New Orleans was thus excited over the capture of the city, the
soldiers in the forts below were debating as to the course they should
adopt. They had not surrendered; and although the great bastions were
pounded out of shape by the heavy guns of the fleet, yet they were
still formidable defences, giving perfect security to the men in the
bomb-proofs. But their case was hopeless: for Farragut was at New
Orleans, and could cut off their supplies; while Porter, with his
mortar-boats, was below them, putting escape out of the question.
Every now and then a big shell would drop on the parade, and its
flying pieces would remind the garrison that their enemies were
getting impatient. After waiting a day or two, Porter sent a
lieutenant with a flag of truce to the fort, calling upon the
Confederate commander to surrender the two forts and the shattered
remnant of the Confederate navy. He complimented the Confederates upon
their gallant defence, but warned them, that, should they refuse to
surrender, he would recommence his bombardment with new vigor. The
Confederates refused to surrender until they heard from New Orleans;
and the next day the monotonous thunder of the heavy mortars began
again, and again the heavy shells began falling thick and fast upon
the forts. Wearily the gray-coated soldiers settled down to continue
what they felt must be a useless defence. The officers did their best
to inspirit the men; but all knew that a surrender must come before
long, and at last the men mutinously left their guns, and said they
would fight no longer. They had borne without flinching a terrible
bombardment, and now they felt that to fight longer would be a foolish
sacrifice of life. Many left the forts, and plunged into the woods to
escape the terrible shells. Gen. Duncan saw that all was lost, and on
the night of the 28th of April sent an officer to the fleet announcing
the surrender. On the following day Porter proceeded up-stream with
his squadron, and anchored off the fort. A boat, manned by six trim
sailors in dress uniforms, put off, and soon returned, bringing the
commander of the defeated forces and two or three officers. They were
received on the "Harriet Lane," and Commodore Porter had made great
preparations for the meeting. The crews of all the vessels were
dressed in snow-white mustering-suits, and the officers in
brass-buttoned blue coats and white trousers. The decks were scrubbed,
and all traces of the fight cleared away. As the Confederate officers
came up to the fleet, one of them, a former lieutenant in the Union
navy, said, "Look at the old navy. I feel proud when I see them. There
are no half-breeds there: they are the simon-pure." As the
Confederates came over the side, Porter stood, with his officers,
ready to receive them. The greatest politeness was observed on either
side; and Porter writes, "Their bearing was that of men who had gained
a victory, instead of undergoing defeat." While the papers of
capitulation were being signed, a message came from the deck that the
huge Confederate iron-clad "Louisiana" was drifting down upon them, a
mass of flames, and there was great danger that she would blow up in
the midst of the Union fleet. "This is sharp practice, gentlemen,"
said Porter, "and some of us will perhaps be blown up; but I know what
to do. If you can stand what is coming, we can; but I will make it
lively for those people if anybody in the flotilla is injured."
"I told Lieut. Wainwright to hail the steamer next him," writes Capt.
Porter, "and tell her captain to pass the word for the others to veer
out all their riding-chains to the bitter end, and stand by to sheer
clear of the burning iron-clad as she drifted down. I then sat down to
the table, and said, 'Gentlemen, we will proceed to sign the
capitulation.' I handed the paper to Gen. Duncan, and looked at the
Confederate officers to see how they would behave under the
circumstances of a great iron-clad dropping down on them, all in
flames, with twenty thousand pounds of powder in her magazines. For
myself, I hoped the fire would not reach the powder until the ship had
drifted some distance below us. My greatest fear was that she would
run foul of some of the steamers.
"While I was thinking this over, the officers were sitting as coolly
as if at tea-table among their friends.
"Just then there was a stir on deck, a kind of swaying of the vessel
to and fro, a rumbling in the air, then an explosion which seemed to
shake the heavens. The 'Harriet Lane' was thrown two streaks over, and
every thing in the cabin was jostled from side to side; but not a man
left his seat, or showed any intention of doing so.
"I was glad that I had signed before the explosion took place, as I
would not have liked to have my autograph look shaky."
The destruction of the "Louisiana" was a bit of trickery on the part
of the Confederate naval officers, which Farragut punished by sending
them North as close prisoners, while the army officers were granted
freedom under parole. So ended the Confederate control over the mouth
of the Mississippi; and Porter, after waiting long enough to see a
blue-coat garrison in Forts St. Philip and Jackson, started up the
river to rejoin his chief in New Orleans.
But, on reaching the city, he found that the energetic admiral had
already started out to clear the river of the Confederate batteries
that lined it on either side as far up as Vicksburg. This was a
service of no little danger, and one bringing but little satisfaction;
for no sooner had the gunboats left one point, from which by hard
firing they had driven the Confederates, than the latter would return
in force, build up again their shattered earthworks, mount new guns,
and be once more ready for battle. But more powerful than these little
one or two gun-batteries were the Confederate works at Port Hudson,
the destruction of which was absolutely necessary for further Union
successes on the great river. Between Port Hudson and Vicksburg, the
river was completely under the control of the Confederates; and it was
a powerful gunboat that could hope to navigate that stretch of water
unharmed. Farragut determined to attack Port Hudson, and set the 14th
of March, 1863, as the date for the action.
Port Hudson batteries were perched on a high bluff that overlooks one
of those abrupt curves around which the current of the Mississippi
River sweeps with such terrific force. The heavy guns bore down upon a
point at which the ships would almost inevitably be swept out of their
course by the swift stream, and where the river was filled with
treacherous shifting shoals. Naval officers all agreed that to pass
those batteries was a more difficult task than had been the passage of
the forts below New Orleans; yet Farragut, eager to get at the
stronghold of the foe in Vicksburg, determined to make the attempt.
The mortar-vessels were stationed below to drive the enemy from his
guns with well-directed bombs; while the fleet, led by the stanch old
"Hartford," should make a bold dash up the river.
Night fell upon the scene; and the ships weighed anchor, and started
upon their perilous voyage. To the side of each man-of-war was bound a
gunboat to tow the great vessel out of danger in case of disaster.
Silently the long string of vessels swept upward towards the
batteries; but, as the "Hartford" came into range, the watchful
Confederates gave the alarm, and the nearest battery at once opened
fire. Then from Porter's mortar-schooners far down the river came an
answering roar; and, as ship after ship came up into range, she opened
with shot and shell upon the works. On the dark river-banks great
alarm fires were kindled, lighting up the water with a lurid glare,
and making the ships clearly visible to the Confederate gunners. But
soon the smoke of battle settled down over all; and gunners, whether
on shore or on the ships, fired at random. The "Hartford" led the way,
and picked out the course; and the other vessels followed carefully in
her wake. In the mizzen-top of the flagship was stationed a cool old
river pilot, who had guided many a huge river steamer, freighted with
precious lives, through the mazy channels of the Mississippi. There,
high above the battle-smoke, heedless of the grape-shot and bits of
flying shell whistling around him, he stood at his post, calmly giving
his orders through a speaking-tube that led to the wheel-room. Now and
then the admiral on the deck below would call up, asking about the
pilot's safety, and was always answered with a cheery hail. But though
the "Hartford" went by the batteries, heedless of the storm and lead
poured upon her, she found herself alone, when, after firing a last
gun, she swept into the clear air and tranquil water out of range of
the enemy's guns. She waited some time for the other ships to come up,
while all on board watched eagerly, save those who lay moaning on the
surgeon's tables in the cock-pit below. The night wore on, and all on
board were consumed with anxiety for the fate of the vessels that had
dropped behind. The lookout in the tops reported that he could see far
down the river a bright red light that could only be caused by a
burning vessel. It proved to be the steamer "Mississippi," that had
grounded under the guns of the batteries, and had been fired and
abandoned by her crew. But of this the admiral knew nothing; and when,
after an hour or two he heard the dull, heavy boom of an explosion, he
went sadly to his cabin, fearing that the lives of many valiant
sailors had been sacrificed. There was no way to communicate with the
fleet below, and it was not until days afterward that the admiral
learned how his fleet had been beaten back by the heavy guns of the
Confederates and the swift current of the river. The "Richmond"
grounded at a point within easy range of the batteries, and her crew
fought desperately while shell after shell went crashing through her
hull. They saw the other vessels of the fleet go drifting by helpless
in the mighty current of the river, but they faltered not in their
brave defence until they saw their ship a wreck and in flames. Then
leaving their dead comrades with the "Richmond" for a funeral pyre,
they escaped to the shore, and threaded their way through miles of
morasses and dense thickets until they came to the mortar-boats, where
they found refuge and rest. And so that first attack on Port Hudson
ended with Farragut above the batteries, and his ships, below. It had
only served to prove, that, safe in their heavy earthworks, the
Confederates could defy any attack by ships alone. This fact was clear
to the Union authorities, and they began massing troops about the
hostile works. Two months later, Porter's mortar-boats, the frigates
and gunboats, and the batteries and muskets of an immense body of
troops, opened on the works. While the heavy fire was being kept up,
the Union armies were closing in, digging trenches, and surrounding
the Confederates on all sides. The firing came to be short-range work
and very deadly. "To show you what cool and desperate fighting it
was," says a Confederate, "I had at least twenty-five shots at
Federals not two hundred feet away. In one instance I fired upon a
lieutenant who was urging on his men. I wounded him in his left arm.
He fired at me with his revolver, and sent a bullet through my cap.
Next time I hit him in the hip, and he fell;, but, while I was
reloading, he raised himself up, and shot the man next to me through
the head. The officer was so close to me that I could tell the color
of his eyes, and detect a small scar on his face."
This sort of work continued for weeks, with occasional charges by the
Federals. Farragut's fleet kept up its bombardment, but did little
damage. One of the Confederate soldiers said, some time after the war,
"One can get used to almost any thing. After the first two or three
days, we took the bombardment as part of the regular routine. Pieces
of shell were continually flying about, and it was the regular thing
for a bomb to drop down among us at intervals. I have seen them come
down within fifty feet of a sentinel, and throw up a wagon-load of
dirt, without his even turning his head. We had but few men hurt by
the artillery-fire. I do not believe we averaged one man hit for every
thousand pounds of metal thrown. I remember that one day I counted
thirteen shells and bombs hurled at the spot where I was posted before
we had a man hurt, and he was only slightly wounded." Naturally, such
work as this could not drive the Confederates from their trenches; and
the fleet soon concluded to leave the army to capture Port Hudson,
while the ships steamed on up the river toward Vicksburg. The army
kept up the siege for weeks, until the Confederates, hearing of the
fall of Vicksburg, surrendered.
While the Union fleet was thus fighting its way up to Vicksburg, the
Confederates were working away at a great ram that they were building
in a secluded spot far up the Yazoo River. Work on the ram was being
pushed with the greatest energy; and the Union sailors, in their ships
on the Mississippi, listened daily to the stories of escaping negroes,
and wondered when the big ship would come down and give them a tussle.
The crew of the ram were no less impatient for the fray; for they were
tired of being hidden away up a little river, plagued by mosquitoes
and gnats. The dark shades of the heavy forests were seldom brightened
by a ray of sun. The stream was full of alligators, that lay lazily on
the banks all day, and bellowed dismally all night. The chirp of a
bird was rarely heard. In its place were the discordant screams of
cranes, or hisses of the moccasins or cotton-mouths. When at last the
carpenters' clatter had ceased, and the ram, ready for action, lay in
the little river, the crew were mustered on the deck, and told that
the new boat had been built to clear the Union vessels from the
Mississippi, and that purpose should be carried out. No white flag was
to flutter from that flagstaff; and she should sink with all her crew
before she would surrender. Any sailor who feared to enter upon such a
service might leave the ship at once. No one left; and the "Arkansas"
started down the river to look for an enemy. She was not long in
finding one. At the mouth of the Yazoo floated three Union
gunboats,--the "Carondelet," the "Tyler," and the "Queen of the West."
As the ram came down into sight, her men heard the roll of the drums
on the decks of the hostile vessels. The gunboats quickly opened fire,
which was as promptly returned by the "Arkansas;" and, as she came
swiftly rushing down the stream, the three vessels fled before her.
The men on the ram were all new recruits, and made awkward work of the
firing; but as she came to close quarters she sent her shells crashing
into the Union ships, while the shot she received in return rattled
harmlessly off her steel-mailed sides. The "Carondelet" was the first
vessel to come to grief. She had hardly fired four shots when a heavy
solid shot crashed through her side, and rattled against the most
delicate part of the engine. She was helpless at once; and hardly had
this damage been reported when a second shot came with a burst into an
open port, killed five men, and broke its way out the other side. In
ten minutes her decks were slippery with blood, and thick strewn with
wounded and dead men. The current of the river drifted her upon a
sandbar; and she lay there helplessly, now and again answering the
galling fire of her foe with a feeble shot. Pouring in a last
broadside, the "Arkansas" steamed past her, and, disregarding the
other two vessels, headed for Vicksburg, where she knew her aid was
sorely needed.
The news of her coming preceded her; and, when she came within sight
of the steeples of the city, at least ten thousand people were
watching her progress, and wondering whether she could pass by the
Federal batteries and through the Federal fleet. The Federal fleet was
all ready for her, and prepared such a gauntlet for the "Arkansas" as
had never been run by any vessel. As she came within range, every
Union gun that could be brought to bear opened; and shot and shell
rained from shore-batteries and marine guns upon the tough hide of the
ram. As she sped by the vessels, they gave her their broadsides, and
the effect was tremendous. As the huge iron balls struck the ship, she
keeled far over; and to her crew inside, it seemed as though she was
being lifted bodily out of the water. Not a shot broke through the
armor; but the terrible concussions knocked men down, and made blood
come pouring from their nostrils. For new men, her crew fought well
and bravely; though two fell flat on their faces, afraid to lift their
heads, lest they be taken off by a shell.
[Illustration: The "Arkansas" under Fire.]
When it was seen that the "Arkansas" was likely to pass through the
lines unscathed, the Federals tried to blockade her way; but she
deviated not an inch from her path. The vessel that stood before her
had to move aside, or take the chances of a blow from her terrible
iron beak. She came straight to the centre of the fleet before opening
fire; and when her portholes were opened, and the big guns peered out,
they found plenty of targets. Her first volley knocked a gunboat to
pieces; and in another minute she had crashed into the side of a Union
ram, sending that unlucky craft ashore for repairs. But the storm of
solid shot was too much for her; and she was forced to seek shelter
under the bluffs, where the heavy guns of the Confederate
shore-batteries compelled the Union ships to keep a respectful
distance. Here she lay for several weeks, beating off every assault of
the Federals, and making a valuable addition to the defences of the
city. But, in an evil hour, the Confederate authorities decided to
send her down the river to recapture Baton Rouge. When her journey was
but half completed, she was pounced upon by several United States
vessels, with the "Essex" in the lead. Her engines breaking down, she
drifted upon a sand-bank; and the attacking ships pounded her at their
leisure, until, with the fire bursting from her portholes, she was
abandoned by her crew, and blazed away until her career was ended by
the explosion of her magazine. She had given the Federal fleet some
hard tussles, but beyond that had done nothing of the work the
Confederates so fondly hoped of her.
While the flotilla of gunboats, led by the "Essex," were planning for
the destruction of the "Arkansas," a small naval expedition,
consisting of three gunboats, was threading its way up the narrow
channel of the White River in search of some Confederate batteries
said to be on the banks. Within twelve hours from the start, the
sailors learned from a ragged negro, whom they captured on the shore,
that the Confederates had powerful batteries only five miles farther
up, and that the river channel was obstructed by sunken vessels.
Anchor was cast for the night; and in the morning the troops
accompanying the expedition were landed, and plunged into the forest
with the plan of taking the fort by a rush from the rear. The gunboats
began a slow advance up the river, throwing shells into the woods
ahead of them. The blue-jackets kept carefully under cover; for,
though they could see no foe, yet the constant singing of
rifle-bullets about the ships proved that somewhere in those bushes
were concealed sharp-shooters whose powder was good and whose aim was
true. The "Mound City" was leading the gunboats, and had advanced
within six hundred yards of the enemy's guns, when a single shot,
fired from a masked battery high up the bluffs, rang out sharply amid
the rattle of small-arms. It was the first cannon-shot fired by the
Confederates in that engagement, and it was probably the most horribly
deadly shot fired in the war. It entered the port-casemate forward,
killed three men standing at the gun, and plunged into the boiler. In
an instant the scalding steam came hissing out, filling the ship from
stem to stern, and horribly scalding every one upon the gun-deck. The
deck was covered with writhing forms, and screams of agony rang out
above the harsh noise of the escaping steam and the roar of battle
outside. Many were blown overboard; more crawled out of the portholes,
and dropped into the river to escape the scalding steam, and
struggling in the water were killed by rifle-balls or the fragments of
the shells that were bursting all around. The helpless gunboat turned
round and round in the stream, and drifted away, carrying a crew of
dead and dying men. So great was the horror of the scene, that one of
the officers, himself unhurt, who saw his comrades thus tortured all
about him, went insane.
While this scene was going on before the fort, the Union troops had
come up behind it, and with a cheer rushed over the breastworks, and
drove the garrison to surrender. The Confederate banner fell from the
staff, and the stars and stripes went up in its place. But how great
was the price that the Federals had to pay for that victory! That
night, with muffled drums, and arms reversed, the blue-jackets carried
to the grave fifty-nine of their comrades, who twelve hours before
were active men. With three volleys of musketry the simple rites over
the sailors' graves were ended; and those who were left alive, only
said with a sigh, "It is the fortune of war."
CHAPTER XV.
ON TO VICKSBURG. -- BOMBARDMENT OF THE CONFEDERATE STRONGHOLD. --
PORTER'S CRUISE IN THE FORESTS.
While the smaller gunboats were thus making dashes into the enemy's
country, destroying batteries and unfinished war-vessels, and burning
salt-works, the heavier vessels of the fleet were being massed about
Vicksburg, and were preparing to aid the army in reducing that city to
subjection. We need not describe the way in which Gen. Grant had been
rushing his troops toward that point, how for weeks his engineers had
been planning trenches and approaches to the Confederate works, until
toward the middle part of June, 1863, the people in that city found
themselves hemmed in by a huge girdle of trenches, batteries, and
military camps. Gen. Pemberton, with his army of Confederate soldiers,
had been forced backward from point after point, until at last he
found himself in Vicksburg, with the prospect of a long siege before
him, and no way to get past the inexorable lines of blue that
surrounded him. It is true that he had a wonderfully strong position,
and many were the tongues that said Vicksburg could never be taken.
But though stronger than Sebastopol, stronger than the Rock of
Gibraltar, Vicksburg was destined to fall before that mighty army that
encircled it, and was slowly starving the city into subjection.
But the Union soldiers, looking from their camps toward the
Confederate citadel, saw that they had before them some severe work
before that flag that flaunted over the city should be replaced by the
stars and stripes. The city stands on a towering bluff high above the
eastern bank of the Mississippi River. On that frowning height the
busy hands of Pemberton's soldiers had reared mighty batteries, that
commanded the Mississippi for miles up and down stream. To think of
carrying the works by assault, was madness. Sherman had tried, and was
beaten back with terrible loss. Then Grant, with nearly twenty
thousand men, and with the co-operation of the river-flotilla, came
upon the stage, and determined to take the city though it kept him at
bay for months.
All imaginable plans were tried to get the army below the city; for
Grant's command had come down from Cairo, and were at the northern and
most impregnable side of the enemy's works. As at Island No. 10, a
sharp bend in the river made a long peninsula right under the
Confederates' guns. Grant, remembering the plan adopted before, set to
work to cut a canal through the peninsula, so that the gunboats and
transports might get below the forts. Twelve hundred negroes worked
with a will upon this ditch for weeks. Then came a terrible
rain-storm: the swollen, muddy torrent of the river broke in upon the
unfinished canal, and that work was wasted. Then a new plan was
suggested, this time by Commodore David Porter, who all through the
war showed the greatest delight in taking his big gunboats into
ditches where nothing larger than a frog or musk-rat could hope to
navigate, and then bringing them out again safe after all.
The country back of Vicksburg was fairly honeycombed with shallow
lakes, creeks, and those sluggish black streams called in the South
bayous. Porter had been looking over this aqueous territory for some
time, and had sent one of his lieutenants off in a steam-launch to see
what could be done in that network of ditches. When the explorer
returned, he brought cheering news. He was confident that, with tugs
and gangs of axemen clearing the way, the gunboats could be taken up
the Yazoo River, then into a wide bayou, and finally through a maze of
small waterways, until they should reach the Mississippi again below
the Vicksburg batteries. Then the transports could follow, the troops
could march down the other side of the river, be met by the
transports, ferried across, and take Vicksburg on the flank. It was a
beautiful plan; and Porter went to Grant with it, full of enthusiasm.
Gen. Grant considered the matter for some time, but finally gave his
consent, and detailed a number of blue-coated soldiers to aid Porter's
blue-jackets in the work. They first cut the levees, and let the
mighty tide of the Mississippi sweep in, filling the bayous to the
brim, and flooding all the country round about. Then the gunboats
plunged in, and were borne along on the rushing tide until they
brought up, all standing, against the trunks of trees, or had their
smoke-stacks caught by overhanging branches.
Then came the tug of war; and the axemen were called to the front, and
set to work. They chopped their way along for some distance; the rapid
current from the river banging the vessels against the trees and
stumps, until all the standing rigging and light cabins were swept
away. After a good deal of work they saw before them a broad river,
wide enough for two vessels to steam abreast. Soon they drifted out
into it, and the commanding officer sang out cheerily, "On to
Vicksburg, boys, and no more trees to saw." And so they steamed on,
thinking how neatly they should take the "gray-coats" in the rear,
when suddenly a bend in the river showed them, just ahead, a fort in
the middle of the river, with the channel blocked on either side. That
was a surprise. The works were new, and the water was still muddy
about the sunken steamers. Clearly the wily Pemberton had heard of
this inland naval expedition, and was determined to check it
effectually.
The gunboats backed water, and crowded in confused groups. The gunners
in the fort took hurried aim, and pulled the lanyards of their cannon,
forgetting that those pieces were not loaded. It was hard to tell
which party was the more excited at the unexpected meeting. This gave
the blue-jackets a chance to collect their thoughts, and in a minute
or two the gunboats opened fire; but they were soon convinced that the
fort was too much for them, and they turned and crawled back through
the woods to the fleet above Vicksburg. Pemberton scored one point for
successful strategy.
But, even while this expedition was working its way back to the
station of the vessels on the Mississippi, Porter was starting another
through a second chain of water-courses that he had discovered. This
time he was so sure of getting into the rear of Vicksburg, that he
took four of his big iron-clads, and two light mortar-boats built
especially for work in the woods. Gen. Sherman, with a strong
army-force, marched overland, keeping up with the gunboats. Admiral
Porter, in his Memoirs, gives a graphic picture of this expedition.
Back of Vicksburg the country is low, and intersected in every
direction by narrow, tortuous bayous, lined on either side by gloomy
morasses or majestic forests. Into these little-known water-courses
Porter boldly led his ponderous iron-clads; while Sherman, with a
detachment of troops, advanced along the shore, keeping as near the
flotilla as possible. Seldom have naval vessels been detailed upon so
strange a service. For days they steamed on under the spreading
branches of trees, that often spanned the bayous in a mighty arch
overhead, shutting out all sunlight. For a time this navigation of
placid, shady waterways was pleasant enough; but, as they penetrated
farther into the interior, the jackies sighed for the blue waters of
the ocean, or even for the turbid current of the Mississippi. The
heavy foliage that gave so grateful a shade also harbored all sorts of
animals; and coons, rats, mice, and wildcats, that had been driven to
the trees for shelter during the prevailing high water, peered down
upon the sailors, and often dropped sociably down upon the decks of
the vessels gliding beneath.
At some portions of the voyage the flotilla seemed to be steaming
through the primeval forest. The bayou was but a few feet wider than
the gunboats, and its banks were lined by gnarled and knotted old
veterans of the forest,--live oaks, sycamore, and tupelo gum trees
that had stood in majestic dignity on the banks of the dark and sullen
stream for centuries. Sometimes majestic vistas would open; broad
avenues carpeted with velvet turf, and walled in by the massive tree
trunks, extending from the banks of the stream far back into the
country. Again, the stately forests would be replaced by fields of
waving corn or rice, with the tops of a row of negro cabins or the
columned front of a planter's house showing in the distance. Then, as
the flotilla steamed on, this fair prospect would disappear, and be
replaced by noisome cypress brakes, hung thick with the funereal
Spanish moss, and harboring beneath the black water many a noxious
reptile.
So through the ever-changing scenery the gunboats moved along, making
but little progress, but meeting with no serious obstacle, until one
morning there appeared on a bit of high ground, some yards in advance
of the leading gunboat, an army officer mounted on an old white horse.
It was Gen. Sherman, and his troops were in camp near by. He greeted
the naval forces cheerily, and, rallying Porter on the amphibious
service into which his gunboats had been forced, warned him that he
would soon have not a smokestack standing, nor a boat left at the
davits.
"So much the better," said the undaunted admiral. "All I want is an
engine, guns, and a hull to float them. As to boats, they are very
much in the way."
A short time only was spent in consultation, and then Sherman with his
forces left the bayou and plunged into the interior, first warning
Porter that he would have a hard time getting any farther, even if the
enemy did not come down and surround him. But Porter was not the man
to abandon the advance, so long as there was water enough to float his
gunboats. Besides, he had gained some ideas regarding navigation in
the forests, that enabled him to move his fleet forward with more
celerity than at first. When a tree blocked the course of the
iron-clads, they no longer stopped to clear it away by work with the
axes; but, clapping on all steam, the powerful rams dashed at the
woody obstruction, and with repeated blows soon knocked it out of the
way.
Soon after leaving Sherman, Porter saw that the difficulties he had
thus far met and conquered were as nothing to those which he had yet
to encounter. The comparatively broad stream up which he had been
steaming came to an end, and his further progress must be through
Cypress Bayou, a canal just forty-six feet wide..[??-second period a
smudge?] The broadest gunboat was forty-two feet wide, and to enter
that narrow stream made retreat out of the question: there could be no
turning round to fly. The levees rose on either side of the narrow
canal high above the decks of the iron-clads, so that the cannon could
not be sufficiently elevated to do effective work in case of an
attack. But there were nine feet of water in the great ditch; and that
was enough for Porter, who pressed boldly on.
The country into which the combined military and naval expedition was
advancing was in truth the granary of Vicksburg. On all other sides of
the beleaguered city, the Federal lines were drawn so closely that the
wagons laden with farm produce could not hope to pass. But here, back
of the city, and far from the camps of Grant's legions, the work of
raising produce for the gallant people of Vicksburg was prosecuted
with the most untiring vigor. The sight, then, of the advancing
gunboats aroused the greatest consternation. From the deck of his
vessel Porter could see the people striving to save their property
from the advancing enemy. Great droves of cattle were being driven
away far into the interior; negroes were skurrying in all directions,
driving poultry and pigs to the safe concealment of the forest; wagons
groaning under the weight of farm and garden produce could be seen
disappearing in the distance. What the inhabitants could not save they
destroyed, in order that it might not profit the invaders. A short
distance from the mouth of the bayou "were six thousand bales of
cotton piled up on opposite sides of the stream, ready to be taken
aboard a steamer when the war should end. As the gunboats advanced
slowly, making little headway against the two-knot current of the
bayou, Porter saw two men, carrying lighted pine-knots, dash up to the
cotton, and begin to set it afire. The admiral looked on in disgust.
"'What fools these mortals be!'" said he to an officer standing at his
side; "but I suppose those men have a right to burn their own cotton,
especially as we have no way of preventing them."
"I can send a howitzer shell at them, sir," said the officer, "and
drive them away."
But to this Porter demurred, saying that he had no desire to kill the
men, and that they might do as they liked with their own. Accordingly
the officers quietly watched the vandals, until, after twenty minutes'
work, the cotton was blazing, and a dense mass of smoke cut off all
vision ahead, and rose high in the air. Then Porter began to suspect
that he had made a mistake. The difficulties of navigation in the
bayou were great enough, without having smoke and fire added to them.
Yet to wait for the cotton to burn up might cause a serious delay. On
the high bank of the bayou stood a negro begging the sailors to take
him aboard.
"Hallo, there, Sambo!" sung out Porter, "how long will it take this
cotton to burn up?"
"Two day, massa," responded the contraband; "p'raps tree."
That ended the debate. "Ring the bell to go ahead fast," said the
admiral to the pilot; and away went the flotilla at full speed,
plunging into the smoke and fire. It was a hot experience for the
sailors. The heavy iron-clads made but slow progress, and were
scorched and blistered with the heat. The ports were all shut down,
and the crews called to fire-quarters, buckets in hand. To remain on
deck, was impossible. Porter and his captain made the trial, but had
hardly entered the smoke when the scorching heat drove both into the
shelter of an iron-covered deck-house. The pilot standing at the wheel
seized a flag, and, wrapping it about his face and body, was able to
stay at his post. As the flames grew hotter, the sailors below opened
the main hatch, and, thrusting up a hose, deluged the deck with floods
of water. So, without a man in sight, the huge iron ship moved along
between the walls of flame. Suddenly came an enormous crash. The
gunboat shivered, and for a moment stood still; then, gathering
headway, moved on again, though with much ominous grating beneath her
keel. Soon after she passed out of the smoke and heat, and all hands
rushed on deck for a whiff of the fresh, cool air. Their first thought
was of the cause of the collision; and, looking eagerly astern, they
saw a heavy bridge, about fifty feet of which had been demolished by
the tremendous power of the ram. This gave Porter a hint as to the
force he had at his command; and thereafter bridges were rammed as a
matter of course whenever they impeded the progress of the iron-clads.
The astonishment of the people along the shore may well be imagined.
The great and formidable obstacles that stood in the path of the
squadron were, as a rule, overcome by the exertion of the great powers
of the steam-driven, iron-plated vessels; but at last there came a
check, that, though it seemed at first insignificant, terminated the
sylvan manoeuvres of the iron-clad navy. After running the gantlet of
the burning cotton, butting down trees, and smashing through bridges,
the column entered a stretch of smooth water that seemed to promise
fair and unobstructed sailing. But toward the end of this expanse of
water a kind of green scum was evident, extending right across the
bayou, from bank to bank. Porter's keen eye caught sight of this; and,
turning to one of the negroes who had taken refuge on the gunboat, he
asked what it was. "It's nuffin' but willows, sah," he replied. "When
de water's out of de bayou, den we cuts de willows to make baskets
with. You kin go troo dat like a eel."
Satisfied with this explanation, the admiral ordered the tug which
led the column to go ahead. Under a full head of steam, the tug
dashed into the willows, but began to slow up, until, after going
about thirty yards, she stopped, unable to go forward or back.
Undaunted by this unexpected resistance, Porter cried out that the
"Cincinnati" would push the tug along; and the heavy gunboat,
withdrawing a short distance to gain headway, hurled herself forward,
and dashed into the willows with a force that would have carried her
through any bridge ever built. But the old fable of the lion bound
down by the silken net was here re-enacted. The gunboat did not even
reach the tug. The slender willow-shoots trailed along the sides,
caught in the rough ends of the iron overhang, and held the vessel
immovable. Abandoning the attempt to advance, the gunboat strove to
back out, but to no avail. Then hooks were rigged over the side to
break away the withes, and men slung in ropes alongside vigorously
wielded sharp cutlasses and saws; but still the willows retained their
grip. Matters were now getting serious; and, to add to Porter's
perplexity, reports came in that Confederate troops were coming down
upon him. Then he began to lose confidence in his iron-clads, and wish
right heartily for Sherman and his soldiers, of whose whereabouts he
could gain no knowledge. The enemy did not leave him long in doubts as
to their intention, and soon began a vigorous fire of shells from the
woods. Porter stopped that promptly by manning his mortars and firing
a few shells at a range measured by the sound of the enemy's cannon.
The immediate silence of the hostile batteries proved the accuracy of
the admiral's calculations, and gave him time to devise means for
escaping from his perilous position.
How to do it without aid from Sherman's troops, was a difficult
question; and in his perplexity he exclaimed aloud, "Why don't Sherman
come on? I'd give ten dollars to get a telegram to him." The admiral
was standing at the moment on the bank of the bayou, near a group of
negroes; and an athletic-looking contraband stepped forward, and,
announcing himself as a "telegram-wire," offered to carry the note "to
kingdum kum for half a dollar." After sharply cross-questioning the
volunteer, Porter wrote on a scrap of paper, "DEAR SHERMAN,--Hurry up,
for Heaven's sake. I never knew how helpless an iron-clad could be,
steaming around through the woods without an army to back her."
"Where will you carry this?" asked Porter, handing the despatch to the
negro.
[Illustration: Porter's Flotilla on the Red River.]
"In my calabash kiver, massa," responded the messenger with a grin;
and, stowing the paper away in his woolly hair, he darted away.
The telegram being thus despatched, Porter again turned his attention
to the willows; and, a fortunate rise in the water having occurred, he
was able to extricate his vessels and begin his retreat down the
bayou. He was somewhat perplexed by the silence of the Confederates,
from whom he had heard nothing since his mortars silenced their masked
batteries. The conundrum was solved by the sound of wood-chopping in
the forests ahead, and the discovery shortly after of two heavy logs
lying athwart the bayou, and stopping the progress of the vessels. An
hour's hard work with axe and saw removed this obstruction; and the
tug, slipping through first, shot ahead to prevent any more
tree-felling. The loud reports of her howitzer soon carried back to
the fleet the news that she had come up with the enemy, and was
disputing with them the right to the bayou.
The difficulties of the retreat were no less great than those of the
advance, with the intermittent attacks of the enemy added. The work of
removing heavy, soggy logs, half submerged beneath the black waters of
the bayou, clearing away standing trees, and breaking up and removing
Red-river rafts, wearied the sailors, and left them little spirit to
meet the enemy's attacks. The faint sounds of wood-chopping in the
distance told too well of the additional impediments yet in store for
the adventurous mariners. Scouts sent out reported that the enemy had
impressed great gangs of negroes, and were forcing them to do the work
of felling the trees that were to hem in Uncle Sam's gunboats, for the
benefit of the C.S.A. But the plans of the Confederates to this end
were easily defeated. Porter had not only many willing arms at his
command, but the powerful aid of steam. When the gunboats came to a
tree lying across the bayou, a landing party went ashore and fastened
large pulleys to a tree on the bank. Then a rope was passed through
the block; and one end having been made fast to the fallen tree, the
other was taken aboard a gunboat. The word was then given, "Back the
iron-clad hard;" and the fallen monarch of the forest was soon dragged
across the bayou and out of the way So expert did the jackies become
in this work, that they were soon able to clear away the trees faster
than the enemy could fell them. The tug then went ahead, and for a
time put an end to further tree-chopping, and captured several of the
negro axemen.
From the captured contrabands Porter learned that the attempt to cut
off his retreat was directed by the military authorities at Vicksburg.
This was a startling revelation. He had thought that the Confederates
were in entire ignorance of his movement; and now it turned out that
the wily Pemberton had kept a sharp lookout on the marauding gunboats,
and was shrewdly planning for their capture. While Porter was
pondering over this new discovery, a party of scouts came in, bringing
in four captured Confederates, two of whom were commissioned officers.
The commanding officer, a mere boy, was somewhat chagrined at being
captured, but felt confident that his friends would recapture him
shortly. Porter politely asked him to take a glass of wine and some
supper.
"I don't care if I do," responded the youngster; "and I have the less
compunction in taking it, as it belongs to us anyhow. In two hours you
will be surrounded and bagged. You can't escape. How in the Devil's
name you ever got here, is a wonder to me."
Porter smiled pleasantly, and, helping his guests lavishly, proceeded
to question them on the numbers and position of the Confederate
troops. He learned that a large body of troops had been sent out to
surround the iron-clads, and were even then closing in upon the
intruders. The danger was imminent, but Porter showed no trepidation.
"How far off are your troops?" he asked.
"About four miles. They will bag you at daylight," was the confident
response.
"Well, gentlemen," said the admiral, "Gen. Sherman is now surrounding
your forces with ten thousand men, and will capture them all before
daylight." And so saying the admiral went on deck, leaving his
captives lost in wonder; for the information carried to the Vicksburg
authorities had made no mention of troops.
Though Porter had put on so bold a front before his captives, he
really felt much anxiety for the fate of his iron-clads. He could hear
nothing from Sherman, who might be thirty miles away for all he knew.
Accordingly he retraced his course for a few miles, to throw the enemy
off the scent, and the next day began again his descent of the bayou,
bumping along stern foremost amid snags and standing trees. The enemy
soon gave evidence that he was on the watch, and opened fire with his
artillery from the rear. At this one gunboat steamed back and silenced
the artillery for a time, after which she rejoined her fellows.
Sharp-shooters in the thickets along the levee then began to grow
troublesome; and the whistle of the rifle-balls, with an occasional
_ping_ as one struck the smokestack, warned the sailors that the deck
of a gunboat in a narrow canal was no safe place in time of war. The
high levees on either side of the bayou made it impossible to use the
guns properly: so Porter turned them into mortars, and, by using very
small charges of powder, pitched shells up into the air, dropping them
into the bushes back of the levee. This somewhat checked the fire of
the sharp-shooters, but the decks were still dangerous places to
frequent. A rifle-ball struck Lieut. Wells in the head as he stood
talking to Porter; and he fell, apparently dead, upon the deck. The
admiral beckoned an officer to come and bear away the body; but the
newcomer was also hit, and fell across the body of the first. Porter
concluded that the locality was getting rather hot, and gladly stepped
behind a heavy plate of sheet-iron, which an old quarter-master
brought him with the remark, "There, sir, stand behind that. They've
fired at you long enough."
From behind his shield, Porter looked out anxiously at the forces by
which he was beleaguered. He could see clearly that the Confederates
were increasing in numbers; and, when at last he saw a long gray
column come sweeping out of the woods, his heart failed him, and for a
moment he thought that the fate of his flotilla was sealed. But at
that very moment deliverance was at hand. The Confederates were seen
to fall into confusion, waver, and give way before a thin blue
line,--the advance guard of Sherman's troops. The negro
"telegram-wire" had proved faithful, and Sherman had come on to the
rescue.
That ended the difficulties of the flotilla. The enemy, once brought
face to face with Sherman's men, departed abruptly; and soon the
doughty general, mounted on an old gray horse, came riding down to the
edge of the bayou, for a word with Porter. Seeing the admiral on the
deck of his gunboat, he shouted out, "Hallo! Porter, what did you get
into such an ugly scrape for? So much for you navy fellows getting out
of your element. Better send for the soldiers always. My boys will put
you through. Here's your little nigger. He came through all right, and
I started at once. Your gunboats are enough to scare the crows: they
look as if you had got a terrible hammering."
Somewhat crestfallen, Porter remarked, that he "never knew what
helpless things iron-clads could become when they got in a ditch, and
had no soldiers about." As Sherman declined to come aboard, Porter
went below to look after his two prisoners.
"Well, gentlemen," said he, as he entered the cabin, "you were right.
We are surrounded by troops."
The two Confederates were greatly exultant, but assured Porter that
they would see that he was kindly treated when taken into Vicksburg.
"To Vicksburg!" said he with mock amazement. "Who said any thing of
Vicksburg?"
"Why, of course you'll be taken there as a prisoner, now that our men
have surrounded you."
"Oh, you are mistaken there!" responded Porter. "The troops by whom I
am surrounded are Sherman's boys, six thousand strong." And at this
news the chagrined captives subsided, and began to consider the
prospects of a trip to the North, and incarceration in one of the
military prisons.
Sherman's army soon came up in force, and went into camp along the
road that skirted the levee. As night fell, the scene took on a wild
and picturesque air. In the narrow bayou lay the gunboats, strung out
in single file along a line of half a mile. They bore many signs of
the hard knocks they had received in their excursion through the
woods. Boats, davits, steam-pipes, and every thing breakable that rose
above the level of the deck, had been swept away by the overhanging
boughs, or dashed to pieces by falling trees. The smoke-stacks and
wheel-houses were riddled by the bullets of the Confederate
sharp-shooters. The decks were covered with rubbish of all kinds, and
here and there was a fissure that told of the bursting of some
Confederate shell. The paint was blistered, and peeling off, from the
effects of the cotton-fire through which the fleet had dashed.
On the shore blazed the camp-fires of Sherman's troops; and about the
huge flaming piles the weary soldiers threw themselves down to catch a
moment's rest, while the company cooks prepared the evening meal. Many
of the idle soldiers strolled down to the edge of the bayou, and,
forming a line along the levee, began chaffing the sailors on the
ludicrous failure of their attempt to perform naval evolutions in a
swamp.
"What's gone with your boats, Jack?" sung out one tall fellow in
cavalry garb. "Been in dry-dock for repairs?"
"How do you like playing mud-turtle?" said another. "Better stick to
salt water after this."
"Don't go bush-whacking again, unless you have the soldiers with you.
You look as if your mothers didn't know you were out." And at this a
yell of approval went up all along the line, while the badgered
sailors growled and tried to make sharp retorts to the stinging
ridicule of the landsmen.
So ended this memorable gunboat expedition. It is unparalleled in the
history of warfare. The feats performed by the unwieldy iron-clads in
the narrow bayous gained for them, from Lincoln, the title of
"web-footed" gunboats. They had traversed shallow and tortuous
channels; they had cleared their path of trees, snags, and even
bridges; they had run the gantlet of flaming cotton-bales and
Confederate bullets. After meeting and overcoming so many obstacles,
their final stoppage by a thicket of pitiful willow-shoots irritated
the blue-jackets and their commander extremely. Porter had penetrated
so far into the Yazoo country, that he could see how great damage
could be inflicted upon the Confederates, if the expedition could but
be carried out successfully. He had definite information to the
effect, that, at Yazoo City, the Confederates had a thriving shipyard,
at which they were pressing forward the construction of steam-rams
with which to sweep the Mississippi. To reach that point and destroy
the vessels, would have been a service thoroughly in accord with his
tastes; but the willows held him back. However, he was able to console
himself with the thought that the rams were not likely to do the
Confederates any immediate service; for a truthful contraband, brought
in by the Union scouts, informed the admiral that "dey has no bottom
in, no sides to 'em, an' no top on to 'em, sah; an' dere injines is in
Richmon'."
When the dangers encountered by the gunboats during this expedition
are considered, the damage sustained seems surprisingly small. Had the
Confederates acted promptly and vigorously, the intruders would never
have escaped from the swamps into which their temerity had led them. A
few torpedoes, judiciously planted in the muddy bed of the bayou,
would have effectively prevented any farther advance. More than once
the Confederates posted their artillery within effective range, and
opened a rapid and well-directed fire upon the gunboats, but erred in
using explosive shells instead of solid shot. "They were evidently
greenhorns," wrote Porter, exulting over his narrow escape, "and
failed to understand that we were iron-clad, and did not mind
_bursting_-shell. If they had used solid shot, they might have hurt
us." The infantry forces of the enemy were ample to have given the
marauding gunboats a vast deal of trouble, if the Confederate officers
had been enterprising, and had seized upon the opportunities afforded
them. Night after night the flotilla lay tied up in the centre of a
narrow bayou, with the levees towering so high above the gunboats'
ports, that the cannon were useless. At such a time, a determined
assault by a body of hostile infantry could hardly have been resisted.
Such an attack was the danger which Porter most feared throughout the
expedition, and he nightly made preparations for a desperate
resistance. The widest part of the bayou was chosen for the anchorage,
in order that a strip of water at least four feet wide might separate
the gunboats from the shore. The sides of the iron-clads were then
greased, and the guns loaded with grape, and elevated as much as
possible. Landing parties with howitzers were sent ashore, and posted
so as to enfilade any attacking force; scouts were sent out in all
directions; and the crews of the gunboats slept at their quarters all
night, ready for action at the first alarm. But it is doubtful whether
even these elaborate precautions could have saved the flotilla, had
the Confederates brought one regiment to the assault. However, the
enemy let the golden moment pass; and, after suffering the agonies of
suspense for several days, Porter at last saw his gunboats safely
anchored by the side of Sherman's protecting regiments.
Sherman and Porter held a consultation that night, and concluded that
it was useless to try to get around Vicksburg by hauling the gunboats
through the woods; and the following morning the flotilla started back
to the Union headquarters on the Mississippi.
Gen. Grant was beginning to get impatient. Weeks had passed away, and
there were still no gunboats or transports below the Vicksburg
batteries to aid him in carrying out his military plans. He held a
long consultation with Porter, the outcome of which was that the
admiral decided to run his gunboats and transports right through the
fire of the Confederate guns.
[Illustration: Dummy Gunboat passing Forts on the Mississippi.]
But, before sending a vessel through, Porter thought that he would
test the accuracy of the Confederate gunners by giving them a dummy
to fire at. He took a large flat boat, and built it up with logs and
lumber until it looked like a powerful ram. Two huge wheel-houses
towered amidships, on each of which was painted, in great, staring
letters, "Deluded Rebels, cave in." From the open ports, the muzzles
of what appeared to be heavy rifles protruded; though the guns that
seemed so formidable were really only logs of wood. Two high
smoke-stacks, built of empty pork-barrels, rose from the centre of
this strange craft; and at the bottom of each stack was an iron pot,
in which was a heap of tar and oakum that sent forth volumes of black
smoke when lighted. One dark night the fires in this sham monster were
lighted, and she was towed down to the Confederate batteries, and set
drifting down the river. She was quickly discovered, and the batteries
on the bluffs opened on her with a roar. There was nothing about the
dummy to be hurt, however; and it was impossible to sink her. So she
sailed majestically through the plunging hail of solid shot, and past
the terrible batteries that were thought to be a match for any thing
afloat. The Confederates in the trenches looked at each other in
astonishment and dismay. Word was sent to Gen. Pemberton that a
powerful Yankee iron-clad had passed the batteries unhurt, and was
speeding down the stream. The General's first thought was of a
gunboat, the "Indianola," lately captured from the Federals, and now
being converted into an iron-clad ram. She must be saved from
recapture, even if it should be necessary to destroy her. Word was
hurriedly sent down the river that a formidable ram was bearing down
upon the "Indianola;" and, if the latter vessel was not in condition
to do battle, she should be blown up. Accordingly, while the dummy
ram, caught in an eddy of the river, was whirling helplessly around
just below Vicksburg, the Confederates put the torch to their new
war-vessel, and she was soon a heap of ashes. Porter's little joke was
a good one for the United States.
But all the time that the Union navy was making these futile attempts
to get the better of the wily general who held the fort at Vicksburg,
a constant bombardment of the city was kept up. From gunboats and land
batteries, shells were hurled into the streets of the town, tearing
down houses, killing men, women, and children, and driving the
inhabitants to their cellars, or to deep caves dug in the hills. The
fire from the Union gunboats was most destructive, for they could drop
down to an advantageous point, shell the city until tired, then steam
back into safety again.
Cave-digging in the city became a regular business; and caves brought
from twenty to fifty dollars, according to their size. They generally
consisted of two or three rooms, and people lived in them quite
cheerfully during the time that the iron hail was falling in the
city's streets.
A Northern woman, who was pent up in Vicksburg during the siege, tells
graphically the story of the bombardment:--
"For many nights we have had but little sleep, because the Federal
gunboats have been running past the batteries. The uproar when this is
happening is phenomenal. The first night the thundering artillery
burst the bars of sleep, we thought it an attack by the river. To get
into garments, and rush up-stairs, was the work of a moment. From the
upper gallery we have a fine view of the river; and soon a red glare
lit up the scene, and showed a small boat, towing two large barges,
gliding by. The Confederates had set fire to a house near the bank.
Another night, eight boats ran by, throwing a shower of shot; and two
burning houses made the river clear as day. One of the batteries has a
remarkable gun they call 'whistling Dick,' because of the screeching,
whistling sound it gives; and certainly it does sound like a tortured
thing. Added to all this is the indescribable Confederate yell, which
is a soul-harrowing sound to hear. I have gained respect for the
mechanism of the human ear, which stands it all without injury. The
streets are seldom quiet at night: even the dragging about of cannon
makes a din in these echoing gullies. The other night we were on the
gallery till the last of the eight boats got by. Next day a friend
said to H----, 'It was a wonder you didn't have your heads taken off
last night. I passed, and saw them stretched over the gallery; and
grape-shot were whizzing up the street just on a level with you.' The
double roar of batteries and boats was so great, we never noticed the
whizzing. Yesterday the 'Cincinnati' attempted to go by in daylight,
but was disabled and sunk. It was a pitiful sight: we could not see
the _finale_, though we saw her rendered helpless.
[Illustration: Passing the Vicksburg Batteries.]
"Since that day the regular siege has continued. We are utterly cut
off from the world, surrounded by a circle of fire. Would it be wise,
like the scorpion, to sting ourselves to death? The fiery shower of
shells goes on day and night. H----'s occupation, of course, is gone,
his office closed. Every man has to carry a pass in his pocket. People
do nothing but eat what they can get, sleep when they can, and dodge
the shells. There are three intervals when the shelling
stops,--either for the guns to cool, or for the gunners' meals, I
suppose,--about eight in the morning, the same in the evening, and at
noon. In that time we have to both prepare and eat ours. Clothing
cannot be washed, or any thing else done. On the 19th and 22d, when
the assaults were made on the lines, I watched the soldiers cooking on
the green opposite. The half-spent balls, coming all the way from
those lines, were flying so thick that they were obliged to dodge at
every turn. At all the caves I could see from my high perch, people
were sitting, eating their poor suppers at the cave doors, ready to
plunge in again. As the first shell again flew, they dived; and not a
human being was visible. The sharp crackle of the musketry-firing was
a strong contrast to the scream of the bombs. I think all the dogs and
cats must be killed or starved: we don't see any more pitiful animals
prowling around.... The cellar is so damp and musty, the bedding has
to be carried out and laid in the sun every day, with the forecast
that it may be demolished at any moment. The confinement is dreadful.
To sit and listen as if waiting for death in a horrible manner, would
drive me insane. I don't know what others do, but we read when I am
not scribbling in this. H---- borrowed somewhere a lot of Dickens's
novels, and we re-read them by the dim light in the cellar. When the
shelling abates, H---- goes to walk about a little, or get the 'Daily
Citizen,' which is still issuing a tiny sheet at twenty-five and fifty
cents a copy. It is, of course, but a rehash of speculations which
amuses a half-hour. To-day he heard, while out, that expert swimmers
are crossing the Mississippi on logs at night, to bring and carry news
to Johnston. I am so tired of corn-bread, which I never liked, that I
eat it with tears in my eyes. We are lucky to get a quart of milk
daily from a family near, who have a cow they hourly expect to be
killed. I send five dollars to market each morning, and it buys a
small piece of mule-meat. Rice and milk is my main food: I can't eat
the mule-meat. We boil the rice, and eat it cold, with milk, for
supper. Martha runs the gauntlet to buy the meat and milk once a day
in a perfect terror. The shells seem to have many different names. I
hear the soldiers say, 'That's a mortar-shell. There goes a Parrott.
That's a rifle-shell.' They are all equally terrible. A pair of
chimney-swallows have built in the parlor chimney. The concussion of
the house often sends down parts of their nest, which they patiently
pick up and re-ascend with."
Grant's impassable lines about the beleaguered city soon made
starvation more to be feared than even the terrible shells from the
cannon of the gunboats. Necessaries of all sorts became woefully
scarce in Vicksburg. Five dollars could purchase only a little bit of
mule's flesh, hardly enough for a meal for two people. Flour was not
to be had at any price. Bread was made of coarse corn-meal or grated
peas. The ammunition of the soldiers in the trenches soon began to
give out, and the utmost economy was exercised. Many of the soldiers
were armed with muskets that required caps, and it was not many days
before caps were at a great premium. They were generally smuggled into
the city through the Union lines by fleet-footed carriers, who ran a
long gauntlet of Union pickets. Many were shot down in the attempt,
but more succeeded. One man who brought in sixteen thousand caps, was
nine days travelling thirteen miles, and was fired on more than twenty
times.
But, though Grant could have starved the city into subjection by
simply sitting and waiting, he grew tired of this, and determined to
force matters to an issue. The first thing to be done was to get the
gunboats and transports past the batteries. The transports were put
into shape to stand a cannonade by having their weaker parts covered
with cotton-bales; and on one dark night in June, the flotilla started
down the river, with the iron-clad gunboats in advance. Admiral Porter
led in the "Benton." At eleven o'clock the fleet got under way; and,
as the "Benton" came abreast of the first batteries, the alarm was
given in the Confederate camp, and a fierce cannonade began. Huge
fires were lighted on the shores to light up the river, and make the
gunboats visible to the Confederate cannoneers. The warships swung
grandly around the bend, responding with rapid broadsides to the fire
of the forts. All the vessels were hit once or oftener. The heavy
smoke that accompanies such fierce cannonading hung over the river,
cutting off all view of the surroundings from the sailors. The eddying
currents of the river caught the steamers, swinging them now this way,
now that, until the perplexed pilots knew not which way their vessels
were headed. The blue-jackets at the guns worked away cheerily,
knowing that enemies were on every side of them, and that, no matter
which way their missiles sped, an enemy was to be found. More than one
vessel turned completely around; and once, when the rising breeze
cleared away the smoke, the pilot of the "Benton" found that he was
taking his ship up-stream again, and was in imminent danger of
running down a friendly gunboat. But they all passed on without
receiving any severe injuries, and at five o'clock in the morning lay
anchored far below the city, ready to begin the attack upon the
Confederate batteries at Grand Gulf, which were called "the key to
Vicksburg."
CHAPTER XVI.
VICKSBURG SURRENDERS, AND THE MISSISSIPPI IS OPENED. -- NAVAL
EVENTS ALONG THE GULF COAST.
The first grand step toward the capture of Vicksburg was made when the
river-flotilla followed Porter down the Mississippi, and past the guns
of the Confederate batteries. Grant, with his army, had followed along
the western bank of the great river; and we now find him ready to
cross the river, and move upon the Vicksburg batteries from the south.
But, before this could be done, the Confederate works at Grand Gulf
must be silenced; and it again happened that the navy was to be the
chief factor in the contest. For this new battle all the blue-jackets
were ready and anxious. Admiral Porter says that "when daylight broke,
after the passage of the fleet, I was besieged by the commanding
officers of the gunboats, who came to tell me of their mishaps; but,
when I intimated that I intended to leave at Carthage any vessel that
could not stand the hammering they would be subject to at Grand Gulf,
they suddenly discovered that no damage had been done to their
vessels, which, if any thing, were better prepared for action than
when they started out!"
The Confederate works at Grand Gulf mounted eighteen guns; and, as
they stood upon high bluffs overlooking the river, they were most
formidable. It was decided by the Federals that the navy alone should
undertake the task of reducing the fortifications,--a decision that
was of benefit to the Confederates, for their strongest position was
along the river-front. Four of the guns held a raking position up and
down the long stretch of muddy water that swirled and eddied by with a
current of seven miles an hour.
While the fort had the advantage of position, the gunboats were much
stronger in their armament; and the contest was looked forward to as
one bound to be desperate. The position of every gun in the batteries,
and the size of the garrison, were well known to every commander of a
Union vessel; and they made the most careful preparations for the
assault.
The Confederates knew that the result of that day's battle would
decide the ownership of Vicksburg, and they were prepared to offer the
most desperate resistance. The orders at every battery were to use
shell alone; and the men were instructed to fire carefully, and only
after taking deadly aim. In a high tree just outside the fort a
lookout was stationed; and at early daylight, on the morning of the
29th of April, 1863, he signalled that the fleet of gunboats was
bearing down upon the works.
Men who were in the fort that morning saw a strange panorama. The
stillness was most profound on the shore and on the river. The boats
moved slowly and grandly down, not a man in sight, and with no sign of
life. The trees up the river were black with Federal spectators; and
the chirp of birds was all about the men who stood waiting beside the
huge cannon.
Porter went at his work with a vim which made the forest tremble and
the river bubble. For the first few minutes the Confederates were
appalled by the fierceness of the fire, which stands on record as the
fastest in the war; but, when the forts did get down to their work,
they went in with a roar that almost deafened the Federal soldiers
three miles away. Great shells burst over the gunboats, or, falling
into the water close by their sides, threw up columns of water that
deluged the decks. The vessels found the greatest difficulty in
getting good positions for the swift-eddying current. One moment they
were bow on, the next headed down stream, or up, or whirling around in
circles. Of course this greatly hurt the aim of the gunners, but it
likewise made the vessels poor targets for the Confederates.
Three gunboats--the "Benton," "Tuscumbia," and "Lafayette"-- engaged
the upper battery; and nowhere in naval history is found the record of
faster firing than was done by these ships. Their huge shells tore
away at the walls of earth, throwing up tons of dirt with each
explosion, but not seeming to affect the strength of the fort at all.
Not a shot entered an embrasure, though many came near it. One of the
Confederate artillerists said after the fight,--
"There was not one single minute in all that five hours in which I did
not expect death. We all worked away as if in a nightmare, and we all
felt that any moment might be our last. The 'Benton' fired repeatedly
at my gun; and as many as twenty of her shells struck the opening,
tearing holes in the parapet ten feet back. Twenty times we were
almost buried out of sight under the clouds of dirt, and the loose
earth was knee deep around our gun when the fight closed. Not one of
us was hit hard enough to draw blood, and yet we all felt ten years
older for that five hours' work. I sighted the gun, and saw fourteen
of my shot hit the 'Benton,' and six plunge into another."
The gunboats fought in a way that showed desperate determination. The
first gun from the "Lafayette" was answered by a shell which crashed
through her side and exploded in a wardroom, knocking every thing into
chips. Three times the carpenter came up and reported to the captain
that the ship was sinking; and each time the reply was, "Very well,
sir: keep right on firing until the guns are under water." When the
ship came out of the fight, she counted up fifty scars.
The long-range firing that was carried on at first did not satisfy the
"Mound City." One particular gunner on the Confederate works seemed to
cherish a spite against her; and every time the flame leaped from the
muzzle of his gun, a solid shot banged against the gunboat's side.
This was not to be tamely borne; and the "Mound City" rushed up so
close to the bank that her bow stirred up the mud, and from that
position opened fast and furiously upon the forts with grape and
canister. A hail of rifle-bullets fell upon her decks; but she stuck
to her post, and succeeded in driving the enemy to the bomb-proofs.
But, with all their pluck and rapid firing, the gunners of the fleet
were making no impression on the works. Gen. Grant, who was watching
the engagement from a tug in mid-stream, saw this, and determined to
rush his soldiers past the fort in transports, while the navy engaged
the enemy's guns. This was done quickly, and towards night the ships
returned to their post up the river, leaving the Confederates in
possession of the batteries. But the great point had been gained; and
Grant's army was moving on Vicksburg, with nothing to interfere with
its besieging operations.
Then began that series of attacks and repulses, of building trenches,
paralleling, and advancing steadily, until the lines of the Federals
and the Confederates were so close together that the men used to shout
jokes and taunts over the breastworks. All the Confederates were known
as "Johnnies," and all Union soldiers as "Yanks." Often "Johnny" would
call out, "Well, Yank, when are you coming into town?" Sometimes the
answer was, "We propose to celebrate the Fourth of July there." The
"Johnnies" did not believe this; but it was true, nevertheless, for on
July 4 Grant's victorious army marched into Vicksburg. A day or two
later the Confederate works at Port Hudson and Grand Gulf were
surrendered to the Federals, and the Mississippi was again open for
commerce throughout its length.
When the fall of Vicksburg had thus left the river clear, Admiral
Porter was ordered to take his fleet up the Red River, and clear away
any Confederate works that he might find on the banks of that stream.
Gen. A. J. Smith, with a strong body of troops, accompanied him; while
Gen. Banks was to march his troops overland from Texas, and join the
expedition at Shreveport. For several days the gunboats pressed
forward up the crooked stream, meeting with no opposition, save from
the sharp-shooters who lined the banks on either side, and kept up a
constant fire of small-arms.
Shreveport was reached in safety; and, after a short halt, the
flotilla started again on their voyage up the river. They had
proceeded but a short distance when a courier came galloping down the
river's bank, waving a despatch, which he handed to Admiral Porter.
[Illustration: Manning the Yards.]
"The despatch read, 'Gen. Banks badly defeated; return,' Here was a
dilemma to be placed in,--a victorious army between us and our own
forces; a long, winding, shallow river wherein the vessels were
continually grounding; a long string of empty transports, with many
doubtful captains, who were constantly making excuses to lie by or to
land (in other words, who were trying to put their vessels into the
power of the Confederates); and a thousand points on the river where
we could be attacked with great advantage by the enemy; and the
banks lined with sharp-shooters, by whom every incautious soldier who
showed himself was shot."
But, though the admiral clearly saw all the dangers he was exposed to,
and which he recounts in the foregoing paragraph, he did not propose
to return, but pressed forward. He soon reached the scene of battle,
and with the big guns of his boats covered the retreat of the troops;
then, having done all there was to be done, started down the river.
But now came the great trouble of the whole expedition. Those Southern
rivers are accustomed in summer to fall rapidly until they become mere
dry ditches, with a narrow rivulet, hardly deep enough to float a
row-boat, flowing down the centre. This was the summer season, and the
Red River was falling fast. The banks swarmed with gray-coated
soldiery, anxious to be on hand to capture the ships. At Grand Écore
the "Eastport" became unmanageable, and was blown up. The fleet
continued on its way quietly, until a serious obstacle was met.
Admiral Porter writes:--
"One of the 'Cricket's' guns was mounted on the upper deck forward, to
command the banks; and a crew of six men were kept stationed at it,
ready to fire at any thing hostile.
"We went along at a moderate pace, to keep within supporting distance
of each other. I was sitting on the upper deck, reading, with one eye
on the book and the other on the bushes, when I saw men's heads, and
sang out to the commanding officer, Gorringe, 'Give those fellows in
the bushes a two-second shell.' A moment after the shell burst in the
midst of the people on the bank.
"'Give them another dose,' I said, when, to my astonishment, there
came on board a shower of projectiles that fairly made the little
'Cricket' stagger. Nineteen shells burst on board our vessel at the
first volley. It was the gun-battery of which our prisoner had told
us. We were going along at this time about six knots an hour; and,
before we could fire another gun, we were right under the battery and
turning the point, presenting the 'Cricket's' stern to the enemy. They
gave us nine shells when we were not more than twenty yards distant
from the bank, all of which burst inside of us; and, as the vessel's
stern was presented, they poured in ten more shots, which raked us
fore and aft.
"Then came the roar of three thousand muskets, which seemed to strike
every spot in the vessel. Fortunately her sides were musket-proof.
"The 'Cricket' stopped. I had been expecting it. How, thought I, could
all these shells go through a vessel without disabling the machinery?
The Rebels gave three cheers, and let us drift on: they were
determined to have the whole of us. They opened their guns on the two
pump-boats, and sunk them at the first discharge. The poor negroes
that could swim tried to reach the shore; but the musketeers picked
off those that were in the water or clinging to the wrecks. It was a
dreadful spectacle to witness, with no power to prevent it; but it
turned out to be the salvation of the 'Cricket.' All this took place
in less than five minutes.
"The moment the 'Cricket' received the first discharge of artillery, I
went on deck to the pilot-house, saluted by a volley of musketry as I
passed along; and, as I opened the pilot-house door, I saw that the
pilot, Mr. Drening, had his head cut open by a piece of shell, and the
blood was streaming down his cheeks. He still held on to the wheel. 'I
am all right, sir,' he said: 'I won't give up the wheel.'
"Gorringe was perfectly cool, and was ringing the engine-room bell to
go ahead. In front of the wheel-house, the bodies of the men who
manned the howitzer were piled up. A shell had struck the gun, and,
exploding, had killed all the crew,--a glorious death for them."
Porter now found himself in a bad fix. His guns could not be elevated
enough to bear on the batteries that stood on the crest of the high
bluffs. There was nothing to do but to run by at the best possible
rate of speed. Suddenly the engine stopped, and the vessel floated
helplessly down the stream. Porter rushed below to discover the
trouble. In the engine-room stood the engineer leaning heavily against
the throttle. Porter shouted at him, but received no reply; then,
putting his hand on the man's shoulder, found him dead. The admiral
threw the body aside, pulled open the throttle, and the "Cricket"
glided along past the batteries to a safe refuge down-stream. The
other ships came down safely, although more or less cut up; and the
flotilla continued its retreat down the stream. For a day or two all
went smoothly as a holiday excursion; then came a sudden reverse,
that, for a time, seemed to make certain the loss of the entire fleet.
At Alexandria the Red-river bottom is full of great rocks that make it
impassable except at the highest water. When Porter's gunboats
arrived, they found themselves caught in a trap from which there
seemed to be no hope of escape. The army was encamped along the banks
of the river, and the soldiers began again their jokes upon Porter's
habit of taking gunboats for an overland journey. The army generals
began to get impatient, and advised Porter to blow up his ships, as
the troops must soon march on and leave him. Porter was sick in bed,
but this suggestion aroused him. "Burn my gunboats!" he cried,
springing to his feet. "Never! I'll wait here for high water if I have
to wait two years." And, indeed, it began to look as though he would
be forced to wait nearly that long.
[Illustration: Bailey's Dam on the Red River.]
In this time of suspense, there arose a man equal to the emergency. A
certain Lieut-Col. Bailey, who had been a Wisconsin lumberman, came to
Porter, and suggested that a dam should be built to raise the water
fourteen feet above the falls. Porter jumped at the suggestion, and
eight thousand men were set to work.
"It will take too much time to enter into the details of this truly
wonderful work," writes Admiral Porter. "Suffice it to say that the
dam had nearly reached completion in eight days' working-time, and the
water had risen sufficiently on the upper falls to allow the 'Fort
Hindman,' 'Osage,' and 'Neosho' to get down and be ready to pass the
dam. In another day it would have been high enough to enable all the
other vessels to pass the upper falls. Unfortunately, on the morning
of the 9th instant the pressure of water became so great that it swept
away two of the stone barges which swung in below the dam on one side.
Seeing this unfortunate accident, I jumped on a horse, and rode up to
where the upper vessels were anchored, and ordered the 'Lexington' to
pass the upper falls if possible, and immediately attempt to go
through the dam. I thought I might be able to save the four vessels
below, not knowing whether the persons employed on the work would ever
have the heart to renew their enterprise.
"The 'Lexington' succeeded in getting over the upper falls just in
time, the water rapidly falling as she was passing over. She then
steered directly for the opening in the dam, through which the water
was rushing so furiously that it seemed as if nothing but destruction
awaited her. Thousands of beating hearts looked on, anxious for the
result. The silence was so great as the 'Lexington' approached the
dam, that a pin might almost be heard to fall. She entered the gap
with a full head of steam on, pitched down the roaring torrent, made
two or three spasmodic rolls, hung for a moment on the rocks below,
was then swept into deep water by the current, and rounded to safely
into the bank. Thirty thousand voices rose in one deafening cheer, and
universal joy seemed to pervade the face of every man present."
After the dam was repaired, the rest of the fleet passed down safely.
With the escape of the Red-river flotilla, the career of Admiral
Porter on the rivers ended. Indeed, there was but little work for the
river navy remaining. The Mississippi, Tennessee, and Cumberland
Rivers were opened; and the Confederate works on the smaller streams
were unimportant, and could be left to fall with the fall of the
Confederacy, which was near at hand. There was work for fighting
sea-captains along the Atlantic coast, and thither Admiral Porter was
ordered. He will re-appear at the bombardment of Fort Fisher.
An event which caused the greatest excitement in naval circles at this
time, and which for courage and dash has probably never been equalled
in the history of the world, was the run of the Confederate privateer
"Florida" past the United States fleet blockading the harbor of
Mobile. The "Florida" was originally a merchant-ship, known as the
"Oreto;" and under that name she sailed from Liverpool, carrying a
peaceful cargo, and manned by sailors who had no idea that any thing
beyond a peaceable voyage was planned. She was commanded by an English
sea-captain; and, although the United States consul at Liverpool
looked on her with some suspicion, yet he could find no pretext upon
which to oppose her departure.
Hardly had the ship passed the mouth of the Mersey, when her course
was shaped for Nassau, the haven of privateers and blockade-runners.
At Nassau several officers of the Confederate navy were living; and
from the anxiety with which they scanned the horizon day after day,
through their telescopes, it would seem that they were watching for
some friendly craft. The "Oreto" arrived safely at Nassau; and a young
gentleman who had come with her made all possible haste ashore, and
delivered to the watchful gentlemen in the town certain letters, which
made them first look with the greatest satisfaction at the newly
arrived ship, and then begin again their outlook for vessels. The
letters were from Capt. Bulloch, the agent in London of the
Confederacy; and by them he notified his brother naval officers that
he delivered to them the "Oreto," an admirably built ship, suited for
an armed cruiser. "It has been impossible to get the regular battery
intended for her on board," wrote Capt. Bulloch; "but I have sent out
four seven-inch rifled guns, with all necessary equipments, in the
steamship 'Bahama,' bound for Nassau."
So here were the naval officers and their ship, but the guns were yet
to come; and, when they did come, some shrewd planning would be
necessary to get the guns mounted without alarming the British
authorities. By the time the "Bahama" arrived, the plans were all
made. As the steamer came up to the dock, a small schooner slipped
alongside, and eight or ten heavy cases were transferred from the
larger vessel's hold to the deck of the coaster. Then the little
vessel sailed over to Green Cay, a desert island about sixty miles
from Nassau, where she was soon joined by the "Oreto." There the work
of changing the peaceful merchantman "Oreto" into the war-cruiser
"Florida" began.
The work of transferring the armament, and mounting the guns, was very
laborious. The hot sun of August at the equator poured down upon
them. Exposure and general discomforts told heavily upon them; and
before long the yellow-fever, that most terrible scourge of the West
Indies, broke out among the men. There was no surgeon on board, and
the care of the sick fell upon Capt. Maffitt. Two United States
men-of-war were hunting through the West Indies for the vessel they
knew was fitting out somewhere amid the coral reefs and sandy,
desolate keys. But Maffitt kept up his courage, and before long found
himself at sea, with a good stanch ship and crew, that, though
short-handed, was made up of the very best material. But he had hardly
cut loose from civilization, and started out upon his cruise, when he
discovered, that, in the worry and haste of his departure, he had put
to sea without rammers or sponges for his guns. He was in a desperate
plight. Had the smallest United States man-of-war met the "Florida,"
the Confederate could not have offered the slightest resistance. She
could not have even fired a gun. Capt. Maffitt ran his vessel into
Havana in the hopes of being allowed to refit there; but the fortunes
of the Confederacy were waning fast, and all nations feared to give it
aid or comfort. Seeing no hope, Maffitt determined to dare all things,
and make a dash for Mobile through the very centre of the
blockading-fleet.
When the "Florida" put out from the harbor of Havana, only four or
five men were able to be on deck. The rest, with her commander, were
below, deathly sick with yellow-fever. Under the command of a young
lieutenant, her course was laid for Mobile; and in a few hours the
smoke of the blockading-vessels could be seen rising on the clear air.
An English ensign was hoisted, and the fleet ship dashed towards the
men-o'-war that lay in wait. A blank cartridge was fired to warn her
away, but she paid no heed. Then came a solid shot that ploughed up
the water before her bow. As this evoked no response, the whole fleet
opened fire with shot and shell. "Had they depressed their guns but a
little," said Maffitt afterwards, "the career of the 'Florida' would
have ended then and there." But, as it was, she sped on, with no signs
of damage save the flying ends of cut cordage. She could not respond
to the fire, for but three men remained on her deck. So, silently and
grimly, she rushed through the fleet, and finally passed the last
frigate. Quarter of an hour later she anchored under the guns of Fort
Morgan. She had received eight shots in her hull, and her masts were
chipped by dozens of fragments of shell. After refitting, the
"Florida" waited nearly a month for a chance to get out again. Finally
the moment arrived; and she made her escape, though chased for four
hours by the blockaders. Once on the open sea, she began the regular
career of Confederate cruisers, burned unarmed ships, and avoided
war-vessels, until she was run down in a neutral port by a Union
man-of-war, whose commander acted in utter defiance of all the rules
of modern warfare. In the career of the "Florida," after her escape
from Mobile, there was nothing of moment; and her capture, treacherous
as it was, brought more discredit upon the Northern arms than did her
depredations work injury to the Northern merchant-marine.
CHAPTER XVII.
OPERATIONS ABOUT CHARLESTON. -- THE BOMBARDMENT, THE SIEGE, AND
THE CAPTURE.
We have now reached the period at which the rapid decline in the
prospects of the Confederacy had become apparent, not only to its
enemies, but to its friends. Throughout the South the stars and bars
floated over only three strongholds of any importance,--Charleston,
Mobile, and Wilmington. One after the other these were destined to
fall, and their final overthrow was to be the work of the navy. It was
no easy task in any one of the three instances to dislodge the
Confederates from their positions; for though beaten in the Middle
States, driven from the Mississippi, and with their very citadel at
Vicksburg in the hands of the Federals, they still fought with a
courage and desperation that for a long time baffled the attacks of
the Unionists.
From the very opening of the war, Charleston Harbor had been the scene
of naval hostilities. The Confederates, looking upon their mouldering
wharves, and vessels tugging idly at their chains, then looking out to
sea past Fort Sumter, could see the ships of the blockading-squadron
maintaining the watchful guard that was slowly reducing the city to
penury. What wonder that the blood of the good people of Charleston
boiled, and that they built, and hurled against their hated enemy,
weird naval monsters, shapeless torpedo-boats running beneath the
water, or huge rams that might even batter in the heavy walls of Fort
Sumter!
One attack so made was successful to a certain extent. It was in
February, 1864, that an inventive genius in the beleaguered city
brought out a steam torpedo-boat. The craft was about twenty-five feet
long, shaped like a cigar, built of boiler iron, and propelled by a
screw. She had no smokestack, and her deck barely rose above the
surface of the water. Running out from her bow was a stout spar
fifteen feet long, bearing at its end a huge torpedo charged with two
hundred pounds of powder. Just before nine o'clock one night, the
lookout on the deck of the frigate "Housatonic" saw this strange
object approaching the ship. It was a bright night, with no sea on. As
yet torpedoes were hardly known, so the lookout took it for a large
fish, and simply watched with interest its playful movements. Not
until it came so close that no guns could be brought to bear, did any
suspicion of danger enter the lookout's mind. Then there was the roll
of the alarm-drums; while the men rushed to the side, and poured a
fierce fire from small-arms on the mysterious object. The "Housatonic"
started her engines, and tried to escape; but, before any headway
could be gained, the launch dashed alongside, and a slight jar was
felt. Then, with a tremendous roar, a huge column of water was thrown
high in air, washing away men and boats from the deck of the warship.
A hole large enough to drive a horse through was rent in the hull of
the ship. Great beams were broken in twain, the heaviest guns were
dismounted, and men were hurled fifty feet into the air. In five
minutes the ship had gone to the bottom, and boats from other vessels
were picking up the crew. The launch escaped in the excitement.
The Union sailor-boys did not let the Confederates outdo them in dash
and pluck. One of the cleverest bits of work in the whole war was done
by four boat-crews from two men-of-war on the Charleston station. Word
had been brought to the blockaders, that, far up a little deep and
narrow creek, a large steamship was loading with cotton, expecting to
reach the ocean through the labyrinth of inlets that fairly honeycomb
the South Carolina coast. Should she once get into that network of
waterways, it would require a whole fleet to catch her; for there was
no telling at what point she might emerge.
It was at once determined to try to capture her as she lay at her
deck, and four boats' crews of picked men were sent out on the
expedition. It was early evening when they set out; and all through
the dark night they pulled away, threading the mazes of the tidal
inlets. Just as the eastern horizon was beginning to grow gray with
the coming dawn, they came in sight of their destination. Sure enough,
there on the bank of the river was a little Southern village, changed
into a prosperous town by the blockade-runners that had evidently been
making this place a harbor for some time.
All was dark and silent as the grave. Confident in their fancied
security, the blockade-runners had all turned in, leaving no one on
guard. The steamer was loaded, and ready to sail in the morning; and
the thin wreaths of smoke rising from her smokestack told that the
fires were up. Stealthily the sailors pulled alongside, and clambered
on deck. Without a word they stole below, put the crew under guards,
and rushed into the engine-room, where they found the engineer dozing
on his stool. He was ordered to get under way at once; and, though he
looked rather dazed, he obeyed the order. And in fifteen minutes the
steamer was speeding down-stream, leaving the old town still asleep.
One man alone of all the townspeople had seen the capture. A negro,
hiding behind a pile of lumber on the dock, had watched the whole
affair, and, as if struck dumb with astonishment, failed to give the
alarm until the steamer was out of sight down the winding stream. The
blue-jackets took their capture safely out of the enemy's lines, and
the next day it was sent to New York as a prize.
While the navy was keeping the port of Charleston sealed, and every
now and then beating back the improvised gunboats that the
Confederates sent out in the forlorn hope of breaking through the
blockade, the armies of the North were closing in upon the doomed
city. All the North cried aloud for the capture of Charleston. It was
the city which fired the first gun of the war. Let it be reduced! On
every available point of land a Union battery was built. Far out in
the swamps back of the city, where it was thought no living thing save
reptiles could exist, the soldiers of the North had raised a battery,
mounting one two-hundred-pound gun. When a young lieutenant was
ordered to build this battery, he looked the ground over, and reported
the thing impossible. "There is no such word as impossible," sternly
answered the colonel. "Set to work, and call for whatever you need to
secure success."
[Illustration: Cutting out a Blockade-Runner.]
The next day the lieutenant, who was a bit of a wag, made a
requisition on the quarter-master for one hundred men eighteen feet
high, to wade through mud sixteen feet deep. Pleasantry is not
appreciated in war; and the officer was arrested, but soon secured his
release, and built the battery with men of ordinary height.
[Illustration: War-ships off Charleston Harbor.]
In April, 1862, Admiral Du Pont had lined his iron-clads and monitors
up before the beetling walls of Fort Sumter, and had hurled solid shot
for hours, with only the effect of breaking away sharp corners and
projecting edges of the fort, but leaving it still as powerful a work
of defence as ever. The little monitors exposed to the terrible fire
from the guns of Sumter were fairly riddled; and, when the signal was
finally made to withdraw from the action, the humblest sailor knew
that Charleston would only fall after a siege as protracted and
wearisome as that of Vicksburg.
The investment of Charleston lasted from the date of that first attack
upon Fort Sumter until 1865. From time to time the war-vessels would
throw a few shells into the city, as a reminder to the inhabitants
that they were under surveillance. Early in the siege the Swamp Angel,
as the big gun back in the swamp was called, began sending hourly
messages, in the form of two-hundred-pound shells, into the city. In
one quarter, where the shells fell thickest, a severe fire was
started, which raged fiercely, driving people from their homes, and
reducing whole blocks to ashes; while the deadly shells aided in the
work of destruction. But the life of the Swamp Angel, whose shells
were the most destructive, was but short; for, after a few days' work,
it burst, scattering the sand-bags, of which the battery was built,
far and wide over the swamp.
The officers of the army, who were bringing their troops nearer and
nearer to the city, expected the iron-clad vessels to steam boldly up
the harbor, and compel a surrender of the city; but the naval officers
dared not, owing to the torpedoes with which the channel was thickly
planted. If Sumter could only be captured, the torpedoes could be
searched out and easily removed; and, with this thought in mind, a
number of bold sailors fitted out an expedition to attack the fort.
Thirty boats, filled with armed men, made their way to the base of the
shattered walls of the fort. As they came up, not a sign of life was
to be seen about the huge black monster that had so long kept the
iron-clads at bay. Rapidly and silently the men swarmed from their
boats, and, led by three brave officers, began the ascent of the
sloping walls. "The Johnnies are asleep," they whispered to each
other: "we have the fort this time." But the Johnnies were wide awake,
and waiting behind those grim bastions until the proper moment should
arrive. Higher and higher climbed the blue-jackets; and they were just
about to spring over the last barrier, when there rose before them a
wall of men and a deadly fire of musketry, and a storm of
hand-grenades cut their ranks to pieces. Around the corner of the fort
steamed a small gunboat, which opened fire on the assailants. The
carnage was terrible; and the sailors were driven back to their
boats, leaving two hundred dead and wounded, and three stands of
colors, as trophies for the garrison.
[Illustration: Charleston bombarded.]
After that grapple with the giant fortress, the Federals did not again
try to come to close quarters; but, keeping at a distance, maintained
a steady fire upon the fort, which drove its defenders from the guns,
and enabled the Union troops to throw up batteries upon all the
neighboring islands. The fleet then remained on blockading-service
until Feb. 18, 1865, when the Confederates evacuated the city, and
left the fort to the victorious Federals. Five years after the date
when Major Anderson with his little band of soldiers had marched out
of Sumter, leaving the fort to the enemy, the same gallant officer
returned, and with his own hand hoisted the same tattered flag over
the almost ruined fortress, amid salvos of artillery and the cheers of
a victorious army and navy.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE BATTLE OF MOBILE BAY.
The last two actions of the United States navy in the civil war were
destined to be the grandest successes of a long record of daring and
successful exploits. Farragut at Mobile, and Porter at Fort Fisher,
added to their wondrous careers the cap-sheaves of two victories
wrested from apparently unconquerable adversaries.
It was on a bright August morning in 1864 that Admiral Farragut stood
on the deck of his stanch frigate the "Hartford," that had borne him
through so many desperate battles. Around the flagship were clustered
the vessels of the Gulf squadron. There was the battered old
"Brooklyn," scarred with the wounds of a dozen fights; the "Richmond"
and the "Itasca," that received their baptism of fire at the fight
below New Orleans. In all there were fourteen wooden vessels and four
iron-clad monitors assembled in front of the strongest combination of
harbor defences that warships ever yet dared attack. Yet Farragut was
there that bright summer morning to enter that bay, and batter the
forts of the enemy into subjection. To capture the city was not his
purpose,--that he left to the army,--but the harbor forts and the
great ram "Tennessee" must strike their colors to the navy.
Before arranging for the attack, the admiral made a reconnoissance,
the results of which are thus told by one of his officers: "On the
afternoon of the day of our arrival, Admiral Farragut, with the
commanding officers of the different vessels, made a reconnoissance on
the steam-tender 'Cowslip,' running inside of Sand Island, where the
monitors were anchored, and near enough to get a good view of both
forts. On the left, some two miles distant, was Fort Gaines, a small
brick-and-earth work, mounting a few heavy guns, but too far away from
the ship-channel to cause much uneasiness to the fleet. Fort Morgan
was on the right, one of the strongest of the old stone forts, and
greatly strengthened by immense piles of sand-bags covering every
portion of the exposed front. The fort was well equipped with three
tiers of heavy guns, some of them of the best English make, imported
by the Confederates. In addition, there was in front a battery of
eleven powerful guns, at the water's edge on the beach. All the guns,
of both fort and water battery, were within point-blank range of the
only channel through which the fleet could pass. The Rebels considered
the works impregnable, but they did not depend solely upon them. Just
around the point of land, behind Fort Morgan, we could see that
afternoon three saucy-looking gunboats and the famous ram 'Tennessee.'
The latter was then considered the strongest and most powerful
iron-clad ever put afloat; looking like a great turtle, with sloping
sides covered with iron plates six inches in thickness, thoroughly
riveted together, and having a formidable iron beak projecting under
the water. Her armament consisted of six heavy guns of English make,
sending a solid shot weighing one hundred and ten pounds,--a small
affair compared with the heavy guns of the present time, but
irresistible then against every thing but the turrets of the monitors.
In addition to these means of resistance, the narrow channel in front
of the fort had been lined with torpedoes. These were under the water,
anchored to the bottom, and were chiefly in the shape of beer-kegs
filled with powder, from the sides of which projected numerous little
tubes containing fulminate, which it was expected would be exploded by
contact with the passing vessels.
"Except for what Farragut had already accomplished on the Mississippi,
it would have been considered a foolhardy experiment for wooden
vessels to attempt to pass so close to one of the strongest forts on
the coast; but when to the forts were added the knowledge of the
strength of the ram, and the supposed deadly character of the
torpedoes, it may be imagined that the coming event impressed the
person taking his first glimpse of naval warfare as decidedly
hazardous and unpleasant. So daring an attempt was never made in any
country but this, and was never successfully made by any commander
except Farragut, who in this, as in his previous exploits in passing
the forts of the Mississippi, proved himself the greatest naval
commander the world has ever seen. It was the confidence reposed in
him, the recollection that he had never failed in any of his attempts,
and his manifest faith in the success of the projected movement, that
inspired all around him."
When the reconnoissance was completed, the admiral called a council of
his captains in the wardroom of the "Hartford," and announced that the
attack would be made early the following morning. The council over,
each commander returned to his ship, there to make ready for the dread
business of the morrow. The same writer whom we have before quoted
tells how the night before a battle is spent by brave men not afraid
of death:--
"At sunset the last order had been issued. Every commanding officer
knew his duty, and unusual quiet prevailed in the fleet. The waters of
the Gulf rested for a time from their customary tumult, a gentle
breeze relieved the midsummer heat, and the evening closed upon us as
peacefully as if we had been on board a yachting squadron at Newport.
During the early part of the night, the stillness was almost
oppressive. The officers of the 'Hartford' gathered around the
capacious wardroom table, writing what they knew might be their last
letters to loved ones far away, or giving to friends messages and
instructions in case of death. There were no signs of fear; but, like
brave and intelligent men, they recognized the stern possibilities of
the morrow, and acted accordingly.
"But this occupied but little time; and then, business over, there
followed an hour of unrestrained jollity. Many an old story was
retold, and ancient conundrum repeated. Old officers forgot for the
moment their customary dignity, and it was evident that all were
exhilarated and stimulated by the knowledge of the coming struggle.
Capt. Heywood of the marines proposed a final 'walk-around;' Tyson
solemnly requested information as to 'Which would you rather do or go
by Fort Morgan?' and all agreed they would prefer to 'do.' La Rue
Adams repeated the benediction with which the French instructor at the
naval academy was wont to greet his boys as they were going into
examination: 'Vell, fellows, I hope ve vill do as vell as I hope ve
vill do.' Finally, Chief Engineer Williamson suggested an adjournment
to the forecastle for a last smoke, and the smoking club went forward;
but somehow smoke had lost its customary flavor, and, after a few
whiffs, all hands turned in, to enjoy what sleep would come."
When the morning dawned, the men were called to quarters, and the
advance upon the forts was begun at once. It was a foggy morning, and
the ships looked like phantom vessels as they moved forward in line of
battle, with the "Brooklyn" in the van. Second came the "Hartford,"
with the admiral high up in the rigging, where he could overlook the
whole scene.
"Nearly every man had his watch in his hand, and waited for the first
shot. To us, ignorant of every thing going on above, every minute
seemed an hour; and there was a feeling of great relief when the boom
of the first gun was heard. This was from the monitor 'Tecumseh,' at
forty-seven minutes past six o'clock. Presently one or two of our
forward guns opened, and we could hear the distant sound of the guns
of the fort in reply. Soon the cannon-balls began to crash through the
deck above us, and then the thunder of our whole broadside of twelve
Dahlgren guns kept the vessel in a quiver. But as yet no wounded were
sent down, and we knew we were still at comparatively long range. In
the intense excitement of the occasion, it seemed that hours had
passed; but it was just twenty minutes from the time we went below
when an officer shouted down the hatchway: 'Send up an army
signal-officer immediately: the 'Brooklyn' is signalling.' In a moment
the writer was on deck, where he found the situation as follows: The
'Brooklyn,' directly in front of us, had stopped, and was backing and
signalling; the tide was with us, setting strongly through the
channel, and the stopping of the 'Brooklyn' threatened to bring the
whole fleet into collision and confusion; the advance vessels of the
line were trying to back to prevent a catastrophe, but were apparently
not able to overcome the force of the current; and there was danger
not only of collision, but of being drifted on shore."
While the fleet was thus embarrassed and hampered, the gunners in the
forts were pouring in their shot thick and fast. On the decks of the
ships the most terrible scenes of death were visible. Along the port
side the bodies of the dead were ranged in long rows, while the
wounded were carried below, until the surgeon's room was filled to
its last corner. One poor fellow on the "Hartford" lost both legs by a
cannon-ball, and, falling, threw up both arms just in time to have
them carried away also. Strange to say, he recovered from these
fearful wounds.
Just as the fight was at its hottest, and the vessels were nearing the
line, the passage of which meant victory, there went up a cry from the
whole fleet, "The 'Tecumseh!' Look at the 'Tecumseh!'" All eyes were
turned on the monitor, and every one saw that she was sinking. She
staggered for a moment, and went down with a rush, carrying her brave
commander and over a hundred of her crew. A few escaped, the last of
whom was the pilot. As the pilot was rushing for the hatchway that led
to the open air and to life, he met at the foot of a narrow ladder
Commander Craven. Craven stepped back, saying gravely, "After you,
pilot;" and the pilot passed out. "There was nothing after me," said
he, in relating the story afterwards; "for as I sprang out of the
hatchway the water rushed in, carrying all behind me to the bottom."
This terrible sight made the ships stop for a moment in some
confusion; but Farragut signalled sternly from his flagship, "Go on,"
and all advanced again. As the fight grew fiercer, the admiral grew
tired of being on the second ship in the line, and ordered the
"Hartford" to forge ahead.
"On board a war steamer the engines are directed by the tap of a bell,
the wires connected with which lead to the quarter-deck. One stroke of
the bell means 'go ahead;' two, 'stop;' three, 'back;' and four, 'go
ahead as fast as possible.' Leaning down through the shrouds to the
officer on deck at the bell-pull, the admiral shouted, 'Four bells,
_eight bells_, SIXTEEN BELLS! Give her all the steam you've got!' The
order was instantly transmitted, and the old ship seemed imbued with
the admiral's spirit; and running past the "Brooklyn" and the
monitors, regardless of fort, ram, gunboats, and the unseen foe
beneath, dashed ahead, all alone, save for her gallant consort, the
'Metacomet.'"
[Illustration: Fight at Mobile Bay.]
But by this time the fleet was well abreast of the forts, and now,
pouring out broadside after broadside, they swept along past the
terrible ramparts. The Confederate gunboats had found the fight too
hot for them, and had fled for shelter, with the exception of the
dreaded "Tennessee," which seemed to be holding itself in reserve. It
was but a short time before the vessels were safely past the fort, and
out of range, floating on the smooth waters of the inner bay. Then
the crews were piped to breakfast, and all hands began to recount
their narrow escapes.
But the end was not yet, for the ram "Tennessee" was now ready to try
her mettle with the fleet. Lieut. Kinney of the "Hartford" tells
graphically the story of the desperate fight that the ram carried on
alone against the whole attacking flotilla.
"We were just beginning to feel the re-action following such a season
of extreme peril and excitement, when we were brought to our senses by
the sharp, penetrating voice of executive officer Kimberly calling all
hands to quarters; and a messenger-boy hurried down to us with the
word, 'The ram is coming.' Every man hastened to his post, the writer
to the quarter-deck, where the admiral and fleet-captain were
standing. The cause of the new excitement was evident at once. The
'Tennessee,' as if ashamed of her failure, had left the fort and was
making at full speed directly for the "Hartford," being then perhaps a
mile and a half distant. The spectacle was a grand one, and was viewed
by the Rebel soldiers in both forts, who were now out of range of our
guns, and lined the walls. Few audiences have ever witnessed so
imposing a sight. The great ram came on for a single-handed contest
with the fleet. She was believed to be invulnerable, and had powerful
double engines by which she could be easily handled; while our
monitors were so slow-gaited that they were unable to offer any
serious obstacle to her approach. Farragut himself seemed to place his
chief dependence on his wooden vessels. Doubtless the crowd of
Confederate soldiers who watched the fight expected to see the
'Tennessee' sink the Yankee vessels in detail, and the chances seemed
in its favor....
"Meanwhile, the general signal, 'Attack the enemy,' had gone up to the
peak of the 'Hartford;' and there followed a general slipping of
cables, and a friendly rivalry to see which could quickest meet the
foe. The 'Monongahela,' with her artificial iron prow, was bravely in
the lead, and struck the Rebel craft amidships at full speed, doing no
damage to the ram, but having her own iron prow destroyed, and being
otherwise injured. Next came the 'Lackawanna,' with a like result. The
huge iron frame of the 'Tennessee' scarcely felt the shock, while the
wooden bow of the Union ship was badly demoralized. For an instant the
two vessels swung head and stern alongside of each other. In his
official report, Capt. Marchand naïvely remarks:--
"'A few of the enemy were seen through their ports, who were using
_most opprobrious_ language. Our marines opened on them with muskets:
even a spittoon and a holystone were thrown at them from our deck,
which drove them away.'
"The 'Tennessee' fired two shots through her bow, and then kept on for
the 'Hartford.' The two flag-ships approached each other, bow to bow.
The two admirals, Farragut and Buchanan, had entered our navy together
as boys, and up to the outbreak of the war had been warm friends. But
now each was hoping for the overthrow of the other; and, had Buchanan
possessed the grit of Farragut, it is probable that moment would have
witnessed the destruction of both vessels. For had the ram struck us
square, as it came, bows on, it would have ploughed its way half
through the 'Hartford;' and, as we sank, we should have carried it to
the bottom, unable to extricate itself. But the Rebel admiral was not
desirous of so much glory; and, just as the two vessels were meeting,
the course of the 'Tennessee' was slightly changed, enough to strike
us only a glancing blow on the port-bow, which left us uninjured,
while the two vessels grated past each other. He tried to sink us with
a broadside as he went by; but only one of his guns went off, the
primers in all the others failing. That gun sent a shell that entered
the berth-deck of the 'Hartford,' and killed five men."
But by this time the unequal conflict was becoming too much even for a
man of Buchanan's courage. The armor of the ram was penetrated in
several places, and at last came a shot that almost fatally wounded
her commander. With the controlling mind that guided her course gone,
the ram was useless; and in a moment a white flag fluttered from the
shattered stump of her flagstaff. And so closed the naval battle that
effectually ended Confederate rule on the Gulf coast, and earned for
Farragut his proudest laurels.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE FALL OF FORT FISHER. -- THE NAVY ENDS ITS WORK.
In noticing the work of the blockading-fleet, we have spoken of the
fine harbor of Wilmington, and the powerful works that defended its
entrance. This Confederate stronghold was known as Fort Fisher, and
had been for a long time a cause of anxiety and worry to the Northern
authorities. The war had gone past Fort Fisher. To the north and to
the south of it, the country was under the sway of the Federal
authorities; but there in North Carolina stood the formidable bastions
over which floated, in defiance of the laws of the Union, the stars
and bars of the rapidly dying Confederacy. With its connected
batteries, Fort Fisher mounted seventy-five guns, and was stronger
than the celebrated Malakoff at Sebastopol.
To reduce this stronghold, a joint naval and military expedition was
fitted out; and Gen. Butler was placed in command of the land forces,
while Admiral Porter, torn from his beloved Western rivers, was given
command of the fleet. Butler introduced a novel feature at the very
opening of the siege. He procured an old steamer, and had her packed
full of gunpowder. On a dark night this craft was towed close to the
walls of the fort and set afire, in the hopes that she might, in
blowing up, tear the works to pieces. But in this the projectors were
disappointed; for the explosion, though a terrific one, did absolutely
no harm to the Confederate works. When Porter finally did get into the
fort, he asked a soldier what he thought of the attempt to blow them
up. "It was a mighty mean trick," responded the Southerner
satirically. "You woke us all up."
After this fiasco had set all the world laughing, Butler retired
voluntarily, and was succeeded by Gen. Terry; and on Christmas Eve of
the year 1864 the fleet began the bombardment, although the land
forces were not yet prepared for the assault. It was the grandest
armada that was ever arrayed against any fortress. The thunder of
nearly five hundred guns rent the air on that Christmas Eve, when
carols were being sung in Christian churches throughout the world.
Tremendous as was the cannonade, the earthworks were almost a match
for it. The fort was not a mass of masonry that these enormous guns
might batter down and crumble into rubbish, but a huge bank of earth
in which the shells might harmlessly bury themselves. But five hundred
cannon are more than a match for any fort, and so they soon proved to
be in this instance. Earthworks, guns, and men alike went down before
them. The iron-clads were stationed about three-quarters of a mile
from the fort, a little farther out were the frigates and heavy
sloops, and still beyond were the smaller vessels,--all firing to
cover themselves; and all along the whole extended line there blazed
one almost continuous sheet of flame, while the rolling thunder of the
broadsides, and the defiant answering roar from the guns of the forts,
shook earth and sea. Clouds of dust went up from the bastions of the
fort, and mingled with the floating smoke above. Within the forts,
there was a scene of the most terrible confusion: guns were
overturned, piles of cannon-balls were knocked to pieces and scattered
about, and two magazines were blown up and scattered fragments all
over the parade. In one hour and a quarter all the gunners were driven
to the bomb-proofs, and the forts were silenced, not returning a
single shot.
[Illustration: Charge of Sailors at Fort Fisher.]
On Christmas morning Gen. Terry arrived with all his transports, and
the attack was recommenced. Early in the morning the ships fell into
position and began a slow fire, merely to cover the landing of the
troops. Again the garrison was driven to the bomb-proofs; and, indeed,
so entirely were they chased from their posts, that a Federal soldier
went into the fort and brought off a Confederate flag without ever
having been seen by the garrison. All the troops were landed; but
for some reason the attack was deferred, much to the disgust of the
officers of the fleet, who felt sure that the fort could be taken then
by a dash. But the troops returned to their transports or went into
camp, and it was not until weeks after that the assault was fairly
made. In the mean time, the ships rode out the winter gales at their
anchors, doing a little desultory firing to keep the garrison in a
state of unrest.
On the 14th of January the heavy bombardment began again, and again
the troops were landed. By night it was seen that every gun on the
face of the fort was disabled, and it was decided to storm the works
the next day. Sixteen hundred sailors and four hundred marines were
told off as the storming-party.
Early in the morning the ships began a fierce cannonade, under cover
of which the sailors and marines landed, and threw up light
breastworks to cover them until the time should be ripe for the
charge. The arrangements contemplated a fierce charge by the
blue-jackets, armed with their cutlasses and revolvers; while the
marines, remaining in the rifle-pits, should cover the advancing party
with a hot fire of musketry. The soldiers from the army-camp were to
charge the fort on the other side.
At three o'clock came the signal that all was ready. The whistles of
the ships rent the air; and the blue-jackets, with ringing cheers,
dashed in a compact body up the beach. But in an instant the
Confederate ramparts were black with men, and a furious fire of
musketry rained down upon the sailors, who were helpless. The marines
in the rifle-pits failed to do what was expected of them, and the
sailors halted for a moment in surprise.
As they stood, a most destructive fire rained down upon them; and the
poor fellows, grasping their useless cutlasses, turned and fled down
the beach, leaving great heaps of dead and wounded behind. Then the
Confederates, thinking the day was theirs, sprang on the ramparts, and
began a vigorous cheer just as the Union soldiers came pouring over
the landward face of the fort. Then ensued a fierce hand-to-hand fight
that lasted for hours. The blue-jackets, encouraged, rushed back to
the fight, and now at close quarters swung their cutlasses with deadly
effect, until step by step the Confederates were driven out of the
fort. Then the fleet opened upon them, and they fled for dear life
while a sailor sprang to the flagstaff and pulled down the Confederate
flag. Fort Fisher had fallen. It was a noble victory, and formed a
fitting climax to the work of the navy throughout that great war.
With the fall of Fort Fisher, the navy ceased to be a prominent factor
in the war. Its work was done. Along the seacoast, and inland as far
as navigable rivers extended, the ships of the North had carried the
starry banner; and the sailor-boys of the North had defended it. And
their opponents, whether on sea or shore, had shown themselves
courageous and dashing, and worthy to be numbered as men of the same
nation as those who proved the victors. And who can doubt, that,
should the need arise, the sons of these men will show that they have
in their veins the blood that animated the Blue-Jackets of '61?
PART IV
BLUE JACKETS IN TIMES OF PEACE
CHAPTER I.
POLICE SERVICE ON THE HIGH SEAS. -- WAR SERVICE IN ASIATIC PORTS.
-- LOSSES BY THE PERILS OF THE DEEP. -- A BRUSH WITH THE PIRATES.
-- ADMIRAL RODGERS AT COREA. -- SERVICES IN ARCTIC WATERS. -- THE
DISASTER AT SAMOA. -- THE ATTACK ON THE "BALTIMORE'S" MEN AT
VALPARAISO. -- LOSS OF THE "KEARSARGE." -- THE NAVAL REVIEW.
The years immediately following the civil war were particularly quiet
and uneventful for the navy. The department was chiefly engaged in the
work of reducing the forces and adapting the navy to the changed
conditions. At the termination of the war an immense naval armament
had been developed, and the navy had assumed a magnitude which made
the United States foremost among the naval powers. This force was
gradually reduced to a peace standard. The volunteers were discharged
and retired from service. The large number of captured and purchased
vessels were disposed of. The home squadrons were withdrawn, and
squadrons established abroad. The ships in foreign stations displayed
an unprecedented energy and activity, visiting, in 1866, nearly every
large port in the world, including several in China which had never
before been entered by an American man-of-war. The reception of
Rear-Admiral Bell in his flagship, the "Hartford," by the Japanese,
was manifestly more hospitable than that given to any other nation.
Admiral Farragut was made commander of the European squadron in 1867,
and he was received with distinguished attention by the sovereigns and
dignitaries of Europe. The "Swatara," of the European squadron, was
ordered, in November, 1866, to Civita Vecchia, a port in Italy, to
bring to the United States John H. Surratt, who was charged with being
implicated in the assassination of Lincoln. The fugitive was
apprehended, but he escaped, and fled into the papal dominions. He was
recaptured at Alexandria, and in February was delivered to the marshal
of the District of Columbia.
The Japanese made further advances of a friendly character toward the
United States in 1867, when the "Shenandoah," of the Asiatic squadron,
with the American minister aboard, arrived at the port of Hakodadi,
and the first salute ever given in honor of a foreign minister was
fired. Just previous to this, the Japanese government had expressed
its willingness to open an additional port on the western coast to
foreign trade, and Commodore Goldsborough, in command of the
"Shenandoah," visited and made surveys of several harbors in which no
foreign ship had ever before anchored.
News was received by Rear-Admiral Bell, in the autumn of 1866, that
the schooner "General Sherman" had been wrecked in the Ping Yang
River, one of the streams of Corea, and that her officers, crew, and
passengers had been murdered by the natives. The Rear-Admiral
despatched one of the vessels of his squadron, the "Wachusett," to
investigate the matter, and demand from the authorities that the
survivors, if any, be delivered on board the "Wachusett." The King of
Corea was communicated with, but without satisfactory results. It was
found that there were no survivors of the schooner. A few months
afterward information reached Rear-Admiral Bell that a similar outrage
had been perpetrated on the southeast end of the island of Formosa. It
was reported that the American bark "Rover" had been wrecked, and all
on board murdered. Commander Febiger, with the "Ashuelot," found that
the crime had been committed by a horde of savages, who, the
authorities of the island said, were not obedient to their laws.
Rear-Admiral Bell left Shanghai in June, with the "Wyoming" and
"Hartford," with the intention of destroying, if possible, the
lurking-places of the savages. On the 18th of June the vessels
anchored half a mile from shore, and 181 officers, sailors, and
marines were landed, under the command of Commander Belknap, of the
"Hartford," and Lieutenant-Commander Alexander S. Mackenzie. As the
company approached the hills the natives, dressed in clouts, with
their bodies painted, and muskets glistening in the sun, descended to
meet them, fighting from the long grass. After delivering their fire,
they would retreat, and form ambuscades, into which the men from the
ships frequently fell in charging after them. In one of these
Lieutenant-Commander Mackenzie was mortally wounded. After fighting
under the intensely hot sun for six hours, during which period several
of the attacking party suffered sunstroke, they returned to their
ships, the expedition having proved a failure.
The navy performed a valuable maritime service in 1867, by locating and
surveying a shoal which was reported to exist twenty miles west of
Georges Shoal, and directly in the track of vessels bound to and from
Europe. The shoal was found by Commander Chandler with the United States
steamer "Don," and mariners were made cognizant of a danger which
probably had been fatal to many vessels. In the same year the "Sacramento,"
Captain Napoleon Collins, while on an important cruise, was wrecked on
the reefs off the mouth of the Kothapalem River in the Bay of Bengal.
The vessel proved a total wreck, but without loss of life. Those aboard
effected thrilling escapes by means of rafts. The navy suffered another
misfortune in 1868, in the drowning of Rear-Admiral Bell, commander of
the Asiatic squadron, Lieutenant-Commander J. H. Reed, and ten of the
crew of the Admiral's barge, which was upset in crossing the bar near
Osaka, few days after the opening by the Japanese of that port and Hioto
to foreigners. Another disaster occurred in 1869. Twenty-seven officers
and men of the "Fredonia" were drowned at Arica, on the western coast of
South America The "Fredonia" and "Wateree" were resting at anchor when a
shock of earthquake was felt. The sea receded and left the former vessel
on the bottom; a moment afterward the wave rolled back, breaking the
ship into fragments. The "Wateree" was thrown upon the shore; its
position was such that the expense of launching would have been greater
than the worth of the vessel, and it was consequently sold. A year
previous to its catastrophe, the "Monongahela," in the harbor of St.
Croix, was swept from her moorings by the force of an earthquake, and
carried by a wave over the warehouses into one of the streets of the
town. Five of her crew were lost. The vessel, after an interval of some
months, was relaunched.
The Cuban rebellion, which began in 1868, occasioned activity on the
part of some of the cruisers to prevent violations of the neutrality
law and to protect the interests of American citizens. A company of
Cuban filibusters, encamped on Gardiner's Island, near the eastern end
of Long Island, were captured by Lieutenant Breese, in command of the
revenue cutter "Mahoning," and fifty marines. The prisoners, to the
number of one hundred and twenty-five, were taken to New York. On the
island of Cuba some outrages were perpetrated upon American citizens
by the Spanish authorities. Rear-Admiral Hoff, in command of the North
Atlantic squadron, was ordered to Santiago de Cuba for the better
protection of American interests, and no further aggressions occurred.
Two disasters in the navy ushered in the year 1870. In the Bay of
Yeddo, on January 24th, the steam-sloop "Oneida," just after leaving
Yokohama for Hong Kong, was run into and sunk by the English steamer
"Bombay," with the loss of twenty officers and ninety-six men. The tug
"Marie" was sunk in the same month, with a loss of four men, in Long
Island Sound. In October of the same year, Commander Sicard of the
"Saginaw" determined to run to Ocean Island, a small island about a
hundred miles west of the Midways, to rescue any sailors who might
have been shipwrecked there. The "Saginaw" was herself wrecked on a
reef off the perilous coast, but her men, after extreme exertions,
landed safely on the shores of the uninhabited island. Here they lived
for some months. They were rescued by a steamer from the Sandwich
Islands, sent to their aid by the authorities of the islands, who had
been informed of the accident by William Halford, one of the crew,
who, with Lieutenant Talbot and three others, had volunteered to make
the trip from Ocean Island to Honolulu, a distance of 1,500 miles, in
an open boat. After thirty-one days of great danger and hardship, they
arrived off one of the Hawaiian group of islands. In attempting to
land, the boat was upset in the surf, and all but Halford were
drowned.
At various times during the years 1871 and 1872, the marines of the
Brooklyn Navy Yard rendered very efficient aid to the revenue officers
in quelling riots in Brooklyn which grew out of the raiding of illicit
distilleries. In July, 1871, Captain Gilbert was killed and several
men wounded by the rioters.
[Illustration: Attack on a Corean Fort.]
The steamer "Forward," bearing the San Salvador flag, landed 200
desperadoes at Guaymas, Mexico, in June, 1870, and these outlaws took
possession of the custom-house. They forced the foreign merchants
to furnish them with funds and goods, and compelled the United States'
consul to supply coal for their vessel, their purpose being to become
pirates on a large scale. Commander Low, of the "Mohican," upon
learning these facts, sailed from Mazatlan, and overtook the "Forward"
while still in the Gulf of California. She was attacked in the harbor
of Boca Teacapan by six boatloads of sailors and marines from the
"Mohican," and was captured and burned.
It seemed desirable, in 1871, that some arrangement should be made
with the people of Corea whereby sailors wrecked upon these shores
should have protection. With this end in view our Minister to China,
accompanied by Rear-Admiral John Rodgers, with the "Colorado," the
"Alaska," the "Benicia," the "Monocacy," and the "Palos," vessels of
the Asiatic squadron, sailed to Corea, anchoring in the Sale River.
The local authorities were assured that the visit was a perfectly
peaceful one, and they in turn gave evidences of a peaceful spirit.
But when a party engaged in making surveys and soundings for the
safety of commerce had got beyond a point where they could be
protected by the cruisers' guns, they were fired upon by the Coreans,
and were forced to re-pass the Corean forts under a fierce cannonade.
Admiral Rodgers and the minister determined that an explanation should
be at once demanded. No answer having been received from the Coreans
after an interval of ten days, it was decided that an attack should be
made upon the forts from which the shots had been fired. A party of
about 700 of the sailors and marines were landed, and after a march
through mud which rose to their knees, the first fort was captured
without serious resistance. The next day, other forts were easily
taken, and preparations were made to attack the horseshoe-shaped
citadel, which was defended by a garrison of a thousand Corean
soldiers. A few shells from the vessels, judiciously planted among the
Coreans, frightened and disconcerted them; but they made a stubborn
fight until their ammunition gave out. The attacking party swarmed
over the walls. Then ensued a desperate hand-to-hand fight The Coreans
expected no quarter, and fought till all who had not fled had been
killed or wounded. Lieutenant Hugh McKee, who was the first man to
climb over the ramparts, fell with a mortal wound. Two hundred and
forty-seven dead Coreans were counted within the works. Five forts and
a large number of flags and cannon had been captured. The gallant
conduct of the men of the navy made a deep impression on the people of
the China coast and led to the increased consideration and safety of
American citizens in those localities.
On Saturday morning, November 26, 1877, occurred one of the most
disastrous wrecks in the history of the navy. The steam sloop-of-war
"Huron" struck the rocks near Oregon Inlet, North Carolina, in a heavy
gale and was wrecked, with the loss of nearly a hundred officers and
men. The boats were washed from the davits and the thirty-four persons
who were saved reached the shore by swimming. Ensign Lucien Young
landed on the beach after desperate efforts, and spread the alarm. His
sturdy activity resulted in the saving of several lives.
The members of a naval exploring expedition, which had sailed in the
"Polaris" for the Arctic regions in 1871, were rescued from boats and
the floating ice in Baffin's Bay in 1873, the "Polaris" having been
abandoned as a wreck.
The United States steamer "Rodgers," commanded by Lieutenant Robert M.
Berry, was detailed in 1881 to search for the exploring party
organized by James Gordon Bennett and headed by Lieutenant-Commander
DeLong, which had embarked in the "Jeannette" for the far north and
had been last heard of in August, 1879. The "Rodgers" was burned and
abandoned in St. Laurence Bay, Siberia, in November, 1881; but
Lieutenant Berry continued his search on the coast. In the early
spring he learned that one party from the "Jeannette," that of
Chief-Engineer Melville, had been saved and was searching for the
other two parties which had become separated from the first in a storm
while attempting to escape from the Arctic seas in open boats after
the "Jeannette" had been crushed and sunk by the ice. Lieutenant Berry
soon afterward met Chief-Engineer Melville's party and learned that
the bodies of Lieutenant DeLong and his companions had been found.
Search for the other party which had been led by Lieutenant Chipp was
continued, and the Navy Department fitted out another vessel, the
"Alliance," to aid in the possible rescue. But Lieutenant Chipp and
his men were never found.
[Illustration: Wreck of United States War-Ships off Samoa.]
During the massacres by Egyptian troops under Arabi Pasha in
Alexandria, in 1882, when more than two hundred European residents
were killed or wounded, the flagship "Lancaster," under Captain
Gherardi, was in the harbor and afforded a place of refuge for large
numbers of men, women, and children. A large body of marines with a
detachment of naval artillery landed in the city and were of much
service in restoring order.
Another Arctic expedition was fitted out in the spring of 1883. Three
vessels, the "Thetis," "Alert," and "Bear," left New York by order of
the Navy Department to search for Lieutenant Greely and his party,
comprising what is known as the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition. After a
long voyage, in which the vessels were several times in imminent
peril, they passed around Cape Sabine and found Lieutenant Greely and
the seven survivors of his party. Their condition was so enfeebled
that they could have lived only a little longer. On August 8th the
relief squadron and the rescued party arrived in New York.
An insurrection broke out in the United States of Colombia in the
spring of 1885, during which the city of Aspinwall was in great part
destroyed. The affair assumed such a serious aspect that the vessels
of the North Atlantic squadron, under Rear Admiral Jouett, were
ordered to Aspinwall, and in addition to the fleet, the Navy
Department sent a force consisting of about seven hundred and fifty
from New York, for the special purpose of operating on shore. Upon his
arrival at Aspinwall, on April 10th, Rear-Admiral Jouett issued orders
for the landing of a force to open the transit across the isthmus, and
on the 12th, trains were run as usual. On April 28th, the insurgents
capitulated, and shortly afterward the United States naval force was
withdrawn.
One of the most severe disasters that ever befell the United States
Navy in time of peace occurred on the 16th of March, 1889, when,
during a hurricane in the harbor of Apia, Samoa, the "Trenton" and
"Vandalia" were totally wrecked, and the "Nipsic" was run on shore to
save her from destruction. Five officers and forty-six men lost their
lives in this catastrophe. Nothing that skill and experience could
suggest was left undone to avert the disaster, but the vessels were
equipped with old-fashioned engines, whose steam-power was not strong
enough to withstand the fury of the gale. The value of high-pressure
engines in war vessels was illustrated by the British ship "Calliope,"
which was able to steam out to sea, and thus escaped destruction on
the reefs. The "Trenton" and the "Vandalia," which had been two of the
best of the old wooden fleet, were abandoned. The "Nipsic" sailed for
the Sandwich Islands, where she was refitted for active service. The
natives of Samoa displayed great heroism in their efforts to save the
shipwrecked sailors, and were afterward rewarded by the United States
government. Fifteen merchant vessels which were in the harbor were
either sunk or run upon the shore, and the German naval vessels
"Elber," "Adler," and "Olga" were wrecked, with the loss of many men.
When the United States cruiser "Baltimore" was at anchor in the harbor
off Valparaiso in October, 1891, shortly after the end of a Chilian
rebellion, a number of the seamen were given liberty to go on shore.
They were attacked by a mob in the streets of Valparaiso, and Petty
Officer Charles Riggin was stabbed, and left to die. Another petty
officer, Johnson, went to his assistance, and was attempting to carry
him to an apothecary, when a squad of Chilian police, with fixed
bayonets, came down the street. When at close quarters, they fired at
Johnson. A shot passed through his clothes, and another entered
Riggin's neck, inflicting a death-wound. Petty Officer Hamilton was
dragged to jail dangerously wounded. As a result of the attack, two
men, Riggin and Turnbull, died, and eighteen others were disabled by
wounds. Thirty-six of the "Baltimore's" men were arrested, and treated
by the Chilian police with extreme brutality. Investigation proved
that all had been perfectly sober and well-behaved. The attack grew
out of the bitter hostility of the Chilians toward the United
States--a feeling largely due to false accusations in reference to the
action of the navy during the Chilian revolution. The affair caused
excitement and indignation in the United States, but was amicably
settled.
[Illustration: Wreck Of The "Kearsarge."]
The most important assemblage of naval vessels ever seen in the waters
of America took place in April, 1893, in celebration of the Columbian
quadricentennial. Invitations had been sent to all the important
maritime powers, and at the rendezvous in Hampton Roads, on April
24th, the combined fleet, under the direction of Rear-Admiral
Gherardi, of the United States Navy, comprised twelve men-of-war of
the United States, four of England, three of France, two of Italy, two
of Germany, two of Russia, three of Brazil, and one of Holland. At New
York, the squadron was joined by one more Russian, three Spanish, one
Argentine vessel, and the "Miantonomoh," of the United States Navy,
making a combined fleet of thirty-five ships-of-war. The President, on
board the "Dolphin," reviewed the fleet on April 27th, and the next
day the armed battalions of the various nations, to the number of
3,815 men, marched through the streets of New York, and were reviewed
by the Governor of the State.
The navy suffered a severe loss in 1894, in the wreck of the famous
old man-of-war "Kearsarge," the conqueror of the "Alabama," which was
wrecked February 2d on Roncador Reef, while on her way from Port au
Prince to Bluefields, Nicaragua. Eight days later her men were rescued
by the "City of Para."
One of the conspicuous features of the pageants which attended the
opening of the Kiel Canal, between the North and the Baltic seas, on
June 19th, 1895, was the fleet of war-vessels which assembled in the
harbor at Kiel. It was the most remarkable ever seen in any waters,
numbering over a hundred of the finest vessels in existence. A number
of these, headed by the flagship "New York," belonged to the new navy
of the United States. These ships provoked the admiration of all the
naval authorities present, and their effective strength was noted and
commented upon all over Europe.
CHAPTER II.
THE NAVAL MILITIA. -- A VOLUNTEER SERVICE WHICH IN TIME OF WAR
WILL BE EFFECTIVE. -- HOW BOYS ARE TRAINED FOR THE LIFE OF A
SAILOR. -- CONDITIONS OF ENLISTMENT IN THE VOLUNTEER BRANCH OF
THE SERVICE. -- THE WORK OF THE SEAGOING MILITIA IN SUMMER.
The _personnel_ of a navy is quite as important as its vessels. It has
been said that a ship is worth what her captain and crew are worth. It
is certainly true that a man-of-war, of whatever power, would be
useless or worse than useless if her officers and men did not
understand her wonderfully complicated construction nor know how to
handle her. The officers of the United States navy are given this
important instruction at the Naval Academy at Annapolis, and the rank
and file of the men of the navy, those who fill the positions of
seamen and petty officers, are trained at the station in Coaster's
Island Harbor, near Newport, R.I., and in the training-ships when
cruising.
The training-station is designed to ensure the thorough efficiency of
the corps of men enlisted in the service, and to provide for the
manning of the vessels by American citizens instead of by foreigners.
There was a time, and not a great while ago, when the gunners and
crews of United States men-of-war were, with very few exceptions,
aliens, who spoke the English language with difficulty, and who did
not have, and could not be expected to have, any of the patriotic
spirit which makes effective fighters in naval engagements. While this
condition still exists to some extent, the growth of the apprentice
system is bringing about a gradual change.
As early as 1837 an attempt was made to establish a naval apprentice
system. In that year Congress passed an act making it "lawful to
enlist boys for the navy, not under thirteen nor over eighteen years
of age, to serve until twenty-one." Within a few months several boys
were received as apprentices aboard naval vessels. Six years later,
however, the system was abandoned as a failure, owing to a false
impression which had gained wide currency that the apprentices would
receive commissions in the navy.
Capt. S. B. Luce and the officers of the practice-ship "Macedonian"
investigated the apprentice systems at Portsmouth and Plymouth,
England, twenty years afterward, and made such favorable reports that
Secretary Welles was induced to revive it in the United States navy.
This was done, and during the civil war the system was in successful
operation, but soon after the close of the war it was again abandoned.
In the following years the want of intelligent seamen of American
birth in the navy was greatly felt, and in 1875 Secretary of the Navy
Robeson deemed it advisable to resume the enlistment of boys under the
naval apprentice law, which was still in existence. As an experiment
two hundred and fifty boys were enlisted and placed on the frigates
"Minnesota" and "Constitution" and the sloops of war "Portsmouth" and
"Saratoga," which were commissioned as training-ships. Since 1875 the
training-station and vessels have been very important features of the
naval establishment.
The regulations governing the enlistment of boys are simple and few in
number. The boys must be between the ages of fourteen and sixteen
years, of robust form, intelligent, of perfectly sound and healthy
constitution, free from all physical defect or malformation, and of
good moral character. They must be able to read and write, although in
special cases, when a boy shows general intelligence and is otherwise
qualified, he may be enlisted notwithstanding the fact that his
reading and writing are imperfect. Each boy presenting himself for
enlistment must be accompanied by his father, mother, or, in case
neither is living, by his legally appointed guardian, and must
voluntarily sign an agreement to serve in the navy till twenty-one
years of age. Upon enlistment the boys are rated as third-class
apprentices, and are paid $9 a month. Deserving boys are rated
second-class apprentices, and receive pay of $15 a month after they
have completed their term of service on a cruising training-ship. If
they have served a year on a cruising ship of war they are considered
properly qualified apprentices, and receive $21 a month. As the
apprentices become proficient and their services are required, they
are transferred to the seagoing vessels. Upon the expiration of the
enlistment of an apprentice he will, if recommended, receive an
honorable discharge, and if he enlists again within three months, will
be given pay for this period. The apprentices are under the immediate
supervision of the Bureau of Navigation of the Navy Department, and
applications for enlistment are made to the chief of that bureau at
Washington, or to the officer commanding either the "Vermont," at the
Brooklyn navy yard, or the "Richmond," stationed at the League Island
yard, Philadelphia. These were the recruiting-ships, from which the
boys were being sent to the training-station at Coaster's Island as
soon as a squad of twenty were enlisted, at the period of this
writing. Sometimes there have been more ships in this duty.
There are usually about one hundred boys at the station at one time.
They are taught to march, handle muskets, revolvers, broadswords, and
cannon; they go aloft so as to get practice with the sails, and are
also made familiar with the management of boats and oars and
boathooks. Two hours a day are devoted to lessons, consisting of
arithmetic, reading, writing, spelling, geography and grammar. Ample
time is given for recreation, and innocent social pleasures are
encouraged.
There are two training-ships, besides the famous old ship
"Constellation," which figured in the War of 1812, at the station
devoted to the use of the boys, and every six months one of these
appears at Coaster's Island, and receives the apprentices who have
been at the station for half a year. The vessel then starts on a
cruise to Europe if it is summer, and to the West Indies in the
winter. Each boy remains aboard a year, only half of the crew being
changed at a time. Practice aloft and the life in general aboard a
sailing vessel give him a broad general foundation of knowledge of the
sea and ships, upon which he can build the special training and
instruction he afterward gets upon a regular man-of-war. When he is
transferred, upon the expiration of his year on the training-ship, he
begins the task of mastering the intricacies of a modern ship-of-war.
Here he remains until his first term of service has expired. If he
re-enlists and has shown aptitude for the service, he is sent to
Washington navy yard for a course of six months' instruction in
gunnery and special branches, such as electricity and torpedoes. He
becomes a seaman gunner, with the billet and pay of a petty officer.
A serious defect in the apprentice system, however, and one which
makes it impossible to man the vessels altogether with well-trained
American citizens, is the fact that the majority of the apprentices do
not re-enlist after receiving their honorable discharge at the age of
twenty-one, for the reason that the special training they have
received enables them to secure better-paid places in civil life than
are possible to them in the navy. In the government service, too, they
cannot attain the rank of officers, as there is no such provision for
the promotion of enlisted men in the navy as there is in the army.
Secretary Tracy, in his report of 1889, forcibly called the attention
of Congress to this condition. As a remedy he recommended that there
be a statutory extension of the term of enlistment to twenty-four
years of age. It was further recommended that the number of
apprentices be increased from seven hundred and fifty to fifteen
hundred, and that the course in the training-ships be extended by the
formation of a special class for training in gunnery on board a ship
devoted exclusively to this purpose. Congress has as yet taken no
action upon these and numerous other recommendations which have been
made for the improvement of the apprentice system, and they remain
pertinent.
The navy, however, in case of war, would not have to depend entirely
upon apprentices and graduates of the training-station for its skilled
seamen. The Naval Militia has become an organization that would render
very efficient service if called upon by the government. It is
composed of about three thousand highly intelligent and well-drilled
young men, and has been organized in sixteen States. It bears the same
relation to the navy that the National Guard does to the regular army,
and is therefore wholly under State control; but it is subject to
call, of course, by the federal government.
The organization of the Naval Militia has been a growth of the last
eight years, and is due in large measure to the reconstruction of the
navy and the revival of activity and interest in naval affairs in the
United States.
It was seen that the new vessels of modern and intricate construction
and appliances should, in case of war, be manned by men skilled in
the use of these appliances. The apprentice system brought to the navy
a supply of apprentices, but the number would be totally inadequate in
a naval war. A naval reserve force was an urgent necessity.
The first step toward meeting this necessity was made in 1887 by
Senator Whitthorne, of Tennessee, who in that year introduced a bill
"to create a naval reserve of auxiliary cruisers, officers, and men,
from the mercantile marine of the United States." The measure did not
pass, and the next year another was introduced by Senator Whitthorne,
providing for the enrolment of a Naval Militia and the organization of
naval reserve forces. According to this bill, it was to be lawful for
States and Territories bordering on sea and lake coasts and navigable
rivers to enroll and designate as the Naval Militia all seafaring men
of whatever calling or occupation, and all men engaged in the
navigation of the rivers, lakes, and other waters, or in the
construction or management of ships and craft, together with
ship-owners and their employees, yacht-owners, members of yacht clubs
and other associations for aquatic sports, and all ex-officers and
former enlisted men of the navy.
The bill contemplated a naval reserve artillery and a naval reserve
torpedo corps. It did not become a law, but formed a basis for
legislation in several of the States shortly afterward, although the
original plan, as shown in the proposed measure, was modified to the
extent of making the Naval Militia a State organization and forming it
of volunteers irrespective of occupation.
Massachusetts was the pioneer among the States in the organization of
the Naval Militia. In May, 1888, the legislature passed a bill
authorizing the formation of "a naval battalion to be attached to the
volunteer militia." This measure was prepared, with the assistance of
others, by Lieutenant John C. Soley, a retired officer of the United
States navy, and he was afterward energetic in putting it into
successful operation.
The next State to provide for a Naval Militia was Pennsylvania, whose
legislature made the necessary law in 1889. On the same day the
legislature of Rhode Island "established a naval battalion to be
attached to the Rhode Island militia." In New York, in 1889, a State
Naval Militia of three battalions of naval reserve artillery and a
naval reserve torpedo corps, to consist of not less than four
companies to a battalion, was established.
[Illustration: Cruiser "Columbia" (Commerce Destroyer).]
The practical work of the Naval Militia began in 1890, when the
Massachusetts battalion drilled on the receiving-ship "Wabash," and
the New York battalion on the receiving-ship "Minnesota."
A very decided impetus was given to the movement in 1891 by the
appropriation by Congress of $25,000 for arms and equipments for the
Naval Militia, leaving the disbursement of the money to the discretion
of the Secretary of the Navy. Within the year California, North
Carolina, Texas, and Maryland joined the States having battalions of
Naval Militia, and at its close the force numbered 1,149 men. Progress
was made also in 1891 in the method of drilling and instructing the
members of some of the battalions. Those of New York, Massachusetts,
and Rhode Island spent several days aboard the vessels of the Squadron
of Evolution, under the command of Rear-Admiral J. C. Walker, and were
given practice with the guns and boats, and participated in the ship's
routine duties.
Further appropriations of $25,000 each for the Naval Militia were made
in 1892 and 1893. The legislatures of Vermont and South Carolina
provided for battalions of the Naval Militia in 1892, and those which
had been authorized, but not yet organized, in Maryland and
Pennsylvania, were formed. During the summer of 1892 the members of
the North Carolina Naval Militia were drilled on board the "Newark."
The "Wabash," the "Chicago," and the "Atlanta" were used for drills by
the Massachusetts battalions, and those of New York received their
instruction on the "New Hampshire," the "Chicago," and the "Atlanta."
The California Naval Militia drilled on board the "Charleston."
The Naval Militia was increased in 1893 by battalions formed in North
Carolina, Michigan, Illinois, Georgia, and Connecticut, under laws of
these various legislatures of that year, and the force numbered 2,376
officers and men. New Jersey and Virginia, in 1894, organized
battalions of the Naval Militia, and in that year Congress passed an
important act, empowering the Secretary of the Navy to lend
temporarily to any State vessels "not suitable or required for the
general service, together with such of her apparel, charts, books, and
instruments of navigation as he may deem proper, said vessel to be
used only by the regularly organized Naval Militia of the State for
the purposes of drill and instruction." Even interior States, with no
bodies of water other than rivers, have organized naval battalions. At
Pittsburg the organization owns a small armored gunboat, of the sort
that was so useful on inland waters in the civil war. This vessel was
presented to the militia by a wealthy manufacturer. Few commands,
however, are so fortunate. Most take advantage of the law authorizing
the loan of government ships. Under this law the following vessels
were lent: the "Minnesota" to Massachusetts, the "Wyandotte" to
Connecticut, the "New Hampshire" to New York, the "Portsmouth" and the
"Ajax" to New Jersey, the "St. Louis" to Pennsylvania, the "Dale" to
Maryland, and the "Nantucket" to North Carolina. The other States have
been compelled to get along without vessels, for the reason that there
have been no others available.
[Illustration: Torpedo Boat "Cushing."]
During the summer of 1894 the Massachusetts brigade of the militia
encamped for drill on Lovell's Island, Boston Harbor, and the monitor
"Passaic" was lent to the State. There were also drills and
target-practice on the "Miantonomoh" and the "Atlanta." The forces of
Connecticut and Rhode Island received instruction on the "Miantonomoh"
and the "Atlanta" respectively, and New York's battalion spent a week
on board the "New York" and the "San Francisco" in Gardiner's Bay,
Long Island. A part of the Pennsylvania force had target-practice at
sea on board the "New York," and the North Carolina battalion received
instruction on the "Montgomery."
[Illustration: Armored Cruiser "New York."]
The California division helped to man the "Olympia" for a week in
1895, taking the places of the crew; the Maryland contingent had a
week's cruise on the "Dale," and the First Naval Battalion of New York
carried out a scheme of reconnoissance and distant boat work along the
northern shore of Long Island, encamping on Shelter Island. The party
was accompanied by the torpedo boat "Cushing." Most of the other
battalions had their quota of drill and instruction.
These details of the summer operations of the Naval Militia will
convey an idea of the manner in which its members are being prepared
for the emergencies of war. In addition to the summer work, there is
drill in armories in the winter. This course of training, in
conjunction with the intelligence and enthusiasm of the young men of
the Naval Militia, who are of the best classes in this country, has
made an organization which would doubtless be of very great value in
time of war.
The uniform of the Naval Militia consists of a blue cap, blouse, and
trousers of blue trimmed with white braid. The working suit is of
white duck with white canvas hat.
CHAPTER III.
HOW THE NAVY HAS GROWN. -- THE COST AND CHARACTER OF OUR NEW
WHITE SHIPS OF WAR. -- OUR PERIOD OF NAVAL WEAKNESS AND OUR
ADVANCE TO A PLACE AMONG THE GREAT NAVAL POWERS. -- THE NEW
DEVICES OF NAVAL WARFARE. -- THE TORPEDO, THE DYNAMITE GUN, AND
THE MODERN RIFLE. -- ARMOR AND ITS POSSIBILITIES.
At the close of the civil war the United States had one of the most
formidable navies afloat. The necessities of the war had forced the
Navy Department to the utmost exertion in increasing the number and
power of the vessels of the fleets. This work of naval upbuilding and
strengthening had been carried on, moreover, till Fort Fisher fell and
hostile operations ceased. The result was that at the close of the war
the United States had upon its hands a large number of ships-of-war
for which it had no use. The Secretary of the Navy at once began to
reduce the number, and secretaries succeeding him followed the same
policy. Old vessels which had outlived their usefulness as cruisers
were one by one taken out of commission and were not replaced. Thus
the navy moved steadily on a downward plane. Through the seventies and
into the eighties this retrogression continued. The lowest ebb was
reached in 1882, when the entire naval force numbered only thirty-one
vessels in commission, all but four of which were built entirely of
wood. They were old-fashioned ships, which had been efficient in a
past day, but were totally unfit to cope with the modern warships of
foreign naval powers. Both their guns and engines were inferior. Their
sole usefulness, in short, lay in displaying the national flag upon
the seas and in the harbors of the commercial world in times of peace.
This condition of the navy was referred to by Secretary Chandler, in
his report of 1882, as follows:
"It is not the policy of the United States to maintain a large navy,
but its reputation, honor, and prosperity require that such naval
vessels as it possesses shall be the best which human ingenuity can
devise and modern artificers construct. Our present vessels are not
such and cannot be made such. They should be gradually replaced by
iron or steel cruisers, and allowed to go out of commission."
It may be of interest to add that in 1882 there was only one
high-power cannon in the navy, while there were nearly nineteen
hundred naval officers, making the proportion of fifty-nine officers
for each ship, and one for every five seamen.
As the result of Secretary Chandler's recommendations in his report of
1882, three steel warships and an armed despatch-steamer were
authorized by the next Congress. The building of these vessels, named
the "Chicago," the "Boston," the "Atlanta," and the "Dolphin," may be
regarded as the first movement toward the making of the new navy of
the United States.
While progress in naval construction has been so rapid that these
ships are a long distance behind the war-vessels of to-day in power,
they were then considered to be equal to any afloat in their
respective classes. All are unarmored. The "Chicago," of forty-five
hundred tons displacement and a speed of fourteen knots an hour, was
an example of the largest and best unarmored fighting and cruising
vessel then built, and, according to Secretary Chandler, had no
superior in speed, endurance, and armament. In the "Boston" and
"Atlanta," each of three thousand tons displacement and a speed of
thirteen knots an hour, speed and endurance were supposed to have been
given their greatest development, and their fighting power was
increased by placing the battery on a central superstructure on the
spar-deck and adopting a brig rig, so that the extremities would be
clear for a fore and aft fire. The "Dolphin," of fifteen hundred tons
displacement and a speed of fifteen knots, was designed as an
auxiliary in naval operations, and it was expected that she would
furnish a model for high-speed commerce-destroyers to be subsequently
built. These vessels were constructed at an aggregate cost of over
$2,400,000, in the shipyard of John Roach, of Chester, Pa. The
"Dolphin" was launched in 1884.
The Congress which authorized the building of the cruisers also
directed that the double-turreted monitors, "Puritan," "Amphitrite,"
"Terror," and "Monadnock," whose keels had been laid several years
before, be completed. In accordance with this order they were launched
in 1883.
In order that the work of the reconstruction of the navy should be
carried on as rapidly as possible, the secretary recommended, in 1883
and 1884, that seven unarmored cruisers, in addition to the four then
in the process of construction, be built. Congress adopted his
suggestion to the extent of authorizing, in 1884, the construction of
two unarmored cruisers, two gunboats, and two armored cruisers.
The vessels with which the reconstruction of the navy began--namely
the "Chicago," the "Boston," the "Atlanta," and the "Dolphin"--were
completed about this time, and were in some measure disappointments.
It was found that the "Dolphin" was better adapted for pleasure trips
than for war service, because of the lack of protection against
hostile fire. The engines had been so placed as to be exposed above
water-line, which was condemned as a serious mistake in a war-vessel
without armor-protection. It was realized, too, that the essential
characteristic in an unarmored cruiser is great speed. The function
she is expected to perform is to destroy commerce; and if she is
slower than the merchant-vessels it is useless for her to go to sea;
and if she is slower than the iron-clads, and consequently cannot
escape from them, she could not long continue her service. The chief
objection to the vessels was the lack of a speed equal to that of
merchantmen and the cruisers of other countries. The type of protected
cruiser with a maximum speed, in some cases as high as twenty knots,
developed at this time as a result of the earlier experiments. The
torpedo, too, was receiving constant attention, and money was freely
spent for its improvement. It was found that vessels at anchor or
under slow headway could be protected from torpedoes by being
surrounded by a large net. This defence was generally adopted for
armored vessels.
A stride forward in naval construction in the United States marked the
year 1887. Before that time a serious obstacle in the way of building
up the navy was the lack in the country of manufactories necessary to
the construction and armament of a modern war-vessel, namely, that of
steel forgings for the heavier guns, of armor for iron-clad vessels,
and of secondary batteries, which are an essential portion of the
armament. It was important that the country should not be dependent
upon foreigners for these necessary implements of warfare, because
they are contraband in time of war, and consequently could not then be
obtained abroad. Secretary of the Navy Whitney, who succeeded
Secretary Chandler, stipulated, in his advertisements for bids for the
contracts of making the armor for the ships under construction, that
this armor should be of domestic manufacture. Correspondence was also
opened with the leading steel manufacturers of the country, offering
them inducements to take the matter up. Interest was awakened, and it
was found upon investigation that armor could be made in the United
States as advantageously as abroad. A contract was drawn up with the
Bethlehem Iron Company, under which a plant for the production of
armor and gun steel was erected at Bethlehem, Pa., which was designed
to be second to none in the world. In the matter of the second
batteries, the policy of insisting upon home manufacture was also
pursued, with the desired result.
Congress had authorized, in 1885, the construction of two additional
cruisers and two gunboats. In 1886 there was further authorization of
two armor-clad vessels, each of about six thousand tons, and each to
cost, exclusive of armament, not more than $2,500,000. In 1887 the sum
of $2,000,000 was appropriated for harbor and coast defence vessels.
As a result of this reawakening on the part of Congress to the
necessity of a respectable navy, and the manifestations of
enlightenment in the form of substantial appropriations, Secretary
Whitney was able to state in his report of 1888 that upon the
completion of the ships under construction, the United States would
rank second among the nations in the possession of unarmored cruisers
or commerce-destroyers possessing the highest characteristics--namely,
size of three thousand tons and upward and a speed of nineteen knots,
and more. The vessels, inclusive of the monitors, completed and
uncompleted, then composing the navy, were as follows: The "Dolphin,"
"Boston," "Atlanta," "Chicago," whose keels were laid in 1883; the
"Charleston" "Baltimore," "Newark," "Philadelphia," "San Francisco,"
protected cruisers, whose keels were laid in 1887 and 1888; and the
gunboats "Yorktown," "Petrel," "Concord," "Bennington," whose keels
were laid in 1887 and 1888. In addition to these, there were under
construction the dynamite cruiser "Vesuvius," with a guaranteed speed
of twenty knots an hour, and a first-class torpedo-boat with a speed
of twenty-three knots an hour. Besides these, five protected cruisers
had been authorized, but were not yet in process of construction.
[Illustration: Dynamite Cruiser "Vesuvius."]
The "Baltimore," "Charlestown," "Yorktown," and "Petrel" were given
their trial trips in 1889, and were accepted by the Navy Department.
The trip of the "Baltimore," in particular, was a brilliant success.
The horse-power proved to be in excess of the contract requirement,
and her highest speed for one hour was 20.39 knots--this result being
then unparalleled by any warship in the world of the "Baltimore's"
displacement.
When Benjamin F. Tracy became Secretary of the Navy, in 1889 he called
attention to the fact that, while the United States had secured a
number of excellent vessels of the cruiser type, it did not as yet
possess an efficient navy. He pointed out that the country had two
widely separated ocean frontiers to protect, and that there was only
one way to protect them, namely, by two separate fleets of armored
battle-ships. He said further that in addition to the battle-ships,
the condition of the country required at least twenty vessels for
coast and harbor defence, and, moreover, that the employment of these
ships as floating fortresses demanded that they be equipped with the
most powerful batteries and the heaviest of armor. It may be said
parenthetically that eight vessels of this type, five of which were
reconstructed monitors, were under construction or had been authorized
at that time. Secretary Tracy recommended the authorization by the
following Congress of eight armored battle-ships. He also said that
the United States could not afford to neglect torpedo-boats, with
which the foreign naval powers were well supplied, and he recommended
that appropriations be made for the construction of at least five of
these boats of the first and second class. The year before, the keel
of the first of the battle-ships, the "Texas," had been laid in the
navy-yard at Norfolk, Va., and in 1889 work was begun at the Brooklyn
navy yard upon another vessel of the same class, the "Maine." These
vessels are respectively of 6,314 and 6,648 tons displacement. The
construction of a third battle-ship, which had been provided for, had
not yet been begun.
Secretary Tracy's recommendations reveal clearly the naval condition
in 1889. Previous to that year the additions to the navy had consisted
chiefly of cruisers of from three to four thousand tons, and of
gunboats under two thousand tons; but, acting upon the secretary's
report, Congress, on June 10, 1890, authorized, in addition to another
armored cruiser, three seagoing coast-line battle-ships. These were an
entirely new class of vessels in the United States navy, and their
authorization marks another distinct step in its reconstruction.
An appropriation was made in 1891 for an additional armored cruiser,
designed to be a sister ship to the one provided for in 1890. It was
the purpose to make these vessels more powerful than any of their type
in the navy. Their tonnage was fixed at 7,500, and their maximum speed
at twenty-two knots. They were to be given coal capacity that would
enable them to cruise for great distances without recoaling. This, it
will be seen, is an important advantage to a navy so destitute of
coaling-stations abroad as that of the United States.
The vessels under construction in 1891 were the monitors "Puritan,"
"Amphitrite," "Monadnock," and "Terror," which had been begun in 1874,
but had been neglected in subsequent years; the "Maine," the "Texas,"
the coast-defence vessel "Monterey," which was launched in 1891; the
"New York," "Cincinnati," "Raleigh," "Detroit," and a practice-ship,
which had been authorized by the act of 1887; the harbor-defence ram
"Katahdin;" and gunboats "5" and "6," authorized in 1889; the three
battle-ships, "Indiana," "Massachusetts," and "Oregon," and the
protected cruiser "No. 12," authorized by the act of 1890; and
protected cruiser "No. 13," provided for in 1891.
Three vessels, the "Newark," the "Concord," and the "Bennington," were
given their trial trips in 1890. The behavior of the "Newark" proved
her to be a valuable addition to the list of cruisers. The "Concord"
and the "Bennington," vessels of the gunboat class, similar to the
"Yorktown," also gave evidences of power and usefulness. They carry a
comparatively heavy battery, while their light draught enables them to
run into shallow rivers and bays, and thus perform services for which
larger vessels are incapacitated.
The subject of the organization of a naval militia or reserve had been
discussed for some time before Secretary Tracy assumed his office. He
forcibly urged the necessity of such an organization in his first and
in following annual reports, until, in 1891, Congress appropriated
$25,000 for arms for the militia. This was a decided impetus toward
its development, and at the close of the year it existed in six
States, an effective, well-drilled, and organized force of eleven
hundred men.
The year 1892 saw considerable progress in the development of the
navy. Two important vessels, the "Iowa," a first-class, seagoing
battle-ship of 11,296 tons displacement, and the "Brooklyn," an
armored cruiser of 9,150 tons displacement, were provided for by
Congress. The cruisers "Texas," "Columbia," "Olympia," "Raleigh," and
"Cincinnati," and the gunboats "Machias" and "Castine" were launched.
Secretary Tracy's administration of the affairs of the navy, which
closed in 1892, was one of marked progress and development; and this
development was not confined to ships alone. Experiments extending
over a period of three years had resulted in the adopting of an armor
of new composition, namely, nickel-steel, which had been found to be
far superior to any before known. The manufacture of torpedoes had
been domesticated. Since 1889 the heavy, rapid-firing guns had been
developed and proved successful. The manufacture of armor-piercing
shells, of which two firms in Europe had had the monopoly, was begun
in this period under the care and encouragement of the Navy
Department; and the shells turned out soon surpassed the foreign
product. Through investigation and experiment conducted by its own
agencies, the Navy Department succeeded in developing a smokeless
powder, which gave better results than that made abroad. Careful and
protracted experiments with high explosives were also carried on, with
the result of developing an explosive that can be safely used in
shells fired from high-power guns.
In 1893, the first year of the administration of Secretary Herbert,
the following vessels were launched: the armored battle-ships
"Indiana" and "Massachusetts;" the protected cruiser "Minneapolis;"
the unarmored and very rapid cruiser "Marblehead;" and the armed
coast-defence ram "Katahdin." During the same year Congress authorized
the construction of three new vessels, to be of the class known as
light-draft protected gunboats. These are of about twelve hundred tons
displacement, and are designed for river service in China and
elsewhere. Several vessels, namely, the "Monterey," "Bancroft,"
"Detroit," "New York," armored cruiser of 8,480 tons displacement, and
the gunboat "Machias," were given their trial trips in 1893. The
results were in each case satisfactory, and the vessels were added to
the effective fleet of the navy.
Before 1893 the United States had been behind the other important
nations in the matter of small-arms equipment. The navy was still
using the old-fashioned, large-calibre rifle, employing a charge of
black powder, and effectively carrying only twelve hundred yards.
Under Secretary Herbert's direction, a board of naval officers
investigated the improved small arms in use in foreign navies, and
made recommendations which resulted in the adoption of a small-calibre
magazine rifle, in which is used smokeless powder, and which has an
effective range of a mile and a half. A further advantage of the new
rifle is that it employs cartridges of such a weight that no less than
two hundred rounds can be carried by one man. The cartridges used in
the old rifle were so heavy that one man could not carry more than
fifty rounds.
Secretary Herbert recommended in his report of 1893 that Congress
authorize the construction of at least one new battle-ship and six
torpedo-boats. He said that for the defence of ports the latter are
more effective according to cost than any class of vessels. The
knowledge of their existence alone will make an enemy chary about
approaching within bombarding distance. The value of this boat is
recognized by all naval powers, and they are being built abroad in
great numbers. The next naval appropriation contained a provision
authorizing the construction of three additional torpedo-boats of the
general type of the "Ericsson," which was then ready for trial. The
design for the new boat called for a speed of not less than
twenty-four and one-half knots an hour. The battle-ships "Indiana,"
"Texas," and "Oregon" underwent preliminary trial trips in 1894, and
were accepted by the government in 1895. It is of interest to note
that until these vessels were put in commission, the navy was still in
the condition that existed when President Cleveland, in his first
message to Congress in 1885, made the following statement: "We have
not a single vessel that could keep the seas against a first-class
vessel of any important power." It is true that vessels of size and
power enough to hold their own against the battle-ships of other
nations had been under construction for several years, but the United
States was still without an available man-of-war of the first class
until the "Indiana" and the "Oregon" joined the fleet.
Considerable progress in naval affairs marked the year 1895. One of
the important events was the adding to the commissioned fleet of the
coast-defence monitor "Amphitrite," whose keel was laid in 1874. The
work of remodelling her was begun in 1889, under the appropriation
made by Congress in 1887. The "Amphitrite" is in some respects an
old-fashioned type of vessel, but is nevertheless capable of important
service. Her displacement is 3,990 tons. Her armor and armament are
heavy, although not so powerful as that of the battle-ships. Her main
advantage, as with all of the monitors, is that she presents a
comparatively small target for the enemy's fire.
[Illustration: United States Battle-Ship "Indiana."]
Adopting the spirit of Secretary Herbert's recommendations in his
report of 1894, Congress, in 1895, authorized the construction of two
coast-line battle-ships of most formidable equipment and power,
their cost not to exceed $4,000,000 each. Further provision was made
for the building of twelve torpedo-boats. An interesting feature of
the bill was the stipulation that one of the battle-ships shall bear
the historic name "Kearsarge," after the famous old man-of-war that
was wrecked in 1894 on Roncador Reef. According to the plans of the
new ships, they resemble in a general way the "Indiana," although they
are longer and broader and have a greater displacement, and their
batteries are more powerful. A new feature in the arrangement of the
guns was decided upon. The vessels will carry two turrets of two
stories each. Many objections to this plan were advanced, but it was
said that all are outweighed by the opportunity which the turrets give
of concentrating an enormous quantity of shot on a given point. An
estimate has been made that the "Kearsarge" will carry enough
ammunition to kill or disable a million persons, and that she will be
able to discharge it all within a period of five hours. Accommodations
will be provided for five hundred and twenty officers and men. The
"Kearsarge" and her sister ship, which will be called the "Kentucky,"
will carry heavier armor and guns and a greater quantity of the latter
than any foreign battle-ship in existence or in course of
construction.
The ram "Katahdin" was rejected by the government in 1895, because,
upon her official trials, she did not fulfil the speed requirements.
She made 16.011 knots, while the contract called for 17 knots.
Congress was asked to purchase the vessel, and finally did so.
The armored cruiser "Brooklyn," designed to be one of the fastest and
most powerful vessels of her class afloat, was launched from Cramp's
shipyard in Philadelphia in 1895. She is the sister ship to the "New
York," which was put in commission in 1893. A matter of significance,
as showing the rapid progress in the art of naval construction within
a few years, was the taking out of commission in 1895 of the
"Chicago," to be refitted with engines and boilers that will give her
powers approaching those of the newer vessels. Two years will be
required for this work, and when she is complete she will travel three
knots an hour faster than heretofore, and in many respects will be
substantially a new ship.
The official trial trip of the battle-ship "Massachusetts," which
occurred in 1896, was a source of gratification to the Navy Department
and to all others who are anxious to see the United States take
respectable rank among the naval powers. The primary business of a
battle-ship is to fight; hence her guns and not her speed are of the
first importance. Naval experts have agreed that the "Massachusetts"
and her sister ships, the "Indiana" and the "Oregon," have larger and
more effective batteries than any man-of-war afloat or in progress of
construction. The "Massachusetts" has now proved, by steaming at the
rate of 16.15 knots for four hours, with a maximum speed of 17.03
knots, that she is superior to all other battle-ships in speed as well
as in armament. Her performance is unparalleled in naval history, and
makes her the foremost war-vessel of the world. The "Indiana" is a
trifle slower. She steamed 15.61 knots for four hours, but under the
disadvantage of a bottom that had never been cleaned. She would
probably go half a knot faster with a clean bottom. As a
representative specimen of the battle-ships which belong to the navy,
a few details of the "Massachusetts'" armament may be of interest. She
has thirty guns in all. The chief of these are four of thirteen-inch
calibre, which are the largest in use in modern navies; a pair of them
can be fired every three minutes. The eight-inch guns are next in
size. There are four of them, and they can be fired every minute. In
addition to these, there are two six-inch rifles, twenty six-pounders,
and four one-pounders. The six-inch guns can be fired twice a minute,
and the six-pounders twenty times in the same period. In a fight
lasting thirty minutes, these guns would throw forty-one and a half
tons of metal, of which forty-four thousand pounds would be the share
of the thirteen-inch guns, thirty thousand pounds the share of the
eight-inch, six thousand pounds of the six-inch, and thirty-six
hundred pounds of the others. The total weight of the "Massachusetts'"
broadside is 5,724 pounds, and of her head or astern fire 3,434
pounds.
Another of the monitors, the "Monadnock," was added to the navy in
1896. She was launched in 1883, and was then practically left alone
until the acts of 1885, 1886, and 1887 provided for her completion.
She is now a formidable vessel, with heavy guns which can be made to
bear on a point a small boat's length from the ship's side, or can
bombard at a distance of six miles.
While the successive Secretaries of the Navy, during the last fourteen
years, have been chiefly active in increasing the number of
ships-of-war, they have not altogether neglected defences on the
coast. Some of the larger seacoast cities have succeeded in obtaining
a part of the heavy gun and mortar batteries that would be necessary
in repelling attacks without the aid of battle-ships. The cities of
New York and San Francisco have now mounted and ready for action
powerful pneumatic dynamite gun batteries, the most destructive
engines of war in existence. Each of these guns is capable of hurling
a projectile carrying five hundred pounds of the most powerful
explosive known to man, and is able to destroy the strongest
iron-clad. In the naval battle of Sinope in the Crimean War, a shell
designed to explode on striking the object was used for the first
time. When the high explosives, such as dynamite and gun-cotton,
appeared, the idea suggested itself that they might be used in the
shells with vastly greater effect than gunpowder, which had been
employed. The objection, however was that these explosives are so
sensitive that there was great danger of their exploding at the outset
of the journey from the sudden shock of being hurled from the ordinary
high-power guns and mortars. Captain Zalinski, of the United States
Artillery, suggested a method of gun construction by which the shells
could be projected by a steady pressure of compressed air instead of
by the sudden force of powder gases. This system has been steadily
improved until the pneumatic dynamite gun now works perfectly and is a
marvel of destructiveness. The United States possesses six and Great
Britain one of the seven dynamite guns that have thus far been
manufactured for coast defence.
The "Iowa," a battle-ship of the first class whose keel was laid in
1893, was launched in March, 1895. She is the largest vessel of the
navy now afloat, her displacement being 11,410 tons, which is over a
thousand tons greater than that of the "Massachusetts," "Indiana," or
"Oregon."
It will be seen that progress toward the building of the new navy of
the United States has been steady since the first move was made in
1882. As a result of this development, the navy now consists, counting
the vessels built and authorized by Congress, prior to 1896, the naval
appropriations bill for that year still pending at this writing, of
about seventy modern ships-of-war. These include eight battle-ships,
six coast-defence steel-clads, two armored cruisers, one armored ram,
thirteen protected cruisers, eighteen gunboats and unprotected
cruisers, and about two dozen torpedo-boats. This fleet gives the
United States sixth place in the list of naval powers, being outranked
in number of vessels by England, France, Russia, Germany, or Italy, in
the order named. A true idea of the comparative fighting strength of
the United States navy is not conveyed, however, by its rank in the
numerical strength of the fleet. The _personnel_ of the navy and the
power of the individual ships must be considered. It is generally
conceded that the United States has the finest fighting men and
vessels in the world. These advantages would, in all probability,
enable us to whip Germany or Italy in a series of naval contests;
therefore, it is thought by naval critics that we really hold fourth
position among the naval powers. England is still a long way ahead of
us, the English navy now numbering nearly five hundred vessels, of
which one hundred and twenty are armored cruisers. But, comparing the
navies ship to ship, the United States fleet, so far as it goes, is
superior even to that of Great Britain. The battle-ships, while
somewhat smaller, are more effective fighters. The English navy has no
armored cruisers as fast or as powerful as the "New York" and
"Brooklyn;" and the commerce-destroyers, "Columbia" and "Minneapolis,"
are the fastest vessels, either of war or peace, that have gone to
sea.
That this new navy of ours will ever have to meet so stern an ordeal
as that through which the sailors of '61 went is wholly improbable. In
multiplying the number and the effectiveness of fighting machines the
nations of the world have seemingly lessened the likelihood of war.
International disputes which once would have put the territory of all
Europe ablaze are now settled by the peaceful devices of diplomacy.
But behind the diplomat must be the gun, and it will be a sorry day
for the United States when, if ever, the sense of security bred of an
avowed national policy of non-intervention in foreign affairs shall
lead this people to neglect the naval arm of the republic.
PART V.
THE NAVAL WAR WITH SPAIN.
CHAPTER I.
THE STATE OF CUBA. -- PERTINACITY OF THE REVOLUTIONISTS. --
SPAIN'S SACRIFICES AND FAILURE. -- SPANISH BARBARITIES. -- THE
POLICY OF RECONCENTRATION. -- AMERICAN SYMPATHY AROUSED. -- THE
STRUGGLE IN CONGRESS. -- THE ASSASSINATION OF THE "MAINE." --
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION. -- THE ONWARD MARCH TO BATTLE.
A short time after the inauguration of William McKinley as President
of the United States in March, 1897, it became apparent that the
disordered condition of Cuba under Spanish rule was destined
inevitably to become an issue which the United States must help to
settle. For two years a great part of the island had been in open and
determined revolt against Spanish rule. Though the forces of the King
had been able to hold the seaports, thus cutting off the insurgents
from regular communication with the outer world and making impotent
their efforts to secure recognition from foreign powers, the patriots
under Maceo and Gomez held control of the interior, established a
government of their own, enforced order, and levied taxes. Enormous
sacrifices were made by the Spanish people to re-establish sovereignty
in the island. More than 300,000 troops were sent thither to be
cruelly cut down by plague and pestilence. A nation, long on the verge
of bankruptcy, incurred uncomplainingly prodigious additional
indebtedness to save for its boy king--Alphonso XIII. was at this time
but twelve years old--its most precious possession in the west, the
Pearl of the Antilles. Queen Isabella of Spain pawned her jewels that
Columbus might have the means to press his voyage of discovery into
unknown seas, but in the closing years of this century the people of
Spain pawned their national assets, put even themselves and their
posterity in pawn to hold for Spain the last relics of the empire
which Columbus won for her.
Though we were forced to draw the sword upon Spain in the cause of
humanity and human liberty, the man of reason, and of a sense of
justice, will not withhold from the people of that sorely chastened
nation admiration for their loyalty and the sacrifices they made in
their national cause.
But the Spanish people were cruelly betrayed by their own rulers. The
generals whom they sent to Cuba gave less thought to the suppression
of the insurrection than to filling their own pockets. Out of the
millions and millions of pesetas set aside by an already impoverished
people for the needs of war, a great part was stolen by generals and
by army contractors. The young conscripts, sent from Spain to a land
where the air is pestilential to the unacclimated, were clothed and
shod in shoddy; their food invited disease, and when they fell ill it
was found that the greed of the generals had consumed the funds that
should have provided sufficient hospital service. Comparatively few
fell before the bullets or machetes of the insurgents--for, as we
shall see, the revolutionists adopted the tactics of Fabius--but by
thousands they succumbed to fevers of every kind. Death without glory
was the hapless lot of the Spanish conscript.
The Patriot generals, Maximo Gomez and Antonio Maceo, met this
situation with consummate skill. The military problem which confronted
them was one which chiefly demanded self-restraint. They were
lamentably destitute of arms and munitions of war. Cartridges were a
dearly prized acquisition, and it is worth noting, as an indication of
the venality which corrupted the Spanish army, that a considerable
share of the insurgent ammunition was obtained by direct traffic with
the Spanish soldiers. But in the main the Patriots were armed with
heterogeneous firearms and the machete--a heavy, sword-like knife,
used, in peace, for cutting cane. The latter at close quarters was a
formidable weapon, and the insurgents became singularly proficient in
its use; developing a style of machete play almost as exact and
scientific as the school of the rapier in ancient France.
This disparity in weapons, however, made it imperative that the
insurgents should avoid pitched battles with the invaders, who were
armed with Mauser rifles, that do deadly work at two miles' distance.
Accordingly, Gomez and Maceo confined themselves to harrying the
Spanish army of occupation on every side and destroying all vestiges
of Spanish authority outside the large towns. Warfare of this sort
inevitably develops into the most cruel, the most barbarous of
conflicts. So it was in this case. That Cuba might be made desolate,
unable to pay anything toward the price of its own subjection, the
insurgents relentlessly destroyed standing crops, burned great fields
of standing sugar cane, destroyed mills, dynamited railroads, tore up
roads, and demolished aqueducts. That the peaceful inhabitants--the
pacificos--might not give aid or comfort to the revolutionists,
General Weyler caused them to be driven from their farms and herded in
the towns still under Spanish rule. There they stayed, in squalid huts
or under thatched sheds, AND STARVED. Systematically, with devilish
ingenuity, Spain planned to crush Cuba, not by fighting the
revolutionists, but by starving women and children, old men and
peaceful farm hands. It is estimated, and conservatively, that more
than 500,000 people had been starved to death before the United States
interfered.
Indeed, it was upon the hapless pacificos that the horrors of war
chiefly descended. They were ruined, but that was the least. Their
property, the honor of their women, and their lives were held to be
the legitimate spoil of any Spanish soldier, and the tacit
legalization of loot, rapine, and murder was taken full advantage of.
More inhuman even than the regular soldiery were the guerrillas,
licensed free companions, who roamed the island ever in search of
spoil. The deeds of these wretches beggar description, and so foul was
the repute of their corps that prisoners from their number taken by
the Cubans were instantly put to death. It is just to say here that
the testimony of Americans who served with Gomez and Maceo proves that
those leaders enforced humane and orderly conduct upon their
followers. The death penalty was more than once imposed upon useful
and brave soldiers, who had been guilty of outrage. Nothing could more
vividly indicate the moral difference between the Cuban and the
Spaniard than the contrast between their methods of prosecuting the
war. Though outlawed, the Revolutionists observed with scrupulous
exactness the rules of civilized warfare, while the Spaniards murdered
helpless prisoners, even killing the wounded in their beds, had
recourse to torture and to nameless mutilation, in order to wreak
their hatred, and let loose a swarm of bandits and ruffians to prey
upon the defenseless people of the island.
Out of warfare such as this, waged on an island only a few hours' sail
from our coast, and in which were heavy American interests, it was
inevitable that invasion of American rights should proceed, and the
wrath of the American people be awakened. Our citizens owned large
plantations in Cuba, which were destroyed either by the Spaniards or
the insurgents. Many Americans living in the island or visiting there,
were arrested by the Spanish authorities, and one, at least, Dr. Ruiz,
was murdered in Morro Castle, while another a newspaper correspondent,
was cut to pieces by guerrillas. For Spanish outrages upon the lives
or property of American citizens, claims aggregating $60,000,000 were
on file with the United States Department of State before the
declaration of war. The general sympathy of the American people with
the insurgents, as well as the hope of profit, led to repeated efforts
by our citizens to smuggle arms and munitions of war to the Cubans,
and in time it became necessary to employ a great part of the United
States navy in police duty on the high seas for the purpose of
stopping the filibusters. This service in behalf of Spain was
exceedingly repugnant to the American mind, and contributed greatly to
the growing feeling of irritation toward Spain.
History in coming ages, however, will relate, to the unending horror
and glory of the American people, that humanitarian considerations,
rather than regard for imperiled interests, brought the United States
into a war which most emphatically their people did not desire. The
great New York newspapers, day by day, printed circumstantial accounts
of the frightful sufferings in Cuba. One journal secured a great
number of photographs of scenes amid the starving reconcentrados,
which, greatly enlarged, were publicly exhibited in all parts of the
Union. These pictures, showing the frightful distortions of the human
body as the result of long starvation, showing little children, mere
skeletons, looking mutely down on the dead bodies of their parents,
brought home to the mind of the people the state of life in a
neighboring land as no writing, however brilliant, could. A cry went
up from every part of the United States that a Christian duty was
imposed upon our nation to interfere for the alleviation of such
horrible suffering. Charity came to the rescue with free contributions
of provisions, and Congress made a heavy appropriation of money for
the relief of the Cubans. But everywhere the opinion grew that
philanthropy alone could not right this great wrong, but that the
strong hand of the United States must reach forth to pluck out the
Spaniard from the land he ravaged. And when a number of Senators and
Representatives in Congress made journeys to Cuba, and returning,
described in formal addresses at the Capitol the scenes of starvation
and misery, this opinion hardened into positive conviction.
Then, almost as if planned by some all-knowing power, came a great and
inexplicable disaster, which made American intervention inevitable and
immediate.
During the latter years of the Cleveland administration the
representatives of American interests in Cuba urged that a United
States ship-of-war should be permanently stationed in Havana harbor.
The request was reasonable, the act in thorough accord with the custom
of nations. But, fearing to offend Spain, President Cleveland avoided
taking the step and President McKinley for months imitated him. In
time this act, which in itself could have had no hostile significance,
came to be regarded as an expression of hostility to Spain, and all
the resources of Spanish diplomacy were exerted to prevent any
American warship from entering Havana harbor. Ultimately, however, the
pressure of public opinion compelled the Executive to provide for
representation of American authority in the disordered island, and the
battle-ship "Maine"--a sister ship to the "Iowa," a picture of which
appears elsewhere in this volume--was sent to Havana.
The night of February 15 the "Maine" lay quietly at her anchorage in
the Havana harbor. Her great white hull, with lights shining
brilliantly from the ports aft where the officers' quarters were,
gleamed in the starlight. On the berth deck the men swung sleeping in
their hammocks. The watch on deck breathed gratefully the cool evening
air after the long tropic day. Captain Sigsbee was at work in his
cabin, and the officers in the wardroom were chatting over their games
or dozing over their books. The lights of the town and of the ancient
fortress of Morro shone brightly through the purpling light. Not far
away the Spanish man-of-war "Alfonso XIII." lay at her moorings, and
an American merchantman, brightly lighted, was near. The scene was
peaceful, quiet, beautiful. True, in the minds of many officers and
men on the American warship there was a lurking and indefinable sense
of danger. Their coming had been taken by the Spaniards in Havana as
a hostile act. Though all the perfunctory requirements of
international courtesy had been complied with, salutes interchanged,
visits of ceremony paid and returned, there was yet in the Spanish
greeting an ill-concealed tone of anger. In the cafés Spanish officers
cursed the Yankees and boasted of their purpose to destroy them. On
the streets American blue-jackets, on shore leave, were jostled,
jeered, and insulted. Yet the ill-temper of the Spaniards, though
apparent, was so ill defined that no apprehension of a positive attack
was felt. As is the practice on men-of-war, however, the utmost
vigilance was maintained. Only the employment of a boat patrol and the
use of torpedo nettings were lacking to give the "Maine" the aspect of
a ship in an enemy's harbor.
Then came the disaster that shocked the world. A disaster in which it
is impossible not to suspect the element of treachery. A disaster
which if purely accidental, occurring to a hated ship in a port
surrounded by men who were enemies at heart, was the most
extraordinary coincidence in history. The story is brief. Not until
this war is ended and the authority of the United States is employed
to clear up the mystery, can the real narrative of the destruction of
the "Maine" be told.
This much we know: At about half-past nine those on the "Maine" who
lived to tell the tale heard a sudden dull explosion, with a slight
shock, then a prolonged, deep, furious roar, which shook the ship to
its very vitals. The people on the other ships in the harbor saw the
whole forward portion of the "Maine" suddenly become a flaming volcano
belching forth fire, men, huge pieces of steel, and bursting shells.
Portions of the ship's hull rained down on decks a thousand yards
away. When the first fierce shock of the explosion was past, it was
seen that the "Maine" was on fire and was rapidly sinking.
How wonderful is the power of discipline upon the human mind! On the
great battle-ship, with hundreds of its men blown to pieces or penned
down by steel débris to be drowned in the rapidly rising waters, there
was no panic. Captain Sigsbee, rushing from his cabin door, is met by
the sergeant of marines who serves him as orderly. Not a detail of
naval etiquette is lacking. Sergeant William Anthony salutes:
"I have to report, sir, that the ship is blown up and is sinking," he
says, as he would report a pilot boat in the offing.
The captain reaches the deck to find his officers already at work, the
men who have not been injured all at their stations. Boats are
lowered and ply about the harbor to rescue survivors. Though the
flames rage fiercely, and the part of the ship which they have not yet
reached is full of high explosives, there is no panic. At the first
alarm every man has done what years of drill and teaching have taught
him to do. The after-magazines have been flooded, the boats' crews
called away. Even preparations for a fight had been attempted.
Lieutenant Jenkins, hearing the first explosion, sprang so quickly for
his station at a forward gun that he was caught in the second
explosion and slain. Though a bolt from heaven or a shock from hell
had struck the "Maine," it brought death only--not fear nor panic.
The work of rescuing survivors and caring for the wounded was pushed
apace, for the ship sunk rapidly, until only her after-superstructure
was above the water. Boats from the Spanish man-of-war joined in the
work of mercy and her officers, as though conscious that the suspicion
of treachery was first in every man's mind, exerted themselves in
every way to show solicitude for the wounded and sorrow for the
disaster. When all was done that could be done, and the roll of the
ship's company was called, it was found that 266 brave Americans were
lost in Havana harbor--a friendly port. Some lie there yet, penned
down beneath the gnarled and scorched steel which formed the gallant
"Maine"; others lie in lonely graves on the adjacent shore, where,
before this war is ended, the American flag shall be raised above them
to be their avenger and their monument.
* * * * *
It will be necessary to outline in only the most terse and condensed
form the political and military events which succeeded the destruction
of the "Maine" and led up to the declaration of war. The news of the
great disaster was received at home with horror, speedily turning to
anger. The Government, rightly desiring to proceed calmly and in
accordance with regularly ascertained facts, strove to calm the public
temper, but with little success. It gave out as Captain Sigsbee's
first report of the disaster a cable message, which contained no
charge of treachery, advised caution, and urged a suspension of
judgment. But presently it became rumored about Washington that this
dispatch was, in fact, sent under orders; that the captain's first
report formally charged the Spaniards with blowing up the ship. In the
newspapers the discussion raged and theories of the disaster were
plentiful, but, after long weeks of careful study of the evidence, the
Naval Board of Inquiry presented the following report:
When the "Maine" arrived at Havana, she was conducted by the
regular Government pilot to buoy No. 4, to which she was moored
in from five to six fathoms of water.
The state of discipline on board, and the condition of her
magazines, boilers, coal-bunkers, and storage compartments, are
passed in review, with the conclusion that excellent order
prevailed, and that no indication of any cause for an internal
explosion existed in any quarter.
At eight o'clock on the evening of February 15 everything had
been reported secure, and all was quiet. At 9.40 o'clock the
vessel was suddenly destroyed.
There were two distinct explosions, with a brief interval between
them. The first lifted the forward part of the ship very
perceptibly; the second, which was more open, prolonged, and of
greater volume, is attributed by the Court to the partial
explosion of two or more of the forward magazines.
The evidence of the divers establishes that the after-part of the
ship was practically intact, and sank in that condition a very
few minutes after the explosion. The forward part was completely
demolished.
Upon the evidence of a concurrent external cause the finding of
the Court is as follows:
At frame 17 the outer shell of the ship, from a point eleven and
one-half feet from the middle line of the ship and six feet above
the keel when in its natural position, has been forced up so as
to be now about four feet above the surface of the water;
therefore, about thirty-four feet above where it would be had the
ship sunk uninjured.
The outside bottom plating is bent into a reversed V-shape, the
after-wing of which, about fifteen feet broad and thirty-two feet
in length (from frame 17 to frame 25), is doubled back upon
itself against the continuation of the same plating extending
forward.
At frame 18 the vertical keel is broken in two and the flat keel
bent into an angle similar to the angle formed by the outside
bottom plates. This break is now about six feet below the surface
of the water and about thirty feet above its normal position.
In the opinion of the Court, this effect could have been produced
only by the explosion of a mine situated under the bottom of the
ship, at about frame 18, and somewhat on the port side of the
ship.
The conclusions of the Court are:
That the loss of the "Maine" was not in any respect due to fault
or negligence on the part of any of the officers or members of
her crew.
That the ship was destroyed by the explosion of a submarine mine,
which caused the partial explosion of two or more of her forward
magazines; and,
That no evidence has been obtainable fixing the responsibility
for the destruction of the "Maine" upon any person or persons.
[Illustration: Partial View of the Wreck of the "Maine."]
To-day, in the midst of war with Spain, we have no more definite, no
more authoritative knowledge of the cause of this disaster than this.
Spain, indeed, through her official commission, decided that the
explosion was wholly internal, but the American people is not
convinced. Battleships are not in the habit of blowing themselves up,
and it is the expectation that the establishment of American authority
in Cuba will be followed by the unraveling of this murderous plot.
Undoubtedly an anecdote told of Captain Robley D. Evans (Fighting Bob)
of the navy expresses the popular conviction:
"The admiral in command of the United States fleet at Key West should
have sailed for Havana on getting news of the 'Maine's' destruction,"
said Evans. "He should have reduced the forts, seized the city,
discovered the assassins, and hanged them."
"But that would have been defiance of the orders of the Navy
Department," responded his auditor, aghast.
"Perhaps so," admitted Evans, "but the man who did it would have been
the next President of the United States."
While the "Maine" Court of Inquiry was in session measures looking
toward war were rapidly taken. March 9, a bill, which had passed both
houses of Congress without a dissenting voice, became a law,
appropriating $50,000,000 to be expended for the national defense. Out
of this sum the Navy Department bought two Brazilian cruisers building
in England, which were rechristened the "New Orleans" and "Albany." A
flotilla of yachts, seagoing tugs, and merchantmen was bought and
refitted. The great American liners "St. Paul," "City of Paris," "City
of New York," and "St. Louis" were chartered and made into auxiliary
cruisers. All Europe was ransacked for purchasable warships and
torpedo boats, with the result of proving that no nation, however
rich, can equip itself with a navy in an emergency. Not one
battle-ship was available for purchase, and only four cruisers, of
doubtful quality. And while this work of preparation was going
hurriedly on the country was drifting into war with what seemed at the
time inexplicable slowness, but to the calmer backward glance of
history will appear dangerously swift in the face of our great lack of
preparation. What might be termed the milestones on the march to
battle were these:
_April 5._--Consul General Fitz Hugh Lee recalled from Havana.
_April 11._--Message of the President on Cuba, recommending that we
have power to intervene forcibly without "recognizing at this time the
independence of the present insurgent government."
_April 13._--The House passed a resolution directing the President to
intervene in Cuba at once, and authorizing him to use the land and
naval forces of the United States to stop the war.
_April 16._--The Senate passed a joint resolution, as a substitute for
the House resolution, declaring the island to be free, recognizing the
republic, demanding relinquishment of authority in Cuba by Spain, and
withdrawal of Spanish forces; directing the President to call out the
militia in addition to regular land and naval forces, and, finally,
disclaiming any intention to annex the island.
_April 19._--Senate resolution adopted by the House, with the proviso
recognizing the republic of Cuba stricken out. Both houses agreed to
the report in this form.
_April 20._--Ultimatum to Spain, cabled at 11 A.M.--a formal demand
that Spain at once relinquish its authority and government in the
island of Cuba, and withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and
Cuban waters.
President signed Cuban joint resolutions at 11.24.
Señor Polo y Bernabé, the Spanish Minister, was notified. He at once
requested his passports.
_April 21._--General Woodford, the American Minister at Madrid, left
Spain.
The President directed the Secretary of the Navy to order the vessels
of the North Atlantic squadron to proceed without delay to Cuban
waters to blockade Havana and other ports of the island.
_April 23._--President McKinley signed the proclamation calling for
125,000 volunteers.
_April 25._--Formal declaration of war recommended by the President,
and a bill "declaring that war exists between the United States of
America and the Kingdom of Spain," passed by both houses.
And so the United States embarked on its first war with any European
Power, save England--a war forced upon us by every consideration of
humanity--a war which shall be of great advantage or of great harm to
our Republic, according as its fruits are wisely or wrongly
administered.
CHAPTER II.
THE OPENING DAYS OF THE WAR. -- THE FIRST BLOW STRUCK IN THE
PACIFIC. -- DEWEY AND HIS FLEET. -- THE BATTLE AT MANILA. -- AN
EYE-WITNESS' STORY. -- DELAY AND DOUBT IN THE EAST. -- DULL TIMES
FOR THE BLUE-JACKETS. -- THE DISCOVERY OF CERVERA. -- HOBSON'S
EXPLOIT. -- THE OUTLOOK.
Strangely enough the first warlike stroke at Spain was not delivered
in or about Cuba, where the quarrel arose, but in the other
hemisphere, in the far-away waters of the Asiatic Pacific, where the
American flag is almost a stranger and the power and wealth of the
great American Republic are unknown. In the Philippine Islands Spain
retains one of the colonies with which she once encircled the globe.
More than 7,000,000 people--a peace-loving, kindly, intelligent
race--are there ruled by the Spaniards, and as the rule was of the
characteristic Spanish kind, with all the accompaniments of slaughter,
dishonor, and extortion, the natives--as in Cuba--were in a chronic
state of rebellion. One uprising, which had assumed very considerable
proportions, was reported by the Spaniards as suppressed just before
our declaration of war. That event, however, aroused the
revolutionists again and, as we shall see, they were of the greatest
service to us as allies.
When war was declared an American squadron of six warships lay at Hong
Kong. The vessels were the "Olympia," protected cruiser; "Raleigh,"
"Baltimore," and "Boston," cruisers; "Concord" and "Petrel," gunboats,
and the revenue cutter "McCulloch." Not a very powerful fleet--not a
battle-ship nor even an armored cruiser among them--but the ships
carried crews of as sturdy Yankee blue-jackets as ever trained a gun,
and when the time came for daring an enemy's fire the little "Petrel"
was as dashing and defiant as the stoutest of steel-clads could be. In
command of the squadron was Admiral George Dewey, a Vermonter, who
served with Farragut and had his baptism of fire at the forts below
New Orleans. In time of peace the war record of a subaltern is quickly
forgotten, and Dewey patiently climbed the ladder of promotion until
1898 found him a commodore and in command of the Asiatic squadron,
without anybody's remembering particularly that this officer in far
Hong Kong had seen fighting and knew how to bear himself under fire.
It is a significant fact that when he had won the first great victory
of the war, and the newspapers were searching everywhere for stories
illustrative of his character, it was discovered that he had chiefly
impressed himself on the Washington mind by his excessive
punctiliousness in matters of dress.
Four days after the declaration of war there was a commotion on the
ships of Dewey's squadron. The signal to weigh anchor flew from the
foremast of the "Olympia," and everybody knew that the admiral had
received fighting orders. For some days past the ships had been in
their battle rigging. The white paint had been covered by a dull
greenish-gray. All woodwork, railings, and unnecessary hamper had been
stripped off and sent ashore. The officers' baggage was reduced to the
barest necessities. Nothing was left anywhere on board which could be
turned into a cloud of flying splinters by a shell, or which cumbered
the decks to the inconvenience of the gunners. The warships which, in
time of peace, were as bright and sparkling as a well-kept yacht, had
put on the sullen, vicious air of war.
Dewey's objective point when he set sail from the harbor of Hong Kong
was the Asiatic squadron of Spain, under the command of Admiral
Montojo. There was every reason to believe that he would find the
enemy under the protecting guns of the forts that guarded the harbor
of Manila. In themselves the Spanish ships were no match for the
American fleet. Three good ships had Admiral Montojo--the "Reina
Cristina," the "Castilla," and the "Don Antonio de Ulloa"; but his
others were old-fashioned and lacking in modern armament. But should
they take positions under the guns of the Spanish forts, at the end of
a channel plentifully guarded by mines and torpedoes, the disparity in
forces would disappear. As it occurred this was precisely what they
did, giving Admiral Dewey opportunity to put into practice tactics
which it seems he had studied for months in anticipation of exactly
such an emergency.
On the night of April 30 the American ships arrived at the entrance of
Manila harbor, unseen by the sentries on the forts. It was known that
Montojo was inside, and every light was extinguished and every noise
hushed on the Yankee ships, for the admiral had planned a midnight
entrance to the stronghold. The ships were stripped for action, boats
covered with canvas, nettings spread to prevent splinters from flying,
partitions removed, and ammunition hoists and bullet shields put up.
At midnight the entrance to the harbor began, the ships steaming in
single column at about six knots an hour, with the "Olympia" leading.
Strangely enough not a single torpedo or mine in the channel was
exploded, though the Spaniards discovered the advance of the ships and
opened fire from the forts. The first shot in answer was fired by a
gunner on the "Boston," without orders. He saw the flash of a gun on a
shore battery and instantly fired his piece without altering its
elevation. That dismantled a gun in the Spanish works and killed
thirty men.
For a few hours after passing the forts the wearied blue-jackets slept
at their guns. With the approach of day came the signal from the
flagship to prepare for action. In the gray dawn the Spanish fleet
could be seen about two miles distant, at such a point that their fire
could be re-enforced by the guns of the forts. A most graphic story of
the action that followed, as seen from the view-point of "the man
behind the gun," whom Captain Mahan eulogizes, is told by Chief Gunner
Evans of the "Boston," from whose narrative I quote the following
paragraphs:
[Illustration: Dewey at Manila.]
"We were steaming very slowly, but increasing speed as the dawn
increased. In the gray daylight we could make out a line of ships
anchored in front of the city. Then we steamed ahead faster. The
ships ahead proved to be merchantmen, and at daylight we could
discern the Spanish fleet further down the bay, and then it was
'Full ahead!' The Spanish fleet did not advance to meet us, and
apparently made no move on the defensive. Possibly our audacity
had for the moment paralyzed them. But it was not for long. In
twenty minutes or so they opened a terrific cannonading at long
range. The batteries and forts around Manila opened fire at
the same time. Every man on the ship was now wide awake and at
his post. I knew that it would not be long before there would be
some hot work, and I served my men with a cup of coffee and a
piece of hardtack, and a little later gave them each a drink of
whisky and water.
"According to orders, we did not respond to the Spanish guns
until our ships came into position. Then the flagship opened
fire, and then I followed with two hours of cannonading which I
do not believe has ever been equaled in naval warfare. The shots
from the 'Olympia' were the prearranged signal for the other
ships to do the same.
"We soon discovered that the batteries of Cavité were very
heavily mounted, and the ordnance included several ten-inch guns,
and we were not long in finding out that the 'Don Antonio de
Ulloa' and the 'Reina Cristina,' the flagship, carried much
heavier guns than we thought. We began to fear that our ships had
met their match. As hot as the battle was, the heat of the sun
was equally so, and I had my men who were bringing up the
ammunition throw off every vestige of clothing except their
shoes.
"The Spanish guns had opened upon us at 5.10 A.M., and it was
fully 5.40 before we began to reply. But when we did, we made
every shot tell, for our gunners demonstrated that their
opponents were no match for them in accuracy, although the
Spaniards had every advantage and should have known the exact
range of every point in the harbor, while of the American fleet
not a single gunner had ever as much as been in the harbor
before.
"By 6.30 we had circled three times, and were starting for the
fourth when the Spanish admiral came out in the 'Reina Cristina'
and gallantly assailed us; but we made it hot for him. I don't
know how in the world he escaped with his life. While he was
standing on the bridge a shot from one of our ships--I think it
was the 'Concord'--blew the bridge clean over; in fact, shot it
right from under him, but the Admiral was apparently uninjured,
for a few minutes later I saw him walking the deck as calmly as
though he was on parade. It was getting too hot for him, and he
evidently saw that his ship was no match for us, and he turned to
get back to his fleet.
"Just as the 'Reina Cristina' swung around an eight-inch shell
from the port battery, which I was tending, struck her square
astern, and set her on fire. By this time other gunners had got
the range, and if ever a ship was riddled it was the 'Reina
Cristina.' I do not think it was fifteen minutes from the time
the shell from the 'Boston' struck her when she went down with,
it is said, over two hundred men. The Admiral, however, had
escaped in a small boat and made for the 'Isla de Cuba,' where he
again hoisted his flag.
"After we had circled five times, we withdrew. The smoke was so
dense that we could hardly distinguish friend from foe. Our men
had worked three long hours with scarcely a mouthful of food. I
had, however, kept my men well supplied with whisky and water. I
gave each a small drink about every twenty minutes.
"After we had withdrawn, and the clouds of smoke had lifted
enough so that we could see, Admiral Dewey signaled the ships to
report the number of killed and wounded. It would have done your
heart good to have heard the shouts and cheers that went up as
ship after ship ran up the signal to indicate that she had no
killed and none wounded worth reporting. It was one of the most
thrilling moments of the entire battle.
"It was a wise move on Admiral Dewey's part in withdrawing at
that moment, for our men were rapidly becoming exhausted. For my
own part I do not think I could have held out another half hour,
and neither could my men. We were not only wearied physically,
but the nervous strain was something awful. I called my men into
the gunroom and served each with a good stiff drink of whisky and
told them to take all the rest they could get. I went into the
chartroom, as it was about the coolest place on the ship, and
threw myself on the chart table. I was too nervous to sleep and
too exhausted to move. I just lay there sort of dazed.
"Soon after ten o'clock we advanced again, and the 'Baltimore'
opened the fight. As many of the Spanish ships had been disabled,
what we most feared now was the forts. The 'Baltimore' sailed
right into the very teeth of the guns, any one of which could
have annihilated her, and only bad marksmanship of the Spanish
gunners saved her from destruction, and she did not retreat until
she had practically silenced the fort.
"My ship, the 'Boston,' was perhaps struck oftener during the
battle than any of the American ships, but in every instance it
was small shot or shell, making a glancing blow that did no
particular harm. After the first hour or so of the battle, if we
had received a damaging shot, the chances are that we would have
all gone down, for out of all the ship's boats, only two were of
any value, the others having been shattered to pieces.
"We were circling in line with the other ships when the 'Isla de
Cuba' swung around to give us a broadside. The guns in the port
battery got the range on the 'Isla de Cuba,' and sent in a shot
that struck in amidships and made her tremble from stem to stern.
I was watching at the porthole at the time. The other guns of the
'Boston' followed the example of the port gunner, and for a few
minutes it seemed that the 'Isla de Cuba' was crumbling to pieces
like a falling building in an earthquake. We turned, and the
starboard guns did equally good work, and when the Spanish flag
came tumbling down we let out a yell that was heard around the
world, figuratively speaking, if not literally.
"I can never forget the scene after the battle. The forts were
smoking, and scattered all through the bay were the hulks of once
magnificent Spanish ships. Some were drifting helplessly about,
as though the men on board seemed not to know what to do and had
lost their heads entirely. Rigging was trailing in the water and
only remnants remained of the lifeboats. Over at one end of the
bay was the wreck of the once magnificent 'Reina Cristina.'
Further along were smoking hulks, and here and there could be
seen only the masts and rigging above water.
"To add to the horror of the scene, hundreds of corpses came
floating by, and it seemed as though the bay was full of dead
Spaniards, although I believe less than a thousand were killed. I
really think that the sight in the harbor that afternoon
impressed men more with the horrors of war than did anything
which occurred during the actual battle.
"During all the fight my men, except for a little while during
the interval for breakfast, were stripped to the bare skin and
wore only their shoes. The thermometer was over one hundred, and
to this was added the heat of the fire of the guns, until it made
one's blood fairly boil."
The plan of action was for the fleet to revolve in a great circle or
ellipse before the delivering their fire from starboard and port
batteries alternately. The first shot from the "Olympia" was a
250-pound shell, aimed at the Cavité fort, and discharged with a shout
from all hands, "Remember the Maine!" After two hours' fighting the
fleet withdrew for breakfast, returning to action in about two hours,
and after the Spanish surrender the little "Petrel" was sent in to
destroy, by boats' crews, the ships in the inner harbor.
Commodore Dewey's official report of the action is a model of modesty
and brevity. It came in these two cable messages:
MANILA, May 1.--Squadron arrived at Manila at daybreak this
morning. Immediately engaged the enemy, and destroyed the
following Spanish vessels: "Reina Cristina," "Castilla," "Don
Antonio de Ulloa," "Isla de Luzon," "Isla de Cuba," "General
Lezo," "Marquis de Duero," "Cano," "Velasco," "Isla de Mindanao,"
a transport, and water battery at Cavité. The squadron is
uninjured, and only a few men are slightly wounded. Only means of
telegraphing is to American Consul at Hong Kong. I shall
communicate with him.
DEWEY.
CAVITÉ, May 4.--I have taken possession of naval station at
Cavité, on Philippine Islands. Have destroyed the fortifications
at bay entrance, paroling the garrison. I control bay completely,
and can take city at any time. The squadron is in excellent
health and spirits. Spanish loss not fully known but very heavy.
One hundred and fifty killed, including captain of "Reina
Cristina." I am assisting in protecting Spanish sick and wounded;
250 sick and wounded in hospital within our lines. Much
excitement at Manila. Will protect foreign residents.
DEWEY.
It is little short of marvelous that no lives were lost on the
American ships--though a month later Captain Gridley of the "Olympia"
died from the effect of the concussion of his own guns. The vessels
were handled with a daring amounting almost to bravado, yet so poor
was the marksmanship of the Spaniards that little or no damage was
suffered. It is to be kept in mind that, despite the disparity in the
armament of the fleets, the Spanish works at Cavité mounted guns of
twice the weight of any that Dewey's ships bore. Yet, when the action
was over, the American vessels were practically uninjured, and
perfectly capable of fulfilling the threat sent by Admiral Dewey,
that if another shot was fired he would lay Manila in ashes.
At the time these words are written, that threat alone keeps order in
Manila bay. Dewey with his ships is there, holding the town at the
muzzles of his guns and waiting for the re-enforcements of troops,
which were dispatched to his aid from San Francisco almost a month
after his victory--an unconscionable delay. Some 25,000 troops will be
sent to his aid, and with the insurgents, who were greatly encouraged
and strengthened by the American victory, will forever destroy Spain's
power in the Philippines.
* * * * *
In the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, where it
was expected the fighting would come first and be most decisive, the
war lagged languidly for weeks. For a few days the jackies found some
excitement and some hope of profit in capturing unsuspecting Spanish
merchantmen, but soon the dull and deadly monotony of the peaceful
blockade settled down upon the fleet, and Sampson's men grilled grimly
under a blazing sun by day and slept uneasily by their guns at night,
week after week, without a touch of battle to vary the dull round. The
Spanish ships "Vizcaya" and "Oquendo," which had been in the harbor of
Havana when war was declared, had slipped away, and there was no enemy
afloat in the neighborhood save puny gunboats and torpedo boats that
clung close to the protecting guns of the fortresses. Blockading is
the most trying duty the blue-jacket has to discharge. Destitute
wholly of glory, the element of danger is still ever present in a form
which is particularly trying to the nerves. Every night brought danger
of an attack by torpedo boats. These swift and sinister craft might at
any time dart out of Havana harbor, discharge their fatal bolt, and
send a good ship to the bottom as speedily as went the "Maine." That
the Spaniards at no time even seriously attempted a torpedo-boat
attack on the blockading squadron seems to reflect on their courage.
But what they lacked apparently in courage they made up in shrewdness.
For weeks the best efforts of our board of strategy and our board of
naval intelligence were baffled by the mysterious movements of the
Spanish fleet under Admiral Cervera. This squadron, which numbered
among its vessels the powerful armored cruisers "Vizcaya," "Maria
Teresa," "Cristobal Colon," and "Almirante Oquendo," was reported now
at the Canaries, then at Cadiz, then dashing through the Suez Canal to
overwhelm Dewey at Manila, then off the coast of New England,--whereat
Boston and Portland were mightily alarmed,--then bound South to
capture or destroy the "Oregon,"--which was painfully making the
voyage around Cape Horn,--then at Martinique, and, in short, at every
conceivable point of menace. As a result of these conflicting reports,
two American fleets were reduced to impotence. The "flying squadron"
of fast cruisers under Commodore Schley was kept for weeks at moorings
in Hampton Roads ready to be dispatched for protection of our northern
coasts, while the squadron of battle-ships under Admiral Sampson was
made to steam hither and yon in the Caribbean Sea looking for an
enemy's fleet which much of the time lay snugly on the other side of
the Atlantic. Accordingly, up to June 15, the results of naval
operations in West Indian waters were almost _nil_. Powder had been
burned indeed as when, on April 27, the Spanish works at Matanzas were
bombarded and silenced by the "New York," "Puritan," and "Cincinnati,"
of Admiral Sampson's squadron, and on May 13 the works at San Juan,
Porto Rico, were similarly tested. Deeds of conspicuous gallantry,
too, were done, as when Ensign Worth Bagley lost his life while
gallantly engaging Spanish gunboats and shore batteries with the
torpedo boat "Winslow" at Cardenas. But these actions, though seized
upon eagerly by a public hungry for war news, were inconclusive and
trivial. The shore batteries were quickly repaired and strengthened,
and the great object of capturing Havana seemed at the middle of June
even further off than it had when war was declared.
Nevertheless, May and June saw a marked progress in the work of
preparation for active hostilities. The army was mobilized and a great
camp established at Tampa, Fla. Schley's flying squadron, finally
relieved from apprehension as to the course of the Spanish fleet, left
Hampton Roads to increase the naval strength in West Indian waters.
The great battle-ship "Oregon," after a record-beating voyage around
Cape Horn, in which her machinery met and withstood every imaginable
strain, arrived at the rendezvous. And finally it was definitely
learned that Admiral Cervera, with Spain's principal effective fleet,
was actually in West Indian waters, and had entered the port of
Santiago de Cuba for coal and repairs. There he was trapped by an
exploit which has conferred new glory on the United States Navy and
has added a new name to the roster of dashing heroes like Somers and
Gushing.
The harbor of Santiago de Cuba is one of the most easily defended in
the world. Steep hills rise abruptly from either side of the harbor's
mouth, which is scarce half a mile wide, with a channel so narrow that
two vessels could scarcely pass in it. Into the brow of the hills are
built batteries which, with plunging shot, command the entrance
completely. An abrupt turn in the interior shore line makes the whole
inner bay invisible from without, so for days the officers and men of
the United States blockading fleet outside were ignorant whether
Cervera's entire fleet was cooped up within. To send in a boat to make
a reconnoissance would have been suicidal, for the channel, difficult
at all times, was blocked by mines and torpedoes. For this reason,
too, there could be no repetition of Dewey's exploit at Manila.
Accordingly, Admiral Sampson was confronted with a problem which
seemed likely to tax the patience rather than the daring of his men.
There seemed to be no opportunity for more exciting duty than a long
blockade, unless the Spaniards should conclude to come out and
fight--a most unlikely decision for them to reach. The forts, in all
probability, could be reduced by the ships' cannon, but, even with
that done, to enter the harbor in single file, so that the undisturbed
fire of Cervera's fleet could be directed upon the Americans, ship by
ship, as they entered the bay, would have been a most hazardous
undertaking. The situation was not made more pleasing to the admiral
by the fact that he was not sure of having all the Spanish ships in
the trap. Some might not have entered Santiago, but might be at that
very time devastating portions of the coast of the United States.
While the admiral was considering the problem thus presented to him,
there appeared at his cabin a young lieutenant, Richmond P. Hobson, a
graduate of the Naval Academy in 1889. The scientific side of naval
duty had always chiefly attracted this young man. Graduating at the
head of his class, he studied naval construction for two years in
British dockyards. Above all things a student, a contributor to
magazines, a delver into mathematical and structural problems, this
young officer outlined to the admiral an exploit of reckless daring
and volunteered himself to perform it.
[Illustration: The "Zealandia" leaving San Francisco with Troops for
the Philippines. (Drawn, after a photograph, by William Ritschel.)]
It was folly, urged Hobson, to keep the entire American fleet watching
at the door to that harbor. The Spaniards, doing nothing and daring
nothing themselves, were still reducing Admiral Sampson's powerful
squadron to complete impotence. If the entrance to the harbor were
obstructed one or two ships would serve to prevent the Spaniards from
escaping, and the remainder of the American fleet would be released to
take part in more vigorous warfare. By sinking a vessel, an old
collier heavily laden, in the channel this could be accomplished, and
Hobson volunteered to perform the feat. It was an invitation to almost
certain death, for the fire of three batteries and part of the Spanish
fleet, besides the explosion of the mines, must be braved before the
narrow spot in which the ship was to be sunk could be reached. But
Hobson thought he could do this, scuttle his ship, and escape with his
men by swimming to a launch which should accompany him at a distance.
"Do you really expect to escape alive?" asked one of the officers as
he outlined his project.
"Ah! that is another thing," replied the lieutenant. "I suppose the
Estrella battery will fire down on us a bit, but the ships will throw
their searchlights in the gunners' faces and they won't see much of
us. Then, if we are torpedoed, we should even then be able to make the
desired position in the channel. It won't be so easy to hit us, and I
think the men should be able to swim to the dingey. I may jump before
I am blown up, but I don't see that it makes much difference what I
do. I have a fair chance of life either way. If our dingey gets shot
to pieces, we shall then try to swim for the beach right under Morro
Castle. We shall keep together at all hazards. Then we may be able to
make our way alongside, and perhaps get back to the ship. We shall
fight the sentries or a squad until the last, and we shall only
surrender to overwhelming numbers."
The plan being approved by the admiral, volunteers were asked from the
fleet, by signal, to accompany Hobson. Practically the whole fleet
responded. One man was wanted from each ship, but on the "Brooklyn"
150 and on the "Texas" 140 pleaded to be taken. Finally these seven
were selected:
Osborn Deignan, a coxswain of the "Merrimac"; George F. Phillips, a
machinist of the "Merrimac"; John Kelly, a water-tender of the
"Merrimac"; George Charette, a gunner's mate on the flagship "New
York"; Daniel Montague, a seaman of the cruiser "Brooklyn"; J. C.
Murphy, a coxswain of the "Iowa"; Randolph Clausen, a coxswain of the
"New York."
To man the launch which was detailed to follow the "Merrimac "--the
ship chosen--four men and Naval Cadet Joseph W. Powell were taken. In
the end they, too, proved to be heroes.
The steel steamer "Merrimac," loaded with 2,000 tons of coal, was then
given to Hobson and prepared for sinking. An eye-witness, who followed
the "Merrimac" as nearly as safety would permit, thus tells the story
in the New York _Sun_:
"Cadet Powell and his crew saw the 'Merrimac' head straight for
Estrella Point, which is on the east side of the harbor, back of
the Morro. They knew that just before she reached that point the
engines were to be stopped and the momentum allowed to carry her
on. Then the flimsy wooden props holding the bonnets of her
sea-valves in place were to be kicked aside, the helm put hard to
starboard, and the starboard bower anchor let go. This would
steer the ship directly across the channel and check her headway.
"At the same time seven reduced eight-inch charges, containing
eighty pounds of brown powder in copper cases and protected by
pitch from water, were to be set off separately. These charges
were suspended about ten feet below the water-line at intervals
of thirty feet, and connected by a series of dry batteries. As
the ship steered across the channel the forward port powder
charge was to be exploded. Then, as the stern swung into
position, the anchor lashed on the starboard quarter was to be
let go and the other six charges exploded in succession. A
catamaran and lifeboat were slung aft on the starboard side ready
for the seven men to drop into them.
"The crew in the steam launch watched the course of the old
collier with eyes strained. The moon had sunk behind the horizon.
It was 3.20 o'clock. On, on the heroes went. Lieutenant Hobson
stood on the bridge of the old collier, dressed in full uniform.
The other six men were at their posts, clad in tights, to aid
their escape in case they had to swim a long distance.
"The watchers saw her head straight for Estrella Point, saw her
swing hard across the channel, apparently undiscovered, heard
five of the seven charges explode, and then began a screaming,
flashing, death-dealing fire from the Spanish ships and batteries
that hid the rest from view.
"The battery on Dead Man's Point, square in the center of the
harbor, opened the fire and soon directed its guns against the
launch. In the face of this hell, with ten-and twelve-inch guns
blazing at them at this short range, Cadet Powell and the crew of
his launch continued to search for the men of the 'Merrimac.'
[Illustration: Morro Castle, Santiago De Cuba.]
"They saw then the guns of the 'Cristobal Colon,' Admiral
Cervera's flagship, and of the old cruiser 'Reina Mercedes,'
which had been considered gunless, trained on them and thundering
in their ears. "Still they searched with never as much as a
faint cry for help or the sign of a single arm raised in mute
appeal to guide them. Those on the battle-ship looking into the
mouth of the harbor saw only a sheet of flame which, with the
roar of the guns, lasted thirty-five minutes. By this time dawn
had tinged the land and sky with light, and the tiny launch could
be seen loitering by the shore. On the west side of the harbor,
in the center of the channel, just where Hobson had promised to
sink his vessel, could be seen the tops of the 'Merrimac's'
masts. The harbor was blocked."
Hobson and his gallant men were not lost. A shot from one of the
batteries destroyed the boat in which they had expected to reach the
launch, but on a raft they escaped from their sinking vessel, only to
be captured by the Spaniards. With sailor-like chivalry and hearty
admiration for a gallant deed Admiral Cervera sent word to the fleet
of their safety and offered to exchange them as soon as the necessary
formalities could be complied with.
* * * * *
The closing words of this chapter must be penned just as the decisive
action of the war seems to be at hand. Cervera is hemmed in at
Santiago with a vastly superior force confronting him. The batteries
at the harbor's mouth have been demolished by the fire of the fleet.
At Caimanera, thirty miles away, the United States flag is flying on
the shore and a battalion of United States marines--"soldiers and
sailors, too"--are there installed and have twice beaten back the
attack of Spaniards in double their number. On great transports
General Shafter's army of 20,000 men is steaming from Key West to
Caimanera, where the invasion of Cuba will begin. The order has gone
forth to reduce Porto Rico, and by the time these words reach the
reader, General Coppinger's army may be landed there. Fitzhugh Lee,
the gallant, is held in reserve for Havana, where he served his
country as Consul General during the trying days that led up to the
war. Hesitation and doubt have vanished. The dreary days of delay are
over. The end is near--the end of Spanish misrule in the West Indies.
CHAPTER III.
THE SPANISH FLEET MAKES A DASH FROM THE HARBOR. -- ITS TOTAL
DESTRUCTION. -- ADMIRAL CERVERA A PRISONER. -- GREAT SPANISH
LOSSES. -- AMERICAN FLEET LOSES BUT ONE MAN.
When the event was least expected the Spaniards made a desperate dash
from the harbor, seeking freedom but finding only death.
July 3d the land forces of General Shafter were closing in on
Santiago. There had been hard fighting for two days, in which both
sides had shown dogged courage, but the Spaniards had been beaten back
into the city, which the Americans almost completely invested. Though
Shafter had but few heavy siege guns, many of the shells from his
field artillery fell in the streets of the town and produced a panic
there.
Admiral Cervera had landed some of his rapid-fire guns in aid of
General Linares, and his marines fought with the Spanish soldiers. But
as the American advance continued he saw that he would be caught in a
trap and ground to pieces between Shafter and Sampson. So he made up
his mind to the desperate chance of slipping out and trying to run
past the American squadron.
[Illustration: The Protected Cruiser "Olympia," Admiral Dewey's
Flagship.]
[Illustration: Admiral George Dewey.]
[Illustration: Acting Rear Admiral W. T. Sampson.]
[Illustration: Rear-admiral Montgomery Sicard.]
[Illustration: Commodore W. S. Schley.]
[Illustration: Captain A. S. Barker, _Late of the "Oregon"; Now of the
"Newark."_]
[Illustration: Captain "Jack" Philip, _Of the Battle-Ship "Texas."_]
[Illustration: Commodore J. Crittenden Watson. _Second in Command of
the Gulf Squadron._]
[Illustration: Ensign Worth Bagley Of The "Winslow." _The first
American Officer killed by the Enemy._]
[Illustration: Cadet George T. Pettengill. _Who fired the first Shot
of the War._]
[Illustration: Captain F. W. Dickins. _Chief of Bureau of
Navigation._]
[Illustration: Commodore John A. Howell. _Commanding inner Line of
Coast Defenses._]
[Illustration: Brig.-Gen. H. C. Hasbrouck. _Commandant of Fort
Monroe._]
[Illustration: Captain C. E. Clark. _Of the Battle-Ship "Oregon."_]
[Illustration: Admiral F. M. Bunce. _Commandant of Brooklyn Navy
Yard._]
[Illustration: Bombardment of Spanish Ports and Fleet at Santiago De
Cuba, July 6, 1898.]
[Illustration: "Maria Teresa" and "Vizcaya" burning on the Beach near
Santiago.]
[Illustration: The Flagship "New York," followed by the "Vixen,"
closing on the "Cristobal Colon," while the Latter was being run
Ashore West of Santiago.]
[Illustration: Effect of a single Spanish Shot on Upper Deck of the
Battle-Ship "Texas".]
[Illustration: _Part of Crew of "Texas"_ Band of the "Oregon" playing
Funeral March after the Defeat of the "Colon".]
[Illustration: Engineer Battalion unloading Tools at Siboney.]
[Illustration: "St. Louis." A Transport. "Suwanee." "Vixen." Auxiliary
Cruisers Protecting Landing.]
[Illustration: Commodore Watson's Fleet for Service in Spanish
Waters.]
At 9.30 on the morning of the 3d the lookout on the "Texas" saw smoke
rising above Morro Castle. Immediately after, the black prow of a
warship appeared in the channel coming out at full speed. It was the
"Almirante Oquendo." Instantly the "Texas" broke out with bunting
signaling to all the vessels of the fleet that the Spaniards were
coming out. On every side rung out the bugles and clattered gongs
calling the crews of the American ships to quarters. Admiral Sampson
with the "New York" was far away, and Commodore Schley with the
"Brooklyn" commanded the fleet. The odds were not so greatly in favor
of the Americans, for the Spaniards had four armored cruisers and two
torpedo-boat destroyers, while the Americans had five battle-ships,
one armored cruiser and a yacht. The superiority of the Spaniards in
rapid-fire guns was very great.
The "Brooklyn," thinly clad with armor, dashed first into the fray and
was soon engaged with four armored vessels, each her superior; the
"Iowa," "Texas" and "Oregon" rushed to her aid. It was soon apparent
that the Spaniards were more intent on running than fighting.
Nevertheless, they kept up a rapid fire, but showed the bad
marksmanship which characterized Montojo's gunners at Manila. One
shell from the "Oquendo" crashed through the pilot-house of the
"Texas" just after Captain Philip had left it for the securer retreat
of the conning tower, and one exploded in the smokestack. These were
about the most effective shots aimed by the enemy.
A correspondent of the New York "Journal" and the "Sun" stationed
aboard the "Texas" sent the most graphic account of the battle which
has at this date, July 6, been printed. Some extracts from it will
give a clear account of the fighting:
"Almost before the leading ship was clear of the shadow of Morro
Castle the fight had begun. Admiral Cervera started it by a shell
from the 'Almirante Oquendo,' to which he had transferred his
flag. It struck none of the American vessels. In a twinkling the
big guns of the 'Texas' belched forth their thunder, which was
followed immediately by a heavy fire from our other ships. The
Spaniards turned to the westward under full steam, pouring a
constant fire on our ships, and evidently hoping to get away by
their superior speed.
"The 'Texas,' still heading in shore, kept up a hot exchange of
shots with the foremost ships, which gradually drew away to the
westward under the shadow of the hills. The third of the Spanish
vessels, the 'Vizcaya' or 'Infanta Maria Teresa,' was caught by
the 'Texas' in good fighting range, and it was she that engaged
the chief attention of the first battle-ship commissioned in the
American Navy. The 'Texas' steamed west with her adversary, and
as she could not catch her with speed she did with her shells.
"The din of the guns was so terrific that orders had to be yelled
close to the messengers' ears, and at times the smoke was so
thick that absolutely nothing could be seen. Once or twice the
12-inch guns in the turrets were swung across the ship and fired.
The concussion shook the great vessel as though she had been
struck by a great ball, and everything movable was splintered.
The men near the guns were thrown flat on their faces.
"Meanwhile the 'Oregon' had come in on the run. She passed the
'Texas' and chased after Commodore Schley, on the 'Brooklyn,' to
head off the foremost of the Spanish ships. The 'Iowa' also
turned her course westward, and kept up a hot fire on the running
enemy.
"At 10.10 o'clock the third of the Spanish ships, the one that
had been exchanging compliments with the 'Texas,' was seen to be
on fire and a mighty cheer went up from our ships. The Spaniard
headed for the shore and the 'Texas' turned her attention to the
one following. The 'Brooklyn' and 'Oregon,' after a few parting
shots, also left her contemptuously and made all steam and shell
after the foremost two of the Spanish ships, the 'Almirante
Oquendo' and the 'Cristobal Colon.'
"Just then the two torpedo-boat destroyers 'Pluton' and 'Furor'
were discovered. They had come out after the cruisers without
being seen, and were boldly heading west down the coast. 'All
small guns on the torpedo boats' was the order on the 'Texas,'
and in an instant a hail of shot was pouring all about them. A
6-pounder from the starboard battery of the 'Texas,' under Ensign
Gise, struck the foremost torpedo boat fairly in the boiler.
"A rending sound was heard above the roar of battle. A great
spout of black smoke shot up from that destroyer and she was out
of commission. The 'Iowa,' which was coming up fast, threw a few
complimentary shots at the second torpedo-boat destroyer and
passed on. The little 'Gloucester,' formerly a yacht, then sailed
in and finished the second boat."
The "Gloucester" of which the correspondent speaks was in command of
Lieutenant-Commander Wainwright, who had been the executive officer of
the "Maine." For two months after the disaster to that vessel
Wainwright lived on a United States ship in the harbor of Havana,
refusing to set foot on shore until he could go "with a landing party
of marines." In his attack on the torpedo-boat destroyers--vastly
superior to his craft in weight and armament--he threw prudence to the
winds and fought with a fierceness bred of bitter hatred for the Dons.
His was the most stirring display of personal courage shown on a day
when all were brave.
To return to the correspondent's account:
"Gun for gun and shot for shot the running fight was kept up
between the Spanish cruisers and the four American vessels. At
10.30 o'clock the 'Infanta Maria Teresa' and 'Vizcaya' were
almost on the beach, and were evidently in distress. As the
'Texas' was firing at them a white flag was run up on the one
nearest her. 'Cease firing,' called Captain Philip, and a moment
later both the Spaniards were beached. Clouds of black smoke
arose from each, and bright flashes of flame could be seen
shining through the smoke. Boats were visible putting out from
the cruisers to the shore. The 'Iowa' waited to see that the two
warships were really out of the fight, and it did not take her
long to determine that they would never fight again. The Iowa'
herself had suffered some very hard knocks.
"The 'Brooklyn,' 'Oregon' and 'Texas' pushed ahead after the
'Colon' and 'Almirante Oquendo,' which were now running the race
of their lives along the coast. At 10.50 o'clock, when Admiral
Cervera's flagship, the 'Almirante Oquendo,' suddenly headed in
shore, she had the 'Brooklyn' and 'Oregon' abeam and the 'Texas'
astern. 'The Brooklyn' and 'Oregon' pushed on after the
'Cristobal Colon,' which was making fine time and which looked as
if she might escape, leaving the 'Texas' to finish the 'Almirante
Oquendo.' This work did not take long. The Spanish ship was
already burning. At 11.05 o'clock down came a yellow and red flag
at her stern. Just as the 'Texas' got abeam of her she was shaken
by a mighty explosion.
"The crew of the 'Texas' started to cheer. 'Don't cheer, because
the poor devils are dying,' called Captain Philip, and the
'Texas' left the 'Almirante Oquendo' to her fate to join in the
chase of the 'Cristobal Colon.'
"That ship in desperation was plowing the waters at a rate that
caused the fast 'Brooklyn' trouble. The 'Oregon' made great speed
for a battle-ship, and the 'Texas' made the effort of her life.
Never since her trial trip had she made such time.
"The 'Brooklyn' might have proved a match to the 'Cristobal
Colon' in speed, but she was not supposed to be her match in
strength.
"It would never do to allow even one of the Spanish ships to get
away. Straight into the west the strongest chase of modern times
took place. The 'Brooklyn' headed the pursuers. She stood well
out from the shore in order to try to cut off the 'Cristobal
Colon' at a point jutting out into the sea far ahead. The
'Oregon' kept a middle course about a mile from the cruiser. The
desperate Don ran close along the shore, and now and then he
threw a shell of defiance. The old 'Texas' kept well up in the
chase under forced draught for over two hours.
"The fleet Spaniard led the Americans a merry chase, but she had
no chance. The 'Brooklyn' gradually forged ahead, so that the
escape of the 'Cristobal Colon' was cut off at the point above
mentioned. The 'Oregon' was abeam of the 'Colon' then, and the
gallant Don gave it up.
"At 1.15 o'clock he headed for the shore, and five minutes later
down came the Spanish flag. None of our ships was then within a
mile of her, but her escape was cut off. The 'Texas,' 'Oregon'
and 'Brooklyn' closed in on her and stopped their engines a few
hundred yards away.
"Commodore Schley left the 'Brooklyn' in a small boat and went
aboard the 'Cristobal Colon' and received the surrender. Meantime
the 'New York,' with Admiral Sampson on board, and the 'Vixen'
were coming up on the run. Commodore Schley signaled to Admiral
Sampson; 'We have won a great victory; details will be
communicated.'
"Then for an hour after the surrender in that little cove under
the high hills was a general Fourth of July celebration, though a
little premature. Our ships cheered one another, the captains
indulged in compliments through the megaphones, and the 'Oregon'
got out its band, and the strains of the 'Star-Spangled Banner'
echoed over the lines of Spaniards drawn up on the deck of the
last of the Spanish fleet, and up over the lofty green-tipped
hills of the Cuban mountains.
"Commodore Schley, coming alongside the 'Texas' from the
'Cristobal Colon' in his gig, called out cheerily, 'It was a nice
fight, Jack, wasn't it?'
"The veterans of the 'Texas' lined up and gave three hearty
cheers and a tiger for their old commander-in-chief. Captain
Philip called all hands to the quarter-deck, and with bared head,
thanked God for the almost bloodless victory.
"'I want to make public acknowledgment here,' he said, 'that I
believe in God the Father Almighty. I want all you officers and
men to lift your hats and from your hearts offer silent thanks to
the Almighty.' "All hats were off. There was a moment or two of
absolute silence, and then the overwrought feelings of the ship's
company relieved themselves in three hearty cheers for their
beloved commander."
By this victory the naval power of Spain was effectively and finally
crushed. She lost four fine armored ships and two large destroyers. In
killed, wounded and prisoners her loss exceeded eighteen hundred men,
while but one American was slain. Among the prisoners was Admiral
Cervera, whose dignified bearing in the presence of disaster won for
him the high regard of the Americans, his foes. The value of the
property lost to bankrupt Spain exceeded thirteen million dollars, and
it is probable that before these words reach the reader the final
price of Cervera's daring dash will be paid by the surrender of
Santiago.
End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Naval History of the United States, by
Willis J. Abbot
*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NAVAL HISTORY ***
***** This file should be named 26416-8.txt or 26416-8.zip *****
This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
http://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/4/1/26416/
Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Christine P. Travers and
the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
http://www.pgdp.net
Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
will be renamed.
Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules,
set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project
Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you
do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is
subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
redistribution.
*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
http://gutenberg.org/license).
Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
electronic works
1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all
the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be
used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few
things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See
paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project
Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
works. See paragraph 1.E below.
1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the
collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an
individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in
a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check
the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning
the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
States.
1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
copied or distributed:
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
1.E.9.
1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked
to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
Gutenberg-tm License.
1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or
distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
that
- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is
owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments
must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
License. You must require such a user to return or
destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
Project Gutenberg-tm works.
- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
of receipt of the work.
- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the
Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
1.F.
1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
your equipment.
1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
DAMAGE.
1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you
received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with
the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy
is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
opportunities to fix the problem.
1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists
because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
people in all walks of life.
Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project
Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org.
Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
Foundation
The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at
809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
[email protected]. Email contact links and up to date contact
information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
page at http://pglaf.org
For additional contact information:
Dr. Gregory B. Newby
Chief Executive and Director
[email protected]
Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
Literary Archive Foundation
Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations
($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
status with the IRS.
The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations
where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To
SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
particular state visit http://pglaf.org
While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
approach us with offers to donate.
International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other
ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations.
To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate
Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
works.
Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily
keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
http://www.gutenberg.org
This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
