Frank Before Vicksburg Part 15

"I lounged about, picking up a good deal of information, until I heard the relief called, and knowing that, unless we beat a hasty retreat, we would be discovered, I hastened back to the place where I had left Sam, and found him industriously pacing his beat. I was about to bring out the horses, when we heard the clatter of hoofs coming up the road from toward the house, and I at once concealed myself. The answer to the challenge was Colonel Peckham, who was returning to his command. As he was about to pa.s.s, I, thinking that it would not look well to go back to the camp empty-handed, sprang out of my concealment and seized his reins, while Sam, who instantly comprehended what was going on, placed his bayonet against his breast.

"'What means this?' asked the colonel.

"'Don't talk so much,' replied Sam. 'A blind man could see that you are a prisoner. So hand over your weapons, and don't make any fuss.'

"As Sam spoke, he proceeded to 'sound' the colonel, and the search resulted in the transfer of two revolvers to his belt. Then, throwing away his musket and cartridge-box, he sprang upon his horse, which I had by this time brought out, and, seizing the colonel's reins, we started down the road at a full gallop.

"We had proceeded scarcely a quarter of a mile when we heard several musket-shots behind us, and we knew that the relief had found No. 9 post vacant, and were alarming the camp. Sam, still holding fast to the colonel's horse, at once turned off into the woods, through which we with difficulty worked our way. At length, however, we reached an open field, which we crossed at a gallop, and, leaping our horses over the fence, found ourselves in the road again. We had struck it just outside of the rebel pickets, who, hearing us gallop away, fired at us; but the bullets all went wide of the mark, and in less than an hour we reached our own camp, and the prisoner was delivered over to the general."

"I could relate many other adventures to you, but, as I have to go on guard at midnight, I must bid you good-night."

So saying, he arose from the ground, where he had been lying, and walked off toward his quarters. One by one the soldiers, who had gathered about to listen to his story, followed his example, and finally Frank and the ensign who had a.s.sisted him in managing the battery, were left alone.

Although they had been together but two days, they were on excellent terms with each other; and as Frank had learned that his companion had run by the batteries at Vicksburg, he was naturally anxious to hear the details. The ensign, at his urgent solicitation, then told the story of his thrilling adventures, which here follows.

CHAPTER XIV.

Running the Batteries.

"In obedience to orders from the admiral," began the ensign, "the Concord, with the iron-clads, commenced making preparations to run the batteries, by greasing the casemates to glance shot, and by protecting the machinery with heavy timbers and bales of hay. When every thing was ready, the long-looked-for signal was made. The vessels took their stations in accordance with a general order that had been issued a few days previous--the Concord, with a coal-barge in tow, being the fourth in advance.

"As soon as the anchors were weighed, all hands were called to quarters, the ports closed, and every light on board the ship, except those in the magazine and sh.e.l.l-rooms, was extinguished. I took my station beside my men, who stood at their guns as motionless as so many statues, and in that darkness awaited the issue of events, with feelings that can not be described. The moment I had so long been dreading was fast approaching.

Would I survive the experiment?

"As soon as the vessels were fairly under way, the engines were stopped, and we drifted along with the current. Not a sound was heard, except the creaking of the wheel as the pilot guided the vessel down stream. I became more and more excited each moment, until finally my suspense seemed greater than I could bear. That awful silence was worse than the fight itself. I became impatient, and strode up and down the deck, anxiously waiting for the first roar of a gun that should announce that our approach had been discovered. How I longed to look out and see what progress we were making! But the ports had been closed, with imperative orders that they must not be opened without the captain's command, and I was obliged to remain in ignorance of what was going on outside.

"At length, after remaining at our quarters for nearly an hour--to me it seemed an age--the loud roar of a gun burst upon our ears. The pilot at once rang the bell to 'go ahead strong,' and the puffing of the engines told us that we were rapidly nearing the city. Soon, from another direction, came a second report, accompanied by a sh.e.l.l from 'Whistling d.i.c.k,' which went directly over our heads, and exploded far behind us.

This was followed, not by the report of a single cannon, but by a crash, as if all the artillery of heaven had been let loose at once, and sh.e.l.ls and solid shot, with a noise that was almost deafening. It did not seem possible that we could succeed in running by the batteries; besides, I was very much averse to being shut up in that manner, without the privilege of returning shot for shot. The idea of allowing my vessel to be made a target of, when so many brave hearts were waiting impatiently to give as good as they received, did not at all suit me.

"Until we reached the city, the Concord escaped unhurt, and I began to think that our danger was not so great as I had at first supposed, when, just as we arrived opposite the upper batteries, a shot came crashing through the sides of the vessel. The deck was lighted up for an instant with a flash, and the groans and shrieks that followed told that it had been too well directed. Confined as the men were, in total darkness, where it was impossible for a person to distinguish those who stood next to him, such an occurrence was well calculated to throw them into confusion. I believe that every one on deck was frightened, but the order, 'Stand to your guns, lads!' delivered in a firm voice by the executive officer, at once put an end to the confusion.

"'On deck, there!' came thundering through the trumpet. 'Open the ports, and return their fire!'

"How my heart bounded when I heard that order! And the men, too, anxious to be on more equal terms with the enemy, sprang at the word, the port-shutters flew open with a crash, and the city of Vicksburg burst upon our astonished view.

"The rebels had profited by their experience, and instead of finding the city shrouded in total darkness, as I had expected, a glare equal to the noonday sun lighted up both the river and the city, the latter seeming one blaze of fire. The vessels in advance of us were rapidly answering the fire of the batteries, and the waters of the river, usually so quiet and smooth, were plowed in every direction by the shrieking, hissing sh.e.l.ls. It was a magnificent sight, one upon which I could have gazed with rapture, had I been a disinterested person; but, as it was, I had no time to dwell upon it.

"'Out with those guns--lively!' shouted the captain. 'Give the rascals as good as they send.'

"For half an hour the fight continued, the rebels sending their sh.e.l.ls thick and fast about our devoted vessel, and we directing our fire against the water-batteries, which lined the sh.o.r.e as far as the eye could reach, when suddenly the pilot rung the bell to stop, which was followed by a command shouted down through the trumpet to 'Back her--quick!' I scarcely noticed the circ.u.mstance, until one of my men exclaimed, in a frightened voice, 'We are drifting into the bank, sir, right under the batteries!'

"The appalling fact was too evident. We were fast approaching the sh.o.r.e, and the engines appeared to be working in vain against the strong current. A cry of horror burst from the lips of the men, who deserted their guns, and made a general rush for the after part of the vessel. I was astounded. Had the Concord been disabled, and was the captain about to run her ash.o.r.e and surrender? But I was not allowed much time to ask questions. The conduct of the men recalled me to my senses, and, after considerable difficulty, I succeeded in bringing them all back to their quarters.

"'The vessel must have been surrendered, sir,' said one of the men.

"'I can't help that. I've received no orders to cease firing. Let them have it. Powder-boy, bring two eight-inch canister as soon as possible.

Run away lively, now.'

"The vessel still continued to approach the bank, and several of the nearest batteries ceased firing, while the rebels, supposing that she was about to surrender, came running down the bank in crowds, calling out:

"'Have you struck your flag?'

"'No!' came the answer, in a clear, ringing voice, which I knew belonged to the captain. 'That flag floats as long as one plank of this vessel remains above water!'

"This reply was followed by a sh.e.l.l from one of our broadside guns, which burst in the very midst of a crowd that was preparing to board the vessel the moment we touched the bank; and by this time the Concord began to mind her helm, and commenced moving from the bank. The astonished rebels hastily retreated to the cover of their breastworks, and I succeeded in getting my guns loaded in time to use the canister upon them. The vessel soon got headed down the river again, and at two o'clock in the morning we rounded to, out of reach of the batteries. The pa.s.sage had been effected without material damage to us, and it was with a light heart that I repeated the order, 'Secure your guns, lads!' The battle was over, and after the decks had been cleared, and the wounded taken care of, the dead were laid out in the engine-room, and covered with the flag in defense of which they had delivered up their lives. The weary sailors then gladly answered to the order, 'All hands stand by your hammocks,' and I retired to my room almost exhausted, but highly elated at our glorious success."

CHAPTER XV.

A Race for the Old Flag.

"The next day," continued the ensign, "the squadron again got under way and steamed down the river, and came to anchor above, and almost within range of, the heights of Grand Gulf. A casual observer would hardly have thought that the bluffs which arose so majestically, like grim sentinels watching over the lesser heights around them, were bristling with hostile batteries, ready to dispute the further advance of the Union fleet; for, so carefully had they been concealed, that nothing suspicious could be discovered. But we were not deceived. We knew that the trees which covered the bluffs, and waved so gently back and forth in the breeze, concealed fortifications of the most formidable kind, and that Union blood must be shed before they could be wrested from the traitorous hands that had constructed them.

"During the week of inactivity that followed, many an impatient eye was directed toward the heights which, now so quiet, were soon to be disturbed by the noise and confusion of battle. At length the flag-ship was seen approaching, and every one was on the alert. Two more days of inactivity pa.s.sed, however; but on the third morning, just after the crews had finished their breakfast, signal was made to commence the attack. The anchors were weighed, the men called to quarters, and the fleet bore down upon the rebel stronghold, which was soon enveloped in the smoke of battle.

"The Concord led the advance. For two hours the battle raged with great fury on both sides, the rebels stubbornly holding their ground, in spite of the storm of sh.e.l.ls that thinned their ranks and tore up the ground about them. During this time the Concord had again become unmanageable, on account of the strong eddies in the river, and had worked into a position scarcely two hundred yards from the batteries, from which she could not be extricated. It was impossible either to advance or retreat without running into the bank, and if she attempted to round-to, her destruction was certain. Of course, we below, being busy fighting our guns, knew nothing of our danger; but the captain, although as brave a man as ever trod a ship's deck, was not a little dismayed when he found himself in this perilous situation. He did not expect to bring his vessel safely out of the action, but he stood in the pilot-house and issued his orders with as much coolness as though he were going through the regular daily exercise, instead of being under the hottest fire the enemy could rain upon his vessel.

"In the mean time, I had been sending my sh.e.l.ls as rapidly as possible toward the rebel gunners, whom I could see moving about in the batteries. Up to this time not one of my men had been injured; but, just as I was in the act of sighting one of my guns, there was a stunning crash, and a vivid light shone for an instant in my eyes, accompanied by a terrific explosion. I saw the air filled with smoke and splinters, heard appalling cries of terror and anguish, and then all was blank. A sh.e.l.l had entered the casemate above the port, killing and wounding several of my crew, and a piece of heavy timber, which had been detached from the bulk-head by the explosion, struck me on the head, and laid me out senseless on the deck.

"When I was restored to consciousness I was lying on a mattress in the engine-room, and anxious faces were bending over me. I remember of mistaking the doctor and his attendants for the men belonging to my gun's crew, and imagining myself still in battle, I gave the order to 'Train that No. 2 gun a little further to the left, and fire;' then I became insensible again.

"About the middle of the afternoon I awoke from a refreshing slumber, but, of course, could not imagine how I came to be in that situation. I felt of my head, which was covered with bandages, and of my arm, which was done up in a sling, and finally the remembrance of the scenes through which I had pa.s.sed came back to me like a dream.

"While I was wondering how the fight had terminated, and who had come out victorious, a sailor, who had been appointed to act as my nurse, entered the engine-room, and approached the bed on tip-toe. From him I learned that the Concord had been under fire for five hours and thirty-five minutes; that we had been only partially successful, not having silenced all the batteries; that the fleet, with the exception of one vessel, which was lying a short distance above the bluff, and occasionally sending a sh.e.l.l into the batteries to prevent the rebels from repairing the damage which they had suffered, were at their old anchorage again; that the Concord had been struck thirty-five times by heavy shot, but, although quite badly cut up, was not permanently injured; and that our vessel would soon be ready for action again, the entire crew being busily engaged in repairing the damages she had sustained.

"My head and arm pained me considerably; but, being under the influence of some powerful medicine which the doctor had administered, I soon fell asleep, from which I was awakened by the rolling of a drum. Hastily starting up, I found the engineers at their stations, and I knew, by the tramping of feet on the deck above me, that the men were hurrying to their quarters. The 'ruling pa.s.sion' was strong with me. I had grown so accustomed to yield prompt obedience to the call to quarters, that I quite forgot I was wounded. Springing up, I at once pulled on my clothes--an operation which I found rather difficult on account of my wounded arm--seized my sword, which lay at the head of the bed, sprang up the stairs that led to the main-deck, and ran forward to take command of my division. As I pa.s.sed the door of the dispensatory, I was confronted by the surgeon, who, holding up his hands in dismay, exclaimed:

"'Mr. Morton! Do you know what you are about? Where are you going?'

"'Going to quarters, doctor. Didn't you hear that drum?'

"'Get below, sir, instantly,' was the doctor's answer. 'Get below! and don't let me catch you on deck again until I give you permission. Get below, I tell you, sir!' he continued, in a louder tone, seeing that I hesitated. 'Haven't you got sense enough to know that you are dangerously wounded? I am surgeon of this ship, and have authority to enforce my commands.'

"Of this I was well aware, and I was obliged to retrace my steps to the engine-room, where I lay down upon the bed.

"The morning's fight having convinced the admiral that, although the batteries had been partially silenced, they could not be completely reduced, without the co-operation of the land forces, he returned to his old anchorage, for the purpose of convoying the transports which were to run by the batteries and ferry the troops across the river below. The latter followed close in the wake of the gun-boats, on which the batteries opened quite as briskly as in the morning. The iron-clads replied, and under cover of their fire the transports pa.s.sed the batteries in safety, after which the gun-boats also ran by, and a.s.sisted in carrying the troops across the river. In this fight the Concord was struck but twice, and no one was injured. As soon as she had been brought to an anchor, the doctor entered the engine-room, and, after regarding me for a moment with an expression that I could not understand, said:

"'You're a nice one, ain't you?'

"'Why, doctor, what's the matter?' I asked.