The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-06-01

man to try its strength with the Pin. H.
lies. II there had been apy voting on m.
subjsct, the plan to follow the straight ROAD
to Washington, wovld have been accented
oy acclamatioD. But the higher movers
deemed that !" the longest way round wa.
the shortest way home," and no doubt
Their decision was wise. The event proved
this, ~
AZ O'Clock came the word to &c fall in ,,
We handled cur howiizers again and
marched down Jefferson avenue to the
steamer Boston - to embark.
/. To embark for what port? For Wash
ingson, Of course, finally; but by what
route? That was to remain in doubts to US
privates for day or two.
The :" Boston is q steamer of the out
side line from Philadelphia to New York.
She just held our legion. We tramped on
board, and were allotted about the craft
from the top to the bottom story. We took
tents, traps and grub on board, and steamed
away down the Delaware in the sweet
afternoon Of April. II ever the heavens
smiled fair weather on any campaign, they
have done SO on ours.
- THE BOSTON,
Sddlers on shipboard are proverbialiy
hsh out OF water. We could not be called
BY the good old nickname Of g slobstsrs -
by the crew. Our gray jackets saved US
the sobriquet. But We foundered about
the crowded vessels ike boiling victims in
a pot. At last found our places, and
laid ourselves about the decks, to tan or
bronse, or burn scarlet, according to CON-
plexion. There were plenty of cheeks Of
lobster hue before next evening, on the
{" Boston,"
A thousand young fellows turned loose
on shipboard, were sure to make themselves
merry. Let the reader imagine that. We
were like apv other excursionists, except
the stacks Of bright guns were always pres
ent TO remind us of our erraud, and regu-
lar guard M uniting and drill went on all
the time. The young citizens growled or
laughed Mt the minor hardships of the
hasty outfit, and toushened rapidly to bus
mess.
Sunday, the 2lst, was long and some
what anxious day. While we were bowling
along in the sweet sunshine and sweeter
moonlight of the halsyon time, Uncle Sam
nigh. be dethroned by somebody in buck
ram, or Baltimore burnt by the boys from
Lynn ana Marblehead, revenging the mas
sacre of their fellows. Every one begins to
comprehend the Gery eagerness Of men who
live in historic times. II wish had con-
trol OF chain lightning for n few minutes"
says o., the droll fellow Of our company.
s. I'd make it come thick and heavy and
knock spots cut Of secesson!'
A. early dawn Of Monday :he 22d, after
feeling along slowly all night, we see the
harbor Of Annapolis. A frigate, with sails
untent, lies at anchor. She flies the stars
and strires. Uurrahi
A large steamboat is aground farther in.
As soon as we can see ANYTHING, we catch
the glitter Of bavonets on board.
By. and bve boats come off, and We get
news that the steamer is the Maryland a
ferry. boat Of the Philadelphia and Baltimore
railroad. The Massachusetts Eighth Regi-
ment had been Just in time to seize her on
the north side Of the Chesapeak. They
| learned that she was to be carried OF by
| the crew and leave them blockad d. So
| they shot their Zouaves ahead rs skirmish-
| ers. The fine fellows ratified on board, and
before the steamboat had time to take a
| turn or open q valve, she was held by Mas
sachusetts, in trust for Uncle Sam. llurrah
| for the most important prize thus far in the
war! It probably saved the "Constitu-
| ton ''-s. Old lronsides "--frem capture
by the traitors. Itprobably saved Annapo
lis, and kept Maryland open without blood.
shed.
| A.. soon a. the Massachusetts, Regiment
bad made prize of the ferry y-boat, call
WIS made for eng giuee7s TO run her. Some
twenty men Mt once stepped to the front.
| We Of tho New York Seventh afterwards
| concluded that whatever was needed in the
way Of skill, or haudicraft could be found
among those brother Yankees. They were
the men to make armies of. They could
| tailor for themselves. shoe themselves, dc
their own blacksmithing, gupsmithing, and
al other work that calls for sturdy arms
and nimble fingers. In fact, | have such
rrof,uud conhdencs 10 the univer accom-
! r,ishment Of the Massachusetts Eighth, thai
i / have no doubt. that if the order were
Poets. to the front -" Painters, present
arms,o . Sculp.o charge bayonets
bakers dossn out Of every company woulf
respond.
4 Well, to 60 on with their story-wher
they had taken their prize they drove be-
straight down stream to Annapolis, th'
neare,. point to Washington. There
,hev found the Naval Academy in Danger o
attack, and Old notwithstanding as
prac,ieinc chip for the future mdshipme'
also exposed. The call was now for sea
, men to man the old Graf. aud save her IRON
|. worse enemy than her prototype met u
, the - Guerfisre." Seamen p VI course
Thev we're Msrb!ehead men, G'ousser mep
Beverly men. seamen all. par excellence
Thsv clapped on the frigats to AID TN
|, miadies, and by-ant.oy started her out II
: the stream. In doing so. their own pho
took.,he chance to run them purpose,y on
, .ha,l in the intricate channel. A grea
, error Of judgment on his part as he per
cs;v.a. when he found himself in irons an
= in confinement. "Ths days OF trillng WI.
, ,rsi,ors are over." think the Eightn Aesi
ment Of Massachusetts,.
4 But there ,hev were, bard and fast on 70
.ho,l. when We came up. Nothing to niboi
/, on bu, knobs OF anthracite. Nothing
s,e.n on softer or cleaner than coal das
!, Nothing 10 drink but the brackish waite
, .naer their keel. Rather rough"
thew afterwards told us.
!, Meantime the Constitution had gos mol
. of : ,us. and wss making her way 70
sncharse~. whore hsr guns cemmande
:, everything and everybody. Good ana u1
,n.n choeiled greatly over this. The stal
. .,d s,r;ne. we're s,ill up as the fort q u
j Naval Academy.
!. On, ayeed that. while We were Oh 81 ee'
some great. and perhaps fatal harm "a
), been suffered, Vas greatly l,ghsened ny sne' !
!, .ooa on.na. II Annapolis Vas safe. VI
: no, washinsson safe aisof u ressae'
j had 90. head Al the Capital. vonia p
. treachery hare reached out l's nand E. =
!. sn.,chsd this doorway! These were o.
a .nccuIa,.sns a. we began to discern oejee
a before we heard news.
!. Ba. news came presently. Boats rnia'
az "a u.. Our offeers we're pos 'nso coz
4 mupicasion with the shore. Ins sS.n
4 facts Of oar po.ision became kDosn IRE 2
mar 70 msn. We privases have gseau!
!. .dv.n,ass Of battling with the dsaD.
.n.h . time. We knou that re have nes
Is ing to do with rumor'. orders arc s'
= rsso h,. And orders are facts.
Il, lnne. lingering day at Aoesf