Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-04-04
Mortar Conclusion.

A Correspondent writes from Island No.
10:
The effects of the mortar explosions are
very peculiar. Forward of the mortar, it
would be almost impossible for human b. :
ing to endure the tremendous concussion.--
Aft of it, however, the sound is rather exI H.
aratng than otherwise, and not half so hard
to endure az The sharp, snappish report of a
brass field piece. During the general engag-
ment on Monday afternoon I had position
upon rail fence, about five rods behind a
mortar Before it had been fred many times,
found myself entertaining sort of jubilant
excitement over the thunder music, and i'm
patient of the delays intervening between
reports. The same feelings seemed to in
spire the red-capped mortar men, who took
savage delight in the immense volume of
sound, parallel with their cagerness to watch
the effect of the shell. At the side, or in
front of the mortar, however, the effects are
not so pleasant, everything material having
an insane tendency to rush forward and fill
the huge vacuum occasioned by the expios-
ion. Wearing apparel, ammunition, and the
boat utensils,-in fact, ece,ything, starts in a
bee line for the bore Of the mortar. Upon
one occasion, Immediately after the discharge
of mortar q, button flew from a coat, d.
rectly into the bore whence second before,
the ponderous shell hustled into the air. A
more notable instance was this: The steam
or Wilson, drew alongside a mortar just as it
was discharged. The conclusion started
joints in the steam pipe, and dreu the rirets
oned steam Kissed from a hundred places,
i lot
though the sound is comparatively slight
that is taking into account its real immensely
the genuine effects are felt more kccnly.-
At Cairo, sixty miles distant, the reports are
heard distinctly, and vibration of the earth
is felt, while at Columbus, houses are shaken
glasses ratified, and the reports seem but a
very few yards away. ~
TIE HEROES OF TIE CuMBERLAND.-The
gallant deeds of the noble heroes who died at
their posts on the ll-fated Cumberland, have
been reported and repeated, but they deserve
to be rehearsed until every child in the land
shall have heard of them, and known what
desperate and glorious deeds of valor proved
the right of the men of 1862 to place in the
history of heroism. Drawer men never lived
than went down on the Cumberland; more
sublime courage never was shown. Even the
rebel writer who from the Mcrrimac sent a
description of the fight to the Norfolk Day
Book, was forced to say "a gallant man COM
mandcd the Cumberland Gun after gun he
fired lower and lower sank the ship; his
last discharge comes from his pivot gun; the
ship lurches-now to starboard, now to port :;
his flag streams out wildly, and now the
Cumberland goes down on her beam ends, at
once monument and an epitaph of the gal
liant men who fought her.
And what wonder, when, IS but sample
Of the spirit which actuated the crew, these
instances are told:
Two gunners at the bow guns, when the
ship was sinking, clasped their guns in their
arms and would not be removed, and went
down embracing them! One gunner had
both legs shot away, and his bowels opened
and protruding, but he made three steps on
his raw and bloody thighs, seized the lanyard
and fired his gun, falling back dead An.
other lost both arms and legs. yet lived, and
when they wanted to assist him, cried out /:
Back to your guns, boys Give them I'LL.
Harrah for III. fag' lie lived till she sank"