Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-03-11
GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF A STORM OFF
HArTERAS.

la the latter editions Of Patton's "General
Butter ut New Orleans" there are letters writ
teu by the Generals wife, among them one de-
scriptive Of scenes in storm of Cape llatteras,
in which the steamer Mississippi, having on
board General Butler aud his wife, together with
his staff and regiment of soldiers GU their way
TO New Orleans. came near being lost, from
which the following is an extract;
Again the mvu formed iu line, from hold to
deck and baled water all night, the seas roar.
ing, phosphorescent cleaning as serpeurs
back, struck the quiVering ship like heavy artil-
lery. The drta ad was, when she plunged in the
trough OF the sea, and the waves sWept over her,
iha: she would founder Lnd 20 dowu. We
turned our course north TO run with the wind,
which blew from the southeast; we kept in 1t
that night and through next day until IL o'clock,
then the storm was 30 far broken that we turned
short about, ran up three sails, and few down
the coast like bird past Caps Hatteras, Point
Lookout, down to Cape Fear.
We were at breakfast congratulAting each
other on our escape from the storm, the delight.
ful weather. and the rapid speed we were max
ing. ! left the table a moment, and was in my
room preparing to go on deck, when there came
o surging, grating sound from the bottom of the
ship A psuse-the engine stopped-(a hush of
dread throughout the ship)--it worked again
another heavy lurching and quivering Of the
ship-Again the engine stopped. We were
aground on Frying Pan Shoals, fifteen miles
from shore; the coast held by the enemy four
or i've small boats and sixteen hundi ed people
on board. Brains and hands worked,
busily jevising and executing ways to get her
off, and men watched for calls at every point.
for there, in truth, was almost our only hope.-
At last one appeared in sight. Signals were
hosted 1T was proposed to hoist 1t with the
Union down. "Not so, said Central Butler /;
'let the Union go up" Guns were fired to show
our distress, though apprehensive she might
prove a rebel steamer, and VIC be forced to fight
in our crippled state or yield, ingorious prison
srs She proved a friend. 1t was now late in
the afternoon. We ran on at full tide. and must
wait until it returned, ut seven in the evening,
before We could hope to pull her of. hawser,
was stretched to the other vessel and the soldiers
moved double quick, fore aud aft, to loosen her
from the sand. They labored and pulled, but
failed 10 lift her. The tide was not yet FULL
Two or three hundred men were already sent Il
the Mouat Vernon. The wind began to rise and
the waves to swell into the heavy seas. that
looked so dark and Wrathful. General Butler
came to me and said, "You must make ready Il
60 10 a few minutes" Captain Glsson wal
ab ,ut 70 run to his own vessel, and would tax,
me with him. The Generals duty would be tt
remain until every man was safe, or while ihi
! only said al would rather remain here if yot
are willing" l know not why, but felt NOR
safety where was than in that little boat tossinl
below in the mad waves. or in the strange yes.
sci in the distance. "wby do you think Of sucl
a thing" he said. care you mad, that yol
would risk to the children the loss Of both ?" 81
will CO." I answered "When the captain il
ready" General Butler went away to the pilo
house The ship was beating heavily in the surf
and mems hearts beat heavier still as the nigh
swept toward us. The deck was crowded will
men. Major Bell gave me his arm. There wa
move-a "make way for Mrs Butler" | wa
helped over the railing. Zone man spoke out
"Well, If woman eau keep cool, il will b.
strange il We can't") Captain Glisson precede,
me down the side Of The ship, and aided as muel
as possible. The boat was tossing like a nut.
shell far below. as down the unsteady ladder WI
slipped. When nearly at the bottom, the cap
tain said, Jump. madam. we'll catch you;" an,
down | went into the boat. "Pull, men-b
lively" the captain called out every few minutes
wave leapsd up and drenohed the man at tb
tiller he shrank from it, but the captain urge
the greater speed. In a quarter of an hour
were aboard the Mount Vernon"
The Mississippi was fnally got of, and III
heroic woman returned to il, aud did much /
quiet the apprehension Of the soldiers, unaccus
TONED to the dangers Of the sea, during the re
mainder Of the voyage.