Daily national Republican., 1864-03-16
An,.rr ea capa IIa,t.r...

From the twelfth edition OF Parton's General
Butler OF New Orleans, we extract the follow
ing from q letter by Mn. Butler:
"ARaIn the men formed In line, from hold
TO deck, and baled water all night, the seas
roaring, phosphoreeeent, cleaning as q ser
pent's back, struck the quivering ship like
heavy artillery. The dread was, when she
plunged In the trough Of the sea and the waves
swept over her, that she would founder and 90
down. We turned our course north, TO run
with the wind, which blew from the southwest
we kept in that night and through next day
until Is o'clock; then the storm was so far
broken that we turned short about, ran up
three sails and few down the coast like bird,
past Cape Hatteras, Point Lookout, dewn to
Cape Fear. t.Tu.4.g
other on our escape from the storm, the de-
lightful weather, and the rapid speed we were
making. left the table . moment, and waI
in my room preparing TO go on deck, when
there came surging, grating sound from the
bottom Of the ship. A pause-the engines
stopped-(a hush Of dread throughout the
ship)-it worked again-another heavy lurch'
Ing and quiyering Of tho ship-agaln the en-
gine stopped. We were aground on Frying
Pan shoals, Is miles from shore; the coast held
by the enemy; four or five small boats, and
sixteen hundred people on board.
brains and hands worked, busily deyising
and executing ways to get her of, and men
watched for sails at every point, for there, In
truth, was almost our only hope. At last one
appeared In sight. Signals were hoisted, Ut
was proposed 90 hoist Il with the union down.
Not so,' said Gen. Butler, let the union go
up.') Guns were fred 70 show our distress,
though apprehensiye she might prove rebel
steamer, and We be forced 10 fight In our Grip
pied state, or yield, inglorious prisoners. She
proved frieud. 1t was now late in the after
noon. We ran on at full tide, and must walt
until 1t returned, at seven In the evening, before
we could hope 70 pull her of. A hawser was
stretched to the other vessel, and the soldiers
moved double quick, fore and aft, to loosen her
from the sand. They labored and pulled, bui
failed 70 lift heri the tide was not yet full
Two or three hundred men were already sent
to the Mount Vernon. The wind began to rise
that looked SO dark and wrathful.
General Butler came to me and said. 'YoJ
must make ready to go in a few minutes.
Captain Glisson was about to return TO his owr
vessel, and would take me with him. The
Generals duty would be TO remain until every
man was safe, or while the ship held together.
This was clear enough, and I enlg said, Il
would rather remain here II you are wiyhng. ;
know not why, but felt more safesy where
was than in that little boat tossing below In the
mad waves, or in the stranger vessel IN We dis.
tsrce. why do YOU think d such a thing 7
he said; are you mad, that Yen would risk tC
the children the loss Of both r Il will co.
answered, when the captain is ready Gen
eral Butler went away to the pilot house. Tht
ship was beating heavily In the surf, and men'i
hearts beat heavier still as the night swept TO
ward us. The deck was crowded with men.
"Major Bell gave me his arm. There was q
move-a make way for Mrs Butler" I wa
helped over the railing. zone man spoke out
well. 10 q woman can keep cool, II will b
strange II we can't.) Captain Ghsson pre-
ceded me down the side OF the ship, and aide
as much as possible, The boat was tossin
like nut shell, far below, as down the III
steady ladder we slipped. When nearly at III
bottom the captain said, Jump, Madam
we'll catch you;' and down went into th
boat. Pull men-be lively the captain calle
out every few minutes. wave leaped u
and drCnched the man at the tiller; he shran
from 1t, but the captain urged the create
speed. In quarter OF an hour we were aboar
the Mount Vernon"
This is a soldiers wife, and might be a sal
or's. Such woman is in the way OF nobody
work, but Is ever a helper and counsello
Her simple heroism in this case was worthy {
the hour and of her husband. The Mlssisslpl
was got of, aud by her presence and coolne
greatly reassured the endangered and upaccu
toned soldiers during therest OF the voyage.