Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-11-17

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Correspondence of the State Journal
MISSISSIPPI SQUADRoNl
U.s.. S. Mound City, Oct. goth.
Aessrs Editors Standing, or rather sit
ting out watch on gunboat at night, es-
peclally during the long midnight hours, is
tedious and one casts about him for something
to do that will pass away the time, and this
being precisely the situation in which l find
myselfat present, drop line or two to the
.Jour7lnL
The rebels in the vicinity of Davis Bend,
or Hurricane Island, (tor we have taken up
our old station here,) will not furnish me
with single item. We neither see or hear
anything of them, so will eonfne myself to
what is and has taken place in the affairs of
this squadron. First we have a change of
commanders and Admiral Porter has left US
As far as my knowledge extends, Admiral D.
D. Porter was universally beloved by the
men in the command and we all miss him
much. He was kind, humane, yet strict
disciplinarian, fearless and cool in times of
danger and an officer of excellent judgment.
In his farewell address, which was read on the
quarterback of every vessel, he feelingly
and gratefully alludes to the warm and eff
cient support he has always received from
the officers and men Of this squadron, and
reminds us of the fact that since his advent
as commander of the Mississippi Squadron,
some 500 miles of the Mississippi river, and
nearly 1900 miles of its tributaries have
been opened to almost uninterrupted naviga-
ton. He deprecates the fact that what this
navy has done has not been more highly ap-
preciated by the military authorities, hints at
the prospect at no late day, of having the sat
isfaction of Furnishing some of our foreign al
| lies to the would-be Confederacy, and hopes
to meet US all in other fields of service
Our squadron is now commanded by Captain
A NJ. Pennock, who has been for long time
Fleet Captain and Commandment at Cairo.
About three weeks ago a party of some
sixty caulkers and carpenters, in charge Of
| Capt. tanning, U. S. N, came down and
commenced work on the IaadidnolQ, with the
| assistance of our large crew. She is now
| nearly ready for launching, having been rails
| ed some seven feet, new hog chains put in
| and newly caulked rerdy for the water They
are now constructing the ways On which to
| launch her, and then as soon as the old Mis-
sissippi concludes to rise we shall have another
new gunboat The hull and machinery are
almost entirely uninjured, only the upper
works being burnt off, and with very little
additional expense she will be as good as
new. Capt tanning deserves credit for the
expeditions manner in which he has accom-
| plished so heavy job. We understand he is
| to take command of her when completed.
A serious accident occurred here an hour
| ago. 1t has been the custom to send boat
| out to passing steamers to save their landing
| whenever it was necessary to communicate
| with them. Unless the boat is manned by
| an experienced crew this is always attended
| with great danger. This evening boat went
| out to put two women and boy (passengers)
on board the great steamer Continental AL
| though the engines were stopped the wheels
| continued to revolve with the force of the
| current. The small boat did not succeed in
making fast to the steamers side, and was
carried under the ponderous wheel, and with
| a crash was stove to atoms. The boat con-
| tanned nine persons, two of whom saved them
selves by clinging to the steamers guards
| One woman, the boy and one man were pick
ed up afterwards by our boats, while the
other female and three men were drowned
Among the lost we have to lament the loss
of Mr.. Thomas B. Taylor, Acting Mas er's
Mate on this vessel, who was in charge of the
boat He is supposed to have been struck
| by the buckets of the wheel and crushed in
Stantly with the boat. He was young and
promising officer and although he had been
ON board the Mound City but short time, he
| had endeared himself to his messmates and
the entire crew, by whom his loss is deeply
| felt.
| There is corral of some fifteen hundred
negro women and children on the Davis plan
| tations, but no able bodied men. Some are
| picking their little patches of cotton, but
most of them are idle. ...-
Our health is good and the weather fine.
| ... Yours, .s j. B. A.