Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-03-25
CEDAR FALLS IOWA, FRIDAY, MARCH 25 1864

Iounu louf biockaQerS AT ancnor. Al A.
NJ, was aroused by the Boatswsia's mates
calling, "All the pivot guns crew to quar-.
ters!" "a steamer in sight'' says one.
" Blockade.runner," say others. "Prixe,
money T" said another. "Your fortune's s
made! I" &C., &c. Bahl what's the use Of
talking9 She proved to be one Of ours. So
when we had turned out and came on deck
for good thing We looked upon said craft
with disgust and with contempt for not being
a blocksds.runner, with big fortune in sill
yer and gold ready made for our special use
and behoof.
4th.-Admiral arrived last night in the
Fab Kee. He is off again. Last eve one Of
our ganboats drew the FIRE of shore bat.
terry. Result nothing. 4. N--Word is
passed for all who have letters, to put them
in the letter.bags Good-by
OFF FORT CAswELL, WILMINGTON, n. c.
Jan. 7.--Cold and rain and gale. Fleet
riding quietly At anchor. Ships two miles
apart. Yesterday our ship began dragging
her anchor. Hove up anchor and found the
flue broke. Let go the port sheet anchor and
immediately hove it up. It was foul. Clear
ed it and let it 90 again, which brought US
up. We were nearly all day getting the ship
properly moorcd. An extra charge of
powder Tor each gun is now kept in the chest
on the gun deck. This is unusual. never
before saw powder taken from the magazine,
except for immediate use. speak Of the
extra charge. The Admiral must sxpecr
rams, or think there is danger Of that sort in
tho night. 1t is handy to have the extra
charge, though very dangerous, since shell
from the enemy might fire it and We should
be blown into atoms.
9th.--At A. NJ, got up anchor and came
to about one mile from a blockade runner,
that was run ashore few days before our ar
rival. Two gunbcats are alongside Of her
trying to get her afoat. Her cargo WAS taken
out by the sccesh. The enemy has artillery
ashore but has kept quiet. The ship is cleared
for general action. look out for them
pans" says White, tho wardroom cook,
"Thcy might get broke il we have general
action" Funny time to think Of pans, said
I to myself. jim. Laird was ordered to 90
on board the runner to stop shot holes.
promised to send shell as fast ss possible
among the enemy if there should be any at.
tempt to annoy him by sharpshootcrs. but
you must fire over my head" says jim, "or
you will hit me-" promised not to hit him,
in consideration whereof Jim is to bring nj,
anything curious he may find. mention
this merely to show tho talk we have some.
times. Another blockade runner was run
ashore two nights since by the U. s S. Mont.
gomery. The II. lost boats crew. In board
ing the runner the boat swampcd. The men
and officers swan ashore and were taken pris,
oners.
l0th.-The gunboat Iron Age is ashore
near the blockade.runner. The runner has
two names, Bcdnego Of Nassau, and Lily OF
Liverpool. Nothing left in her but few
pounds Ct beef and pork. Her engines are
valuable. Our men worked at her all last
night but did not get her anoat At low water,
last night, three Of them waded ashore from
the Lily. Hearing tho roll beat in tho rebel
camp, they hurried back.
11th.-We have just finished an exciting
days work. At daylight we got up anchor
and in company with three gunbosts stood
toward a blockade runner that Was driven
ashore last night. We came to one and a
half miles distant. The gunboats, drawing
less water, stood close in or half mile dis.
tant. Sent boats TO board the runner and
try to get her of. She had full cargo. Was
about 700 tons. Built Of iron. Tho sharp.
shooters Gred and We shelled, they lodging
behind the sand hills. Two hours passed in
this way, when the boats were recalled. Az
one came alongside noticed that her ensign
vas spread over some object and knew that
one Of my shipmates was gene. When no
was brought on board, recognized McAllis.
ter, coxswain Of the Swan. A bullet had
gone through his head, coming out between
the eyes, leaving hole with its red fringe
McAllistsr was English, aged about 90.
Dinner. Gunboats hauled off ard we stood
closer in and being unable to get the steamer
off we made target Of her. We threw about
one hundred shells which set her on fire and
she was completely destroyed. The Lily is
also destroyed. The gunboat Iron Age could
not be got Gfoat. We took off her officers
and crew and blew her up.
12tE.-McAllister's funeral. The blood
was washed off his face and clean attire put
on him yesterday by his shipms.es. To-day
at II A. NJ, the Boatswain's mate pipes -
"All hands Eury the dead" /" Service by
the Chaplain. After service the bell was
tolled. The marines drew up in two files,
musket at shoulder. on each side Of port No
10, gundeck. As the body was carried be-
tween them through the port to be placed in
the Swan, they came to present. The ffer
played subdued air, the drummer tapped
on the mufflcd drum, the Captain and officers
followed. caps in hand, and McAllister had
left the ship forever, to be taken on board
the Fab Kee, thence out to deeper water and
there, with shot 10 his feet, to be buried in
the Atlantic. y = Yesterday we got up an
chor five times. We were at it from Z 4.
NJ. till 8, P. N. All hands trying to kill and
destroy.
OFF NEW INLET.
1sth.-Got under way yesterday and stood
out to sea. Put two reefs in the topsais and
set them. Shortly after, the wind coming
ahead, we furled everything and continued
our course under steam. just before our
arrival we spoke tho sloop.of-war Tuscarora
On the blockade cruising. As. she ranged