The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-07-07
THE RECONNAISSANCE;
OR,
HOW TO WRITE A DESPATCH.

IuAD Just returned from my uneX-
pected trip to Jamaica, "per steamer,
4laJan,a, <Semm es, Master,"a as related
in my last yarn, and was enjoying all
the pleasures of high life in New Or
leans, while the arrangements for the
exchange of our officers were being COM
pleted at Washington, when, coming
out of the st. Charles one afternoon, l
met C., the popular young secretary
of our admiral.
"Ah, Stanton, I am glad l have met
YOU. The Admiral wishes to see you on
board the HarVord."
"What's in the wind now, G.; you
haven't got my papers through yet,
have you?"
ooh, 1 can't reveal the secrets Of the
prison-house, you know; but strictly
entire nous, l would advise you to make
hay while the sun shines with that pret-
ty little French girl saw you dancing
with the other evening, for l don't
think you will have much time to gal
livant after this week." and humming
"The Girl we Leave Behind Us"
he turned away.
The next morning I presented myself
In due time on board the flagship, and
after an interview with the Admiral, in
which he informed me he had effected
rhe exchange of myself and one other
Uf our officers for two Rebel licutcnants
captured on the Teche lately, received
INV orders to the command of fine lit
tie steamer, the AntOnd, with dircc-
tions to report to Commodore Bell, off
Galveston, for such duty rs he should
assign me.
"The Antond is all ready for sea,
Lieutenant Stanton, and ! have no
doubt, you will be glad to find yourself
on salt water again."
c. gave me significant wink
from his table behind the Admiral.
az shall expect you to sail tomorrow
Good morning, sir;" and the Admiral
turned to the next officer waiting an au'
dience.
Well this was summary certainly
here had made up my mind for dc
lightful Irritation of couple of months
at least, and now found myself ordered
away to the coast of Texas, with scarce
~ time enough to lay in my mess-storcs
But | knew our Admiral too well t.
think of delaying an hour beyond thu
time set, so off | went to inspect m!
new command at once.
Tile 1ntO,ia was II Clyde-built block
;ade-runner; captured by one of oul
cruisers; reftted as a man-of-war; an'
sent out to capture in her turn other YES
sels of like kidney. She was Il snug lit
tile craft, fast, with a good battery, anC
admirably adapted to the service ex
pected of her.
found her in excellent condition
with fine crew, gentlcmanly set o
officers, and sharp executive, who hai
all his "requisition" filled, and report
ed the ship as ready for sea the mex
morning at daylight. SO l went OF
shore again, passed the day in purchas
ing mess things, paying my bills, ant
collecting my traps; reserved the even
ing for my adieuX to the fair Creole, an
,at sunrise the next morning, trippe
any anchor and steamed down the river
At Galveston l received orders as
signing me to the blockade of Pass ca
,ballo and Aranzas Pass, with genera
oversight of the forty miles of coast in
tervcning. ! had a pleasant run dow
from Galveston, and anchored one fin
evening a little to the northward of Al
.anzas Pass. This portion of the cOas
Ayas new to me, although | had bee
stationed several months off Sabin
Pass, further to the northward, and
was therefore very glad to learn thi
my executive officer, Mr.. Lane, and m
surgeon had been lately transferre
from the United States bark ATh,T I
the 4ntond, and in her had been station
ed for six months off these very passe
Mr.. Lane felt quite at home, as he ha
been on several expeditions inside II
bay and the surgeon eXpatiated on II
excellent oysters and turtles to be had il
side, with cattle for the trouble of shoe
ing them, and other charms of this pa
ticular locality. As for Rebs, they bot
agreed that none were ever seen her
abouts, and indeed there seemed lit
object for the Johnnies to congregate c
these barren sand isles.
Along the entire southern coast {