The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-17


known, volunteers, from commodores TO
masters '-mates registered their names as candi-
| dates for the chance of getting killed. The
| feeling that the Admirable brilliant feats in the
| West had inspired in the hearts of all, and the
natural fancy of sailors for anything that was at
| the same time hazardous and mysterious, made
| the. list large one. From among so great u
number with equal claims, men already famous
| at Port Royal, New Orleans, Charleston, or
| Mobile, how was 1t possible to select?
AS has been said while the crude conception
| of the plan was General Buffers, and while the
| preparation of the explosive power was the work
oil the ordnance department, the execution de-
Yolved upon the Admiral. He had many brave
men in his command: how many had he who
| with great bravery combined judgment, and with
| courage GOODNESS; who would not risk and
ruin all for the sake of dashing attempt;
| VINO would intellgently and fearlessly carry
out not only the letter but the spirit of their in
| etructonsy Many who fulfilled these condi-
| tons, yet from their age and rank in the SER
vice and their positions in the fleet, could not
| be spared The Admirals attention soon fixed
| itself firmly upon an officer who, for brilliant
| and judicious conception, and cool and daring
| execution, had made his name famous among
| his comrades, and had gained Gattering enco-
miums from department never too ready to
praise. This man was Commander Alexander G..
Rhind, of New York, at this time command
ing double-ender, the Agawam.
Notwithstanding the care with which the
secret of the powder-boat had been kept, some
'lealy vessel" had allowed it to escape. The
whole affair was known at Beaufort before the
arrival there OF tho fleet. 1t had been received
from Newbern, between which place and Will
mington Illicit communication was kept up in
spite of all efforts to prevent it, In view, there
fore, OF the great probability that the whole
affair was known to the Rebels, it was necessary
that measures should be adopted by the powder
party TO defeat any attempt to prevent the con-
summation of the enterprise.
The following improved plan of operations
a1n ry,f
the 10th December was submitted to the Ad-
miral:-
1. The Louisiana was to be taken in on the
first favorable night. A suitable night was con-
sidered to be one with hazy atmosphere and
light wind on shore.
III. The Wilderness was to tow, being assisted
by the steam power of the pOwder-bOat.
III. The course should be w. by s. y s., for
Fort Fisher light.
". On her arrival at the proper point the
Wilderness was to signal the Louisiana by
flashing green light three times, and immedi-
ately casting off the tow-line. The Louisiana
was then to steam ahead to her own position and
let go an anchor, stoppered at thirty fathoms.
V. The proper position for the separation of
the two vessels was to be decided by Lamson,
Bradford, and Bowen on the Wilderness. On
their concurrent opinions the light was to be
shown.
VI. The proper position of the Louisiana was
to be about one hundred yards inshore of the
Wilderness if the depth of water would allow
her to get thus far. She was expected to swing
with her bow off shore-a very desirable result
and to obtain which the wind must be light
from the northeast.
VII. Al ter anchoring the Louisiana, fires were
to be at once hauled, and Rhind and Preston
were, personally, to start the clocks and light
the chandelier slow-match, and finally the fire.
VIII. All having been completed, the cable
stopper was to be cut, and the party were to
leave the vessel in regular naval order, that is,
juniors first They were to warp themselves
alongside of the Wilderness by a line attached
to that ssel, one end of which was kept in the
boat. The cable-stopper having been cut would
allow the vessel to drift slowly in towards the
shore to the extreme length of her cable (ninety
fathoms), which it was expected would undoubt-
edly put her aground close to the beach
lhe warp line wns to be used to avoid the
noise which sometimes unavoidably happens in
handling oars; and also as being more conve-
nient in the crowded state of the boat.
N. In case the enemy attempted toboard, the
Wilderness was to attack at once with grape and
canister. To the arrangements for that pur-
pose, and the management of his vessel while
towing Acting Master Arey was to give all his
attention.
X. Should the fort open and the Wilderness
be disabled, and should all efforts to drive off
the boardcrs fail, and the capture of the vessel
become inevitable-the final measures should be
adopted. Mr.. Preston being in view of this
contingency, stationed in the lower-room, was,
upon signal from Captain Rhind, to blow up the
Louisiana to insure the success of the enterprise.
This was to be done, TO use Preston's own words
by sticking lighted candle into the nearest
open bag
NJ. The signal for the self-destruction of the
party was to be three distinct and measured
raps on the deck, to be given by Captain Rhind.
The Admiral cordially approved of the above
plan of operations with the exception of the
tenth and eleventh articles. But being told that
these had been adopted by the unanimous vote
of the party he reluctantly assented to them all.
a Oo1 on n
until the afternoon Of the 22d On its first ap
pearance, the transports with the troops, and
General Butler in his flagship, got under way
and went to Beaufort, from which place they
did not return until the oath. The Adj
miral, however, determined to ride it out,
and did so successfully; but the position
OF the party on the Louisiana was un-
pleasant in the extreme. She wallowed and
rolled, and dragged the Wilderness almost
down to the fleet, although Captain Arey let go
all the anchors he had. She finally cast off from
the Wilderness, and was taken in tow by the
Nansemond during the remainder OF the gale.
After the gale ceased the sea went down
rapidly, and the night of the 23d was clear and
fine. The weather was quite cold, and the wind
lisht from n. N. w. This was very untavor-
able wind, as the vessel would probably tail off
shore when anchored. However, the Admiral
did not deem that objection of sufficient impor-
tance; and, besides, it thought that, the wind
being so light, she might swing to the flood tide,
which would carry her directly towards the
beach; so, as he had determined to attack on the
oath, and had already sent word to General But
Ter, he ordered Commander Rhind TO proceed in
at once, and blow up the vessel
Accordingly, the Wilderness once more took
the tow-line, and the Kansas again took her po-
siton as stern range. At quarter before
eleven the two vessels passed the Kansas and
stood in shore w. by S.119S., running slowly. At
twenty minutes before twelve, hfty-fve minutes
after leaving the Kansas, the Wilderness was in
two and half fathoms of water, with the beach
and the embrasures of Fort Fisher plainly dis
cemible The signal was now made. and the