Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-02-19
For the Public Ledger
g AP II u R +
THE UNDERWRITERS
ny GEORGE ". GIFT.

%, 1t was between one and two clock
when we manned our boats and formed
pulling away down stream. ! had noted
two small marsh islands as being near
and ahead of the object of our search,
which was to guide the pilots in looking
for her. The tide had run out pretty
low, and twice the launches grounded,
but we had learned how to get them over
shoal places the previous night, and SO
jumped overheard and waded them
through. Now Iparticularly noted the
watchfulness Of the commander. The
moment the word went to the head OF
the column that we were aground, he
pulled back and lay alongside US, en-
couraging the men and officers in his
peculiar CHEEKY, good-natured way. he
was not only splendid officer, but very
lovable. 400
1t was not very long after our second
grounding when the lights of the New.
bern fort and of the town appeared a
short distance ahead. lnstinctively the
men seemed to exercise greater caution
in the management of their oars; they
raised them clear of the water without
causing ripple and dropped them back
again as noislessly as possible. But as
there we're two hundred or more oars in
operation there was necessarily little
splash. The column was closed up and
moved very slowly, as it was quite dark
and we might pass the vessel we were
lookingafor. But | have forgotten to
mention an occurrence which happened
lust before we had got so near the enc
my. Word was passed to close up
around the fag-boat; and when the or
der had been obeyed the commander
called out in a clear, firm voice" hats
off for prayers and standing up he
addressed the throne of grace in very
short yet very fervent appeal for for
giyeness and mercy, beseeching our
Heavenly Father to forgive all who
who should fall, no matter on which side
they fought-aU were miserable sinners,
and needed his saving grace and pardon,
The words were few, but they were full
of meaning. S ,
AsI said, before commencing the last
paragraph, we were now in the neigh
borhood of where the game should be,
vet we could see nothing of him. Sad
denly there came out Of the stiffness,
and lust ahead of US, the sharp stroke
of ships bell telling halfpast two. lap
tap, tap-tap, tapl That bell will never
sound again.
Slowly the long black column turns
like big scorpion and points its head
toward the sound and crawls forward
Peering into the darkness we see the
outlines of the spars, smoke-stack and
wheel-houses. Whispered cantions to
be careful are passed to the oarsmen.
The officers stand up and get their arms
in place, and the marines look out ahead
and wait for the word to fire. have
my howitzers elevated to fire over the
boats in case it shall be necessary DR..
Conrad, our feet surgeon, who was in
Woods boat, described the movements
of his cockswain as reminding him Of
game-cock. He settled his tools down
with a sort of flap, and seemed to be
waiting for the spring, confident, though
obseryant. We had a dozen or more
midshipmen between the ages Of sixteen
and eighteen, and one poor little
white headed, girlish-looking boy OF
fourteen. The big ones we're Just the
fellows for the work we we're undertake
ing. as they were active, courageous and
ambitious, and we're totally unconscious
of the danger they were going into, It
was cruel, however, to send the little
fellow aH1
Slowly we 90 forward until the enemy
is fairly in view. and / had began to think
we might get alongside him before he
discovered us,when a sudden bail caused
me TO change my mind. Boat ahoy
shouts the quartermaster; but we make
no answer, and the only effect is slight
ouickening of the stroke and an increase
of speed. Boat ahOyl" is said the
second time after a slight pause, and, as
in the FIRST instance, we pay no atten-
ton to the hail but keep steadily on.
" Boar AHOYl" is shouted the third time,
and with it is sprung the boarders rattle
to alarm the sleeping crew and bid them
defend their ship. Mems heads are seen
over the rails and at the gangways, and
the crack Of rifles and pistols and the
whizzing Of bullets informs us that the
prize Is not to be had without a struggle.
These latter incidents also make a
wonderful change in the movements Of
our frAil foiilla. To win We must get
aboard before The crew are up and
armed, and We must get alongside before
be can sink us By discharge from his
great guns. Il Is the last "spurt in
glorious. grand regatta, where q ship
and honor and imperishable glory is
the prize. Wood, standing mp, cheers