The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-01-20
Nipping Il MutinY.

OuT Ruu' DOat lay III tuc ulisei5oippiidt
tached to Admiral Porters fotilla, and |
was acting as chief engineer. Our cap.
tain was volunteer officer, an excellent
sailor, and brave man and if he had
fault, it was that of over indul gence to
his crew, a motley collection, made up
almost entirely of river men, fiat boat
men, raftsmen, landing porters, long.
shoremen of all kinds; and too many Of
them were of disposition to take advan.
tage of kindness. They had no concep-
tion of duty, save that which was forced
upon them ; and they had evidently slip.
ped with the impression that they would
have but little work and little danger.
1t was during the war between the
North and South, and we were on the eve
Of stirring events. Word had come to
US that we were TO run the batteries of
Vicksburg; and We knew there was warm
work in store for u, at tho o,uud Gulf.
| found that two OF the stoStis,
should have been on duty, were absent
and upon making inquiry L heard that
they had refused to do any more work.
called them to me and asked what they
meant. One Of them, an ill.favored fei.
low, who had shipped at New Orleans,
answered me that his time was ou:, and
that he wanted his discharge. informed
him that, according to the rules of war,
he must continue to do bis duty until his
discharge was received. He laughed at
me. and said he should like to see me
make him work after his time was out.
| observed that quite number of the
crew had followed my stokers to the door
of the fire room and, from the lances
which were exchanged | vas satisfied
that the detection was not confined 10 my
department. | was strongly tempted 10
shoot the mutineer on tho spot; but [
held my hand, concluding that it was best
to know the full extent Of the evil be.
fore made a decisive move. And it
was we'll that did so, for, had | raised
my hand at that time, there would have
been much blood shed.
sought the captain. and told him
what had transpired
81 know it-I know it," he said. ner-
vously. Nearly half the crew have re
fused to DO further duty, and demand tC
be paid off and set on shore. They have
not yet spoken to me, but expect them
every moment"
While We were conversing the Officer
of the deck came into the cabin, and in
formed the captain that number of thu
crew had assembled in the gangway, anC
demanded to see him. He arose, buckleC
on his sword, and went out.
In the starboard gangway were abou
forty of the men, headed by stout, bur
ly, dark visaged fellow named Bassard
He was a bully and blackleg. As th
captain approached, this man stcppe'
forward and said he had been chosen Il
; speak for his companions. He wanted
, understood that there was no particula
leader in this business, but that the term
of enlistment of forty.two Of the me
! had expired, and they desired to be pal
. off and set ashore.
Now the facts of the case were these
, The terms for which these men had oster
sibly enlisted expired this very day; 5r
/ the captain had known shat they coul
, not DO paid off and discharged at prcsen
= and he had, several days before, spoke
). with them on the subject. At that tin
= they had not apprehcnded danger. au
a had agreed to remain until they could |
If properly discharged.
3 They had supposed that General Graz
! would be left to battle away at the Ian
defences Of Vicksburg, and that Admir-
Porter would rest safely in the river u
h til the way was clear. They had l
d thought that the Commodore would We
n ture beneath the frowning batteries. b
n now the prospect was changed. We We
r to run the batteries, and thus enter ie
e. below in which there would be sure to
OF warm work ; for there was fighting to
h. done when we could get once clear
a Vicksburg. These men were towards.
&c The captain spoke to them at first We
ne moderately. He explained to them wh
no we're the rules Of war. He told the
d. the mere expiration Of gwen time cou
as not absolve an enlisted man from his I
es legiance. Any open opposition to cons
IT. tuted authority before they were d
~ charged would be mutiny and if su
II, mutiny could not be quelled, the efici'
ne cy of the service would be destroy
&c. Then he appealed to their PATRIOTS
he Would they back out aud sneak away j
lin as au opportunity was offered to face
ere enemy