Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1874-02-07

vent prayer for the success of our dan
gerous mission. Soon the clouds thai
had been growing denser and more
threatening, broke on us in all theil
fnry while through the patter and
solashing Of the rain we heard distinctly
the bell Of tho Underwater as it rang
ont four bells for2 o'clock. Guided by
the sound we Immediately pulled to.
ward her. We prepared to spring upon
the foe when and wherever he came in
sight.
When about three hundred yards
from the gunboat her hull loomed up,
and again through the stiffness came
the sharp ring of her five bells for half
past 2. Suddenly some one hailed us,
"Boat ahoyw ."Boat ahoy,' again
shouted the watch, and at the same time
sprang the rattle which summoned the
men to quarters, their hurrying figures
becoming dimly visible ms all
abreast We bore down upon them.
"Give way |" shouted Col. Wood.
"Give way, boys, give way" repeated
Lieut.. Loyal; and give way we did
with vim. IT was a moment Of terri
BILE anxiety and uncertainty, not IN
mingled with misgivings. We're the
enemy aware of our approach, destruc-
tion were inevitable. Retreat was i'm
possible now; death lurked in the still,
silent guns ahead and in the waters
around.
The instructions were that one div
ision should board forward and the
other astern, but through some mistake
a large number of boats went forward,
Col. Wood amidships. The enemy,
who had gathered in the ways Just aft
of the whoel-house, greeted us as we
came up with volley after volley Of
musketry, which, flashing in our very
faces, rendered plainly visible the posi-
tion of our opponents. Our men worked
with q will, cool and determined, in
spite OF the deadly fire that now and
then struck down one of their COM
rades. AS soon as our boat struck the
sides of the Underwater the grapnel
was thrown aboard, bringing us close
alongside, and we were soon scrambling
up her sides, the firing continuing nm
abated. Lieut.. Loyal was first on deck,
with Gill, engineer, and Col. Wood at
ms SIDE Leading the men onward. Fol-
lowing III thelr steps came L1euts. h0Se,
Kerr, Roche, Gardner, Roby, Wllkin-
son, Cooke and Scharf.
At this time the fire was hotter than
I had known during three years expert
ence of the war. bDth in the army and
navy, ana hardly dared nope that one
nan OF our number would escape with
thelr ives C0l. wood, a brave son OF
our glorious ola SFate' l feared every
moment TO see 1all, put StahdlnS VI
right IN ms hoaf, issuing his orders as
co0Iiy as before the enemy we're il
siight, ne seemed TO pear ABOUT nm
charm which rendered nm DuiIet' proof
one alter another, IN tatal succession,
our men were shot Gown, crushing IN
Their fall others
once on decE, tne 1ShtlnS commenced
lnearheSt'4lahdtoha had; WlthcitiaSseSa anu
pistols, each one with rush selecting
ms man, an so unequal were our num-
herS that some struggled with tlree OPP
onehtS NJ the same time: IN le" NM
utes the capture OF the Onderwrlter was
complete Alter deiGhuln6 tleif snip
CALAMITY. lighting desperately IN all
parts, tnelr brave commander SIAM, ana
the majority OF their men hllled OF
wounded, the enemy called ior quarter
Our loss was over one-ionrth OF onr
nnmber-SM KILLED and twenty-five
wounded POOR dlll was lying IN the
gangway MORALLY wounded, shot IN tour
places and Mldshipman sanders q gal,
lant youth, cut down IN a nand-to-h4nd
hight, was breathing ont his young lie
on deck.
The light vas ended, the hoarders
successful The Underwater beng
mOOrpu head and stern UnUlr three