The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-02-12
THRILLING WAR INCIDENT.

ing three pictures OF THESE VesSels. Int I
account concluded with description of |
the capture of the Underwater, in Feb
ruary, 1864, by an expedition under
command of John Taylor Wood, of
Maryland, of the Confederate States |
privateer Tallahassee, and subsequently
an aid on the staff of Jefferson Davis. |
The account is as follows Early in
the year 1854, Col. Wood, who had a
short time before captured few feder-
al gunboats in the Rappahannock river,
solicited and obtain permission from
the secretary of the Confederate States
navy to fiji out boats for the capture of
federal blookading vessels, by boarding
them in the night. In the month of
January, 1864, the Confederate States
naval commanders in the ports OF Savan-
nah, Charleston, Wilmington and Rich
mond received instructions from til
naval department. at the iast-named
city, to select a boats crew of fifteen
able and trusty seamen at each port,
from the iron-clads then in commission,
and with their boats to report at VIII
min0ton, n. @. About the latter part
of January, everything being in readi
ness, we'll armed, and accompanied by
four boats and two launches, we left
Wilmington via the Kingston railway.
Our destination was a matter of much
conjecture, and more than one quid
nunc puzzled his brain over the prob
lem. .F...H
At the juncture Of the Neuse and
Trent rivers, situated on a point of land,
its shores washed by either stream,
lies the town of Newbern, a place of
some note, in North Carolina. After
the fall of Roanoke island, on the 14th
of February, 1862, it fell into the hands
of the federals, who Immediately after
its surrender threw up Notifications
which extended over an area of twenty
miles. To further increase the strength,
and to render the town proof against
surpriEe or capture, some three or four
gunboats were either anchored off the
wharf, or cruising up and down the
Neuse or Trent. The largest of these
was the Underwater, which fred the
first gun on Roanoke island, and whose
capture forms the subject of this
sketch.
On Sunday morning, Jan. 81, our
boats being dragged by the men from
the cars and launched in the Neuse at
Kingston, we Immediately embarked
and we're soon under way, pulling hard
to Newborn. The trip was one of
no little interest, but would exceed
proper limits to give adetAiled account
of it. / shall therefore confine myself
to few generaities Those who re-
member the winter of 1864 will recall
it as one of unusual severity, and on
the morning of our expedition we saw
little trace of the almost tropical luxu-
riance for which our southern country
is noted, the river wide and deep with
floating masses of ice, through which
the waves flowed with a hOarse surge
L. Na~4~ l.. sNne
of vegetation, arose on either side,
bordered with gnarled cypress trunks
whose branches, trailing with gray moss
and leadess vines, formed a skeleton
wall, through the openings Of which
we caught an occ lsioDal glimpse of the
bare forest woodlands. succeeded fur
ther on by swamps, and marshes, whose
rank grasses and debris of fallen logs
and dead trunks seemed a vast battle
field, over whose funeral pyre neither
victor or vanquished staid to shed a
tear.
Winding and crossing in many a curve
and turn, flashing In and out, the river
seemed succession of tiny lakes; wild
ducks started at our approach, rose
from the banks, whirled for an instant
above our heads, and then flew on rapid
wing to the forest coverts beyond. ST.
lently our boat sped down the stream,
issuing no sound save the steady splash
and dip of the oars as they fell into the
water. Occasionally q fallen log, COW
cred with sleet and ice, stayed our pro-
gress, and the monotonY of the hour
was varied by boat aground, aud now
aud then, as night appeared, the low,
solemn sereech of the nigbt-owl was
borne DER the stiffness and hush of the
dark waters. The night grew very
dark,-a night in consonance with our
work of daring and danger, and soon,
as the darkness thickened and black
ened. our way could only be traced by
the faint light of the sky glimmering
through the tree tops. At about eleven
o'clock our way grew clearer, the shores
seemed to separate, aud we soon emer-
ged into the open country above New
bern.
To understand the plan of attack. it
will be necessary TO explain briefly.
Gen. Pickett, then commanding, was to
open fire on the enemy's lines in the
morning, thus concentrate their atten-
ton inland, while we, taking advantage
of the diversion, if possible, capture
one or moro of the gunboats, and
clear the river. When in sight of
Newborn we ran into a small creek, and
hauling our boats close to the shore
landed upon an ashland whose tall grasses
and shrubs Afforded a temporary haven.
At midnight the men were called to
quarters, arms inspCeted, and ammunition
distributed. To distinguish him each
man was furnished with white badge,
TO be worn on the left arm, and the
password (''Sumter'O being given, the
brave fellows we're ready and eager for
action. Tie firing of Pickett was now
heard at its hight. and again launching
our crafts IN the Neuse, the boats were
arranged in two divisions, the first COM
handed by Col. Wood, and the second
by Lieut.. b. z. Loyal, aud the two
forming parallel TO each other, We
pulled rapidly down stream. After a
short time Col. Wood pulled the boats
alongside his own to receive instruc-
tons. and this done he offered MP fer
vent prayer for the success of our dan
gerous mission. Soon the clouds that
had been growing denser and more
threatening, broke on us in all their
fury, while through the patter and
solashing of the rain we heard distinctly
the bell of the Underwriters as il rang
out four bells for 2 O'Clock. Guided by
the sound we immediately pulled to-
ward her. We prepared to spring upon
the foe wien and wherever he came IN
sight.
When about three hundred yards
from the gunboat her hall Icomed M.
and again through the stiffness came
the sharp ring of her five bells for half
past 2. Suddenly some one hsiled as.
Boat ahoy ." Boat ahoy," again
shouted the watch, and at the same time
sprang tile rattle which summoned the
men TO quarters, their hurrying figures
becoming dimiy visible as all
abreast we bore down upon them
"Giye wav |" shouted Col. Wood.
IS Give way, boys. give way, repeated
Lieut.. Loyal; and give way we did
/ with vim. It was a moment &C tefriS
bic anxiety and uncertainty, not nm
mingled With misgivings. Were the
enemy aware of our apps zach, destruo-
ton were inevitable. Retreat was i'm
possible now; death lurked in the stiil,
silent guns ahead and in the waters
around.
The Instructions were that one div.
ision should board foruara and tbe
other astern, but through some mistake
| large number Of boats went forward.