The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-05-06

7
many willing hands were ready to
draw the steamer across the river.
Gen. Buford, myself and several 9th
ers, taking possession of the yawl,
pulled for the boat, and on boarding
her, Walton's Confederate Battery
flag was nailed t. the flagstaff, and
un1er command of Commodore" Blu
ford. who strobe the upper deck with
the pride and grandeur of an old salt,
we gided smoothly into port amid the
cheers and rejoicings of the ragged
rebs, who had an eye more to the
shoes, blankets, clothing, bareback,
and other good things, with which she
was heavily freighted, than to the
glory of the capture. Approaching
the landing, an amusing incident oc-
Cured illustrative of the former char.
acteristics of the gallant General.
| eve believe he has since become II
consistent member of the Christian
Church, Having discovered a two
gallon Jug of choice old Kentucky
Bourbon, he claimed this as the treas,
ure trove, and was striding the deck,
holding the jug to his mouth with Il
devotion peculiar to his impulsive ma.
ture, when some of the men cried out:
"Hold on, General, save some of the
whisky for us?" He replied, with
full ore rotundo, PLENTY of shoes
and blankets for the boys, but just
whiskey enough tor the General"
The greater part of the stores were
safely discharged upon the bank by
p. m. About this time, three Fed
eral gunboats approached from be-
low, and, at long range, shelled, with
their heavy guns, our position with
such viger and precision that Gen.
Buford deemed it expedient to at
once remove the much needed stores
to place of safety and fire the steam.
err and barge, which being accomplish
ed, about sundown the gunboats with-
drew down the river.
The Importance of this capture
may be seen when it is known that
the stores removed from the Mazeppa
and barge were almost sufficient to
SIMPLY Hoods army, requiring the Ell
tire transportation force of Buford's
division, added to that of all the wag-
ons that could be impressed in the
neighborhood, to remove them with
in two days and one nights constant
work.
ANNA.
Early on the morning of the Both,
the Anna, a transport, came down
the river. She was allowed to pass
the Paris Landing batteries and fall
into the snare. AS she approached
Fort Holman, q few well directed
shots from Browns "Rodmans" and
from Walton's six>inch "Parrott's,"
caused her to raise the white flag.
Gen. Buford. anxious to capture her
uninjured, if possible, galloping to
the river bank, ordering her to "come
to- Observing the white flag flying
and hearing the pilot ringing his sig
nal bell to land, l ordered the firing
to cease. The pilot, as he approached
the bank, cried out: II will round to
at the lower landing" This was just
under Browns section. Gen. Butord
and myself repaired to the landing.
When approaching, she Rugged the
bank as if to stop, but instead of land.
ing she raised steam and hastened by
us. | ordered the batteries to reopen.
She, however, was so close to us and
under cover of the bank, that our
guns could not be sufficiently de-
pressed to effect serious damage until
almost out of range. However, her
chimneys, masthead and pilot-house
were riddled and knocked down, and
she foated helplessly with the stream,
until under protection of the Federal
gun boats. We subsequently learned
from our cavalry, which followed her,
that the pilot was killed and several
parties on board seriously hurt. and
that she was towed by gun boat to
Paducah.
UNDINE AND VENUS.
The transportation Oh the Tennes-
see seemed immense, and every mo-
ment was full Of excitement.
About 10 a. IN. the Undine, or No.
90, belonging to what was commonly
known as the "Musquito feet escor-
ting the transport Venus, with two
barges attached, came in sight from
above. They were permitted to pass
Crozier at the mouth of Sandy, when
both Crozier and Earring opened
vigorous fire, which was responded to