The National tribune., 1883-10-25
FORT FISHER,
Ard the Work of the Monticello Along the North
Carolina Coast.

tVdst.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
The call of Adams Perry last June On the
boys who were at Fort Fisher has thus far not
been answered, and strangers to that renowned
watering place at the time of our great national
struggle may conjecture that Comrade Perry
was haiiing the Flying Dutchman, but those
that were there do really know that Perry's
hail is not to a phantom ship, but to crews of
ships who had an existence and have record
of hard service. Many of these could spin
good yarn, but, like myself are poor at the
pen. Ever since his letter was published have
patiently waited for some Of our good writers
to put IN their appearance, but all in vain; so,
in order that our comrade may not think he is
left alone and no one to comfort him, / feel COM
PEELED to break the silence. ] do not wonder
that he turns with affection to the boys
who with him endured the anxiety that all
felt while blockading and the throbbings of
the heart while the carnage was raging in all
its fury, for, comrade, our friendship has been
welded in the heat of battle through which we
passed in order to preserve the Nation, and not
for pecuniary purposes, as some of our stay-at-
homes would have it. For myself, | left $40 per
month in June, 1861, to offer my life on the
altar Of Nation ] thought worthy, to receive
SIS. worth at my discharge, in 1864 about 50 in
gold. That's small matter,-a loss of only 1864
ayear for three years and four months, and, in
in all, $880,-but that is not all my loss. Al
though it did not take " my life" to save the
Nation, it took my health, and to day / am not
able to earn living for myself alone.
But, as regards Fort Fisher, / remember it when
it was in its infancy, before it could beleh forth
its gigantic sounds of terror TO US sons of Nep-
tune aud still not make US afraid. Then was the
time TO have smothered it in its infant cloth
ing, when the Monticello could easily have
silenced the fort, and in fact did so several
L = L L -
strengthen their then inferior works and call
upon their foster mother, England, for better
guns, so that before I left the coast they kept
the Monticello at the respectable distance of
four and a-half miles, by the use of the Whit
worths from our English cousins and the right
men to aim them, for every second or third
shot fired at ship within range would intro
duce itself very roughly among the ships crew,
and bring sadness TO their friends at home.
CAPT. BRAINE AS FIGHTER.
Surely the Monticello, commanded by Capt
Braine, did her share of work on that coast Of
North Carolina, and well do | remember the
capture of the first forts-Hatterasa and Clark
and afterwards the shelling of the rebels at
Chicamacomico by the Monticello, when Gen.
Wise came to recapture Hatteras Some incl
dents worthy of notice regarding this engage
ment, and what / believe are known to but
very few, should be mentioned, after lapse Of
twenty-five years. On the morning of October
5, 1861, when the rebels were marching with
colors flying and bands playing, after having
dispersed and captured the Twentieth Indiana
the day before, and In hopes of drinking all
the whisky in the forts that night, Captain
Braine asked permission of the senior officer to
proceed through the channel inside of Hatteras
Bar to intercept the rebels, which request was
granted, with the injunction TO "use your
own discretion" and we accordingly steamed
through the breakers. 1t was a hazardous Jour
ney, for had we gone round the bar, a distance
of fifty miles, we would have lost our game.
When within two or three miles from Hatteras
Lighthouse we brought the rebs to a stand, or
rather to a run, for run they did to the tune of
Hail Columbia" from our and 10-inch guns
After this unequal contest of about twenty
minutes, the flagship signalled to cease firing,
which fact lit being my duty reported to
Capt. Braine, and he answered me with a
scowl, and | took the hint without a word
Did we cease firing Yes, we did, after every
shell had been fired from shipboard and no
rebel could be seen on shore Two men who
proved to be members of the Twentieth Indiana,
captured by the rebels the day before, who had
escaped in the confusion, came very near
having their heads taken off by one Of our 10
inch shells, fred at them as they were coming
down to the beach. We sent a boat through
the surf and brought one on board. The other
escaped our shot and rebel prison to find a
watery grave, and if the one we saved should
be still alive and read this, he would confer a
great favor by giving his adventures to the
readers of THE TRIBUNE. After the Month
cello had returned to the protection of our
commanding officer, the first question asked
was: Did you not see my signals to cease
fring?" To which Capt. Braine replied
did not SIR" and he told the truth, for he
never looked toward the flagship as long as a
rebel met his eye. The signals were flying for
thirty-fye minutes. But Capt. Lardner could
not better himself, for to come within speaking
distance of the Monticello would have taken the
Susauehana eight hours to accomplish. The
Monticello was out of powder and she'll but
Capt. Lardner had none to spare, and way down
TO Charleston we had to go to get a new
supply from the Roanoke. And thus ended
the first attempt of the rebels to recapture
Hatteras, frustrated only by the prompt action
of Capt Braine.
CHARLES WINTERS,
| u. S. S. Monticello.
NJ "