The National tribune., 1883-07-26
THE cUMBERLAND,s FLAG.
John Braeken's Story Of How He Swan ashore
With IL

With Ii.
In neat but very humble quarters on the ton
floor of the tenement house at 2I5 East Twsn-
ty-eighth street, New York, reporter found
John Bracken, the man who swan ashore with
the Cumberland'S battle-hag when she was
sunk by the Merrimac in the memorable en-
gagement at Newport News, in the James
River. Bracken was young man at that time,
but his hair is now grizzly gray. He told the
story of the famous fight with moving simplic-
ity.
AZ left the old volunteer Fire Department.
when / was only 81, be said, to join Colonel
EllsTorth's Fire ZOuaveS. was assistant fire.
man in 80 hose and the youngest fireman in the
department, and had rafting send-0ff from
the boys when / enlisted on April 1S, 1851.
John McManus became my eomrade in ranks.
He and / got relieved from guard mount on
Saturday, the morning Of March 8, 1862, the
day of the plucky fight, and went on board the
Cumberland. We hadn't been there long when
the Merrimae hove in sight, and the Cumber-
lands deck was cleared for action. McManus
and / had a chance to go below, but we said Wa
would stay there and fight, and he and were
put on duty at gun l. The Stars and Stripes
flew at the main-royal mast and at the mizzen
hoated the sery red battle-hag.
Well, the Merrimae ran up alongside, and
we opened FIRE on each other in the liveliess
possible fashion, can tell you. For about an
hour shell and canister and grape came pouring
IN from all sides. We gave her red-hot broad
side, and if we ever had had the chance TO repeat
that dose it would probably have settled the
Merrimac. But we didn't get the chance. She
ran her PROV right into US under our bow and
the men began to drown IN the magazine whlla
they were getting ready for another soekdolo-
ger. My eomrade and hung 70 our gun whlla
the vessel was sinking, and it fired the last shot
sent from her. The man who pulled the lanyard
had had his right arm blown Offby ashot just
few moments before, but he stuck to his post
and yan&ed the string for that parting shot
with his left hand.
II caught sight of a boat over one side "a
the water began to iii Us up uneomfortably, and
LieutS. Morris and Selfridge and Surgeon Mar
tin The rebS gave US no sort of show.
They poured grape and canister into the rig
ging where our men chung, and sent shell
after US in the boat. 1t went whizzing past,
and struck the headquarters of Gen Mansfield
on the shore, killing number of eavalrymen.
My comrade, McManus was wounded but he
got ashore IN the boat. The boat sWamped
when she started back with second load OF
men. was In her. l saw the red rag of
flag still floating at the mizzenmast, and
climbed up the rigging through as hot shower
as l ever got caught in. l got the old flag
down and swan ashore with i1. This nag and
an old eUtlass that was picked up are ALL
believe. that was rescued from the ship before
she went under. Mc3lanuS has got both thu
flag and the cutlass. l gave them TO him"
Bracken arose as he stopped speaking, and.
hunting for some time among pile of old
letters, produced and displayed with pride q
letter bearing the signature of Thomas D.
Selfridge, now IN command of the torpedo sta
tion at Newport 1t was warm tribute to the
bravery of Braeken and MeHanus. It con-
tanned this passage, verifying part of Braeken's
story to the reporter:
When the ship was cleared for action, and YOU
had no opportunity OF getting ashore instead Of
going below, Is You might have done TO a placa
of greater security, You both calamity volunteered
TO tight and stationed you at one Of the guns in
my division. The part you both took in the iSshs
Is part OF the history Of the CGmberlanes fght-a
ship that went down, but whose colors never came
down.
When mustered out of the Zousves. Bracksn
re-enlisted in the Sixth New York volunteers,
and later still served on the gunbOat Commo-
dOre Barney. He is now our of employment.
His efforts to get employment from the Gov
eminent in his need have failed . Politics"
he said bitterly, control ali such things, and
it seems that it takes money to get any work
under the city government, no matter how IN
important the place ISL
Braeken has honorable discharges from both
the ire and police departments.-N. \. Sts.