The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-07-16

circumstances the majors orders might
be disregarded. They would not, how
ever, take anybody with them. The
blame, If any, attached to the act, should
rest entirely on their shoulders. Conse-
quently they watched their chance, and
when the major was out of the way,
slipped upstairs to the barbete battery.
The gun was already loaded and aimed at
the very battery they desired 10 strike.
For weeks before the bombardment began
all the guns were kept loaded. They had
nothing to do, therefore, but slip
friction primer in the vent and pull the
lanyard; this was the work of mo-
ment. The gun was fred, and the two
sergeants and those below who were in
the secret, watched the flight of the shot
with almost painful interest. 1t missed,
missed, seemingly, by hairs breadth,
just grazing the top of the battery. Great
was the disappointment. So much risked;
so little won. But the two sergeants
would not give it up so. They might as
we'll be hanged for sheep as lamb.
They were determined to have another
shot. The gun was reloaded, which was
quite feat for two men, as the shot
weighed one hundred and twenty-eight
pounds, but when they tried to run the
gun in battery" they failed. Itrequired
six men to throw the carriage ain gear"
and the two sergeants could not accom-
plish it. Although the discharge of the
ten-inch gun had escaped the observation
of our own officers, it had been noticed by
the rebels. They knew all about the
position and power of that particular gun,
and had no doubt wondered at its silence.
Now that it had opened, it was of the
utmost Importance that it be silenced at
once; 80 every rebel gun that could be
brought to bear was turned on it, and a
shower of shot and shell came Kissing and
hurting about the ears of the two SER
geants who were still struggling in vain
at the handspikes. Matters had now
reached a crisis. "By Gemini." said Ser
geant Tom, "let us fire her as she is" 1t
was the only thing they could do. So the
elevating screw was given half turn, the
primer was inserted, and the ordnance
sergeant ran down to see if the coasts
were clear. Meantime, Tom, who was
left holding the lanyard, found himself
in tight place. Shot and shell were
gunners were just getting the range. Tom
WAS lying uOWuy DcCduSo, hS uo odlu, IuoIo
was no room for him to stand up. What
could be keeping his friend SO long.
Traverse circles were being torn up by the
enemy's shot, and great blocks Of granite
were slashing about the terreplein. He
could stand it no longer; the lanyard was
pulled, and the shot struck the battery
and seemed to do considerable damage,
but the gun, having been fred out of
battery, recoiled over the counter-hurters
and turned somersault backward. AS
the ordnance sergeant reached the top of
the stairs he met the ten-inch gun going
in the opposite direction, and, looking
around for his friend, discovered him
hugging mother earth half dead with
fright-not at the enemy's shot, but at
having dismounted the boss gun of the
outfit Both compatriots came down.
There were now additional reasons for
keeping mum about the ten.inch gun, and
the major never learned how it was dis.
mounted.-The United Service.