Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-01-01
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET.


was Done by a Federal GunBoat.
The following is an interesting extract
from Rear-Admiral Walkers article,
"Operations Of the Western Flotilla, !"
printed in the Century.
Having received written orders from
the fag-oficer, under date Of March 30,
| at once began to prepare the Carondelet
for the ordeal. All the loose material at
hand was collected, and on the 4th Of
April the decks were covered with it, to
protect them against plunging shot.
Hawsers and chain cables were placed
around the pilot-house and other vulner-
able parts Of the vessel, and every pre-
caution was adopted to prevent disaster
A coal-barge laden with hay and coal
was lashed to the part Of the port side on
which there was no iron plating to pro
tect the magazine. Andit was truly said
that the old Carondelet at that time re-
sembled a farmers wagon prepared for
market. The engineers led the escape
steam, through the pipes aft, into the
wheel-house, to avoid the putting sound
it made when blown through the smoke
stacks.
All the necessary preparations having
been made, informed the fiag-oficer Of
my intention to run the gauntlet that
night, and received his approval. Col
onel Buford, who commanded the land
forces temporarily with the fotilla, as
sisted me in preparing for the trip, and
on the night Of the 4th broughto on board
Captain Hollenstein, Of the Forty second
Illinois, and twenty three sharp-shooters
of his command, who volunteered their
services, which were gratefully accepted.
Colonel Buford remained on board until
| the last moment to encourage u.
I informed the officers and crew of
the character Of the undertaking, and all
| expressed readiness to make theventure.
In order to resist boarding parties in case
we should be disabled, the sailors were
well armed, and pistols, cutlasses, mus
kets, boarding pixies, and hand-grenades
were within reach. Hose were attached
to the boilers for throwing scalding
water over any who might attempt to
board If it should be found impossible
to save the vessel, it was designed to
| sink rather than burn her, as the loss Of
life would probably be greater in the
letter case by the explosion Of her maga-
zine. During the afternoon there was
promise of clear, moonlight night, and
it was determined to wait until the moon
was down, and then to make the attempt,
whatever the chances. Having gone SO
for, we could not abandon the project
without bad effect on the men, equal
almost to failure.
At 10 o'clock the moon had gone
down, and the sky, the earth, and the
river were alike hidden in the black
shadow Of a thunderstorm, which had
now spread itself over all the heavens.
AS the time seemed favorable, I ordered
| the first master to cast off. Dark clouds
now rose rapidly over us, and enveloped
us in almost total darkness, except when
the sky was lighted up Eby the welcome
flashes Of vivid lightning, to show us the
perilous way we were to take. Now and
then the dim outline Of the landscape
could be seen, and the forest bending
under the roaring storm that came rush
ing up the river.
With our bow pointing to the island,
we passed the lowest point Of land with
out being observed, it appears, by the
enemy. All speed was given to the yes
sci to drive her through the tempest.
The flashes of lightning continued with
frightful brilliancy, and talmost every
second" wrote correspondent, "every
brace, post and outline could be seen
with startling distinctness, enshrouded
by blush white glare of light, and then
her form for the next minute would be-
come merged in the intense darkness. ?
When opposite Battery No ?, on the
mainland, the smokestack blazed up. but
the fire was soon subdued. It was caused
by the SCOT becoming dry, as the escape
steam, which usually kept the stacks
wet, had been sent to the wheel house,
as already mentioned. to prevent noise.
With such vivid lightning as prevailed
during the whole passage, there was no
prospect Of escaping the vigilance Of the
enemy, but there was good reason to
hope that he would be unable to point
his gun accurately. Again the smoke
stacks took fire, and were soon put out
and then the roar Of the enemy's guns be-
gan, and from batteries No.2, 8 and came
almost necessarily the sharp crack and
screaming sound Of their ride-shells,
which seemed to unite with the electric
batteries Of the clouds to annihilate US.
While nearing the island OF some shoal
point, during few minutes Of total
darkness, we were startled by the loud,
sharp order, Hard a-portl" from our
brave and skillful pilot, First Master
Hoel. We almost grazed the island.
and it appears were not observed
through the storm until we were close
in, and the enemy having no time tc
point his guns, fred at random In fact
we ran SO near that the enemy did not,
probably could not, dep ess his guns
sufficiently While close under the lee
Of the island and during lull in the
storm and in the firing, one Of our pilots
heard Confederate officer shout, 'ele-