The Brookhaven leader., 1885-01-01
NO. 40.

1 Il
rent of the grand old river and mi
spirits revived, and had every rea
son TO believe that my journey woulC
be a success. / could see the tents
and camp fires of the Federals or
the Louisiana shore, and a great
feet of boats lined bo-h shores.
Barges laden with all the richest
edibles, their prOprietors and their
friends sitting on their decks smok.
ing and chatting, aud the tones OF
musical instruments filled the air,
and the glare Of The lamps cleaning
through the windows revealed many
delicacies for the hungry man. Such
feelings | never had before as l float
ed swiftly by, it was worth a whole
lifetime to feel them. There out in
the gloom alone, IN my fraIl dug-out,
with the dark waves OF the MissIs-
sippi dashing the spray over its
sides, and not friend To whom /
could turn anong the vast hosts
that lay on each shore in full view.
| cannot paint the scene, and my
pen refuses to portray the silent
thoughts that
WINGED THROUGH MY BRAIN.
For awhile / kept the centre Of the
river and drove my little boat
strai ght ahead. l could see an oc-
caslonal light before me and the
river made long, bend to the left.
| thought that l would run in close
to the trees on the Louisiana shore
jnst where the river made its turn
as | could see several row boats at
different points ahead OF me, and |
knew that in race in the open
water in my eXhaused plight. i
could easily be canght. One of the
boats WAS heading for me and laid
down and let mine DRIFT. This boat
passed oy and l was in a short dis
tance of the shore, when l saw q
small spark of fire just in front OF
me, very near, and all at once there
was a crash like heaven and earth
had come together, and three iurid
colmns Of light shot up into the air.
My little boat danced up and down
from the shock like cork, and the
concussion was awful, blood flowed
from my ears and nostrils freely. /
had run nearly on raft on which
were three
FIFTEEN INCH MoRTARs,
and they had fired three shells at
once into the city from behind the
point, and the shock and jar felt by
me was terrific. l was. stunned for
time but recovering, l padded
slowly away out iowa d the mid
channel again. My head was in
whirl and felt like every bone in
my body had been broken and
every blood vessel burst, and my
feelings were very strange. l
floated down, and about three
o'clock a. IN. pulled up on sand
bar on the Louisiana shore and rest
ed. l could see the objects on the
bar. and l was only short distance
above the city. l ran my boat
ashore and lay still until l could sec
grey streak of dawn breaking over
the hills above the city, and l could
zee the sentinels walking their
beats defined againat the sky. l
then showed off and made tor the
city direct. AS l approached the
mouth of Glass Bayou 1 could see
several hundred blue coats, and l
started to pull across the river again,
but l saw they we've under guard,
and the
GREY COATS AROUND THEM.
So l struck out for them with my
handkerchief tied to my paddle for a
flag of truce. When in a few yards
of the shore 1 was seen by the Fed
eral batteries, and shower of shells
fell around me. l landed, but was
unable TO get out of my little boat.
My lower limbs were stiff and
cramped. could not move; l told
the men around me that / was q
courier from Gen. Johnston, and
had
CAPS AND DISPATCHES
for Gen. Pemberton. l was greeted
with a shout, and soon NV boat was
hauled high and dry. l was lifted
from the position l had occupied 8,
long, but | could not stand. I re,
cognized Capt Lnnch and he did me
about the same time, and mutual
greetings followed. The blue coats
looked on in wonder, and soon l was
lifted by strong arms and carried, a,
in triumphal way, and borne will
my bag of caps to the headquarters
of the General commanding. Iva.
taken charge of by Gen. Tom j. Tay
lor, and a comfortable resting plac.
and good food prepared, and abou
9 o'clock a. IN. was presented t.
Gen. Pemberton and delivered m,
dispatches, and l then went to Hos
pital No. 2 with my cousin, DIR
Matt Redd Fontaine, and had mos
comfortable quarters assigned me
Here / met and conve:sed with man,
OF the officers and men of the differ
ent commands, and gave them al
the news i had from the ontsid,
world. / visited many privat,
families, and / was most warml,
welcomed and / frequently made my
head quarters at Mrs. Lum's. Sh,