The Republican journal., 1885-03-05
A Gun-Boat Running the Gauntlet,


From an illustrated article by Rear-Admiral
Wake, in the Corporations of the Western Flo
tilla" in the Century, we quote the following:
'Having received written orders from the
tlag-otficer. under date of March Both, at once
began to prepare the CarondeIet 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 plungng shot.
Hawsers and chain cables We're placed around
the pilot-house and other vulnerable parts of
the vessel and every precautiOn was adopted
to prevent disaster. A cOa-barge laden with
hay and coal was dashed to the part of the port
side on which there was no iron plating, to pro-
tect the magazine. And il was truly said that
the old Carondelet at that time resembled
farmers wagon prepared for market. The en-
gneers 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.
"Al the necessary preparations having been
made, informed the flag officer of my inten-
ton to run the gauntlet that night. and received
his Il proval. Colonel Ruford, who command
ed the land forces temporarily with the tlotilla,
assisted LIE in preparing for the trip, and on
the night Of the 4th brought on board Captain
Hollen>tcin, of the Forty second Illinois, and
twenty-three sharp-shooters of his command,
who volunteered their services. which were
gratefully accepted. Colonel Buford remained
us. | informed the officers and crew of the
character of the undertaking, and all expressed
a readiness to make the venture. In order to
resist boarding parties in case we should be dis
abled, the sailors were well armed and pistols,
Cutla>>eS, musketS, boarding pixies, and hand
grenade> Were within reach. Hose was attach
ed 10 the boilers for throwing scalding water
over any who might attempt to board. If 1t
should be found impossible to save the vessel,
| il was designed to sink rather than burn her, as
/ Ia - .N1,,l, -,
the latter case by the explosion of her maya
zine. During the afternoon there was promise
of clear, moonlight night, and it was deter
mined TO wait until the moon was down, and
then to make the attempt, whatever the
chances. Having gone so far, we could not
abandon the project without bad effect on the
ncn. equal almost to failure.
Al ten O'Clock the moon had gone down,
and the sky. the earth, and the river were
alike hidden in the black shadow of Il thunder
storm, which had now spread itself over all the
heavens. As the time seemed favorable, |
/ ordered the first master to cast Oft. Dark
clouds now rose rapidly over us, and enveloped
Us in almost total darkness, except when the
sky was lighted up by the welcome flashes of
VIVID lightning, TO snow US the periIous way
we were to take. Now and then the dim out
/ line of the landscape could be seen, and the
forest bending under the roaring storm that
came rushing up the river.
with our bow pointing 70 the island, we
passed the lowest point of land without beng
observed. il appears, by the enemy. All speed
was given TO the vessel to drive her through
the tempest The flashes of lightning con-
tinued with frightful briIliancl, and almost
every second. wrote a correspondent, every
brace. post, and outline could be seen with
startling di>tlnctnesS, enehrouded by a blush
White glare of light. aud then her form for the
next minute would become merged in the in
tense darkness When opposite Battery NO.
=, Oh the mainland. the smoke-stack biazed up,