The National tribune., 1885-01-01
REACHING NEW ORLEANS.

Until the 29th of June, when we landed at
New Orleans. nothing worthy of note happen
ed to disturb our tranquil and peaceful life
At New Orleans we were encamped at CEal-
mette below the city, along Jackson's old canal
The remainder of the division soon followed
our lead, and went into camp south of the
canal. Here we remained until after the 4th
of July, enjoying the sights of the city and
the balmy miasms of the cypress swamps. Our
chief amusement was in standing guard and
fighting musketos. On the morning of July
5 we again took the lead and embarked upon
seven ships. On the morning of the 9th we found
ourselves ut anchor in the mouth of the Mis-
issippi, off Stiltown. Our pilots being obtained,
we steamed out over the bar and into the
CLASSY green Gulf. To hundreds of us this
was Il grand, new and an exciting scene, and
we'll worth the price of the excursion ticket.
The day was delightful and the greenish- blue
Gulf all that the most fistidious and weak stom-
achs could desire. In the midst of our supreme
happiness, however, we were doomed to
row. One of our Sth Kan. boys was imprudent
enough to exhibit his seamanshp while under
the influence of liquor, and, regard diess of the
protests of his comrades he essayed to walk
the rope from the main to the foremast. He
fell about 40 feet, and the lurch of the ship
saved him from going down the smokestaek
only to allow him to fall across the iron railing
around the cabin. He died in few minutes,
and was buried with military honors in the
bounding blue sea-" This sad accident cast a
gloom over the spirits of the men that all the
grandeur of monster water-spout in close
proximity could not dispel. The flagship be-
ing nearest the water-spout, fired into and
broke it, and when the lower portion subsidized,
like q mountain sinking in plain the effect
was indeed grand The ships rolled and trem-
bled, the billows were gigantic, and to those of
us unaccustomed to such spectacles, it seemed
as if VIC must go down. And go down we
did, but only for a minute; then the ship
would mount upwards as If determined to for
sake its element, pause moment on the crest
of a Missionary Ridge wave then plunge head
long into the valley below. This exciting
scene lasted probably 80 minutes Then the
waters subsidized and our ships sped on, leaving
fOaming wakes behind.
Ship a-hoy," shouts the watchman, aad all
eyes are turned in that direction, but nothing
save the boundless deep and our own fleet is
visible. Directly we see what appears to be
stake standing out of the water. 1t grows
taller and higher; we see sail, thea two. Soon
the whole ship heaves in sight powing through
the billows Signals are exchanged and she
passes on towards the Delta, and we watch her
until she is lost to view. BY this time the fleet
is nearing the Gulf Stream, indications of
which can be seen for miles to the right and
left. We approach it obliqucly and dash into
it. Here is food for reflection again-a broad
rapid river, with a current carrying driftwood
and dirty foam, sweeping in mad torrent,
whirling into eddics and roaring like q veri-
table mad river, bounded only by banks of
greenish-blue water, yet not seeming to mix.
The water of this stream has q ycllowish
tinge, and where we crossed it was running
from northwest to southeast.
Night came very suddenly, but not without
giving us peep at the drop-curtain of day, as
the sun seemed literally to sink into the Gulf,
throwing aloft bright rays, and forming scene
of beauty never to be forgotten. AS the light
faded night came on like black storm cloud
skurrying across the face of the deep. 1t did
not settle down gently, but at once, and with
out ceremony. We spread our blankets on
deck and lay down to a peaceful sleep, "rocked