Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-04-19
on TO RICHMOND.
"REMINISCENCES OF A DAY ON THE
JAMES RIVER.
How Capt. Foster Steamed the Commo-
dore Ferry to Observation-Disclosures
Porter's ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Through the Channel
Elisha y. Pierce in Bosser Giobe.l

Through the Channel.
Elisha v Pierce in Bosnr Giobel
1t was in April, 1866, that was attached
to the Cor,modcrs Perry, under Cap.
Foster, lying. Gil the James river about one
half mile above the Dutch Gap canal The
iinss surrounding Lees army were being
drawn tighter AMI closer and the final blow
was aboL; TO be struck On that morning It
was nv watch on deck. About o'clock
Capt Foster, who had been taking an hours
rest came up from his calm and asked me II
had heard any firing up the river during
his absence ] told him that had not be
thodght in silence moment and said, Mr..
Pierce, would lot be surprised IL the end CT
al this We nd come within tie next twenty
-four hours Scare .ly had he spoken when
Il shee. of fame shot into the cir, followed by
a tremendous explosion.
"Tnere." exclaimed the captain, goes G
rebsi irun-clad.H Two similar explosions fol-
lowed inlmsiiately. After waiting for
further Developments Capt Foster ordered
his gig away, anI. going ashore, climbed to
tie top II the .O.d Crow Nest" signal tower,
from which an excellent view could Be OBJ
,slins FOR miles arc und La about an hour
tn captain reiurisl IN board, AMI N a few
minute. the flagship >icrallad tha Perry,
SECT under way. Take the lead 10 Rich
mon1. Be very careful OF ;orpedos-"
The old boat had borne the brunt Of sew
eTal severe fights, and that she was now
-oiny 10 attempt 10 clear the James river OF
torpe1os made the officers aud crew hops
that they would be the first to reach Rich
mond. TIE boatswa,n's whistle cailei all
hands to weigh anchor, and in q very short
time the Perry commented 10 move up the
river. Boats were sent out IN advance. As the
old ship made progres, up the stream, a little
chip was seen floating on the water. Ii was
O. torpedo float The boat crews went to
work cutting lines and wires until the In
fernal bo1 was brought 10 the surface, the
can cut open and the contents spilled INTO
the river In this way hfty-one torpetos
were removed and the James opened to navi-
CATION.
When the Perry reached Fort Darling she
ran aground on distractions placed across
the river Orders were given the chief en-
giaeer to pay no attention t. the engine bells,
but 10 force the vessel forward and back
ward as hard as possible until she was worked
oH. There we were, working away, when
tn, United States steamship Malvern, which
WAS Admiral Porter flagship, came up
assern % Us. We then learned for the first
first time that President Lincoln was on
board AMI had maze his arrangements to
accompany the ct To Richmond. /; being
iinpls<itle for the sjmiral's vessel 10 90 by
US lie determined 10 take the president TO
Richmond in his barge. The boat was low
ere 1. the president ard admiral taking seats
IN the stern sl.ests. while Lieut. Bsrne'. with
Il body guard OF MARINES, followed IN the
NaiveIn's first cutter
d Ia. ,,,l In cltgr,, n
very narrow channel OF deep wat,r, and
| through which the admiral intended the boats
| tDpas& TIE place, however, was found too
| narrow to use the cars. and so, back
| ing water little, the crew pulled
/ hard, thinking by the fower thus obtaired
/ tie boat would pass through. The admiral
| iii not take into account the current. how
| ever and tho-e in tie beat were surprised TO
| find themselves drifting in tie direction OF
| the steamers immense wheel just at this
| moment the engineer turae the lever, and
in moment the engines were churning up
| the sea to the alarm Of the boats crew.
The president shouted stop her and the
| admiral followed s:Iit. The uproar immedi-
at.ly reached tho ears OF Capt. Foster, VINO,
WIKI Cn9 bound, reached the engineer Jom
hatch and shouted to the engineer u reverse
/ L. a moment this was lIis and the boat was
/ safe. When the bar % hal backed out Of her
! p,riloas situation the admiral, rising and
! blowing the wa or ont OF his mouth, called
ont. Where is the captain of the vessel
Here / am said Capt. Foster, leaning
over the ship rail
Well. SIR said the admiral Indignantly,
| "waen YOU back OF from here don't you
att .mrt to 60 to Ri hrE nd, but anchor
down below and allow the other vessels TO so
up before you
Without moments hesitation the cap
| tain in his usual tone of voice, re ,ponded,
AYE, aye, sir" and in moment more the
| boats went on. After working the engine
for soma time without avail the captain
squeezed the three tug, which he had Il ed
in clearing the river, through the channel.
I A large hawser was then attached 10 the
Perry from each of the tugs AMI the captain
gave the order that when he waved his
handkerchief the tugs should go ahead e:
full speed. The handkerchief dropped,
the tng, started. and the old
Perry, putting on steam, crashed
through the distractions and in moment
more was floating on the broad stream
Continuing the journey under q full hea oi
steam Richmond was reached, AMI the Com
modore Perry was the first ship bearing ma
tionsl colors to drop anchor before the city.
A few hours after the Malvern hove in sight
AMI dropped anchor near US
Aterening the admiral in company with
the presi lent, who had passed the Afternoon
in the rste. capital, returned on board hi
vessel. and tic greatest ordeal OF the whole
canpaign was now before Capt Foster, a
he was obliged 20 80 On board the flagship
and report the presence OF his vessel 10 the
admiral As he left in the gig his face lookei
; trifle paler than usual, but his srea
, dark eyes showed determination U
, face the music like tie man thai
he was Gong on board hs wa-
met ly feet Capt. Bruce, who whispered IN
Ii. ear. You'll get h-il, oil fellow, FOL
, coming up here His pre- was com
, mum Gated 10 the orderly at the cabin door
who announced TO the admiral that Capt
, Foster had some aboard 10 report" He wa
T according asked into the cabin. where h
, | az tn president, and the admiral seated a
= small center table Saiutin- both. Cap,
. Foster said: Admiral, / have thc honor t;
q report :he arrival OF the United state
steam-Hip Commodore Perry, at R!chm md
: The admiral, in a very stern voice, re
pliei: Zap. Foster. thought | told yo'
not 70 "a AZ t. Richmond
The cap;si, answered: Sir, did not un
uefSs anu = : IA. w. -1i1 $3.50
when backe; 81 No - attempt 10 come n
i here
= Well return Il tla admiral iH the sam
: stern voice, what %. -
} In the same measured accent, IS r., Thar
:, acteriz.i the whole conversation. Tbs esp
e tain answered: ~Sir ! Ih EoS i-scS n
!, ran her over bow first
e The admiral turned all shates 81 nj. bI
n before he could utter an AGENT 'Dit Abb
: saw the joke, AM lsuShInEly arose AMI
offered his hecrtie~t congratulations toCap'
y F.-st.r Tn. admiral Immediately cooled OF
a-l rim, said: -Sir. yod can now 90 n
r ..e.. ven. vessel will 80 yoG ncernin
: Is. after in the morning. That was th
= hat ever came Of IL
On the Pension List for Wheat
Chicago Herald ''Nejilsr."l
sI.you Mistah H3yner asked frost bite
:, old negro dressed in an old cavalry JzcSe
; as the entered the rom OF the COMMISSIONS
in the custom houSe Mr.. Hoyne never ii
!, MED his identity. Il dunno ef CAM IN ]
:. right place or not, but WIZ t1is - 70 =
:, you.n continued the relic, AT tie same TN
/, looking aroani the rom Tnen &c hanis