The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-20
Printed By Special Arrangement : Copyrighted 1885.
STORIES OF THE GREAT WAR
The Attempted Mutiny on Board
> the Steamer Ocean Queen.

At the request of literary friend I take up
the writing Of occurrence on May Is, 1864.
nearly one year before the close of the civil war
In complying with this request, have before
me the official report made to the Navy Depart
ment on reaching the United States, dated the
9Th and 10th of June, and also the synopsis of
.sthe proceedings of my trial by court martial.
published in the New York Army and Navy
journal Of about Aug 20, 1864 / may as we'll
remark that during my naval life have never
had other charges preferred against me than
those now referred to-
In the early part of May, 1864. found myself
In Baltimore, and my sea outfit somewhere else'
as had recently been relieved from the tempo
+rary command of the Shenandoah, and had been
ordered to report by letter to Rear-admiral
Gregory, then at New York, for any duty to
which he might assign me-
Upon a telegraphic order received from the
department, found myself obliged to leave on
the first train for New York, where l must go on
board the Aspinwall mail steamer Ocean Queen,
and take charge of draft of 22O men, These
men had been transferred from the army, under
general order, owing to the impossibility of
eniisting seamen; the high bounties then paid for
army enlistment had enticed seamen to enlist as
..Soldiers as part of some State quota.
I My time was so limited that had not even
a change of linen after arrival in New York,
or time to supply it by purchase and was in
-debted to a fellow passenger for what was
essential The proverb of DUTY before de-
ccncy," dear to all "men of the sea-" (given to
the world by Boatswain Cheeks as he stood in
the ships gangway without having on supposed
indispensable article Of wearing apparel, as we
learn in "Midshipman Easy, v braced me up
that trying occasion.
=. On the afternoon of the 18th of May, raw,
partially rainy day, navy yard tug came along
side the Ocean Queen, at anchor off the Battery.
The men were hastily mustered over the gang
way. Boatswain Thomas G. Bell, who came
with the draft, was ordered to report to me and
act as my aid in taking care of the men and de-
hveripg them at Panama to Capt Richard L.
Law. then commanding the Cyane. lying in that
harbor
We went to sea without delay, and passed out
side of Sandy Hook before dark. The vessel had
1,04O passengers, without counting my command,
many Of whom were not sailors, merely sup
posed to be from the reason that soldiers could
liverpool dock men," as certain class were
called at that time. They were in all sorts of
clothing. the greater number in navy, others in
army uniforms, and several in those of confeder-
ate soldiers.
About midnight the officer in charge of the
vessel sent for me, stating that several of the
men wished to see me. I had retired several
hours before, but arose, dressed, and went to
them. l found four men in the gangway, and
asked why they called me. The spokesman said
they were very uncomfortable; there was no
room between decks, and they had to lie on deck.
I replied that knew they were uncomfortable;
in day or two we would be in a pleasant lati-
.tude, and in the meantime I would see what
could be done. They finally said whisky would
make it all right; I told them that it was quite
out of the question, as it would make it all
wrong. They left without any manifestation of
disappointment or anger-perhaps impressed
with the idea that the interest had expressed
was the result of intimidation and not from
disposition to look after the comfort and we'll
being Of those under me- not unimportant duty
of all officers under whom men are placed.
The starboard side of the vessel sheltered
from the weather by the urIicane- deck, was as
signed as the quarters OF my men, and was in
my belief altogether preferable to the crowded
steerage below. 1t compared to the exposure Of
soldiers In the field before an enemy, not only
these sheltered quarters but the food itself were
all that could be desired.
On my trial by courtmartial it appeared in
= evidence that the first night out, and probably
previous to my being called to see these men, the
draft had been canvassed to ascertain who among
them could work the engine, and what their other
qualifications were to run the vessel. One man
was missing, and supposed to have been thrown
- -, Al. A.
missed, but it may we'll have been his condemna-
tion of the plans of the ringeaders.
The following morning asked several Of the
men as to their breakfast, and they expressed
potatoes or other vegetables, made request
of Captain Tinkiepaugh who commanded the
Ocean Queen and he informed me that in the
future they would be provided.
In the afternoon tin pots and pans-the dinner
furniture Of nay draft-were thrown overheard,
and the servants of the steamer who waited
upon the men were beaten and abused to such
degree that they refused to serve. The object
Nevidenty was to prevest the well-disposed from
getting anything to eat. and thus to make the
dissatisfaction general I at detailed a
number of colored people who belonged to the
draft to reset and replenish the tables, and thus
prevented the well-disposed from being deprived
81 food O''' 0e N'p''''A
The captain of the vessel, not without cause,
. was much concerned by reason of this ,nutnous
conduct and the disrespectful and menacing
expressions OF my Hieu, anu TOTO me ne Ielt mucn
disposed to put into Hampton Roads and get rid
of twelve or fifteen, If not all of my draft
Whilst had to admit that the conduct and Ian
guage of some of them were disrespectful and
mutinous told him / hoped he would pursue
his voyage; if he went into Hampton Roads the
delay would be serious, and felt satisfied we
could control the men,
The following morning was in the act Of in
epecting their breakfast. when was asked to do
30 by Bussell one Of my draft. in the most dis
respectful manner. The breakfast consisted of
hard bread, coffee or tea as preferred, and hon.
my and molasses. l then became convinced
that the object of some of my men was to have
o difficulty, quite irrespective of any treatment
whichit was in my power to have bestowed upon
them.
Soov altar hroaLfa.f baa "a prs.au =, ~