The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-09-19


Bonbar,iment in Which Half -Their
Crews Were Shughterch-II"w Tncy
Came Out oft
From Aiiodeipbia Sanday FrcSS.
| found the river at Grand Ecore
falling fast, and, Notwithstanding Gen
eral Banks informed me he was going
on to Shreveport, | worked the iron
clads through the mud into water deep
enough to float them.
l ordered the PASSPORT, the heaviest
of them all, down to Alexandria, but
she mad not proceeded more than two
miles on her way to that place when
she encountered a sunllcn torpedo
and had a large hole knocked in her
bottom.
There was no time to be lost. The
Passport was aground with her hold
full of water. | went to Alexandria,
where | had left two steamers fitted
with steam pumps to fish up sunken
vessels.
In three hours after | returned with
them the Passport was anoat, the two
steamers towing her down the river
and pumping her out at the same time.
The Passport was a ram which had
been brought up the Red River es-
pecially to contest the point of strength
with a Confederate ram at Shreveport,
but those eXtravagant people, after
spending many thousands 10 build a
powerful vessel, blew her up on our
approach, and left themselves only the
formidable ram to which | have else
where alluded as having knocked the
bulls tail out by the roots.
When | returned from Alexandria
General Franklin came on board, and
said to me: elias General Banks told
you of his intention to fall back on
Alexandria? Orders have been quietly
issued for the army to move this after
noon."
"And what is to become of all these
transports2" l said. "They don't be-
long to me. | have already escorted
them Goo miles, and they have not been
a particle of use.
81 don't know" replied Franklin, Il
thought l would tell you what was on
foot SO that you wouldn't be taken by
SURPRISE"
| went straight to General Banks,
and, without giving my authority, in
formed him of what | had heard, but
the General told me he would not move
Tor some time to come.
Nevertheless | started all the trans
ports for Alexandria under convoy of
the fleet, keeping four small vessels with
me.
THE ARMY MOVES TO ALEXANDRIA,.
That night the army moved off and
at daylight not tent was to be seen.
The Confedcrates with extraordinary
energy had got all right again. They
didn't stay defeated long. They rugged
up the guns they had captured from us
with horses taken from our wagons,
and with fresh forces came on after US
like swarm of hornets whose nests
had been disturbed.
General Banks army had not pro-
ceeded far before it was again attacked
but the troops were now under charge
of General Franklin, and the enemy got
the worst of it all the way down.
Banks, with an escort, preceded
the army to Alexandria, leaving Frank
lin with the troops to follow at his lei
sure.
At Cane River the Confedcrates
made sharp attack, but Franklin gave
them such a warm reception that they
were satisfied to follow at a respectful
distance, but they did follow us until
we were out of the country.
| remained at Grand Ecore until
had gathered up some provisions and
guns which the army had left behind,
and then started after the Passport,
which was going slowly down the river
in tow of the two pump-boats. To re-
count the trouble we had with this YES
sci would be too tedious. She would
sink and we would pump her out and
get her alloat again, but at last she
stuck hard and fast in bed of logs,
and as there was nothing more to be
done we blew her up with fifty barrels
of powder, after removing from her
every article of value.
So careful were the two pyrotechnists
in charge of the explosion-Captain
Phelps and myself-to see that the
powder all exploded, that we came
very near going up with the vessel.
Phelps was in boat near the bow and
I was in a boat but a very short dis
lance off, and great pieces of the hull
fell all around us.
APPRAISED OF THE BLOCKADE.
The Confederates, who had been
constantly watching our movements and
waiting their chance, had now assem-
bled near this point some 1900 men,
and took the opportunity to pay their
compliments to us.
The other small gunboats were lying
at the bank near by, not suspecting an
attack, but still prepared for one, as
was always the rule.
The Confederates discharged their
rifles and made rush to carry the YES
sells by boarding, but met with such a
WARM reception that they were glad TO
retreat.
The sailors followed them into the