The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-02-05
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
SHAGGY POINT SLAUGHTER.
Capture OF CITY Belle. John Warner and Three
Guuboats.

Capture OF City Belle. John Warner and Three
Gunb0ats.
To THE EDITOR: have just read in a late
issue of your valuable paper what Frank III.
Mason and John w. Fry have to say, in their
article ION the Teche, about the slaughter at
Shaggy Point think am able to add some
thing 10 the account of the attack and capture
of the City Belle and John Warner, as l was
on both those boats and have lively reminder
of that terrible fight in an ugly wound received
in the back while making my escape from the
City Belle. i feel myself incompetent for this
self-imposed task but as myself and two others
were the only ones that went through the whole
of that terrible experience, 1t seems to devoive
on one of Us 10 write it up; and as L am In
hopes of calling out statement from one or
both of those comrades If living, Will, II the
bows will look over all imperfcctions, do the
best can. Going into the army when but 10,
did not have any great amount OF grammar
or rhetoric slowed in my Uranium; but IN the
almost four-years' service with the Seth, I20th.
Hath and 18th Ohio (having been consolidated
with the two last-named regiments the 120th
being reduced below a regimental organiza-
tom / got sight of experience that has
served me perhaps just as well in the knocks
have had TO take in this world. But to return
to the object of this letter:
On May 3. 1864 the Tooth Ohio embarked on
the steamer City Belle at Baton Rouge, La,
bound for Alexandria, La. | cannot tell what
patrol the river, and that don't look reasonable
to me now as we had no protection whatever,
with the exception of the pilot-house, which
had boiler iron set up each side OF the wheel, as
ali Mississippi boats had in those days. If my
memory serves me right, we arrived at the
mouth of Red River some time that day, lay
there few hours, and then went up to the
mouth of the Atchafalaya and lay over night.
There was a gunboat stationed there. The next
day (the Sd we proceeded up the river, COM
panies of the regiment being detailed alter
nately for lookout and TO return fire if fired
upon by guerrilas. At noon of that day my
company was detailed for such duty. We
donned our accouterments, with 40 rounds,
and 60 more in our knapsacks, or haversacks,
as knapsacks those days had almost gone out
of style in our regiment. Gun in hand, we
awaited developments. About o'clock
NEGRO HAILED Us
and reported rebels not far up the river. LIZ
seemed greatly excited, and not cleaning much
that seemed reliable, the boat continued on its
way Shaggy Point forms an elbow IN the
Red River and, the water being low, the chan
mel is narrow. We had arrived in this elbow
when we saw the Johnnes rise from behind
the levee. We were stationed on the second
deck from the wheel house, forward, on the side
facing the enemy. Now to explain what hap
pened afterward. You must understand that
the officers and soldiers Except the men on de-
diers were lopnging over the boat, officers in
the cabin or other places at different diversions
Just as would be expected in such place. AS
soon as we saw the rebs | gave the command
Firei Lie down." We scarcely were down
when such shower of mimic balls struck the
boat, followed by the report of cannon, it seemed
hardly possible that could be living on
board. We returned fire at once. Every soldier
and officer is far as | could see, rushed to the
rescue and sent bullet where it was possible
Cor them TO do so but the second round from
the artillery pierced the boiler which caused
an explosion, blowing of part of the boat, and
then dense cloud fsteam enveloped us. lnag-
inc, if you can, AGO men crowded on a small
boat unprotected, with 200 cavalry, 1900 in
fantry, eight pieces of artillery 1.-TWO 32-pOund
PARROTS, six gun 12-pound field battery
firing on them. This | do not think an ex-
aagerated account as | got the report from the
rebels themselves. After the second volley
ordered my men below. Some went over the
railing and let themselves drop, Others went
down the stairs, some few had jumped into the
river before we went down. Companies X and
q suffered severely, being stationed on the
hurricane deck aft the wheel house, the part of
the boat that WIS blown oil. We tried To keep
all on board until we drifted near the shore;
but new recruits had been lately added TO the
regiment, and this was the first fire for them
and it was impossible to control them. The
attack was so sudden and overwhelming, that
few of the officers reached their commands.
Col. Marcus NJ. Spiegel, of the i21th and Col
Nudd, of the I'd H. Cav, were killed in the
cabin, the Pilot was killed at the wheel, and
the Assistant Pilot wounded while going TO his
relief This was reported TO Us before leaving
the boat j only know that in very short
time after the explosion OF the boilers it was
EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF
and God help us all! As the boat neared the
shore showed the staging into the river and
., l,r,f
several men fall and roll back down the bank,
it being almost perpendicular and about 30 feet
high. They kept up a constant FIRE on us all
the time. i jumped on the staging and got to
shore without getting wet. j think the boat
was about II feet from the opposite shore from
where the enemy were. / had got nearly to
the top of the bank and took hold of an over
hanging shrub TO assist myself as it was about
four feet perpendicular, when was struck in the
center of the back by a mimic ball. the ball cut
ting part of the strap TO the pants buckle. When
came TO l was lying Oh the top of the bank,
where / sprang VIXEN shot. How long | lay
unconscious i do not know, but think not
longer than 10 minutes Men were rushing
past me. The first man / recognized was Col
Slocum / called to him, For Gods sake get
me out of this" The rebs were firing shrapnel
into Us, and as could not move i expected to
be killed. In few minutes some of the men
came back and took me short distance into
Der who those comrades WERE but they were
brave, selfsacriicing heroes, whe risked their
lives many times in taking me back. We re-
manned there but few minutes when the shot
commenced coming through under the log. BY
this time / felt better, aud with their assistance
i got behind tree. The sufferers Oh the City
Belle had run up flag OF truce, and the rebs
were on the shore preparing TO swim across to
tow the boat over. The boys that had escaped
were scattered through the timber, and the
sight of the rcbs
so ENRAGED THEM
that they couldn't resist the temptation to fire
them. Soon q man came out waving a
white handkerchief and begged Of the boys for
Gods sake to stop firing, as they were drawing
fire on the boat which was strewn with killed
ganized the fragment, preparatory for retreat
toward Alexandria-l26 in all. Poor fellows
they had lost everything save their colors, their
guns and grit-ali except Uriah Larue, the old
est man in the regiment, who had everything
complete if he had just stepped out for in
spection be had the only kBapsack there was
in the regiment. My comrades took turns
helping me along. The first plantation arrived
at they procured negro as guide and mule
for my accommodation; but could not stand
TO ride. We had gone about seven miles-it
was then very Oakland, finding that ] was
unable TO go further begged Of them to leave
me. We could then hear the clasf'of the sabers
of the rebel cavalry, who had crossed the river
and were pursuing u.s. Ike S. Miller and An
drew Manhart, of my company, volunteered to
staV with me