The National tribune., 1885-04-02
FIGHTING THEM OVER,
What Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
GLAND LUBBERs" AT SEA.
Seme Unpleasant Experiences While Crossing the
GnIf OF Mexico.

GLAND LUBBERS" AT SEA.
Seme Unpleasant Experiences While Crossing the
Calf OF Mexico.
To THE EDITOR: In the Fall of 1863 the
regiment TO which i belonged, the 10th Iowa.
Was encamped al New Orleans on the beautiful
grounds now occupied by the Exposition. On
Oct. 2l, when Gen. Par&e's preparations for n
eampaign on the Gulf coast of Texas were conl-
pIeted our own (llerro;i' Second division and
the Fourth Division Of the Thirteenth and a
portion of the Nineteenth Corps embarked on
vessels. The Goth Iowa and 20th Wis. were
put, or rather packed, on board the L. 4. Scott,
a vessel of the largest class The fleet con-
sisted of I6 large vessels and many schoonerS,
all heavily lCadod with troops, munitions OF
war and provisions. under convoy OF gnpboats.
On the 25th VIC anchored at the mouth OF the
Mississippi River, awaiting the arriva! OF the
flagship q. b. Mcclellan, which arrived on the
9th conveying Gems. Banks and Dana, and
was received with a salute. At noon the signal
was given, and the fleet weighed anchor and
stood cut TO sea Oh the 2Sth. 29th, Both and 3lst
Our course was nearly southwest. Immediately
on leaving our anchorage the vessel began TO
be tossed about in the waves, soon followed by
seasick ness and the scene presented Oh our
crowded decks may be imagined. The sensa-
tions produced by this disease are unpleasant
in the extreme, and may be best described by
SAYING that in the first stages a man fears he
will die, and in the second fears that he won t.
The wind, which had blown steadily from
the north on the Both increased TO gale, and
our vessel ahored and strained IN such man
ner as 10 produce fears of smpwreck. 4 schooner
we had in tow loaded with provisions broke
loose and went adrift One Of the seamen was
swept overheard and lost and with a crash one
of our mas;s suddenly went by the board. All
for time was confusion, and the shouting of
the ships officers, the howling of the wind, the
ns rio hn "
of the waves, which made almost clean breaches
over our decks, told plainly enough that we
had encountered a storm at sea. The spectacle,
aside from seasick men, was grand, OF
course; but We didn't enjoy it-especltlly MAJ.
Thompson. of our regiment, who lay IN his
hammock below, suffering from seaSicknesS,
but with determined bravery seeking relief in
an energetic abuse Of the man who wrote "A
life on the ocean wave" BY slightly altering
our course the schooner We had lost was picked
mp but again broke loose. After again over
hauling her she was found to be in a sinking
condition. when her crew were taken of and
she was abandoned.
Some of the other vessels of the fleet fared
worse than our own, being compelled to throw
overheard mules, provisions and ordnance TO
escape being wrecked. The wind subsidized
somewhat about sunset, and the fleet, which had
been dispersed by the storm. again united, but
many of the schooners were found 10 have been
81.
the voyage, owing TO our regiment being quar-
tered IN the hold Of the vessel for eight or 10
DAYS without proper light or ventilation, and
no possible chance of cooking our ratiOns
Each man got pint of boiling water day to
steep his coffee in This, with our hard-tack
and raw bacon constituted our bill OF fare on
board the Thomas 4. Scott.
On the 1st OF November we came in sight of
land. and in the evening lay at anchor Off the
bar of Brazos de Santiago On the following
morning our vessel by order of Gen. Banks, ran
in and opened fire on the Mexican town OF Bag
dad, small village 1T the mouth OF the Rio
Grandc. After a few shots had been fired the
French flag was hoisted in the town, and we
withdrew for further instructions. On report
ing back 10 the ilagsbip the commander of our
vessel was informed that he had committed q
blunder having fired Oh the wrong town, and
was again dispatched, this time with more def
mite instructions TO "feel" the Texas side of
the river. We accordingly approached the
coast in the vicinity of Point Isabel and again
opened with shell, this time on another village
Opposite Bagdad, and had the satisfaction of
seeing Il number OF ConfedeTates leave hurriedly
i'm the direction of Brownsville.
The 18th Iowa then landed Oh Brazos Island.
Col. Bertram, of the 2Gth Wis, ordered land
ing Of the troops our vessel in surf boats near
Bagdad, and in making the attempt the boats
were caFslZcd a1d several men were drowned,
two of them belonging to Co. OF our regiment.
Capt. O'Brien, of the vessel, then abandoned
further attempts, weighed anchor and ran out
10 the fleet, where our regiment was transferred
to small coast steamer tthe VIM. Bagley), and
finally succeeded in landing on Brazos Island.
On the following day we were carried across to
Point Isabel, aud went into camp near the
lighthouse, near Gen. Taylors old commissary
depot, established during the early part of the
Mexican war. There we remained SIX or seven
days. We were considerably alarmed during
the first night by a man on guard, who reported
that he saw line of skirmishers advancing on
our pickets, but which proved on investigation
to lie the Spanish dagger, shrub which looks
very,mucb like a man by moonlight. While
here we suffered greatly on account of scarcity
OF water. When We were evacuating the place
the writer slid down into an old cistern, which
contained about two gallons of Shiny water
but on attempting 10 climb out the board broke
and found myself "jugged." After hallooing
until / became hoarSe, two men belonging TO
tile 91st III. came along and drew me out with
tent rope. ] divided the water with them,
and if they read this they will remember how
good il tasted.
Gen. Banks with some of our forces moved
mp TO Brownsville, distant SO miles, and after
communication between our camps and that
place was established our attention was occu-
pied by daily rumors received detailing events
then transpiring in the town of Matamoras
Mexico where revolutions were said to be of
daily occurrence. Three had already taken
place since our arrival, and Others according to
report, were being inaugurated. All these
connections, revolutions, and excitements in a
great measure sprung from the mistake made
by the commander of our vessel in firing on the
town OF Bagdad, then in possession of the
French which the Mexicans at Matamoras in
terpreted demonstration in favor of the
Liberals, and forthwith proceeded to adopt
"revolutiOnZing as a means best calculated
20 give expression to their feelings This state
of affairs at Matam0ras, however, eliminated
on the 18th in a general three-cornered fight
between Cortinass men, Mexican "greasers,"
and the French residents, which having termi-
mated, matters assumed more quiet attitude
Gen. Banks returned from Brownsville accom-
panied by battalion of cavalry composed of
loyal Texans which had been recruited and
organized since our arrival, and sailed for New
Orleans on the following day, leaving Gen.
Dana in commando. II. MARTIN, Co. b, 20th
Iowa, Centre Point, Iowa.
Death OF Gen. Polk.
To THE EDITOR: While on the Atlanta cam
paign my regiment formed part of the First
Brigade, First Division, Fourth Corps. On July
13, 1864, we moved up in front of Pine Hill in
the night and by DAYLIGHT of the 18th had good