The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-03-27
rRear Admiral Wake in The Century

tRear Admiral Wake in The Century.l
"Having received written orders from the
flag officer, under date of March 80, l at once
began to prepare the Carondelet for the
ordeal All the loose material at hand was
collected, and on April 4 their decks were
covered with 1t, TO protect them against
plunging shot Hawsers and chain cables
were placed around the pilot house and other
vulnerable parts Of the vessel, and every pre-
caution was adopted to prevent disaster. A
coal barge, laden with hay and coal, was
lashed to the part Of the port side on which
there was no iron plating to protect the
magazine. And it was truly said that the
old Carondelet at that time resembled a
farmers wagon prepared for market. The
engineers led the escape-steam, through the
pipes aft, into the wheel-house, to avoid the
putting sound it made when blown. through
the smoke-stacks.
"Al the necessary preparations having
been made, informed the flag g-officsr Of my
intention to run the gaun tlet that night, and
received his approval. Col. Buford, who
commanded the land forces temporarily
with the fotilla, assisted me in preparing
for the trip and on the night of the 4th
brought on board Capt Hollenstein, Of the
Forty Illinois, and twenty-t three
sharp-shooters of his command, who volun.
teered their services, which were gratefully
accepted Col Buford remained on board
until the last moment to encourage US in
formed the officers and crew Of the character
Of the undertaking, and all expressed
a readiness to make the venture.
In order to resist boarding parties
in case we should be disabled, the sailors
were well armed, and pistols, cutlasses,
muskets, boarding spikes, and hand-grenades
were within reach. Hose was attached to
the boilers for throwing scalding water over
any one who might attempt to board. Ii it
should be found impossible to save the yes
sci, it was designed to sink rather than burn
her, as the loss of life would probably be
greater in the latter case by the explosion OF
her magazine During the afternoon there
was promise Of a clear, moonlight night,
and it was determined TO wait until the
moon was down, and then make the attempt,
whatever the chances Having gone SO far,
we could not aba ndon the project without a
bad effect on the men, equal almost to
failure.
AT 10 o'clock the moon had gone down,
and the sky, the earth, and the river were
alike hidden in the black shadow of thun-
derstorm, which had now spread itself over
all the heavens As the time seemed
favorable, ordered the first master to cast
of. Dark clouds now rapidly rose over us,
and envelopsd us in almost total darkness,
except when the sky was lighted up by the
welcome flames Of vivid lightning, to show
us the perilous way We were to take Now
and then the dim outline of the landscape
could be seen, and the forest bending under
the roaring storm that came rushing up the
river.
"With our bow pointing to the island we
passed the lowest point of land without
being observed, it appears, by the enemy
All speed was given to the vessel to drive
her through the tempest. The flashes of
lightning continued with frightful brilliancy
and 'almcst every second wrote a CORES
pondent, every brace, post, and outline
could be seen with startling distinctness, en-
shrouded by blush white glare of light,
and then her form for the next minute
would become merged in the intense dark
ness When opposite Battery No. 2 ON
the mainland, the smokestack blazed
up, but the fire was soon sub
dued. 1t was caused by the SCOT be-
coming dry, as the escape Of steam, which
usually kept the stacks wet, had been sent to
the eel-house, as already mentioned, to
prevent noise. With such vivid Liz ghtning a.
prevailed during the whole passage, there
was no prospect Of escaping the vigilance OF
the enemy, but there was good reason to
hope that he would be unable to point his
guns accurately. Again the smokestacks
took fire, and were SOON put out; and then
the roar Of the enemys guns began, and
from Batteries Nos Q, 3, and came almost
necessarily the sharp crack and screaming
sound of their rifle shells, which seemed to
unite with the electric batteries of the clouds
to annihilate U.s.
"While nearing the island, or some shoal
point, during few minutes of total dark
new, we were startled by the loud, sharp or
der, Hard a-port,' from our brave and skill
full pilot First Master Hoei We almost
grazed the island, and, it appears, were not
observed through the storm until we were
close in, and the enemy, having no time to
point his guns, fired at random. In fact, we
ran so near that the enemy did not probably
could not depress his guns sufficiently.
While close under the lee Of the island, and
during q lull In the storm and in the
firing one of our pilots heard Confederate
officer shout, Elevate your gunsp Yes, con
found you,' said the pilot, in much lower
key, elevate 1t is probable that the muz-
zles of those guns had been depressed to keep
the rain out Of them, and the officers. not
expecting another night attack in such
storm, and arriving late, ordered the guns
elevated just in time TO save us from the d.
rect fire Of the enemy's heaviest fort; and
this no doubt. was the cause of our remark
able escape Nearly all the enemy's shot
went over us.
@Having passed the principal batteries we
were greatly relieved from suspense,
patiently endured, however, by the officers
and crew. But there was another formid
able obstacle in the way-a floating battery,
which was the great war elephant Of the
Confederates, built to blockade the Missis-
sippi permanently. As We passed her she
fired six or eight shots ut us, but without
effect One bali struck tho coal barge, aud
one was found in bale Of hay; we found
also one or two musketbullets. We arrived
at New Madrid about midnight with no one
hurt. and were most joyfully received by
our army. At the suggestion Of Paymaster
Nixon all bands 'spliced the main-brace.