Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-02-15
AN EXPLOSIVE CONVOY
UPS AND DOWNS ON BOARD A MISSIS-
SlPPI POWDER TRANSPORT.
Peppered by a Four-Gun Battery on Shore
Within an Inch of Kingdom Como
Capabilities Of an Internal
Machines" Platoon"


We started for Vicksburg in company
with the Jacob Strader, the largest steam
boat on the lower river. The Stradsr was
burthened with thousands Of tons Of powder
and fxed ammunition for the army. To-
gether we formed, perhaps, the most explo-
sive convoy that ever sailed the Mississippi
The holds were crammed with powder and
percussion shell; powder was piled on the
main decks aft the furnaces and covered
with tarpaulins to keep out the sparks
Lower and upper guards and cabins were
stacked with cartridges for small arms.
Os We glided down stream Capt Birch
called me to the upper deck and introduced
me to the queerest looking internal ma
chine" we had yet encountered Belligerent
crani1s were constantly bringing to the naval
authorities some new invention for destruc-
tion Of the human species ITO be tried" As
for four years the Confederate states furn-
ished subjects for these experiments, they
should be entitled to a bill in equity against
the inventors for share of the profits.
This thing placed in charge Of Capt Birch
was q sort of infantry platoon on wheels
rank of rifie-ba ranged parallel and
mounted like boat howitzer. By percus-
sion the whole platoon was simultaneously
discharged in zone time and one motion" !"
Birch told me he had reason to fear that the
Confsderates were aware Of the coming of
our convoy. and that somewhere on the
route to Vicksburg they might waylay us
and try to blow us up. In case opportunity
offered he wished me to take charge Of the
sinfernal machine" and repor5 upon its capa-
bilities We charged the platoon" and
blazed away over the river few times to
get elevation and range; then loaded and
left it ready for emergency.
Next morning about Z o'clock, as we were
steaming down the river, had just rolled
over for another snoozs, when I was aroused
by q crash through the sides Of the ship
together with rattling report Of light artil-
lery. In a moment came kick at my door,
with the words: "HallooI Get upl Ws'rs
In fghtr bounced out, and being ready
harnessed, excepting coat and boots, ran for
the hurricane deck and 1infernal machine.
We were passing through Cypress Bend" +"
and things around looked interesting.
On shore, abreast the narrowest Of the
channel, was a four-gun battery of field
pieces, manned by about 900 Confederates,
all peppering away like fourth Of July
About 100 yards ahead was the Strader.
She had been the target Of the first vollsy
and escaped damage The Gen. Lyon came
next, and here the enemy had better luck,
putting all four Of the Shot Of their second
volley through Us 1t is scarcely necessary
to mention that our cargo was unscathed.
Had any part Of it been struck this chapter
would have been writtea by somebody else.
Next after the Lyon came the transport
New Kentucky, loaded with troops and
mules. The third round Of the battery blew
her up. She drifted and lodged upon q sand
bar and lay there helpless, enveloped in q
cloud of steam, while the battery poured
shot into her as fast as the guns could be
served. Tho men not busy with the field.
pieces amused themselves with small arms.
Many were perched in the small trees astrad-
die Of the limbs whence they kept up q
lively shower of buckshot and little bullets
But they fired too high.
Alongside our lee was the gunboat Signal
Capt Birch suggested that she engage the
battery and rescue the disabled transport,
which was being roughly treated. The CON-
mandsr of the Signal objected that, being q
Gtin-clad," he could not go within range
without endangering his own boilers.
If you won't do it, said Birch, "then, by
G., will"
We rounded to and went for the battery
i
castle was in charge Of an old man-of-wars
man and gunner, Acting Ensign Johr
Powell. As we neared the Confederatss he
sent q shell which struck in the river bani
beneath them Another quickly followed
around the guns. 1t caused "scatterment'
and they began to timber up.
Meanwhile the @infsrnal machine" wa.
xoJ ,pt< tho ty,o fr,, Gn~l .
whole platoon. had squatted down behind
| 1t to aim, and, intent on the effect Of the dis
charge, forgot to keep clear Of tho recoiL
picked myself up with sore head, fol
which was compensated by witnessing tn,
comical style in which the occupants Of tn,
| tree tops tumbled out 1t reminded me O
old-time black bird shooting. The platoon
was again got into line Of battle and firet
another blizzard with good effect, while tn
old thirty-two FOUNDER put in some mors
notices to quit, SO persuasive that our foe,
| were soon in full retreat across the bend,
| afiectionately followed by our kind adisu1
| % long as We could see them.
The steamer New Kentucky was rescued
and taken in tow. 1t then bshooved US t,
hasten on and pass the other side Of the benC
before the battery reached it to intercept us
| We hdu AOICo ehou&A Az wouAu, pcE
haps, have been better and safer to hav,
landed and captured the guns than to risl
their bad craftsmanship again Forum
atsly we got ahead Of them and escaped I
| repetition of their attentions
One Of the party Of hostilss was subse
quently captured, and from him we learnet
that the shell SO appositely planted among
them from the Lyon killed and wounded six
/ 80 h. hnkk IT, k1- -
credit the @infernal machine" was entitled i
uncertain Judging by the informal ensrg,
with which it kicked over its engineer Il
ought to have slaughtered all there was left
Our loss was trifing. our escape mirscu
loua OF the shots which struck the LyoI
two passed through the 6ues close in front
the others just behind her boilers. On
actually knocked of the button Of the steau
l ~ sunh oi< ~