Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-04
STORIES OF TIE WAR.
"Reminiscences Of the "ApplinG Grays,"
by n Member.
From tho Basle, fGal Bnnner

FROM tho Bdo4eV ga Bdnner.
In the latter part of May, 1868, we were
detached from the army Of Northern Vir-
ginia and ordered to report to Maj.-Gen.
Whiting, commanding department, of
Wilmington, N. G. We were assigned to
duty at TopsaiI Sound. Here we cap
tured a Federal transport. IL occurredin
this way:
A brig from Boston bound for Charles
ton, with supplies for the army, got out Of
us course and was carried into the sound
by contrary winds. The tide was ebbing
at the time and the ship grounded about
one and half miles from the mainland.
We took barges and started TO where she
was. On our approach the captain dis
played the white flag. The cargo con.
sisted of shoes, hats, blankets and medi-
cines, the principal part of the latter being
| quinlne, something very scarce at the time
and much needed by our troops. All these
articles being cNntraband Of war, were
appropriated by the Confederate authori-
ties.
Along this sound was the best place to
tsh ever saw. The waters were gener-
ally as smooth and calm as a backwoods
millpond and the boys utilized their time
in fishing, there being no enemy near to
modest us. Fish were caught during the
day and gigged at night by thousands I'M
til the whole campus emitted the odoF Of
fish, until all were Disguised with fab.
This business, however, was Of short dn-
fratiOn. The seige OF Charleston had COM
menced, we were ordered there July 1.
The enemy were in possession Of a part
of James island, and must be driven of.
On the second day after our arrival the
ball, as the boys used to say, opened.
| The day was very hot, fresh water scarce;
the contest lasted four or fivehours when
the enemy took to their fiOtfla. We
captured several prisoners, among them
some negroes. These were, perhaps, the
first negro troops in actual battle. Then
followed the siege on Morris Island, the
bombardment of Wagner, OF Sumter, the
shelling Of the city by lOng-range gun,
/ known as the ''Swamp Angel" situated
on Morris Island, distant from the city
| four miles. We garrisoned Wagner and
| the monitors of the enemy were in such
| close proximity, and reliefs had to be con-
viewed during the night on boats. Part
of our command was on their way from
wagner when our troops at MOultriemis.
took our boat for one OF the enemy's, and
opened fire with eight siege pieces just as
our boat entered the channel between
| Sumter and Mouitrie. Their fire was &C.
curate and our boat was sunk in less
than fifteen minutes. They we're sig
nailed and soon found out their mistake
ank ceased firing. In this time, how
ever, we had three hundred or more mer
out IN the bay, swimming for dear life
Small boats were sent out at once to theil
rescue, and strange to say, only four liVei
were lost in this unfortunate affair. On q
| thorough investigation 1t seemed that M
one was to blame for the mistake.
just after this we were assisting in gar
risoning Sumter, when one of the maya
zines exploded, caused, it was supposed
by the dropping of a lamp carried by twt
| soldiers who were sent in after ammuni
! ton. There were 5000 pounds OF powde
in the magazine, and the enemy took ad
vantage Of this accident and shelled th,
fort terribly while we were trying to ex
tinguish the flames caused by the explo
sion.
Before closing / will relate one more
circumstance that took place. William
Griffin, the oldest man in the company
and Drawer or better soldier never an
swered to his name at reveille, found {
moccasin about 81 feet long and cooked
and ate 1t. In the course Of an hour or 81
it made him deathly sick. Large doses o
ipecac we're administered, which relieved
him. Physicians were OF the opinion tina
If Mr.. Griffin had decapitated the reptile
before cooking 1t would, in all probability
not have made him sick. All the Grayi
who read this will remember the circum
stance well.