Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-17
Written for THE EVENING STAR.
FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH.
Side Lights on Fort sumter-Scenes ON
the Trip Sorthward-The Soldiers I'm
New York Harbor.
TCopyrighted, 1851


the Trip Sorthward-The Soldiers I'm
New York Harbor.
copyrighted, 1851
From the sloppy, malodorous decks OF the
Isabel to the clean and comfortable cabins of
the Baltic. What a changed No wonder the
men asked themselves, as it a dream?' They
moved about mechanically, dumb with delight.
There were many kind faces around them
beamIng with welcome, and so many hampers
packed With good things to eat and drink. which
the hungry soldiers soon found out were for
them; and a stateroom to every two men, with
the contest kind of baths, and clean sheets and
fresh p-.Iter to wash In, and scented SOAP and
clean t,wels, and everything, and not a man
among them was able to shout for joy. Even
the Mark Tapleys, who dared to come out
strong during the dismal night on the Isabel!
were silent and sad in the comparative para
disc to which they had been transferred and
chums who had been in each others
confidence for years acted strangely, turning
their backs on each other, and making great
pretense during several silent minutes of
arranging their empty haversacks in
the corners of their tstate-rooms. But few
minutes afterwards, when hot soup and dram
had braced them up a bit, they became cheer
ful again and gathered in little groups on the
deck To smoke,-for tobacco had been handed
around free gratis for nothing. and their
tongues being 1Oosened. they began to banter
each other about crying in the corners down
below, which accusations were stOuty denied
amidst much good humor and the oft-repeated
question, Nv hat should Terry abOut?" Doubt
less the question was honestly asked, and, to
men who had never tried 10 analyZe the finer
feelings of their nature, difficult to answer
serted by their government and for
gotten by their country, and that the
pathetic remembrance as they beheld on the
Baltic had produced a revolution of feeling
and softened their hearts, was too deep for their
philosophy, and they were ashamed of that
soft-hearted ness which they could not under
stand.
THE VOYAGE NORTH
was rather rough, and the men mostly re-
manned below. They were much behind in the
matter OF sleep, and such coy quarters and
comfortable beds were not to be neglected. Be-
sides, soup was served in the state-rooms at
and, unless 1t was to smoke, there was no ne
cesstty TOR going on deck. In course of time
me ea was was SUI snupplementeid with
gained condition and cheerfulness; and when
The Baltic crossed the bar at Sandy Hook they
windlass when hosting guns into position
dnrihg the early days of their sojourn in Sum-
me news that Sandy Hook was in sight
brought every man on deck. Many of them
bad never seen New York, and the few that had
toomed into temporary Importance, and be-
came oenters of attraction around which groups
OF eager listeners gathered to learn the land
The dag OF sumter, rolled into bali, was hoisted
70 the nnatntop, and orders came forward to
prepare % fire . salute. The Baltic was not an
armed ship, and the only guns available were
ewo small signal cannon, the earmaEks upen
which indicated an age worthy of retirement.
and the soldiers selected for gun-crews, If we
may % permitted to use the nautical term,
zion. csrtsidrs. We're prepared and friction-
primers, OF which the men had brought sup
ply nom Sumter, were got ready, and the lam
battery was ready for action long before the
steamer reached the point at which the sa-
q waiting, and nothing so subversive of dis
cipltne Is fdlenesS. But the nOn-cOmmissioned
ofHcer In charge Of the saluting battery was
his gun-crews, much to the amusement Of the
sailors; and even the soldiers gathered around
guns were 30 s. small as to look ike TOYS in in
the eyes OF heavy artiilerymen, and the CARR
ages were SO low that the cannoneers had to get
on their knees during the service Of the piece.
This rather unmilitary position was severely
criticised by the on-lookers, who with seeming
fellows joined the church?' But the sergeants
enorS Were appreciated In spite of the good
natured ridicuie and laughter directed against
Them, and 1t was easy to see that, unless the
powder was bad, or the primers failed the salute
was going to be success. The sailors on board
were very much interested In the performance.
They were not navy men, although perhaps.
they had oftan fired the guns in their own-fash-
Toned wsy-priming from powder-horn and
firing with red-hot poker. But they had never
seen the frtction-primer, and graveiy shook
their heads when the soldiers rejected the
faith. -'
sALuTrNG THE FLAG OF SUMTER
Meantime, the Baltic had slowly steamed
through the Lower Bay, and was approaching
the Narrows. The preparations for the salute
were complete, and the gun-crews were drilled
when the signal was given. Commence firing.o
Az the first gun the little ball at the maintop,
rolled Itself, and cheer rose from the deck as
the old nag doated once more over its defend
erA As the salute continued the cheering was
taken up ON shore, and every ship within sight
seemed 70 wake up, and sailors scrambled up
aloft and sat In the rigging like noisy rocks,
Tapping their wings-if their weather-beaten
hais may be so designated-in perfectly fran
NC manner: Manifestiy they understood the
situation. Perhaps they had been advised Of
our approach. Perhaps in the excited condi-
tion of their nerves-for they had heard of the
bombardment and evacuation of Sumter-the
contagious disease, and they cheered simply ne
into the haIboT OF New York was apparently
hearty one
IN PORT AT LAST.
The firing was kept up as We glided through
the Narrows and Upper Bay, and ceased for
want of ammunition when we were abreast of
Bedloe's. 1t was nearly night before the Bal
TIC reached her moorings at pier No. I, North
river, at that time long wooden STRUCTURE
The steamer was laid across she head of the
pier. and several lines of policemen were at
once posted on the wharf for the double pur.
pose OF keeping the citizens of and the soldiers
immense, and the enthusiasm at fever heat
w nat magnificent field for the recruiting
oincer! Nv hat splendid material for an
army! were remarks that might have been
heard among the soldiers as they looked WITH
delight on the animated scene; and ffi.Iny al
tnem, no ooubt. longed TO mix with The multi
lude and pledge with the patriotic people their
nTe-trled devotion to the Union.
but DO passes TO go on shore were granted
ferhaps IL was better to keep the soldiers in
hand, AT Least until they reached their desti-
nation, which, as yet. was unknown. But the
soldiers Jailed To see the force of that argll-
hlent They had been in close confinement
since Christmas. and those of them that had
any money 10 spend We're determined to have "a
run on shore.
RUNNING THE GUARD
IL not considered dishonorable in the army
soldier feels at liberty to pit his wits against
The vigilance OF a sentinel at any time. and II
ne gets of safe he considers ii a good Joke. On
this occasion there were no sentinels TO deceive
Sno friendly policemen were poor material for
barrier between soldiers and nights liberty
Inc problem was easy, and it was solved in sew
erai ways within an hour. One man. an old
hand al the business, paid five dollars to a coal
heaVer Tor the loan of his working suit. With
tnat grimy ou:nt over his uniform he marched
past the policemen with all the assurance of a
MAYOR general, and OF course was not detected
once beyond the barrier he Invested himself of
Ais olssuise, ana was soon recognized by the
crowd as lone OF them," and the subsequent
G.oceeolngs were of q very convivial character
w Zen he returned, which he did before day-
ngnt, ne said he mad had rafting good time
Win tne boys, and his dilapidated appearance