The National tribune., 1888-04-12
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What0ur Veterans Have 70 Say About
Their Old Campaigns
TIE BARON DE KALB.
Few TIE Boys Prize Money was stolen and How
the Thieves were CaHEht.

ECW l-f BOYS kFiZe money WIS Nt'ltA anu NV"
the Thieves were CaHsht-
Tp-TeR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The question
has been often asked, Why DO not some Of the
survivors OF orr navy write something for THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE? ] offer the following
tribute for publication, if you think It worth
the space. In vOUr valuable paper;
As all Will remember. on July 6, 1852. the
battle of Memphis was fought. After the bat
tie was fought the II. 5. steamer Baron De halb,
Capt Nius.Ow who atJerward captured the
Alabama commander, was stationed at Mem
phis as guard boat Tor about four months. after
returning from az expedition up the White
River Arkansas. One Of the rebel steamers
having been sunk q little below Memphis, It
was ordered that she be broken mp and the
channel cleared. so working parties were sent
daily from the Baron De kaiD. In all OF the
rebel steamers cotton bales were used freely IN
their bulwarSs. and IL so proved in this III
stance. 1t proved a very lucrative piece Of
work. the cotton being taken ashore 2t Mem-
phis and sold, bringing the modest sum Of &c.
COO which, ia naval parlance, was prize-mouey
for the captors. The Executive Officer attend
ed TO the business and had the custody Of the
money. The Executive said be could not dis
tribute Is among the men until ne had orders
from tie Department, consequently il remained
there. One evening while walking the poop
deck. beside the skylieht This being OPEN, /
On the table counting it, and / noticed that he
tied Il up in three packages and placed II IN
the safe again. / thought nothing Of 1t, OF
course, il being II his charge. ] was Ward
room Steward at that time. few mornings
after this occurred, myself and the Cabin Stew
ard went market, as usual, and one oftne Quar-
TernasteTs went with us. a thing not uncom-
mon. But one thing which struck me as being
cut Of the general order OF things was that he
said b me, Steward, you take the tIller and
he pulled the bow oar. When we arrived a.
the bank of the river he took a bag out Of the
bow of the boat and said: Boys, if I am not
here when you get back, do not wait for me, but
go ca board, as 4 am going TO the Poplar Street
Market 81 G usually went TO the Beale Street
Market. When we came back he Was not there,
and we went On board the vessel prepared
breakfast and was doing up my work, but when
] came to sweeping the deck / missed the safe.
/ Immediately dropped my broom and looked
10 the Purser's stater0Om, but 10 safe there. ]
asked the Purser If he had moved il. No l
then went TO the Executive Officer and told him
the safe was gone. He c0ald hardly believe il,
but found 1t was so. Two days passed. Inc
QUGrteTuastcr did not return. The third day
as ] Was washing my paintw0rE, the Executive
Ofacer was IN the room, and / said TO MIN
Have you heard from the QuaTtermasterE p
He answered N0," sharply. Why2" / then
told him my impressions lie then looked me
in the eye and shook his finger IN nay face, and
said You want 10 be very careful what you
say or course ] said no more, but l was
Wardr0om Steward but a short time after that
Capt. Winsl0w when at service Sunday morn
ing. made an appealing address to the men,
saying: Some of you men have that money,
and it belongs to yourselves. If you viii re-
turn il 70 your sEipmates there shall be moth
ing said or done about H." But no one came 70
the front with any money. The good cid Cap
tain left rs and q new man took his place. After
the battle Of Arkansas Post We were ordered to
Cairo lOr repairs. Our new Commander, John
J. Walker, did not know anything about our
c0ttoD-mO1ey.
EEQUEI-
One cold, frosty morning, while lying ST
Cairo stranger came on board the De Kalb
and inquired If there was a Guarte-masteI
aboard bv the name Of @ Yes" Well
I am his cousin, and would ike TO see him very
much" lie was called. and the stranger Rugged
him and kissed him, and they Piled each other
with questions thick and fast. Finally the
cousin asked Il lie could go ashore, and permis-
sion being obtained, they went to do the town
Maile doing 10 they got around to the jail. The
stranger asked what that building flight be-
When told Ii was The gail, said lie wondered il
they would Let them look into H. They asked
permission, and & was granted. They entered
the door which was closed and locked, and two
men caught III taQGriermaster aud took on
his g0-asl0Ee pants and between the liuings
they found 5000 al safely kept, although
be had been OF shore many times, and boz
TCwed money from his shipmatcs. Then he
was introduced TO his partner, the Quarter
master who deserted ~ Memphis, VINO had
made way with al but $500 Of his money
They had bHt s. 600 apiece. Query: Who had
tie other $4,000 They were taken back K
New York. No one appeared against them, anC
they got clear Of robbery, desertiOn and all
Ina T. A4CCLEasIHE.y, Fayetteville, \. 7.