Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-07-09
cLINGINe TO THE BALES OF HAY.

AT LOS the first shot was fired and struck
SO near as to leave US in doubt whether tho
barGes were hit. A lull of a few minutes
and then another, followed closely BY q re-
bound. 1t kept W in this way as we were
rounding the bend, the shots all seeming to
come very near to us, as we could perceive
by the momentary throb Of the hull when
struck With the exception of Capt. Ward,
the pilots. engineers and firemen, the rest Of
us were posted along the barges, on the alert
for an attempt at boarding.
Owing to the q loop of the river we had to
run portion of the distance by, then turn
and run the whole line back again. Thus we
were exnosed first to a starboard and then to
q bow lire, and when in front Of the main
batteries to a concentrated fire from three
directions At first we peered from behind
the hay bales on perceiving the fash Of the
Confederate guns, ut soon the shots were so
rapid and from points SO widely apart that
that exciting amusement was dropped. The
screaming of the shells as they went over us,
the splash in the water and the spray were
subjects of testing and imitation till an i'm
menso shell burst but three feet or so above
EUR heads with stunning report.
Twenty minutes 0ong minutes thoseD
under this fire and nobody hurt. The barges
still in good form and the little propeller
making eight miles per hour Now we are
well past thu upper batteries; but the main
guns are four hundred yards from us, and it
seems in the clear air as il we were Just in
front of their muzzles Several shots strike
the bargcs but on we go. A glance at our
watches-it is quarter past 2-we are
almost past the worst and begin to congratu-
late each other, when suddenly we are hurled
this way md that, and all the roar of the
Confederate guns is drowned in one terrific
report as if magazine had burst under US
My first thought was that the powder had
been slowed On the barses and had ignited;
but in clambering W among smoke and
flames could see nothing like tug. A ten
inch shell, as we afterward learned, had
struck her boilers; she had exploded and the
white hot cinders were thrown up il a SPOUT
ing shower, while steam and smoke enveloped
the barges like pail The little craft had
been literally shattered to atoms
Almost at the same minute the batteries
commenced vengeful. and, as it seemed to
me, q savage, fire upon us, faster and faster.
The shells burst oil around and above us with
stunning and binding effect The Goals
had set fire to the hay bales in several places;
the shells aided in the work In vain did we
upoI tutIu ana throw them over
board, burning our hands, feet and clothing
in the effort. No buckets were to be found:
they had been blown away Down between
the barges hung the fragments of the tussby
the tow ropes
Tie rebels set up hideous yell, as il in
mockery at oar crippled condition. The bat
teries kept on firing, the blazing bay light
ing up the river. We were then slowly drift
ing with the current past the front of the
city. Our disaster happened right abreastof
the court house AS soon as we could see
through the binding smoke we found Mr..
Browne standing bareheaded on the top
most balc, rs if he were defiant target for
the rebel guaners. Capt Ward had been
blown forward thirty feet from the tug into
the river. and two of his men were engaged
in fishing him up. The wounded and scalded
men were crying Tor help, answered only By
the shells and occasional cheers
We hurrledly consulted and decided to Get
off the barSes, as the flames were crowding
US close. Dales of hay were tumbled into
the river and the wounded placed on them.
The heat now became Intense Mr. Browne
and myself remained until all were of. and
them with bat one bale fer the two striped
for the plunge Just as we were ready a
solid shot went under Mr.. Richardson. over
turning him into the water AID raising q
fountain Of spray where he had sunk. Our
eyes were gladdened when he returned 10 ths
surface unhurt
we oufeted the waves few minutes, glad
dened by sense Of relief from the insup-
portable heat. We commeno5.i swimming for
tne louisiana shore. supposing that our pick
efs occupied it. We had been in the water
naif an hour perhaps when the sound of the
stroke OF oars reached US, and presently q
yawi puiled around the barges Our first
emotions were pleasant enough: but they
were suddenly changed when we saw the
gray clothing of the boatmen. They scoopsd
Us IN oy the time we had drifted two miles
oeiow the city and with some roughness I'M
pressed upon rs the fact that We we're pris-
oners Dripping and shivering we were
marched up to the city, taken hsear, =.