The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-10-24
THE u. s. S. LEHIGH.
Another Account Of Her Grounding in Charleston
Harb0r.

Harbor.
EnTTOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Asthe writer
was one of tho crew of the L. S. Steamer Le-
high, he was much interested in the article i'll
The NATIONAL TRIBUNE of Aug. &. entitled
a Boys Bravery or How the L, S. S. Iehigh
was Rescued from Perious Position" / well
remember the morning that the Lcbigh ground
Cd and the perilous position we were in for tho
next two or three hours, and all the incidents
that ComTade Giles and many other gallant
men performed during those awful hours that
we remained under fire. During my three
years service l never passed through more
perious time.
The facts given by the writer of the article
are correct, but one man az such time does
not see or know everything going on about
him. Does the Comrade remember of the
lronsides irigato clearing away her torpedo
nets and coming TO our rcsCuc, and the awful
fire she opened with her starhoard battery of
Il-inch guns on Fort Moultrie? and also sew
eral other vessels which came TO our rescue2
DIR. LaRgshaW. when he left the ship. with the
two men mentioned, passed 10 the Nahant un-
der a heavy fire. III he staid on the Nahant it
was only for short time, for he was soon back
rs there was work for him, for Mt one time
there were seven men lying on the berth deck,
wounded, and the writer assisted the Doctor in
dressing their wounds. The Surgeon of the
Aahant also came on board at the request Of
III 1-aLESllsM. anu passed from MS sup 10 tllt
Lehigh under a heavy FIRE TO assist him. OF
the two men, George Leland and Thomas lrv-
ing, who went with the Doctor, Leland was
GunneT's Mate and Irving ordinary seaman,
and both were promoted by order of Admiral
Dahlgren, and confirmed by the Secretary of
the Navy. / think that Comrade Giles and
the two men with him were also promoted to
the same grade but the comrade is too modest
to say SO. There is no doubt that Admiral
Porter did not know all the facts in the case
or else he would have given those brave mon
of the Nahant the credit that their heroic
deeds justly entitled them to.
About % years have passed since that incl
dent occurred, and am glad to be a living wit
ness to all that transpired that morning, and
for all the brave men who took part in rescu-
ing the Iehigh from destruction Comrade
Joseph Raynes, who WAS Engineer Woman on
the Nahsnt. is also another witness Of the scenes
Of that day. He is now Postmaster Mt Var
mOuthville, Me. OF Leland and Irving have
heard nothing since the war. The commander
OF the Lehigb, Capt. Bryson, is now an Admi-
raj, living at Washington. Acting Master
John Stiekney, Of Massachusetts, was another
Of The officers Of the Lchigh that / remember
DR.. Langshaw was killed on board the frieate
Minnesota at the taking OF Wilmington. The
above are the only ones the writer can call TO
mind now. lie would like 10 hear from any
ore who was Oh board the Lehigh at the time
VIII someone give US an account of the sinking
Of the ironclad Patapsco by striking torpedo
near Fort AOultrie one night in the Fall of
1864, by which about GO lives were lost -
WATSON q. DEISKwATER, MHster-at-Arms, u.
s. lrOnclad STEAMER IehIph farnulth hie