The National tribune., 1889-05-16
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What0ur Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
SABINE PASS.
The Reasons why that Medal was Given Miss Dow
ling.

FDTroR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Referring to
the article now going the rounds of the press
giving an account Of the presentation OF
diam0nd-set medal to Miss Annie L. Downing
Of Austin, Tex. IN honor Of the exploit OF her
father, Dick Bowling, who with AZ men re-
pulsed the Union farces &c Sabine Pass Sept. 8
1863. also an inquiry from Comrade Marlnder,
of Bismarck, Oak, which appeared in your
issue Of March y. il has occurred to me that
an article on the subject from one who was
there might possibly be interesting to the read
ers of TIE NATIONAL tribune, and especially
TO Comrade Marinder, who seems to " thirst
after knowledge
first quote from history, as follows: Early
in September an expedition was fitted out un-
der Gen. Franklin 70 occupy this pass which
was then in possession Of the rebels. 1t was
understood TO be defended 10y battery OF field
pieces with two 32-pounders. on-barbette. and
two gunbOats which were also rams The at
lacking force consisted of 1000 men. under
Sen. Franklin, with Gen. Godfrey Weitzel as
division commander" So much for history.
Now for my personal recolleCtions. Bat first
let me say, that Gems. Franklin and NeitZel
were Of the Regular Army, both tried and true,
and had already won national reputation and
renoWn
In looking over my diary and old papers per-
tanning TO those stirring times / find the fol-
lowing regarding the movements of my regi
ment: Sept , the regiment embarked for
New Orleans, and became a part of Banks's
expedition 10 Saline Pass. Tex. Our Iendez-
vous was Berwick Bay, from which place we
embarked transports. We were conveyed
by tie Gunboat Arizona" In addition to the
transports carrying the land forces there was a
feet Of gunb0ats. besides one Of the blochadiug
feet was stationed OF the pass. My regiment
was the I6lst \. Y. Four companies were de-
tailed as sharpshooters on the gunboats, Cos.
aud on the Arizona, L on the Granite
City, and ID on the Sachem. Cos. G, +. g and
], under command OF Capt. w. q. Craig, with
like number from other regiments. ali under
command of one Capt Fitch, Of the 10Th N.Y.
comprised the storning party, and were on the
transport Gen Banks. Cos. IL and K, under
command OF Lleut-Gol. hinsey, were in re-
serve on the transport n L. Thomas
We expected 10 locate the pass by the gun
boat on duty there. bat unfortunately for
Us il was of on a short cruise and we found
early IN the morning that we had run by
quite d distance, and We're obliged to turn
back. The coast was low aud marshy, aud the
black smoke from the feet must have been
visible for a great distance inland. This, to-
gether with delay in finding the pass, gave
Bowling ample time to concentrate his magnifi-
cent army Of Il men and put them where they
could do the most good, as the sequel shows
he did. The feet lay outside the bar till late
in the afternoon, but during the morning the
Clifton passed inside and gave them few
shots which were not responded TO, and led
many OF the boys To think there was nothing
there. The Clifton was formerly a double
ender ferryboat, and most Of the feet were fat
bottoms and c0asting steamers, aud drew light,
bat the Clifton had magnificent armament.
and carried a 9-inch riaed pivot gun fore aud
aft
Finally, between and o'clock everything
seemed to be in order; the Clifton passed in
side closely followed BY the Granite City and
the Gen. Banks carrying the stprming party.
The Clifton IN a few moments opened the ball
by shot from one of her 9-inch guns. and we
could see That it fell inside the enemy's works.
The Sachem now moved rapidly TO the front
and passed US, followed by the Arizona. both
steaming 70 our right. The SacheTn soon open
Cd vita fail bT0adside the Arizona following
suit anti still there was 10 respoBse-no sign of
DICK i3oWllng OF any other man on shore We
we're still moving. and the S4chem was now
opposite the works. not over 300 yards away
when IN moment we saw the ominous white
pun above the works, dull boom came over
The waves, aud at the same moment solid shot
WhiZzcd eyer the Arizona aud struck the water
beyond his was quickly followed bE one for
the Clifton, which went wide passed over our
convoy, the Granite City and struck SO close
20 the Gen. Banks that the water splashed the
decks. The Sachem was still moving. giving
them br0adsi1e after broadside, and the Arizo-
ua still keeping up 70 her work, but not in
such close quarters. In a moment more the
Sachem would be beyond the works and we
were watching her with intense interest and
s0llcltude, for we all felt that her passing meant
victory; but just al this critical moment shot.
struck her midship, penetrating her boilers
instantly she was cnFeloped in steam; she
ceased firing, aud when the white mist lifted
We saw her lying upon the water helpless
thing, with the white flag flying from her
masthead The Arizona aud Clifton now
doubled their IRE, but the Arizona drew too
much water 10 get 10 close quarters, and the
tonfedarates seemed 20 pay but little attention
TO her. but concentrated their fire on the Cliff
ton, and the brave Croker responded with re-
doubled energy. Croker fought the Clifton
On the arc OF a half circle, backward and for
ward, each Increment bringing her nearer the
Confederate works. Her firing was terrific
Anc she swept the enemy's works with per
feet hail. The Banks now passed her convoy
and steamed IN behind tie Clifton, every man
grasped ms musket with a irmer grin, belts
were ilgateDed. and each looked himself over
70 be sure he was al right, for we felt that we
would soon be ia jumping distance All eyes
were on the Clifton, for everything now de-
pended on her, when at this moment she ran
her bow into the soft bottom with such force
that she was unable 10 eEtricate herself She
churned the water into white foam i'm her
vain efforts to get free We held our breath
ana u seemed as though Cur hearts ceased beat
ing when just al this critical moment couple
Of guns heretofore silent opened ON her and
shot from one Of them penetrated her boilers.
and she was also a helpless wreck Still the
brave Croker fought on, but seeing defeat now
inevitable t.aiied ono of bis 9-inch guns along
the deck, sent a solid shot through her from
stem TO stern, destroying her machinerv. spiked
ms guns aud ran up the white flag. The fight
was over.
For the first and only time in our three
years service we saw the white flag run m
and the Stars and Stripes hauled down. No
troops were landed, except those of our unfor-
tunate comrades Of Co ID, who landed in the
prison at Tyler, the survivors being exchanged
July =, 1854 never saw any report of our
losses but the l6lst for the time being suffered
the loss Of Co. ID who had two men killed ont
right, 10 badly scalded lsix fatally. and Lient
Lindsey with IL men taken prisoners Tie
Confederate gupboats, after the fight was over
put ID an appearance and secured the fruits Of
DoTllngs victory. They came into view very
ieisureiy, and why they did not proceed to can't
are The whole force is q mystery have never
been able TO fathom, except on the ground that
they were satisfied with what they had al
ready done and well they might be.
Ia the confusion of retreat, which was ordered
after the Clifton ran up the white flag the
Arizona IN turning, ran aground, aud with the
transports, the Banks and Thomas. were still
within easy ra1ge Of the Confederate puus
with only one ganboat the Granite Civ afioat
They had the whole expedition at their mercy
out they seemed 70 take it easy; did not seem
70 care very much about Us any way. for which
we were truly thankful. As for Bowling and
t4sEsr al