The National tribune., 1889-05-16

while the famous dam was being constructed
by Col Bailey to float the gunboats and trans
ports over the rapids. / had not been idle all
this time. found Capt. Burns, who was Cap
tain of the transport Rob Roy, who was also an
old friend of my father, and with whom l had
become intimate. Yes, his boat was destined
for the port of New Orleans, if God Almighty
ever permitted her to float out of Red River,
which he very much doubted at that time,
though, he said, his cabin, boilers and pilot
house were well protected with baled cotton, and
/ he had a 12-ponnd howitzer on the bow, and
his crew had the grit 10 stand by it. he agreed
to try to take my young passenger to New Or
leans if he was willing to take the chances OF
the trip down the Red River.
Imagine his surprise when on the night be-
fore the departure of the feet, brought on
board delicate and refined young lady, at
tended by the boy Jake. The old Captain ex-
postulated and swore at me, and pictured the
dangers of the trip to her in a manner which
should have deferred stouter hearts, but was
told by the brave girl that the dangers and
difficulties had all been carefully contemplated,
and that she fully realized the dangers of the
trip. Yet she was willing to take the risk. as
she must reach New Orleans at all hazards.
After / had convinced the Captain of her
loyalty and earnest desire to get free of her
rebel prosecutors, he consented to take her and
her servant, jake through if possible. ] also
exerted myself in Ben's behalf, and had, by the
aid of influential officers secured his release
on parole, as he was wounded, and the only son
of a widow. | also got permission for him to
take the family carriage back, which | ex-
planned had in some way got mixed up with
the retreating army, and had come to Alexan-
drla. i was also very careful not to tell him
that / had stolen away his beautiful sister.
1t is needless to recount the tedious and
peril0us descent of the feet, and the retreat of
the army to the Mississippi River. will only
recount one or two incidents which belong to
our story. The first day after the feet left
Alexandria it was fired on by a masked battery
from the left bank of the river, and many of
/ the transports were disabled. The Rob Roy ran
bravely by the battery, with her 12-poand
/ h0witZer beiching grape and canister among
/ the enemy Finally shell exploded over her
/ bow, killing two of the crew who were manning
I the gun, and wOunding Others Among them
was old Capt. Burns, who was slightly wound
/ ed, and he atterward told me that my girl pas
senger proved TO be great benefit TO him in
caring for the wounded.
The army was near Old River where we
crossed on the wonderful ponto0n bridge COM
posed of river transports, and Gen. A. j. Smith,
! who that day defended the rear, set a trap,
ambushing his troops ON either side of the road
in shape. This trap was baited with a de-
taehment of the wagon-train The Confeder
ate cavalry, which had been dashing into every
1 weak and unprotected place. seeing an oppor-
tunity las they thought to take in this wagon
| train, dashed at full speed into the trap. When
! Smiths veterans arose and quickly closed the
open end of the V, there occurred the most
/ desperate struggle of the campaign for a few
minutes. The enemy fought like demons to
cut their way out but few escaped.
! One officer in particular, having his horse
shot from under him, fought desperately with
his saber, until be was finally brought down
with mortal wound. After the prisoners
were brought in this wounded Confederate
/ Co. al IL,
and consequently DR.. B.. of my regiment, was
sent to him. and having heard how desperately
he had fought, ! had a desire to see him also,
and was permitted 10 accompany DIR. B., who,
after examining his EJand, informed him that
nothing could be done, and that he had but a
short time to live. On inquiring of DR.. B. l
found that his name was Todd. The examina-
tion also disclosed severe wound in the hip
lin addition TO his mortal wound) which was
not yet fully healed. This, l believe, ] had
given him on the roof of Mrs. Greenes house.
He soon became delirious and died that even
ing, raTing aud cursing the Yankees, and was
buried on the spot by some OF his friends, has,
tily and even before his body had cooled.
When our regiment reached the Mississippi
at Morganza ] was overjoyed to see that the
Rob Roy had safely arrived and was tied up
among the other transports at the landing. |
lost no time in going on board and found Liz
zie and Jake all right Jake's first question
was:
Mars Elec, is free now?"
informed him that he certainly was, unless
his young mistress wished to claim him still as
a slave. She asked him if he intended to de-
sert her after coming through the dangers that
they had He said:
No. Miss Lizzie; rs nebber felt like a slave
when ! was dom anything TO you" aud de-
clared his intentions to serve her as long as he
lived. if she desired.
said, So will T. Jake" which caused a
modest blush to spread over her face. After
taps that night went aboard the Rob Roy aud
conversed with her until midnight. | informed
her of Capt Todd's death and of her brothers
: release and return home with the family car
rage. / also learned that Mrs. Greene was her
fathers second wife. aud only step-mother to
her aud Ben; that her father before his second
marriage disposed of all his property except the
t river plantation, and had deposited his fortune
5 III the Bank of New Orleans and taken out Ger
: tifcates of deposit in the name of his son and
t daughter equally, and she showed me certif-
cate Of deposit in her own name for S2200
Her mothers people still lived in New Or
= leans, and were in good circumstances She
intended stopping with them on her arrival
j and gave me the number and location of hel
] Uncle's house on Canal street. where she ex
:, pected TO stay until the end OF the war.
Next morning found that the Rob Roy had
r proceeded on her journey down the river. Oul
brigade followed in less than week and wen
e into camp near the city.
/ The rest of our story is soon told. The
= balance of my term Of service was served
& out in the Department of the Gulf W.
b We're often in and about the city of New
G Orleans / of course improved every op
h portunity to visit my afianced, besides CORE
r spending with her regularly. / struggled t.
/ do my duty as a soldier during the remainde
2 Of my term. How well succeeded will leay
e for others to tell. was promoted TO Captainc.
l. for brave and m0ritorious conduct III the field
II ] suppose this meant the manner in which
e charged on the sweet potato fields and the wa,
e in which got away with them.
II At length the happy moment arrived whel
n the war was declared at end, and the Gov
Is eminent no longer required our services. w
Of were mustered out at Galveston, Tex, July Is
sr 1865, and Immediately started for New Orleans
e. The happiness ] experienced on that trip, re
r. fiecting over the peace that had daWned o.
fe our country, and the prospect of meeting S
4 soon the idol of my dreams, TO whom / was to
d united for life for it was arranged that "
% would be married on my arrival in the cit
y while en- route for home and Gods county,,
" never can describe.
S Oar ship bad hardly touched the wharf whe
l. ] started for No. 470 Canal street, dressed i
N the neat and tidy uniform of Federal office
and found my old friend Jake on the whar
"a having been installed into the position of fan
6 6s ~