The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-27
Of moral couraae. and from Ems man,s

of moral courage. and from TINS mans
story L could see how much he bad TO con-
tend with in the step no had taken. lie
had never before seen a shot fired In anger.
and could not restrain his indignation at
the idea of Southern men severing their
allegiance and even firing upon the flag un-
der which they were born.
Il can understand" said be. "how men
can be excited TO violence by demagogues,
but L cannot conceive how American citi-
zens. in cold blood, can fire at a vessel be-
longing to rhe navy that has conferred so
much honor on the North II South. i
think the river fiotilla could have eniladed
Cockpit Point while we were passing. and
might have diverted the enemy's aim and
saved our wheel.v
Lieutenant Lea served with me during
the time commanded the mortar tiotllla.
and his friends may well be proud OF him
Tor his chivalric courage and loyalty TO ms
flag. When taking leave of the officers OF
the fotilla at the mouth of the Mississippi,
i babe goodbye 81 Lea, who was still exc
cutive officer of the Harriet Lane.
Il shall never see you again" he said,
for feel that / have but a short time to
stay here,el am not sorry TO CO., for 1T is
dreadful t8lYe with the hatred of. those
whom you love and who once loved you:
l hope to die in defense of the flag. and l
want my friends to know that did my
duty faithfully TO my country. In case of
mesv
l promised that / would do what he
wished. but told him it was foolish to IN
the war was over his family would wei,
come him home again and would be proud
of his record. :.
NO, no, sir" he replied; you do not
hear my parents curse me for doing what
they Taught me from childhood-Be true
to the government and the flagv"
never saw him again: for he was kliiea
soon after on the deck OF his vessel, defend
ing the flag TO the last. Galveston had been
captured, and Flag-oticer Farragut sent
there a small detachment of vessels, among
them the Harriet Lane. under Commander
Renshaw. The harbor OF Galveston Is a
peculiar one, with several channels leading
TO it from the bar. and a number of large
mud flats where the water is shallow. Rem
shaw's vessels lay in the various channels,
not in supporting distance 10 each other,
and Magruder, the confederate general. de-
termined to attempt their capture. He fit
ted out three or four river steamers. pro-
tecteG by cotton bales and filled with rifle
men. The Harriet Lane was nearest the
town, and the sudden attack found her not
properly prepared for resistance. One OF
the confederate steamers damned under her
guards. and could not get away. nor could
those on board the Harriet Lane bring q
gun to bear on the enemy.
In ten minutes the numerous marksmen
on board the confederate steamer cleared
the decks OF the Harriet Lane. Captain
Wainwright was killed at the first fire, and
directly after Lieutenant Lea was mOrtally
wounded. No one being left on deck to OPP
pose them, the confederates rushed on board
| and took possession of the steamer. They
were led by q stalwart officer with a drawn
sword. Lieutenant Lea was lying on deck,
apparently ~lifeless, his head supported by
the cabin steward. The confederate officer
demanded: who is that officerf"
This is Mr.. Lea, our first lieutenant" re-
piled the steward, land / think he is dead
The confederate leader started back,
| God in heaven" he exclaimed. Poor boy!
Is there no hone at allf" Then he cried IL
agony: Speak to me; say you forgive usp
The young man opened his eyes at the
sound of his fathers voice. IL have moth.
ing to forgive" he said; but you have seen
that / did my duty to the last, and died
fighting for my country. Tell them all nj
l received an account of this heartrend'
ing scene from the man In whose arms the
young officer died. LEAFS last request to
the steward was that he would tell me how
he had died at his post in defense of the
flag. The steward related the events OF
the massacre with such emotion that ]
could hardly refrain from tears, though
not usually given to the melting mood.
Lieutenant Commander Lea was buried
among his people, his shadow was nc
longer cast between them and the sun, and
it is to be hoped that the rancour which
once dwelt in their hearts was burning IN
1 the grave tney mau6 Dlm uuueI Tie ulOSS'
covered oaks of his birthplace.
This sad occurrence was only one OF
many similar events of the civil war; but il
was one in which / was Immediately inter
ested, and, although i have missed many a
brave fellow from my side. yet / think oft
ener of hat your officer and his lofty
aspirations and high sense OF duty, who
was shot down by his own people without
a chance to defend himself.
Now let the American boy love his flag al
II L. -..- - Leaf bic .E2 Co. Ete
country. In the war of the Revolution The
American flag waved in the battle and The
breeze over this broad continent against
sured to our land. Then the sails Of on
whitened the ocean. and the Star
spangled Banner tiOated in every Cline.
In 1912 our ships of war carried the FLAG
with success against the strongest nava
power on earth, and taught the Mistress
of the Seas, that she would have q fonda
BILE rivsl in peace and war. In 1915 GU
army and navy hoisted the flag on the grea'
fortress of San Juan de Ulloa, and it tiOateC
proudly over the Halls of the MOnteZu
mas" We all know how il was borne dur
ing the sanguinary contest in which tn,
country was involved from 1S6rto 1865. L
came out of that conflict with stars undim
med, and those who carried 1t into battl,
loved it as they never did before.
Now that flag floats serenely. its stars bright.
shine,
And the ivy and bay with its rich folds entwine
For ages To come 1t will gloriously wave
"O'er the land OF the free and the home Of tn,
brave"
ADMIRAL DAVID D. PORTER.