The National tribune., 1889-11-07
ARMY AND NAVY.
The Career OF a Veteran who is NOW In the Patent
nfice.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: / was ap-
pointed Captain of the gunboat Zouave of the
Coast Division, from Bristol, K. l., Nov. 10,
1861 and superintendent her fitting out under
the direction of Gen. Ambrose d. Burnside,
and sailed for Annapolis, Md, where we again
fitted for receiving troops.
We were armed with eight 32-pound Parrott
guns, one 12pound fieldpiece and two mount
ain hOwitzers.
We arrived at Fortress Monroe on Jan. 8,
1862, with 500 of the 25th Mass on board, and
sailed for Hatteras Inlet. Two hours after
arrival, through n tremendous gale and very
rough sea, she sprung aleak and sank, but we
got the troops off before sinking and stayed by
her until we saved all her guns and ammuni-
ton. but the vessel soon disappeared in the
quicksand Mt Roanoke Island.
i was given command of the gunboat
Ranger, and my son, William Henry Hunt, for
his bravery at Roanoke Island, was next i'll COM
mand TO me. Tho Ranger carried tho same
armament as the Zouave, but was much larger
vessel. We had on board $50 soldiers and OIL
GERS of the 9th Mass.
On March IL We landed our troops at Slo-
GUMS Creek, and proceeded up the river to-
ward New Berne, N. c., which was ~ miles
distant. While Smelling the woods in adj
vance of the troops there came on very thick
fog, and we anchored. The fog continued all
night. Next morning | found myself and
vessel within half mile Of the fort and river
distractions. The fort commenced firing, and
we returned it promptly. The channel being
narrow we could only fight our portside guns,
they being four 30-pound PARROTS, and 10 get
them TO bear, would have to drop anchor
and back engine. After a few broadsidcs we
got shell into tho enemy's magazine, which
ended that firing. ] then asked our engineer,
Mr.. English, of Philadelphia, to put on all the
steam he could, so as to get to New Bernc first,
1T being then about four miles distant, but
going at full speed we struck Yankee
catcher" under our starboard boiler, and swung
clear round, breaking down all distractions
III her way and making a passage for all
the fleet. We had to be towed oil, and in
consequence were the last to the city.
In Greeeys History of the War; Vol 9, page
a, it says the fort was blown up by one of the
gunboats, but does not mention the Ranger.
VIII some of the officers of the 9th Mass. who
were on board and gave such brave help, and
saw all the proceedings, mention our passage
from Slocum's Creek to New Berne2
My vessel, the Ranger. was chosen by Com
modore Rowan, now Admiral 10 go after somo
ironcads, and we were preparing the vessel,
putting sandbags around the pilot-honse, and
was almost ready TO sail when Quartcrmaster
Bggs put stop to it; the vessel being an army
gunboat aud not naval vessel. She was the
largest vessel in the fleet, and drew within two
ihNhNo VI AhG dcplh pl NatcE III tue river, anu
we could not go on any of the expeditions, and
after laying there some months resigned and
came 10 New York City.
l met Gen. Burnside at Washington, ID. C.,
when he came here by the steamer Alice Price
from New Berne and he asked me TO write to
him at Old Point Comfort. Well, wrote but
while waiting for an answer got weary aud
enlisted in the fighting 5lst n. Y. as knew
most OF the officers. ! WAS with them in the
huf nf PM
Mountain, Antietam aud Fredericksburg, where
my right leg was broken by she'll, and was
confined five months in the Patent Office Hos
pital. After recovery | got the sutleTship OF
the 5ist n. Y, and was made Purveyor of tho
Second Division of the Ninth Corps, by Gen.
Robert Is. Potter.-WILLIAM Hunt, Patent
Office, Washington, ID. G.