The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-01-18
=" DANDY JACK. "
A Hero in Kid Gloves and Patent
Leather Boots.

This was the involuntary exclamation
that came from several of the group of
blue jackets gathered about the main
mast of the Colorado, when the new
lieutenant we were expecting came up
the ward-room hatchway, and stepped
out on the starboard side of the quarter
deck
He was trim and dapper little fell
low, barely five feet five in his shoes;
slim, and yet with a certain wiryness
standing out that to the careful observer
told of strength. His clothes looked as
though they had just come from the
tailor, so bright and fresh were they.
His cap, Respondent with its I'M
furnished ornaments, set jauntily on
head whose every hair seemed to have
place and occupy it. His black side
whiskers were as carefully arranged,
and kid glove clothed the hand that
he held out for the trumpet that de-
noted his charge of tho deck, while
patent-leather boots shonc beneath the
smoothly-buttoned CATERS on his feet.
We were used to the neat clothes and
bright ornaments, for many of our Off
GERS were noted examples of we'll
dressed manhood, but we had not been
educated up to tho standard wherein kid
gloves and patent leather were blended
with salt water and tar, and our criti
cisms, if not loud, were many.
But DANDY jack for the name thus
inVoluntarily given chung to HIM, if he
knew of these, gave them no attention,
and a daily acquaintance with them
soon made us accustomed to the innova-
walton, and we quickly discovered that
our new lieutenant was thorough mas
ter of the different drills we found
thrust upon us by the opening Of HOSTILE
ties. We had been ordered South, and
were lying off Fort Pickcns, With the
Confederate flag in plain sight, as it
fluttered over the walls of Barrancas
and McRae, and at the truck of the flag
staff in the navy-yard at Warrington.
Steamers from Pensacola ran down to
tho last named place, and now and then
a schooner winged her way alongside of
the sCa-Yall fronting the buildings. But
there were no signs of warlille prepara-
tiOns on board of these, and so they
brought us no excitement.
The case was changed, however, when
one morning we saw, hauled under the
shears and already partially armed, a
schooner whose Yacht-like build and
rakish spars told of an adaptability for
privateer purposes that could find ready
employment if once allowed to get out
in the waters of the Gulf so full of
small Yankee traders. To capture this
vessel, or destroy her, was an object
that our officers much desired, and an
expedition was soon proposed, and as
quickly organized.
We did not know the number of guns
or how large crow the schooner car
ricd; but we did know that heavy and
efficient batteries manned by numcr-
Gus Confederate force, protected her,
for she was moored directly in their
range. Yet this was not considered dis
couraging, for one can not expect such
enterprises to be devoid OF danger We're
they SO, it would take from them great
part of the charm that makes men seek
the excitement they now possess.
OF course the preparations for the ex-
petition were carried on secretly, so
that no intimation of them should reach
Dor every thing was ready for tho dash
VIC were to mako that night Five of
the boats were to compose the expedi-
ton, headed by the first launch under
tho command of Lieutenant Russell,
while the second officer in rank was
"Dandy Jack"
The night was just suited to such an
exploit as we meditatcd, being one of
those gloomy, mist-pervaded seasons
when objects become the most indistinct.
though not too dark to discern outlines
rising higher than the low sides of the
boats We were in. After leaving the
ship we pulled slowly and with muf1ied
oars up to the shore of Sante Rosa
island, and cautiously followed this,
keeping well under the shadow of Fort
Piclens until we reached point whose
bearing with the navy yard and the
schooner had been accurately deter
mined Here the boats were ranged in
order, and then the whispered command
of ''give way" made us bend steadily to
our work. and, in little time we were
gliding swiftly forward, the oars making
no sound save a light plash that was
worry MUM ilho INC WASH VI low waves.
In few moments we saw Dandy
Jack" lean eagerly forward, and heard
the words: 'There she is, give way, my
boys!" spoken in a low but clear tone.
And we did give way, just as an excl
ted voice a short distance from us cried:
''Boat ahoy! What boat is that?"
No word made reply, but our muscles
grew harder with an added strain, as
tho cry of, ''The Yanks! tho Yanks!
Reat to quartors!" sounded through the
night
Tho next instant our boat grated
alongside OF the schooner, and we Crap
pled chain-platc. Then the flash of a
musket shone redly in the gloom, and
by the sudden light we saw, standing
boldly out on the rail above us, the dap
per form of "Dandy Jack" who had
been the first to Chamber up the side of
the onemy. In moment, cheered on
by his act and voice, we had reached the
deck of the schooner. Already tho yard