The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1890-03-20
BOAT ahoy! What boat is thatY,

the cry of, "The Yanks' the YanksI
beat 20 quarters" sounded through the
night '--0
The next instant our boat grated
alongside of the schooner. and we GRAN
pleu chaln-plate. Then the flash of a
musket shone redly in the gloom, and
oy the sudden light we saw, standing
boldly out on the rail above us, the dan
per form of Dandy Jack" who had
Deen the first to Chamber up the side of
the enemy. In moment, cheered on
by his act and voice, we had reached the
oeek OF the schooner. Already the ward
beyond was loud with the turmoil of
men rushing to arms, and we soon found
that we could not get the schooner out.
SO the fire-brands we had brought were
lighted and flung into the hold.
waiting few moments to see that
these were doing their work, we re-
treated to our boats and pulled away
into the darkness, stopping to send a
Few rounds of grape and canister among
the men we saw forming ranks beyond
the blazing schooner. The work we had
set out to do was accomplished. The
Judah was cut adrift from the navy
yard, and went drifting with the tide
up the bay, mass of leaping and curl
ing flames, while we slowly retraced our
way back to the Ship
Dandy jack become a hero with ms
after this, and when orders for him to
report North for command were re-
celVed, we were sorry to lose him But
1t was not long separation, for some
OF us, as new men, were sent down to
take the place of those whose terms of
service had expired, and among those
were several of the group who had
greeted the new lieutenant with the
the name of s'Dandy Jack"
We did not care to remain long on
shore, even though discharged, and
seeking out the gun-boat that 'sDandv
Jack" had been ordered to command, we
shipped for three years, feeling sure
that we should not be idle. Those were
the busy days of the blockade, for though
men were plenty, they were not drilled
hands, and the few old men-of-war's men
who were attached to each vessel, be-
came the pivots that gave this new ele-
ment strength.
VI course there were many disparag-
ing remarks passed about DANDY Jack. s.
the new hands voting him a milk-sop.
and declaring that we would never smell
powder while he was in command. We,
who had been with him in the boarding
of the Judah, knew better, and told our
comrades to wait, for notwithstanding
the fact that "Dandy Jack" insisted on
wearing kid gloves and patent leather
boots, and on having thedecks scrubbed
and the bright work cleaned, they would
find that he would not order them to 90
on when danger stood in the way, but
would call for them to follow.
Many incredulous smiles greeted these
assertions, but we did not take them to
heart, patiently biding our time, and
feeling confident that 'Dandy Jackn
would not be found wanting. We cruised
along the Atlantic seaboard for some
time, blockading inlets and small ports
on the Carolina and Georgia coasts, and
at last reported to the officer who had
command of the little squadron that
guarded the ports of the lower stretch
of the Atlantic shore.
By this time we had become a thor
oughly drilled and well-organized crew.
and landing party had been formed
that was formidable because of it's strong
discipline. This landing party was
Dandy jacks hobby, and / felt that
he would let no occasion to employ it |
pass unimproved. Several times, when |
we were patroling the coast, the ship |
was run close in, and we were exercised |
at storming imaginary earthworks, and |
the spirit and dash shown by our COM
mander at these times proved to nv
mind at least that he had some object in
view.
We had run north toward Savannah, |
hoping to pick up little prize money,
and we're steaming leisurely southwark
again, when we made out sail making
for US. The decks were cleared for ac-
tion, but we found this was superhuous
work, as in reply 20 our signal the near
ing craft set the number of the feet, and
soon came alongside. Her captain, who
was the junior of our skipper, came on
board, and though we had no positive
knowledge, rumor soon spread through
the ship saying that some expedition
had been determined on.
We were certainly headed south, and
the ships kept in company, arriving the
next morning at an inlet just north of
the Florida line, where we found several
more of the little squadron gathered. A
council quickly convened on board of
5he flagship, and the result was an
afternoon of preparation, every thing
to landing. OF course ''Dandy
Jack" was in his element, and it was
'oon seen that he was the leading spirit
# the affair, as the other commanders
made frequent visits to our vessel. {
just below sundown we all hove up
Inchors and steame northward, keep
ng the coast well in view, and little
Ifter night-fal1 we came to where anoth-
II vessel of the feet was anchored. We
made no signals, for such were the or
Iers, and her captain was evidently ex-
,ecting us, but came to anchor, and i
we're ordered to turn in, as we would be t
allied early. s
It was but three in the morning when 2
re were reused from our hammocks, and 5
ound that a hot breakfast was already I