The National tribune., 1890-09-11
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What0ur Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
AWAY DOWN IN TEXAS.
The Campaign OF the Thirteenth Corps In the
Winter OF 1863


capture Of Arkansas Pass, Tex, Nov. IL, 1863 a
day or two passed quietly, but in,the night OF
Nov. l9 the quiet was very disagreeably inter-
rupted by a full-grown Texas nOrther. On
that day the writer was on picket near the
right Of the line, on the north side Of a sand
hill, about half mile from camp, and nearly
abreast Of the lighthouse on Mud Island. On
the same post were two other men from our
regiment and q Corporal from the 18th Ind.
During the forenoon a Confederate Major came
in with flag of truce and through the ignor-
Rnce or carelessness of the picket which he
approached he was allowed to go directly into
camp without being blindf0lded. lie was in
stantly hurried out and, as it happened, was
sent TO our post TO be guarded; for preparations
were being made for an advance to MatagOrda
Bay, and it was not thought best TO let him
leave IN time to give an alarm. A tent was
sent out from camp for him, which we set
mp so as TO make him as comfortable as pos
sible. The weather during the day was full
warm enough for comfort, but about 10 p m. a
very severe nOrther struck without warning,
and IN less time than it takes 10 tell it the tent
went down, and almost as quickly the temper
sture fell from Summer warmth TO near froez-
ing point. All hands seized the tent and car
ried il 10 the other side of the hill, but even
there il was impossible TO raise il. So we all
priystes, Corporal and Johnny reb-crawled
in under the canvas and lay there in a heap
like litter Of kittens, letting the picket post
take care Of ITSELF as we had no fear Of any
worse enemy than the freezing wind. The
roar Of the gale was so loud that nothing could
be heard, and the air so full Of drifting sand
that no one could face it. We therefore felt
certain that watching was unnecessary but we
were careful at the time not to mention our
neglect Of duty. / have often since the close
Of the war wished that l knew whether that
Corporal was living or not. If he is living and
happens 70 read this, / would like very much
70 hear from him. The men Of the 18th and
18th Ne. suffered severely during the night.
Having no tents, they dug holes in the sand,
IN which they lay, TO escape the violence of the
bowling, freezing wind. The other regiments,
having only their shelter-tents Tor dog-tents, as
they called them,) Jared not much better.
On the 2lst Of November Lieutenant and
is men from our regiment were detailed on
the steamer Matamoras, and the same number,
the writer among them, on the Planter. As
large vessels could not enter any harbor west
Of Galveston, these steamers were used as light
ers 70 carry troops aud supplies in over the bars
and IL was thought best 10 arm them. Each
Therefore was provided with two light boat
hoWitzers, and men were taken from the 18th
% man the guns, because that regiment during
Its long service in garrison had become very
Ekll.ful in the handling OF artillery. The Mat
BmOEas was q small light-draft stern-wheeler.
built, think, at Pittsburg, Ps., for service on
the Rio Grande and had been seized at the time
Of the capture Of Brownsville. The Planter
i understood at the time was an Alabama River
steamer, which had been captured while trying
70 run the blockade from Mobile with a load OF
cotton. She might with good reason have been
called a meuagerie Of different nationalities
Der Captain was an American, her Mate
French Creole, her engineers Americans and
English, her iremen English and Irish OF her
i've deck hands one was a Connecticut Yankee.
enc sWede, two HOsteiners aud one Next
can peoH; her cook was q Swiss, and her cabin
boy Cochin Chinese. During thetWo months
that We remained on the steamers a large
amount OF commissaTy stores was carried by
them and never guarded. ! heard that some
oiheer advised Major CARRIER, the Corps Com
missary, % put on q guard 10 keep the Yankees
from stealing bet the level headed old man re-
piled that If he left the stores uuguagded he
would only lose what we stole bet If he put on
guard be would lose that all the same and
what the guard would steal besides ! don't
think he was much poorer for our stealing.
although, quite naturally. We Lad plenty Of su-
gar and candies, and when Tor any cause we did
not receive our ratiOHs regularly we endcayored
70 90 ourselves justice
Nov = the troops, having been considcra-
bly, reinforced were ieTred across the pass to St
JosePh'E Island by the steamers and marched
coward Aatagorda Bay, leaving only the sick
and q small guard on Mss:ang Island The
next day they reached Cedar BAYOU q salt
water inlet between St. Joseph's and Matagor-
oE Islands, which was crossed with some little
difficulty. As soOu as the crossing was com
pleied tie march was continued, aud during
the 10Th they reached SaIuria a. the northeast
enc u the island. Here was situated Fort
EsperaDza, very stroDgly-buiit earthwork
mounting ii heavy guns, which commanded
fas7 1atialio, as the entrance 10 Matagorda Bay
Is called. On the morning Of tie Z7th the en-
eny's plcEets we're driven IN and positions were
taken under q heavy fire Of shells from the
Tort a recon noIssaucc soon showed that the
loFt was TOO strong 10 be taken by assault and
TIE guuDoats could give but little assistance as
The larger vessels could not get within elective
mango owing - the EhOalness Of the water
u was therefore decided 70 invest the fort
Anc btaEFe out the garrison. Another severe
nCrtbers however came up that night aud
lasted most u two days, entirely preventing
al movements, and On the night Of the 18Th
the enemy destroyed their NARRATIVES. gpiI,ed
tneiF gems, and evacuated. Next day the fort
was taken possession Of, 50 Matagorda Bay was
open 70 our vessels, and for several DAYS 10
further movement was made, except 10 place a
le" reg meuts the other side Of the Pass On De
CToWs Point, tic extremity Of Matagorda Pen
absuiA. tamps were laid out, and the troops
Bet out ~ work 70 make thenseI yes as com FORT
able az possible, but for awhile they Jared rather
hard. Fuel wGs both very scarce and very
poor, aud the drinking water could not be
eal4ec Eehn without q most objectionable de-
paTtUTe IRON the ways Of truth aud yeracitv.
fOT three weeks rztlUug we're scant and IL one
tllne Tie troops had nothing 10 eat for three dayg
but fresh bce!, and but little Of that The two
blame regiments had started On the caupaign
without tents, and did not receive any tiil the
lAtter part Of December; 30, ior want Of them
LAey cug holes % the sand TO lie IN and AZ
many b. could Go 80 sheltered themselves with
tbe hides Of slaughtered cattle.
"Alle Tie troops were .aFug thus az the fort
vic 3lalaiaDTas and Planter were having little
adventure u their own. On Ike 18th Of No
NemDef Tie AatamoTas had started up Arausas
Bay with 3 load Of supplies, with the intention
q gong through 70 Matag0rda Bay inside Of
Tie Islands, but got aground, and Dec. ! the
f4aLteF, gong d Eer assistance abproached too
near. aad, being u deeper DRAFT pot aground
herself Both JOate had rather small stock
O. coai, which before night was nearly ex-
bausted aud without effect, 50 operations we're
suspended TIL more feel could be procured
1be next day a! h4ndE-crcWs fremen and sol
oleTs-Aent ashore after dTiftwo0d which they
eut Up and carried on board IN roygboatg. The
second day, e. the driftwood had al! been cut
serious attach was made on z mesquite chan
ARA. Inc mesquite wood is very hard. and
VIII soon ruin the edge Of an az but IL ouite
brittle, 70 we pounded il 70 pieces with the
backs Of tie axes. IL Is an excellent fuel. bat
horribly crooked and scraggIy the tree looking
very much like a little, old, sickly apple tree,
II ls SAID that there is much more wood In the
roofs ~ a mesquite tree than In the ton but AZ
We were not mining for fuel lust then. 1 cannot
testify on that point