The National tribune., 1890-07-24

peer into the woody opacity "They could
creep up till they could almost jump aboard of
us before we could see thing of EN-"
"Divil the bit do Oi worry" said Qun, CON-
placently. IF we can't say thin. nayther
can they say u.s. so that's rs broad ms it's long
Begorry, it's broader than it's long, for we're so
etarnel!y shmall at they'd have to hunt for US
loke naydle in a hayshtack, so they would.
Wen foind thin atore they foind u.s. and Dim
| going TO have a wash an mo break fast-an a
moighty good breakfast, too-wan that Oh can
do good days wurruk on, for 0i fale it in me
bones that we'ro going TO have the foight to-
day, an OIL get good and ready for it. The
rest nv yod better do likewise"
He pulled of his overeoat aud blouse. rolled
| up his sleeves and laid back his collar exposing
his brawny arms and swelling chest, covered
with a furze of red hair, aud handed me q can
teen OF water. from which poured on his hands,
while he sputtered and scrubbed until the
skin beneath was as red as its hIrsutc covering.
He combed out his matted shock OF hair, re-
sumed his clothes, and announced himself
| ready for his Tepast His example seemed
good one and we all followed il, after which
We fell upon the contents of our haversacks
and filed ourselves full OF cold boiled beef and
bareback.
By tho time we had finished this operation
and cleaned up our little vessel we could see
the feet behind US getting ready 10 move.
We did the same. Web and Cad made every
effort 10 put their engine in shape for extraorii-
nary duty. They wiped and oiled II carefully,
frightened and lo0sened here and there cleaned
out the furnace, sorted over the coal, tested the
cages, and left nothing undone that foresight
could suggest
The fleet was now sweeping mp In slow, state.
iy motion. the gunboats leading, with the men
all at quarters. signal Gags flying, aud every
thing ready for battle. We went ahead, 80 as
to keep our distance in advance of the main
| line.
Suddenly We saw the rebel feet stretched out
In long line reaching from shore TO shore
OF tho Sound aud about three miles away. Bs-
hind the vessels Oh either shore looined earth
works with great guns, and Confederate flags
flying de6antiy from tall poles.
Ny heart came into my mouth at tho sight.
II was splendid yet awful.
Paddy, you're right" said Job 20 Quin
There's gon' TO be- = fight or a foot-ra before
we're day older or gn ineh higher. and we've
got tickets to front scat ia the show. Presi-
dent Lincoln expects great things from this
regiment, aud he shan't be disappointed so far
as ths Blue Jay Mess is concerned. Send her
ahead little faster Web. Load her up, Quin."
Qun Fammed a cartridge into tho little how
itzer, job put cap on, took the lock-string and
stood ready.
Lauch ahoy," shouted someone behind u.s.
We looked around and saw that ono Of the
tugs had steamed mp pretty close.
hoy, yourself" answered Job. What dye
wautr'
+" Fall back, there. Go to the rear"
"What for?' asked Job.
"YOu've no business there You don't be-
long to the fleet. You can't do any good
You'll only get hurt for nothing"
That's lockout" answered Job siurdily.
"a YoH hain't no insurance policy on u.s."
" Fall back, j say"
"You go 10 thunder. We amt under your
| command"
Let them aI0ne," said another voice on the
| tug. with laugh. They've got good pluck.
They may be OF use fighting some other blamed
fools just like en- Anyway, they'll get enough
| of II before"
| His words were drowned in the roar Of
| 100 FOUNDER, fired from tho bow OF ono of the
| vessels behind u.s.
We saw the huge shot strike the water mile
in front of us, throw up cloud Of spray. aud
| then fly on through the rebel feet, which was
now three miles distant, without touching a
| vessel.
II could do better shOotin' than that" re-
| marked Job. AS the cheers Of the crews and of
thousands OF soldiers watching from the yards
| OF the transports died away. =" II we can only
| got within halfa-mlo o the Seceahers, IN
| put hole into one Of EN- FIRST pop. or I'll agfeo
| 10 eat my hat"
Other cannon doomed out behind us. sending
heavy shot and shells shriolGing splashing and
| bursting over the water, among tho rebel gun
| boats, which responded slowly and steadily, but
no damage appeared to be done by this louR-
| taw practice. which surprised us not a little,
! for we expected that every one Of the terrible
| messengers OF destruction would carry havoc
So far the rebels did not appear TO have tax on
| the slightest notice OF our presence aud not "A
shot had come near us.
Tho rebels moved slowly back as we came on
| Keeping about the same distance as at first
Presently cannon thundcred out from forts ON
| both sides Of tho Sound, and the water became
| white with spray. All our vessels were now
firing. and the noise blended into one continu-
ons, dcafening roar. above which would Occa-
sionally rise tho cheers Of tho sailors as they
marked the effects of happy shot upon the
sullenly y-retreating enemy. Flames would at
times burst out on these and ON our own
vessels, but DO speedily fought down by the
crews. IL was Intensely exciting aud seemed
TO be living years every minute.
Job fretted and fumed over our own inability
10 do anything. "Consarn il ALL" he said,
why don't they get up ia reach of ono
another. an not be beltin away at the ar2
| This banging across whole ocean aiut the
way they used to fight in the war OF ~ Then
they got up yard-arm TO yard.arm, an made
the fur Fly till one feler holiered Enough ,
| Lett get up in arms length of EN- and settle
this business in short meter"
But now IL was found that the farther prog
ress OF the fleet wits barred by line Of piling
|, that stretched across the Sound from one shore
to the other. There was gap in this only wide
! enough TO allow one ship TO pass Immediately
under the guns Of the fort. The rebel vessels
were back by the forts. into which our vessels
| were pouring their shots. The battle became
J still iercer, the crash Of the guns and shells
was incessaut, and we could SEQ our bombs
strike in the fort ON our right and burst throw
, ing up great geysers of sand and water, aud
whirling timbers high in the air. Buildings
} were set on FIRE and burned furiously, but the
piueky garrison stnck TO their guns and ham
meFed away at US as savagely as ever.
7 Pm goin' 10 slip through that gap there "
! said job "and see IL we can't git Where we
, can poke them whelps under the ribs Send her
, ahead as lively as you can, Web. Point hen
, nose for the gap, Lam"
1t was daring idea. but fascinating one
If we could slip up unnoticed, under cover oi
! the smoke. We might get where We could FIRE
right into an embrasure Of the fort, aud sweeI
the big gun Of its cannoneera.