Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-01-30

Island. An unsuccessful attempt had
been made from the Union lines to
bring off the stranded blockader's
muslins, mourning goods, and arms.
Captain Payne was requested-not or
dered, as the service was extra-hazard-
ous-to make an attempt, and cheer
fully complied. He thoroughly sue
ceeded. He visited the grounded
vessel three times, bringing away her
cargo; once handsomely repelled an
attack by the enemy's boats, and final
ly getting off in safety under the shot
and shell fire from Morris Island.
Shortly afterward, Captain Payne
with his boats went to the head of
Morris Island by night and captured
and burned the Confederate steamer
Manigault, anchored in Schooner's
Greek. So audacious was this work
that the burning vessel was actually
in range of the enemy's batteries on
Sumter, Moultrie, Cummings Point,
and half-dozen other localities. The
confagration lighted up the whole har-
Dor, and shot and shell were poured
from almost every direction upon the
scene, followed by q visit of Confeder-
ate infantry to the spot in boats.
During all this time Captain Payne
and his men and boats lay concealed
in the long grass of the island. They
remained there until the fire and
search we're over; when, at an early
hour in the morning, the daring party
returned to the Union lines, where
there was no expectation Of ever seeing
them again.
The report of these exploits caused
the enemy to make unusual prepara-
tions for the capture of the bold scout.
On the night of the Sd of August it
was effected, on the very spot where
the Manigault was burned. He had
with him eighty men, distributed at
various points along Schooner's Greek.
His principal object that night seems
to have been, by order of General Gill
more, "to select a suitable spot to land
troops to silence battery which was
q source of annoyance to him, being
pointed directly at his batteries in
process of construction for the reduc-
tion of Fort Sumter" The movements
of Captain Payne for few hours, the
discoveries that he made, and how he
made the most important discovery that
a strong line of Confederate boats were
encompassing him, would require more
space than can be here given. For the
sake of brevity, I can do no better
than to give Major Stowits' descrip-
ton, as furnished to me, of what hap
pened. ...
"While waiting the advance of the
rebels, it occurred to him that if they
were in large numbers it would be good
policy to retire to boats, with the dock
as breastwork. Strict orders we're
given not to fire or retire unless COM
manded.
SIN a few minutes the enemy ap-
peared in skirmish line, and one of
them called out, Here they areP Sur
renderp was ordered; then the COM
mand, Firep from Captain Payne, and
the fight was well commenced. The
boats crews were well protected by the
dock, and the Captain anxiously
thought that the sound of firing would
bring his supports from along the
shores of the creek, but not man ap-
peared. At the end of half an hour
only one man had been hit in the boats,
but several in the enemy's line had
fallen. Satisfied from what he could
see and hear that he was largely out
numbered, he ordered the boats to be
turned out to sea, believing that escape
was all that was left. At this moment
three boats filled with Confederates
pulled into the creek, and volley of
musketry was poured in, killing and
wounding seven of his men, including
himself wounded.
@This ended the fight, for Captain
Payne was unconscious from his
wound, the enemy were in overpower-
ing force, and the poor remnant of the
Union soldiers had nothing to do but
surrender"
The subsequent long captivity of the
daring scout, his unexpected recovery,
and what he saw and experienced
while placed under fire of the 200
pound shells from the Union batteries
| ("the Swamp Angel"), may be the sub
iect of future sketch for these "Mem-
cries"
"The rebels had planned his capture,
says Major Stowits, since the burning
| of the steamer Manigault; as they
then concluded that the Yankee Cap
tain had come to stay as corps of OBJ
| servation in Charleston harbor-as
was affirmed by one of his captors.
Chicago Ledger.