Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-02-19
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
A MIDNIGHT BATTLE.
Capture of the water-witch in OssabaW
Sound. Georgia.

every little bush fight" of the army
was heralded as a great battle or i'm
portant slzirmish to bring into promi-
hence the name of Colonel or General.
One of the most daring and success
fnl midnight attacks on our blockade
vessels was the boarding and capture Of
the gunboat Water Witch, in Ossabaw
sound, Georgia, one OF the several water
ways leading up to Savannah. The Wa
ter-Witch was a small side-wheel steam
er employed in the surveying Of rivers,
but was improvised at the beginning Of
the war into a blocltading vessel She
had been doing good service on that
station. being Of light draft il could run
in and catch the light crafts that were
engaged in contrahand trade. She had
been 50 long on the station that her off
GERS and men had become careless and
relaxed their vigilance and did not take
the precautions enjoined ON them by
the Admiral
On the morning Of June 3, Ca, follow
ing what had been a dirty night, s"
which, in sailor parlance means disa-
greeable night, the little ship was run
ming lazily with the tide with her half
asleep and drowsy crew slowed away in
comfortable out of the way places.
There was not sound to disturb the
dreaming officer Of the deck, who
paced the deck with his monotonous
tread while thinking perhaps of the
hot cup of coffee he'd have when his
watch was relieved The night was so
dark that it seemed oppressive,
and was only relieved by the occasional
flashes of lightning that at intervals il
Illuminated the density of the blackness
for short distance from the ships side.
1t was during one OF these flashes that
the cathead apght sight Of a launch not
thirty yards away, filed with armed
men, he challenged the rapidly adj
vancing boat and was politely told togo
TO -. and like the black cats in the
boys alley, the river seemed alive with
them. Armed boats were seen at every
turn. There were seven boats filed
with picked men, well armed and dis
ciplined Not word was spoken after
the challenge, but they dashed on to
board the Water-Witch An acting
masters mate was in charge Of the
deck. lie sprung the rattle, calling all
hands to quarters and ordered the
watch to repel boarders: but too late
the boats crews came ON and up over
her sides with yell, boarding the ship
on both sides. The officers of the
Water-Witch came on deck in undress
uniform, and several under bare poles"
with side arms hastily buckled ON and
barefooted. The crew seemed dazcd
but soon rallied and began one Of the
most desperate hand to hand conflicts
seen during the war, fighting like
devils, and the enemy doing their level
best with all the advantages of
a surprise on their side Each
man fought for himself. Captain
Pendegrast, while sighting gun,
was knocked senseless and left for
dead Master Ruck, a jolly, good-na-
tured soul, cut right and left, and the
rebs eourteously gave him cutlass room
after several had been ''decked" with
his good right arm. Coast Pilot b. X.
Murphy, Southern-born but Union
pilot, and who took service under the
old flag, was badly wounded and left as
food for the gentle sharks. The CON
hict lasted for about twenty minutes,
the Confederates gaining every mo
ment, our boys doing their best; but
fate was against them. the boarders
carried the day and the prize was theirs,
but at considerable cost Lieutenant
+. B. Petet, of the Confederate States
navy, bold, brave and daring young
officer, led the boarding party, and had
eight Of his men killed, two mortally and
twenty badly wounded. The colored
men Of the WaterWitch fought savage
ly and put 40 shame some Of our white
men who failed to come to time Tie
surprise was complete one. and the
protector If the scheme to capture the
ship deserved credit for most sue
cessful attack The Water Witch had
inflicted much damage ON them and
now it was their turn.
A eontraband named Peter Mcintosh
and two engineers were driven MP out
of the engine-room and sent forward.
Peter quietly dropped overheard and
swan a mile and half till he reached
Ossahaw Island, where he concealed
himself until daylight, when he was
discovered by the L. s ship Fernan-
dina, which was passing ut the time. by
signal. A boat was sent and he was
taken on board and reported 10 the
astonished captain the capture Of the
Water Witch.
After the boarding party had secured
the prisoners the Water Witch was got
ten under way and steamed up the Yer
non river. A new difficulty now pre-
sented itself Their colored pilot hav-
ing been killed, Pilot Murphy, though
badly wounded under the persuasive
elOquence of a cooked revolver under
his starboard ear in the hands of de
termined rebel was compelled to pilot
the captured ship until she was under
the guns Of Battery Buelia. On her
passage She ran ON a sand pit and
Murphy came near paying the penalty,
and only his wounded condition saved
him
The officers and crew Of the prize ship
were railroaded to savannah and there
confined Our boys reported good
treatment the C0ufedprotps Sba,.ir1tr 7 Ia