The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-04-18
DURING SUMTER'S SIEGE.
An Attack THAT Equalied the Famous
Charge Of the Light brigade al
nAlakiava-He Won
sword by n Joke.

ter by the monitors, writes an OLD en-
gineer OF the navy. 1T was grand
sight Cannon balls fell In the water
/ like rain and the very serenity OF the
danger gave IL a fascination that robbed
Il OF all its terrors. You can watch "A
shell from mortar all the way until II
strikes. / watched one during this
fight II came from 1t. McAllister and
struck us amidships. IL was fine
sight. but / always got more enjoyment
out Of those that struck other ships.
1T was here that an attack was made
that equalled. in its grandeur and aw-
I ful results, the famous charge OF the
/ Light Brigade at Balaklava IL was
that planned by Dahlgren and executed
under his command. Everything was
arranged with the greatest possible
secrecy. Five hundred volunteers
were picked. and about midnight all
I hands were ready for the attack All
! the movements having been agreed
upon beforehand. with mutiied oars we
! rowed cautiously toward the silent fort.
/ | was la one of the boats. and | tell
! YOU the suspense was awful * we came
nearer and nearer the shore. There
was such terrible uncertainty about
IL all. We had taken every precaution
against discovery. but what II the de-
Tenders OF the fort had been informed
OF the movement The scheme was
i TO land and rush into the fort and
/ fight hand 10 hand with the
defenders and we had gotten just
under the guns and had begun 10
feel comparatively safe as far AS they
were concerned. when there was the
most awful eruption OF fire and smoke
that mortal man ever beheld. IL was
IA though the very mouth OF hell had
opened upon us. and the slaughter was
simply APPALLING. II seems that they
! had Information OF the movement and
had watched us all the time and with
the points OF their cannon depressed.
/ they drove into us such n shower Of
shot and shell. grape and canister.
that almost half OF our boys persisted
AT the first discharge. Then, 10 add TO
our confusion. from around the corner
/ OF the fort there steamed a gunboat
that came right into our midst and.
/ letting loose its water-line guns swept
ms away like so much mist. Nothing
but the intense darkness saved the
| party from utter humiliation. but as
IL was. about half Of the brave fellows
who had entered into the attack so
heartily came out. Our boat was
almost against tho shore when the
firing began. being too close 10 the
fort To be in range, and In burst OF
enthusiasm our commander leaped
ashore. We never saw him after that.
don't want To be in another sxirInish
like that though
las the result Of joke, got n
handsome sword for going into this
| fight. The engineers were not expected
so 90 I'm. but when the order was
issued asking for volunteers, party
OF ms got a young engineer down in the
engine room. and telling him he had
been selected by lot 20 20, began Offer
ing him our sympathies and asking
/ him for any message he might wish
transmitted 10 his friends, and asking
what disposition should be made Of his
body after IL was all over. We did not
anticipate any such awful results as did
actually follow. and joking thus In
solemn tones and with long faces. we
SO worked upon the fellow that he was
nearly scased 10 death. He had come
10 the navy for glory, but wanted 20
live 10 carry back what he got. He
was very proud. and. although IL was
not required Of him. he had purchased
"A magnificent boarding sword that was
the envy OF all the boys. In his ex-
tremity he offered 20 give his sword TO
anyone who would 90 In his place.
had already signed for the party and
offered myself as martyr. lie was
overpowercd with JOY, gave me the
sword and probably never knew the
inside facts Of the case. for when he
knew the awful slaughter he felt lucky
M escape as did. As usual. when a
thing comes easy II goes easy, and
loaned the sword to friend 20 carry I'm
a parade about ten years ago and he.
not knowing one sword from another.
got IL mixed and brought me back AN
old army sword.
Well the war Il over. and the navy
did marvellous work in blockadln 2
the coast. and upon that largely did
the safety Of the nation depend. for had
the south established commercial rela-
tons with foreign powers. itwould have
received recognition as nation, and
the struggle for the union would have
been In vain. y
1