The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-10-15

board our ship starving and with very little
clnihing, the same having been used TO secure
cur fral craft. Ordinary Seaman VIM. Green
behaved splendidly, and / recommended him
20 my Captain, who was pleased with my recon-
nossance and from that day seemed 10 take a
special interest in me.
On board found the four men that had
| deserted ms with the boat and who had reported
that shortly after the party had landed they
/ heard firing, after which all was quiet for
awhile. few more shots. and a cry of =" j
surrender" Shortly after the approach Of men
was heard. They then lanehed the cutter and
made their escape.
May "a Commodore Melancthon Smith had
/ received information that n troublesome picket
| existed up the Mecce Creek, and decided 10
break mp the camp or station.
WAS ORDERED TO DO 1T,
aud proceeded with two boats and 30 men up
the sound, and landed near the mouth of the
creek there left the boats in charge Of four
men. Taking the others with me, we formed
In single hle aud quietly marched through "A
thick woodland for about three miles.
There we arrived an az open plain. and about
/ quarter OF mile distant discovered large
4 barn, from which a number 0f Johnnies
were dccamping, firing q few shots at us. A
charge was made across the field, but the John
nles escaped. In the barn that had been used
! for their quarters we found the fires burning
and their utensils and hayersacks siTewn about.
/ Not knowing but that the COniedcrates might
return In force marched my men back 10 our
! landing place. where we discovered our hoat-
/ keepers bad deserted us with the two boats,
! which we could see about five miles distant,
! pulling for the fleet some - miles OF.
felt that quick action was necessary. and
! believing that 10 Was easier 10 bring planks and
boards from the barn than hunting Tor logs 10
construct raft ordered my men back aud
we soon had the baru down. and after three
trips had beams and boards enough for a raft.
Each man gave a part Of his cOihing to seGnre
the raft together. After FIVE honrs hard work
wo embarked, and following the coast about
l,GO0 yards, oG we padded toward the feet.
AT day ybreak we were discovered by the YES
sells. j presume our crafts appearance WAS a
little suspicious, for some oi the vessels got
under way. Then about j. boats were lowered
aud came very cautiously toward US; but
the sun rose higher our ramish appearance dis
appeared and soon a raft with 90 men stripped
TO the skin, wus lowed toward the feet
Upon reporting 90 the Commodore my failure
in capturing the pickcts, he remarked smiling
ly, sec the last part Of my orders obeyed
The pickot-station not alone
COMPLETELY BROKEN UP, But BkoUGHT
ALONGSIDE"
The following is an account Of the affair by
Commodore Mclancton Smith:
Mr.. SOmmers SERVED under my command in
Abemarle Sound in 1864, and commanded ex-
pcdition up the Choyau, rendering important eerV-
zoe IA breaking zap a troublesome pIckelstation,
and being ieii 10y las party made raft and returaed
the MnttHhassett Mr. Sonmers had charge of
several similar parties while with me and always
Performed his dulles with great zeal aud TO my
satisfaction.
tagnedl NJ. SMITH.
Commodore L. : Navy.
May 30 made reconnaissance Of Steward
Hall aud batteries in the rear Of Plymouth.
June ] again volunteered 10 make a re-
connossance Of the ram Albemarle. my com
msnding officer giving his permission. pro-
ceeded up the Eastmost River, which flows into
tho Middle River shortly after sundown aud
landed again on the island from the Middle
River. ] concealed my boat, and, as a prccau-
ton against being deserted, took my b0at's
crew along. j gave them strict orders that in
clse Of being fired upon Ia the swamp not 10
return ~, az u not only would disclose our
presence but would Illustrate our plans AS we'll
At q. m. we left our boat and IIfade our way
into the swamp. We soon heard firing aud
some Of the shots came quite close. The BOYS
grasped their revOlveTs, declaring that they
would not stand H. 20 be fired upon without re-
turning fire. ] explained % them that their
safety depended upon their silence and quiet
ness, and rs a precautiOn / took ali their re-
yolyers from them.
At p. m. we struck the Koanoke River
little below Fort Williams and followed the
bank up toward Plymouth, passing the South
field, whose deck was above water ] found
the C0nfederates kept a picket Of six men on
board her On the wharf, by which the ram
was lying
LARGE BODIES OF MEE WERE woRKING
hewng out heavy timbers and RATS of logs lay
around the ram. On board Of her all was quiet.
Her crew lived in barracks on shore ci0se bv
the wharf aud each four hours a watch OF eight
men and one officer were seen 90 relieve simi-
lar watch on board. Their pumps were aill
attended 10. She had no steam up ! STAYED
10y her until about p. NJ. then returned
lanched our boat, aud went through the
thoronRhiare iuto the Roanoke passing two
Confederate pickets aud on june NJ 2 a. m.
returned and reported to my commanding oli-
Ger
June II made a reconnaissance Of the forti-
fcatiUns about Plymouth The Conlederat.s
had a heavy gun Hb0nt one and a quarter miles
above the CliE, commando ing the point where
the Middle aud Roanoke Rivers flowed To-
gether. The Cotton Plant came down. passing
through the opening in The palisade into the
Middle River.
Around Fort Gary only few men were seen,
and 10 me it seemed an easy task, with a low
pressure tug converted into a torpedo boat. 90
approach the ram from above Plymouth. Com
iug back 10 my ship, stated the above 10 Capt
Truxtun, saying would like 10 make the at
tempt With twinkle la lass eye. he said
" VIII consider IL. You can make AN appliea-
tion 10 me in writing, with your plans for
blowing her up"
June - ] visited the ram aud made myself
familiar with hur position. The CoufedeIHtes
had surrounded her with logs chained together
az distance Of - 10 20 feet from her sides,
bow and stern She was heading down stream.
and on the wharf the Confrderates had connie
OF helapieces commanding the approach from
below. ] noticed that ~ her upper end, under
her stern boom WAS left open. through which
HER BOATS PASSED OUT AND IN.
Proceeding over 20 the palisades across the Mid
die River made an accurate plan and man of
the position Of The same, and on the following
night returned.
june % Capt. TruXtun again sent me on
special duty up 10 the ram. During the time
lay by her the Cotton Plant camc down and
went into the opening Of the boom aud along.
side the ram, dlschargiug provisions aud stores
aud returned. During the two nights re-
maiHed opposite Her that opeuingof the booms
was not closed.
The pumps Of the ram were attended 10
light and day. ] also noticed the bending Of
her iron plate on her port side, which pre-
sumo originated from her having been struck
by solid shots during the engagement with the
feet. came 20 the conclusion that she was
laid up for good, and would not again leave her
mOorings.
July : returned with my Eve picked men
who were always ready 10 90 with me aud who
behaved spleHdidly.
July ] aid my plans before Cant Wp. r.