The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-03
DISPATCHES FROM HE'LL
A MOST DISASTROUS WAR EXPERT
ENcE BEFORE VcksBuRc.


| Failure of an Attempt to Run the Bat
teries-A Singuiariy III Fated Expe-
| dition y Not One Of All Its sharers
Escapes
Especial Correspondence
| NEW YORK, Feb. 16.-Passing Gen. Sher-
man in Fifth avenue one day some weeks
ago, thought under how many circum-
| stances / had met him in the last twenty
eight or thirty years NJ acquaintance with
him began during the civil war, when I, still
| in the twenties, was military correspondent
| of The New York Tribune ! inwardly
| smiled that day as recalled tine pithy re-
mark attributed to him nearly twenty
eight years ago: "Now, suppose, we shall
have dispatches from hell, before break
fast, from those blank Tribune correspond
ents"
The occasion was the report circulated
the morning OF May 4. 1868, among the
Union forces gathering 10 besiege vicks-
burg, that our expedition, fitted out 10 run
the batteries of that strongly fortified
point, had been destroyed, with every soul
on board.
The expedition had, indeed, been de
stroyed totally, but il had survivors. Other
wise this account would not snd could not
have been written. The expedition. con-
sisting of two barges loaded with provisions
and bales of hay for the army, and dashed
TO q tug, carried some thirty -foar men, in-
Guiding officers of the tug, twenty private
soldiers, commanded by Capt. Ward, If an
Ohio regiment, and three military CORE
spondents, Richard T. Col5urn. of The
New York World; the late Albert u. Rich
ardson, my associate on The Tribune. and
myself The officers of the tug. us well as
the soldiers, had volunteered for the serv-
ice, as it was considered particularly dan
gerous. | knew that running batteries in
unarmed vessels was, and is still, regarded
as test of nerve, because the runners can
do nothing offensive or defensive; they
have to remain passive under fire. The
soldiers were merely intended TO repel
boarders, in case we should be boarded,
which was altogether improbable
Several transports, protected by cotton
bales, had already run the batteries on
dark nights, and one or two had got past
them with small damage, which was &C
counted rare luck. DESTROYS Of expert
cuCc, dS youth always u, Dda Dccu dhA-
ious to do the thing for the sake of doing
it. That being the third year Of the war,
had smelt gunpowder. of course; had heard
at various times the stirring music of fly
ing shot and bursting shell; had even been
wounded-properly scratched (the exact
number of drops of blood lost had never
determined)-but / had not fioated by great
guns and heavy batteries, ali trained at
one object, belching forth destruction on
every hand. The idea seemed romantic
immensely picturesque. 1t had, | con
fess, a strange fascination. The more |
thought of il the more irresistible it be
came. | should never have forgiven my
self If j had neglected any chance 70 try
what appeared to be a glorious experiment,
by which ! might satisfy my own mind as
TO the possession of nerve.
The enterprise did not impress me as
very daring-if it had so impressed me
perhaps | should not have attempted it
but | was aware that it so impressed many
of my army friends. especially as it was not
in the line of my duty. They even called
it, under the circumstances, reckless and
foolhardy. Several old Mississippi pilots.
who in those days were noted for GOODNESS
and courage, kindly came to me on learn
ing my purpose to advise me against 10.
They told me that the previous expeditions
q had applied in vain 10 each of these for
permission to accompany it) had gone
down on favorable nights, when the river
was high, and before the guDners had got
the range. Then the moon was full; the
river had fallen; the Confederates had
crossed the Mississippi and cut down the
trees on the small peninsula formed by the
sharp bend of the stream. so that the bat
teries would have a clear sweep at any YES
sci venturing to defy them. Our expe-
dition, the pilots said, would, from its
necessary unwieldiness, be almost certain
to get aground On turning the bend, and
be shot to pieces. They declared the at
tempt extremely rash, and that the mill
tary authorities should not allow il 20 DE
made. Don't yon go, anyhow, Junius,
they added '';f you get killed you'll onir
be called a fool for going; for. as you
often SAID, you're in the army and not
it. There's no glory fer you, Whatever
outcome of this mad folly"
| was wholly conscious Of this, and sac
80. II want the experience, and I'm bent
on running the batteries. Thank You for
the interest you take in me, but in sport
have imagined at the time that ] seemed
somewhat heroic-though / knew that
beroism forms no part Of my composition
in withstanding the prudent advice 81
men so much older, 50 much more expert
enced than myself
We were to start from the spot where
our army was encamped. on the Louisiana
shore some six miles above Vicksburg,
Saturday evening / had written few
private letters. made such preparations a.
| thought necessary. and was on board
soon after dark The expedition was most
careIessIy fitted out. The hay from the
bales was scattered loosely about the
barges, SO that a bursting shell might, and
probably would ignite 1t, and cause our
destruction BY ire. And there was not
bucket Oh board, IL such an emergency
should arise. This neglect may oe partial
ly explained BIZ the fsct that the man who
had equipped the expedition had 10 idea
Of accom- par ring II. After waiting for
several hours, az army officer appeared 70
announce that we should not 20 until the
next night mas much a. a number q Con
federare sharpshooters had occupied tie
peninsula with the intent 10 pick Us Of ~
we should steam b.. They were IN be
driven away the next morning. Whether
they we're or not / ara unable % say. bat ]
can say that toe condition OF the b.rges
wa unchanged. They oOnstiiussd yeT
liable death trap. they could scarcely nav.
been improved IN This respect If they had
been provided 1y the ensmy ] made no
con- plant. / entered ne protest Why
should ~ The greater tha peril tie greater
the experience
Sunday afternoon my friends. Richard
son srd Coiourn. arrived from Memphis
/ informed them Of Isy decision. bet heed
fully retrained from asking tasH TO !osa