The National tribune., 1891-12-03

goes Of the army transpOTts-men, horses, ar
tilleTy, ammunition, wagOn-trains, Quarter
masters, COmmissaS's and medical stores. and
the thousand and one things that go 10 make
up the material Of great army. Close by was
the Generals Headquarters. Inside this end
Of the island, in curve OF low shore was
the barbor, which was but poorly protected
from the storms and big waves that rolled in
from the open Gulf without.
One battalion (six companies) Of my own
regiment, together with the 18th Conn., sailed
from New York on the old steamship Fulton,
arriving at the island March g. We had a very
comfortable voyage, our large steamer not be-
ing overcrowded. and meeting with no mishaps
10y the way. The other battalion was not so
fortunate. They sailed out OF Boston on the
steamer Mississippi, were wrecked on Frying
Pan Shoals. were transferred 10 the steamer
Matanzas, after having waited on shore some
time at Beaufort, y. g., and arrived in a wO-
begone aud bedraggled condition on the Goth.
Fortunately their misadyenture resulted in no
loss Of life.
Some Of the troops went ont on sailing YES
sells, and were a month or more OH the way.
Some Of the cargoe5 Of horses upon sailing
vessels were detained by bad weather, and lost
a great number OF the animals. One large ship
lost nearly her whole load.
We found, upon our arrival, few thousand
troops encamped about half way up the island,
~.
Phelps, Gen. Butler not having arrived We
went into camp Just above the other troops,
perhaps two miles from the fort. Transports
were now arriving daily, bringing the balance
Of the army. The troops were all furnished
with good quality Of tents-mostly large wall
tents accommodating 10 men each.
Each regiment or battery went into camp
upon the island. each camp ground being
regularly laid out, until the whole western
I.1F .F he 19l. IA ssFua
city Of canvas, forming a picture not entirely
devoid Of beauty. IL was rare sight during
our war TO see so large an army occupying a
camp so regularly laid out, upon level ground,
all supplied with good tents and all in sight
from one point Of view.
Mississippi Sound was patrolled by gunboats,
whose duty it was 10 watch for blockade run
ners from New Orleans Mobile aud Pensacola.
/ There was one little black-hulled spitlre,
named the New London" that always seemed
10 be- spelling for fight The soldiers called
| her tho Black Devil" The rebs had several
armed boats in Lake Ponchartrain that once
in while ventured out into the Sound. The
| little BLACK Devil was always ready for
I them aud never failed 70 drive them back 10
their lairs. She had several smart brushes
with them ia plain sight Of the soldiers Oh tho
! island. She also took a number Of prizes that
were attempting 10 run the blockade. III she
| had only known how the boys watched her
movements aud admired her pluck aud dash,
/ che would have been proud indeed.
Now that the army was established i'm camp
! and waiting the movements of FaTTagut's fleet
a part Of which, including Porter's 81 mortar
schOoners, was lying in the harbOr, the time was
! occupied in company, battalion aud brigade
drills. There was ample room for evolutiOns but
| marching through the soft sand was exceed
| ingly tiresome. The feet at every step sank
deeply into the sand, while the soft ground
/ gave way under the spring of the foot, afford
ing no firm foundation for the foot to take hold
upon. 1t was much like walking ia six inches
OF mealy snow. Then, as tho OlIicers-lately
taken from the walks Of civil life-were so ex-
cessiyely military AS 70 require the men Il
drill in their knapsacks and all the other i'm.
| pedimeuta that could be loaded upon them, the
men, as might have been expected, soon began
| 10 fall out, exhausted aud overcome by the heat
| However, our officers were amenabe 10 the
/ lessons OF experience, and soon learned that
| men suddenly removed from northern Winter
| climate to the hot sun of the Gulf Of Mexico
and the hotter sand Of Ship Island, had become
too much debilitatCd TO stand such astraiu, and
thereafter drilled their men lght-lOaded.
The troops rapidly improved In drill and
diciplino, and on the 9th of April Gen. Butte,
held grand review OF the whole army, which
was a very creditable performance and a fine
spectacle The great change of climate and
manner Of living soon Logan To tell upon the
health Of the men and the sick list grew long aud
| the hospitals became more numerous, and the
| melancholy sound OF the muflled drum aud the
| volley discharged over the soldiers grave were
| oftener heard. But the sad story of sickness:
| and death must be deferred TO another PAPER
HOSPITAL STEWARD, Conway, n, H.