Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1891-02-07
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
a MIDNIGHT BATTLE.
Capture OF the water-wItch In Ossabaw
t Sound, Georgia.

nJe encounters DeJWeen the Union ana
Confederate vessels along the coast and
in the inland waters that got mere
mention in the papers of the day, while
every little "bush fight" of the army
was hera' dcd as great battle or inn
portant sidrmish to bring into promi-
nence the name of n Colonel or General.
One of the most daring and success
ful 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 small side-wheel steam
er employed in the surveying of rivers,
but was improvised at the beginning of
the war into a blockading vessel. She
had been doing good service on that
station, being of light draft it could run
In and catch the light crafts that were
engaged i'll contraband trade. She had
been so 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 8, '6i, follow
ing what had been dirty night"
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 n 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 a short distance from the ships side.
II was during one of these flashes that
the cathead caught sight Of launch not
thirty yards away, filed with armed
men. He challenged the rapidly ad-
vancing boat and was poll tely told go
to -, and like the. black cats in the
boys alley, the river seemed alive with
them. Armed beats were seen at every
turn. There were seven boats filled
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. He sprung the rattle, calling all
hands to quarters and ordered the
watch to repel boardcrs; but too late;
the boats crews came on and up over
her sides with yell, boarding thu ship
ON both sides. The officers OF the
Water-Witch came on deck in unGress
ST.
with side arms hastily buckled on and
bnrefooted. The crew seemed daze I,
but soon rallied and began one of thS
most desperate hand to hand conflicts
seen during the war, fighting like
devils, and the enemy doing their level
best with oil the advantages of
a surprise on their side. Each
man fought for himself. Captain
while sighting a gun,
vas knocked senseless and left for
dead. Master Ruck, a jolly, good-na-
tured soul, cut right and left, and the
rebs courteously gave him cutlass room
after several had been "decked" with |
his good right arm. Coast Pilot B. K. |
Murphy, Southern born but a Union |
pilot, and who took service under the
old flag, was badly wounded and left as
food for the gentle sharks. Tie 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 |
F. Il. Petet, of the Confederate States
navy, bold, brave and daring young
ofticeE led the boarding party, and had
eight of his men killed, two mortally and
twenty badly wounded. The colored
men of the Water-Witch fought savage
y and put to shame some of our white
men who failed to come to time. The
surprise was a complete one, and the
protector of the scheme to capture the
ship deserved credit for a most sue
,essful attack. Tie Water-Witch had
inflicted much damage ON them and
cow it was their turn.
A contraband named Peter Mcintosh
and two engineers We're driven up out
Of the engine-room and sent forward.
Peter quietly dropped overheard and
swan a mile and 4 half till he reached
)ssabaw Island, where he concealed
himself until daylight, when he was
discovered by the U. S. Ship Fernan-
lima, which was passing at the time, by
signal. A boat was sent and he was
aiken on board and reported to the
lstonished captain the capture of the
Water Witch.
After the boarding party had secured
.he prisoners the Water-Witch was got
zen under way and steamed up the YER
lon river. A new difficulty now pre-
,ented itself. Their colored pilot hav-
ng been killed, Pilot Murphy, though
badly wounded, under the persuasive
sloquence oi cooked revolver under
mis- starboard ear in the hands of de-
.ermined rebel was compelled to pilot
the captured ship until she was under
-he guns of Battery Buelia- On her
passage she ran on sand pit and
Murphy came near paying the penalty,
and only his wounded condition saved
him.