The National tribune., 1892-12-08
FIatboating by Vet without Experien

II
J. H. Russell, Dist Iowa, Dubuque, Iowa,
writes: 1.-THE need of men in various capacities
was illustrated by orders from Gen. E. A. Carr
to his division of the Thirteenth Corps in May,
1868 opposite Vicksburg on the west side of the
Mississippi upon the broken levee5 aud Islands,
rushing waters on every side, for b0atbuilders,
carpenters, wagon makers, and any one who
could handle edge. tools, TO report for duty; and
Immediately there were enough for all kinds
of work at the sawmlllS as engineers and fire.
men, who ran the machinery at the risk of
their lives and in various localities. Two fat
boats day were built TO transport the men
from one island and levee to another, and / do
not think that Napoleon crossing the Alps had
as many difficulties to contend with as Gen.
Grant had in that movement. Earth had to be
dug out to march on, and Gen. Penberton, of
the Confederate Army at Vicksburg, reported
to Headquarters at Richmond it was only
feint. that it could not be done, and
would not believe it until lie found 10000
men ready to charge Grand Gulf In
his rear when the order was given to
clerk ut the Headquarters to run one of those
fiat boats with 80 tons of shot and shell through
three broken levees, among the stumps to the
river several miles away, to Perkins planta-
ton twas perilous to regular boatman, but
no excuses were allowed 70 be made. An Adj
infant General said Here are eight men TO
row, and this Major and his safe of greenbacks
must go as passengers We pushed off and
were soon caught amidst the rushing waters of
the first hole, but there the officer jumped Oh,
leaving the writer in command. We soon
passed through another hole in the levee, and
away we went; then another, and around the
stumps we wound our way to the open river;
any obstruction, and to the bottom We would all
have gone, and the ammunition would have
been a total loss, and only those who could
swim would have escaped, as there were no
boats except those which had run past Vicks-
burg during the night, and they were miles
AWAY Surely providence of God was mani
fest in that great deiiverance as we rounded to
at Perkins plantation after dark, every man
safe and the ammunition was soon used on the
attack below Grand Gulf. In looking back
nearly 80 wears it seems a miracle that so many
unseen difficulties could be overcome; that
highway could be built, rope bridges erected,
pontoons made for an army of $4,000 men, bat
teries. horses all moving on time with as much
precision as could be done on the solid earth.
Only the ablest of Generals could have made
such provision for every need, and the God of
battles raised up men to do the work"
Scattering.
Charles w. Butler, Co. Z, 2iSt Wis, and Co.
f, 9Th e. r. c., Frankfort, Mich, Endorses the
statements of Comrade G. E. Davis, I'd Mimi.
battery, in regard to the treatment of rebel
prisoners, for he was stationed at Camp Douglas
for more than year.
Charles Dohmyer, Elizabeth. N. j., thinks the
credit for the capture of Fort Fisher belongs to
the land forces, although the Marines did their
duty well. The Sd y. Y. was the first to put
its colors on the fort. aud the 169th N. Y. was
in the fort when the magazine exploded.
J. z. Bragg, Lorimer, Iowa, wants some OF