Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-17

ing all our baggage, thousands of draft animals
and hundreds OF wagons. When we left Cairo
the river was full of great cakes Of ice from
the north but we went south these disap-
peared and the green shores of Louisiana looked
as though they had never known winter. The
river was very high and was kept in its channel
by great leyees on each side and our boats we're
above the level of the mainland and we looked
down upon the shore. Being a supernumerary
l was used to fill any place in our detachment
that became temporarily vacant and when one
of our drivers was reported sick l was given
his team. The horses were crowded in as close
as they could stand and to get to their heads to
feed or water them it was necessary to climb
on the edge Of the boat outside the rail. When
We landed they were SO tired of their cramped
position and so glad to get on shore as to be
almost unmanageable.
MANEUvER THAT FAILED.
As We were moving away from the river a
party of officers were passing, among them the
corps commander, and the lieutenant in COM
mand thought to show how well we were drilled
and suddenly gave the order, Form section on
the right" should have kept my place and
let the other gun dress on ours, but l touched
my horse with the spur and he gave jump,
jerked the reins from my hand and swung out
of line. / had lead team the man behind
me was new one and let his team follow. my
horse slipped and fell. pulling down his mate,
the team behind piled on top, and we were a
mixed-up lot. / fell off to one side and was
unhurt but when Strengthened out my saddle
horse was found to be SO badly famed that he
had to be taken from the team. Lieut.. Which
was furious. His vancouver had been failure
and horse was crippled, and he ordered me to
let another man take the team and to walk to
camp leading the lame gray and then to report
TO him. We went some four miles down the river
and camped at the foot Of the unfinished Jack
son monument, on the edge Of the battlefield
where our forces defeated the British. BY the
time got there the wrath of the lieutenant
had somewhat abated. and as much of the way
had been through mud and had to struggle
along leading lame horse he thought had
been punished enough for any possible care
lessness.
On the 9th Of March we marched to Lake
Pontchartrain. six miles above the city. and
embarked on steamers, which landed us on q
small island in the gulf at the entrance of Mo-
bile bay. On this island was Fort Gaines. one
of the works defending the channel, where Far
ragut had himself strapped to the mast on the
day when he forced his way through with his
ironclads in the face of forts, torpedoes and
gunboats. Here we found the thirteenth
corps, under Gordon Granger. Our stay on
Dauphine Island was not pleasant one. There
was no shade except where the ground was
swampy, and the sand was deep everywhere.
MOVE ON MOBILE.
By the middle of the month everything was
ready for move on Mobile, the capture of
which was the object of the expedition. Gen.
Candy was in command. and he sent Granger to
the mainland to march toward the city, and
soon after our corps was embarked on steamers,
and crossing the bay we went up a very narrow
and crooked stream called Fish river and we're
landed some eighteen miles from the defenses
of the city. Next day Changers troops came
up after a very tiresome march through swamps
where they had to cut their road and bridge the
streams. On this side of the bay were two
strong earthworks. The one nearest us and
directly opposite Mobile. some five miles dis
tant, was Spanish Fort, garrisoned by 5000
men and provided with forty guns, two Of them
very heavy long range ones of the Armstrong
make, bearing British trade mark. The bay
and the mouths Of the rivers in the vicinity were
thickly planted with torpedoes but our gun
boats moved up slowly, removing the Obstruc-
tons, and one ironclad and three tugs we're
sunk. but they finally got into position to cut
off all communication between the city and the
forts and rendered untenable two batteries on
small islands. On being joined by Granger's
men we at once moved toward Spanish Fort
and threw our forces around the three land
sides. Fort Blakely, twelve miles away. was a
strong work manned by 900 men and defended
by heavy guns. When our forces invested
Spanish Fort and planted batteries and dug
rifle pits our division placed in line in the
rear to guard against an attack from the rebel
cavalry who were in the vicinity under Gen.
Taylor. The siege Of this place begun March
26. and until the evening of April 8. when the
works were carried by assault the fighting was
continuous
ToRpEDoEs USED ON LAND.
This is the only place where ever saw tor
pedoes used on land. 4 shell would be buried
with wires attached to a primer in such way
that any one passing within two feet of either
side would explode it. Others were placed in
the road with percussion caps on them, to be
exploded by blow from a hoof or wagon
wheel. We lost number of horses and several
men through these cowardly contriyances.
After three or four days guarding the our
division moved over to Fort Blakey. leaving
our other two divisions before Spanish Fort,
and driving before a small body of rebel
cavalry and the next day we were joined by
part of the thirteenth corps, and the infantry
at once proceeded to dig rifle pits and throw
up earthworks.
That day the batteries remained in the rear,
but places were chosen for them ard at dark
large force OF men was set 20 work to prepare
the ground. Near morning we were aroused
and the guns moved forward. A hill sloping
back from the fort and about half mile from
ii had been selected, and for each piece place
fifteen feet square had been dug, with six-foot
ditch leading from gun to gun; the mu2zles
just cleared the brow of the hill and we were in
q sort OF rOohes5 cellar. The ammunition chests
were taken from the limbers and placed in
holes dug in the side Of the hill. and we were
pretty well situated, as it was hard to reach us.
But the rebels did their best. and hasing our
range, they shot uncomfortably close.
SHELL RETURNED.
Several times dirt was scattered among the
gunners by shells raking the brow of the hill.
number of pieces struck inside, but fortu .
nately without doing any damage. and
once shell bounded in and buried
itself without exploding. This was dug out,
and, as it proved to be the same size as ours,
was put in gun and sent back. The horses,
drivers and everything and everybody except
the men needed for the guns were sent into
camp q couple of miles in the rear among the
| pine trees. Here the food for the men in the
trenches was prepared, and twice q day was
taken IN wagons as far as possible under the
shelter Of the woods and the rest of the way We
Carried it. By going about q mile beyond
where the wagons stopped we could have the
shelter of ravines and hills all the way. There
was q much nearer road, but to follow it
| rendered IL necessary to cross an open space
| for . couple of hundred feet in full view Of the
enemy, who used 10 amuse themselves by shoot
| ing at any one in sight. For the first day or
two we travelled the longer road, bat after that
most Of the boys preferred to take
the chances of being shot to going
an extra half mile A heavy iron
camp kettle holding several gallons Of hot
coffee Is not an easy thing for two men to
| carry. when they have to dodge bullets at the