Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-03-02
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
cuLN WAS NO cowARo.
A Black Mans HsPoIsua at the charIesto
Blockade.


BiOckAds.
Every body knew Culn on board the
ship. Perhaps this was because no one
had ever seen an uglier darkey or one
who was more obliging have seen
Cuin tumble out of his berth at four
o'clock in the morning TO sew a button
on for sailor who was mean enough
TO pour water in has face at that early
hour. BY the way, that was the only
manner by which Culn's terrifying
snoring could be stopped He was al
ways ..eraid of not doing enough, and
had the poorest opinion of himself. |
was talking with him once and he said:
'Ye know, Mahs'r Dale. de parson
says de good Lord amt made muffin for
muffin, and guess Culn't got somefin'
to do in the realm of nature, but I'll
Dress de lamb if kin find it out
1t was the time of blockade-running
at Charleston. Our ship, the Wasp, had
four guns. and strict orders TO use them
on any boat trying to break the block
ade. We had been cruising several
days Cd me coast near Charleston with
out any excitement. The morning Of
August II, 1868. dawned bright and
clear, and as the sun rose over the
horizon the black lines of ship were
distinctly marked on the golden disk
Our glass soon told US that it was fast
clipper, flying no colors, trying to run
the blockade. BY breakfast time the
clipper was only few miles to wind
ward, but we were ready with every
man at his post and every gun loaded
to the muzzle. We could see the beauti-
fully shaped black hull, its smooth APP
pearance only broken by few murder
ous-looking cannon. If she had once
gone by us her speed was a safe pass
port from pursuit.
SHOW her what we're here for.
boysr shouted our captain One of
our cannon obeyed the order, the ball
purposely striking the water several
hundred feet ahead of the sharp bow as
a fair warning.
A fash came from one of the ports of
the stranger, and a piece of our second
mast toppled to the deck as kindling
wood. Our cannon answered the insult
with but little perceptible harm to the
stranger.
Lieut.. Crisp was handling our best
six-inch gun. He was splendid marks
man, but little liked by his men on ac-
count of his severity. Culn had been
ordered to position near Lieut. Crisp's
gun. The poor fellow was trembling.
Nearer and nearer the stranger enemy
came, and il was evident that unless we
disabled her in some way, Charleston
that evening would again be cracking
jokes at the inef6ciency of the Yankee
boats'' to keep the blockade.
Culn had crept as much as he could
behind a life boat, when Lieut. Crisp
caught sight of him. Angered by his
lack of courage he cried: Come here,
you coward, and stand by me-
We were not two hundred yards away
from the blockade runner when three
flashes and three wreaths of smoke shot
from its hull with single report. A
wounded on our decks. Our enemy's
cannon had been loaded with grape
shot.
Lieut.. Crisp had at that moment been
ready to fire his gun again, when
bullet tore away his hand. Every gum
ner near him was wounded and dis
abled-al but Culn. But was that the
same Culn who but moment before had
stood trembling?
His eyes were fixed on the passing
ship and every muscle stiffened by in
tense, sudden courage. Snatching the
cord that had fallen from the hand OF
Lieut. Crisp he gave it a pull that
broke it in two, not, however, until it
had fulfilled its duty and sent the
spark of fire into the powder of the
cannon.
The graceful ship twisted and tunred
like wounded stag Culns shot had
broken the rudder and left the ship at
our mercy. And Culn? He was bend
ing over Lieut. Crisp, tying up his
wounds. regardless of the bullets hiss
ing about.
A few minutes later white flag had
climbed up the mast of the blockade
runner; she had surrendered.
With two pieces Of cruel lead in his
body Culn lay on a folded sail. while
the surgeon told him that it was he.
Culn, who by his shot had brought the
enemy to terms The chaplain stood
beside the surgeon. The surgeon had
sent for him
"Parson. you's right--de good Lud
never made nutfin--fo muffin. A proud
smile lit up Culn's homely features as
the head fell to one side. With an
effort he raised it. Tell Mashr Crisp
when he wakes-dat Culn died no cow
ard
AS we stood with bowed heads while
the chaplain read the funeral service
that evening, the stars and stripes fut-
tered at half-mast-for Culn N. "
PecorfIar-