The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-10-25

of the men had vetcranized. We
were with the Sixth Corps
on many occasions; especially was this
so at Cedar Creek, Oct. 10, 1854, 4,wherc
our battery was fearfully cut up. "The
Cannoneer" can vouch for THISTLE was
one of the boys. The battery was sent
to Camp Berry at Washington and we
were finally dismounted and furnished
with rifes, made do duty around
Washington, until une nice day we
were ordered TO New York. Here we
were sent on board the North Star, a
new boat of the Star Line of steamers
Our destination, we learned later,was
Dry Tortugas. oh, the lovely prospect
right from over three years ha:d
marching and hardship, to go out to
this out of the way rip rap and guard
political prisoners. In my own case !
went to the then commanding officer
Of Battery NJ. First Lieut.. Klapp, lay
ing my claim for discharge before
hlm. You may see for yourself how
much | was entitled by the following.
In Novemb-r, 1SG9.an order from the
War Del artmeut 'ad as io lows: Ten
men of each volunteer company may
enlist in the Regular Army, the time
served in the volunteer service to be
deducted from the three years"
was at the time IN the Lost Child
ron. a Znuavo regiment, lying in front
of Yorktown. There were, besides my
self, my brother and four Swiss boys
who went along inside the fort and
enlisted in Battery NJ.
Our ignorance of the English lam
guage was here apparent in not includ-
ing our sA months service in the re-
naming three years enlistment,wherc-
hy we would have been discharged in
June, 1864, ir front of Petersburg, and
we could have veteraniZed with a
goodly bounty; whereof we now were
debarred, and our time vas not up until
November. So you may see how un-
fairly our ignorance was taken advan-
tage OF.
OF the six to enlist in the battery
there were now only three remaining.
In the name Of the three boys and my
self asked Lieut. Klapp for our dis
charge before leaving New York, as
we only had some 12 or IA days to
serve and it would not be worth while
to carry us all the way down to Dry
Tortugas only to be discharged on the
way or on our arrival there. But no.
Lieut.. Klapp probably thought he
could retain our services for another on
ii tnent and Ofcourse'he,f ng his duty
in the interest ofthe Government, was
not to blame for refusing the demand.
On the afternoon of Oct. 10, 1864, we
passed by our headquarters, the band
playing Oh the ramparts at Fort Rich
mond for our benefit.
There were three batteries, or what
had been batteries, but now acted AZ
heavy artillery, on board. I am not
sure of the other two, but l believe
they were Batteries d. and L. Any
how, everything went merry as mar
liaee bell at first.
On the morning of Oct. 81, when
off Cape Hatteras, o storm blew up
which lasted for three days and which
d d more damage to shipping than " .
known for years.
Our steamer was now and not very
cranky" still. like all sidewheel
steamers, fearful roller while lying to
in the trough Of the sea.
had been sailor previous to my
coming to America, so I did not care
picayune how much it blew or how
much the vessel rolled. had made my
headquarters in lee of the first cabin,
on deck. The rest ofthe poor lads were
chopped up and down in the fore hold
and it was no pleasant place. What
with the matches battoned down there
was very scsnt ventilation and light
down there amongst 100 men, all sea
sick. 1t was fearful--the swearing,
raving, and, yes, a little, very little,
praying going on.
On the morning Of the 22d the storm
grew in fierceness and cur smokestack
was wrecked, and we had a lively
time to secure the monster, and before
it was done two of the crew
lost their lives and an hour later tho
Second Mate was knocked overheard
by the stack breaking its moorings.
Finally. toward evening,th blamed
lHius oioho I'D mooiihSS again, hHu q
big roller sweeping the deck took it
over board and wrecked our starboard
wheel before we could cut loose from
the monster, who in the last flop dug q
big hole in the ships planking,and we
commenced leaking at fearful rate.
With the smokcstack gone clear at the
deck we could not carry steam, as we
had to cover up the opening of the
stack. which otherwise would have
swamped us;our handpumps were man
ned, but it was hard work, and we
knew soon that the water was gaining
on US. 1t was fearful night.
On the morning Of the 23d it was
found, ON sounding the well, that the
water could not be stopped by hand
pumping. 1t was steadily gaining, and
the Engineer told us wo were leaking
at the ratio OF 8 900 gallons per minute;
that If NO other remedy than tho pumps
were usad wa would finally founder.