Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-01-26


lery through so often charging up to
the cannon's mouth. After years ac-
quaintance with this disagreeable and
petulant end of the cannon / deter
mined to get into touch with the other
end, and accordingly got transferred to
the artillery. l soon found myself
colonel, and in charge of a small bat
terry.
"At the siege of Port Hudson an Incl
dent occurred which may be worth re-
peating. 1t was during the first days
bombardment that my attention was
attracted to the small amount of ap-
parent injury inflicted on the enemy in
return for the expenditure in labor,
ammunition and noise. That night it
happened that did not sleep well, my
throat being hot and parched from lack
of water, the tin cup having been shot
out of my hand every time had tried
to take a drink all day. While tossing
on my feverish cot l conceived the no
tion that the difficulty, with my bat
terry at least, was that the projectiles
were not heavy enough. At the first
streak of light, my tent having been
shot out of existence during the night,
/ walked away from my cot, summoned
my orderly and made requisition for
a certain eight-irch steel shaft which
happened to know was within our lines.
1t had been taken from dismantled
ironclad, where it had served as the
ram, and was but n short piece some
six or seven feet long, My heaviest
gun was an cight-inch smooth-bore, and
had decided to use this shaft as pro-
jectile, and tear u breach through the
enemy which would hopelessly cripple
him.
Sat about six o'clock the piece of ram
was brought to me. instantly caused
double charge of powder to be in
serted in the eight-inch gun, and then
had the shaft forced home on top of it.
1t was close fit, which pleased me, as
it assured accuracy in firing, and if my
aim was good doubted not to do ter
rible execution. We were behind
earthworks on bluff overlooking the
enemys position. My guns pointed
downward at small but noticeabl
angle AT eight o'clock the lombard
ment opened sharply all along the line
1t was the heaviest firing ever ex-
perienccd. worked the remainder of
my battery vigorously for half an hour,
then determined to give the enemy
my eight-inch. had decided to aim
the piece myself. Stepping to it,
leaned forward against the breech, put
my head down closely, and aimed
with the greatest care. My nerve was
firm as iron. / felt that the moment
for crushing the rebellion had come.
The aim was perfect. touched the
vent with my cigar.
Gentlemen, have to confess to a
miscalculation, Though possessing n
thorough knowledge of gunnery, had
made the mistake of having my pro-
jectilc heavier than my gun. AS n con
sequence the projectile rested where ii
was and the gun shot back. was
clinging to the brcech, and went with
it. The trajectory which we, the can
non and |, described wass said to be very
beautiful, and was observed by the en-
tire army. We struck the ground about
three miles back of the union lines
Leaving the unfortunate piece of ord
nance where it fell, returned to nv
battery"
Then your idea was of no practical
valuc?" said Robinson, as Jones paused
in his narration.
ION the contrary, it ended the siege
The next day Gen. Banks reversed
every cannon in our lines loaded then
with shafting, and threw them into the
enemy, with such effect that what lit
tie was left of him surrendered"
Does Bancroft mention this?" askec
Jackson Peters, softly.
bancroft wasn't there, and knew
nothing about it," answered Jones,.-
Harper's Weekly.