The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-14

at the enemy. AS they did so the three
transports passed by us, keeping close
to the Louisiana shore. Suddenly one of
them stopped, l could see flame shoot
up from her side. She had been set on
flre by red-hot shot from the Warren
ton battery, and she burned until she
was entirely DESTROYED"
Where Weresyou at the timer"
II was on the hurricane deck of one
OF the gunboats. Il stood by my faith
er's side. L remember he was smoking
at the time and that noticed an in
tense light in hiss eyes. We could see
the people of Vicksburg on the shores.
They covered the sides of the hills, and
at every shot from the batteries they
would Cheer .e
STORY OF. ADMIRAL PORTER.
Were you under fire again during
the siege, colohele'' / asked.
Yes" replied Col Grant There
was little timeEduring the siege that |
was not in more or less danger. L had
several very narrow escapes. remem-
Der. being ON a. gunboat little later
on When we were near the batteries OF
Grand Gulf. I saw many men killed
there. I remember seeing one man
jump ON the parapet Of the enemy's
IS Ast as our guns were dlscharg-
ed at them. A shell exploded on the
spot where he was standing, and 1T
must have blown him to atoms. Dur
ing this battle I was on a tugboat, with
my rather, and we were Steamlng in
and out among the gunboats during
the firing. After a time we went on
beard the Benton to see Admiral Por-
ter. The sight sickened me. The deck
was covered with blood and pieces OF
flesh Dead men, torn and lacerated,
lay about everywhere, and some of the
gunners, with still bleeding wounds,
were standing by their cannons. Ad
miral Porter had been struck by
piece Of shell on the back Of his head.
AS we came up I could see that he was
In great agony. He was pale and he
leaned upon his sword, using it as q.
cane, while my father talked to him.
Father suggested that the gunboats
should engage the enemy's batteries
that night, in order that the transports
might run past them in the midst Of
the bombardment- To this Admiral
Porter agreed and we started to leave,
when the admiral turned to me and
asked me if I did not want to remain
with him during the next engagement
He said one Of his best gunners had
just been killed, and that 1 could have
his place. looked upon the wounded
and dead about me and replied, tremb-
ling lest my father might contradict
my statement, that I did not believe
my papa would leave me there, even
If wanted to stay.
BOYS FIRST LAND BATTLE.
at should think you would have been
much frightened, "hsaid I.
81 was" replied Col. Grant. II was
always frightened when I got under
fire, but the excitement and interest
was such that 1 could not keep out.
l remember 1 slept that night on the
gunboat Price, and when 1 aWOke the
next morning Il found my father had
gone. I knew there was a battle on
the Shore for L could hear the firing,
and I asked Gen. Lorenzo Thomas,
who commanded the Price, to let me
go to see the fight. He told me that
my father had given orders that I
was not to leave the boat Shortly
after this, while we were landing some
troops, rabbit jumped up and the
soldiers tried to catch it. I asked
Gen. Thomas if 1 could not help them.
He said yes, but when I reached the
soldiers the rabbit had disappeared.
l concluded not to go back to the
boat, but to run off to the battlefield.
1 ran in the direction of the firing.
got lift upon one Of the ammunition
wagons. and soon came to ground
where wounded men were lying about,
and where there were dead men scat
tered here and there. / saw a battery
of artillery dashing off at a fork in
the road, and left the mule team and
followed them. I soon got to a place
where 1 could see the fight. While 1
1 was Hooking 1 saw father, coming. l
was afraid he, would send me back
to the boat, SOL got behind a tree and
hid there until he had passed. AS 1
watched I heard a great shout. Our
lines had moved forward. 1 could
see the enemy running, and little
later 1 was told that the battle was
over, and that we had gained the
day"
SLEEPING ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
What did you do them" 1 asked.
'The first thing did," replied Col. Grant,
'was to try and find my father. 1t was al
ready growing dark, and / tired and
hungry. walked about trying to find some
one who could tell me where my father was,
wounded men. The ground was everywhere
bloody, and the air filled with the means
Of the wounded and the dying. There were
surgeons here and there amputatng limbs
while the poor fellows upon whom they were
operating shrieking with pain. 1t was
all SO terrible that l began to feel faint.
remember l lay down beside tree and rest
ed, feeling very sick. AS 1 was lying there
one of my fathers orderlies came up He
| recognized me, and told him all about my
runaway trip from the boat. He took his
blanket from his horse and spread it out on
the ground, and gave me his saddle for a
pillow. | went to sleep almost as soon as
| my nedQ gOucned the sadie, ana slept Tor
| several hours Then the orderly walked me
and told me that my father had come.
| raised myself up, and about fifty yards away,
about fire. 1 saw a group Of officers,
among whom was Gen. Grant. He was sit
| ting upon a camp stool drinking from a TN
cup filled with coffee, which the soldiers had
| just brought him. AS l came up he seemed
| greatly surprised and said:
Why, Fred, thought 1 left you safe on
the boat?'
Yes, sir, you did, I answered
Well. then, how did you manage to get
here?
| II told my story, and as I finished my
| father smiled and said
Very well, you cannot get back now, 1
| suppose, and he thereupon went on with his
conversation with the officers about him. A
| little later We went to an abandoned house
about a half a mile away and there Gen.
| Grant stayed for the night. remember 1
laid down on the floor among the men and
| slept soundly until morning.
HOW 1T FEELS TO BE SHOT.
"I suppose your father sent you back to
the boat the next day."
No. he did not" replied Col. Grant.