The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-14

burg. AS we went onward the guns on the
hills opened their fire, the batteries sent
broadside after broadside, and in less than
ten minutes all of our boats were in the
midst of the battle. You must remember
was only boy of thirteen and the scene
was a terrible one 20 me. Our boats were
pouring out shot and shell 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 fire by red-hot shot from the
Warrenton battery, and she burned until
she was entirely destroyed.
Where were you at this timer"
Il was on the hurricane deck of one of
the gunboats / stood by my fathers side.
/ remember he was smoking at the time
and that L noticed an intense light in his
eyes. We could see the people of Vicks-
burg on the shores. They covered the sides
of the hills. and at every shot from the
batteries they would cheer
A STORY OF ADMIRAL PORTER.
Were you under fire again during the
siege, colonel?" 1 asked.
YES" replied Colonel Grant. There was
little time during the siege that l was not
in more or less danger. | had several very
narrow escapes. 1 remember being a
gunboat a little later when we were near
the batteries of Grand Gulf. / saw many
men killed there. / remember seeing one
man jump on the paraDet of the enemy's
works just as our guns were discharged at
them. A shell exploded on the spot where
he was standing ard it must have blown
him to atoms. During this battle was on
a tugboat with my father, and We were
steaming in and out among the gunboats
during the firing. After a time we went on
board the Benton to see Admiral Porter.
The sight sickened me. The deck was COW
cred with blood and pieces of flesh. Dead
men, torn and lacerated, lay about every
where, and some of the gunners, with still
bleeding wounds, were standing by their
cannons. Admiral Porter had been struck
by piece of shell on the back of his head.
AS we came up 1 could see that he was in
great agony. He was pale and he leaned
upon his sword using ii as n cane while
my father talked to him. Father suggested
that the gunboats should engage the enc
mys batteries that night, in order that the
transports might run past them in the
midst of the bombardment. To this Ad-
miral Porter agreed. and we started to
leave, when the admiral turned to me and
asked me. If did not want to remain with
him during the next engagement. He said
one of his best gunners had just been
killed, ana that / could have his place. /
looked upon the wounded and dead about
me and replied, trembling lest my father
might contradict my statement, that L did
not believe my papa would leave me there,
even if / wanted to stay
II should think you would have been
much frightened" said /.
Il was replied Colonel Grant. 81 was
always frightened when / got under fire
but the excitement and interest was such
that / could not keep out. / remember
slept that night on the gunboat Price, and
when ! awoke the next morning 1 found
my father had gone. 1 knew there was a
battle on the shore, for / could hear the
firing, and / 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 / was not TO leave
the boat. Shortly after this while we were
landing some troops a rabbit jumped up and
the soldiers tried to catch it, l asked Gen.
Thomas if 1 could not help them. He said
yes, but when / reached the soldiers the
rabbit had disappeared. / concluded not 20
go back to the boat but to run off to the
battlefield. / ran in the direction of the
firing. / got a life from one of the am
munition wagons, and soon came TO ground
where wounded men were lying about, and
where there were dead men scattered here
and there / saw battery of artillery
dashing off at a fork in the road, and left
the mule team and followed them. 1 soon
got to a place where l could see the fight
While 1 was looking / saw father coming
/ was afraid he would send me back to the
boat, so l got behind a tree and hid there
until he had passed. Our lines moved for
ward. l 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" l asked
THE first thing 1 did, replied Colone
Grant, was TO try and find my father. i
was already growing dark, and L was tired
and hungry. walked about trying to find
some one who could tell me where my
| father was, and everywhere L went 1 saw
| dead and wounded men. The ground wa:
| everywhere bloody and the air was filled
| with the means of the wounded and tn
| dying There were surgeons here and there
| amputating limbs, while the poor fellows
| upon whom they were operating Were
| shrieking with pain. 1t was all so terrible
| that / began to feel faint. i remember L la.
| down beside tree and rested, feeling Yer.
| sick. AS / was lying there one of m.
| fathers orderlies came up. He recognized
| me. and | told him all about my runawa.
| trip from the boat. He took his banke
| from his horse and spread it out on tn
| ground and gave me his saddle for n pill
| low. / went to sleep almost soon as m.
| head touched the saddle, and | slept TO
| several hours. Then the orderly walked m
| and told me that my father had come.
| raised myself up. and about fifty yard
away. about "a fire, l saw a group of Off
| GERS. among whom was General Grant. III
was sitting upon camp stool drinking
| from a tin cup filled with coffee, which tn
soldiers had just brought him. AS l cam
up he seemed greatly surprised and said:
why. Fred, / thought L left you SAT
on the boat?'
"'Yes, sir. you did | answered.
We'll. then, how did you manage to sc
here?'
II told my story, and as i finished m
father smiled and said:
| Very we'll you cannot get back now,
suppose. and he thereupon went wit
his conversation with the officers abou
him A little later he went to an abandone
| house about "A half a mile away and ther
General Grant stayed for the night. / re
member laid down on the floor among tn
men and slept soundly until morning.
Il suppose your father sent you back I
H..