The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-04-21
A WARTIME CRUISE
Incidents Dramatic and Anus.
ing in Western Waters.
BY CAPT c. p. BRAGG, 81 THIRD AVENUE,
EAST DULUTH, MINI.
"BaIn Come back! Come aboard"

"Haln Come back! Come aboard"
They heard me- but they needed not.
Five iusty sailors of the u. ). Navy dashed
precipitately up the levee slope, separated
as they went, and disappeared into the
streets of the city.
For a naval incident connected with a
ship war this was indeed sensational,
and suggests investigation. Along in &c
tober 1865 while Third Officer iii command
at the Naval Station at Mound City, ILL.,,
received paper which said TO report with
out DELAY to the commanding officer OF the
u. s. S. Volunteer for temporary duty on
board that vessel and this was signed
John Livingstone Commandment
The Volunteer was one OF our numerous
stern wheel eunboats. AS she lay at the
levee in the yard | stepped on board, pre-
scented my orders, learned from the Cap
tain that | ranked him. and, after offering
to waive my official rights and serve under
him during this special service, which
offer he persistently declined. assumed
command.
On consulting the sailing orders l
learned we were to proceed to Jefferson
Barracks. Mo. procure four 11-inch can
non. transport them To Cincinnati. o., and
deliver them on the decks OF two sea golng
monitors then building there.
As we neared Cincinnati the sailors be
set me for liberty on shore ! called the
regular Captain and said: Our stay IN On
cinnati must be brief; you know your men;
you may grant a few hours liberty TO such
of them as you can trust.
He replied: Il can't trust any OF them.
/ said: None. then. can have liberty"
| had observed that the men appeared
FESTIVE and sullen; later / learned the rea-
son As the war drew near its close the
Navy Department began rctrenchment OF
expenses by dismantling such boats as
could be spared and, without regard TO
the term of enlistment of its crew, dis
charging such of them as wished to leave.
In pursuance of this policy the Nolun-
teer's crew had been promised by its Off
GERS their discharge months before. but
various unforeseen duties, like the present,
had prevented. Thus, the crew had started
on this mission in condition only little
removed from mutiny.
This too may explain why the Captain
almost thrust the command upon me-.
During the trip he did not manifest the
slightest interest, and remained on shore
nearly every daylight hour while in Gin
cinnati.
The men now came with fresh griev-
ance; they demanded their pay. When |
urged that they could not use money with
out liberty, they insisted las was true) that
they were entitled to it. told them kindly
that it would be impossible to pay them
until our return TO the navy yard.
We arrived at the yard in Cincinnati too
late in the day for business, and anchored
in the stream. After supper the Captain
and his officers were given liberty, TO re
turn at midnight. the first cutter being left
in the water for their use and made fast at
the port bow. At the usual time ham
mocls were piped down and at eight bells
the Starboard watch was set.
An hour later, as ! was pTomenading
athwart ships on the quarterback, glanced
down into the water and saw the cutter
loose and dropping astern. | ordered the
QuarteTma ster to hurry down and secure it,
and continued my walk
Within 80 minutes again saw the cutter
dropping astern. This aroused me to
suspicion of the intentions of the crew,
and charged myself with their defeat.
About six bells III p. M heard a rasp
ing slipping sound aft on the port side,
and bending over the rail and peerinC down
through the darkness TO the deck below, |
saw the dincey lust being launched.
| hastily tptoed down TO the cundeck,
ending not the port watch in their ham
nocks. as they should have been, but all
hands very much awake and interested in
The launching of the dingey.
Without their knowing 1t stood among
them when with an Intentionally STACEY
tone of voice commanded: Dos ms Mate.''
Sir" came a distant reply. Call all
hands, He did. Call all hands 10 hoist
he dingey,"
They were already there, and Selling the
BOAT 5 falls ran it up. Swing the dingey
n and stow it, / commanded.
Then delivered a brave little speech:
Men | have denied you liberty; | shall
enforce that denial. j have been on to
vour schemes ali the evening j will have
10 more trihing;. the first man ] detect
:ouching a boat tonight without orders !
will shoot-dead. Bos'n's Mate, pipe the
pot watch to their hammocks.'
The bombastic and ridiculous nature of
.his speech can be comprehended when
state that, excepting the four monster guns
ying useless on our decks, and the equally
useless officers side arms, there was not a
cannon nor small-arm on board, nor any
other than moral means of enforcing disci-
pine. / cannot conceive why the men did
not toss me overheard and 60 where they
pleased, except that they were utterly
ashamed of their behavior, knowing me
entirely innocent of their woes.
The next morning we weighed anchor
and went alongside the first of the two
monior Several Of our sailors sprang 70
her deck to handle our lines; five carrying
Dur headline across the bow o. the mont
Tor TO a post ON shore, made it fast; and, as