Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-08

time. I'm carrying orders for Captain
Johnson"
So up went. asking some officer whom
saw:
Where is the Admiral?"
Don't know" he replied. 1--WE are all
at work loading and firing; got too much
to do to think OF anything else"
Then looked for the gallant command
er myself, and, lying curled up under the
sharp angle Of the roof. discovered the
old. white-haired man. He was grim ana
silent, and betrayed no evidence OF his
great pain. / went up to him and asked:
Admiral are you badly hurt?'
Don't know" he replied, but / saw one
OF his legs crushed up under his body
and as could get no help. raised him up
with great caution, and clasping his arms
around my neck carried him on my back
down the ladder to the cockpit, his
broken leg Shaping against me as we
moved slowly along. After applying a
temporary bandage he sat up on the deck
and received reports from Captain john
son regarding the progress OF the hght.
Captain Johnson soon came down IN per-
son. and the Admiral greeted him:
well. Johnson, they have got me.
You'll have to look out for her now; II
is your fight"
"All right" answered the Captain, TN
do the best I know how"
In the course OF half an hour Captain
Johnson again appeared below and re-
ported TO the Admiral that all the fri
gates had hauled or" but that three
monitors had taken position on our quar-
tiers. He added that we could not bring
gun to bear, and that the enemy's
solid shot were gradually smashing In
the Shield and not having been able
to fire for thirty minutes, the men were
fast becoming demoraized from sheer
inactivity, and that from the smashing
of the shield they were seeking shelter,
which showed their condition mentally.
well. Johnson" said the Admiral at
this precarious juncture, fight TO the
last. Then, TO save these brave men,
when there is no longer hope, surrender
In twenty minutes more the firing
ceased, Captain Johnson having bravely
gone up alone on the exposed roof with
a handkerchief on a boarding pike,
and the surrender was effected. Then
We carried all our wounded upon the
roof into the fresh air. which they so
much needed.
From that elevated place l witnessed
the rush of the petty officers and the
men OF the monitors which were nearest
to us to board the captured ship, to
procure relics and newspaper renown.
Two men dressed in blue shirts. begrim-
ed and black with powder, rushed up TO
the wounded Admiral and demanded his
sword. His aide refused peremptorily
whereupon one OF them stopped as II TO
take II, upon which Aide Forest warned
him rot TO touch IT, as it would only be
given TO Admiral Farragut or his author
lied representative. Still the man at
tempted to seize 1t, whereupon Forrest
Knocked him Off the "shield" TO the deck
below. At this critical moment. when a
fight was imminent, saw boat near
ing, flying a captains pennant, and run
ming down as II came alongside, 1 recog-
! nized an old shpmate. Captain lie Roy.
Hurriedly explaining TO him our position,
he mounted the shield. and, assuming
command, he arrested the obnoxi0ls
man and sent him under guard to his
boat.
The sword was then given to Captain
Graud by Admiral Buchanan. to be car
ried to Admiral Farragut. Our flag,
smoke-stained and torn, had been seized
by the other man and hastily concealed
In his shirt-bosom. He was brought be-
fore Captain lie Roy, and amid the
laughter and jeers of his companions was
compelled 10 draw it forth from its
hiding place, and it was sent on board
the flagship.
Captain lie Roy, who was an old friend
Of us both did everything in his power
to aid his former shipmate, the wounded
admiral He brought kind message
from Admiral Farragut. in which the
latter expressed regret TO hear of Admi-
raj Buchanan's wound. and offered to
do anything in his power, wishing 70
know what he desired This was ac-
copied by Admiral Buchanan in the same
kind spirit in which It was given, and
as one OF the STAFF officers l was sent
on board the Hartford with the reply
that, appreciating the kind message. he
had only to ask that his feet surgeon
and his aides might be allowed TO ac-
company him wherever he might be sent,
until his recovery from his wound.
Boarding the Hartford by Captain lie
Roy's steam launch, and ascending by
the man rope" i mounted the ham
mock netting, as the whole starboard
side amidships and the gangway had
been carried away, as l was afterward
told, by one of their own fitgates having
colided with the Hartford after ram
ming" the Tennessee. From the ham,
mock netting the scene was one OF car
mage and devastation. The spar deck
was covered and Uttered with broken
gun-carriages. shattered boats. disabled
guns, and a long line OF dead men dress
ed in blue. lying side by side. The two
whole guns crews were all killed by
splinters. 1 saw one 10 feet long and 4
inches wide. and received my first vivid
idea of what a splinter was, or what was
meant by a splinter.
Descending, we threaded our way, and
ascending the poop. where all the officers
were standing l was taken up and intro
T. . l.. L. i'll
est manner he inquired regarding the
severity of the Admirals wound, and
then gave the necessary orders to carry
out Admiral Buchanan's request. We
Their thought that the Admiraps leg
would have to be amputated that eve
ming or the next morning. In speaking
10 the Admiral about his chances OF re-
covery and the proposed amputation, he
replied:
II have nothing to do with It. 1t IS
your leg now. Do your best"
Ii was this spirit of frmness and equa-
nimity which not only saved Admiral
Buchanan's life, but ultimately saved his
leg also. He was taken on boord OF Cap
tain James Jouetts ship. the Metacomet,
which was temporarily converted into a
hospital. We remained on board that
night. and were cared for in very kind
way by Captain Jouett, 10 whom Admiral
Buchanan always expressed himself as
deeply indebted.
FLAG OF TRUCE.
The next morning at my suggestion, a
flag OF truce was sent 10 General Page.
commanding Fort Morgan. representing
our condition, sending the names Of our
dead and wounded. and the great number
OF Federal dead and wounded on board,
and asking, In the name OF humanity. 10
be allowed 10 pass the fort and convey