The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-03-17
AN INCIDENT OF THE WAR

An Unwritten story of the First Expe-
dition TO Fort Fisher, N. c.
ON the first expedition to Fort Fisher
captured blockade runner called the
Ella Knight was used as a government
transport. The cargo of this vessel was.
Light Battery E, Third United States
Artillery, and the Sixteenth New YORK
independent Light Battery. About 100
horses, twelve field pieces, twelve Gals
sons and twelve timber chests made
valuable cargo
The sailing masters name was Ad-
ans; but as we sailed under sealed or
ders. to be opened off Cape Henry
lighthouse, the ranking military ofhcer
aboard, who held these orders, became
ranking or commanding officer OF the
ship, this officer was First Lieutenant
J. r. Myrick of Light Battery T., IhArd
United States Artillery.
Adams, a Baltimore man having
some influence, was appointed sailing
master in the United States transport
fleet. He was genuine confederate at
heart and had in his mind way to
help the confederacy, which was to
await his opportunity and run the flrst
cargo in his charge into the confeder-
ate's hands
AS a signal the flagship fired gun
over the waters of Hampton Roads,
and the transport fleet of the first ex-
pedition, without outside lights, sailed
out into the darkness OF the night
into the broad Atlantic.
The Ella knight was not the last to
reach Cape Henry lighthouse, but when
she did the sealed orders were opened
and Adams was advised to the ships
destination-Fort Fisher.
Soon after turning southwark from
Cape Henry the wind began to blow
strongly from the South. The sea be-
came rough The horses began to slide
back and forth on deck, so heavy were
the lunges and rolls Of the ship. At the
same time the guns began to roll on the
upper deck. Ropes were procured and
the guns lashed through the wheels to
prevent rolling on deck and knocking a
hole through the transports sides.
Then ropes were stretched lengthwlse
and through the centre of the deck
and several times crosswise to help
support the horses, but many were
killed and many disabled.
Some time past midnight Adams
quietly turned the ship to the north
and scudded with the wind. Then at
the end of a few hours he turned the
ship south again. His orders were to
Keep within sight of the transport fleet,
but when daylight came no transport
feet was in sight He gave as his ex-
cnse that the ships engines were weak
and that he could not make the speed
required of him. We knew that the Ell
la Knight was fast ship, and from
that time on we knew that Adams was
q man who would bear watching.
BY the middle of the day the storm
had passed over and Adams took a
reckoning off Cape Hatteras, N. c.
Then we continued our journey with
out much of interest until nearly day.
light the next morning
All was quiet aboard the transport.
As she rode through the darkness there
was report of cannon and the next
instant a shell burst over the deck of
the Ella Knight From the short inter-
val between the report of the gun and
the shells explosion the battery officers
knew that we must be near the shore.
Besides, the sound of the breakers from
the heavy ocean swells could be heard
lashing the sandy beach.
Each commissioned officer quickly
reached for his sidearms and they were
soon on deck. J. r. Myrick (now ma
jor Fifth United States Artillery was
the first to reach the pilot house. Ad-
ans was at the wheel
Myrick asked him: Where are we?"
Adams replied Il reckon we are
pretty nigh Fort Fisher; that was the
orders, wasn't it?''
Quick as a fiash~Myricks revolver
swung under Adams ear and he or
nered him to turn to sea. Adams turn
ed deathly white as he remarked:
I'VE are on the inside channel. If
we turn to sea, we will have to ride the
reef; if we ride it, we will be caught by
the pirates outside of it, meaning the
Union fleet But at the same time he
gave several fast turns to the wheel
and the transport swung half way
round and headed for the reef AS we
gained it there was roaring and hiss
Ing sound and the waves shone with
Dhosphorescent light. Soon we were in
the line of sissing, glowing waves.
One sudden bump of the vessel and she
had crossed the reef unhurt and was
sailing in the old Atlantic
Soon we saw the dim outline of a
swift steamer approaching us from the
larboard side. A challenge came
fhrough a trumpet:
Lay to, or we'll send shot through
you."
Adams rang the engine bell The
ship soon lost it's headway and swung
idly in the seas. A few moments later
a Union ensign appeared on deck. At
ter learning the name and character of
our ship he informed Adams that he
had been under the guns of Half Moon
battery one and half miles above Fort
Fisher. Then he continued:
Il am Ensign-of dispatch boat No.
2 of the blockading fleet. The balance
of the transport fleet is twenty miles
due east at sea"
Again our engines were started and
in short time daylight began TO creep
over the ocean and we could see the
transport fleet steafning toward land.
Nothing was done with Adams, but
have always believed he intended to
beach the Ella Knight under the guns
OF Fort Fisher.-N. Y. Commercial Ad-
yertiser.