The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-06-11
VETERANS HISTORY.
NJ. ]. Mcdonald, of Superior.

M MCDOudlu WAS laDoTeT, living
at Roxbury, Massachusetts, and was
about eighteen years old when, in the
fall of 1864, he enlisted in the 3lst
Mounted Infantry. of Massachusetts,
He Joined the regiment at Carleton, La,
near New Orleans. and was assigned to
Company &C" In the fall of 1863 he
was mustered out at Mobile, haviI
served about one year. 81 was in sell
vice so short a time" SAYS Mr.. McDoD-
aid, my story cannot be of much in
tercst to anybody"
The regiment was moved from Garlic
ton to the Florida coast, near Barancas,
and from there was ordered to Mobile
Bay. On the march there were several
skirmishes, and Mr.. Mcdonald was first
under fire IN crossing Escanaba river.
The current was swift, the water deep,
and the crossing was over light pom
toon bridge, which swayed and rose
and fell, as the rush of water moved it.
The men were dismounted and led
their horses carefully, while rebel
battery was firing at them and the
bridge. The soldiers didn't have a
chance to think Of themselves, they
were SO occupied with care of their
horses. Mcdonald, personally was very
much afraid the rebels would hit the
bridge and throw them ALL horses and
men, into the river; but he looked at
Colonel Nettleton moving on with head
erect and calmly watching the rebel
shells falling, some dropping short and
others going harmlesslv overhead,
whereupon he concluded that if the
colonel was not afraid he wouldn't be-
They crossed the bridge safely and, a
few days after, led by Gen. Candy, par
ticipated III the attack on Fort Blakely.
The land troops attacked the fort from
the rear, while gunboats and mortar
boats asSailed it from the front. After
the surrender of Mobile Company ''C'
was detailed as headquarters guard.
Then sixteen of the company, includ-
ing Mcdonald. were stationed as guard
at the magazine in the old navy ya~..,
one other magazine having been blown
up.
When the regiment was sent to Bos-
ton harbor, to be mustered out, McDOn-
aid and others were persuaded TO stay
longer at Mobile, they receiving com
mutation for transportation to Boston,
and to be mustered ont in Mobile.
The fight at Fort Blakely was hot
.,,l
attacking battery, but its greatest danger
was from torped oes or percussion gren-
AIDES, with which the ground WAS made
very dangerous to Union troops. A
few men and many horses were killed
by them. They were planted with the
percussion caps at or near tie top o;
the ground, so that they were pretty
sure to explode if man or horse set
shoe upon their. Until the ground had
been explored and several hundred of
the torpedoes had been dug out, the
men went barefoot and were cautious
III moving about. The bay WAS SAID TO
be also thickly planted With tolpedoes,
and when the regiment was moved over
to Mobile all the way there was silence
in which pin falling on the deck would
have started the men, for they expected
an explosion underneath.
Mcdonald has only words o praise
for the officers under whom he served.
Colonel Nettleton was fine officer,
kind and considerable in ordinary deal
ings with his men. and in action coli
lccted, cool and competent. First Lieu
tenant Sageudort, commanding Comp
any "C' was model officer and was
much liked by the men OF the conn any,
as also was the Second Lieutenant Sears
nice, quiet young fellow who per-
formed all his duties with scrupulous
fidelity
After being mustered out Mr. Nc
Donald went back to Roxburv and from
there came west. He had already made
beginning at stone cutting and now
served two years under instruction,
since which he has worked steadily as
stone-cutter and dresser, until falling
cyesight compelled him to abandon his !
trade. He is one of the charter men, !
beers of J. ID. Robie Post. OF this city, !
i l.. =, 4.