The National tribune., 1898-09-22

the Commodore seated at table poring owe
rude sort of map of the country drained
by the Yazoo River. After salu;irg the Com
modore he called me TO the table 10 lock owe
the map, saying at the same time:
Il wish you would look over this map ant
see if you recognize any point, as have beer
informed you are acquainted with the coun
try back from the river and also with tn,
YazoO River
The map was very inaccurate in its location
of the streams and other features, and i gave
him nv opinion to that effect. He questioned
me for long time in regard TO my knowledge
of the different points around Vicksburg and
of the Yazoo and Sun Flower Rivers. Then
he told me his object in doing so. / will
give it 10 You i'll his own words as near as
possible. Said he:
my Executive Officer, Mr.. Zimmerman,
tells ME you have travelled through this
country great deal before the war, and we
have information that is somewhat vague
that the Confederates are building power
full ironclad ram on the Yazoo, and expect to
come ont and sink and destroy every vessel
we have in the river. We have so many con-
flicting reports in regard to her that we do
not know what to look for or what to expect.
We want someone to go ashore above the city
and make his way across the country, ind
ont all the facts in regard to her that is posi-
BILE in the shortest possible time and get back
to the feet and make j full report rs to her
size, power, armament, number of guns,
plating tif ironclad). and her rig for ram
ming other vessels; who is in command of her,
and, in short, all the points possible.
"Will YOU undertake the task?" he
asked. Consider it well; take time to look
o4 ,n 81 bco,f Y ,>nt fp1l
you what the penalty is if you are captured. D;
1t was so sudden on ME. so little like any
thing ! had ever undertaken, that for per-
haps minute was dazed. But only for
one minute. My reply was: Il viii 60.
When do you wish me 70 start" He rose to
his feet, grasped my hand. SAYING:
50 thought | had not mistaken my man.
Come with me at two bells after dinner and
we will go across by the way OF the neck of
land to the upper feet, and we will arrange
all the details and give You your final in
structions this teTnoon on board the Ben
ton, Commodore Davis's flagship. Don't
mention to anyone what has been said
Make whatever arrangements vou wish Of
your clothing and other matters. Write
your letters and get everything done. When
the Captains gig is piped away follow II
down, after | call for you to come. "
PREPARING FOR THE MISSION.
/ went ont of that cabin thinking of 4
great many things. l was to leave the ship
and make my way through hostile country
for 10 to loo miles to some point on In
Yazoo River-no one in the fleet knew a.
what point, gather all the information posi-
BILE, and do it in disguise. If captured IL
the effort short shrift and stout rope wer
the only things 10 look forward to. II
occurred TO me that with my acquaintanc
with the country, my knowledge Of the
customs of the people would be good card
for me in the desperate game | proposed to
play. We were in the habit of taking
chances then. By the time eight bells struck
and all hands piped to dinner ] had written
my letter 10 my wife and one to my LAWYER
who looked a.ter my affairs at nome. ] sat
down to dinner and took my regular rations
with the rest, and when the gig was called
followed the Commodore down into her with
as little concern as though ] was gong ashore
on ordinary duty.
We were not long in going across the
narrow neck Of land to where the upper fleet
lay. and before two O'Clock were on board
the flagship Of the upper squadron and in
Admiral Dayis's cabin. There was quite 4
number OF officers from the different vessels, |
both from th Sc OF FarragGt' 3 squadron as we'll
as the UPPER feet. / remember Capt. Alden
of the Richmond, Capt. Bell of the Brook
lyn, Capt. Bayley from The gunboat Cuyuga,
] think, and Others whose names | have for
gotten, except that daredevil OF the fighting
race, Capt. VIM. ID. Porter of the gunhoat
Essex-ironclad. and destined to make n
name for herself no less renowned than the
ship of the same name that Porters father
fought the two British ships with off the
harbor OF Valparaiso, s. A., during the war
of 1872. / remember him well. He did not
seem 10 care what kind Of vessel the rebel
ironclad might lie SO he got chance at her
when she did come out
j got my final instructions as to what was
required, but al the details were left entirely
TO me- i was to choose the way TO get there.
was given countersign 10y which l could
make myself known at any time | should
make my appearance on the river opposite
any vessel of the feet, or, if i should come
back in bateau or skiff; so, when / was
hailed by the sentry, would have no diff
Guilty In coming alongside either day or
night.
l was furnished with plenty Of money,
having about $500 in gold in belt and
81 600 in greenbacks also buckled around my
waist between my under and outside shirt,
anu i've Ase"hohar gofo pieces ana SJo IN
greenbacks and S150 in Confederate notes in
my pocket-waliet. Before ] left the West
field ! had puton my full-dress uniform suit,
as / had then been promoted to Masters
Mate, and with an S-inch Colts revolver in
my breast-pocket j sat down to supper with
the ward-Toom officers of the Benton about
O'Clock on that July evening No one
had asked me what plan ! proposed TO adopt
TO get through nor did I tell auyone
Shortly after 8 O'Clock / was set on shore
on the Mississippi side of the river, near
public read running parallel with the river
at that point and from that hour commenced
the most exciting and dangerous adventure
Of my life.
When j now recall the scenes OF the terri