Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-13

terrible suspense. To retreat was impos-
sible. and II the Underwater succeeded
In opening fire on the boats with her
heavy guns or running them down all
would be lost.
ATTACK ON A UNITED STATES GUN
BOAT.
The Underwater was anchored be-
tween Forts Anderson and Stevenson, and
scarcely a stones throw from the
shore. and when the attack was made,
slipped her cable and endeavored TO get
up sufficient steam from her banked fires
TO enable her to run off or run the Con-
federates down. This movement only
fastened the boarding party, and to dis
able her engines, Midshipman j. L.
Scharf, who was in command OF the How
itzer I'm the bow of the launch, fred
shot, which took effect In the pilot-house.
Before the Howitzers could be reloaded
all the boarding party were alongside try
ing to get footing on deck. the IN
structions were that one of the board
ing columns should attack the Under
writer forward and the other astern. but
in the excitement the largest number OF
boats went forward while Colonel
Woods alone went amidship. AS tho
boats advanced they poured volley after
volley into the Federals, who returned
! the fire from the decks at the same time
throwing heavy shot and bolts OF iron
into the boats alongside in their efforts
20 sink them. The watch on the top or
the wheel-house doomed up against the
sky and emptied his revolver into the
boats as they advanced. AS he fired his
last shot three Confederates fired at him
simultaneously, and he fell into the water
like the jumping Of a frog The fire be-
coming hot from the boats alongside,
the officers and crew OF the Underwater
fell back from the sides and gathered In
the dark ways alongside of the gun racks
Just aft OF. the wheel-house, and as the
Confederates made efforts TO climb on
board they poured into them volley after
voley, each flash of which Redeemed the
decks and waters around, enabling the
attacking party to note their position.
In spite of the heavy fire the boarders
We're cool and yet eager Now and then
one or more were struck down, but the
rest never faltered.
When the boats struck the sides Of the
Underwater. grappels were thrown on
board and the Confederates were soon
scrambling. with cutlasses and pistols In
hand TO the deck with a rush and a wild
cheer that rang across the waters, the
firing from the Federals never ceasing
for one moment. Lieutenant B.sP. Loyal. |
now successful merchant In Norfolk, |
Va, was the first to reach the deck. with |
Engineer Emmett +. Gill and Colonel |
Wood at his side. Following I'm their \
steps came Leutenants Francis Il. Hoge, \
William A. Kerr, Philip Porcher, James \
NJ. Gardner. r. NJ. Roby, Henry Wilkin-
son, George w. Gift Midshipman Palmer |
Saunders, III. s. Cook, ]. Thomas Scharf, /
ON To
the men.
Once on deck the onslaught was fast
and bloody. Cutlasses and pistols We're
the weapons OF the Confederates, and
each selected and made a rush for his
man. The odds were against the attack
ing party. and some OF them had 20
struggle with three opponents. But nei-
Their side ever fiinched in the hand-to-
hand life-and-death struggle. which
ranged In every part OF the boat, and
In which many sickening tragedies took
place which the writer viii never forget.
The boarders forced the fighting and
irove back the Federals inch by inch.
Steadily but surely they began 10 gain
The companionways or other places OF
while all the time fierce
fights were going on. Now
,ne OF the Confederates would sink ex-
again one OF the Federals would |
ink on the bloody deck Rifles were
from the hands OF the dead or
he dying and used In the hands as
,ludgeons. and did deadly work. Down
he companIonways the defenders OF the
'esseIs were driven peil-mel into the
and steerage, and even 20 the
oal bunkers. and after another short
'ut decisive struggle the Federals sur
endered. The Underwriters decks were
ed with blood. and tho dead and dying
nd Wounded were lying in every part.
,etween the Waists. where the Federais
made stand. their dead and wounded
we're piled OH top OF one another. one OF
he Federal officers was lying there with
Inc cutlass wounds In his body.
The underwritsr lost In the engage