The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-12-08

.TIONAL TRIBUNE: WASHIN
half an hour. Having escaped every bullet
and having passed the sunken boat, we re-
gained our courage and confidence.
But the end was not yet, for some 90 miles
farther up we were surprised by fusllade of
musketry from the other, or north side of the
river Our watch had been unceasing, and
we had seen nothing to warn US of danger.
We quickly dropped behind our breastworks
and with few shots returned their greeting,
when a goodly number of our assailants arose
from concealment and gave us full volley.
As before they did little harm, aside from
knocking to pieces our ration boxes.
| We had taken pointer from them, and as
soon rs their guns were empty. we arose from
| concealment. an rs deliberately as possible
we selected each man his mark and fired with
telling effect Some fell, but we did not
stop to count them We were quite too busy
to notice small details; besides, we were be-
hind our iron shield almost as soon rs we
had fired
Thus ended this engagement If the sur
vIvors attempted to follow us we did not
know it, for we lay low until out of rifle
range. Hardtack is almost bullet proof so
ranged a system of Notifications above the
iron shields, leaving portfolios through which
we could fire while standing, and at the same
time have fair protection. We were now
thoroughly interested; though we wished
ourselves back at Little Rock with onr regi-
ment, where we would not be forced to be so
brave; for, really, the funny part of bravery
all comes after the act
AT IT AGAIN.
After or new arrangement for defense all
went we'll until we passed Dardinell, some
% miles above Lewisburg. Then, as we
were seated about our mess kettle at mid
day. we were again disturbed by the now
familiar crack of the musket some distance
above us. and again came the order from our
commander:
Get ready to fight! An army awaits us"'
We had no further desire for our unfinished |
dinner, for i'll the open view we could see |
such a large body Of men that we knew
business awaited rs.
As we neared the scene of action, we got it |
right and left; for fusllade came from each |
side of the river. Their shots stormed our
iron railing and tore through boxes, scatter
ing bareback in every direction Even the
river was white with floating crackers. The
smokestack was perforated and the pilot
house demolished, but the pilot was protected
IN the same way that we were. We thought
while they got meal we would get mouth
full, and so we did the best we could. 1t was
more than an hour from the firing of the
first gun until the sound Of the last shot
diet away.
In this engag ament we lost one man, a
deck hand, who was killed, while two or three
were wounded. and our rations got badly
mixed up. Our assaiiants from the north
bank were the advance of Gen. Prices fast
army, which was being hard
pressed by PleaSonton. 1t was of them we
had been warned while at Lcwisburg We
ran very slowly whenever we fought, the
officers OF tie boat saying it WAS always safer
50 to do After that engagement we thought
,ur greatest danger passed. and again became
buoyant, and even FIT heroic.
WRECKED by a sSAG.
In less than two hours after passing through
this last engagement our boat struck n snag-
A long, limbiesS tree, anchored by its roots in
the bottom OF the river, the top pointing
down stream (which went up through the
hull and both decks, tipping over one of
the smokesiack' The bow 70 ;e several feet "a
the tree frightened mp bit gradually settled
down as the hold filled with water the stern
resting on the bottom of the river in about
Il feet of water, while the bow was supported
by the snag, thus leaving us in the miidle
OF the Arkansas River on a stranded boat,
three-fourths of which was under water
As the boat went down we took Cromwcll's
advice to trust i'll God and keep your
powder dry" and lost no time in loading
guns and ammunition into the two small
boats carried by the Doan The cargo 50
loaded down the boat that only the oarsmen
were allowed to make the first trip ashore.
In early life lived on the Lemonweir
River, in Wisconsin, where / acquired some
skill IN padding, rowing swimming aud
which many times III later life served me
well. The management of the powder
boat was given to me. We made II safe
landing on the north side, where we feared
the enemy would be in waiting for US when
we should show our heads above the high
bank. 1t required all our courage to face
this imaginary danger, but when we reached
The top OF the steep bank, to our relief we
saw only wooded hills. Some OF the soldiers
and the boats crew swan To shore, but the
majority waited for us to return with the
boats. 1t took several trips to land them all
10 be continued
Al