Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1899-10-28

From Democracy, OF Nashville Tenn
Where the Gulf OF Mexico comes into
the Sabine lake, on the coast OF Texas.
near the Louisiana line. there Is a
narrow channel OF water which Is
about four hundred yards vide. ON
the north bank Of this little channel.
today. one sees the smokestaek. a few
feet above the water. OF snnken boat.
Just opposite TO II. on the southern
bank. there Is dirt wall. and over this
Is a painted sign that reads Fort
bowling That Is all that now lives
as evidence OF a thrilling drama. the
equal OF which the world has never
seen. and that was played out at this
place back yonder in the closing days
OF our civil war Gen. Banks. with
plenty OF men and boats and ammunl.
ton and supplies, had gone up the Red
River into Louisiana aud was ham
mering Kirby Smith and Dick Taylor
Into destruction. The Federal gov.
eminent conceived the Idea that Smith
and Taylor might be attacked In The
rear By an expedition landed on the
shores OF Sabine lake. and consisting
OF some ten Thousand men, who would
be transported TO their landing By a
part of the Federal fleet. TO reach The
banks Of the lake. OF course. IL vas
necessary TO go through Sabine Pass
this narrow channel Of which have
spoken. Richard Bowling. In com
mand OF about forty men. was acting
as a scout for Smith and Taylor. aud
saw the evidence % the coming Of this
fleet of gunboats and transports. and
with his forty men. took possession Of
little mud fort at the mouth OF the
pass. In which there we're three or four
sir FOUNDERS and perhaps a Siege gun
There he waited with guns loaded and
instructions given to his men that
they must not fire until the gunboata
came well abreast of him. only about
SVo yards away. His plan Of action
was not to shoot until they we're lrnme.
diately opposite. and then TO discharge
bis whole battery at the gunboat. This
was done successfully. her boilers we're
exploded. and together with hundreds
OF soldiers, she sank to The spot where
she now rests. Many died from the
steam that sealded them. more from
the water that enguifed them. Lead.
ing his guns. he sank the next veaasl
With the same disastrous result IN IN.
enemy, and. loading yet again he
turned his guns on the Transport fol.
lowing. with thousand men aboard os
her. She. In response. ran IN vhit.
nag The rest Of the fleet turnsd ana
sailed away. leaving the dead bodies
OF the drowned soldiers and the s,ptan
vessels. Bowling, In a dugout ftbia ia
followed log or canoe. as 1t ia yayf.
onsiy called. padded himself ont 4,
receive the surrender of this tsansport
with thousand men. The eomman
oer OF the vessel expressed mia surnrts.
At snch reception of his whita.e,
token. and asked Why the ennma,das
Vi .he Iort didn't come in peraon IN
'sseife DIS surrender. Doyliuv -.
Piled: i am the commander and bsv.
come In person" to which the ea.,,,n
sad: Well, what do you mean bv
coming this way. In canoe bv va,,r.
seifY Bowling answered. II bae.
no othef way Of getting here and bsnca
1 came IN my dugout." He rseo5y...
.he surrender. paroied the pr,sonss.
,or ne could not take them In charge
ana went back to his comrades y,
these forty, only one had rece,voa
wound at all. though the gunboats has
sheiied the little mud esrtbxorl An
gently In the history OF the void
nothing similar, unless II be tho h.,
tle OF New Orleans has ever hannsnas
ana yet such Is the large careisasaa'.,
81 the southern character In record,n.,
,'s wonderful and numerous aeeas :,
neroism, that but little notice ma. evon
ueen taken OF this extraordinary ha,