Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-10-05
TN THE CIVIL WAR.

IN THE CIVIL WAR.
Dewey's Brilliant Service Under the
Great Farragut.
Dewey was at home in Montpelier
when Sumter was fred upon. One week
afterward he secured his commission as
lieutenant and was ordered to the steam
sloop Mississippi Of the West Gulf squad
ron. It will be remembered that Farra-
gut raised his flag over this fleet in Feb
ruary, 1862. The Mississippi was the
only side-wheeler Of the lot. Command
er Melancthon Smith was her captain
and Dewey was her first lieutenant
Early in April the larger ships, the Mis-
sissipn among them, were unloaded and
hauled over the bar, and by the night OF
the 23d the squadron was ready for the
business Of running past the formidable
batteries Of St. Philip and Jackson, ready
to conquer the Confederate fleet beyond
and to press on to New Orleans.
Amid Smoke and Flame.
Farragut divided his ships into two d.
visions. Captain Theodorus Bailey had
command Of that going first, and the
Mississippi was the third in his line.
Decks were whitewashed, no lights were
showing, and the night was inky black
save for the lurid red Of an occasional
Confederate fire. The big ship, having
speed Of only eight knots, Rugged the
shore to avoid the swift current. On, on
they steamed, a slow, stately procession
that knew no check, until the flames OF
the broadside guns leaped into the very
ports Of the batteries and the shot struck
in midair. So close were they that the
gunners hurled curses at each other across
the narrow space Of black water. On the
high bridge Of the side-wheeler, IN the
midst Of belching smoke and flame, stood
Dewey, guiding the Mississippi as calmly
as though he were going up New YORK
bay on still afternoon in Indian sum-
mer. He was a perfect master OF him.
self.
"Do you know the channel, DeweyY'
Captain Smith asked anxiously and more
than once as he paced from port to star
board. The lieutenant was very young,
only "a, and the situation would have
tried a veteran.
eyes, SIR" replied Dewey with conf
dence each time. But he admitted after
ward that he expected to ground every
moment.
Dewey's Heroic Work.
This Is how Chief Engineer Baird, u.
s. n, who was there, remembers him.:
81 can see him now in the red and vel
| low glare flung from the cannon-mouths.
It was like some terrible thunder storm
with almost incessant lightning. For an
instant all would be dark and Dewey un-
seen. Then the forts would belch forth,
/ l. in mi
| of it. the flames from the guns almost
touching him and the big shot and shell
passing near enough to him to blow him
over with their breath, while ne held firm
| " to the bridge rail. Every time the dark
came back / felt sure that we would
never see Dewey again. But at the next
| fash there he stood. His hat was blown
off and his eyes were afiame. But ne
gave his orders with the air Of man IN
thorough command Of himself. He took
| in everythi He saw point Of advan-
tage and seized it at once. And when
from around the hull Of the Pensacola the
ram darted, Dewey like flash saw what
was best to be done, and as the ram
came up alongside the entire starboard
broadside plunged mass OF iron shot
and shell through her armor and she be-
gan to sink. Her crew ran her ashore
land escaped. A boats crew from our
shin went on board, thinking to extinguish
/ the flames which our broadside had start
ed and capture her. But she was too
far gone. Dewey took US all through the
fight. and in a manner which won the
warmest praise, not only Of all on board,
but Of Farragut himself. He was cool
from first to last, and after we had
passed the fort and reached safety and he
came down from the bridge his face was
black with smoke, but there wasn't a
drop of perspiration on his brow"
Had His Coat Tail Shot Away.
/ Things began to go wrong on the river
4 wear later and Faragut once more ran
up from the gulf to adjust them. Port
! Hudson shoals and currents are among
/ the most dangerous in the stream, and it
was while running the forts here that the
Mississippi was lost. The Hartford and
| Alabama led, then came the Mononga-
/ hela and Kineo, the Richmond, and Gen
esee. followed by the Mississippi alone.
/ The Monongahela and her consort both
grounded, though they both managed to
get off. But directly opposite the center
of Port Hudson battery the Mississippi
stuck hard and fast. Shot after shot was
noured into her until her hull was rid
died and she had to be abandoned. She
was hit $50 times in half an hour. The
Iofficers who took the first boats never re-
turned, and so the task of getting the
i men TO safety devolyed upon Lieut.. Dew
lev. Twice he went to the Richmond and
Twice came back until he and Captain
lSmith stood alone on the deck. The ship
was afire in FIVE places. Together the
1.-Two left the ship amid splashing shot,