The National tribune., 1900-08-09
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What the Veterans Have to Say
About Their Campaigns.
CUTTING OUT A PRIZE.
An Adventure With Febiser Under the Guns
of Fort Morgan.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: L re
Gently read in your paper the following:
Capt. John G. Febiger, jr., of New Or
leans, La, has presented to the Louisan;
Historical Society, to be hung in its Me
mortal Hall, a Confederate ships ensign
taken by his father Admiral Febiger, theT
a Licutenant-C Commander, in command o.
the gunboat Kanawha, from the steamer
Ann, which was lying under the guns Of
TT. Morgan, in Mobile Bay. 1t was {
dangerous exploit, and got Lieutenant
Commander Febiger favorable mention il
reports"
l will give your readers a full account
of the taking of the rebel steamer Ann
for one seldom sees an article from any
Of the navy boys. l suppose we old salts
are not well versed in writing for the
press, as many of the soldiers are. Nc
doubt the soldiers are as much interested
in articles concerning the navy as sail
ors are of the army.
The event which I relate occurred in
June, 1862 We had been out to sea the
night before in search OF n bockaderun-
| Eer, and as we We're returning to our
station off Mobile we sighted the sailing
| Sloop-of-war preble coming toward us.
| The commander told us Commodore
Hitchcock, of the Susquehanna, wanted
| us to return at once and go in and either
| cut out or destroy large rebel steamer
| that had run the blockade the night be
| fore and grounded in front of Fort Nor
gan.
Fort Morgan was one of the most for
midable forts under the rebels, and for
| us it would be miracle if we did not
| go to the bottom of the sea. The Sus-
| quehanna was too large ship to go into
such shallow water, and had to lay off
| some two miles or more from US.
AS we approached the Ann we opened
| on her to frighten off the crew and sol
ders from the fort who were on her and
those approaching her in boats, and it
was laughable to see them go; in fact, if
they had been competing with a Yale
crew l think they would have taken the
prize.
Unfortunately for them and fortunately
for us, when the AIMS bones grounded
they did not let go the anchor, and as
the tide rose she began to swing around
and a boat put off from the fort for her,
no doubt to let go her anchor, and at the
same time the fort let go broadside at
us to protect the boat. But our captain
knew how to fight his ship, and kept her
in motion all the time, dodSing here and
there. Besides, even though they We're
our own countrymen,' they must have had
some gunners as bad as the Spanards
had at Manila Bay.
A weIl-directed shot caused the rebel
boat to put back to the fort, and then
a cheer went up from our crew as we saw
the Ann drifting away from the fort, and
in direction that the largest guns could
not be brought to bear on us. So we ran
alongside of her and in n ZigZag course
took her outside and clear from the fort.
In doing SO three guns from the fort were
constantly firing on, US. Our captains
shrcwdness saved US from being blown
to atoms.
While we were fastening to the Ann
rebel gunboat came to the Anr's as
sistance, but we, by a broadside from our
guns. soon disabled her and she rctrcated.
While we were fastened to the Ann she
had in her cargo 100000 pounds of pow
der, 300 eases of arms, cases of saddles
and brides for officers, made by some
manufacturer in the northern portion of
our States; 1000 bags of coffecs, teas,
liquors, and in fact all kinds of goods,
even to n fine suit of clothes and hand
some saddle and bride for Gen. ROb't Il.
Lee from his English friends. The steam
er and cargo sold for 100000.
Our Government converted the steamer
into war vessel, which the rebels in
tended TO do to prey upon our commerce
with the Alabama, for she was very
fast, bark krgged, handsome vessel, and
would have done terrible work among our
merchantmen, besides costing us a pile of
money in sending vessels in pursuit of her.
While / am writing | will tell of an
other of our battles with Fort Morgan
as the Ann did, but stuck fast. The late
Commodore William *. Mayo was then
in command, as Capt. John G. Febiger
had been promoted to q more important
command for bravery.
Commodore Goldsborough ordered us in
Il 1
we would not escape without being disa-
bled and losing some lives. The fort
opened on us, as she did before, and ut
the same time We sent into the steamer
11-inch incendiary shells and soon had
her all on fire. Capt. Mayo, to our sur
prise, proved to be a sea-fighter like Capt.
Febiger, and by his coolness and his
skill saved us from going to the bottom.
As it was we We're so badly disabled that
it took six weeks to repair our vessel.
While in action the Flag Officer made
signals to us, but Capt. Mayo replied to
the Quartermaster:
There is too much smoke to make
them out, but keep your eyes on the fort
and not the flagship, for he sent me in to
cut this steamer out, and as l can't cut
her out am going to destroy her or so
to the bottom in doing it"
After the steamer was on fire and por
tions of her blown to pieces the captain
said: Now, We will give the fort a
parting salute"
One portion Of the starboard side was
so badly disabled we had to use our port
side guns 1-inch-and we sent into the
fort a number of incendiary shells and
left them.
When we returned to the flagship the
Commodore said to our captain:
'Thank God, you came out as you
have, for | never expected to see you or
the ship again; for how You escaped I'M
der such a terrible fire is n miracle. Did
you not see my signals to rctirc!'
Our cal. l.tain replied: I'VE were too
busily engaged to see signals, SIR"
For that engagement Capt. Mayo, like
Febiger, was promoted to n higher com
mand, but not one of the officers and crew
ever received even n thank you.
If the present Secretary of the Navy
would look over the Kanawha's record |
am sure he would grant all a medal of
honor, and l think it a duty that Ad-
miral John G. Febigcr owes to his crew
that he should intercede in their behalf
and get them all medal.-JAMEs l.. |
FERRIS, Chief Yeoman, U. S. Kanawha,
Milford, Conn.
FIGHTING AT PRAIRIE GROVE.