The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-02-04
War "Reminiscences.

fBy General John c. Moore MeXiaJ
In 10 the time left Galveston with my
regiment In November, 1861, so far knew,
Captain Alden had captured no valuable
prizes. though he had taken several small
sailing vessels trying to enter the haroor
soon after his arrival On one OF these he
placed small gun and used her as ten
der. She first made few trips toward the
western end Of the island, passing peyohd
the range Of south beach smoothbore TWO
gun battery, then came In quite near shore
10 the east and the west OF our battery
taking soundings. keeping beyond range,
but approaching still nearer the shofe
viewed this action In the light OF no7tle
demonstration and resolved to try TO put
stop to 1t If possible was 10th to bring
on an engagement with the blockader, be-
cause OF the large number OF women and
children still remaining in the city but
you can Imagine how difficult 1t Is for one
TO resist the temptation to give his CHIP
n punch when a fellow prances round with
II on his head and daring any one to knock
1t of
| finally concluded my most prudent
course was to visit Captain Alden under a
flag o. truce and try 10 learn his object
in taking sjundings close iushore, He
received me with marked courtesy and
conducted me 10 his cabin | introduced
the subject by remarking that after his
having informed the citizens visiting COM
mittee that his orders were simply TO
blockade the port, was greatly aston
ished that his tender had been taking
soundlnss close In shore along the south
beach, which | could but regard as a
threatening demonstration This precipi-
tated short interview and a pretty warm
exchange OF words The captain took upou
himself to remind me ! was then In his
power--an uncalled for remark under the
circumstances. but failed to check my
free expression OF open-and to his remark
4 | replied he seemed TO forget he had re-
ceived me under flag OF truce which
Afforded me all the protection ] desired
He finally asserted he had a right to lake
soundlngs when and where he chose and
proposed to exercise that right To tlis
| replied had Alright 10 hre on mis- tender
and woud do so the FIRST time she came
within range Of our guns. On leaving
remarked II he was determined 10 provoke
an engagement hoped he would give duo
notice so some provision could be made
lor saletF Of women and children still In
the city, To this he made no reply. as /
ala moi leave the captain in very anna.
BILE mood apparently
concluding from Captain Aden's Ian
suage ne would continue his soundings. |
han made him. | masked a couple OF
slX-nounders in the sand hills toward the
eastern part Of the city aud near the beach
ABOUT opposite where the tender turned
INTO near the shore. The gunners were In =
slrucfed TO open nre II she came within
range Captain Leon Smith OF the Rusk
was requested To keep his fires hanke5
and In case the South Carolina concludea
to try our batteries he was IN rniss
steam and at an opportune moment mass
OUT INTO the gulf as though he meant
heht, and thus perhaps cre0te diver.
sion IN our favor, although his armament
was not so formidable as even \ double.
barrel shotgun
In day or two the tender passed west
keeping out Of range. but returned abou,
noon turning In near shore opposite on,
slN-pounders The boys opened IN he
with two or three shots she returning IN,
nre with a single shot. then MAKING nj
speed Tor the blocknder No damage wa,
done by either side, Soon after the ten.
ners return volumes OF black smoke he
gan pouring from the South Carolina !,
smokestark, which plainly told ms own
story. In an hour or two she cot I'm icr
way ANA made for our two gun reJouh4,
! west OF the foot OF fremont street nur
guns being smootbore with only solid
snot' we knew they were no match for
nose OF the steamer, but we resolved ~
a ha
: In our lockers Passing the battery "a
: yond our range she turned toward shore
ana continued TO move round ana round
IN an elliptcal course each round an
proaching little nearer. Though still he
suno eHeeuVe range II was almost impos-
e slnIe 70 restrain our gunners Evidently
! captain Alden's object was 10 draw nnr a {,
and thus learn the range OF o,,r r,,ns "
! slsting the temptation until no caas.d
Q ZONE nearer In his rounds and seeming
. 70 say Now fire on me N YOU dare No
A you threatened to do" | ordered thu eun
1 ners 70 give their pieces the hlehes, nos
a Noie elevation and "let her 70. GaIlagheri,,
4 'ur imnrovised gun carriage worEsd = ,
4 paniy, making our firing so slow we 80, ~
: out three or four shots nearly ali f,ilia"
r snort iNa distance beirg too area, ,cr ~.
n smooth pores The enemy fired elk on a,gh.
= ehols' rne first ones striking Inc rsdo,ht
" very near H. Then two or thrA. nasssd
" 'sr ABOVE our heads striking In the ont.
" sNlfts OF the city; but the last sho, nassai
1t .ar 70 our ieft. dropping In the midst al
IS s,NDal hundred men, women and cAildrer
standing or the sand hills wavlny hsns
IT kerohitts and cheering Though the shsl
"a cropped In the midst OF quite a cro,y1
70 onY one person was injured. An Ifalian
q .eins Killed. This dastardly act was eyi.
Is uentiy Intentional, because those neonl,
= wire rom fourth to a half mile 10 ths
v i.at Of the direct line OF Are, and IL could
4 ho, nave been accidental have nsye,
y peiieVed Captain Alden responsible for Inc
4 outrage; he was too perfect a gentleman
!, 70 eonntefance such heathenish inhun au.
"A NY This afair ended thu so.ndins fests
"A ieel must add something as an hum.
If ole tribute 70 the noble women OF Calves
n ton in 1861. Soon after arriving a. Gal
weston they appealed 10 me TO devise som,
ne means by which they could do somethins
Ia Tor the cause OF the confederacy. Hayin,
,e Wt small supply Of cartridge powdc
n. sacks Tor our guns, hai was sesured 10
Of WORKSHOP material secured principall,
no by constitutions. and an infant hame
IN made female srsenal was organized. VIII
y ing hands were 50 numerous sooa fo,n
II uffeYs ! called halt possibly every var,
: OF flannel In the city would he male inv,
at 'iFhs ami heavy artillery powder sicfs
and then what would become OF the itfi
as folks when cold Maakhar r.,.> 80