Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-01-01

being on land and protected Ny sand
bags piled above their heads, while we
stood on the gun deck with ports lowered
in full view of them; and they were hurl-
ing the fve-secOnl sl.leits from the water
battery a. a terrible rate. We could
feel The thud OF the shells as they struck
the ship, passed through her and sped
on across the bay. They soon made the
side of the Cssipee look like a pepper
box. But We were not idle, as our guns
We're being loaded and fired as fast as
men could do II. The deck new began TO
assume the appearance OF war. The
shot Were Passing across, overhead,
close to our legs ana through the hull.
But l will not ATTEMPT to describe the
deck of man-ofwar in action, as 1 do
nC's believe it can be done; Jut once seen
it can never De forgotten. l can only
liken Ut TO a box of ats with hundred
men firing bullets into them. l could
never describe the crashing Shot and
Shell that came through the ships side,
tearing out large solinters that would
fly over the deck through the crowded
sanSWay, striking many a poor fellow
flushed with the excitement Cf battle; or
the yeEs OF defiance that came from the
men as they fired their guns and quickly
rammed home an'-i.her load and dealt It
out; the Swapping OF the gun tackles as
the heated guns recO.lad back until the
breach rope would almost tear loose from
the ships side; the grOans OF the wound
ed as they were carried below by their
gunma'tes; the powder boys running
back and forth from the magazine hatch
with their Charges of powder, or the
yell: and commands of gun captains as
they called out to train right or left; the
men jumping from one sie to another
and occasionally SLIPPING in The rolocl OF
some poor unfortunate. While in front
c. tie fort the eleVating screw of our
PIVOT gun was struck and knocked to
Pisces, Which IL. the breach OF the gun
lrop With her nozzle striking in the air.
Some OF the men LETT and went to assist
at guns thlt 'aad lost i,1rt Of heir crews
Out got a fireman to help me put a
spare orea~h in the gun and she was
soon in working order again.
one poor fellow ran by me holding
on to large splinter of wood that pro-
truded from his breast. He ran to the
cock pit and died as soon as the splinter
was removed.
AT this time the head of the fleet
had passed out of range and the fort
was directing its attention to the two
last ships, the Dssipee and the ONEIDA.
AS each ship passed the fort and got
out OF range It cast loose it's gunboat
escort and commenced an attack on the
rebel fleet. The Oneida and it's escort,
the Galena, being the last to pass, they
received the concent rated fire of the
fort and water battery. Both suffered
considerably in killed nd wounded, and
the hull Of the Oneida vas terribly rid
died. The rebel ram, Tennessee, came
down to take position on the opposite
side of our fleet, but she soon changed
her intentions and steamed up the bay
again. After we had all passed, she
headed for our fleet again to make her
way back to Fort Morgan. One Of our
gunooats laid between her and the Os
sipee. She glided across the bow of the
gunboat and started for my vessel, but
my 10O-pound gun opened fire on her.
The shell struck her armor plate and
glanced into the air without doing the
least damage. AT the same time my
ship glided around her BOWS and both
vessels passed each other side by side.
We rushed to the side OF our ship to
get a look at the monster, and, seeing
that one Of her guns was being trained
on our gun, / jumped to one side and
yelled to the crew TO look Out just IN
time to avoid two heavy snots not two
feet apart. They both struck the side
OF the ship just below our feet ana
Dassed clear through the hull. The ram
then passed down the Line OF our "hole
fleet but soon returned to give us battle.
The commander, Buchanan, of Merri-
mac fame, had experienced a taste OF
wooden ships. The Monongahela headt
ed for the ram, firing her two SO-pounq
rifles as she advanced. AS she struck
Tho ram head-end on. it cut large hole
in the hull of the Monongahela, and the
ram continued on towards the fleet.
The Iackawanna darted for the ram ana
strn.k her at full speed. Both vessels
stuck fast to eadl other fer some timf
.nd exchanged a hot fire at close range.
pr.rny much all o., rhe union fleet was
INV this time closing in on The monstef,
determined ITO not let her escape tine
monitors at the same time pounding
a,yav at her. She was fast losing hep
.rmor. which consisted of three feet of
oak and six inches OF iron. She WAS al
MOST surrounded by our fleet and the
Ossppee with rifles trained was heading
for her at full speed. just then white
flag was run up on the lam hnd the
officer in command, JCtlnson 10y name,
surrendered to our vessel which collided
with her. Captain Leroy hailed the
caf1tain of the ram and asked HIM if he
surrendered. Yes came the reply. TO
whom do l surrender The u. S. ship
-Oss.pea,' was the answer of Capt. Leroy.
Il know you, Captain LeRoy This is
y Man, ~, A1
miral Buchanan is below wounded.
I'VE took command of the ship and
held her commander prisoner A she'll
from one of our ships mad exploded in
the port of the Tennessee AMI besides
l;flino nd Unun1inu :, nun,,er, .Iis SOL