Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-09-26
SaqUyer'S Lane

4 to land his force between their camp and
Hatteras while Colonel Wright was TO
land in their camp and fight them. We
came in sight of them early In the morn
ing. while they were cooking and eating
! their breakfast. They lined up to give
us battle. We threw a shell over at them
that gave them a fright. The second
shell put springs TO their legs. and with
out saying Thank yOu," or Il see you,
they scampered on in a hurry, leaving
everything behind.
We landed and began pursuit. We were
! hampered by our artillery. Night came
on and IL grew very dark. We halted, and
while resting there appeared TO hundreds
OF us what seemed to be n line of FEEDER
ais advancing on us-as perfect line as
we ever afterwards saw.
We opened fire on them and for a time
Il was lively. We were ordered to cease
4, firing. and TO our amusement we found
We had been firing into the Atlantic
ocean. What was Il? A mirage or opti-
cal Illusion, you think.
The moon rising. we pushed on In pur-
suit Of the enemy. reaching the point we
were 10 meet Colonel Shaw little after
daylight He was not there and the boys
in blue had escaped. Our artillery was
placed aboard a sailboat, with Captain
i Walker, the writer and others who had
left the hospital TO take part in the fra
I cas-, 10 take back TO our boats that we
/ nHu AEAN AT our INST AGHQAAE DNlAlNs AAC
l owner of the sailbOat at first refused to
take us back. He knew what was to be
our fate. Captain Walker threatened to
/ have him shot II he did not sail HIS boat
With that admOnition TO do or die, that
have seen In the boys Of the old North
State later. he turned on Captain Walk
er and said:
''sir, II you have prayers to say, be
quick about II, for in a few minutes We
will be sailing through hell.
He jumped into his boat, cut her loose,
/ threw the sails to the breeze and away
we went. We had gone but short dis
tance before we came in sight of a mon
ster Federal gunboat (the Monticello)
standing out at sea, apparently not more
than half mile from US.
i They discovered us and turned their
guns on US, and made IL not only lively,
but as fearful position as could be ask
ed for. They shot over us, in front and
/ near by US. and some shot fell short OF
US, coming at US. as one Of my comrades
said. snake fashion. creeping on the wa
ter. Not a word was spoken on the boat
\ The writer. 70 dispel the thought of the
occasion, fixed his gaze on the old cap
tain as a study.
We sailed on, shells exploding and guns
booming until we reached a marshy is
land in the sound and disappeared from
the sight Of the horrid monster.
Then 1t was the captain spoke first
saying to his boat Maggie, You are a
gem. you are a clipper
The writer exclaimed. Amen, amen"
The spell was broken and once more we
/ could speak and feel easy. f.tr co.
Says the captain to the writer: MY
boy. you seemed not to have been fright
ened. Why did you keep your eyes on
ms?''
You mistake me-" said I. Had you
have said boo-bOo to me should have
been in the sound before the second boo
reached my ears"
Yes, said he, "and should NIye fol-
lowed you. for you seemed to have had
me under a spell. You seemed to have
Invested yourself for a SWIM said the
CAPTAIN.
IAN honest confession IS good for the
soul. they say" was my reply, and will
Il explain.
/ Getting on the boat had pulled of my
shoes to battle and rest my feet, as they
were sore from the grinding sand I had
i gathered In my shoes the day and night
before. Hearing him speak to Captain
Il Walker Of the hot quarters we were like
~ soon to become an occupant OF, had
made ready If possible, to take a swim
in the sound first. The reader must to
himself imagine the release from the
strain NO pen can draw II.
i The regiment on the land was falling
back to their first landing, being treated
as we had been by shells from this boat
at sea We all, save one. succeeded in
reaching our boats and the next morning
Il found US back on Roanoke Island with
all the boys In blue had in their. camp.
/ fortunately, as Henry Glover. one OF the
| best soldiers In the army and one of the
Il jolliest fellows In camp or on the march.
i expressed it. not the Twentieth Indiana
regiment. the boys we were after. We
i were short on rations and had none to
1 ur1nrz II ha rs ont
II from the hind and four quarters Of the
Il marsh ponies. Issued to us for fresh meat.
i We were not fond OF Il and I am sure
they would not have enjoyed II, even as
much as the West Point boys do their
tobasco sauce. Permit me 20 suggest
| 10 the West Point boys to try a little
marsh pony beefsteak as a substitute
for their sauce II the war department
1 condemns the sauce. No better substitute
| could be offered II will not likely kill the
candidate. but will certainly prove his
relationship to a vulture. Colonel Shaw
soon made his appearance; his failure to
i make connection seemed TO have some
what fortified him. but II did not cause
him to lend his assistance to old Rance
i In the defense OF the island. Nature had
divided the north from the south end OF
1 the island by an almost impenetrable
marsh. RANGES plan was to erect line
1 Of trenches and batteries across the is
Il AtAAAs AOA very NAuc at TINS punt huOhlIlk
full well the attack would be made from
this direction.
With old Rance In command and his
old regiment to support him, supplied
| with guns and ammunition in plenty,
there couldn't have been landed enough
men on the south end to capture our POSI-
ton. How often is II that envy. jealousy,
/ ignorance or bigotry is brought TO bear
| TO defeat the best Of purpose. Wright
Il and his command had To 90 and were
supplied by General Wise's battalion.
Before reaching Portsmouth, a few
miles out, we were met by Brigadier Cen
eral Blanchard and an escort and we were
marched to our old quarters with great
| pomp. While marching through Ports
| mouth one of the Louisiana boys ran up
crying, Here are the Boys that tackled
| the elephant. skinned him and wear his
hide back to camp" alluding to our blue
| overcOats. With that ne threw one OF our
boys on his shoulders and trotted off TO
a nearby saloon for a drink and to treat.
Now some may say that was a breach OF
military discipline. What cared these
| boys for such? Place them in front OF a
| line of bluecoats and IL there be one
left to tell the story he will swear he had
| emerged from a double decker western
| cyclone. These Louisiana boys were good
ones; they appeared to love fighting to
that Of eating. We were proud to get
4 back and prOuder still 10 have the oppor-
tunity Of displaying our captured over
coats. Walking down the streets of Ports
| mouth one day / met quite an old gem