The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-11

as miserable az possible on wednesday
and on Thursday. on neither Of which
days did a 9unboat appear. The fear be-
gan to work in the mind OF Colonel Yates
that the enterprise had become known
to the Federal of1cers. But he held on
until Friday, still denying fres to his
men hidden behind the guns on James
and Johns Islands.
The Isaac Smith had been occupied on
Friday morning taking on board supplies
at StoIo Bar from the beef boat" that
was making Its rounds. Under orders
from Lisuterant Commander Bacon OF
the Commodore McDonough. she started
up the river on a reconnaissance. This
gunboat Of as tons usually carried a COM
plement of IS men, but on this occasion
there were l1s officers and men on board.
She was piloted by a negro, man we'll
acquainted with the river Lieutenant
Conover scanned the shores closely as the
Smith steamed onward. They seemed as
deserted and as harmless as they were
before. At about 4:so the Smith stopped
at point just above the Tom Grimball
place on James Island, dropped her an
Choir, and swung to the tide.
For once the Union commander had
gone too far and taken too much for
granted. While the anchor Of the Smith
was sinking In the mud Of Stone River.
Colonel Yates's first battery, just below
her. and commanding the way back, was
uncovered. Where there had been a row
of innocent worthless negro cabins was
now a row of shotted guns. the first Of
which at once opeEtd fire. Before the
Smith could slip her cable and get under
way. the whole battery was banging at
the propeller. The men OF the Smith
manned their batteries promptly. but
while they were busy delivering their
first responses from port another con-
,cealed battery on JONAS Island opened
upon them Lieutenant Conover Urged on
his men, appealed to engineer and pilot
to do their best and stimulated the gum
ner In charge Of tho big Parrot bow
gun. At least there was a chance to run
by.
The Smith was scarcely more than un-
der Roadway with he- bow down stream
when there was an explosion, cloud OF
steam, q sudden loss OF Roadway. a swerv-
ing OF the vessels bow toward shore. ana
the prospect Of destruction. for the fire OF
some twenty or thirty guns was now al
rected toward the Smith. shot were rip
ping through her fraii defenses, her men
were being picked on by sharpshooters.
one Of whom already had killed the pilot
and with a hole in the steam chimney
the vessel could not be handled so as to
make her batteries effective There was
but one thing to do. Colonel Yates called
out from shore, Surrender. and send a
boat ashore with the commanding oficer."
The decks of the Smith were covered
with wounded men, so hot had been the
rifle fire In the short squirt she had made
to escape To blow up the vessel would
be to sacrifice life needlessly. To get
away was impossible. The white flag was
sent up.
In two Of her own perforated boats the
first inEtallment Of the officers and men
of the Smith went ashore, as Colonel
Yates had predicted they would when he
besought Beauregard's patronage for his
enterprise. While other boatloads were
being landed the McDonough appeared,
but long way off down the river. She
fired some shot from her 10o-pounder. She
made efforts to destroy the Smith, which
she grounded. but she was too far away,
darkness was coming on. and there were
undeveloped dangers along shore. She
went hack to Stone Bar to report the
disaster to Flag oficer Du Pont
Lieutenant Conover and his men. who
had been captured. were sent TO Charles
ton and put in jail. and the officers were
held until exchanged. Colonel Yates and
his officers took dinner on board the
Smith soon after her surrender. 81 never
enjoyed meal more fully than that 1
took In the Smiths ward room" said
Colonel Yates a few years ago He is
now dead. she had good beef. which we
had not had for months, fresh vegetables,
some luxurtes including little wine, and
luxury of liixuries q table with white
cloth and plenty Of Dishes When 1t was
convenient tug was sent down the wap-
poo from Charleston and the Isaac Smith
was lowed up to the city. to be renamed
Stono and employed in the service Of the
Confederacy.
There may be people in Charleston who
can tell what became of the Smith after
the war. Her end was remarkable one
for vessel of war.
1t is fully recorded in history and II is
unique, for Colonel Yates was the only
officer or land forces who succeeded in
the attempt to make a war vessel sur
render to land batteries.