The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1902-01-17
DEWEY At PORT HUDSON.
TEXAS CONFEDERATE'S STORY
OF THE BLOWING UPOF
THE UNION STEAMER
MISSISSIPPI.


Dallas tTex) News.
a, the meeting in Waco, Tex. of
the survivors of the t,irtielh Texas
Cavalry. Capt. Il NJ. Scott read The
following on Admiral Dewey at PORT
Hudson:
When Admiral Dewey was asked
II he was made a prisoner at the time
" the destruction OF the United
States man.of-war Mississippi, whet
attempting to pass the batteries Il,
Port Hudson. La, he Is reported tt
have said: No. | was not captured
when the Mississippi was run agrount
md burned. About $50 of our me-
we're captured. but the captain and
managed to pull away in II boat down
lie river and escaped capture.
nave seen the statement made spyera
lines lately, and | am glad to Sd,
That it is entirely incorrect. l have
never been a Captive
1.-The admiral's statement that ht
was not captured at the time referred
70 Is net what take issue with. but
20 that part of the sentence which
says, The Mississippi was run
lgr0und and burned
II suppose that at the time referred
TO, March IA, 1863, Admiral Dewey.
ge was some where about % years
md his rank in the United States
lavy not much more than that Of !
nidshipman, and his nervous system
not 50 well under control as wher
hirty.fve years after he so gallantl,
ed his ASiatic squadron into the har
nor Of Manila and after few hours
harp fighting immnrtalized his name
~ snutflng out nearly half the nav,
# Spain, and he is most likely to b.
mistaken when he says. the MiSsis
ippi was run aground and burned.
will give a PLAIN, unvarnished tale
Is saw it, nothing eXtcnuating, set
ing down naught in malice.
AT the time referred TO the de
lenses 0f Port Hudson were manned
" some 18. 600 Of the best, nut po0r
'SL equipped troops Of the Confeder
ICY. General Maxey's brigade, o
which l was adjutant.gene wa
nade up ~ the Forty.second, Forty
light, Forty.ninth. Fifty.third an(
'ifty.afth regiments, captured a
'ort Donelson and recently exchan
I'D and the Fourth Louisiana regi
| nenl. Thirtieth Louisiana Batta ion
tiles Legion and Capt. Fenner'
New Orleans Battery.
THE Mississippi river in front o
nrt Hudson Is straight and IN plan
lew up and down the river from tn
highland, IN which the fort was Ia
ated for from twelve to fOnrtee
niles. AOOut five miles below til
mst the United States ironclad CUR
nat was AZ the time, and had bee
ora month or more, at anchor
every day, about four o'clock in til
ftcrnOOn. we were served by he
,eavy mOrtars, with large she'll
which. bursting In the air above u
,howered down q rain OF irn., Fe
casualties occurring, we soon becam
10 accustomed to It that when II
lr>t daily shell came screaming al0r
he sky the orderly sergeants won
all out, -Four o'clock, men; fall
f,r company drill!' 0Haa 3
Zone mnrning. at early dawn, 1t WI
the l4th NJ March. 1869, lying al al
.hor ar0,nd the gunhuat Bssex was
number of United States ships. Du
, ing the hay they threw few she'
md occasionally u solid shot into on
wnrks. / suppose ~ yet the range OF
ater ceased firing. and us the su
| went dawn behind tue wide stretcn
! the river, All was quiet. '''p NJ.
"Darkness had been over the Ian
for several hours, when the bo"m of
heavy gun was heard. A courier fro'
. Iour outpoat no tho Baton Rouge ron
j rsmc dashing In, givint intellivent
II ri the 4 pproach OF the enemy BY lan'
4 rho huvIes and drums gave signH
nl sor The men 10 Lake Positions 70 " "
. ,tsnches. By this time i've Sgoes
J. | <,1S. a. nhhmNi neAt bl5o IA