Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-10-09

the war for the union OF this incident,
in which he was one of the actors:-
When our regiment of 1000 men
left Camp Lyon in West Hartford for
Louisiana to help Gen. Butler to take
New Orleans, we didn't expect sharks
to be our first living antagonists. At
the start the weather antagoniZed;
snow, rain, sleet, slush accompanied
US down Asylum avenue, but bands
played. The crowds cheered, and we,
with hearts so filled with patriotism
that we had no place for regrets,
marched down Asylum hill singing
GLORY. glory, hallelujah," and filed
into the waiting train for New Haven,
where the little steamer Elm City,
not being in readiness, we stood for
hours in the rain with our overcoats
frozen until they were like tin, and
before the order to march came most
Of the sing was frozen out of us.
The little craft was so heavily loaded
that we seemed more likely to go to
the bottom of the sound than to New
York, but we made the trip with much
discomfort, and there were taken on
board the steamboat Fulton, having
already on board the 18th Maine regi-
ment, Colonel Neal Dow in command
The 1000 men with their impedimenta
made heavy cargo.
There was the usual rough weather
of the season, and none of us where
sorry when we sighted Ship island,
where we had been told we were to
land. Ship island, as everybody
knows, is 20 miles from the coast of
Mississippi, the nearest mainland, in
Mississippi sound, and from Long
Island sound to Mississippi sound at
the close Of winter is quite a change
in climatic conditions. This island
some OF us remembered as being noted
as having been the rendezvous of the
British troops in the was of 1872
From this island it was convenient for
them to embark for the taking of New
Orleans. We recalled, too, how they
were defeated in battle a few miles
below the city by Gen. Jackson, Janu-
airy 8, 1872. We were quite proud of
occupying such historical ground while
we were waiting to be called upon to
assist the navy in reducing the forts
below and in taking the city.
[ shall never forget how the desolate
stretch of land appeared to us when
we first came in sight of it after our
rough, stormy passage. 1t looked like
long, low, dirty drift of snow, just
raised above the blue expanse of wa
ters. The greater part of the island
consists of fine white sand, without
tree or shrub or blade of grass, even
to relieve the eye, and with no soil in
which vegetation can take root.
We New England boys were glad to
be on land once more, but after our
white canvas Sibley tents were
pitched on the yellowish white sand,
the scene was so barren, so monoton-
GUS and 50 forlorn that I believed
every brave heart longed for home,
although there were but few who ad-
mltted their inconsistencies.
One morning soon after our arrival
|. IN company with several of nv
comrades, stood On the beach looking
out over the smooth sea that stretched
between us and our much-lOved north.
The day was perfect; the warm. baIry
ar was almost oppressive, heated as
1t was by the reflection Of the sun on
the shining sand, into the warm
surface of which our feet sank at
every step. What fine place for 2
SWllh! exclaimed one. and how
warm the water!" asserted another
dipping his hand in it. I should have
said that the island was uninhabited
at the time of ouT landing; we found
the smoking ruins of the lighthouse
Keepers dwelling, the round, white
Drlck tower alone standing on our ar
rival SO there was no one to tell us
OF the danger that lurked in those clear
waters that looked so inviting as thew
gently Tapped the smooth beach.
presently some half-dozen of us had
thrown OF our wooden garments, which
mad been very comfortable when we
lett the snow of New England. but
were cumbersome in this new climate:
and we were splashing and ducking
each other like party of big boys
as indeed, we were. The feel of the
water was delightful, and we were en-
Toying it exceedingly, when one or the
Maine boys called out: Lets strike
OUT. Come on, Connecticut" dashing
INTO deep water as he spoke. Some
one followed with Come ont" and T
was next in order, swimming as fast
as could in an effort to overtake the
leader, when in hardly a moments
liihe an agonlzing Shrek from the
soldier who was ahead appraised me
OF some danger that I could not com
prehend-
me cry was followed by another
from the next in line, and thinkino
Ihey were taken with cramps, and that
might be of some assistance to them
made all the effort possible to reach
them, but in an instant both had dis
appeared. The telltale streaks of
blood that commingled with the clear
water near the spot where our poor
comrades had gone down were seen
pF the soldiers Watching us from the
oeach, and one who knew somethine
OF the mode of attack of these GREAT
ures shouted Sharks! Sharks," 7
"eeoed no further warning to make
me turn and swim for the shore for
dear life
but had hardly changed nv
course when, looking down into the
transparent depths where I was.
saw, only few feet from me ono of
fn11