The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-15

| piled, bit their fire was evidently directed
on the fort, as they had not yet located
their adversaries. Now mast would fall
away then the splinters would fly from
n ships side; then there was a flutter Of
signals from end to end Of the line, and
| the squadron began to heed Colonel
Lambs injunction to git III, and git"
| They would steam out for half or three
quarters Of a mile and round to, only to
he PURSUED with merciless effect by their
concealed tormenters. Finally the mon
gnve n great cheer of triumph as one
fine ship fairly collapsed, waved fenrfully
over to one side. and was towed out Of
Tho line by another vessel. We continued
tho long range bombnrdment until the
| neet WINS away off across the bar, hulls
down. 4
But before the close OF the engagement
we were treated to an exhibition o.
pluck which eXtorted our applause, Ono
stately ship separated herself from me
line, described II seml-clrcle and, riding
the waves like Il majestic bird until
within mile and half # the beach.
flashed her glistening sdo to u.s. and
hurled upon us tho missiles of n whole
broadside. All! they had Spotted us"
and In wonderfully little time had the
range shot whizslng right over the sand
batteries. and even carrying off part OF
tho ''blind'' Of bushes. But the detach-
m r worked the guns with re-
doubled ardor. and at last the gallant
foe, with d parting defiant salute, fairly
turned tall and regnincd Its place In the
line. s t l5
Southern papers. smuggled through the
lines a fow days afterwards, gladdened
our hearts with the news of greater
victory than we had dared to claim.
Ia. b1ota u 1,o1 os f,a1 n.
scathed. and on the disabled vessel (the
MiantonomoE. If recall the name cor
recty) nine men were killed, Including
the purstlr, who was seated at the desk
In his cabin. Tor a long time afterwards
the Tederals treated Fort Caswell with
gratifying respect.
In one of these Whitworth gun detach.
ments was James Waddill who after the
civil war married on tho east side OF
Cape Fear River, In Cumberland coun-
ty, and diod in the seventies. Flo was
a typical soldler-brave. obedient TO dis
cpllne, hardy and full Of resource. He
had Travelled nil over tn grent West
living in New Mexico and on the shores
| OF Lower California, among the simple
priests \ in their missions, of whose
idyllc life he had many stories.
A FINE COOK.
| Waddill was the best cook 7 ever knew,
able to give points about preparing dln-
ner to even the celebrated Soyer. THO
evening Of the day that we routed thu
blockading squadron, our mess got hold
Of some fine fish, and Waddill Tusurped the
| functions Of the cook in fixing them for
| supper He placed them. undrawn and
unscalcd III newspapers saturated with
water, and covered with hot ashes and
embers.. This does not sound enticing TO
the hnica and fastid4Ous; but when he
| announced that they were ready, tho
hungry men had a feast of a lifetime.
Waddill had nosend Of tact and self
possession. but I once saw him retreat
from an embarrassing situation In utter
] discontinue. Our company was making
a march through the eastern part of this
i State attached to the Virginia brigade
| Of the brave General Garnett, at the time
commanding that district Of North Caro-
lima, who afterwards gave his life for
| his country. It had been a wearisome, try
ing days journey, raw and rainy, and the
i men struggled q good deal. At the
i gloomy close OF the day the brigade
went into camp In q ow-lylng stretch
! OF old field pines.
Waddlll came trudging along, putting
! his pipe, and settling his knapsack or
! his CALLED shoulders as ho walked See.
l ing a battery Of guns parked nearby
A and n Drusl-heap already in roaring
blazo, he thought he had reached his
own company, and turned In to the vel
come fire but he was really in the
camp OF brigade headquarters. squaaine
himself to the blaze. while the smoke
STRAINED from tho seat Of his breechcs
and his wet back he said:
well I'd like to know what damned
fool had the camp pitched in such q
place MS this!
!, II did," said General Garrett. In an
( apologize tone of voice, who was resting
on q pile of baggage Il few feet away
. but did not know that you would OBJ
ject to It,"
Waddill got to the right fire at last
n much subdued man. But he said that
1t wits something, too, to have received
an apology from the commanding gen,
eral.