The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-14
FORTY MILES IN A SKIFF
ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI
BY N. F. thompson.

and all of the family and negroes with
some few Of the household effects were
safely embarked on them. I stood beside
that grand old man and watched his
features as We gazed upon the scene be-
fore US. Where but a few moments be-
fore his palatial home had stood, now
only the roof and chimneys were visible.
while all around was the wreckage OF
his prosperity, yet not a word of uss-
less regret o. idle complaint escaped
him. As to the scene ITSELF there is nor
in all the realm of pictured fancy one
more filled with tragic horror than this
one, which stood out In all it's dread ais
thickness in that early morning light. Al
/ saw then and see now in vivid distinct
ness the struggling animals, the floating
cotton bales. mingled with the loud la
mentations of the negroes, it was scene
of real ruin wrought by vandal foes,
thought 1t a blot and a stain on Christian
civilization which nothing could ever wipe
away. 1t was my first glimpse of the re.
suits of war, and it made an impression
on my youthful mind that nothing car
ever obliterate. l cannot enlarge on thai
scene, though It furnishes material for
romance of the most thrilling charac-
ter After rendering all the aid we could,
and seeing this little fleet started towards
safety in the interior, we resumed our
way towards Vicksburg, while all around
us was only wide waste of water.
strewn with drowned animals, and float
ing cotton bales on which domestic fowls
We're frequently seen. On coming oppo.
site the city the Yankee fleet of gun boats
were seen In full view Just below the city
anchored in mid-stream.
When our skiffs were just abreast Of
these boats, suddenly there was seen a
flash, volume of smoke, duslky white,
and from out of which a dull roar was
heard. with the whistle of shell aoove
one of the gunboats.
have heard the hiss of a rattlesnake
close to my ears and ready to strike.
have listened to the wicked ping OF the
minnie ball, but nothing equals for sound
malice the ring of a heavy shell fired
from close range. This shot was almost
Immediately followed by another. and
which proved to be a perfect line shot,
striking the water about fifty feet from
us and richochettfng directly over us.
1 frequently heard the roar of heavy
guns after tlat and was in many artl-
lery duels during the remainder of the
civil war, but never did feel such terror
as was awakened by thoce two shots
fired that day on the broad bosom of the
Mississippi river. At the second shot the
negro oarsman in our sk.ff suddenly
dropped his oars and began to pray very
Justify to the Almighty for aid, when a
big Texan drew his six-shootc- and shout
ed; Pull, you black rascal, pull this is
no time for praying nowt' ard h. re-
sumed his oars, pulling indeed for life,
but no other shot was fire !. an, we soon
landed at the wharf in Vicksburg. We
saw no pickets, met no so-4iers, but
everywhere there was evidence of tho
evacuation that was rapidly going on.
1t has ever been a matter OF much sur
prise to me why the Yankees did not
al once come on up and take Vleksburg,
which was not then prepared for defense.
and really expected to surrender, judg-
ing from all appearances. and in view
of the many thousands of brave lives that
thereafter, it is a great pity that this
was not done.
Birmingham, Ala, March 10, 1908.