The National tribune., 1903-08-27

OF which were the divisions OIL Darriru
and Elliott
CTo be continued)
ON THE OCEAN WAVE.
Tribulations of Butler's Troops En- Route
From Boston to New Orleans.
EDITOR NATIONAL. TRIBUNE: In Feb
ruary. 1862. Gen. Benjamin +. Buffers
New England Division, the nucleus of the
Nineteenth Corps. was ordered to New
Orleans. The journey of the 3lst Mass,
styled the Western Bay State Regi-
ment," from Pittsfeld to Boston was
continuous ovation. All along the route
the people gratuitously supplied the bold
soldier boys with all kinds of desirable
edibles, never forgetting cheese and GIN
ger-bread
At Boston the 3,st Mass, 1000 strong,
and five companies of the 10th Me. em-
barked on the new transport Mississippi,
bound for the Crescent City. In addition
to the troops, the vessel carried heavy
cargo of military stores and 300 tons of
coal. Friends accompanied us past Fort
Warren and Fort Independence. which
fired their big guns in salute. Just be-
fore night. when we were beginning to
ride the long swell of the ocean. our
friends babe us bon voyage and returned
home. No precautions against sea sick
ness had been provided, not even n lemon
being on board for the stomachs sake,
the return" of cheese and gingerbread
being unrestrained. To intensity our dis
comfort, the only pure fresh water aboard
ship was monopolzed by the officers.
AT Fortress Monroe. where we arrived
in brisk gale, Gen. Butler, his wife and
maid. and his staff, joined us. The voy-
age was resumed Feb. %. When near
Cape Hatteras we were tempest-tossed.
Tho Capfaiu in bod lncEaI in hi-
was aroused with difficulty, and informed
that disaster was imminent. He headed
| the ship east. standing in that direction
until morning. The ice-hOuse, in which
was packed quarters of beef, gave way.
Beef, barrels of pork, potatoes, rice and
other provisions, mingled with ammuni-
ton. muskets and equipments, broken
hunks and mangled humanity, rolled and
smashed fore and aft. Matches were bat
tened down, and Egyptian darkness pre-
vailed. the roar of the storm neutralizing
ali other sounds. No brush can paint,
no pen can describe, the horrors of that
tempestuOus night.
At sunrise on the 9th the ship quiv-
cred. We were stranded ON Frying Pan
Shoals. five miles from shore, and in full
view of Fort Macon. Casting the Gypsy"
we found IA feet of water. The normal
draft of the ship was 1S feet. We were
told that but one vessel in like predica-
ment had ever been saved. The anchor
was cast, and the ship forged against it.
crushing fve-inch hole in the side.
| through which water poured with resist
less force. Fortunately, there were wa
| ter-tight compartments.
The men began to murmur, accusing
| the Captain of being n Baltimore seces-
| sionist." For protection he was placed in
charge of the best drilled company on
board. commanded by Capt. Fisk, who
| later became General.
Confederate hOrsemen could be seen rid
ing furiously along the shore. We fired
| one shell from Sawyer gun. The pumps
were kept going by 100 men, while strong
detachments were engaged in throwing
| overheard everything that would tighten
the ship. An officer went aloft to scan
| the ocean. and reported steamer in the
distance flying the Confederate flag. The
deck was cleared for action, 80 men stand
ing by the Sawyer gun. Sharpshooters
were posted in the rigging. There were
some strange scenes and ridiculous ac-
tons. Here and there man loaded his
musket with two charges of powder and
one ball; others with one charge and two
balls. Each soldier used his own discre-
| ton, all of them, however, being resolved
that the vessel should not be carried by
| boarding.
1t was all a false alarm, the stranger
being the Mount Vernon, friendly yes
sci. The Captain, very pale, came aboard,
grasped Gen. Buffers hand. shook his
head, and paced the deck. The wind was
increasing. and the ships sides were seem
ingly yielding to the pressure of the great
| waves that were beating against them.
Not more than 400 men could be accom-
modated by the Mount Vernon. Lots
were drawn, the result being that the
Maine boys won. and were quickly trans
ferred to the relief vessel, Gen. Buffers
wife accompanying them A Chaplain.
who insisted ON going. was commanded
by Gen. Butler to remain and do his duty
pray for the men. However, he man
aged to get away. On the next day he
was dishonorably dismissed from the serv-
ice. The boys from Massachusetts, be-
haved nobly,. Although apparently left
to perish. they maintained strict discip-
line. Every effort was made to relieve the
ship. Finally, there was lull in the
tempest. Gen. Butler ordered the ring
ing Of the engine bell. The ship moved.
breaking through the sand barrier, and
we We're safe on the rolling deep.-MAR-
SHALL NJ. CASHIER, 31st Mass, Prairie.
| Wash.