New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-06


Occasionally even the regular officers lost pa
thence with the volunteers. on the night when
venturesome torpedo boat pOked her nose into the
Whitehead Passage. within n stones throw Of
headquarters. a company Of Maine volunteers was
hastily called out TO man Calling gun. With
praiscworthy speed they stumbled over the rocky
ground and reached the gun. Then they seized
box OF cartridges and attempted TO Introduce box
and all into the gun. This was too much fer the
commander o. the post Major Whistler, cousin
Of the artist and possessing touch OF the paint
Damn the militia, Kick them out. and give ne
some Tar Re snd Some regulars dti
fn ere repeated ed 1R s Mitchell en DAY
Governor Hill OF Maine. with Adjutant General
Farnham and staff. accompanied By the Gcv-
ernors wife and party Of women came to Port
land to add to the glory OF the war. and one day
hired n steamer and set out to visit the scene Of
hostiIities They met with a number Of repulses
and finally came alongside a boat belonging 10
the Engineer Corps.
Give my compliments TO the captain. and ask
him to pull out so come up to the wharf,
shouted General Farnham to a on deck The
man disappeared but returned in moment and
said:
Captains compliments. sir and he says he won't
pull out
Tuning staff hOisted the women over the rail,
carried them up the side OF the Engineer corps
accomplished General Farnham was boiling with
sMy compliments to your captain. he shouted
TO another man. who had come on DECK ana ana WIS WIS,
a hog" - -..,,.-
"TH tell myself SIR. I'm the captain
On the Governors staff, with the rank and uni
form OF major a local newspaper man. who
embraced the opportunity OF the trip TO take a
few notes. While he jottng down few
paragraphs a regular officer touched him the
shoulder.
who the devil are you sir?" he inquired sus-
piciousy.
4 represent themths 9t,, Is to say. why. I'm Major
Majors don't take notes" the grim answer
Ger they - c6mpTomised on the surrender OF the
notes. and the Boston paper had no scoop that
night.
Like most wars. the last had decisive battle.
but strange relate the victOrs were vanquished
This the conflict known 10 the history Of the
campaign as the "Battle Of Long Island" One
cool morning thousand jacNies, marines and
naval reserves waded ashore Gu this island and
gobbled up several companies Of militia and reg
ulars When the battle over the landing party
discovered six barrels Of beer in a convenient
place Certain that if they left II it would constitute
menace TO the morals OF the infantry the sailors
promptly dispatched 1t. and marched away In a
condition perilousIy to half seas over They
had beer gone only brief interval. when local
Sheriff whose duty it enforce the prohibition
law In that county. strOlled in on his duty call
He found some barrels and some broken glass. but
the spirit had fed There. was nothing theoretical
in this victory. on all other occasions the navy
found Itself dead before the fight began.
TIE most dramatic incident OF the whole wal
game occurred on the first night Of the game
when the searchIghts Of the shore forts had
picked up and fixed the great battleships. Kear-
sarge Alabama and Illinois sailing boldly into
the torpedo strewn harbOr. and guns and mines
had disposed of them the shore forces beheld with
amazemcnt the old ship Hartford. flying her bat
tie flags. her men at their guns. sailing into the
fire as proudly as she did at Mobile nearly forty
years
snare Farragut's flagship cease firing" com
rnanded Major Whistler. and in the silence that
followed the cheers of the army were borne out
to the ship In the morning the story was told q
Rrigadier General Randolph chief Of artillery.
''Sentinent" he growled with an assumption o.
\ dsapproval. Major. I'm surprised that an artil
lerv officer should pass enemy's ship for senti
rr,arf