The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-09-29
ON A GOVERNMENT
TRANSPORT in "a.
A Crowd of Soldiers Exposed to the Bru.
talities of q Drunken Ship Captain.
BY +. w. MIXER.


interesting details of some of the create
battles, together with the soul-stirring ex-
periences of captured prisoners of war,
and a gloomy recital of their subsequent
miseres at those popular Summer resorts
of "a, viz: Andersonville, Salisbury,
Libby and Belle Isle, let him peruse the
columns of the soldiers friend, the es-
tecmed National Tribune, for in the col
.unlps of that paper, told in plain nara
tive style, We have read very interesting
accounts. mostly reminiscent of those blue
days, and speaking we'll for the memories
of the authors.
The experiences of the writer of these
lines and his comrades on a Government
transport bound for New Orleans in '61,
were unique, and could have occurred I'M
der no other conditions than those that
prevailed during the hurry and turmoil
: of that season during great war. This
vessel, the 7. A. Scott (named for Tom
Scott, President of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road, left New York for the Crescent
City the last of November, having a crew
of seven or eight men (about one-halt the
necessary number), several officers return
ing to the Department of the Gulf, large
portion of a Maine cavalry regiment re-
more recruits for the 18th Mass. Battery,
then stationed at Port Hudson, La. In
addition to the above there were several
civilians of a nondescript appearance on
board, who had dissipated look, save the
Bowery mark and, on board the ship at
least, sustained the reputation of being
Cheyaliers dlndustrie; in other words,
confidence men or gamblers.
Starting from a pier near the Battery
one cloudy afternoon, we met our first mis-
fortune by running down and nearly cut
ting in twain small sloop containing two
men and a boy, who were rescued with
some difficulty by the crew of tug
boat. This was Immediately established
as an evil omen by the sailors, and the
superstition seemed TO affect their conduct
during the voyage. Passing the Jersey
coast, it soon became apparent that We
We're on board q queer craft and one whose
destinies were uncertain. The returning
veterans having recently received bounty,
had already started little game of
draw" and this coming to the ears of
the Steward he and all his gang of
satellites FASTENED to put into operation
a system of business that never ceased un
til the levee at New Orleans was reached,
and was designed to secure, honestly or
otherwise, every dollar on board belong
ing to a soldier, and in this he was ably
seconded by the aforementioned passen-
gers" from New York.
Great neglect in some official quarters
was apparent in sending this vessel to sea
with no proper provision for the feeding of
the men. There appeared to be no nom
commissioned officers to act as Commits
sary-Sergeant, issue rations, see that they
were properly cooked in the galley, and
it was soon known that the quantity
brought on board was entirely insufficient,
and before four days had elapsed the men
were subsisting principally on poorly
cooked beans. 1t is unnecessary at this
late day to attempt to fix responsibility
unequalled on a transport during the war,
and it was at once seen by any intelligent
man that nothing but the best of luck
would save us from disaster. Taking ad-
vantage of the empty stomachs of the men,
the wretch known as "Cripps, the Stew
that entitled the holder to one dinner,
price $3.50, those equivalent for supper
being 81 less. With a large roll of green
backs in his hand, and an aid to assist, he
produced small bottles of poor whisky
cost $40, ginger ale and other soft drinks,
$2 per bottle. Tobacco sold readily to
those who had none at enormous rates. 1t
might be asked why this was allowed? But
1t was a singular fact that ineficiency
ruled, and Mai. Davis, a volunteer officer
nOminally in command, seemed conspicu-
Gus by his absence. Had an officer of the
army, of experience and ability, been pres
emf. no such state of affairs could have
existed and not wishing to be unjust in
criticism, / refrain from describing his
movements, but that he was a nonentity on
board the ship and that he feared contact
with drunken Captain and First Mate,
was well known to all present
The Captain of the vessel (Fitzpatrick)
and his First Officer were soon found to
be the most singular combination afioat
During the day time the Captain was ex-
tremely naughty in his demeanOr, expressed
contempt for the army, drank heavily, anil
spent the greater part of his time in his
room. where the cabin boy could be fire.
quently seen rubbing his feet with flannel
or renewing the contents of the decanter
at his bedside. AT night a complete trans
formation took place, after the libations
reached the desired point, and appearing
on deck, he would mount a cracker-box
and with his face to the bows harangue
the men, appealing to their patriotism, i'm
ploring them to do their duty on future
battieilelds like good soldiers, and gen
ally wound up with eulogy of President
Lincoln. The program of the Mate was
very nearly the same about o o'clock, al
though he displayed less oratorical ability,
while being considerably the drunkest of
the two. In the morning they had always
relapsed to their normal condition, when
neither would look at the uniform and
seemed TO regret the display of Unionism
Of the previous night. Both continued
drinking, the rations doled out grew small
er, and many cases of sickness appeared.
Nearing the region of Cape Hatteras.
away of the port bow, hundreds of bales
OF cotton were seen tossed about by the
action of the waves and evidently had been
jettisoned by a blockade runner in order
10 escape from the clutches of some man
of-war. Capt. IF" evidently thinking of
the high price which this staple had reached
in those days, declared his intention of
securing some of it, and in spite of the
feeble protests of Maj. Davis proceeded
to do SO.
For FIVE long days the vessel drifted in
the trough Of the sea for this purpose. AS
a bale drifted nearer and nearer the Sec
ond Mate was detailed to capture il. This
man was an excellent sailor, and repeated
. ly went over the side and down into the
sea, rope under his arms and the gran.
pling hook in hand, and without his aid
not bale could have been recovered. Hook
ing on to the cotton it was hauled IN
board with the assistance of a few soldiers
and every bale was worth several hundred
dollars, cotton then being at its top notch
price.
Eighteen bales were secured before the