The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-04-28

complete and in good order, also four
yawls or skiffs, and some ID prisoners oil
war, all of which is the same captured by
Col. Prince on the 10Th day of May, 1868
u. b. BURNETT, Captain, Co. ID, 16Ott
N. Y. S. ""
Red Chief, No Luther Hathaway
Mate; d. G. Castle, Engineer; Willie
Forester, Watch; q. w. Thompson
Cook.
A true list; W. ]. ALLEN, Captain
Steamer Starlight-Charles Hayes
Master; Barry Hayes. Engineer: james
NJ. johnson, Clerk: James Neven, Mate
II. B. Turner, Pilot; j. L. Vincent
Paroled.
There were some others, men, laborer>
on the boats"
1T WAS BIG JOB, WE'LL DONE.
At the time of this feat it did not seen
to me that there was any great deal o.
hazard about the undertaking: but as
have thought over it in the intervening
years since, l am persuaded that, for &
little affair. just the capture of a couple
Of steamboats, and % or 30 prisoners, the
whole thing was managed exceedingly well
resulting in all the success possible, and
was as brave and thrilling little adven
ture as perhaps occurred during the en-
tire war. The boats did excellent service
after the surrender of Port Hudson in
moving troops and supplies from one
point to another in the Department of tho
Gulf.
APPROVAL BY GEN. BANKS AGAIN.
Gen. Banks seemed to think q grea,
deal of the capture of the boats, and ad
vised the land forces. and Admiral Farra
gut, of the successful capture of all In,
river transportation which the enemy had
In Vol. 2G. Series !, Part /, p. sos
Records of the Rebellion, is this communi
cation:
HEADQUARTERS, Department of the Gulf
Nineteenth sI Army Corps ;;oi Kiley's before
Admiral ID. G. Farragut. commanding
Admiral: - Col. Prince, will
the eth Ill. Cav, and section of the Is
X. / Battery, was sent down and acros.
Thompson's Greek to destroy the enemy,
means of transportation, with the view o.
frustrating the probable attempt to escape
at this point. Col. Prince took the lars.
steamers Starlight and Red Chief. and 4
small fiat. being the only means Of trans
| portatiOn on the creek, and, finding tn,
| south bank OverfiOwed and the steamer,
| IN good order, very properly decided Il
hold the boats instead of burning them
and only to destroy them in the last re
| II have the honor to be. very respect
fully. your obedient servant.
IN. p. BANKS, Major General, Command
| ing"
| CHOOSING BETWEEN CONFLICTING ORDERS
| In regard to- the violation of the orde
| Of Col. Grierson. my brigade commander
| | did not think then and do not thinl
| now that that amounted to anything, be
| cause i was proceeding according to tn
orders of Maj.-Gen. Banks. then i'm com
mand of the whole army, and because Til
| splendid success of the enterprise was ,
| complete yindicati0n.
On this expedition. after turning sOutl
| and proceeding TO the wharf near whicl
| were the boats, we might have been caugh
| in trap by any rebel force coming i'm OF
our rear, but ] knew that the only con
| siderable rebel force which would try l.
whip us was Logan's cavalry. with twic
our number of men: but | rightly decide
| that we could capture the boats brfor
Logan would find out what we were afte,
| felt sure. also, that We could defend ouI
| selves against n superior force until rein
| forcements could reach us: and realize
that the men | had with me would neye
surrender. but would fight till we wer
relieved. II it took 4S hours or more fo
} relief and support to come to our assist
ance: and in any event we would nc
} surrender.