The Jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 18??-1907, 1904-09-24
Gen. Dick Taylor Camp .. c. Y.
NO. 1895.
Ct. w. L. DAWSON, Com.
GEO. T. TODD, Adjt.

River.
In December 1862 while assistant
Commissary, at Fort Butte-Rose, we
had two side wheel boats in use by sig
nal corps, and the comniissary depart
ment. On one occasion / went up to
Simsport to get some rstions for the
troups. and while at Simsport the
"Queen of the West" had gotten into
Red River and came down the Atcha-
laya River, and landed and burned up
Sims Plantation, about three miles
above Simsport.
There was no time to lose, as we had
Gen. Sbey's Brigade ammunition, and
at the river at Simsport was Valverde's
Batterry's commanded by Gov. j. D.
Sayers, which had all their ammunition
that we took aboard and also 80 bar
rels of salt beef I saw the "Qucen of
the West" with steam up coming down
the river. l was plotting the boat and
ALT Millout was engineer, who was af-
forwards engineer of Mechanics Fire
Co. No. /. at Jefferson. We started
down the river with the "Queen of the
West" after us. our boat the Minerva
drawing but four feet of water, while
the Queen of the Vest drawing elev-
Ell or twelve feet, and had to follow the
deep channel, while 1 with the small
boat made all short points and bends;
sometimes the limbs and trees struck
the pilot house causing us much anx-
iety, thinking they were shells of the
Federal Gun Boat, which had been
shooting at US for sometime. Had one
of the shells from their Gun Boat struck
the stern of the Minerva among our
ammunition there would have been no
one left to tell the tale.
Capt. Chas. Hardingburg, Commits
sary of Fl ButteRose asked me to
land the Boat and blow her up, but /
refused to do so, having no fuse, and
being anxious to save our ammunition.
One thing that saved us was that our
Cavalry was left behind at Simsport
where they took stand in the swamps,
and the sharp. shooters among them
killed about fifteen men on the "Queen
OF the West" and go enraged them as
to cause them to abandon their chase
after us and stop and shell the woods.
They afterwards turned back into
Red River, while run down the mouth
Of Bayou Catalbre and to Washington,
La. While at Bayou Catalbre we un.
loaded the ammunition and beef I met
the boats that took the troops, wagons
and cavalry.
l think Mr.. T. N. Lockett of this
city belonged to Tom GREEN'S Cavalry
while at that place. Gen. Dick Taylor
was aboard the steamer B. L. Hodge
and hailed me to report at headquar
tiers, but I sent Capt. Hardingburg il
my stead to tell him what we hac
aboard our boat. Our boats were sid,
by side, and overheard the converse
ton between them. Capt. Harding
burg told him that he had asked me tt
land the boat and blow her up. Point
ing to me Gen. Dick Taylor shook hi
hand and said he was going to have nj
court martialed, to which I replied tina
l could stand it. About three month
afterwards met Gen. Taylor on Bayo,
Tache below New Iberia. l though
he had forgotten all about threatening
to have me court martialed, but he ha
not and asked me what my defens
would be or would have been, to whic
| replied was in charge of the boa
and again had no fuse with which t
' blow her up, and I also thought h
3 should thank me for saving the amun
ton. His reply was your defense
we'll taken, Afterwards the Queen {
the West returned and went up Re
River and captured the Era No 5 of tn
: Kounz line upon which was one of OF
most popular Pilots plying betwee
New Orleans and Jefferson, Mr.. Harr
. Atkinson. They took him up to tn
= Pilot House and with a squad of so
/ diers around him made him steer tn
boat further up Red River. When the
got to Ft, DeRussey shot from one
our seige guns cut steam pipe an
disabled her, and we captured her an
h took her to Alexandria where she W,
q repaired and we afterwards had h,
sunk in fight in grand Lake with I'll
"A
4 JOHN A. Fielder.
Our honored Commander, Col, G. Y
L. Dawson will write a short artic
& about the chivalry of the Southel
E ladies in Missouri during the Civil wa
+ in the next issue.
49, MY