The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-06-22

Of Navigation In the Navy Depart
r1ent A dark night was selected, the
men We're armed with the Sharpe's
rifle with sword bayonet, forty rounds
of ammunition and Colt navy revolv-
ers. The officers were prepared to
fight If they had to, for they did not
land to surrender The second cutter
was manned by her regular crew,
armed with reyolvers. The oars were
muffied, and they showed off IN the
dark for Fort Morgan. The surf was
running pretty high when the boat
came within sight of the beach, which
was of white sand. She was turned
around and backed into the surf with
about four feet of water under her
keel. This landing stern-on was for
good reasons. Had she been pulled
upon the beach it would have been
impossible to get her off quickly had
that been necessary. Overheard the
officers and men went, holding their
accouterments over their heads. They
reached the sandy beach and lay fat
for a while looking the ground over;
then took to the tall grass, about 100
feet from the water. The men were
then divided into squads of two, Clan
CIV and Southland on the extreme right,
Lieutenant Cotton in the center, Mr.
Hall on the left. The two men on the
right could have walked into Fort Nor
gan if there had been no sentry. The
orders were not to fire a shot, but to
use the sword bayonet, unless things
became unusually hot. Shortly after
the men had reached their stations q
mounted patrol was seen to leave the
fort, and when he reached Lieutenant
Cotton's station the men were onto
him. Never was there a more sur
prised rebel. He gave the counter
sign, which was ATLANTA" and of
course became a prisoner Upon the
to pilot the party to the videttes,
camp, which he did, and the party cap
rured Lieutenant Brown and two other
men-all four being from the Seventh
Alabama cavalry. By the time this
was accomplished the men were pretty
well tired out, with their heavy arms,
wet clothes and about five pounds of
Alabama sandcock; and every man
would have given a months pay for a
drink of water After the prisoners
were secured one Of the men asked
them If they had any water. Not be
ing in very good humor they answered
no. The master-at-arms discovered
In their tent, and they were quickly
consumed by the thirsty men. The
prisoners relented and pointed out a
cool spring not ten feet from the tent
The party started UP the beach on
their return. The rebels did not like
to take to the salt water to reach the
boat, but they did all the same. The
party reached the ship, tired sleepy
and worn out, for sailors do not have
much of that kind Of work to do AT
| the time the party were taking to their
boat the fort had become alarmed; but
they were too late. The prisoners
were turned over to Admiral Farragut
the next morning, and / presume that
| he obtained all the information that
he desired from them. That expedition
was as daring as was done by any
party Of sailors during the Civil War,
with the one exception of Lieutenant
Cushing and the ram AlbermarIe. If
there had been q newspaper CORE
spondent in the feet that enterprise
would have made as much noise as
Cushing's exploit-yet no man Of that
party has ever received the least con-
sideration except Lieutenant Cotton,
who has reached the height Of his am
bition-a rear admiral in command of
the European squadron-and his pro-
motion was won by other services
The navy captured cavalry, and Ad-
miral Farragut got his information
and on Aug. the battle of Mobile Bay
was fought.-Eugene Orr, q. 8. s.
Oneida, National Mil. Home, Ohio, in
National Tribune.
/ n