The National tribune., 1906-06-07
FROM FORTRESS MONROE TO SHIP
ISLAND.
The Experiences of Butser's Mea In the
beginning of the Army of the Gulf.

Beginning of the Army of the Gulf.
About March /, 1862, the 4th Wis.
9Th Mich. and 21st Ind. and batter
were all crowded onto and into the Pa
cific Mail steamship Constitution, then
claimed to be the next largest ship to
the Great Eastern. We boarded her at
Newport News, two days before the
great naval battle between the Merri-
mac and Monitor. The men were so
crowded that IT. took me half day to
go from the cabin to the hold, where
bart of my company had been slowed,
ard get back to the cabin. We were to
be landed on Ship Island, about 100
miles east of New Orleans, and about
ii miles south of the Mississippi coast
As the steamer came to Newport News.
she had to pass within one and half
miles of the rebel rified battery on Sew
ellis Point, on the south side of the
James River. This battery took several
shots at the steamer on her way to the
landing, and got her range.
AS we started for sea we all knew we
would be shot at again. with strong
probability that some of us would be
hit. But our pilot played it on the
Johnnies thus: He took up moderate,
steady speed, so the Johnnies would
make their calculations for their aim on
our speed. But steam was UP as strong
rs Tie UOlltTS WOuiu Dtdts anu liz iii-
stant the smoke was seen to leave the
gun all the steam was let into the en-
gines, which in a minute nearly doubled
our speed. This threw their calcula-
tions out of joint, and all the second
and third loading and firing fell behind
the ship; but the first shot passed over
Col. Payne's (4th Wis., head, who was
standing on the bridge between the
wheel houses. The second shot struck
about 500 yards before reaching the
ship, and the rieochet sent the ball
over the deck. Gen. Phelps (the old
Connecticut Abolitionist) said II the
muzzie of the first gun had been de-
pressed the eighth of an inch the bali
would have struck ship at the water
line, The second gun was depressed a
trifie too much So we got out of the
James with only a scare. But here
remark that it took more nerve to look
out OF my state-room window through
a good fieldglass, by means of which 1
could see the season cracks in the flag
staff and the rope, and into the dark
hole in the muzzle of the cannon. and
see it belch out the great cloud of white
smoke, thereby knowing the ball was
coming for US. than it did later to stand
In line of the enemy's fire at much
shorter range.
Our next trouble was seasickness. The
men in the hold we're as helpless as
babies, and were desperately seasick for
a day and a half. We passed through
g. gale off Cape Hatteras, where this
ship was lost after the war. When We
got near Florida the heat became op-I
pressiye, and the men below would
climb to the deck and up into the rig
ging. As the boilers consumed so tons
of coal each day. our ballast grew SO
light that the ship would rock till the
mast seemed to lean half way to the
water at times. After we passed Key
West the ship rocked over a wave and
tilted so far that most of us on deck
were thrown on our knees. / was stand
ing within 10 feet of the Captain, and
j never heard a man squall as he did.
He was generally mild-mannered man,
but he then looked like a hungry lion
let out of his cage. He ordered the men
down out Of the rigging and below, with
a voice that made them all skin down
like so many scared cats. Then he sent
man 20 the cabin to tell Gen. Williams
TO come on deck at once. The General
was stiff West Pointer. and resented
the impertinence, as he thought it; be-
ing in the cabin, he had not realized
the danger He replied: Tell Capt.
- il he wants to see me to come to
the cabin" The Captain sent word
back: "Tell Gen. Williams to report to
me on deck at once or I'll put him in
irons" Williams came on deck looking
lake a thundercloud, and demanded of
the Captain: What do you mean sir Z?
/ am in command of this expedition"
''Yes, sir" said the Captain. "You are
in command of this expedition. You
can order me to any port in the world
and will go. but you can't tell me how
to trim my ship while / am going. In
that / outrank you. sir. Now, put your
men below at once"
One OF the staff, who had been on
deck and knew the danger, stepped up
and told the General the danger, and
he somewhat reluctantly allowed the
Captain to outrank him. The men went
below. Then the Captain called all the
company officers together and made this
little speech: Gentlemen, we are in
great danger of capsizing. and in 4
rough sea we could not avoid 1t. My
coal is well consumed, which makes me
short of ballast. Should this ship be
disabled. no 10 ships in the world, II
relieve it AS the blockade has driven
off the ships, 1t is not likely We would
see ship in six months. In case OF
disaster, / and my sailors will take to
the rowboats, while you all go down
with the ship. Now, you must keep
your men below till we land"
Then some company Captain spoke
r2. saying 1T would kin .tc men to con-
fine them below, and that there mus
be some relief, or the ship might as
well sink. The Ships Captain said.
Pass down this rear stairway; stay as
long as you can; then go up the forward
stairway and pass over the deck bach
to the rear" This was done, and ther.
was q solid stream of men thus passing
It'll we landed on the island next fore
noon.
When we landed we found the 26tf
Mass, who had been on the island sev
eral weeks, and had been on half ra
tions for the last seven days; but the,
were SO glad to see us they divided ra
tions with US. Before our rations coult
be got to shore there came up a terribl,
storm, which kept the sea so rough 70
two days that nothing could be taxei
off. That made three days fasting TO
me, for the ship didn't feed US afte
they got in sight of the landing. Hunge
was no name for us. The storm was II
the night, and / thought the wave
would sweep us from the island, whicl
Is a turtleback of sand. i stood out Fl
the rain and braced against my tent &
hofG IL against the wind. Tents wer
down everywhere, and we could see tn
men by the lightning's flashes workin,
TO save and to mend the situation. Gu
Lieutenant-Colonel came along an,
asked me in an excited voice: "Cap
tain. what do you think of this storm !?
II think It is a darned big one" said
holding onto my tent post Captain
this is serious matter. and don't wan
an impertinent answer. want to know