Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1908-01-23
,HEROISMS UNSUNG.

Inc Junely, wen pTesehtSu anu WSi
deserved tribute to the gallant conduct
of Lieutenant S. f. Shepard and others
in bringing a wounded comrade from
the battlefield, under the enemies guns,
at Vicksburg, on May "a, 1863, suggests
two Incidents illustrating equal bravery
in another officer of Company E. 18th
Wis. Infantry, namely Captain Abner
Powell
In the autumn and winter Of l864-5,
Captain Powell was on duty as Provost
Marshal at the little town of Algiers,
La, aerossthe river from New Orleans.
The country north of New Orleans,
across Lake Pontchartrain, was still
held by the enemy. Spies from their
lines occasionally got into the city, and
smuggling was common. Among articles
contraband of ar, was quinine, of
which the Concentrates were destitute,
and which in that malarious country
was very necessary medicine. Secret
service men, in civilian dress were en-
ployed to detect spies and smugglers.
Two Of these detectives learned and re-
ported to Capt. Powell, that fishing
boat, manned by three Spaniards, and
having her sides lined with quinine was
preparing to sail across the lake, with
the goods, under cover of night. The
Captain instructed the detectives to
represent themselves as Southern citi-
zens anxious to join friends across the
lake and further to represent that
rebel officer whom they knew was in the
city and would pay literally for trans
portatiou. The arrangement was made,
and a certain night fixed for the run.
Capt. Powell determined to himself per-
senate the rebel officer, procured
shabby suit of civilian clothes, and fol-
lowing after the detectives was taken
aboard the vessel about twelve O'Clock
of a pitchy dark night, and they silently
sailed away.
Captain Powel's plan was to allow
the craft TO sail so near the enemy's
shore that there could be no dispute as
to her destination and purpose, then to
demand her surrender in the name of
the United States, and return with his
prize and prisoners to New Orleans.
Accordingly when the shore lights plain
y IN Heated that the craft was beyond
the Union lines Capt. Powell stepped
toward the man at the wheel and com
manded him to reverse course. Instead,
the fellow rushed at the Captain with
murderous knife, at the same time call
ing his confederates to fight Captain
Powell promptly fired two bullets into
the fellow, dropping him to the deck,
and turning on a second Spaniard rush
ing toward him with cleaning knife,
gave him a like dose that brought him
down also The third of the crew seeing
his partners done for, threw mp his
hands in token of surrender, and at the
Captains order tumbled into small
boat being towed by the smack. The
secret service men who were expected
to assist Capt Powell in the fight, were
slow of action, appearing only in time
to see the finish, and help sail the boat
back to the New Orleans shore, where
she arrived about daybreak. The two
wounded men were sent to the hospital,
and the third smuggler to Jail, and the
vessel and cargo turned over to the
quarter-master' S department of the
army.
Another heroic incident in which Cap
tain Powell was the leader occurred the
same winter. 1t came to the knowledge
of the Union authorities that a company
of Confederate cavalry was camping on
the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain,
to aid and encourage spies and SNUG
glers. Captain Powell volunteered to in
vestigate, and taking sixteen men of
his provost guard one dark night sailed
across the lake in a small vessel landed
about midnight on the enemy's shore,
and procuring a negro guide, marched
to building occupied by the command
ing officers of the Confederate force.
Placing his men about the building, the
Captain pushed his way through the
door, and was upon the two Confederate
officers as they awoke from sleep. Two
pistols pointed at them prompted obed-
fence to command to dress quickly and
quietly and march to the boat-landing
escorted by the provost guard. They
were aboard and well out in the lake
before their soldiers encamped near the
house awoka to find their officers taken
from under then noses and carried Off.
prisoners of war.
Captain Powell, the son of farmer
then residing in the town of Mineral
Point, seldom, if ever, referred to these
incidents, and it never occurred to him
or his comrades that he had done any
thing heroic, but merely his duty, as it
paOp tD hin, The ronturipor of tho CON