Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-11-11

,o-exercise his resources OF bravery, vigi-
lance caution. The guns OF the Ialia-
hatchie were engaged in daily duels with
the batteries that fiaDked the banks, but
be siienced them all finally
Much more annoying were the opera
lions of the sharpshooters sheltered be-
hind trees or such other projections as
they could find, who picked of his men al
every opportunity. The crew OF the Iaiia-
hatchie sustained severe losses in killed
and wounded and Capt. Saunders had
many close calls.
A particular thrilling experience was an
incident one night on the water when the
reflections on the stream OF full moon,
occasionally shrouded with drifting
clouds. gave ordinary objects o spectral
effect. Capt. Saunders and the mate were
in the bow of the ship peering into the
shifting shadows, keeping sharp look
out for the enemy, when what seemed like
huge raft directly ahead attracted the
captains attention. and he called the
mates notice to the float. The rate
thought it was a shadow OF a cloud, and
uersisted in his belief until the captain
showed him his error. The two bow guns
of the Ta,lachatchie were loaded with
canister and trained upon the object and
at the command of .'fire" . murderous
discharge went HURTING out over the
water.
Heartrending grosns and cries issued
from where the pale moonlight wrath
seemed to float, and phantoms seemed 10
suddenly pop up out Of the darkness Is
the crew Of the raft desperately tried to
run ashore. In this they we're successful,
and ell managed to escape. but Capt. Saun-
ders and his men secured as trophies the
raft and fine rified cannon which was
being towed across the stream. Soon
after the close of the Red River campaign
there WAS strenuous fighting on eastern
waters, and here Capt. Saunders was
assigned to the command of the gunboat
Chippewa, OF the Atlantic squadron at
Philadelphia.
The Chippewa took n active part in re-
ducing the batteries of the enemy in the
James river ana in the capture of Will
mington and Forts Fisher and Anderson.
At Fort Anderson Capt. Saunders had an
exceedingly close call. A shell which
ranged the boat struck down four men at
a gun and passed so near him that he
could feel the wind OF the missile in its
fight.
After the assassination OF President
Lincoln it seemed likely that Capt. Saun-
A-0.s would have the credit of capturing
the murderer, John Wilkes Booth, and his
orscrs were to vigilantly patrol an outlet
OF Chesapeake Bay with the Chippewa to
intercept any outgoing vessels, as it was
thought at that time Booth would attempt
to escape in this way, but as is well known
the sequel OF the hunt and pursuit Of the
murderer proved differently.
After the capture of Booth, the Chip
pewa was ordered to Hampton Roads the
second day after the close Of the war, and
proceeded with five other ships to Port
Royal, S. c. Here the vessels coaled and
proceeded to sea with orders to search for
the ironciad privateer Stonewall, which
was built in England and sailed before the
close of hostilities. The second day out
the Chippewa spoke the Havana mail
steamer and learned that the Stonewall
was in Havana harbor. Entering the har-
Dor, Capt. Saunders found the rebel craft
there. The commander, having learned
! that the war was over, had discharged the
officers and crew and gwen the ship to in
dividuals for $4,000 in gold. The situa-
ton was reported to Washington and
orders were received to give q bond for
I