Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-11-11
STIRRING ADVENTURES.
War Record of Capt. John w. Saun-
ders, of Trenton.



IFrom the Bangor Commercially
-
A Civil war veteran justly entitled to u
conspicuous place in the annals of that
great struggle is Capt. John w. Saunders,
now rounding cut life Of adventure in
peace and quiet on his farm in the town OF
Trenton. As commander OF gunboats
that were in the thick OF the active ser
vice OF the federal government, the stead
mess of nerve and daring that naval Of
ficers are expected to show in the face OF
emergencies were strikingly illustrated
on many occasions by Capt. Saunders, and
he had the fortune to serve in more than
one event which we're consi sered epochs
of the war.
Among other stirring adventures, Capt.
Saunders had the distinction of partici-
pating in the capture of the last gunboat
that sailed under the coiors of the Con-
federacy. The event occurred June /, 1855,
nearly two months after Lees surrender.
The gunboat was the Stonewall. named in
honor of the Confederate general, "Stone-
waIl'' jackson, and was formidable craft
fitted out for preying on the merchant
marine of the union. Capt. Saunders, then
in command Of the gunboat Chippewa,
with several other federal vessels, sur
prised the StonewaiI in Havana harbor.
Capt. Saunders was born in the town OF
Orland, April 10, 1S40, the son Of John s.
and Alvira (SteeD Saunders. His mother
was one of family of ten dsug hters, two
of whom married two Soper brothers, of
Orland, two more the Hatch brothers, OF
Castine, and still another pair were mar
ried to the Saunders brothers, of Orland.
Young Saunders enjoyed the usual school
privileges of that period, and at the age Of
seventeen years decided to go to sea and
enter the merchant service, sailing to
foreign ports. Feb. IS, 1862, he entered
the United States navy and was assigned
to the U. s. S. Dawn as navigating Off
Ger, his first cruise lasting for fourteen
months. AT this period the discipline
was lax and the knowledge of gnnnery
woefully deficient, but CAPT. Saunders was
a good disciplinarian and he did efficient
service in the teaching OF gunnery and
naval tactics on board the Dawn.
After the fourteen months cruise, Capt,
L. c. Newman o; the Dawn was trans
auested the naval authorities TO transfer
Mr.. Saunders to the same vessel, which
was done. Later he was detached from the
Pembrina and ordered to the L.. S. s
Tallahatchie, and in this vessel Capt, Saun-
ders saw service under the great union
admiral David ID. Porter in the relief Of
General Banks disastrous Red River cam
paign, during which the wild rebel yell
with its weird accompaniment OF bullets
and shells was often heard.
Capt. Saunders treasures the orders he
received at that time, and the following
will give some idea OF the strenuousness Of
the Red River campaign. On May 2, 1864,
he received the following order:
Sir: You will proceed without delay in
the Tailahatchie under your command To-
Alexandria. La, and report to Rear Admiral
ID. ID. Porter for such duty as he may assign
you. Respectfully,
JAS. W. PALMER.
Commander of ironclad Tallahatchie to Act
ing Master John W. Saunders. Commodore
Commander of Ironclad Tallahatchie.
Two days later the following was re-
ceived from Admiral Porter:
Mississippi Squadron,
U. S. Ship Black Hawk,
SsRed River, May 4, 1854.
Sir: You viii proceed without delay up
Red River and patrol that stream from Fort
de Russey to point twenty miles below.
When you anchor at night take care to choose
such positions as will enable you to use your
guns in advantageous manner. Should YOU
get out of coal, the next vessel to you will re-
heve you and you can repair to the mouth of
Black river to obtain it.
By order Of Admiral Porter.
Very respectfully, your ob't servant,
r. R. Breese, It., Comdr. Comdg.
This was arduous and dangerous service
in every way as they advanced up the
turbid Red river, with the shores infested
by the Confederate sharp shooters masked
batteries in every available position and.
hardly less to be dreaded, the intense
heat OF the tropical sun and the foul ex-
haiations from the swanps and oyerfowed
bottom lands OF Louisiana, approaching
in virulence to the deadly fumes arising
from the pest house of Val d'Amo.
The line Of the river had to be kept opeu
for General Banks army in this campaign.
and in the patrol of the stream under the