The National tribune., 1910-09-01
MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT vICKsBURG.

"The heavy jar knocked some of the
boys off their feet 1 ran to the cabin
deck to find out what the trouble was,
and saw a grand but fearful sight. The
little town was all afire. On our side l
could see the rebels at their guns; in
fact, we were SO close that l especially
remember a large, heavy, black-whis-
kered man just in the act of touching
the fuse to his cannon.
'Mest of us thought the boat was
sinking when she struck the bank, but
l soon found it different. 1 had just
started from the head of the stairs in
the direction of the cabin to find the
Captain when a voice called to me to
get below quick, as it was - hot up
there. l located him amidship on the
opposite side of the cabin deck, with
the batteries close UP against the cabin.
I could see for myself that it was some
what warm, as the fire from their in
fantry was heavy and the rifle balls
pattered against the boat like hail. The
Captain said I could do no good there,
and for me to go back to the fire hose,
which 1 did.
II never heard such yelling as the
rebels gave when our boat struck the
bank. They thought we did SO pur-
posely and were going to surrender, but
they soon changed the rebel yell to
curses when our brave little pilot sig
nailed to back off. In another moment
our boat was continuing our race down
river. Then the rebels did give us the
best they had, and the little transport
seemed to stand still from the heavy
shocks of artillery Then was when our
boat was seriously crippled by having
one of the wheel shafts shattered, and
remember we did not do much more
than float with the current until re-
pairs were made. After getting beyond
h Nf h Of Nta1r rI,t,r. Il
before we reached the batteries at War
renton daylight began to show in the
East.
Tied Up for Repairs.
"Our boat being crippled, the Captain
gave the orders to land on the Louisiana
shore, where we tied up and the car
penter made temporary repairs. When
the sun was about half an hour high
the Captain ordered all the crew to the
pilot house. He suggested that we run
the batteries at Warrenton in full day
light 1t was put to vote, and every
mans cap went up in the air with a
yell. when it was decided to let her CO.
I'VE all knew that the heavy ord
nance at Warrenton was more danger
GUS to the hulls of our boats than the
batteries at Vicksburg or Grand Gulf,
as they were planted on lower ground,
and as the river there had straight
stretch of three miles, both above and
below, we would get the full benefit of
their fire, for since the Tigress had
been sunk and the other four trans
ports had made their run before day
light the rebels could give their whole
attention to u.s.
II can honestly say they did So for
every time their heavy ordnance struck
us / was sure we were going to the bot
tom. as the boat would tremble from
bow to stern and seem to stop running.
AS good luck would have it, they failed
to reach our hull Shortly after getting
out of range we ran across the trans
port Anglo-Saxon, one of the fleet bad
ly crippled and floating thru cutoff
We ran alongside and made fast With
others, ] jumped aboard, and found that
her crew had deserted, all but one man,
one of the pilots. He lay in front of
the cabin door, terribly wounded. L
gave him a drink of water from my
canteen, and we carried him on board
our boat, but the poor fellow passed
away. / heard afterwards that he stood
at the wheel of his boat until he faint
ed. Van Vanderbilt met a similar fate
as pilot on the transport Horizon of the
feet A cannon ball struck her smoLe-
stack and a piece struck Van in the
knee, wounding him so badly that he
had to have his leg amputated, which
killed him.
We'll, we finally got the boats thru.
and they went to unloading and getting
ready to cross the troops over the river
The whole of Grants army had march,
ed from Milliken's Bend, La, and were
arriving hourly day and night On the
morning after passing Grand Gulf 1
heard that my regiment had arrived, so
/ bid the crew good-by and Joined my
regiment. When / reported Col. Dol
Inns. our commander, seemed surprised.
and said to me: 'Corpr Butler, we did
not look for you or expect you to Join
us until the surrender of Vicksburg, as
we consider you have done your part in
its capture already My reply was that
felt better contented with the bows of
my regiment. l will not go into detail
of all l went thru during the Al days
siege of Vicksburg.
Endorsed by Grant.
After the surrender Gen. Grant gave
me furlough for 80 days with the fol- |
lowing Endorsement:
For meritorious conduct and in |
consequence of this soldier having vol |
nnteered to run the batteries at Vicks-
burg. 1 hereby grant him furlough for |
80 days.
"'u; S. Grant. Commanding
After my furlough / Joined my reg