Evening star., 1911-06-04

THE UNITED STATE
ming up the rigging on the tarred rope
to the masthead. The Confederate tug
Mosher (Which had guided the flre-rail
toward the Hartford and was sunk by
the flagship was nearby. but ] did not
see the ram Manassas tWhica. IN attempt
ing to ram the Hartford. struck her
blow that helped to set her free. 1t was
evidently Cravens intention when he
saw Farragut's trouble to go to his res
cue.
AS the engine stopped the Brooklyn
dropped down. her head swinging 70 star
board, until she was on line between
Fort Jackson and the Hartford. The
fort Immediately opened fire on the
Brooklyn with renewed energy. and She
would have been blown out Of the water
had not the enemy aimed too high and
sent the shot through the rigging, boats
and hammock nettings. many Of them
lust clearing the rail. The port battery
was manned and shell and shrapnel were
fired a fast the guns could he loaded
The Brooklyn remained under tie fire OF
Fort Jackson until Craven saw Farragut
free from the fire raft. ard then she
steamed ahead THIS was one OF 'he
coolest and bravest acts that ! saw dur
ing the war. but il was not mentioned
in any official report or newspaper ac-
count at the time
fre-raft alongside her crew were at
their work, and l saw the flag officer dis
tnctlv on the port side of the poop look
ing toward US. From this mt the
Brooklyn steamed ahead. toward Fort
ST Philip, ard passed close to the fort
firing grape from the starboard battery.
When she first came abreast Of the fort
there was a long blaze OF musketry from
ltif
she got to work. We We're at this time
less than one hundred feet from the
bank. and the Hartford had passed
ahead.
The barbette guns Of the fort not being
depressed sufficiently. We received no
damage while passing, but we We're 50
close that the powder scorched the faces
and clothes OF the men. \ bullet en-
tared the mort of No. l gun and struck
Lieut.. James OKane, who had charge OF
the first division. in the leg. He fell To
the deck but would not allow hlmSef 10
he carried below until he mad hlmSell
fired two OF the broauSiue guns l'i'o L VI
ST. Philip.
RIt the most uncomfortable position on
board the ship. during this part or me
engagement, was that OF the quarter
master Thomas HolinS, who stood in the
starboard main chains. heavins the iead
and calling out the soundings. lhe OUT
side of the ship near him was completely
peppered with bullets. and the names
reach him; still he stood coolly at ms
post, and when abreast OF the Tort he
was heard calling out. Only thirteen
feet. sir
AS we passed clear of Fort St Philip.
cant Craven gave orders 10 load the
starboard battery with solid shot lie
had seen the ironclad Louisiana moored
lust above the fort She gave us one or
two shots. but when we came dlrecliS
abeam of her. she closed her port shut
ters and received our broadside- We
could hear our shot strike against her
iron sides. We gave but one broadslde
and then sheered out into the river y
nine-inch she'll fired by the Louisiana.
struck the Brooklyn about a foot above
the water line. on the starboard side OF
the cutwater, near the wood ends forced
its way for three feet through the dead
wood and tmberS and remained there.
At New Orleans this shot cut out,
and il was found that in their hurry the
gunners had neglected to remove me
lead patch from the fuse. SO mat the
shell did not explode. Had il done 50
it would have blown the whole bow off.
and the Brooklyn would have gone to the
bottom.
X +
AS we swung out into the current and
steamed up the river we began to see the
vessels ahead fighting with the Confed-
crate gunboats. and a few moments later
the cry came aft. "A steamer coming
down on our port bow" We could see
two smokestacks and the black smoke
from them 1 took a look from the
poop ladder. and saw good sized river
steamer coming down on US. crowded
with men her forward deck. as II
ready to board The order had alreadE
been given stand by to repel boarders,
and to load with shrapnel the fuses were
cut to burn one second. AS she ap-
preached Craven gave the vessel sheer
TO starboard, and we began with No.
gun the guns aft following In quick sue
cession the shells bursting almost lmme-
diately as they left the guns. There was
a rush of steam. shrieks from the people
on board the steamer, and, when 1t came
time for my No. 10 gun to fire the
steamer was lost In the smoke.
Just after our engagement with this
steamer a column of black smoke, which
came from the dreaded Manassas was
seen on the starboard side and the cry
was passed along by men who were look
ing out Of the ports. The ram. the ram.
Craven called out, Give her four bells.
Put your helm hard-a-starboard. Then
/ saw the smOkestackS OF the Manassas
and the fash from her gun. and the next
moment / was nearly thrown on the deck
by the concuSsion, caused by her strik-
ing us Just amidships. The ram was going
full speed, but against the current, ana,
with our helm to starboard. the blow was
not at right angles to our keel. though
nearly so.
/ ran to the No. 10 port. the gun be-
ing In, and looked out and saw her al
most directly alongside. man came
ont of her little hatch aft and ran for
ward along the port side OF the deck. as
far as the smokestacks. placed his hand
against one and looked to see what dam
age the ram had done l saw MIN turn,
fail over and tumble in.o the water. but
did not know at the moment what causel
his sudden disappearance, until l asked
the uuartermaster. who was leadsman In
the chains, If he had seen him fall.
why. yes. SIR" said he, Il saw him
fall overboard-in fact. l helped him; for
| hit him alongside OF the head with my
hand lead"
AS the Manassas drifted by I ran up