The Delta independent., 1911-05-26
Loss of the Mississippi.

Editors Note; Following is a mar
ative of a tragic occurrence fifty years
ago, written by one of our citizens
who has the proud distinction of
wearing not only the G. A. r. badge
but medal of honor from Congress
for Gallant and Meritorious Ser
vice." and who was an eye witness
of what he writes.
Angola, La, May 5, 1911.
While the band played and the
blue jackets stood at present
arms" the Battleship Idaho's guns
awoke the echoes here today in a
salute at the resting place of the
old wooden sloop of war, Mississippi
OF Admiral Farraguts fleet. The
Idaho is cruising up the river as
far as Vicksburg.'
In the mind OF one who knew
her Intimately during year and
half of her periious and honorable
history the above news item pro-
vokes touching recollections; a brief
memorial of the demise of this
vessel may be interesting. She
went into the Civil War with
long and wonderful record of gov
ernment service, having carried our
flag to nearly all OF the important
cities of the civilized globe. She
was, for her time, large, powerful,
and homely Her figure reminded
me often, of a church. the choir
being her broad rounded stern, her
great paddle wheels representing the
transepts and her sharpened half
in front of them the nave, while
her mighty walking-beam betrayed
her antiquity.
Let us see her through a page of
my lecture entitled, THE Great
Admiral taken from the very
midst of the terrible engagement
for the possession of New Orleans.
The Hartford, cropping through
the pail of smoke fires at the
flashes of the enemy's guns and,
with grape and canister engages
Fort st. Philip at close quarters. A
shell from st. Philip sewers the
chain-armor on our side and eXplod-
ing within CUTS the armory on the
berth-deck wounding every man in
the powder division and setting the
ship on fire. A shot from Fort Jack
son enters our port bow, carves the
neck from an officers shoulders,
chops off an oak bit thirty inches
square and bounds along the deck.
Another enters the muzzle of a
9-inch gun killing its loader still
another bores neat hole through
the bulwarks, removing the head
from the sponger of No. gun.
Abreast of st. Philip the ram,
Manassas s'-remember that name
forces a raft of blazing pine knots
against our side. Sheering to avoid
it, the ship runs aground while st.
Philip rains grape and shells upon
our devoted heads. The whole port
quarter now bursts into flames
mounting high up the mizzen rig
cling. o, woe! the ship is doomed.
Don't finch at that fire" shouts
Farragut. There's hotter fire
than that for those who shirk their
duty"
In the swift current the fire-raft
slides by loosening the ship which
now backs off and proceeds. Give
that rascally little tug shot. don't
let her get OFF with a whole coat"
shouts Farragut. Our noble new
ship. the Cayuga, now lies on the
bottom, rammed to her death but
eleven rebel boats are there also or
are burning along the banks.
Our victory is complete and we
anchor six miles above, at the
marine barracks, to bury our dead.
Suddenly Farragut runs forward,
megaphone in hand, and shouts
from our port bow, Mississippi
ahoy, that ram Manassas, is follow
ing us, go down and destroy her"
AYE Aye Sir replies Capt Me-
lancthan Smith. My heart revolts.
How will we do it? AT how great a
sacrifice? Must the Mississippi's
decks be again bathed in blood?
Worse! Must in addition, the ship
herself be destroyed before our very
eyes? The old ship that has proud
ly waved the flag in every cline on
earth instantly responds to the call
she slips her cable, her side wheels
churn the water and, gaining way
she ports helm. rounds to across
our bows and sweeps down past us
on the boiling tide, an "avepging
nemesis" She heads for the ram a
thousand yards distant; before the
impending tragedy hearts forget to
beat. She nears the enemy; Look!
she will ride the rebel down; ten
seconds more; Ha! the ram ports
helm and climbs the rivers bank.
The Mississippi sheers depresses her
guns and at $50 yards pours n
broadside through the rams re-
bellious back. The career of the
Manassas is ended, "Hurrah!."
1t was in the following year that
the Mississippi was led by the Hart
ford under the formidable batteries