The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-03
ny &. T.. sToI,ns.


General Forrest was ordered TO crogs
me tennessee River at Paris Land
ing TO Join General Hood at Mount
Pl.nsan,. advancing from Florence and
Iuacunhfa. AS our crossing the riv-
or was disputed b. gunboats. masked
batteries were placed on the river with
vic" OF sinking the boats. My bril-
sade commander. General Fucker, Was
vary proud OF and induigcnt to his
escort boys. and told me that could
forage around, all the while Keeping
him In touch with m. SO that ne could
eau me at hhors notice. Enjoying this
privilege concealed tho boys below
Inc upper battery more especially with
view OF witnessing tho artillery duci.
After waiting Il short time saw
smoke up the river OF a descending
boat which proved To he only u trans
port. the nrst boat descending after
placing the bgttcriog. She steamed
down The river under full Roadway, so
iar as they knew In perfect security.
Us IN enemy were not aware OF our
position When she Steamed in front
o: tho battery, the battery opened fire.
~ tho boom or tho hrst gun the en-
finecr pulled her wide open and
saw that she would soon be out Of reach
81 the battery unless they were more
succssatul in their fire. rushed the
company 10 tn. edge OF the blum ami
] raiy they were protniscuausiy Hrins
at the boat. icrkcd on my heavy
glove and ran down the line striking
each one OF thu bows on tho shoulder
with the glove 10 get his prompt at.
tcntion, and said: You can't XIII the
boa:--hil the pilot" After few
rounds the captai:I OF the boat, VINO
was At the wheel with the pilot. fell
mortally wounded. wh,reupon Tho pilot
rcleh6cd the wheel and jumped ami
fled for hts life. Jumping down each
stairway or the front OF the boat until
ne had reached the lower :ck, when
's quick as can relate, he rushed 10
the front hole In the fceight deck and
went through Hike q rat followed b. 4
cat. The engineer. finding no one at
the wheel ahut her on and she drIftei
around heiplcssiy
l ceased firms and rushed 10 tho
waters edge where had 10 call out
uumber OF times to the mate before
getting Il rcsponse. When he showed
UP ordered him 10 pu, small boat
over and bring line ashore. .As soon
as he reached the bank with the line
/ had him mako fast and ordAr his
crew TO haul away on tho line. The
current swung her and she drilted
broads!dc against the bank. !mmc.
diat.Iy boarded hec with the COM
pany. leaving n sentinel on the gang
pass In or out Having been on q
forced march and short ratlons. We
we're ravcnousiy hungry. and when We
reached the cabin we wer, delighted
10 sec dinner spread and 10 learn that
tho steward had just raised iiis gong
~ sound the signal TOR dinner AZ the
boom o: the iirst gun Instead Of til,
sound OF the gong. the hurried foot
steps of the steward 10 the Kitchen
was the only sound except that made
by the confusion OF every one trying
"a seek n place OF safety. ] had all
through iife been accustomed 10 good
things 10 eat but I thought ! had new
or seen white linen. crockcr- and
glassware so clean and polished nor
ii feast so tempting. When va were
on duty we were all boys together aud
! sung out: "Boys. help youisciveH:"
and they went al it peilmtli without
any regard for official position. as they
we'll und .rstood IL meant each man for
himself, standing somcwha; on tho
dignity OF an officer. 'vas shut on;
from nm easy approach to The table.
and not wishing 10 disturb any one
from Isis present enjoyment went
To tho rear OF the cabin aud called for
tho steward. I asked him II he had