The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-12-30
Random Sketches
Memories Of tho Civil War.

Memories Of tho Civil War.
There are many people living today
who experienced the trials and tribu-
lations Of the civil war who will call
to mind the difficulties encountered
by the federal forces in capturing
Port Hudson which was in possession
OF the confederate troops, 5000 strong,
under Gardner. It was desirable
position almost indispensable to COM
mand the Mississippi river from New
Orleans to Vicksburg. hence the siren
uous attempts to take it, The first
attempt to reduce this stronghold was
made March s, 1863, by General Banks
and Admiral Farragut. The latter
essayed to pass the batteries of the
fort with his feet, while Banks with
a land force Of $4,000, diverted the at
tention of the garrison. Farragut's
fleet consisted of the Hartford, the
Mississippi, the gunboat Albatross,
Essex and Sabine and several mortar
boats. This attempt was a failure.
Farragut's fleet had to return to
Prophets Island badly disabled by
the forts batteries. On May 20, Of the
same year, Banks again invested the
fort with $4,000 men, Augur coming to
his aid with $500 more. May "a.
Augur defeated body of confederates
under Miles, driving them back with.
in their works. Being informed on
May "a that the confederates were
endeavoring to escape. Banks determ
lined on general assault, the federal
naval force under Farragut having
come to his assistance. The struggle
was severe, but the confederates re
sisted every attack. The siege went
on. Each day Farragut's guns riddled
the confederate works, and many fed.
erals were killed by the confederate
sharpshooters. Gardner held out
CALAMITY until he heard that VicKs
bure had been captured. Then he
surrendered July 9, 1868.
But 1t was not about this siege and
capture that I intended to write, but
of humorous incident that transpir-
ed during the bloody contest. And
will tell the story even at the risk OF
making this sketch too long.
It was moonlight night and the
silver orb was sending down kindly
rays on the blood stained battle
scene. While the shells of the confed'
crate batteries in Port Hudson were
out on a regular bust" just as II it
was Christmas times, just over the
federal lines some of the staff of the
til brigade were holding a petite
seance in a leafy bower close within
range Of the confederate guns. One
of the number, a "portly, grave and
reverend senior officer, lately ap-
pointed provost marshal to the dfvis-
ion, was fast forgetting the noise OF
villianous gunpowder overhead and
beyond, through the nepenthe-like vir-
tues of genuine mint julep Of his
own compounding. The wrinkled front
of grim-visaged war was fast smooth.
unusual spirits and the gallant cap
tain arose in polite dignity to reply
to toast with which his name had
just been coupled.
Gentlemen" he began, ''modesty
forbids that l should receive, without
protest, the very flattering compli-
ment, that you have paid to the one
who now addresses you. 1t is too lit
tie to say that he is overwhelmed, sur
prised, confounded. He of whom
speak is
"Wh-o-o?" interrupted a long.drawn
I,Se haa1-OyIyb 10
81 sir! myself, sir!-Captain
provost marshal Of the division!' re.
joined the speaker.
"Wh-o-o-o?" inquired the interlocu-
tor, with persistent impertinence and
q tone of mockery.
marshall" replied the officer in loud
er voice, beginning to feel insulted.
"Who-o-o?" And this time the de-
cisive voice seemed half suffocated
with laughter.
by Jove, sir: I'll teach you Who'll
returned the captain, fairly boiling
with rage Corporal of the guard,
arrest the fellow behind the tree, and
conf1ne him in the guard house. I'll
prefer charges against him In the
morning."
A she'll exploded high above the
scene, the fragments came rafting
and crashing down, through the
branches, and great owl flew sud
denly out into the moonlit air, leav-
ing the astonished and astounded mar
sha1 with one long. last lingering in
curry of "Who-o-o?'
1t may be well to conclude that the
fellow behind the tree was not ar
rested and that the story of that
nights adventure leaked over into
the confederate army and both armies
were furnished something to amuse
them for several days.